Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Life in our little cottage in the country

Stormy

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I did take it easy yesterday, save for the usual laundry. I’ll do that again today because we have major storms headed our way this afternoon. Late in the afternoon yesterday, we had a doozie of a thunderstorm, which seemed to go on forever. Thunder, lightning, crazy winds with torrential rain. The wind direction seemed to change every few minutes, sheets of rain were pummeling us from every direction. The power went out briefly; interestingly, right before the storm.

Today’s forecast has red exclamation points everywhere. I suppose that’s because there is also the danger of a tornado. I’ll freely admit all of this makes me nervous.

Right now, it’s still a bit foggy and fairly quiet out there.

In the afternoon, I spent a few hours watching a giveaway online. The Blythe community is pretty special. One of the members of that community passed away from colon cancer not long after I started collecting my girls. She was far too young. She was apparently a wonderful, supportive, and funny person who everyone adored. One of her friends did an incredible job of organizing a fund raiser for cancer research. Many, many artists donated their creations for a massive giveaway, which was organized into bundles with different themes. The actual drawing was yesterday. I had purchased a couple of tickets, but didn’t win anything. And boy, were the prizes spectacular! But what was most impressive as we all tuned in for the live drawing was the wonderful sense of community. The fundraiser raised over 10,000 pounds – the equivalent of more than $14,000. Bravo!

Deeply into the new Elizabeth George and I suspect I’ll be reading this afternoon, trying to tune out the storms, which, frankly, sound dangerous. Praying that we’re spared, that everyone  is spared.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

 

 

Day of Rest. Really.

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Maybe I can learn not to promise that I’ll take it easy on any given day. Maybe.

Because I didn’t do that yesterday. Nope. Don went off to practice with his camera and I got the idea in my head to mow the lilac side of the front lawn. I was almost giddy with excitement. We were almost out of gasoline but I thought there might be just enough on hand to accomplish my goal.

I mowed nearly all of it and it spluttered to a stop. I got in the car with the gas can, drove to the nearest gas station, filled it up, came back home. Then I finished off the lilac side.

But wait! I could mow the corral, too! So I did.

And then, since it gets so wet back there and I have to take advantage of dry days, it was off to the secret garden! I knew we had rain coming last night, today, and tomorrow so I was trying to get ahead of it.

I finished the secret garden, pulled some weeds, and stopped for the day. The good thing is that I felt very strong and my mowing stamina is back. What’s tricky is thinking that I can just keep going because the endorphins are kicking in. When I pause for a bit, I get it – I’ve done enough for the day.

But it felt good. We still have to do the main part of the front lawn and the back forty. Perhaps not today, though. I really do need to rest. My allergies are on overdrive.

But man, do I love a freshly mown lawn! I can see the results immediately and it’s so satisfying.

We’re due for some heavy storms tomorrow; winds, hail, even the possibility of a tornado, which is quite rare around here. Fingers crossed that we escape unscathed.

I’m really enjoying the newest Elizabeth George. I’ve read enough to get hooked on the story. I plan on reading a big chunk of it later today, as well as catch up on Gardener’s World.

Stay safe.

Happy Sunday.

Lilacs & Daffodils

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The fragrance wafting from these lilacs is glorious. We don’t have as many blooms as in other years, but that’s okay. They’re simply beautiful.

It’s very warm here – too warm, in truth. It was also quite humid yesterday. But, it’s sunny, the birds are singing, and the grass is growing too quickly! It’s been only 5 days since we mowed and it’s already time to mow again.

Yesterday we ran errands; I returned some books to the library, picked up a package at the post office, stopped at our storage facility to get the window air conditioner for the bedroom, and stopped at the grocery store. Then, to make a very long story short, we found that we had to replace that a/c unit, so off we drove to Lowe’s to get a new one – not in our budget, of course, so that’s worrisome – but we got it, drove back home, and after some frustration, installed it in the window.

Next up, the downstairs window unit, but we’re going to wait a few days on that one. It’s currently on the floor of the craft closet in our office. And it’s heavy.

Don just took off with his Crown Graphic camera to take some pictures. He’s in training again, relearning how to work it, how to focus, and how to hold it. He’ll work a couple of hours just as he did when he first started; ask a few people if they’d mind volunteering, and play with light and focus. The farmer’s market starts in three weeks, so he has to have some practice sessions before then.

There are more daffodils than ever in the big garden bed; likewise in the patch beyond the shed. They’re truly gorgeous this year.

Okay. I’m going to make this short and do a little work outside. There’s not much to do, except mow, so I may mow the lilac side of the lawn where two robins are currently guarding their nest somewhere nearby. I haven’t been able to figure out where it is, but the robins are fierce!

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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