Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Saturday morning.

I did some more work outside yesterday, but once my lower back started aching a bit, I stopped. The main/big garden bed has been completely cleared of fallen leaves and debris. So have the two beds near the porch. I still have to clear out the memorial garden and the beds where I sow seeds, as well as the beds on the other side of the house. But there’s no hurry.

In the past couple of years I’ve discovered all the youngish crabapple trees on this property and this time of year, when they’re in bloom or about to bloom, is the best. In yet another ‘get to know your property line, Claudia’ story, I was looking out the kitchen window at the crabapple that is just off of the Secret Garden, right behind The Dude. It’s the first crabapple I discovered several years ago and I was so charmed by it that I cleared a path which leads to the tree.

As I looked at it, I also looked at the much larger and very tall crabapple that is beyond it. It’s in full bloom as well and it’s gorgeous and I sort of envied my neighbors for owning that large tree.

Until I looked closer, went outside and looked at the property line.

It’s our tree.

Go figure.

I’m thrilled that it’s ours. Do you remember last year when we discovered that our property lines were a bit more expansive than we had thought? These are the things you discover when you continue to stay close to home due to a pandemic and do a lot of chores on the property.

I’ll try to get a photo of that tree today.

We might take our first stab at the front lawn today. We had to wait for a couple of replacement parts for our lawnmower and they’ve arrived. The grass is really long in some places, so we will have to  stop the mower periodically to unclog it. Happens every spring.

But darned if I don’t love mowing the lawn so I’m rather excited!

So far this week, I’ve started one book and after reading a few pages, stopped. I just didn’t connect to the author and her writing style. I’ve started another book – a mystery – that was in my TBR pile and I’m not far into it but I must admit, I’m a little thrown by the occasional occurrence of awkward sentence structure. Where was the editor? In all cases so far, it would have been a simple fix. It’s not enough to deter me at this point, but every time it happens, it pulls me out of the story.

I recognize this particular error because sometimes I’m guilty of the same thing when writing this blog, but the difference is that I go back and reread my post before I publish and ninety per cent of the time I catch it and make the necessary correction. But this is a blog and that’s a BOOK.

Anyway, I’ll move on.

Just because I haven’t shown them lately – The Girls.

I suspect they’re anxious to get outside and explore the property. Soon, girls, soon.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.