Endless rain.
That’s all I’ll say about that.
Another Henry sighting yesterday. (Side note: my climbing hydrangea is starting to bloom. If the sun would come out and stay out, it would be in full bloom.)
Don and I have decided that Henry (and this is Henry) is like a crotchety old guy who looks around and grumbles. Here, he’s looking toward the street.
“Damn traffic!
“Tell these birds to get off my lawn!”
Though this cropped version is somewhat blurry, I wanted you to see the claws on his feet.
Eventually, he looked even more disgusted and went back to his little home under the shed.
In yesterday’s mail:
Not one, but two Nancy Drews! This is the very first book in the series, The Secret of the Old Clock. I’ve been trying to nab a copy of this one for a long time. Love, love her cloche hat, the jaunty scarf, the dress and the shoes.
And this, The Secret of Red Gate Farm. It’s number six in the series. I’ve never read this one and I’m intrigued by the spooky hijinks that Nancy is secretly observing. A cult? People dressed up like ghosts? Ku Klux Klan?
This one is in as-good-as-it-gets condition. Excellent.
The titles I’m seeking now, including these two, seem to be the hardest to find. If they’re in good condition, they often go for a lot of money. Heck, I’ve seen tattered covers which still sell well. So I have to be patient and snag one when I see a good deal. Only five more to go before I have my complete set of Russell H. Tandy covers.
Some of them, like The Secret of Red Gate Farm, have mylar covers, which protect the book jacket. I’m going to buy some of them from a supplier and cover all of the uncovered Nancy Drews, as well as the dust jacket for my autographed copy of To Kill a Mockingbird. They’re pretty inexpensive, and the books are worth it.
Rain or no rain, I have to recycle today.
Vicki, a reader of this blog, was rear ended by a hit-and-run driver the other day. Her car is totaled and she appears to have a neck injury. Understandably, she is very shaken up. Despite the shock, she managed to memorize most of the license plate number on the other driver’s car. The police are involved. If you read yesterday’s comments, you’ll see Vicki’s story. Let’s keep her in our thoughts and prayers.
Happy Wednesday.
Vicki is in my prayers!
We I was a kid one of my older sister’s read Trixie Belden books. She had a girlfriend who would loan them to her, but I was not allowed to touch them. I sure missed out. But I would love to read Trixie Belden. I think that is how it is spelled. Maybe I will google them.
Yes, I read some Trixie Belden books as well! See if you can find some, Tana. It’s past time for you to have the opportunity to read them!
Thank you, Tana!
Adding Vicki to my prayer list. So much going on in this crazy world.
I love the new book cover (that cloche is just wow!) I’m always happy to hear you’ve added to your collections. Looks like we might have a break in the rain and be able to go pick up my Mom’s new (old) table from the Vintage mall today. A son in law with a truck is a wonderful thing. I’m going to get my passport renewal sent off and some things donated to the thrift shop and call it a day. Hugs!
I wish we had a truck! It would be so darned handy! Your mom will be glad to have her table.
Thank you, Linda. Prayers are precious.
Yes, prayers for Vicki. I don’t understand a person who could leave the scene of an accident!
That Henry is a charmer—even more so when the crotchety old man personality is noticed. He looks so cuddly, but the claws tell me he is not! I’d love to have a Henry around here. I wonder how he’d get along with the beaver, the ducks, and the loons. (I haven’t seen a snake yet…too cold. Not looking forward to seeing one, either!)
I always think of him as cuddly, but I know he isn’t. Well…maybe I could get him to cuddle!
Thank you for the kind support, Shanna.
Henry is so ’round’, isn’t he!
Henry may be ‘grouchy’…how can you ‘really’ know a groundhog from a picture…but he sure is cute!
My thoughts and prayers are with Vicki today…I cannot believe someone would bang into someone with that much force…and just leave! Unconscionable!
Happy recycling day! ;)
He’s looking grouchier than he used to…
Thank you, Donnamae. Thank you for your empathy yesterday, too.
