Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Flowers and an Anniversary Tomorrow

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Our limelights are spectacular this year! They’re a very deep pink now.

Still sickened and horrified at the news from Israel and Gaza. Still completely disgusted with the shenanigans in Washington DC. I am escaping into a mystery that I’m reading and that helps. I’m also starting to do a little priming on the Beacon Hill because I’ve had it at least three years and haven’t done much of anything. I need to force myself to work on it even though I’m not particularly motivated. I did find an amazing piece of furniture that will serve as my inspiration piece. It should arrive here tomorrow. That’s what helped me with the Dove Cottage renovation – one piece that I had already purchased (the sofa) with a new project in mind.

But there is a lot to do before I start any kind of decorating. I’ve noticed lots of things that need to be repaired or replaced. I briefly thought of selling it but I’ve since scotched that idea.  I figure: I have it,  I really wanted it, and once I get a rhythm going, I’ll enjoy working on it.

In other news:

Don and I then: the morning after our wedding in Nevada City, CA.

Don and I now (or nowish):

A little calmer, not quite so ecstatic, quite a bit older and wiser, more in love than ever.

Tomorrow, October 12th,  is our 25th wedding anniversary.

It’s a big deal to us, especially since we didn’t meet and eventually marry until we were in our forties. 25 years! Next year, we’ll have been together for 30 years. I’ve written about our story on this blog many times. You know how we feel about each other.

A good marriage takes work. We work very hard at our marriage. I’m proud of us; two people who were a bit damaged when we met each other, but miracle of miracles, were ready to take a leap into the unknown. We were honest with each other from the very beginning and were willing to reveal our fears and frailties. I honestly think that’s what made the difference.

That, and being soul mates.

I am so, so grateful for this man. There’s never a moment when I don’t feel loved and adored and I know that Don feels the same way. He helps me be a better person. He is the best man I know.

So, Happy 25th Anniversary to us! We did it!

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

 

The World

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This was taken a few days ago. Now? The grass is covered with leaves – not only the back forty, but the corral, our driveway, and the area right outside our doors. We had two days of rain and then a very windy day yesterday. The amount of leaves on the ground is daunting. Gulp. We don’t have to rake all of them, but we do have to clean up certain areas, especially close to the house.

And it’s so much colder now! The temp dropped 20 degrees on Saturday and for the first time, it really feels like fall around here. I’m currently covered with a shawl that I knitted several years ago, and I’m wearing a long cardigan over my pajamas. We refuse to turn the heat on this early in October.

My little Carolina wren friend just appeared on the porch railing and is chirping/calling out to, I presume, his mate. Now, he’s gone. I hope he heard a response.

I finished The Close  over the weekend. Excellent! I didn’t want it to end and I kept thinking about it throughout the day. If you are interested in this series, I strongly recommend reading them in order. Like all series, the characters and their relationships with others change over time – there’s always a back story. I’ve started Dark Ride, by Lou Berney. Another good mystery that I’m very taken with. I haven’t read any Berney lately, but I read a few of his books when I was reviewing books on this blog and my book review blog. He’s a wonderful writer.

Well. The news in Israel and Gaza is horrific. I don’t know what to say beyond that. I feel like I’ve run out of words to describe the situation in our country, the war in Ukraine, the war in the Middle East, the plight of immigrants, climate change…you name it, it seems hopeless. I have always been a fighter and an activist. And I certainly don’t want it make this about me, sitting here in my cozy home writing a blog. I remind myself every day that I can’t give in to ‘news fatigue.’  I have to be aware and awake. I have to pray – whatever way works for me. (You should know by now that I’m not into organized religion, but I do have faith and a spiritual/metaphysical belief system – I’m just not preachy about it. Preachy makes me uncomfortable; it’s the way I was raised.)

I do know I have to hold all those who are impacted in these senseless wars in my heart. But at times, it’s overwhelming. It’s too much. So I read, or paint, or clean, or mow the lawn – all of which helps me to escape temporarily. But only temporarily, because we are all one.

Prayers for peace. Pleas for peace. Is there hope?

I don’t know.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

A Dark and Rainy Saturday

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A bit rainy, but not as much as predicted so far…but there are storms on the way. Tomorrow should be dry. There are lots of leaves to rake; it seems like zillions of leaves dropped overnight. The corral and back forty look messy and you’d never know I mowed those areas two days ago.

Don has a gig in the late afternoon, early evening – happily, it’s not too far away. I’ll get a little time to myself, though I have no plans – just reading, doing laundry, running over to the library to pick up a book that just came in. I’m in the midst of reading Jane Casey’s The Close.  She’s a wonderful writer who has a series about Maeve Kerrigan, an Irish/British policewoman. I really love the way she writes. When I requested this book through our library system, there was only one copy. Period. That tells me that not enough Americans know about her. Anyway, I’m grateful that they had a copy and now it’s here with me.

I must admit that I woke up a bit early – not too early, thank goodness – and have been in a funk since I woke up. You know that kind of day? When you are in a bad mood and have no idea why? That’s where I am. Hopefully, I will feel better soon.

So this will be shortish.

The Ferro Sisters. If you could only see their faces close up – the beautiful and detailed painting, the subtlety – FerroDoll is an true artist.

This shelf has become one of my favorite photo locations. The light, the colorful background – you’d think it would be too distracting, but it isn’t – it seems to enhance the beauty of the girls.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

 

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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