Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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You are here: Home / Archives for trees

Tough Tuesday

February 28, 2012 at 9:00 am by Claudia

The flowers are pretty, aren’t they? Try as I might, I don’t usually have the patience to remove all the paraphernalia from the kitchen table before I shoot a photo. There’s always something in the way.

I am going to ‘not be in the way’ today when the workers come to take down the willow. It will be a big job, it’s incredibly tall. I’m going to take care of some business and leave the home front to Don. I’m sure I’ll see some of the activity because I have to get the car back by 2:30 for Don to go to work. Hopefully (fingers crossed) most of it will be done by that point.

I’m used to the idea now. I know it has to come down. Still – I will probably get a shock when I return. My yard is already a muddy mess from the work on the septic system. Now, it will be missing a massive tree that sheltered our front yard, provided privacy from the busy road, and whose graceful branches swayed gently in the breeze.

Okay. I have to stop or I’ll cry.

Toughen up, Claudia.

New in the Etsy Shop:

The scarf in a rich burgundy, crocheted in silk/bamboo. Soft and silky to the touch.

I’ve had a few people approach me about special orders. If you want one, don’t hesitate to email me or convo me on Etsy. I’m happy to make them. It may take a bit of time as each scarf is made by yours truly and, as far as I know, there are no elves around here to help me out! But I love making them for you.

And to tell the truth, crocheting and the rhythm of it is enormously calming. So bring those orders on!

Filed Under: etsy, life, trees 20 Comments

Topsy-Turvy

February 24, 2012 at 9:25 am by Claudia

We took a little walk on the Rail Trail on Wednesday. This one was longer – about 3 miles. It was a sunny, spring-like day. Very quickly, we shed our coats, happily basking in the warmth of the sun. We marveled that all this was happening on a day in February. In the northeast.

The sky was gorgeous. If you look in the upper-right hand corner of the photo, there is an opening in the clouds. I keep seeing the shape of a bird. What do you see?
Our mountain ridge is in the background. I call it ‘ours.’ I suppose everyone around here does. This is the same ridge that we can see from our house. Whenever we take these walks, we are reminded once again that we live in a beautiful part of the country.
So on we walked, talking about the warm weather, thinking that, most assuredly, spring is around the corner. Yes, it can only be a week or so away.
I woke up this morning to this:
What????
I went to bed last night with not a flake in sight. A few short hours later, there is heavy, wet snow everywhere. Look how our chicken wire corral fence is sagging under the wet snow. There’s not a whole lot of it and I suspect it will melt rather quickly.
What a strange winter this has been. Everything is topsy-turvy. (Another old fashioned word that I love.)
I wrote the other day about being in my fifties and feeling young and vital.
I’ve suddenly begun getting emails from the Scooter Store.
Back off, Scooter Store. I’m not ready for you yet.
The willow tree is coming down on Tuesday. Can’t think about it. I will be somewhere else that day, trying to forget what is happening to my favorite tree. I’m sorry, willow. I love you. But your beauty comes with a price. You are too destructive. We have to let you go.
I’ll have some shop updates over the weekend, so be sure to check in!
Have a wonderful Friday.

Filed Under: etsy, snow, spring, trees 30 Comments

My Boys are Under the Weather

January 29, 2012 at 11:01 am by Claudia

Sunny skies on this Sunday morning. Thank you Old Man Winter. You’ll see photos of this particular view fairly often on the blog. This is what I see when I stand in the kitchen doorway and look up. That’s a maple on the left, the catalpa in the middle and our sugar maple on the right, along with a cast of thousands. We have a lot of trees.

My boy Riley had a very bad night. I woke up to discover he’d had some elimination problems (no big deal, we’re used to that now) and he’d somehow managed to get wedged half-way under the kitchen island. I can only imagine he panicked and, since he has problems getting around anyway, somehow slipped on the wood floor and couldn’t get up. When I managed to get him up, he kept collapsing. I finally got him outside where he regained a little strength in his legs.

He’s exhausted. Life is hard for my dear boy and I try to reassure him when he’s distressed or worried. Because he does worry. At this point in his life, nothing is worth one second of his feeling bad or guilty.

We try to make getting around as easy as possible. We lift him up and down the stairs. We help him up when his body is stiff and sore. When we look outside and see a mass of mud on the path to the corral, Don runs to the Agway to get some hay.

We cover the mud and tamp it down, so he can get a solid footing. (We put a bit too much down this time!) I vacuum up bits of hay every day. But if it helps Mr. Riley, I’ll vacuum ten times a day.

Don has a cold. Both my boys are having a tough time of it.

Scout and I are fine. Right, Scout?

What are your plans for this Sunday? Is it sunny in your neck of the woods?

Filed Under: Don, Riley, trees 32 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.

Thanks for stopping by.

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The Dogs

The Dogs

Scout & Riley. Riley left us in 2012. Scout left us in February 2016. Dearest babies. Dearest friends.

Winston - Our first dog. We miss you, sweetheart.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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