Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Sleepy Monday

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I’m going on about 4 hours of sleep today. Not a happy camper. But I don’t have to be anywhere, have no commitments, and can – hopefully – catch a nap this afternoon. I’ve had far too many work days in the past where I had to try to get through the day on very little sleep. Today is sunny and lovely and looks to be the only sunny day we’ll get this week, so I’m going to do my best to take it all in.

Every year, I aim my camera out the upstairs window and record the peepers. Then I post it on Instagram. For those of you who have never heard their sound, head over to my main IG account and give it a listen.

Don just headed off to the grocery store as we’re out of food. Whoops! Bless him.

We’re due for three days of rain this week and I welcome it. Why? Well, the obvious reason is that it will help to bring back our green grass. The other reason: I don’t have to worry about rain leaking inside the screen door anymore or inside the shed. For the first time in a long time, I can relax. It’s such a good feeling.

I found Livvy in this outfit yesterday. She heard it was the first day of spring and thought this romper would be the perfect thing to wear. I gently explained to her that though it was indeed the first day of spring, temperatures here in the Hudson Valley would only reach the low fifties and that she would need more layers of clothing.

But she looked adorable, I’ll give you that.

By the way, Olivia is my only girl with a licca body, which has skinny legs and arms. At first I was going to change it out, but I find it suits her, so it’s staying. Some collectors only collect Blythes with licca bodies. (Blythe World can be quite fascinating.)

That romper is one of the first pieces of Blythe clothing I purchased last fall. It’s from House of Blythe on Instagram.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

It’s Spring

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Early morning kitchen.

We had a thunderstorm yesterday. I like a good thunderstorm. This one was perfect. Lots of rumbles, some wind – but not too much – heavy rain, and then it was over. This morning is foggy.

We sure do lose track of the days around here. One morphs into another. There’s not a day that goes by where one of us doesn’t ask, “Is it Saturday or Sunday?” Or “I just realized it’s Saturday but it feels like a Friday.”

I can hear birdsong right now and it’s lovely. The peepers were amazing last night. I always stop at the window at the top of the stairs, open it wide, and say hello to them.

I’m reading The Lincoln Highway  and I love it. I’m not at all surprised because I was eagerly awaiting this new novel by Amor Towles, whose A Gentleman in Moscow  remains one of my favorite books of all time. I got the new book when it was first published last fall and took it to Brooklyn with me, but as you know, I barely had the time to read anything while I was there.

I’m on a mission to read the books in my TBR pile and this was next up. What a pleasure! You know that feeling when you sink into a new book by a favorite author and your shoulders drop because you know you’re in good hands? That’s how I feel about The Lincoln Highway.

I’m itching to start oil painting again but my back is still an issue, though it’s getting better. Today, I’m wondering if I can use the smaller easel and put it on my lap here in the den. That way I wouldn’t have to lean forward at the kitchen table. (I’m doing everything very carefully nowadays.) I want to paint some small studies of some of my egg cups and I could easily set them up in here.

We’ll see.

Happy first day of Spring!

Stay safe.

Happy Sunday.

Slice of Life

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Slice of life:

Let’s take a little trip around the photo.

In front of me, two books. I just finished Orfeo  yesterday and started The Lincoln Highway  last night while reading in bed. The books are sitting on a throw I knitted many moons ago.

My foot.

To the left –  a basket full of throws, sweaters, quilts, plus a quilt in the seemingly endless process of hand quilting. I crocheted the afghan on top.

Continuing on – the sheet music cabinet with the girls perched on top. The framed watercolor above the girls is of a windmill. We bought it many years ago in San Diego.

Then the steps and beyond them, the living room and kitchen where Don is currently making our second cup of coffee.

On the right, a favorite houseplant plopped in a piece of McCoy. A box of tissues. Art books in a big stack topped by another piece of McCoy. And a partial view of my beloved planner- underneath the planner is a book by Mary Oliver.

On my left, but unseen – my coffee cup, my phone, my book of passwords, a McCoy piece full of pens and brushes and crochet hooks, a lamp, a photo of Don and me on the beach in San Diego, Carmex, vaseline, various ear buds, the beautiful French bowl that I bought in Paris. Below the table – a basket full of books.

Also unseen: the heating pad currently warming my back, which is slowly getting better every day.

There you have it. The view from my blogging chair.

I used to do this kind of post fairly often and I think it’s time to bring it back into the rotation.

I’m thinking of reopening my Etsy shop. I have some things that I’ve accumulated over the years and it’s time to pass them on to someone else. Don’t worry, I’m not doing a big clear out because I love my collections too much, but there are items that I could bear to part with. However, my back has to be in shape so I can crouch down and take pictures of everything. So far, I’m just making lists of possibilities.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

 

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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