Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

A Weather Day

at by

What a day yesterday!

It rained a lot. A real lot. By the early afternoon we were under a tornado watch as tropical storm Debby started to blow through the Hudson Valley. The rain was torrential, scarily so, and it went on for hours. My phone went off once with a flash flood warning and then, about a half hour later, another alert: Tornado Warning. Oh boy. It was for the next twenty minutes and after some searching, I found it was for the county just south of us and we were included in the warning, because we’re just over the border.

All is well, obviously. We passed the deadline for the warning. The rain continued until about 7 pm.

We very seldom get tornado watches or warnings. The last time I can remember was about 3 or 4 years ago.

Did I say we needed rain?

Well, we got it.

Thanks, Mother Nature.

A very intense day. Today is beautiful and sunny, like nothing ever happened.

We’re lucky. We never lost power. I know there’s a lot of damage in the Hudson Valley and CT and further north. No damage here. The trees are fine. The sump pump kept working – for a while there it was going on and off every minute.

I have so much catch up work to do outside. Weeds to trim, pull. Grass to be mowed. But today is just too darned wet, so I’ll wait a day.

I have a feeling little Wren’s arrival will be delayed. There is no update on the tracking number. I imagine lots of flights were delayed/cancelled yesterday.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

Flowers, Dolls and Lots of Rain

at by

The second Rose of Sharon has started to bloom – the color of the flowers is slightly darker than those of its neighbor. Hang in there, bush – we’re going to be pummeled today with rain as a result of Tropical Storm Debby heading up into the Northeast. Lots and lots of rain and some winds – there’s even a tornado watch at the moment. Yikes!

Did I mention the other day that we needed rain? Apparently, Debby has responded to my request.

Don’s response to Debby? He’s going to make an apple pie. We haven’t had one in a while, so it’s time.

Yesterday morning was spent running to the post office for a box for an Etsy order. On my way there, the tire pressure sensor light went on, so I drove to the gas station and filled up my rear right tire, which was the culprit. Then I ran into the grocery store to grab a few things, came back home and packaged up the Etsy order. Then back to the post office to send it off.

I don’t have the space to have a variety of boxes on hand, nor do I want to amass a lot of boxes that I don’t need. So I end up seeing the two guys who work in our post office a lot. Kevin and Gene. They are such great guys; kind, helpful, and funny. Kevin is going to retire in a year and a half and we’re already sad.

The Olympics have been spectacular and such a godsend in the middle of this election season. We’re ready to get back to our normal schedule, but I know we’ll miss them. I have always watched the Olympics, ever since I was young. The stories behind the athletes are so inspiring. I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but if you’re not watching, you’re really missing out. I am not an athlete – never have been – and I am incredibly inspired by them. Don and I sit here screaming our heads off as we cheer for the swimmers and runners.

Sophie was overdue for a photo. My first Blythe. She is so lovely. A couple of years ago, Rosa, her customizer, told me that she had been her very first customization. I was so impressed. Little did Sophie know when she arrived here that several more sisters would eventually share this space. Someday I’ll show you the freckles on her forehead. Adorable.

Remember little Wren? She’s on her way to me, hopefully arriving on Monday or Tuesday. I haven’t told Lily yet, it’s a surprise,

Stay safe.

Happy Rainy Friday.

Zinnias

at by

For some reason, sowing seeds for zinnias in the garden beds near the memorial garden has pretty much failed for the past two years. In fact, this year, after nothing came up, I bought some more seeds and did the whole thing again. A grand total of two came up in one bed and one in the other bed. So, I planted seeds in this tub and, thankfully, they came through.

The long and narrow bed that I used the call ‘the chicken wire fence garden’ has stopped doing much of anything. I’ll try again next year and amend the soil, but I couldn’t do that this year because my hand was injured.

This photo is from a week or so ago. It’s been so hot and humid that I haven’t really done too much outside – except water, of course. And now it’s going to rain for the next few days. We need rain. We had way too much of it in the first half of the year, but lately, not nearly enough. The rivers have been very low and I saw some algae bloom in one of the two rivers that are near our house.

I finished the latest Daniel Silva, so now it’s back to The Mirror and the Light. Don is gobbling up books by Jim Harrison, which makes me happy. He goes through periods where he is not at all into reading books, so it’s nice to see him enjoying Harrison. Harrison was also a favorite of mine about 40 years ago. Wonderful writer.

We’re loving the Olympics but darned if it hasn’t screwed up our sleeping schedule! We’re creatures of habit and staying up an hour later than usual but waking up at the same time is taking a toll. Soon we’ll get back to normal.

I watched Kamala and Tim Walz speaking at my alma mater in Philadelphia yesterday. Wow! There’s a level of excitement and passion and hope I haven’t seen in a while. And JOY! I’m ready to do what I can for the campaign.

I have to go – Don is making scrambled eggs and he’s just about ready to bring some to my perch in the den.

Stay safe.

 

 

 

 

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

Thanks for visiting! Feel free to browse, read and enjoy. All content is my own; including photos and text. Please do not use anything on this site without permission.

Disclosure/Privacy Policy can be found in the Navigation Bar under ‘About MHC.’

Also, I love receiving comments! I do, however, reserve the right to delete any comment that is in poor taste, offensive or is verging on spam. It’s my blog. If you’re a bot or a troll you’ll be blocked. Thanks!

Archives