Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Sometimes we forget how insane it gets in our neck of the woods on an autumn weekend. We have avoided going in to the town north of us on autumn weekends for years. But Don wanted to go to the nursery/farmer’s market (where we buy plants and our Christmas Tree) to get some fresh vegetables, so I decided to go along so we could stop at an antique shop.

Well. Traffic on the road to the nursery was backed up for miles. Had there been an accident? Was something going on at the Fairgrounds?

No. It was simply an autumn weekend in the Hudson Valley and the leaf peepers had landed. We had to turn around and take another route. When we finally got there, the nursery was jammed with people – I forgot about their hayrides and pumpkin picking! It was a beautiful day and all their events were extremely popular. Everyone was buying lots of fresh produce, as well.

Needless to say, after we made our purchases and we drove toward the antique store, we quickly realized that there was absolutely no parking. So we headed back home where we discovered our little town was also jam-packed. We did take a little walk around Main Street.

We have a couple of Little Free Libraries in our town and also this – a free Art Box.  “Make Art, Leave Art, Take Art.” What a neat idea!

The forsythia at the library has bloomed again. It’s confused.

Don took part in the No Kings event in our little town. The population is a little over 3000 people and at least 1400 people showed up! Isn’t that great? Our Representative in Congress spoke (he lives here) as well as several other politicians. Don felt hopeful for the first time in a long time. Over 7 million people marched in the No Kings events.

We are stronger than them. Much stronger.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Yesterday was such a beautiful day. The sun, the light, the colors on the maple trees. It was simply gorgeousl. We mowed the front lawn – I think I did about 2/3 of it and then Don took over because my back was hurting. He also raked a lot of the catalpa leaves. It felt so good to be out there working on a beautiful autumn day. Then we came in, had some lunch, and I promptly took a nap.

We’ve been watching baseball every night because we LOVE baseball and we know that it will soon disappear until spring. Shohei Otani’s performance in last night’s game was the most extraordinary showing I have ever seen. We are still talking about it this morning. (Donnamae – I’m sorry about your Brewers. I know this loss must be hard for everyone in Wisconsin.)

On Sunday, we’ll tune in again and see what happens with the Mariners vs. the Blue Jays.

A lone zinnia appeared despite the frost/freezes. I see another bud, as well. I appreciate these little miracles as we deal with a not-quite-winter October here in the Hudson Valley.

I’ve been circling around the Beacon Hill lately. It really would be the perfect winter project. I think I’ve been overwhelmed by the enormity of the whole thing (and the potential cost.) But lately I’ve been thinking that it does not have to be perfect, or the culmination of my dollhouse projects, or even the last dollhouse. I just need to take it one room at a time and go for it. I may not use much wallpaper this time. It’s never easy finding a pattern I like – so many are kind of hokey – and I think it can be limiting. I do have ideas for the living room and that might be where I start. The hardest and most challenging will be the stairs. Since they are already in place, I have to either leave the dark wood or try to paint them – which might just be impossible. In the meantime, I think I’ll replace a few of the windows and do some minor repair work.

Okay.

I have to make more coffee.

If you’re marching today, bless you!

Stay safe.

At our local library.

Yesterday we were searching for something in the closet in the den. While doing that, we rediscovered this lithograph that we used to have on the wall. It’s really lovely and the handmade frame from the early 1900s is spectacular. I found it at an auction not long after we moved into the cottage. We ended up hanging it here.

 

It’s a Guardian Angel lithograph. They were very popular in the early 20th century. My grandmother had one – a different scene – on the wall of her guest bedroom where I would sleep when I was visiting. It was on the wall just to the left of the bed. I remember really loving it and feeling some sort of protection from that angel. It was originally my great-grandmother’s so it is very, very old.

Years later, my grandmother had to sell her home and I regret not taking that print. But I was clueless at that point in my life and it never entered my mind. Of course, I ended up spending many years looking for a print like the one on the wall in her house. I finally found this one when we moved here. It’s not exactly the same, but it has the same theme – the Guardian Angel protecting innocent children – in this case, from falling off a cliff.

And that frame! It’s so graphic in its design. We’re happy to have it on display again.

Today, I’m mowing the lawn and Don is raking leaves. We had a frost warning last night and I covered up some vulnerable plants with sheets. Once again – fingers crossed that they’re okay.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.