Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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For The Rain It Raineth Every Day

August 23, 2021 at 9:29 am by Claudia

If this picture could only express how sodden the ground is! Listen, we’re very lucky. Yes, rain, torrential rain, over a long period of time, but no high winds. Actually, no wind at all. It’s still raining and that will go on throughout the day, but at the moment, we’re in a lull. In the midst of all of this I heard a bird singing this morning, as well as the sound of crickets.

So we’re very grateful this morning. Don’s appointment at the eye doctor isn’t until late this afternoon. They squeezed him in because the next available appointment was in mid-September and by that time, he wouldn’t be able to see out of that eye. More gratitude: we will be able to get there today.

One more thing: our well is nice and full.

I know many are without power in the aftermath of this storm. I hope that is resolved quickly. The tragedy in Tennessee is heartbreaking. Water and wind are so powerful, things can change in a second.

_________________

The new Louise Penny should arrive in my mailbox tomorrow. And I’ve pre-ordered two other novels which are coming out soon. Simon Doerr, who wrote All The Light We Cannot See, which is one of the most powerful novels I’ve ever read, has a new book coming out in September: Cloud Cuckoo Land. And Amor Towles, who wrote A Gentleman in Moscow, which I’ve now read twice because I love it so much, has a new novel coming out in October: The Lincoln Highway. I’m very excited. Not every book that I want to read gets ordered in hardback, but these two authors, three, if you count Louise Penny, definitely make the cut. I don’t usually pre-order, but in the time of COVID, the less running around, the better.

We just finished watching the original Danish series, The Killing. It inspired the American version, which starred Mireille Enos, who I worked with a few years back in Shakespeare in the  Park. But, we always go with the original and, in this case, it paid off. Brilliant. Unsettling. And it had a protagonist that I didn’t always like, often got frustrated with – just like in real life. Last night, we started the second season.

Okay, my friends. Today is about rain and vacuuming and doing something other than sitting around, which I’ve done far too much of for the past few days.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Filed Under: hurricane, rain 22 Comments

Pre-Hurricane Sunset

August 22, 2021 at 9:36 am by Claudia

Last night’s sunset: the calm before the storm.

After heading directly for the Hudson Valley, it appears that Henri has veered off toward Long Island, so our forecast has changed. We’ll get some wind, but not nearly what was predicted. We will  get heavy rains, which really haven’t started yet, but should commence shortly and continue through the day, overnight, and through tomorrow. I imagine we’ll get at least 3 or 4 inches, but who knows? Maybe more. The usual flood watches/warnings are in effect. We have a lot of rivers in the Hudson Valley – we happen to live across the street from one, and just down the street from another. And, of course, there’s the mighty Hudson River.

It will be wet and messy and last a couple of days. Now, we just wait and see.

Sending prayers to all those who are in the path of the storm. I have friends on Long Island and Cape Cod and the coast of Rhode Island and they’re all understandably nervous. Let’s send positive energy their way.

In the meantime, we will have to venture out tomorrow as Don has his eye doctor appointment, which has been delayed at least a month due to the doctor having a family emergency and then, to COVID in the office. His sight has been impacted so there’s no delaying this appointment. We will go.

We’re hanging out at the house today (of course) and I did run out and buy some primer yesterday. So I’ll either be painting Roseville or the dollhouse, depending on my mood. And reading, of course.

Stay safe.

Happy Sunday.

Filed Under: hurricane 16 Comments

Soggy Saturday

August 21, 2021 at 9:55 am by Claudia

Well, my friends, there’s not a lot to report here. Very humid, some rain; before it got unbearable yesterday, we managed to mow the far side of the front yard and the area around the corral. We still have the upper part of the back forty to mow, but that will have to wait until next week as we have three days of rain – some of it very heavy – coming up due to Henri.

At this point, it looks like the worst of it will happen tomorrow, with the coast, Long Island, and Cape Cod getting pounded. I hope that changes and Henri turns to the right and goes out to sea. We will get heavy rain and wind tomorrow. As they say in the forecast, ‘tropical storm conditions.’ We’re going to the grocery store this morning (I predict it will be very crowded) to get a few staples.

This seems to happen every year now – or almost every year. For the first 10 years or so that we lived here in the east, this kind of storm rarely happened. Reader Vicki said to park our cars where there are no trees nearby – no can do. We have trees everywhere, as do most of the people around here who live in older houses. Newer builds to be out in the open with less trees around the house.

Anyway, I’m happily reading another Ruth Galloway mystery, The Woman in Blue, I may paint today (I’ve not felt motivated to paint in several days,) I have some cleaning to do, and as soon as I finish this post and have some oatmeal, we’re headed to the store.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

Filed Under: hurricane 34 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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