Mockingbird Hill Cottage

The forsythia is gorgeous this year. At times during the day, it is such a vivid yellow.

It’s ridiculously hot here. Yesterday it hit 89, today it will hit 90 degrees. As I walked around the property, taking photos, moving some chairs off the porch and into the Secret Garden and Funky Patio, and picking up branches that fell during the winter, I didn’t think that this unseasonably warm weather would wreak havoc with my allergies. Well, actually, I did, but I didn’t think I was out there long enough for it to impact me. I was wrong. I started coughing late yesterday afternoon and into the evening and my night’s sleep was ruined by yet more coughing. It’s so frustrating! My cough was all but gone. Don felt crappy, too, and he went outside to clean out the culvert. Idiots throw their beer cans and trash into it as they drive by.

Anyway, today we are staying inside, especially because there is an air quality advisory having to do with ozone levels.

It was nice to be outside, though, and I felt twinges of excitement at the thought of cleaning out the garden beds, planting some pots – all the things I do in the early spring. Usually, I’ve planted pansies by now. But everything has been thrown off by being sick and working on the show.

Tomorrow, the temperature drops and we’ll have rain for the next few days.

The beginnings of the lilacs.

Except for War and Peace (and we just passed our 100th day of this read-along) I’m reading nonfiction at the moment, which is not like me. I can’t seem to find any fiction in my voluminous To Be Read pile that excites me at the moment (don’t worry, that will change.) So, I take it as a sign that I’m meant to be reading nonfiction. I’m close to finishing Underland  by Robert MacFarlane. It’s simply extraordinary. I’m also reading a bio of Rodgers and Hammerstein called Something Wonderful  by Todd Purdom. I’ve read several bios about them in the past, but this one is newer and it’s very well written and researched. Decades ago, I sang the song ‘Something Wonderful’ when I was in a production of the The King and I.

I also have a book called London Fog  that I’m anxious to start.

This morning, I started reading as soon as I sat down and didn’t turn on my phone until I had to retrieve these photos for the post. I used to do that every day in the days before iPads and phones and laptops. I would make a cup of coffee and read for hours. I need to do that more. Actually, I didn’t want to stop, but it was my turn to make our second cup of coffee and I had to write this post.

But today will be a reading day. Don is actually reading a book by James Michener as well as War and Peace. He usually reads nonfiction. What the??? We’re topsy-turvy.

Adrian got out of bed yesterday and sat in a chair for a short period of time. Such welcome news!

And for the first time ever, two huge crows stopped at the birdbath for a drink of water.

Note: Sometimes when I send comment replies, I get a message back from the email provider of the addressee saying that they can’t authenticate my email, or that it’s suspicious, or bulk. This has to do with your email providers. Today I got one for Chris K, but it happens with others, as well. Nothing you can do about it, I suppose. I’m just letting you know that 98% of the time, I respond to comments, so if you don’t get an email saying I’ve replied, check back here anyway. xo

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.