Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Life in our little cottage in the country

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Outrunning the Rain

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I have yet to respond to your comments but thank you so much for your thoughts on Gordon Lightfoot. We played his music for much of the day yesterday. He will be deeply missed.

My goal yesterday: trying to outrun the rain in order to mow the front lawn. After so much rain it was still very wet in places. And we have more coming.

So, in the afternoon, when I thought enough time had passed to lessen the soggy patches, I got the lawnmower out and mowed. I did it at a faster pace than I usually do because I could see clouds darkening on the horizon. I ended up taking a short break when it started to rain, then I was back at it until I got to the lower third, where it was so wet I could no longer continue.

Needless to say, I’m tired today. But I am conscious that I am the only one who can mow this week and the grass is very, very long. So I had to make a start. Rain today. Rain tomorrow. And then, finally, a break. I’ll go back at it on Saturday after we’ve had a day to dry out.

Let’s not mention all the weeding and pruning that has to be done, all of which has been neglected due to the rain. It feels overwhelming.

Pip is wearing a new outfit that I got from a seller in Spain. Since she already had a yellow barrette in her hair, as well as yellow shoes on her feet, she was chosen as the model.

I still haven’t heard from Brenda, which I find very concerning. It’s not like her. Send some prayers her way, please.

Today I have to buy some more groceries. Don doesn’t have a follow-up appointment until Monday and he’s getting frustrated. Restless. I don’t blame him. Hopefully, in six more days, the bandages will be removed and he’ll have more mobility.

He talked to Adrian yesterday and he sounds like his old self. Our mantra here is “Think of Adrian” – we invoke it whenever we are tempted to complain too much about hand surgery or sinuses or allergies or sore joints.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

 

Decorating the Tree

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Out of all the Blythe-related photos I’ve taken over the past year, this is my favorite:

Imogen is ready to hang an ornament and Pippa is looking up at the tree. The magic of Christmas.

It took some fiddling and I had to add a support for Imogen; Pippa is somehow posing without any help. Actually, the final photo turned out better than my original concept.

And, I forgot to put the girls back on the shelf last night and they’re STILL holding these poses!

I tell you, these girls provide endless delight.

Reader Elaine is the person who originally informed me of the existence of sweater ornaments. She lives in Toronto and found a cute one at Canadian Tire. She also passed along photos of the Target sweaters. So I sent her two Target sweaters and she sent me two sweaters from Canadian Tire and here they are. They arrived yesterday.

The red is deeper than this, but reds are hard to capture. Thank you, Elaine. I’m going to do my snipping and binding at the back of the neckline so I can wrestle them on two of the girls. Aren’t they cute? VERY Christmassy.

We are getting a lot of ‘weather’ over the next two days. Snow, rain, snow, rain – with the final amount anyone’s guess. So we’re going to hunker down here at the cottage. Next week – if the forecast holds up – up to 10 inches of snow on the December 22nd and 23rd. Whoa, Nellie!

Stay safe.

Happy Thursday.

 

Deer, Flowers & The Girls

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To add to the loss of the tree, the deer have been particularly voracious this year. They’ve eaten the buds on countless coneflowers, every bud on my favorite day lily, and several buds on the black-eyed susans. I tend to forget to spray them with the deer repellent recipe, thinking, for some reason, that I don’t need to do it yet. That’s on me. Anyway, I mixed a batch of it the other day and sprayed everything. We’re due for rain and thunderstorms tomorrow, so I’ll make a new batch on Sunday.

It’s very depressing, but I didn’t notice it until Tuesday – the same day we lost the tree – and I was so upset about the tree that it didn’t hit me quite as hard as it would normally.

Then the Supreme Court crap. This week has – may I say it? – SUCKED.

So I’ve played with the girls every day, dressing one per day in a new outfit, trying to remain sane. It really does help! I’m almost 70 years old and I’m rediscovering dolls – who’d have thought? If I’ve learned anything over the past 5 years or so, it’s that we find peace and respite where we can.

Plus, these girls are displayed directly in front of me here in the den, so I get to see them every day. Pure pleasure.

First up on Wednesday was Madeleine (same dress but with the addition of a bow) –

Heavens, she’s lovely!

And yesterday, Pippa got a new look:

We took her hair out of the barrette.

Both girls have a little cleft in their chins. Adorable.

I think I’m going to dress Miss Imogen today.

It’s going to be very hot today – in the 90s.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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