Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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The Day of Reckoning

February 27, 2023 at 8:29 am by Claudia

Well, here we are. We’ve left a couple of messages about the urgency of an oil delivery. We originally called last Thursday, but…the weekend screwed things up. I’m going to make Don call again in a few minutes.

And the service technician is coming to look at the washer. As soon as I’m done here, we’ll take showers and then remove the doors and molding in prep for his arrival. There’s a nice tracking code which we can use to see how many stops away he is. Four stops as of now, but each stop can take an hour or so, so maybe around 11 am?

And then, we just get out of the way while he does his thing.

And we await 5 – 8 inches of snow tonight, another 1 – 3 inches tomorrow morning….and wait…the same thing on Friday. I have been telling Don all along that we’d get walloped in March. Sigh. We need the snowpack for our water table, so it’s a good thing in the long run. It’s just not something you want to see in March.

All of the above on the same day.

Ah, well.

Please cross your fingers that this thing with the washer is something we can get fixed.

And that oil is delivered. Today.

I won’t share a photo of me in pajamas, a hooded sweatshirt, and a wool cap. I’ll spare you that.

Edited: The oil is coming today. Whew!

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Filed Under: life 28 Comments

When It Snows, It Pours

February 26, 2023 at 9:21 am by Claudia

Careful what you wish for.

We got about an inch of snow yesterday. No big deal. But we’re due for 5-8 inches Monday night into Tuesday. The problem is that we are sweating an oil delivery. Don says we can make it until tomorrow (the heat is turned way down) but with the storm on the way, we need it delivered tomorrow. We can’t wait until Tuesday, which would be problematic anyway, as that will be the day for clean up, aka shoveling and snow blowing. He’s going to call today and leave an “Urgent!” message.

To top it all off, during our second load of laundry yesterday, water started flowing from under the washer. We tried again. Same thing. Crap, crap, crap. I called and someone is coming out tomorrow to diagnose the problem. Our washer and dryer is in a closet in the bathroom. It’s a narrow stacked combination of washer/dryer made by Whirlpool. It’s almost 18 years old. The last time a technician was here he said to do whatever we could to repair it in the future because the newer models aren’t as good. But, in doing a little research yesterday, I discovered that Whirlpool doesn’t make this model any longer. Anyway, I’m very stressed about repair costs and/or possibly having to replace the unit. Let’s see: $400+ for oil and $1200+ for a new washer and dryer. For us, that’s a big chunk of money.

When it rains, it pours. Or, when it snows, it pours.

So we’re holding our breath for the next 36 hours or so.

Also, the closet that contains the unit is narrow, just inside the main door to the bathroom to the left. We have to remove two doors to get the unit in and out as well as some molding and even then, it’s a giant pain in the tush.

I can feel my stress level rising as I write this.

This too shall pass.

I was hoping my book would come in at the library yesterday, but the roads were slippery and I don’t think the county-wide delivery van was making any deliveries. Ah well. Highly doubtful they’re working today and the library is closed tomorrow and then there’s the storm on the way…looks like I’m going to have to wait until Wednesday, at least.

Stay safe.

Happy Sunday.

Filed Under: life 18 Comments

It’s Cold! Hunkering Down.

February 25, 2023 at 8:34 am by Claudia

Early morning egg cups.

It’s dark in here because we have the blinds drawn and it’s very cold outside. We ordered more heating oil a couple of days ago, but it’s the weekend and we won’t have a delivery until Monday or Tuesday. So we’ve got the heat turned down and we’re wearing layers. It’s rather cozy!

I just made a second cup of coffee for us and that’s warming us up, as well.

Chris, are you home? I assume you are. Hope you’re enjoying being surrounded by the people and things you love.

My former student, Christine, is keeping us all updated on her battle with cancer via Caring Bridge. We’ve been praying for her this week (and always) as she and her husband were to meet with her doctor yesterday to see if the chemo has had any impact on her tumor. We waited for her post yesterday and the good news is that it has. She will now have a hysterectomy during the first week of March and then another round of chemo to treat some stray cells in her lungs and liver. As Don said about Christine: she is all love and light. And she is. (She and Jim were in the same class.) We are very thankful for this latest news.

Adrian is hospitalized, awaiting the day when he gets a new heart.

There’s a lot of praying going on here on a daily basis.

I’m next up in the queue for the new Deborah Crombie. It should be arriving at my little library branch shortly; hopefully, today. Huzzah! In the meantime, I’m reading War and Peace  and Underland. I’ve urged Don to read Underland  after I’ve finished. I think he’d really like it. It is absolutely fascinating. Back to War and Peace. Tolstoy was an incredible writer and storyteller. I am continuously astounded by his detailed descriptions of people, of setting, of battles. His ability to create an entire world within a scene is extraordinary. Not that I ever questioned his status as one of our greatest novelists, but I now completely understand why he is.

I’m still feeling under the weather. Just trying to hang in there and read, work on the puzzle, and take it easy.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

 

 

 

Filed Under: books, egg cups 24 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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