Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Blooms

June 22, 2023 at 8:38 am by Claudia

Rain is headed our way at some point today, though maybe not as much as predicted. Nevertheless, we should be getting rain over the course of the next four days. To all of you who are desperate for rain, I send a prayer up that rain will soon be on its way to you. I’ve been there, and it’s very stressful.

It was very sunny when I took this. It’s so hard for me to capture the beauty of this area once everything starts blooming. I don’t know why. The spirea is blooming, the hydrangeas are starting to turn white, the roses are really taking off this year, and the clematis is in the last of its bloom. We mowed the front lawn yesterday and I was so taken by the flowers! I don’t always get around to the front of the house, especially since the critters are demanding my attention on the side of the house. That’s not really brown in the lawn, it’s the grass trimmings that turn brown. It’s pretty green out there right now.

The other rose opened yesterday morning. So lush and beautiful! I only wish they lasted longer, but within a few hours, the look of the flower changes dramatically and it starts to decline. So I have to run out there and get a picture in the early morning hours.

We’re off to buy groceries this morning. Exciting, right? Actually, it is – there’s very little food left in the house. We hope to beat the rain.

Meanwhile, the birds are singing. The other day, I walked up on the trails that run through our little patch of woods and the bird song up there was incredible. So much more intense than what I hear down by the house. It was magical.

And those robins that I wrote about the other day? I was right. They either fledged that morning or the day before. We’ve had three bird nests this year; two at the shed and one in the burning bush. And of course, baby groundhogs as well. And baby rabbits, but I have no idea where that warren is. I’m sure there are a lot more nests on the property, these are just the ones I could see.

Stay safe.

Happy Thursday.

 

 

Filed Under: flowers, garden, roses 22 Comments

Shelf Tour, Part Whatever

June 21, 2023 at 8:54 am by Claudia

Oh, hello! It’s time for another shelf tour.

This is the middle shelf in the china cabinet in the den.

Back row, left to right:

A peach colored McCoy vase.

A pillow vase in the Roseville Zephyr Lilly pattern. It’s flawless. This was a gift from a reader named Sonja. Sadly, I haven’t heard from her in a long, long time. I hope she’s well.

The next vase, in that scrumptious green color, might be my favorite. It’s in the Ixia pattern and it’s 8 inches tall. I love the art deco lines to the base and the flowers, as well as the subtle shading from green to cream. I painted this one in oils.

Next is my ‘saucy’ vase. It always reminds me of a woman standing with her hands on her hips. It’s the Snowberry pattern and it’s 6 inches tall. (Another oil painting.)

And then, a favorite vase in milk glass. Perfect for flowers, though I often forget to use it for bouquets nowadays.

Center row:

A cornucopia vase in Magnolia in a beautiful shade of green. It’s 6 inches tall and it was a gift from Sonja.

A little green duck made by Shawnee pottery.

A candleholder in the Gardenia pattern. I found this at an auction.

Front row:

A 4 inch tall vase in the Peony pattern. This was the other piece I found at the same auction I mentioned above.

A gorgeous candleholder in the Bleeding Heart pattern. A gift from Cathy, a longtime reader of this blog.

And  my very first piece of Roseville, purchased back in San Diego at a time when prices were sky high. It was the only piece I could afford. It’s a small jardinière in the Bushberry pattern.

Next to the Roseville is a McCoy singing bird.

Way in the back are two silver and glass candleholders that were my grandmother’s.

________________________________________

A beautiful day today and I’m going to mow the front lawn. We’re supposed to get rain for the next few days starting tomorrow, so I have a deadline.

Three of the babies were around yesterday and I found myself longing for the days when Buddy is a solo visitor. Plus, the rabbit and the big groundhog that lives under the shed were hanging around. My afternoon was spent keeping an eye on the three babies and shooing them out of forbidden areas.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday and first day of summer.

 

 

Filed Under: china and pottery, groundhogs, Roseville pottery 14 Comments

A Rose is a Rose is a Rose

June 20, 2023 at 9:16 am by Claudia

What a lovely greeting this morning!

This little rose bush usually has just two flower buds, but boy, do they develop into magnificent blossoms! The color is extraordinary. By the way, this bush was a gift from a reader of this blog. It’s in the memorial garden.

It looks like we had a light shower overnight. You can see the water drops on the leaves.

My little Buddy appeared off and on yesterday, eating grass, sitting on a rock, running back under the tree when something frightened him. At one point, I saw him come through the gate and make his way through the secret garden and up the hill on his way to the family’s burrow. I thought: oh, he’s gone for the day. About 30 minutes later, he was back. Unless he was another of the kids. But I’m pretty sure it was Buddy, who likes to hang out here during the day.

Just want him to remain safe. Thankfully, I haven’t seen him go in the direction of the street. He seems to be happy up here.

Over the past three days I did three video tours of the girls. I don’t know why, but I had the idea one day and there you go. I posted them. I thought they might be a dud, but people seemed to really like hearing my voice and learning more about the girls. I simply highlighted a few of the girls each day and shared their stories. Anyway, if you’re at all interested, they’re on my IG Blythe feed which is, after going to instagram: (at symbol)sophieandherpals.

I did a lot of weed whacking yesterday and Don mowed the trails up in the woods. I leave a certain amount of weeds near the funky patio, etc., for the groundhogs and rabbits. Just saw our rabbit – maybe the mama of the baby bunnies? – this morning.

Today, I’m going to start working on reorganizing my office/studio. There’s so much STUFF there: dollhouses, dollhouse supplies, my easel, oil paints, mail, scripts, a mini printer, and on and on. Plus, we just took the kitchen a/c unit out of the closet in our office so I have some space available again. It’s time to be ruthless and sort through everything.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

 

Filed Under: Blythe dolls, groundhogs, roses 13 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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The Dogs

The Dogs

Scout & Riley. Riley left us in 2012. Scout left us in February 2016. Dearest babies. Dearest friends.

Winston - Our first dog. We miss you, sweetheart.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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