Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Monday: Both of us woke up too early. And we’re headed to Walgreen’s this morning to get our Covid vaccine and a flu shot. If I get my usual very mild reaction, I’ll fall asleep this afternoon – which, to be honest, I do nearly every day. But the reaction nap is always a bit deeper.

Let’s see, what’s new? Our washer is leaking again, our smart tv suddenly stopped supporting our apps (Amazon Prime Video and Netflix) and fountain pen ink leaked onto my chair. That’s how the day went yesterday.

The leaking from the washer isn’t too bad, so we’re holding off a bit on calling the repair company. But, of course, it’s troublesome. The smart tv thing is maddening. I’ve been following a thread on Reddit about it and it increasingly sounds like our older Sony Bravias are no longer supporting the apps. Ours is at least nine years old. Really? It was fine on Friday. Saturday? The apps were gone. Sony wants us to spend money on a new smart television.

Hey, Sony? I’m not buying a new television, this one works perfectly fine, but you can be sure that the next tv we buy will NOT be from Sony.

Just ordered an Amazon Firestick.

And I accidentally dripped fountain pen ink on my chair and spent about two hours with Q-tips and rubbing alcohol, doing my best to get the stains out. Luckily, the chair fabric is in a busy print so it’s less obvious. And I did manage to get much of it – but not all – out of the fabric.

When it rains, it pours.

My friend Tania does this thing on the Blythe feed called FlatLaySunday. A flat lay is some sort of arrangement based on a theme where the subject matter is laying flat on some sort of surface. You take the photo from above. I don’t usually take part, though I have a couple of times. Frankly, I’m too lazy to put much time into it. Unless an easy and quick idea comes to me that I can accomplish in less than five minutes, I don’t do it. Yesterday, I had one of those easy and quick ideas.

The theme was Hello, Autumn.

Miranda on our bed spread, which has been tucked away for the summer, with three oak leaves from one of our trees that I saved and put into a McCoy bowl. It’s been surprisingly popular, probably because of the beauty of Miranda. I’m not one to cram the flat lay with all sorts of stuff. I like it simple.

Okay. Have to make more coffee before we trudge off to get jabbed.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

We’re due for some rain this afternoon, maybe a little thunder. That’s okay with me, as we plan to take it easy this weekend and a rainy day sounds rather lovely. Oh, it just started to rain!

Last night, we attended the last concert in the series that Don coordinates. It was a lovely night and I got to see several of Don’s musician friends again. Sometimes it takes place in a park, but last night it was in a barn – Don’s favorite venue. I can see why. It’s very old, the inside is covered in a warm, natural wood. There’s a little area for a stage and two chandeliers hanging down from one of the beams. It’s an intimate space and the two barn doors – one on either side of the room were open, letting in the night air. Simply magical.

The first act was a group that Don discovered on one of his many searches for local musicians. They’re called Hammerhead Horns, and they play New Orleans style blues. They’re terrific. They have a lot of personality and a lead singer. Utterly charming.

The second was our friend Michele, who brought along some fellow musicians. One of them, John, played in the band for Escape to Margaritaville  and performed earlier this season with his own band in this same summer series.  Michele said it was the first time they had performed together in public and boy oh boy, were they great! It’s good to know that Michele is writing music again after the untimely death of her husband, Rick. Rick was an extraordinary person – he had a long career in big business, was a musician, and an incredible painter. He specialized in the glorious scenery of the Hudson Valley and his attention to detail was exquisite. He also had a recording studio and it is there that Don and his friend Dan recorded their CD. We miss him. So, it was a emotional and beautiful night. Michele is so talented.

Since I haven’t posted a photo of one of the girls in a while:

Here’s Pru.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

 

Fading goldenrod.

Another chilly morning. I’m wearing a sweater over my pajamas. I know we’re in for some warmer temperatures in a week or so, but so far the change in overnight temperatures has been quite dramatic. And it all occurred in the first week of September.

Both Don and I are indulging in book reading. I always am, of course, but Don is often doing things other than reading. He’s cracked open another Jim Harrison book. After doing my morning walk at the library yesterday, I checked out yet another Harrison that I had on hold. So he’s set for the time being. I’m just about to finish Hellbent, and then I’ll start the next book in the Orphan X series.

I’m liking these chillier, cuddlier mornings. The air is brisk!

Don books the talent for a concert series in a town north of us – the concerts are on the first Friday of the month. Tonight is the last one for the season and I’m going with him. A friend of ours is singing. If you remember, one of our friends died last year from a rare form of pneumonia and Michelle was his partner in life and art. They performed together. One of the first things Don did last year was to ask her if she would be willing to perform in this series. She said yes. She has been slowly getting out there, performing solo. I can’t wait to hear her.

And we have appointments for a Covid vaccination next Monday, as well as the flu shot. We’ll also get RSV, but on another day. We had a little reaction to that last year, so we’re handing that separately. Edited to add: Thanks to my cousin, I now know that RSV is a one-time shot, so we don’t need to get it this year.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.