Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Reading, Movies & Pancakes

August 31, 2024 at 8:49 am by Claudia

Another shot with my long range lens. Everything looks slightly, but only slightly, out of focus and rather magical.

I had to crop the upper left hand corner because my neighbors have some ugly old truck parked there. Looks like the kind of truck an electrician would use. Plus, the grass is really long which leads me to believe their rider mower is temporarily out of commission. Truck, unmowed grass – all we need is an abandoned sofa to complete the picture. Normally, they mow regularly, so I just have to let it go until they can mow again.

But it does mess up my photos…don’t they know I’m a blogger?????

There’s not a whole lot to share since yesterday’s post. We’ve been taking it easy. Don’s reading a book by Jim Harrison, I’m reading Wicked Prey  by John Sandford. Two more books arrived at the library yesterday. Yikes. I think I went a little overboard with the ‘hold’ button. So I read a big chunk of the Sandford this morning and will try to read more later on today.

We were going to watch more of Babylon Berlin last night but we noticed that TCM was running Top Hat  and Swing Time with Fred and Ginger. You know I’m a huge fan of Fred Astaire and have been since I was about 12. I have pretty much every book ever written about him and I have all of their movies on DVD. However, our DVD player is broken and it’s always fun to discover that the movies are being run live on TCM. So we dropped our plans and happily spent 4 hours in Art Deco/Astaire/Rogers heaven along with brilliant supporting cast members Edward Everett Horton, Helen Broderick (I love her, she can land a comeback like no one else) Eric Blore, and Victor Moore.

We’re still talking about it this morning.

Don is making pancakes and fried eggs while I write this, so I’ll have to sign off soon.

I hope you’re having a good weekend. Labor Day is Monday so it’s a long weekend around here, full of weekenders and campers. We’ll stay close to home.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

 

Filed Under: life 18 Comments

A Rainy Friday Morning

August 30, 2024 at 8:33 am by Claudia

I’m sort of liking using a telephoto lens and not necessarily from a great distance. I love the softening in this photo. It’s so lovely and calming – at least, to me.

Sometimes I rely too much on my iPhone. It’s convenient. It does the job. But…the big girl cameras have been ignored lately and they need some attention.

It’s Friday. We woke up to rain. Sitting here while it’s still dark, hearing the rain fall, sipping some coffee? Oh my goodness, the perfect way to start the morning. The rain has stopped but I think we’ll have a bit more this morning. I was going to mow a bit today, but that can be put off until the weekend.

I finished another book yesterday, returned it to the library, and picked up another one. I started another John Sandford. It’s been a bit slow-going because my attention was scattered, but I want to give it a nice chunk of time later today.

Family Portrait

In case anyone missed this bit of information from Monday’s post, I am now moderating comments. That does two things – it eliminates any stress I might have discovering an inappropriate comment after it’s been posted, and it eliminates any stress you might feel having read it. It’s a pivotal time in this country and I will occasionally address the election. Just as in 2016 and 2020, “bad actors” will appear. They are not welcome here. A lot of bloggers moderate comments, I’ve just held off on that until now. So, if you think something has gone wrong because you don’t see your comment, don’t worry. I will approve it shortly. I’m on it!

I loved all the comments on what books you are reading. I hope you got some good ideas from other commenters.

Okay.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

 

Filed Under: bjd dolls, blog, Blythe dolls, flowers 14 Comments

What Are You Reading?

August 28, 2024 at 8:29 am by Claudia

The brown-eyed susans are hanging in there, as is the phlox. The phlox that was chomped on repeatedly by the deer – down at the bottom of the big garden bed –  has finally bloomed. Take that, deer! That David phlox doesn’t give up!

Another hot day today. Tomorrow will be cooler, thank goodness. We have to go grocery shopping this morning as we’re out of nearly everything. Usually Don does that because he likes shopping, but when we will have a big haul, I usually join him. Today is one of those ‘big haul’ days. After we get back home, I have to water everything outside because of the high temps.

I returned some books to the library yesterday. I’m currently going back and forth between two authors, John Sandford, who I’ve mentioned before, and Gregg Hurwitz, who has written a series I really like. The thing about books is that no matter how old you are and how much you’ve read in your lifetime, you can always discover a new-to-you author. And it’s even better when that author has written a series or two! Oh, goodness, I love that!

And of course, we have the newest Louise Penny, which will be published on October 29th. Since we’re almost in September, that’s not all that far away. I haven’t been buying any books, but I will make an exception for Louise (I can call her that because I’ve met her, right?) I suppose Michael Connelly will have a new book coming out in November because that’s been his pattern. I’ll have to check into that. And I’m on the reserve list for Richard Power’s newest, Playground, which comes out in September, I may end up buying it after reading it because he a special author to me; he writes books that are profound and beautiful. We’ll see.

Maybe you’ve already sensed this, but it’s time for our favorite question: What are you reading?

Please share!

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

Filed Under: books, reading 59 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.

Thanks for stopping by.

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

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