Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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As Is: Late Summer Edition

September 14, 2015 at 8:20 am by Claudia

Every once in a while, I give myself permission to take a quick photo of the house ‘As Is.’ No straightening up, no ‘vignettes’ – just real life. If you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time, you know that Don and I like cozy, relaxed, eclectic and vintage. We read a lot, so there are always books lying around. There’s usually a guitar somewhere – right now, there’s one in the living room and one in the den. It’s early around here and the lights are on.

9-14 living room

Practical is the watchword lately. You’ll notice lots of throw rugs that really don’t have any design theme whatsoever. They’re for Scout. They help her navigate. There’s a quilt on the floor in front of the loveseat – also for Scout. And you can just see the edge of a towel that’s on top of the oval rug. You guessed it – for Scout. Don’s Kindle, books, and glasses are on the coffee table.

Nothing exciting. Nothing new. I can’t see spending money on something we really don’t need – just to ‘change things up.’

I don’t decorate for fall, as you know. We are fortunate to live in the Northeast, where Fall will be on constant display in a very short time. Frankly, nothing I could do would be better than the designs of Mother Nature. And honestly, I have so little available surface area that it isn’t practical.

9-14 kitchen

It’s a dark and cloudy morning, so these aren’t great photos. But sometimes, to be perfectly honest, I don’t care!

More throw rugs for Scout. A piece of paper towel on the island (see? no editing.) Dishes in the drainer. Paint brushes used on the dollhouse in a piece of McCoy on the window sill. Cough medicine on the counter. My Peet’s French Roast (single cup drip method) awaiting the boiling water from the tea kettle.

I’ll spare you the den, where there are piles of used kleenexes, cough drops, and a makeshift bed (I came downstairs around 4 am because I was coughing too much and I didn’t want to keep disturbing Don’s sleep.) I don’t know if it is allergies or sinuses and, frankly, I never  know. I do remember now that I wasn’t feeling all that great on Thursday when I was in the city. Lots of sneezing – I mean lots – and congestion. So I think this has been coming on for a few days.

There you go. As Is for Monday, September 14th.

Happy Monday.

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Filed Under: kitchen, living room, Mockingbird Hill Cottage, Scout 33 Comments

The Repercussions of Trying to Beat Out the Rain & Other Things

September 13, 2015 at 9:06 am by Claudia

Do you ever play a game with the rain? I do it sometimes when I’m mowing. Yesterday, the clouds got increasingly dark and heavy. I knew rain was in the forecast. I was mowing the front lawn (after having mowed the corral and the lilac side of the lawn) thinking, “I’ll just mow the longer part of the lawn before it rains, otherwise it will get too long and will be difficult to mow.”

Don had given me strict instructions not to do too much, but little raindrops started to fall – just a few, here and there, and I immediately wanted to see how far I could get before I had to give up and flee into the cottage.

I managed to finish it all. Huzzah!

But, then again, I did far more mowing than I should have, which led to an allergy attack last night and into the night and very little sleep.

Crap.

That’ll show me.

I definitely feel under the weather, but I hope it’s all gone by the end of the day.

9-13 daddylonglegs1

I keep seeing daddy longlegs on the hollyhocks. After several sightings over the course of the last month, I can’t believe it’s a coincidence.

I googled ‘daddy longlegs and hollyhocks’ and saw several photos which look a lot like mine, so obviously others are seeing them, too. But I could find no explanation as to why they seem to gravitate to these flowers.

9-13 daddylonglegs2

Two flowers, two daddy longlegs. (By the way, I wondered if daddy longlegs needed a dash somewhere in the spelling, but the dictionary gave me this configuration, so I’m going with it.)

Another ‘by the way’; I saw birds in the birdbath a day or so ago: three catbirds and a robin. The robin, as usual, merely by his size, drove the catbirds away. But they stayed nearby and as soon as Mr. Robin left, they were back at it. I was so happy to see some activity there!

Finished Dishing the Dirt  by M.C. Beaton, which is an easy read that can be done in a day. In fact, that’s what I did. I’ll be reviewing it this week on Just Let Me Finish This Page. Now, I’m starting The Girl in the Spider’s Web  by David Lagercrantz, the author chosen by the executors of the late Steig Larsson’s estate to continue the series. It’s had good reviews and I can’t wait to dive in.

The library is a wonderful resource. I reserved The Girl in the Spider’s Web  and it didn’t take all that long for me to rise to the top of the queue. Another Huzzah!

9-13 morningglory

Yesterday’s morning glory.

Today is the last day to leave a comment on my book review. I’ll pick the winner tonight.

Okay. I’m off to cough some more and blow my nose and, hopefully,  feel less yucky and start my book.

Happy Sunday.

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Filed Under: books, flowers, garden, reading, spider 29 Comments

Saturday: Station Eleven, Commuting Into the City & the Garden

September 12, 2015 at 10:10 am by Claudia

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I’ve had to tear myself away from the last 10 or so pages of Station Eleven to write this post. My lord, this is one of the best books I’ve read in a long, long time; completely realized, that rare kind of story which transports me to another place and time, where I’m lost in its pages, so much so, that I can’t re-enter my world immediately. It stays with me throughout the day. I want it to end, but I don’t want it to end.

This is one of those times that I wish I was sitting around with some of you who have already read Station Eleven, sipping coffee and talking, talking, talking about it. I cannot say enough just how much I love this book. It’s the sort of book I would have been wary of buying, afraid that it wouldn’t be my cup of tea. But, I’d heard a lot about it and I put it on reserve at the library and I’m so, so glad I did.

9-12 Zinnia

I know you’d love photos from NYC when I travel into the city, but on days when I’m there on business, I simply have no time to take pictures. That kind of day in NYC becomes about driving 30 minutes to the bus station, spending an hour and a half on the bus (in this case, even longer, because traffic was so bad that we arrived 40 minutes late), which forced me to speed walk the 14 blocks or so to the rehearsal space, attend the 3 hour meeting, speed walk back to the bus station, grab some take-out for lunch that I had to eat on the bus, travel 90 minutes back to my local bus station, and drive 30 minutes back home.  A simple 3 hour meeting involves about 8 hours of time.

On days when I’m in the city with time to spare, when I travel in for fun, or am staying in the city on a job, then I have time to take photos. And I love doing that.

That’s why even an audition – which, let’s face it, takes all of 10 minutes – is a big commuting hassle for Don. It’s a trade-off, one that we made when we decided to live this far from the city. Most of the time, it’s worth every hassle. But there are times….

This coming week, Don has two auditions on two separate days and I have to go back in on Wednesday for another meeting. Feast or famine in the Hill-Sparks household! We’re grateful for the activity, though; it means we’re employed or have the chance to be employed.

9-12 mg1

I’m pleased to say that I’ve finally noticed some flower activity on the mass of morning glories that are twining and growing all over the chicken wire fence but, up until now, have shown no sign of anything other than leaves. I spotted this little soon-to-be blossom yesterday.

And over on the side of the fence where the smaller vines have been growing:

9-12 mg2

This is about to bloom.

I finally had a good night’s sleep last night after 4 nights of far too little sleep. I slept in a little, read  some of Station Eleven  (because you know I read first thing in the morning nowadays), and was late getting to this post.

Mowing is on the docket for today. We had a lot of much-needed rain on Thursday and the lawn in looking shaggy.

Don’t forget, I posted a book review yesterday and I’m giving away a copy of the book. Just scroll down to Friday’s post to leave a comment.

Happy Saturday.

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Filed Under: books, flowers, garden, New York City, reading 26 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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