Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Lots of activity down by the culvert. Wildflowers; including goldenrod, ironweed, purple loosestrife (don’t worry, it’s not invasive on our property) and Queen Anne’s Lace, abound. I counted 5 garden spiders/Orb weavers in the same patch of flowers. I could stand there and watch all the activity all day long.

I mowed the back forty and the former corral and then Don joined me to mow the front lawn. It was a very satisfying mowing day. We wanted to get it done because we have no idea when the tree guys will come and there’s rain in the forecast for tomorrow. This morning, we have to drive across the Hudson River to Don’s retina specialist for his bi-monthly shot in the eye. When we get back, I want Don to take it easy. So does his doctor.

Consequently, I am writing this post earlier than I usually do.

I strolled around the front yard late yesterday afternoon taking photos like the one of the bee. After a while I headed up the driveway to go back in the house and I glanced at the milkweed, wondering when I should cut some of it down, as it was looking like it was done for the year. Then I saw this:

The first monarch caterpillar I’ve seen this year. And if you look to the right, you’ll see a much smaller caterpillar on that pod. I quickly went in the house to get Don because I knew he’d want to see it. I also took a short video, which is on my Instagram account. I don’t always see these guys – it’s all in the timing – so my day was made.

And I had my answer to the milkweed question: Not yet.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

I temporarily stashed the mini fridge from Barbara on the porch the other day and there it remains. This morning, I noticed that it was still there. It looks like Caroline is either waiting for someone to pick it up or waiting for the delivery guys to bring it inside the house. I guess all that will be decided when I figure out where it should reside and I haven’t done that yet.

It’s quite cool this morning, a real autumn-like beginning to the day. I know it will get hot again, that’s a given, but I can really feel and see the season shifting. Not sure I’m ready for that, but I’m adjusting to that reality. I am ready for flannel shirts, sweaters, our ever-present thermal pullovers (we love them; they stretch and adapt to our not-so-thin-nowadays bodies.) I somehow think a seasonal change is even more welcome in this time of isolation and COVID. It’s something different in the midst of day after day after day of ‘same.’

Hopefully, the tree guys will get here this week sometime. The only day we can’t have them here is tomorrow, when I have to drive Don to his appointment with the eye doctor. I don’t want them here when we are away.

Don did some work yesterday on the area surrounding the little park he made for me in the woods. I weed whacked, pulled weeds, trimmed bushes and did some general cleanup work as well as the traditional Sunday washing of sheets and I threw in some vacuuming, as well. Since it was coolish, it was the perfect day to do outdoor work. Maybe some mowing today – not sure about that yet.

I’m quite enjoying The Starless Sea  by Erin Morgenstern. She creates other worlds that are incredibly  detailed and magical, all the while grounding those worlds with deeply felt emotions – I don’t know how she does it. I loved The Night Circus  and I can already tell I’ll love The Starless Sea.

That’s about it. Reading, working outside, working inside, watering plants, eating, watching Frasier  and movies like On the Waterfront – one of my favorites. Don continues to prepare great meals, while I step in occasionally and make my famous grilled cheese sandwiches (a couple of days ago) or french toast or, if I may say so myself, the fluffiest of scrambled eggs. When I was older but still living at home, I kept late hours (a theater lifestyle) and I loved nothing more than making french toast or scrambled eggs late at night when I finally had the house to myself. In a very small house (do you see a pattern here?) filled with 5 or 6 family members at any given time, alone time was rare. So I created little rituals for myself. That was one of them.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

 

I saw this rose bud this morning – one last rose for the season. It’s a delightful surprise and a welcome one.

Well, the remnants of Hurricane Laura have passed through our neck of the woods and today is a bit cooler and a lot less humid. The rain held off until last night, allowing my neighbors to have their graduation party for their son. Yet again, someone had fireworks last night. I think it was the camping facility that is nearby – maybe celebrating the end of the season? Mercifully, they didn’t last too long. But they were loud!

I really love this particular variety of sunflower. There are three more of them, one of which should bloom this week.

Hey, it’s a significant day here at Mockingbird Hill Cottage. Today, we celebrate 15 years here. We moved in on August 30, 2005, the day after Hurricane Katrina hit. Since we had turned off cable at our old place and hadn’t been watching the news and wouldn’t have working cable for another week, we missed most of the news reports and didn’t know about the horrendous impact and damage for quite a while. The next day, which was one of the hottest and most humid days I can ever remember, we drove back to our old place to finish cleaning it out. No a/c, no fans, still embedded in my sense memory.

Happy 15th Anniversary, Mockingbird Hill Cottage! (Though you were simply a cottage in those days, your name came about 2 years later.)

Don finished Hamnet  yesterday. We talked about it for a long time. He loved it. I loved it. It’s one of the best books I’ve ever read. I finished A Private Cathedral  by James Lee Burke this morning. Excellent. Now we’re starting new books – Don has another one by Maggie O’Farrell, I have The Starless Sea  by Erin Morgenstern.

I’m going to do a bit of weed whacking this morning. I tend to neglect these chores as we come to the end of the summer because I’m not really motivated, but it needs to be done. Don will probably putter around up in the woods.

We had a nice little FaceTime chat with my sister and Little Z yesterday. He’s getting so big! He reported to us on his first week back in school. He told us he was scared for the first day but then he was fine. Both of Mere’s older sons have moved into their own apartments within the past week. Son number 2 has started law school, as well. Lots of changes for my sister and lots of emotions. I have no desire to live in Florida, but I do wish we lived closer to each other. It gets harder and harder to be so far apart.

Stay safe.

Happy Sunday.