Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Life in our little cottage in the country

Friday

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I’m on indictment watch here at the cottage. It never gets old.

A guy is coming to look at the washing machine today – hopefully (please cross your fingers) it won’t be an expensive repair.

Unbelievably hot and humid temperatures today with the heat index taking things up to the high nineties. Don just went grocery shopping because we want to stay in for the rest of the day and the repairman is coming some time between 8 and 5 and he needs to be here.

We had yet another torrential thunderstorm that seemed to go for hours. I am SO SICK OF THIS. My Annabelle hydrangea has been pummeled. My zinnias have broken from the weight of the intense rain. I’ve never seen a summer like this one.

I’m going to say it: This summer has sucked.

Sorry to complain, but this is the reality of our life right now.

Let’s look at something rather pretty before I sign off:

Little Miss Ella in a dress I’ve had for ages. It’s made by the brilliant The Pumpkin Belle. I only have one of these, but she’s having a sale on Sunday so I’m going to try to get another. They are beautifully made, the fabric is hand-dyed and the details are exquisite. Usually, my girls are in more casual attire, but it would be fun to get one The Pumpkin Belle dress for each of them. Someday. When I come into money.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

Book Juggling and What are you Reading?

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It seems that everything has bloomed earlier than usual this year. Black/brown-eyed Susans usually bloom in August and they first flowered a couple of weeks ago. Same with the David Phlox. Today’s weather will do them no favors, so I’m going to go out and water this morning before the worst of the heat sets in. We have a heat advisory today and this will be the forecast through Saturday. Thank goodness for air conditioning.

We might get a severe thunderstorm around noon. Sigh. Yet another torrential rain.

Because I’ve been stuck inside, I’ve been playing with the girls.

I placed them on the ottoman for a moment and was taken with the way they looked together.

Believe me, playing with dolls at this age is a truly wonderful thing – something I had never even entertained! They have truly enhanced the quality of my life. Magic and wonder are in short supply these days, so why not grab them while you can?

I’ve been reading a lot. Reading War and Peace first thing in the morning is key. My brain is more open to all the details.  Later in the day, there are too many distractions. (Right now, we’re in the midst of a big battle in the War of 1812.) Then I usually follow with The Deptford Trilogy. I should be more specific about that: I’m reading the first book in the trilogy – Fifth Business. When I finish that, I’ll switch books in order to read Demon Copperhead  by Barbara Kingsolver. I got it from the library, so I have it for a limited amount of time. After that, it will be back to the Trilogy.

Unless another book that I forgot I reserved arrives at the library.

I feel like a juggler!

What are you reading?

Stay safe.

Happy Thursday.

 

 

Random Thoughts on Wednesday

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Taken not long after we mowed the entire front lawn yesterday morning.

I pushed for it because I knew we had to get it done before we had more rain and 4 days of very hot weather, starting today. I was right. We had a huge thunderstorm yesterday afternoon – another bout of torrential rain and endless thunder and lightning.

In all my years, and as you know there are a lot of them, I’ve never witnessed so many thunderstorms in the course of one summer. Honestly, we’ve averaged 2 or 3 a week, every week. Sometimes more. Most summers, we get them, yes, but every once in while, not a parade of storms like we’ve had this summer. I’ve never seen anything like it.

I love a good storm, but it’s safe to say that I’m over it. Enough already.

I swear that I can smell smoke out there, but the weather app says nothing about it. No air quality warning. But my sense of smell is pretty darned exceptional, so I won’t be surprised if we get some kind of warning tomorrow. Anyway, we plan on staying inside for the next four days as the heat index will reach the high nineties and the humidity will be off the charts.

Yuck.

I saw Buddy yesterday. He was out and about and at one point,  I had to make an appearance to get him out of the garden. That scamp! I think he might have taken over as the main tenant under the maple tree. I can’t be absolutely sure of course, but he is the only one of the siblings who regularly pops out of that hole.

We finished up the deductions and I sent them off to our accountant out in California. Yay! Done.

I took a minute to take a picture of two of the girls:

Mabel is wearing a new dress from our friend Woolly Rockers who lives in England. This is a ‘hula girl’ dress (check out the pattern) and I love it.

I’m not sure what they’re looking at – the hydrangea? A bird? Our neighbor’s house? Who knows?

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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