Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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A Bit of Everything

June 5, 2013 at 9:47 am by Claudia

wildrose

Wild roses are everywhere on this property. Normally, they are a pain in the tush because they grow with abandon and have thorns. Normally, I curse them. But for a week or two in the spring, they bloom and everywhere I look there are billowy tufts of tiny white flowers. And for that week or two, I bless them.

Delicate. Beautiful.

Yesterday was simply gorgeous with temperatures in the seventies and a gentle breeze. I was a bit down, still am, so I comforted myself with time on the porch and the funky patio. I listened to the sound of the birds – I so wish I could identify all the different chirps and calls – and watched them flit and fly all over the property. I heard a woodpecker up in the catalpa. In fact, I hear him now. But every time I tiptoed to the tree, that little bugger took off. He knew I wanted a photo of him.

I heard the cicadas, but only for about 30 seconds here and there. Cicadas have to compete with the noise of traffic on our busy country road. I am still finding some newly emerged cicadas here and there on the property.

housefrombackforty

A view of the house from the back forty.

backforty

Part of the back forty.

I sat on the porch glider and looked at my gardening journal. I don’t keep it up like I did when I first established this garden seven years ago, but reading it helps me to realize how far the gardens have come. I am reminded about the plants that thrived here and the plants that mysteriously failed or simply disappeared. More on that in another post. I read my current Deborah Crombie mystery. And this girl kept me company:

scoutexploring

She spends an awful lot of time sniffing here and there. Her nose reminds me that other critters pass through this porch: cats, chipmunks, squirrels, bunnies, mice.

prettygirl

That face. I absolutely adore that face.

By now I think you know that I am more than a bit uncomfortable with the whole idea of tooting my own horn. Fortunately, I don’t suffer from that little malady when it comes to my husband. I briefly mentioned yesterday that his new album is available for download on his website. Don has a website that covers both his acting career and his music. I have a website for my professional work. (And you thought you knew everything about me!) Anyway. His new album, Out Beyond the Breakers, was recorded in our friend Rob’s incredible studio while Don was working in San Diego earlier this year. It consists of 14 new songs. If you’re interested, you can download them individually or as an album.

Some of my favorites?

  • Don’t Tell Me Heart
  • I’ve Got a Love (makes me cry)
  • Adios New York
  • Say It Twice
  • Guess I Still Get Crazy
  • She Saves Me

No pressure. Since many of you have told me how much you like his music, I thought I’d share this with you. If you’re interested, click on the link and then click on Music/Shop on his homepage. While you’re there you can see some photos of him in various acting roles and read a bit more about him. He’s an interesting guy, that husband of mine.

This is shaping up to be a long post! Since they are here for such a short time, more peony photos:

peonymania

antonpeony

pinkbeauty

Love to you all on this Wednesday.

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Filed Under: cottage, Don, flowers, garden, Peonies, porch, Scout 32 Comments

The Porch and Peonies

June 4, 2013 at 8:55 am by Claudia

maple&shed

A view from the porch. Some much anticipated porch sitting has been happening around these parts. Oh, how I love this wrap-around porch with its bluestone floor.

wroughtironthingy

I know that impatiens are iffy this year. They’ve been struck by a fungus, which explains why the impatiens in our barrels suddenly up and died last summer. I couldn’t figure it out at the time – it almost seemed as if some animal had lopped off all the flowers. I didn’t learn about the fungus until I had already purchased a flat. So I compromised by not planting them in the barrels, just in pots on the porch. If they succumb, I’ll just replant using something else. The fungus only affects impatiens, so nothing else is in danger.

A couple of years ago, Don bought a cot from a yard sale. At the time, I had plans to use it on the porch, but I never got around to it. Yesterday, I pulled it out of the shed.

cot

I threw an old sheet and some pillows on it. Ideally, I’d like to get some indoor-outdoor fabric and make a foam pad for it. In the meantime, this little arrangement cost me nothing. I can’t get all fancy here; this porch is open to the elements.

prettyporch

Don came home later in the day and offered to test it out. I see some snoozing ahead.

thegreenhouse

This bench faces the entrance to the porch. I found the greenhouse sign about 5 years ago in an antique shop.

We have a picnic table, two benches without backs and two with backs. The set was purchased from a neighbor just down the road for $25. I can’t imagine the porch without them.

bench

plantsonbench

Last year, late in the summer, I looked into a pot on the porch and I saw this frog. It was hidden away, surrounded by lots of plant leaves. I excitedly called Don out to the porch to show him. “Oh that,” said he, “that’s just a wooden frog I stuck in the plant when you were away. I forgot all about it.”

