Mockingbird Hill Cottage

We’ve been going through a couple of days with air quality warnings because of the wildfires in Canada. It’s also been extremely hot, so we’ve been staying inside – except to water all the plants, of course. And in Don’s case, to take a short walk in the morning.

I’m going to try to mow a bit this morning before it gets too hot. We’ve been leaving the lawn alone because of the heat and the lack of rain but the front lawn in getting too long, so it’s time. I also have to do some work on the play, and finish our deductions to send to our new tax person. Our former tax preparer retired last year and we miss her! We worked with her for 26 years.

Please say a prayer for my best friend, Laural, who has been going through several health crises over the past months. We had a long talk on the phone yesterday. My heart goes out to her. She is such an incredible person; we met when I was 12, so that makes 60 years of friendship. She has had more than enough health issues to battle in her lifetime and it’s time for that to end. I want to see her healthy and thriving once more.

I thought Miyoshi looked too hot in her kimono and I wanted to see her in a dress. (Don misses the kimono.) Isn’t she pretty? I find myself looking at her a lot during the day. I love this customization – Maiko created a perfect doll. Don’t worry, she’ll don her kimono soon; most certainly for Christmas as that red color is perfect for the holidays.

She has the rosiest lips of any of my Blythes.

Heavens, I love looking at her!

Okay. Gearing myself up for mowing later this morning.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

 

I had two wondrous experiences this weekend.

On Saturday during the afternoon, I looked outside and saw a Monarch butterfly. He was gliding through the air. He would glide, then land on a plant or flower, then he’d take off again and glide. I called Don to the window and we watched him and I knew he had just emerged from his chrysalis. He was getting used to flying. He would soar over the area between the big garden bed and the memorial garden. I must have watched him for an hour as he discovered who he was, drying his wings, gliding, and resting. Toward the end of that time, he started to vigorously pump his wings. He was getting it. He was growing stronger. Soon after that, he moved on. What a privilege to see him just after he had emerged. To know he came from an egg laid on our milkweed, that he became a caterpillar, then a chrysalis, then this beautiful creature.

There he is. It wasn’t until I did a close up that I saw tears and damage to his wings. I wonder what happened as he emerged? Or right after he emerged?  Nevertheless, he seemed to be fine – strong, and vigorous.

Sunday morning. We got up and I was very groggy. As I always do, after opening the blinds in our bedroom, I walked into the office to open the blinds there. As I walked to the window (blinds still closed) I had the thought “deer.” Then I opened the blinds and there was a deer running down the road in front of our house. He was running right next to our property on the other side of the culvert. I’ve only seen that one other time in the 20 years we’ve lived here. There was no traffic at the time, so he was safe.

But here’s the thing: I had the thought “deer” and then I opened up the blinds and saw a deer.

Can’t quite get my head around that, but it was mystical and beautiful.

As was seeing the Monarch.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

What a difference a good night’s sleep makes! Both of us sacked out around 10:15 and we slept straight through to 6:15 this morning. I’m still a bit groggy, but I feel rested.

I did my usual thing yesterday – when I am sleep deprived, I often feel the need to get outside and take on some chore. Yesterday, it was weed whacking, which I couldn’t do for quite a while because of the weather. Very therapeutic! Then I came back inside and took it easy the rest of the day.

Rose of Sharon. (Hibiscus)

Zinnia. Our impudent little groundhog has nibbled on some zinnia buds, which makes me frown. But, what can you do? Some years, deer are really destructive and in other years do little to no damage. Same with groundhogs. Henry, our much-missed groundhog was a true gentleman and never got into the gardens. He stuck to the grassy areas.

I have to do some work on deductions for our taxes (we always file an extension.) And I have to do some prep work on the script for Darko’s Agatha Christie adaptation. I’ll be doing that every day for the next week. The lawns will have to mowed sometime next week; growth has really slowed down, as it does every summer, but especially when we’ve had so little rain. The end-of-summer flowers have started to spring up everywhere. There’s a patch of goldenrod, some purple loosestrife, and some Queen Anne’s Lace.

Okay, time to make that second cup of coffee! Don has come back in the house after practicing guitar up in our woods. It’s rather magical up there.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.