Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Seeking A Peaceful Weekend

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The bee balm is in bloom – Don’s favorite. That vivid red is never easy to photograph. You can see some milkweed off to the right. I’d say there are at least 12 milkweed plants scattered through the gardens. It used to pop up in the back forty, but it’s moved to the garden beds for the past 4 or 5 years. (And the front lawn, which is problematic.)

It was very hot and humid yesterday, so we mostly stayed indoors, suffering from allergy/humidity brain fog. Today will be stormy and I just heard a rumble of thunder in the distance. Don isn’t going to be at the Farmer’s Market today, because they are now in a parking lot out in the open and he can’t get that vintage camera wet.

The theme for this week seems to be redressing the girls. Yesterday was Imogen’s turn:

Later, I remembered that she has green eyes, too, which complement the stitching on the dress and the shoes.

We finished Borgen (the first series) last night. Excellent on every level! Tonight, we’ll start watching the new batch of episodes of Stranger Things. And I’m reading Spook Street  the next book in the Mick Herron Slough House series.

Above all, I’m trying to stay grounded and find some peace. I didn’t watch or read any news yesterday as I seriously needed a day off which I’m pretty sure will turn into a weekend off. I’d rather scroll my Blythe feed on IG. Or read my book. Or water my houseplants. Or listen to my husband play guitar and sing.

All of which will take place today.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

 

Deer, Flowers & The Girls

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To add to the loss of the tree, the deer have been particularly voracious this year. They’ve eaten the buds on countless coneflowers, every bud on my favorite day lily, and several buds on the black-eyed susans. I tend to forget to spray them with the deer repellent recipe, thinking, for some reason, that I don’t need to do it yet. That’s on me. Anyway, I mixed a batch of it the other day and sprayed everything. We’re due for rain and thunderstorms tomorrow, so I’ll make a new batch on Sunday.

It’s very depressing, but I didn’t notice it until Tuesday – the same day we lost the tree – and I was so upset about the tree that it didn’t hit me quite as hard as it would normally.

Then the Supreme Court crap. This week has – may I say it? – SUCKED.

So I’ve played with the girls every day, dressing one per day in a new outfit, trying to remain sane. It really does help! I’m almost 70 years old and I’m rediscovering dolls – who’d have thought? If I’ve learned anything over the past 5 years or so, it’s that we find peace and respite where we can.

Plus, these girls are displayed directly in front of me here in the den, so I get to see them every day. Pure pleasure.

First up on Wednesday was Madeleine (same dress but with the addition of a bow) –

Heavens, she’s lovely!

And yesterday, Pippa got a new look:

We took her hair out of the barrette.

Both girls have a little cleft in their chins. Adorable.

I think I’m going to dress Miss Imogen today.

It’s going to be very hot today – in the 90s.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

Gone

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Remember these? From my favorite crabapple tree on the lilac side of the lawn about 8 or 9 feet from the road?

We won’t be seeing them again.

On Tuesday, a guy on a tractor was clearing the brush on the side of the road. There is a culvert that needs to be kept clear and once a year or so, someone clears any excess brush. I suppose the County contracts these jobs out. This guy was going back and forth along the edge of our property and the property of our neighbor to the left. He was out there a long time, and I started getting concerned about what he was doing. By the time I went outside, he was ready to move on. Don reassured me, saying “They’re just trying to keep the culvert free. It’s okay.”

Later, when I went out to investigate, I discovered that he’d taken down this tree, as well as a small fir tree.  On OUR property, not the county’s. This tree was 6 feet in from the inside edge of the culvert, which makes it at least 8 feet from the road. (I measured it with a tape measure.)

I couldn’t believe my eyes. I kept hoping I was wrong. But as soon as I saw pieces of the trunk on the ground, I knew I was wrong.

They took my tree.

I went in the house and told Don, who was furious. I immediately called the County and reported it. And Don called them yesterday to report it. They supervisor is going to investigate.

Meanwhile, I am sick at heart. I cried on Tuesday. I cried off an on yesterday. This was my favorite of all the crabapple trees on the property and it was also the first one I ever discovered. I really loved it. It was a living thing and now it’s gone. I wish I’d gone out there earlier so I could have stopped it. I feel like I failed that tree.

That, coupled with the news, the hearings – everything – took me to a dark place yesterday. I’m still there. I am mourning the loss of that tree; gone because some idiot with a machine was careless. My tree – not the county’s – is gone.

I couldn’t summon the energy to write a post yesterday. I’m crying as I write the post today.

Stay safe.

Happy Thursday.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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