Wooden? I had been absolutely sure it was real. Though now that it’s been freed from the plant I can’t believe I ever thought that. Oh boy.

Wait, who do I see?

scoutiethroughdoor

None other than Miss Scout, watching my every move.

It’s the first week of June. Like clockwork, late spring or not, my little babies have appeared:

peony1

peony2

Love, love, love, love peonies. The scent is heavenly.

I have two bushes. This bush is in full sun. The other has blooms like the one below.

prettypeony

Interestingly, this bush is at the base of a shag hickory tree. That tree was very young when we moved in, but in the past 8 years it has really grown. This is the first year that I’ve only seen a few buds on that particular bush and I’m pretty sure it’s due to the increasing shade provided by the hickory. Peonies like the sun.

I’m hesitant to transplant it. But I would really miss seeing this particular peony. Isn’t it pretty? What to do?

While I ponder that, I will wish you a happy Tuesday.

Oh, by the way, Don’s new album, Out Beyond the Breakers, is available for download on his website. If you’re interested, click on this link, then click on Music/Shop.

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Filed Under: Peonies, porch, Scout 43 Comments

Hand Quilted With Love by Sarah Fielke

June 3, 2013 at 9:30 am by Claudia

I have another book from CICO Books to share with you today. CICO is an imprint of Ryland, Peters & Small, Ltd., based in London, and they have asked me to occasionally review one of their books for you.

TJ188-7-12 JKT 175L CTP_Layout 1

Today I’m reviewing Hand Quilted with Love by Sarah Fielke. I have long been a fan of Sarah’s work. One of my favorite books in my personal quilting book library is Material Obsession: Contemporary Quilt Design by Sarah and Kathy Doughty. Sarah is based in Sydney, Australia. She tells us in the Introduction that, unlike her previous books which had a theme, this is a collection of quilts that she had ‘been wanting to make for ages.’

There are 16 quilt designs in the books, beautifully photographed from various angles. They range in difficulty from easy to advanced. There’s something for everyone here.

CB656_2165

Paint by Numbers (photo courtesy of the publisher)

I love Sarah’s use of color and contrast. Everything, from her designs to the choice of fabric for bindings, is a feast for the eyes. These quilts make you smile.

CB656_2179

Made in Cherry (photo courtesy of the publisher)

See what I mean? Lovers of red, this one is for you.

Or how about this one?

CB656_2240

Bangles (photo courtesy of the publisher)

What I love: I have lots of quilting books. So I know what I want and need when following a pattern. As always with a CICO book, the layout is clean, crisp and eye-catching. The directions are easy to read.

directions

The material requirements are listed in both inches and centimeters. The cutting directions are precise and clearly laid out.

Each quilt is photographed from a distance as well as up close.

changesize

And glory be, there are instructions for changing the quilt size for every quilt design in the book. Rather than counting, measuring and hoping that I’ve figured it out correctly, there it is, right on the page. Yay!

There are helpful hints throughout the book – tips that will help any quilter; novice or seasoned pro.

CB656_milllefiori3811

Millefiori (photo courtesy of the publisher)

There are also sections on choosing fabrics, sewing techniques, appliqué, constructing your quilt, quilting, and binding. There is a helpful glossary and a wonderful introduction by the author.

And the quilts are simply wonderful.

rosewater

This is one of my personal favorites – Rosewater. I love the simple but powerful graphic design. I find the horizontal placement of strips very striking. Can you tell I want to make it?

Sarah is passionate about making quilts and it shows on every page of this beautiful book. CICO really excels at this kind of book; they know how to make it as user-friendly as possible, all the while providing us with lots of eye candy.

I’ll close with my favorite part of Sarah’s introduction:

“One more thing. Try new things, be adventurous, and crack your own quilting code. Don’t be hung up on whether something is right or wrong, or on whether you are a “modern quilter”, a “traditional quilter”, or even an “art quilter”: just be a QUILTER, be creative and love what you do. It’s what I do every day – and I can tell you, I’m a happy girl because of it.”

What a breath of fresh air! Just what I needed to hear.

If you love quilting, this book will be a wonderful gift to yourself.

Hand Quilted with Love is published by Cico Books for £19.99/$27.99 and is available through CICO Books. It is also available stateside at your local bookstore and through Amazon.com. (I am not affiliated with any of these links. I receive no money. Just trying to be helpful!)

I’m off to dream a little about future quilting projects!

Happy Monday.

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Filed Under: life 27 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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Scout & Riley. Riley left us in 2012. Scout left us in February 2016. Dearest babies. Dearest friends.

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