Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Life in our little cottage in the country

Sunrise & A Chapter a Day

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Sunrise, this morning. The sun comes up over the back forty, so we have this consistently lovely view of the intense colors without the interference of tall buildings or houses.

We’re due for some rain today. But it was sunny for much of the day yesterday so I guess I can give up some sunshine for some water.

I read two chapters of War and Peace  this morning because I didn’t read yesterday’s chapter. Now I’m caught up. If you’re interested in reading one of the classics and it’s large and weighty – for instance, Crime and Punishment, or Anna Karenina, or Les Miserables –  and you’re put off by the sheer size of the book, I cannot recommend this ‘chapter a day’ method enough. There are also readalongs for Les Miserables and Anna Karenina  going on in the Book/Instagram community. I’m also reading my main book at the same time, but I don’t consider this ‘reading two books at once.’ Really, a chapter a day is hardly trying to handle two books at the same time. It’s easy. It took me about 10 minutes to read those two chapters this morning. And I was done for the day. It’s fun to do this with a community of other readers, but you could easily do it on your own. I wish I’d thought of this possibility a long time ago. I’m a one-book-at-a-time reader, so, if I had picked this book to read in the past, I would have felt committed to it for the duration. This way, I can keep reading as I normally do, and just carve out a few minutes a day to read War and Peace. Not really genius, but close to it! I’m proud to say that Don is keeping up with his daily read of W & P as well, and, at times, he’s ahead of me! And Don doesn’t usually read novels.

I’m halfway through the newest Louise Penny and fully in its grip. I read a chunk of it yesterday afternoon.

I have lots of little things to do today and I also feel the need to dress a doll or two. I’ve been rather lazy about that lately.

I keep thinking it’s Friday, but it’s Thursday. Yesterday, I thought it was the weekend. The life of the semi-retired. Or: the life of the freelancer. Same thing.

Stay safe.

Happy Thursday.

Harper Day

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My girls always cheer me up, so I took some photos of Harper yesterday.

A Valentines Day theme.

A little closer. Look at the beautiful details: the subtle purple around the inner corner of the eyes, the beautifully drawn eyebrows, slight pinkness on the end of the nose and on the eyebrows, and my favorite – the little veins in the cheeks.

Harper was customized by Ferro Doll and to me, there is no one better. While I’d love to collect lots more Blythes, the reality is that I can’t. But one more Ferro? Absolutely, if I can get the style I want. Elena does a version of the doll with a head of curls and intense eyes/eyebrows. That’s the kind of girl I want. But she doesn’t take requests or commissions. I’ve let her know my interest but that’s all I can do.

And just to give you idea of her size against the real size of our home:

Yesterday was Harper Day.

Nothing else to report. I’m deep cleaning the bathroom in preparation for re-caulking the tub, but today I’m wrestling with a stye in my left eye, so I’m taking it easy. I remember that I had a stye on the very last day of filming on Spoiler Alert, too.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

Seven Years

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This being is all I can think about today.

It’s been seven years. Seven years ago today we said goodbye to our girl.

For some reason, it’s hitting me especially hard this year. I miss this magical, light-filled, funny girl. I miss her so much. I can still feel her coat. I can smell her scent. It’s as vivid today as it was when she was with us.

I don’t know what else to say today. I would give anything to have her here with us right now. To have another day with her. I have loved many dogs in my life and each and every one of them was special and beloved.

Scoutie was with us the longest. She was our magic girl.

Please don’t say that we need another dog. We will do that when the time is right. And we will know when that is. It will be clear.

Today, I both mourn and celebrate our girl and tell her how much I will always love her.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

 

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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