Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Life in our little cottage in the country

New Jeans: a Symbol of Re-Entry

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Today’s version of a foggy morning.

As I write this, the sun has finally broken through. The mornings are cooler now, but the temperature will go up to 76 today.

I was very busy yesterday, picking up some new jeans I’d ordered (I desperately needed them), running some errands, cleaning, doing laundry, unclogging the bathtub drain (success!), watering houseplants. Today I will be coaching Ben for an hour and figuring out where to get my COVID test on Friday. This is not the rapid test. It’s the PCR test, which needs to be done 72 hours before I report to work on Monday. Rapid tests are not a problem. The PCR can be, in terms of getting the results on time. So I have to do some research today and make some calls.

It will work out.

The problem with jeans – the kind that stretch, which I need these days – is that they eventually stretch out of shape. And then I end up looking like a misshapen old woman. Usually I ignore that fact because I’m always at home and Don doesn’t care. But now that I’m going out in the world for work, I need to look a bit more stylish. Actually, a lot  more stylish.

No news yet on Greta, though I did just see a comment on Facebook from my nephew’s wife saying that she was “slowly improving.”

I watched a hummingbird dine on my zinnias yesterday. And we’ve had a doe and her young fawns dining in the back forty. A lone monarch flitted though the garden. And I heard a Carolina wren singing yesterday morning. At this time of year, I’m so happy when I hear bird song, other than crows cawing which seems to be the predominant melody at this time of year.

Okay. I’m off to get ready for my coaching session.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

 

 

Oil Painting and Sophie

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Finished!

This one took a long time. Between coaching and a slew of other things going on, there was a long period of time between the last time I worked on it and yesterday, when I finally finished. I don’t recommend it. I felt a little disconnected and had to work hard to get back in the ‘groove.’

This is number ten in the Pottery Portraits series. The pattern on this vase is Dahlrose.

I’m pretty pleased with the results.

Sophie was demanding a change of clothes, so I complied. After all, she’s fairly quiet most of the time, so I can hardly complain.

When she arrived in the mail, I soon thought of all my sheep and the fact that they might make a nice addition to a photo. I believe a reader of this blog suggested it, too. I started with this needle-felted lamb that I’ve had for a long time. The lamb, my teddy bear, and Maggie Rabbit always accompanied me on long stints in Hartford.

Sophie loves animals and is a vegetarian like her mom.

Good for you, Sophie!

The dress was made by an Etsy seller: Rose and Cacao. She also made those overalls Sophie wore with her Beatles t-shirt. The boots were made by Crafty by Cora, another Etsy seller.

This might be one of my favorite dresses.

Today, I have to run an errand, wash the sheets, unclog the bathtub drain (what fun) – that kind of thing. Don is already off running errands.

Tomorrow I coach Ben. We rescheduled this morning’s session because he has a whopper of a headache. Next Sunday, I take the train to NYC and then on to Queens, where I’ll be coaching Anastasia  for two days. This Friday, I have to get the PCR Covid test; you’re supposed to get it 72 hours before starting work.

A busy time ahead, between Anastasia, private coaching, and preparing for 6 weeks in NYC.

My nephew updated us yesterday. Greta has a cyst and an abdominal blockage. She hasn’t eaten since Monday and she can’t keep anything down. We’re very worried. I can’t quite remember how old she is, but she’s around 8 or 9 years old. Too much for a little girl.

Stay safe.

Happy Sunday.

Self-Care Saturday

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I love these misty fall mornings. Every day speaks of transition. As is fitting for this last weekend of summer, we’ll reach the low eighties today and that, my friends, looks like the last hurrah. The next ten days will bring temperatures in the seventies and sixties.

If you look in the upper left of the photo, you’ll see the bean pods hanging from the catalpa tree, otherwise known as the bean tree.

We are both very tired today. We’ve had lots going on and we’re ready for a day of rest. We’ve named today Self-care Saturday. Believe me, we need it.

I plan on finishing this post, paying a bill online, washing some towels, dressing Sophie in a new outfit, reading (I already did some reading early this morning), and, darn it, finishing that painting.

For the second or third summer in a row, my heavenly blue morning glories have yet to bloom. I was deleting a lot of photos the other day and I noticed that they used to start blooming in August. Now, I’m lucky if I get one bloom by the end of September. I can’t figure this one out. There are lots of leaves, lots of vines, but no buds. Last year, I saw one bloom before we had a frost that ended it all.

My plan is to enrich the soil next year and add in lots of compost. Any other advice? I don’t want to stop planting them, so I’m determined to figure this out.

Thanks for your lovely comments about Don’s venture. It means a great deal to us.

Edited to add: Just found out my nephew Jeff’s youngest daughter is in the hospital. She’s been there for several days with high fevers, a cyst in her abdomen and bowel problems. Jeff and his wife Raina are out of their minds with worry. Please pray for Greta. (Jeff is my brother’s child.)

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

 

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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