Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Thoughts on a Monday

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So close.

This sky is the tedious part of the puzzle. But I am determined to finish it today. I tried to anchor it by finding all the bats and putting them in place. Now it’s various dark clouds and sky.

Oh, we’re in a bit of a funk because the Olympics are over, as well as the two brilliant series on PBS: Around the World in Eighty Days  and All Creatures Great and Small. Impeccably done. Every detail was spot on. I could go on and on but I suspect a lot of you also feel the same way. I loved them both. “Eighty Days” ended with a bit of a teaser and I hope that means there will be second season. We know there will be a third season of “All Creatures” so we just have to be patient and wait. Tonight, we’ll start the new season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Cannot wait!

I’m also trying to be positive about winter – and failing. The snow and ice finally melted around here – it’s going to reach 60 degrees in a few days – and then the temperature will plunge 30 degrees and we can look forward to 3-5 inches of snow and ice  on Friday.

Trying hard not to do a primal scream.

Keep yourself busy, Claudia, keep yourself busy. I’m going to do some laundry today, finish the puzzle, do some cleaning, and maybe start a new puzzle.

Exciting, right?

Life has been challenging lately. A dear friend of ours awaits a heart transplant. Another friend has Alzheimer’s. Another friend is suffering from cancer and Parkinson’s Disease. Beloved family members are wrestling with some worries. It’s all there, all the time, hovering in the background. We pray in our way, which may not be the traditional way, but prayer is prayer, no matter what form it takes. A prayer for peace of mind and healing, both emotionally and physically. Sending love to everyone.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Sophie Day

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It was insane out there yesterday. Cold. Then crazy snow squalls. (I kept getting warning alerts on my phone that scared the crap out of me.) Then crazy wind throughout the rest of the day and night.

It’s cold this morning, but no wind – just a breeze. And sunny.

I’m over winter.

So I declared the day to be “Sophie Day.” It started with me thinking that she would look good in a dress I had. So I pulled her off the shelf and dressed her in this creation from mamzelle.lylou on IG.

I captioned it by saying she was off to find a quiet place to read – and to get some privacy away from her sisters.

Then, because she was so darned cute, I added this hat that I received long ago:

Stop. She’s so adorable!

Then, the mail came and there was a tiny package that I’d been waiting for. Sophie got to be the first to model these:

Reading in her quiet place.

And because I absolutely love her in these glasses, I took yet another picture:

I do believe I’ve found her look! The glasses seem to define her in a wonderful way. She is the oldest girl; bookish and thoughtful. I didn’t remove the glasses; she’s still wearing them. And I love it.

I also did some work on the puzzle and finished Slow Horses. Excellent! I’ve just started the next book in the series, Dead Lions.

And we watched Pairs Figure Skating, which was extraordinary. Stunningly talented skaters. Such beauty.

Today? I’m not sure. My back is feeling better, but I’m being very careful. I need to put a coat of sealer on the dollhouse but I don’t want to contort my body so that will have to wait. Reading, certainly, and I suspect one of the girls will be forced to wear a new outfit.

And the puzzle, of course.

Stay safe.

Happy Sunday.

 

Puzzling and Reading

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The World of Dracula puzzle in progress. I did some work on it yesterday, while sitting on a big fat cushion. These are such fun puzzles –  they come with a large photo of the completed puzzle and on the back there is a key to all the characters; who they are and where they occur in the novel. The same thing with the Shakespeare, Dickens, and Austen puzzles. They’re really beautifully made. Next up will be World Mythology. I think I’ll have worked through all of them when I finish that one.

I’m also just about to finish Slow Horses  by Mick Herron. What a fantastic novel – Herron writes about the world of spies; MI5, etc., but with a decidedly modern spin and more than a touch of humor and cynicism. I caved and ordered the next one in the series, because once I find a series that’s already been published in paperback, I’m all in. I noticed that there’s a new television series based on Slow Horses – I think it might be airing on Apple TV? But I won’t watch it. You know my rule: Once I have the characters fully created in my imagination, I won’t watch anything that might mess with that – including the future Louise Penny series. Nope. I’m very protective of the inner world that a good novel/series can create in my mind. Anyway, I recommend Slow Horses. It’s so well written. I like the way Herron’s mind works.

What else? More wind today. Sigh. Maybe some snow next Saturday. Right now, all of the snow has melted around here and, in my mind, that means that no more snow should fall.

Even though it’s only February.

But Mother Nature doesn’t care about my demands and doesn’t care if I’m getting itchy for Spring.

We’ll miss the Olympics but we’re also ready to get back on a regular schedule. We’ve been staying up late quite often to watch the results.

Okay my friends. I have to answer your comments from yesterday.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

 

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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