Yikes! I hope things will go well with Vicki.
Henry is amazing, and I love the comments you’ve decided he is making. :-)
I have a neat voice I use for him, too!
Thank you, Bridget. I’ll be okay…eventually…
Thoughts and prayers to Vicki…what an awful thing to have happen!
I have enjoyed seeing your Nancy Drew books so much, Claudia. When I started reading the series I read the blue cover ones from the library. Most did not have dust jackets. Then My parents bought me the yellow cover books. They all got passed on to a younger cousin. How I wish I still had them. I read Trixie Belden too. Every now and then I see one in an antique store. There was Cherry Ames (nurse?) series also. Good memories!
Yes, Cherry Ames was a nurse. Loved all those series, so important to our ‘growing up’ years!
Loved all of these – Nancy, Trixie, etc. But I think Cherry Ames (and Sue Barton before her) are why I became a nurse!
Oh, Sue Barton! I forgot about her and I definitely read Sue Barton!
Thank you, Judy.
I only read the blue covers of Nancy Drew as a young girl, too; there were never dust jackets. So Claudia’s collection is a real treat to see.
I love Henry…..your description of him is perfect.
Very jealous of your autographed TKAM . Best. Novel. Ever.
Can I add my well wishes to Vicky in her recovery
Siobhan
I agree. Best novel ever!
Siobhan, thank you for your well wishes. They help a lot!
Oh, those wonderful Nancy Drew covers. And Henry; what a personality.
I can’t be on the computer long because it’s too uncomfortable with my head/neck/shoulders right now, but after it was mentioned we could see excerpts/promos of Don in the musical, I googled the ‘Escape to Margaritaville’ and it was such fun to see him with the eye patch. I wish I could get to La Jolla to see him in the production but that seems unlikely now; maybe, I don’t know. I want to know more about the character he’s playing; can you share anything, Claudia? Some kind of beach bum? I hope Don is having a lot of fun even though it’s also a lot of work.
Claudia, thank you so much for your wonderful support here on the blog. I feel a cloak of comfort from all of your beautiful readers and you. I’ll probably feel better after I see my ‘regular’ doctor on Friday. Right now, I’m hemmed in; we’re in deep May Gray/June Gloom outside so it’s dark and overcast here in SoCalif although I love the cooler weather; but, a lot of thoughts are swirling in my aching head. It seems like all I do is fight nausea, switch ice packs out; take the prescribed drugs; sleep. Worrying about stuff that isn’t getting done; places I need to be; had to cancel an appointment today I didn’t want to cancel. Oh well.
Sorry to say I’ve been in other car accidents over the decades…yes, I have; none were my fault…but maybe when we’re younger we cope better/differently. For me, this is a rough one but, as you’d said, it could’ve been so, so much worse, for me and injury. I hope I’m not in for a long road with my neck but whiplash injuries are no picnic.
Love to you and all here. I’m so grateful for all of you. Even though we don’t hear or see one another, we are still a community, almost a sort of family. Everyone have a good (and safe!) day out there…
Hang in there, Vicki. I’m sure there’s a sort of post traumatic stress going on. That makes sense given what you’ve been through. Be kind to yourself. Just do what you can do. Listen to music that soothes you. We are a loving community here and you must feel free to share your feelings with us on any given day. Much love.
I am just awestruck by the kindness on your blog, Claudia…you and your readers. I’ve never encountered this before and it means more to me than you can possibly ever know. Thank you again and again. It’s taught me that I need to always read the comments of others very carefully and return a sentence of good cheer, condolence or comfort wherever I can. The world can sometimes be a little too harsh, and we’re all human; we need each other. Just as words can hurt, think of how they help heal!
