Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Life in our little cottage in the country

Hydrangeas, Books, and Babylon Berlin

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My Endless Summer Hydrangeas are really providing a show this year! It must be because of all the rain we’ve had, because the previous two summers yielded about 2 or 3 blooms. This year? Lots and lots! The soil pH must be changing as well. The colors of the flowers are very striking.

These are in the garden bed that adjoins the memorial garden. So they’re just outside the kitchen door.

I’m going to do some weed trimming today, but not too much, as I think it’s going to rain later this morning. Don is going to recycle at our transfer station. He just served me some eggs, bless him. (I’ll have some oatmeal – my favorite – later.)

I finished a great book by Rob Rinder – a British author – yesterday. Thank you to reader Dee Dee, our resident librarian, who recommended him. He’s, among many other things, a barrister who has written two mysteries involving a young barrister. He’s a fabulous writer and boy, was this first book – The Trial – great! I ordered it from Blackwell’s in Oxford/London and it arrived very quickly. I’ve started the first book in Elizabeth Jane Howard’s Cazalet Chronicles: The Light Years. (Also from Blackwell’s, but a couple of years ago.)  I’ve heard raves about this famous series for years. In fact, here’s the blurb from this edition: “If I were sent to a desert island with one book this would be my choice” – HRH The Duchess of Cornwall (now Queen of England.) She is a strong advocate for reading and books and I read her recommendations often.

And speaking of Dee Dee, if you’re reading this today, I’m happy to say we’re going to begin the 4th season of Babylon Berlin tonight. I know you watched it a couple of years ago, but we couldn’t see it because Netflix had some issues with the distributors, When I learned last year that Netflix had given up on Babylon Berlin, I was so, so disappointed. Periodically, I would do a search to see if anything had changed and this year, I learned that MHz – a streaming service – had acquired the rights to stream all four seasons, though they just released the 4th season this week. Babylon Berlin, as I have written on this blog in past posts, is simply one of the best series I have ever seen. We’re so excited!

I just learned that the brilliant Martin Mull passed away. I loved his work, hearkening all the way back to Fernwood Tonight  so many, many years ago. I still watch clips from that series on YouTube and laugh out loud. Rest in Peace, Martin.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

Friday

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Balloon flowers and blooming ground cover in the memorial garden.

Not enough sleep last night. I woke up around 3 am and never got back to sleep. Then we woke up to no internet, so I had to call our provider and was told it was a large outage, perhaps due the storms we had on Wednesday, which hit some towns nearby very hard. We lucked out, with just a few twigs on the ground.

I was sure I wouldn’t be able to post today, but it came back around 7:30 am. So here I am.

I’ve heard about the debate. I refuse to read much more about it because I believe these things – while dramatic at the moment – don’t mean a whole lot in the end, even though every pundit overreacts. All will be well. I will say that there should be immediate fact checking in any debate – for both candidates. When you have a pathological liar/felon/etc./etc. running for office the debate host should be providing that information in real time, not after it’s over.

Anyway.

I didn’t see the dove flying back and forth on Wednesday. And I didn’t see a nest. So my guess is that a fledgling was on a branch and was hesitant to fly any further, so the dove mama or papa was feeding it until it finally took off. No nest or babies were on the ground. I walked it very carefully before we mowed, just to make sure.

We used the new mower, but it was very hot by the time we got it set up, so it felt exhausting even though it is much easier to push. And we have to adjust the handle as it was too high for me and that made my shoulders sore.

It’s been a strange week, somewhat disconcerting week.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

 

 

Flowers, a Dove, and a Puzzle

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Right after I took this picture, I yanked the invasive vine that was about wrap itself around my day lilies.

Thanks so much for all the wonderful birthday messages for Don. He had a great time on the set. In this scene he’s dressed in a Mummer’s costume and how I wish I could share the photos with you because it’s FABULOUS, but we are bound to secrecy. All I can say is Wow!!! He got home in time for dinner and he opened presents after dinner. All in all, a lovely day for my dearest husband. He deserves it.

The hydrangeas have survived the intense winds that came as the hot, hot weather exited our region. Rain, thunderstorms, wind and, so far, they’re okay. There are more blooms this year than I’ve ever seen. I expect that’s because of all the rain we had this winter and spring.

Yesterday was a gorgeous day and Don and I sat on the glider, drinking our coffee. We noticed a mourning dove flying to our big maple. A minute later, he would fly back across the street to our neighbor’s property. And on and on. From Don’s seat on the glider he could see the dove land, then walk up a branch, stop, and then turn around to walk a few steps down the branch – then back across the street. So, obviously, we thought there must be a nest there. After watching this sweet bird for about 45 minutes, I finally saw a worm hanging from his mouth as he headed back to the tree. Aha!

It was such a pleasure watching the dove and listening to all the bird calls. We didn’t want to leave, but we had to get ready to go vote in our primary.

By the way, I stood under that tree and, try as I might, I could not see a nest. Since it’s such an old tree and has lost several limbs over the years, I was sure I would spy the nest. Nope!

Today we assemble the new lawn mower. It’s pretty easy, but both of us are needed to get it out of the box.

This is the Klimt puzzle I finished the other day. This was a hard one! I spilled water on some of the edge pieces and had to cram them back together. And one brown piece is missing. To tell the truth, I was glad to see it finished. It was a bit of a pain in the tush.

I am not going to watch the debate. I cannot stand to see or listen to that man. His voice is like fingernails on a chalkboard. Don doesn’t want to watch either. We will retreat to the land of Northern Exposure  instead.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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