Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Flowers and Gene and Not Thinking in Years

August 21, 2023 at 9:12 am by Claudia

My smaller Rose of Sharon suddenly started budding late in the summer, though I didn’t think it would amount to anything. Well, lo and behold, it’s blooming! In fact, yesterday I had to chase away a Japanese Beetle who was attempting to dine on a bloom We haven’t had many Japanese Beetles this summer, but I guess I’d better keep a watch on that bush. Excuse the weeds! Too much rain equals lots of weeds and I usually give up on weeding in August.

There are a lot of bees buzzing around the blooms.

I mowed on Sunday – the lilac side of the front lawn – and Don and I mowed the main part of the lawn yesterday. We’re hoping to mow with the unrepaired lawnmower through the end of the season. It makes it twice as tiring, but we have to have a small tree that fell taken away by our tree guy – it also fell on partway on our neighbor’s property. So whatever extra money we have will have to go to that. That tree was already dead and it lives in a soggy part of the property. I think all of the rain hastened its demise. It’s been a summer to remember – and not very fondly.

Today, I’m taking a break, though more mowing has to happen tomorrow. And weed whacking.

In reference to my post about aging, after yesterday’s mowing without a self-propelled lawnmower, Don and I reminded ourselves that we are still pretty darned vigorous. We have made a vow to stop all talk of aging. Period. We are able to take care of our property. We are not retired and are entirely capable of working many hours a day at our respective professions. We want work and we welcome work. Our minds are sharp. And we look pretty darned good.

So that’s it. It will be a challenge because so many negative thoughts about aging creep in our heads throughout the day but we’re going to retrain our thoughts and spoken words. We are not going to think in years except in a positive way.

Just wanted to share this little outfit that I ordered on eBay.

This is called “Mandarin Mood” and the story behind it is that Gene loves to entertain at home when she’s not on the set – this time she’s having a party with a Chinese theme and this is the hostess ensemble she is wearing. It came with the earrings and the black chopsticks (?) for her hair. There’s actually a doll that comes in this outfit, but I put it on Simply Gene (the one who wears the bathing suit.) In addition to the dolls, most of the outfits were sold separately as well.

I always wanted red hair in this shade. Or black hair, like my dad’s. Ah well. I live vicariously through my dolls.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

 

 

Filed Under: aging, flowers, garden, Gene Marshall dolls 58 Comments

Aging, Bees, Flowers, and Reading

August 19, 2023 at 8:49 am by Claudia

A pollen-covered bee inside a Rose of Sharon bloom. Taken this morning.

This Rose of Sharon is the gift that keeps on giving. I suppose it’s finally reached maturity because the blooms have been non-stop for a month and a half. I suppose all the rain we’ve had has helped as well. The smaller Rose of Sharon, just a couple of feet away from this one, has some buds that I think might open. Fingers crossed!

More rain yesterday morning – pounding rain – and then later in the day it got cooler outside, with quite a strong breeze. This morning it is sunny and much cooler, with a gentle breeze. It feels like a front has moved out and cooler air has moved in. We just might not have rain for the next five days, which seems impossible given the constant rain we’ve had this summer. But, I’ll take it. A lot of weeding and cleaning up needs to be done .

Speaking of rain, I’m thinking of everyone in Southern and maybe Northern California, as Hurricane Hilary heads your way. I know you need rain, but I imagine you don’t need rain, winds, and potential flooding. You’re in my thoughts.

Don took some photos of me while I was painting yesterday. I had no makeup on, I hadn’t really brushed my hair. He was so excited about the way they turned out and showed them to me.

I saw an old woman.

Really, it was shocking. He kept saying, ‘but you look beautiful!’ Trust me, I didn’t. But he looks at me through the eyes of love, a love of 29 years. I see him the same way.

But I was very depressed and wanted to cry. (Truth be told, I did cry a little.)

I was going back through about 5 years of IG posts the other day because I was trying to find some information that I thought I had posted. It’s always fun to be reminded about what happened on any given day, but what became increasingly clear to me was how much I’ve aged in the past 5 years. At this age, I suppose that’s to be expected.

Nevertheless, it made me sad. My hair is almost fully gray now – if you lift up the hair at the back, there is still a bunch of brown showing, but it’s hidden by the gray. I wrote several posts a few years back about embracing gray hair and I’ve never attempted to color it, or disguise what was happening naturally. That doesn’t mean it isn’t shocking on any given day, it is. I’ve gained weight. It’s harder to lose weight these days – for Don, as well. And he used to be able to cut back on food and lose 20 pounds just like that.

I’m trying, believe me, but I don’t like the way I look now. Of course, wearing a bit of makeup would help, even if I only do my eyebrows. I hate wearing makeup these days and I know Don doesn’t care about that sort of thing at all. But maybe I should…

Anyway, I am blessed to be with someone who loves me and tells me I’m beautiful every day.

I just need to see that, as well.

Mowing today.

I read a chunk of War and Peace  this morning. And The Bullet That Missed, the third book in the Thursday Night Murder Club series, arrived at my library yesterday and I immediately drove over there to get it.

I started a new painting and I’m not at all sure about it, but I was sleep deprived yesterday so I didn’t have things in perspective. Hopefully, I’ll get back to it later today.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

 

Filed Under: aging, bees, books, flowers, reading 56 Comments

Friday Thoughts

August 18, 2023 at 8:22 am by Claudia

The other day, after the rain.

Rain. We just had an another storm, this time an early morning rain. I woke up too early from coughing in my sleep. As soon as I woke up, my brain went into worry mode, so I got up and made some coffee. Unfortunately, I also woke up Don, who tried to get back to sleep. No dice. He came downstairs to join me about 15 minutes after I got up.

I am really sick of all the rain. The ground is incredibly saturated. Our new dehumidifier is fabulous and it works so hard to dry everything out, only to have it rain again and again. I don’t think I remember a summer that’s been this intensely stormy and wet. I guess we’ll say it’s “one for the books.”

I finished the second book in the Thursday Night Murder series and I’m waiting for the third to arrive at my local library. In the meantime, I’ve returned to The Deptford Trilogy. I’m reading the second book in the trilogy – The Manticore. I’m a couple of chapters ahead in the War and Peace  readathon.

I’m going to sit down at the easel today and start a new painting. Speaking of which, I finally signed one of my paintings on the painting itself, rather than on the back as I had been doing with the Roseville Pottery series.

That’s due to Don. He always urges me to “sign the painting!” I finally listened to him.

The sun has come out after this morning’s rain. Hurrah!

I’m rather addicted to Landscape Artist of the Year  and spend far too much time watching it! I started with the 4th season (on Amazon Prime) and now I’m on the the 2nd season. Going backwards. Then I’ll head to YouTube and watch the more recent seasons. It’s fascinating and I try to really take in all the techniques and styles. I love that there are so many different ways of  “seeing” a landscape. When I’ve finished with Landscape Artist, I’ll watch Portrait Artist of the Year.

Must force myself to paint today and not get distracted by other things.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

Filed Under: oil painting, rain 18 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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