Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Falling Leaves, Aging, Dog Hair & Crochet

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We had our first hard frost last night. The Catalpa tree, always the last to lose its leaves, is shedding them at an alarming rate. The drive is covered in big, heart-shaped leaves. Piles of them.  It’s time to say goodbye to the glorious colors of autumn and hunker down for the coming winter.

Happy November. I have a special spot in my heart for this month – the month of my birth. My birthday always hovers within a few days or a week of Thanksgiving. Since I usually feel like I’m somewhere in my late 30’s, the actual amount of years I will celebrate is always a bit shocking. After a sleepless night last night (for both of us), my husband looked around the living room this morning and said “The pack is aging. The wolves are circling the house saying, we can take them.” Scout is going to be 12 in December, a young 12, but 12 nonetheless. Riley’s age is a guess, but he’s probably around 9. And Don and I? Well, we’re young at heart. Cue Frank Sinatra.

I swiffer every day. I vacuum every day. I use a lint brush on the furniture almost every day. Then I sit here in the morning light and all I see is dog hair. Everywhere.  See the white hair on the table? Thank you, Scout.  We have two very hairy dogs here at MHC. In fact, our new Vet couldn’t believe how thick Riley’s undercoat is. And Scout: lots of fine cat-like hair that flies everywhere. Oh, and leaves. Riley seems to be a magnet for every fallen leaf in the yard. It’s as if he’s made of Velcro. But I forget it all when I see their sweet faces. Sort of.

It makes cleaning a challenge. And it makes crocheting a challenge. I seem to be picking long white hairs out of my stitches rather frequently. I suppose a part of Scout is in everything I crochet or knit! I’ve been hooking away while watching the World Series.

I think I’ve made it a bit too wide, though since Don and I usually sit together on the sofa, I’m aiming for something that can cover us both with room to spare. I love doing these scrappy ripple afghans because it’s such fun to play with color and texture. I’m rather liking this so far.

I’m off to swiffer.

Ode to All Things Worn and Weathered

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As I sit here this Saturday morning, I’m struck by how much of my furniture is weathered, chippy, and worn-around-the-edges.

This is by design. I’m drawn to old, used, gently worn pieces. Almost nothing in my home was bought new. The beds were, of course, as was the sofa in the den (which I detest) and the loveseat in the living room (bought when I was living in Boston) and the chair I’m sitting in, which may be the reason it is the only place I’ve been able to comfortably sit since my back was injured!

Everything else is vintage. Tables, chairs, cupboards, hutches, desks, dressers, piano, kitchen island, kitchen table – all of them were chosen precisely because they were old with nicks and scratches and chips and frayed edges.

When I was growing up, everyone bought new. No one would have entertained the idea of having something chippy and old in their home. This was post WWII – new homes were being built in subdivisions for GIs and their families – the baby boom had begun. My mother would never have anything like my weathered chairs or tables in her home.

Somewhere along the way, my taste took off in a different direction. I love old. I love imagining the story behind a piece. Sometimes I already know it, as in the case of inherited pieces. But sometimes, I don’t. I just know that a particular piece was used and loved.

And now we get to use and love it.

And it’s recycling at its best, don’t you think?

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Have a happy Halloween everyone. We don’t get trick or treaters out here on our country road. And, though I obviously loved Halloween as a child and love seeing children all dressed up in their costumes, I’m afraid dressing up as an adult holds no allure. I was a working actress for too many years. I’ve worn more costumes than I can begin to count. So has my husband.

This year’s costume? My flannel pajamas.

You Guessed It: More Rambling

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:: The dogs are not happy with me. The weather has been so rainy that they haven’t had their walk in a few days. Today is much nicer. However, when we take the dogs for a walk, we have to load them in the car first. That involves helping Riley into the car by lifting his rear end up and into the car. No can do with my much-better-but-still-fragile back. Don is out right now but we’re hoping we can talk him into walking the dogs when he gets home. Update: they’ve been whisked away by their Dad and will be happily walking down a country road in a few minutes.

:: I did get out today. I was going a bit stir crazy here at MHC. I bought some more inexpensive (cheap) yarn for my crochet project.

It’s supposed to be a scrap ripple stitch afghan. However, since I donated all my extra yarn to the Salvation Army last winter as the result of a frenzied closet purge, I was sadly lacking in any yarn. And I’m on a strict budget – to put it mildly. So I trotted off to Michael’s and Hobby Lobby and bought a bunch of different colors that go with the red in our den. Crochet is a yarn eater – much more than knitting – and since we will end up tossing the afghan around the den on a regular basis, I’m fine with inexpensive yarn.

:: I brought our vintage ice cream maker in from the porch. A friend of ours gave it to us when we were living in San Diego. Now it has a new home on top of my kitchen hutch.

I love the rustiness and the chippy aqua paint. Don gave it a thumbs up saying that we needed some ‘rough edges’ in the kitchen. (He’s got style, that guy.)

:: A lovely blogging friend, Sharon of My Life at Pansy Cottage and Garden, sent me the sweetest gift.

Isn’t this pillow adorable? I was so touched by Sharon’s present. Sharon, we have it sitting on our red-checked chair in the living room. I’ll take a photo of it and post it soon. Sharon has a wonderful shop full of pillows and aprons that she has designed. Thank you, my friend.

:: Mom’s home. She’s exhausted but happy. The kittens are punishing her, of course, by ignoring her. We’re hoping that this will work out and that Assisted Living can be avoided if at all possible. I will keep you posted.

:: My annual photo of the house bathed in the autumn light:

Have a wonderful evening. I will be watching game #2 of the World Series. Don’s sister was lucky enough to be in the stands last night. I bet she had a great time!

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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