We are indeed all human. We need love and understanding and a virtual hug. I am so moved by the people that read this blog. They are amazing and I’m so glad they reached out to you today, Vicki. xoxoxo
You know, one time, on someone else’s blog, I’d do that (I get caught up in other people’s stories; enthusiasm!), but then there were negative comments by readers that it was her blog, not mine, so shut up, because people didn’t want to see Vicki-Vicki-Vicki so much on the post/comments. It was very upsetting for me; hurt my feelings; not the gentlest of ‘communities’ on that one! So I backed off on commenting to anyone but the blog owner; for that particular blog, I guess it was just something that had to be respected although the blog owner herself is a jewel. Anyway, it makes you gun-shy after something like that, to tag on a comment to the blog owner’s response to another reader. Am I making any sense? At least here on MHC, I’ll feel freer now to (hopefully in brief words, not my strong suit) add my two cents when someone needs a hug or a prayer. I didn’t do that when kathy in iowa had that home burglary although I wanted to; she’d given a lot of good tips about self-protection. I was glad she ‘talked it out’ here…it’s cathartic to be able to do it…and that you let her have the space to do it, Claudia.
I don’t get the negative comments from other readers – is it their blog or the blogger’s blog? Go figure. Maybe they weren’t comfortable with the idea of community or were unsure if that was what the blogger wanted.
Feel free here. One of my favorite things is when one commenter reaches out to another commenter, whether it’s in fun or commiseration or for whatever reason.
You are very generous. Truly!
So happy for you in receiving those two “Nancy Drew ” books. My sister has those two also. Will keep Viki in my thoughts and prayers.
Marilyn
Thank you, Marilyn! Only five more to go!
Thank you, Marilyn. Good thoughts are good medicine!
Vicki knows from yesterday that she is in my thoughts and I wish her the best…Vicki you are welcome to comment on my thoughts anytime!…I had a great time last night watching Don, Jimmy and the rest in online clips about the show…love the eye patch!
I do, too!
Oh, Nancy, thank you again for making such a warm comment on my behalf; I so appreciate your thoughtfulness. I’m going to get better faster because of nice people like you!
Henry sure is cute, but he definitely looks a little grouchy to me!
Vicki, you are in my thoughts and prayers!
He’s old. He has a right to be grouchy!
Lily, you are a dear. Thank you for thinking of me.
I have just discovered this blog and I am really enjoying ‘catching up’. Vickie, I am pretty sure you are the same Vickie that used to comment on the ‘other blog’ I read. I really enjoyed your comments and missed them when they stopped. Yes, the owner of the blog is a jewel. I am glad you have found a good community, and jewels, here, too! I will be sending good thoughts and wishes for a peaceful, fairly quick recovery. I am glad your injuries weren’t any worse, although you are dealing with a lot. Take care…
Debra, YOU are the jewel for making this comment. If we’re speaking of the same blog, you see, you’ve also remembered the viciousness of the comments that were slung at me, back in the day there. It is so disturbing to read such harsh words in print. I was stunned. When I read those mean things, I felt like my heart was beating so fast that it was going to beat right out of my body. Was a very, very stressful turn of events for me. No one likes to be attacked. Bullied. It took me a long time to ever write anything on that blog again although, yes, the ‘gem’ of a blog owner was completely supportive (and I totally love her). I struggle to self-edit when I write…I’m ‘way too wordy…and some people have no patience with it (maybe these days, we’re victim to shorter attention spans and, of course, everyone is busy, but I’d think ‘just skip over me then’ – why take the time to be so cruel?). I certainly had never meant to offend or bother or be boring to anyone; again, I just get caught up in the conversation. Or maybe I’m just lonely, or something!
Anyway, thank you for your thoughts and wishes; it means so much to me. You will completely LOVE Claudia’s blog here, AND her wonderful readers/community. There is love and support and goodness on every single page and with every single word on Mockingbird Hill Cottage and Claudia, and her husband Don, are superior, lovely, intelligent, soulful, fun and caring people. You are in for a great ride, Debra! So glad you found Claudia’s blog!
I’m blushing a little. Thank you, Vicki.
Blush away, dear. I meant every word of it.
At one time, my sister and I owned EVERY Nancy Drew , Trixie Beldon and the Bobbsey Twin books. Such good memories, I wish we still had at least a few of them.
Great memories, Debra!