Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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You are here: Home / Archives for Peonies

Flowers & Predators

June 6, 2019 at 10:37 am by Claudia

The clematis is blooming like crazy.

The wild roses, dreaded brambles at any other time of the year, are in bloom all over the property; clouds of white everywhere.

They’re so delicate! And they have a lovely scent. My favorites are the tiny, tiny pink buds. Right now I love them. In a few weeks, we’ll be enemies again.

And the peonies. What can I say?

I walk down to their position near the road more than a few times a day to inhale that heavenly scent. I don’t know of a more luscious flower than a peony. (Purely my opinion, of course!)

The days are getting warmer around here. We seem to have turned a corner.

Two quick animal/avian stories:

Last night, I was looking out the window of the kitchen door and saw one of our young bunnies munching on some grass. He was fairly close to both the house and the big garden bed. Suddenly, his head moved to the right and he took off and ran through the secret garden. I yanked open the door and saw some bigger animal run under my car. When I walked outside, the animal took off toward the shed. It was one of my neighbor’s cats – the bane of my existence. He paused at the shed, and I shook my fist at him and told him to “Get out of here!”

That bunny knew the cat was a threat. I remember thinking – before I knew what animal was lurking under my car – that it would be hard to believe it was a groundhog because I’ve seen both creatures co-exist peacefully in the yard. Groundhogs have no interest in bunnies.

But a large cat? A definite threat.

Then, this morning, we were sitting out on the porch for our second cup of coffee and I saw two large hawks flying high, followed by a smaller bird. The hawks veered to the left, one of them disappearing, the other landing in a tree. Immediately, a constant warning call sounded, with non-stop urgent chirps. I told Don that that was a distress call he was hearing. Soon the distress call was taken up by another bird as well. You could hear calls coming from both sides of the road. On and on it went until, after about five minutes, the hawk erupted from the tree, followed closely by a red-winged blackbird who chased him away.

The chirping stopped. All was peaceful.

Don was amazed.

It was better than anything on television.

Happy Thursday.

Filed Under: birds, bunnies, flowers, garden, Peonies 25 Comments

P Is For Peony

June 5, 2019 at 10:18 am by Claudia

First peony to open. Gorgeous.

I’m sure the flowers on the other bush have started to open but I haven’t gone outside yet. I’m staying in as much as possible, though I hate having to do that, as my allergies have seemingly gone haywire. I had an extreme reaction on Saturday and then another one on Sunday night. It’s been windy around here (what else is new?) and I’m sure that only intensified things.

So. I’m laying low. Can’t wait to get back to normal.

The clematis has started to blossom as well, but it was hard getting a picture yesterday because it was windy and I was trying to do it quickly so I could get out of the wind and the petals weren’t cooperating. I’ll try again today.

Thank heavens for Beverley Nichols, who keeps me chuckling despite my fuzzy head. I’m reading the second book in the second trilogy – Laughter on the Stairs.

Skylight light. We moved the lab stool over by the cabinet. It used to be the side table to our old sofa but we switched it out with another table that works better there. Unfortunately, I took this picture while a pile of mail had been placed there temporarily.

Real life!

Did anyone watch Woodstock  on TCM last night? I watched that movie so many times when I was in college. It played endlessly at our campus movie theater. And the album was on permanent play in our dorm room suite. So many memories! Don had never seen it. I was stunned. He, in turn, was shocked that I – the girl who never indulged in drugs or hallucinogens of any kind – would like the movie. But once he watched, he realized that it was really about the music. And it was. Favorite moments: Joan Baez, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Santana, and Sly and the Family Stone.

It went until midnight and we had to cut out about 11:15 or so, but it was great fun. And now that we live fairly close to the farm where it took place, we have an even deeper appreciation for the place and the time and the scenery. We know it well.

Happy Wednesday.

 

Filed Under: flowers, garden, movies, Peonies 16 Comments

Sunday

June 10, 2018 at 8:02 am by Claudia

A quick post this morning as I’m getting ready to head into the city.

The other day I saw two groundhogs emerge onto the shed ramp. They proceeded to play with each other like animals do, wrestling, standing on their hind legs and batting at each other.

Has Henry had more kids? I’m not sure, but they definitely emerged from under the shed. One of them looked older than the other, so perhaps one was a parent. The bigger one sure looks a lot like Henry.

I was only able to get a few pictures with my  special lens – they were way across the yard.

Gosh darn it, they were cute. We’ve had babies before but I usually see some sign of them when they’re very small.

Peony update:

We’re not supposed to have rain until Wednesday, so they should stay intact for a while.

I’ll try to post from the city. I’m not taking my laptop but Don has one. Or maybe I’ll take it. I haven’t decided yet. If you don’t hear from me tomorrow and Tuesday, I’ll be back on Wednesday. I’m starting to think it’s healthy to take a day or two off every once in a while.

Happy Sunday.

Filed Under: flowers, groundhogs, Peonies 16 Comments

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Welcome!

Welcome!

I live in a little cottage in the country with my husband. It's a sweet place, sheltered by old trees and surrounded by gardens. The inside is full of the things we love. I love to write, I love my camera, I love creating, I love gardening. My decorating style is eclectic; full of vintage and a bit of whimsy.

I've worked in the theater for more years than I can count. I'm currently a voice, speech, dialect and text coach freelancing on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theater.

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