Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Life in our little cottage in the country

Friday Bits

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Gosh, the rain was torrential and went on and on – all day and all night long. I think we got at least 2 inches.

Now the sun is out, giving us a one-day respite until it rains again tomorrow morning.

We got our boosters and are having the usual reactions – Don usually feels a bit achey and tired. I am always super tired for a couple of hours. My arm is sore, but not as sore as usual. We also stopped at the grocery store nearby and picked up a few things.

Wren and a couple of birds.

My back is getting better every day. Yesterday was a particularly good day. Nevertheless, I’m being very careful and mindful throughout the day. I want it fully healed so I can work outside. Don’s shoulder is much, much better.

The highlight of yesterday was the confirmation vote for Ketanji Brown Jackson. Cheers were heard in the Hill-Sparks house. Something good happened and our country is miles better for it.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

Bittersweet Memories

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We’re getting a ton of rain today and tonight – close to 2 inches – once again, the remnants of the storm that has wreaked havoc in the south.

Yesterday, I was feeling down. Everything going on in the world – the invasion of Ukraine, the devastation there, genocide, war crimes, climate change, the GOP which is now the party of Putin and fascism – all of it was constantly in my thoughts. That’s not new, but it was particularly strong yesterday.

To give myself some sort of task, I cleaned out two drawers in the little table next to my chair. Something constructive to do.

And I came across this:

Newborn baby Claudia – maybe a little over a month old?

My dear, beautiful brother with his holster and toy guns. A child of the 50s.

My mom, clearly tired, but dressed up for the photo.

My handsome dad with a rarely seen bow tie.

Barkcloth curtains. Where did they end up?

My brother David has been gone for 30 years.

Mom left us 7 years ago.

Dad left 6 years ago.

So bittersweet. I found myself missing my brother so much. He would be 74 now, 75 next month. What would he look like today? Grandchildren he never got to meet. Spouses of his three children never met. I want to reach inside that photo and hug that beautiful boy.

It would be 8 years until another child came along – that would be L, my sister who has estranged herself from everyone in the family, including cousins, nieces and nephews.

Then another 3 years until my dearest Meredith came along. My brother was 17 years old when my mom was pregnant with Mere.

It’s Mere and me now.

I miss him. I miss them.

I’ve been thinking how horrified my dad would be by the rise of nationalism and fascism, the very evils he fought against when he went to war at the age of 18.

This little photo was designed to be put in a wallet. I don’t know where I got it – from Gram? From my parents? I’m not sure.

Yes, I look very much like my mother – except for my brown eyes, which come from my Dad.

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We’re getting our Covid boosters this morning. Times have changed – we went online this morning and got the appointments for the same day.

So I’m prepping for the nap that will come later. That seems to be my reaction to the shots – crashing in the middle of the afternoon.

Stay safe.

Happy Thursday.

 

Rain and Books

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Rain, rain, rain…so far, it’s a gentle rain, so I’m not complaining. The grass is getting greener every day. I see buds on the climbing hydrangea, the lilac bush, the daffs up on the edge of the woods are clearly visible and I can see the beginning of flower buds. My neighbor’s daffodils are already blooming, but our clump is in the shade so they will take a bit longer.

I can’t wait until the day I can take pictures of flowers and green things again. I’ve felt fairly limited lately in terms of photo possibilities.

Speaking of which:

I just finished Old Filth  last night. I loved every word of that book. Jane Gardam is brilliant.

Next up is The Man in the Wooden Hat, number two in the Old Filth  trilogy.

After that, either number three in the trilogy, Last Friends, which is upstairs in my TBR pile, or Sea of Tranquility, the latest from Emily St. John Mandel. I’m a big fan of her novels.

And then there are all the other books in the TBR pile, just waiting for me.

And because I’m limited to playing with dolls and reading:

Advice from older sister (maybe about head size.)

Don is off to get some donuts. I am abstaining.

We loved watching Ken Burns’ documentary about Ben Franklin. As always, even though I thought I knew a lot about Franklin, I learned so much more about him.

Okay.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

 

 

 

 

 

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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