Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Baby Robins

June 3, 2021 at 9:24 am by Claudia

Baby robins as photographed by my husband. He had to get something out of the shed so he quickly held his camera over the nest while the adult robins were frantically chirping at us, and got out of there quickly so they could relax. We see two babies, but I think there’s another one there, too, maybe on the upper right? But I can’t tell whether that baby is alive or not. The photo makes them look bigger than they actually are.

I imagine they’ll fledge soon.

In other bird news, late in the afternoon, as I was opening the front door, I saw at least two or three Carolina wrens. They were on the maple tree, flying down to the ground and then back up to the bark. I also heard their song. In my research on them, I read that after the babies fledge, the family often hangs out in the same area for a while as the parents help the babies learn to find food. I’m so happy to have seen them for a brief time. That was a gift I sorely needed.

More rain and thunderstorms today and tomorrow. Don took on too much outside work yesterday, so I’ve persuaded him to take it easy for a couple of days. Truth be told, I didn’t have to work too hard to persuade him.

I’m going to paint today.

Stay safe.

Happy Thursday.

Filed Under: bird nest, birds 18 Comments

Wild Roses

June 2, 2021 at 10:02 am by Claudia

Cue the wild roses, blooming all over the property.

And cue the rain, which will be with us later today through Friday.

I know many of you need rain, and I feel for you.  We, on the other hand, could use a break. The ground in the Secret Garden is still soggy from last weekend’s rain. Don did a lot of mowing yesterday in a desperate attempt to outrun the rain.

Right now, it’s gorgeous out there.

I don’t have much to share today. Maybe because of our sorrow or just because, I feel the need for quiet more intensely than usual.

So I’ll share this poem by Wendell Berry:

The Wild Rose

 

Sometimes hidden from me

in daily custom and in trust,

so that I live by you unaware

as by the beating of my heart,

 

suddenly you flare in my sight,

a wild rose blooming at the edge

of thicket, grace and light

where yesterday was only shade.

 

and once more I am blessed, choosing

again what I chose before.

 

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

Filed Under: life 22 Comments

Birds, Buds, and Bugs

June 1, 2021 at 10:19 am by Claudia

I only have about 4 or 5 peony buds this year and this one is about to open.

I’m getting ready to inhale.

I realized yesterday that the baby wrens have fledged. For the first time in a long time, I didn’t hear the song of the wrens, which had been the melody of my days. I kept watching the nest but there was no activity. I cannot tell you how sad I was. It was as if dear neighbors had up and moved in the middle of the night without giving me a chance to say goodbye.

It rained heavily all day Saturday and Sunday, and it was cold, so we didn’t hear any birdsong. But I do remember, on Friday, observing one of the wrens perched on top of one of the chairs on the funky patio, chirping repeatedly, head moving side to side. This happened at least twice during the day and I remember wondering what this behavior meant. Now that I look back on it, perhaps the chirping had to do with cheering on the about-to-fledge babies? Now, of course, I wish I’d paid more attention.

I miss them.

The robins are still feeding their babies. I imagine they’ll be fledging sometime this week.

A ladybug on milkweed.

I’m going to try to paint today. I was missing the birds yesterday and felt too sad to paint.

It’s a beautiful day out there, all the more appreciated after our torrential rains.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

Filed Under: life 18 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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The Dogs

The Dogs

Scout & Riley. Riley left us in 2012. Scout left us in February 2016. Dearest babies. Dearest friends.

Winston - Our first dog. We miss you, sweetheart.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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