It takes a bit longer each morning for the light to sneak its way into the kitchen and living room. It’s colder, too, and I grab my shawl when I come downstairs. It’s that time in the fall when the mornings are cold (yes, I caved and turned on the heat) and the afternoons are warm and sunny. The seasonal change has definitely made its presence known here.
I deliberately stayed away from the TV news yesterday until the evening news came on. One must be informed, of course, but I also have to find moments and pockets of peace in my day. But, oh, my heart breaks for those who are suffering in this senseless tragedy, those who have lost loved ones, those whose lives will never be the same.
And, I don’t want to hear another politician who gets money from the NRA issue a statement about ‘love and prayers.’ If you ‘love,’ then show us that love by taking action.
I spent a lot of time working on the blog yesterday. Some plugins weren’t performing well – still aren’t, but I’m trying to remedy that. Because of a php update (don’t ask me to explain – I can’t) some of the plugins I use stopped working correctly. One of those was the plugin I use for Comment Replies. Many of you were trying to leave a comment and getting a message that it wasn’t working. It was, but who wants to go through that every time? I was getting the same message when I tried to reply to your comments. Plugins are the way in which WordPress sites can be modified and enhanced. The problem with them is that some developers stop updating them and they no longer work as they should. For some reason, comment reply plugins seem to suffer from this more than others. I finally found a new one that works, but if you’re use to seeing your name and email already there when you go to make a comment, you’ll have to re-enter it. More work being done today and I then I hope that’s it for a while.
Sometimes maintaining this blog is a pain in the tush.
Impressionistic early morning morning glory.
Happy Tuesday.
Staying away from the constant bad news is the only way I can maintain my sanity. I’m so sad that our Country is in such dire straits. On an up note, Stella is looking right at home!
Stella has settled in nicely, Karen.
I love the view of your kitchen today. That one plant is so tall! How have I never noticed it before?
It is getting cooler in the evenings and mornings here. I love this weather. It always revives me after the summer heat and humidity. The winds have been gently blowing since yesterday and it is calming, listening to it rustle the trees. I crave calm right now.
I refrain from the news. It seems too much most days. Years ago, while living in Berlin, I watched news 24/7. I was always looking for a glimpse of a friend that was in Iraq, just hoping he was safe. With the news coverage, it was as though you were there with them. I think it may have given me a touch of anxiety, watching it like that.
I hope Don is doing well. And lucky you, going to New Orleans! You are going to have a blast!
Have a lovely day!
I’ve talked about that plant before. It was my parents’ and it is over 40 years old. I brought it back from Florida. My sister has another one that is just as old.
Well…looks like you fixed your comment plug-in…my name appeared…congrats. Small victories. I just stared at your first pic of your home…perfection…calming…I needed that. We have one more warmish day…then we are back to normal, I think. No telling these days what is normal anymore, weather -wise or otherwise. Enjoy your day! ;)
Warm today and tomorrow here and then back to normal. But it’s sunny and that’s good!
Morning! Fall has really arrived here in our part of the country. Lots of color and snow on the ground in the Eastern part of Montana. Our heater and fireplace have been on for awhile….lol Can’t watch the news. They sensationalize everything, and turn this tragedy into a circus. It sickens me. Kit
Snow already? Oh boy!
Yes, the 24/7 news, especially, sensationalize it. I can’t watch.
Claudia I so enjoy the play of light coming through our windows during the day. My two year old great neice will try and catch the sun rays, it’s so cute. It’s a lovely blustery day here in Florida. I’m so enjoying watching the branches and leaves of my favorite tree dancing in the wind. Love the pictures of your house and the Morning Glory. I can’t watch the news much because my emotions are always so near the surface from the past weeks tragedies. If tears could solve anything I’d let myself weep all the time but it just brings me to the depths of depression and I don’t want that.
I know what you mean. I want to cry and then it just takes over. I’m too emotional that way – that’s a good thing, of course, but I have to monitor it.
love that view of your home … the light, the arrangement, the colors and choices … stella looks beautiful, original, home. :)
and the flowers!
thanks for sharing through words and photos … and for all the behind-the-scenes technical and financial efforts to maintain your blog.
agree … i don’t want to hear just talk from any politician (have a hard time calling most of them “leaders”) … we need true representation, backbones and action!
hope you have an easy day.
kathy in iowa
Yes, we do. Now is the time to step up. Thanks, Kathy.
