Mockingbird Hill Cottage
I’ll just let the pictures tell the story.
Each of our 4 large trees in the front yard lost numerous limbs. I could hear cracking and groaning as they fell. Then our huge sugar maple lost the massive limb you see above, crashing into my planters, birdbath and the dogs corral. Such devastation. All I could do was stand there in shock and weep.
Either our roof or our chimney leaked into our bedroom.
Life has been kicking us in the pants lately.
One of my favorite trees back home is our Weeping Willow. At this time of year, the new growth is the perfect shade of apple green. But I’ve lucked out. This is what I see from my window here in the condo:
Isn’t it pretty? There’s another willow off in the distance. And these beauties are to my right:
I can’t complain about the view.
Rehearsals started yesterday and boy, are there a lot of new faces and names to remember. I still get confused each time I turn a corner in the main building. I constantly get lost. My job here involves coaching Blithe Spirit, teaching classes to the apprentices, and looking in on another show, Crime and Punishment. Yesterday, I listened to the read-through of C & P. Today, we start on Blithe Spirit. Next week, I begin teaching. Yikes. I have a lot of prep to do in the meantime.
I’m so tired at the end of the day that I fall asleep watching television.
I made my favorite biscuits yesterday without a biscuit cutter or a cookie sheet or a proper mixing bowl. A stockpot became the bowl and a casserole pan became the cookie sheet. I needed some comfort food. Much to my surprise, it worked.
I found these outside my front door:
I love pine cones.
And a pretty little heart shaped rock.
Bird’s nest update: Still no sign of potential nesters. I’ll keep you posted.
More later.
We had our first hard frost last night. The Catalpa tree, always the last to lose its leaves, is shedding them at an alarming rate. The drive is covered in big, heart-shaped leaves. Piles of them. It’s time to say goodbye to the glorious colors of autumn and hunker down for the coming winter.
Happy November. I have a special spot in my heart for this month – the month of my birth. My birthday always hovers within a few days or a week of Thanksgiving. Since I usually feel like I’m somewhere in my late 30’s, the actual amount of years I will celebrate is always a bit shocking. After a sleepless night last night (for both of us), my husband looked around the living room this morning and said “The pack is aging. The wolves are circling the house saying, we can take them.” Scout is going to be 12 in December, a young 12, but 12 nonetheless. Riley’s age is a guess, but he’s probably around 9. And Don and I? Well, we’re young at heart. Cue Frank Sinatra.
I swiffer every day. I vacuum every day. I use a lint brush on the furniture almost every day. Then I sit here in the morning light and all I see is dog hair. Everywhere. See the white hair on the table? Thank you, Scout. We have two very hairy dogs here at MHC. In fact, our new Vet couldn’t believe how thick Riley’s undercoat is. And Scout: lots of fine cat-like hair that flies everywhere. Oh, and leaves. Riley seems to be a magnet for every fallen leaf in the yard. It’s as if he’s made of Velcro. But I forget it all when I see their sweet faces. Sort of.
It makes cleaning a challenge. And it makes crocheting a challenge. I seem to be picking long white hairs out of my stitches rather frequently. I suppose a part of Scout is in everything I crochet or knit! I’ve been hooking away while watching the World Series.
I think I’ve made it a bit too wide, though since Don and I usually sit together on the sofa, I’m aiming for something that can cover us both with room to spare. I love doing these scrappy ripple afghans because it’s such fun to play with color and texture. I’m rather liking this so far.
I’m off to swiffer.
