Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Trees, Books, and the Girls

April 23, 2022 at 8:23 am by Claudia

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.

Filed Under: Blythe dolls, books, trees 28 Comments

Friday Thoughts

April 22, 2022 at 8:18 am by Claudia

• Having a hard time dealing with the world; so much heartbreak and loss and wanton destruction. Having a hard time dealing with Americans who actually support Putin, though they would never say it in so many words. Having a hard time dealing with those who tried to overthrow our government and would willingly try to do the same thing again. Having a hard time dealing with liars and cheats and would-be fascists.

I could go on but that’s enough for today.

I feel like I’m on a tightrope, constantly trying to face and fight against the harsh realities of our world but, at the same time, trying escape those realities. Does that make sense? I’m sure many of you feel the same way.

Don and I talk about this all the time. Do we tune out? Well, the reality is that we try, but, ultimately, we can’t. Nor should we.

• Rest in Peace to Robert Morse. I loved his work as an actor and he will always be the definitive and first J. Pierrepont Finch in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. It was a brilliant performance in a show that swept the Tony Awards and won the Pulitzer Prize. Years later he would win another Tony for Tru, a one-man show about Truman Capote. We didn’t watch Mad Men, but I’ve seen the clip of his final appearance on that show, singing The Best Things in Life are Free. It’s simply lovely and bittersweet, given the fact that we’ve lost him.

Don and I had a conversation about him a week or so ago, talking about how much we loved his work and how much we loved How to Succeed. Don knew him from his Los Angeles days and always said what a nice guy he was.

I listened to the brilliant “I Believe in You” on a continuous loop yesterday.

• We did some more work outside yesterday – pacing ourselves, of course. My back was getting a bit sore after a couple of hours, so as soon as I felt a twinge, I stopped. Tomorrow, we’ll mow the lawn for the first time. Today, I’ll cut down some of the stalks that I left for the birds over the winter. Time to do some more cleanup.

We got the cushions out yesterday. I tightened the screws on the Adirondack chairs. My budget for flowers is going to be much less than usual, so I’m spending some time thinking about just what I want in my pots. The gardens themselves are perennial gardens so, after 16 years of gardening here, I don’t really need to add anything to them.

We’ve had so much wind lately – every day. I swear it gets windier here every year.

Okay. Time to go.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

 

Filed Under: life 34 Comments

Dare I Call It A Potting Shed?

April 21, 2022 at 8:37 am by Claudia

A few weeks back, Don came home with something in the back of his car. He found it on the side of the road and thought that it might be something I could use for potting my plants. Since it is fairly lightweight, I quickly realized it was a no-go for the porch. We get a lot of wind.

But, we were about to wash the walls and the floor in the shed and once we rearranged things, I was pretty sure I knew where it would go. And yesterday, it all started to take shape.

His discovery alongside the road? The utility tub.

You know, Don amazes me sometimes. That he would see this and immediately think of me, gardening, and potting plants just boggles my mind! I was surprised when I first saw it, but I must admit, my mind immediately started thinking about what I could do with it.

For now, this is the way this potting area looks. What I would love to find eventually is an old workbench of some kind to place on the right of the tub. But this will definitely do in the meantime. The garden tools, snow shovels, rakes, etc., are on the opposite side of the shed.

We’re doing a little ‘decoration’ as well. Some antique locks and hinges are on display on the back wall. I’ll take a picture of that area soon. It’s still a shed, but dang if isn’t a lot more spacious than I thought it was.

I’ve had the shelf for a long time. It used to be on the wall in my studio when it was under the skylight. It’s not the strongest piece, but it could definitely hold packs of seeds and a few tools. I’d also love to find some really cheap framed prints of flowers and botanicals. Nothing too precious, of course, because it is, after all, a shed.

Before we rented the dumpster this shed was so full of stuff that we could barely get in there. I would have to crawl over things to find my pots.

You have no idea.

That’s why I keep marveling at how spacious it is in there!

By the way, we have no water access in the shed, but Don urged me to put the faucet on the sink ‘for the look of the thing.’

Isn’t it neat? I have my own little potting shed!

I’m going move the trash can that holds my potting soil to the shed. It’s currently on the porch. But first, I have to buy some fresh potting soil and some plants – I haven’t done any of that yet because it’s been too cold. But, as of today, freezing nighttime temperatures are a thing of the past, so I can finally get going.

Today, I’m going to start clearing out the garden beds – my first pass.

We worked outside for about 2 – 3 hours yesterday and we were tired. So we’re being very careful to pace ourselves. But, boy, is it wonderful to be outside again.

Stay safe.

Happy Thursday.

 

 

Filed Under: flowers, garden, gardening 28 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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