Where’s your beautiful kitchen island?
Oh, we moved that over a month and half ago to accommodate our vintage stove. The island is way too big for the kitchen anyway. It’s on the porch now.
I’m feeling so weighted down right now. I did see a bird at the feeder, first one since the storm came through so that’s a good thing. Hugs!
Seeing a bird at the feeder is a good sign, Linda. Enjoy the little things as best you can.
I usually have MSNBC on all day – unless there’s something on Turner Classic Movies that I want to see – but I did mute it yesterday after a while [factoid – I always mute it when Trump is speaking anywhere too – LOL]. It was non-stop coverage of the tragedy in Las Vegas – as I guess it should have been – but the talk was the same all day long. Stories of how survivors managed to survive – some of them positively heroic – and news about the shooter, which I couldn’t have cared less about. Unless someone can tell me WHY he did what he did, I don’t care to hear another syllable about him. So I gave myself a bit of a break from the bad news too. If the same pattern holds, in a few days all the talk about sensible gun laws will fade away, and we’ll go on as we always have. Heavy despondent sigh. I mean, if 20 little 6-year old kids getting blown away in their classroom didn’t going to wake people up, Las Vegas certainly isn’t. I guess jaded Janet is here today – I’ll try to recover a better mood by tomorrow. Have a sunny Fall Tuesday down there in the Hudson Valley. Got much color yet? Here on the shore of Lake Ontario, we don’t. Not yet. Peace.
#Resist
I know. If Sandy Hook didn’t make a difference, it’s hard to see what will.
We are getting color, slowly, but surely. But not a whole lot yet.
I am so in love with your cottage, Claudia, not only its bones, but what you and Don have achieved with the decorating, collecting, responsible management of the grounds. I enjoy that particular view, seeing Stella and your mismatched chairs…..love that! I read the newspaper daily, but usually try to avoid news otherwise. There just isn’t anything uplifting lately. Thank you for being so patient with your blog server and other blog intricacies about which I don’t have any idea. I look forward to reading words from Mockingbird Hill Cottage every day….haha, no pressure, right?…really, it’s a privilege for me, not a right, so if you need to miss a day here and there, you know that’s fine.
Thank you for your kind words!
I am avoiding the news right now as well. I will find out what I need to know and the rest is just too draining on my soul. I know you understand.
I thought yesterday the issue I had trying to post a comment was just me. I was so rattled by what was going on in the world, I figured I had deleted something, somehow as I typed, and the error messages were caused by me. I see below that I have to enter my name and email again which is fine. Always something…..
I wish people who worry about their fricking gun rights would worry as much about the people those guns kill and deeply wound (and OUR rights to feel safe and secure). And no one need say that people kill people ~ because they seem to do it most of the time with the damn guns. (sorry/not sorry)
A warm day today, but cooler temps on the way. Also the possibility of some rain. We had 1/2 inch of rain in all of September. It is a crunchy walk out in the yard. Have a good Tuesday, Claudia.
I don’t see how the right to carry a gun should outweigh our right to safety and to live our lives free from fear. I wish the second amendment had never existed. Truly.
Claudia – What nights are the show in New Orleans and where will you all be staying? Send me an email please.
Love,
Judy
I’ll shoot you an email but our hotel is sold out (I know that because Mere was going to come for a few days and now she can’t) and there are apparently conventions in town as well. I’ll send an email with more details.
I know I’ve said it before, but I must say it again: I LOVE your cottage. Today’s picture is so calm and welcoming. I love the yellow wall and Stella is just gorgeous! I am excited about your trip to New Orleans because I know you will share with us. It has been 35 years since I have been there. We thought it was a beautiful place! I know you will have a great time seeing it with Don!
Thank you, Dottie!
I’m really looking forward to visiting NOLA.
I felt a calming sigh when I looked at your peaceful, sunny kitchen…with Stella in place as if she’s always been there.
Thank you for all the work you do to keep the blog going and running efficiently.
I meant to say that the cherry blossom Roseville piece was absolutely gorgeous. I, of course, do so love Roseville myself and you’ve really educated me on a lot of the patterns. Before my husband inherited a few pieces from Granny, I didn’t even know Roseville existed.
My irritability is increasing with the stress. I found myself snapping at my husband last night but we recognized between us of why. It’s just…everything. He has to take some time off work tomorrow to work further on our protections because of the Equifax breach. He’s not happy about it. I seem to be getting further and further behind on my projects/goals and I have some health problems which have been a lot worse in the past week which I’m positive are exacerbated from the stress I allow to undo me (events of the world; events closer to home, in my personal life). So, I made a list last night of everything poking at us since we’re both just feeling too sad and edgy. (I’m a great one for lists to try to sort out my thoughts on paper.) Next, what can I do about any of it? I was able to whittle it down, of where and what are action items; something I-myself can get back some control on and accomplish something. To where my husband can get back to a full concentration on his employment. For me, most of it of course points to the personal; and home. So that’s what I’m going to try hard to focus on. And I’m also going to try hard to get back to the place…that delicate balance…of reducing exposure to media/news while still trying to stay informed and aware, which is where I’d try to straddle after the election. Health and home just has to come first.
And beautiful photos from you of New Orleans. I am SO looking forward to your posts from NOLA; less than three weeks from today! It’s wonderful that you have something so nice to look forward to, and that you and Don can enjoy the daytime sightseeing together. And that you can travel to and fro without it being snowy winter yet. Let the good times roll!
More bits and pieces from my ‘file’ of things to see and do in New Orleans, taken from too many articles to mention:
“New Orleans is one of the few places on the planet that can boast its own music, cuisine and unique cultural heritage….(it’s) eccentric if nothing else…(so) it helps to have a tolerance for the quirky and absurd…(but) a joie de vivre is our way of life here…with beautiful parks, a world class zoo, great public transportation and year ’round festivals…this place would be paradise if it were not for the sweltering summers… (but) in late fall, AC is not really necessary…”
“New Orleans’ culture – a unique mix of European, African and Caribbean – and colorful history is wide and deep like the mighty Mississippi River that slowly churns at its door. It’s been called the historian’s paradise. Most neighborhoods here were established in the 19th century; tens of thousands of homes are 100 years old or older. Built before the age of the automobile, the side streets are narrow so cars have to drive slowly (making the streets quieter and safer for walking)…proud of (that) wonderful European and Caribbean architecture, the city itself is beautiful (no factories) and pretty quiet, with birds chirping and breezes blowing through the majestic oak trees and palms lining the avenues and streets…(and) it’s nice to be Uptown, especially in the evenings, to hear the streetcar passing on the avenue, and the train whistles and the big ships tooting along the Mississippi River.”
One of NOLA’s best buildings is “The Customs House… which now houses an Insectarium and Butterfly Garden. Built in 1881 its Marble Hall is considered to be one of the finest Greek revival interiors in the United States…our most beautiful large buildings are old and built in a classic style…(and) you can find many of these in the Central Business District and along Canal Street. (And, of course) you can find some of the best architecture in the French Quarter, a mixture of French and Spanish influences.”
Thank you, sweet Vicki!
I’ve pulled myself away yesterday and today. I have to take a break. I have a lot on my mind and I’m trying to clear it and feel peaceful and watching the news or following twitter or anything like that would negate that.
What a lovely room to wake up to! I would just about beg for a snake plant like that one. I have been looking for one and can’t find even a teeny one. They just seem to sell cacti these days.
I’ve seen a few smallish ones at my local grocery store. This one is over 40 years old, Jan!
Stella is looking good!
Hugs to you. : )
She sure is! Thank you, Monica!
Love seeing the sun shining through your windows….I have to agree with Janet…if 20 little 6 year old kids getting blown away in their classroom didn’t wake people up..then neither will Las Vegas…of course the politicians will announce how horrible and tragic it is and once again do nothing about it…
It makes me angry. Such hypocrisy!
I listened to the news quite a bit yesterday as the horror unfolded. Today I was taking care of grandkids and did not want them to hear what was going on.
I hear you about the waning of the sunlight and the shift in its patterns in our homes. It’s a sure sign that the season has changed.
Have a wonderful week, Claudia. xo Diana
ps. I love the way that old stove looks–you did good on that one!!!!
Best to protect the grandkids from the tragedy.
Thanks so much, Diana. (We love our ‘new’ stove – very happy we went ahead and got her!)
Your kitchen is lovely. Stella just makes it even better.
Marilyn
She makes the room, I think! Thank you, Marilyn!