Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

  • About MHC
    • Disclosure
  • Dollhouses/Minis
    • Hummingbird Cottage
    • The Studio (Formerly TSP)
    • Dove Cottage
    • The Lake House
    • The Folk Art Dollhouse
    • The Modern Dollhouse
    • Dollhouse Source List, Information and Tutorials
  • On the Road
  • Collecting
    • Roseville Pottery
    • McCoy Pottery
    • Egg Cups
    • Bakelite
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
You are here: Home / Archives for woods

A Sweet Surprise

August 3, 2024 at 9:15 am by Claudia

A month or so ago, Don posted a request on our local Facebook pages: did anyone have any old outdoor benches that they wanted to get rid of? He got a lot of responses and proceeded to drive around and gather the useable and sturdy benches. His idea was to have an area in Maple Grove, which is a clearing in our woods, where he and his musician friends could play music.

This is what it looks like now. He’d love to get a couple of benches that look like the one on the right, but for now, the white benches are sturdy, made of wood, and they’ll do. Maple Grove looks out on our neighbor’s fields.

Even more recently, he grabbed the old lawnmower and the hoe and cleaned up the paths. When he was finished he said that he wanted to show me what he’d done, as part of it was a response to a longtime request that I had. There’s another area to the left of Maple Grove, also a path, that is usually overgrown. I have always wanted the path cleared there so that it would open onto our neighbor’s fields and the beautiful view of the hills beyond. He did that, along with widening it.

Here is what he showed me:

Dan, who runs our recycling/transfer station, had seen Don’s post and saved a bench for him that someone dropped off. Don didn’t tell me about it, but he immediately envisioned it as a place for me to sit and meditate and gaze at the view. He brought it home and secretly took it up to the woods.

Isn’t this beautiful? And don’t I have a thoughtful husband?

This view is always lovely – the sun comes up over those hills. And it’s especially beautiful in the autumn.

From the other side.

My Don appreciation post for this week.

I absolutely love this and, needless to say, I absolutely love my husband.

Okay. Back to another heat advisory and temps in the high nineties. I’m almost looking forward to autumn.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

Filed Under: Don, woods 36 Comments

The Woods, Flowers, and a Dress

June 1, 2023 at 8:12 am by Claudia

A clearing in our woods that Don named Maple Grove. You can see our neighbor’s field in the distance.

June 1st. My parents’ wedding anniversary. Let’s see, they would be married 77 years today. Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad.

We are due for a high of 90 degrees today and 91 tomorrow. Then it will drop back into the 70s. So, do we try to install our air conditioners today? My back is a little tetchy…it was a lot better but something set it off the other day. But today, it seems stronger. Anyway, Don is sore as well. So, do we just try to hang in there for today and tomorrow and wait until next week to install them?

You don’t have to answer.

It is a beautiful morning. Still no sign of rain, though we might get thunderstorms tomorrow afternoon. I have learned not to count on these ‘chance of rain or thunderstorms’ forecasts. Invariably, the rain passes us by.

The clematis is blooming. Actually, it’s blooming a lot more than this; I took this a few days ago. I will get an update photo later today. I love this gorgeous color.

Both Elly Griffiths books are now in my possession. I started reading The Locked Room  yesterday.

And finally, a wee frock arrived in yesterday’s mail.

It’s what the creator calls a ‘handkerchief dress’ because it’s made from a vintage handkerchief. This is so deliciously retro looking that I couldn’t resist. Madeleine wears it with elegance, as usual.

Stay safe.

Happy Thursday.

Filed Under: Blythe dolls, flowers, garden, woods 32 Comments

The Back Forty

July 2, 2016 at 9:10 am by Claudia

Before the thunderstorms and torrential rains of yesterday afternoon and evening arrived, I visited the back forty. The back forty has a central grassy area that we mow, but the rest of it is wild, including the woods. The edges of the grassy area are filled with all sorts of wildflowers and berries and herbs, as well as mullein and milkweed – and the ubiquitous poison ivy, of course.

7-2 mullein plant

This is mullein. It’s a member of the snapdragon family, with fuzzy leaves and a long spike that can grow very tall. This particular plant is about 5 feet tall, but we’ve had mulleins that were almost as tall as Don (and he’s 6’4″.) It has long been used herbally; sometimes as a tea that helps with respiratory problems, and with its anti-inflammtory properties, it was often made into leaf poultices for the treatment of various illnesses.

7-2 mullein flowers1

Pretty yellow flowers appear just about this time of year and last through most of the summer.

7-2 mulleinflowers2

7-2 mulleinbeforeflowers

I counted at least 14 mulleins growing around the perimeter of the back forty – more than I’ve ever seen before. I also saw a lovely mullein on our trail walk the other day.

7-2 milkweed

We also have milkweed, which, as you know, is the only plant on which the caterpillar that eventually will change into the Monarch Butterfly lives. This year, the milkweed is tucked further back in the wild part of the property, so I could only get a photo from a distance. I did, however, look closely at the milkweed that was nearest to me, hoping to see a caterpillar. I never have, darn it!

7-2 blackraspberries

Lots of black raspberries everywhere. When they are red, like these, they aren’t ripe enough to eat. When they turn ‘black,’ they are. We picked a few the other day and they are delicious!

7-2 yarrow

I found another yarrow.

And this guy:

7-2 bug

7-2 bug2

Don has a gig this afternoon, but otherwise, we’re laying low this weekend. As you know, I’m not one to do much in the form of holiday decorating. I don’t fly the flag or hang bunting or decorate in red, white, and blue. (Although I miss watching the Boston Pops and the fireworks over the Charles River – that was always so moving.) But this time of year does bring some very special dates: tomorrow is my dear sister’s birthday, the 4th is the anniversary of the day Don and I met, and the 5th is my brother-in-law’s birthday.

Of course, I’ll try to find a new way to share the story of that Fateful Fourth, 22 years ago. Tune in Monday for that one.

Happy Saturday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: flowers, woods 30 Comments

  • 1
  • 2
  • Next Page »
  • Email
  • Instagram

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.

Searching?

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

A Note

Thanks for visiting! Feel free to browse, read and enjoy. All content is my own; including photos and text. Please do not use anything on this site without permission.

Disclosure/Privacy Policy can be found in the Navigation Bar under ‘About MHC.’

Also, I love receiving comments! I do, however, reserve the right to delete any comment that is in poor taste, offensive or is verging on spam. It’s my blog. If you’re a bot or a troll you’ll be blocked. Thanks!

Archives

All Content © 2008 - 2025 Mockingbird Hill Cottage · Log in

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Reject
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT