Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Tuesday (That’s All I Could Come Up With)

June 21, 2016 at 9:18 am by Claudia

When 71% of Americans favor some sort of gun restriction, even if it is simply background checks, and over 90% of Americans supported the measures being voted on yesterday, yet our representatives continue to vote down any legislation that would make that possible, well, I sit here once again, disillusioned, disheartened, and becoming more and more cynical by the minute. Shameful.

And that’s all I’ll say about that.

To maintain my sanity, I’m going to concentrate on my garden (as of yesterday.)

6-22 rosesandspirea

6-22 hollyhock

6-22 LEMrose

6-22 ALrose

6-22 spiderconeflower

It was so hot yesterday that photograph taking was kept to a minimum! But watering? That was ongoing. It should be a bit cooler today – not much – but a bit.

I made a little something for the TSP:

6-22 TSPdonotenter

I thought mini Don would like a little something to warn those well-intentioned friends who might open the sliding door without thinking, thereby ruining a recording.

6-22 TSPwelcome

The other side. The sign is hanging on a white knob, which is the head of a quilting pin that’s been cut down to about a quarter of an inch.

Some dusting and minor tweaking and we’re good to go for the big day.

Cross your fingers that Don likes it. I’m worried I’ve overhyped the whole thing and when he sees it, he’ll think, “That’s it?” 

Happy Tuesday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: flowers, garden, roses, Top Secret Project, what I believe 63 Comments

Around the Garden And A Little Gift

June 20, 2016 at 8:25 am by Claudia

What’s up in the gardens on this first day of summer?

6-20 beebalm

The bee balm will be in bloom very soon. I can’t wait for those splashes of vivid red in the big garden bed.

6-20 beeonleaf

Bees are everywhere. This one was working very hard at something  on the end of that leaf. I was fascinated but I could never quite figure it out.

6-20 atlastrose

Roses keep blooming.

6-20 pinkspirea

The pink spirea is fully in bloom. Clouds of pink everywhere.

6-20 webonclematis

Post petals, this is what remains of the clematis bloom – along with a bug and a gossamer web.

6-20 damesrocketbug

Dame’s Rocket with little bug.

6-20 rosebuds

New Dawn Rose buds.

6-20 spiderweb

A spider web, stretching from boxwood to boxwood.

The camera becomes my third eye and I’m always surprised and delighted by what it discovers. It truly is my favorite time of year, despite being sleep deprived.

We’re on the countdown, my friends: T minus 4 days and counting. A big birthday on Friday for Don and Little Z. Oh that little boy, we love him so much. We talk to him most every evening, conversations where word games are played, giggles erupt, and a besotted aunt and uncle sigh with happiness. He’s going to be five years old, you know. Don is going to be, ahem, sixty-five.

This was waiting for Don on Father’s Day, along with a card from Winston, Riley and Scout.

6-20 scoutieinframe

I matted and framed Shanna’s sketch of Scout. Don was very pleased. Shanna managed to capture the twinkle in Scout’s eye, that look that said, “I’m game for anything!” If I had to describe Scout with just one word, it would be JOY. In caps.

We miss my dad. We miss Don’s dad. And we miss my brother, dad to three wonderful children – now adults – and the seven grandchildren he never got to know. Father’s Day is bittersweet, indeed.

Anastasia  closed its run in Hartford yesterday. Next year: Broadway. I know at least two of the readers of this blog saw it and loved it, which makes me very happy.

Happy Monday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: Don, flowers, gardening, Little Z, Scout 29 Comments

Missing

June 19, 2016 at 10:08 am by Claudia

dadme

You’ve seen this photo before; it’s one of my favorites.

Missing my dad on this, my first Father’s Day without him. Thinking of my sister who is feeling the same sense of loss. And of all of you who miss your fathers.

And of my husband, who is missing being a father to Scout.

A bittersweet day and a day where every post in the blogging world and on Instagram and Facebook seems to be about fathers. So I’m going to lay low.

I’ve not been sleeping well this past week. I wake up in the middle of the night and then I stay awake for hours. It’s very frustrating.

All that being said, we have to have a least one pretty flower picture, don’t we?

6-19 yellowdaylily

The first daylily to open up in the side garden bed. A cheery yellow daylily.

Happy Sunday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: Dad, flowers, garden 24 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.

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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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