Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Butterflies, Flowers & Books

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One of our late season caterpillars turned into a butterfly. Don noticed it first, yesterday morning. Then I saw it flying around the big garden bed later in the day. There aren’t a lot of viable flowers around the property, but there are phlox and zinnias so I hope we were able to provide some sustenance. Of course, I don’t know absolutely that it was one of our caterpillars, but I’m pretty sure it was, as it hung around for most of the day yesterday.

It was 84 degrees yesterday and quite humid. Today, the high will be 50 degrees, the low 49. Only one degree separating the high and low in a 24 hour period. It’s also raining and the rain will continue all day long. Quite the weather change!

This is a New England Aster.

We finished watching all of Luther, including the four episodes released this year that I hadn’t yet seen. I’ve always been a fan, having watched it from the beginning, but Don is now a fan as well. I had a few quibbles with the last episode which I won’t go into in case you haven’t seen it, but overall, it’s excellent. Incredible work by everyone, from starring to supporting actor to art direction to cinematography to direction.

Now we’re watching The Politician  on Netflix, which just started streaming this week. It’s good, but geared more toward a younger audience. Ben Platt is wonderful, and it’s good to see Gwynneth Paltrow again, as well as the always wonderful Bob Balaban. We’re not over the top about it, but we like it – it’s quirky.

What else? I picked up two books that I had ordered from our library system, the next two books in the Jack Caffery series by Mo Hayder. But first, I have to finish Down in the Woods  by M. J. Arlidge. I have about 80 pages to go.

My husband is currently playing his guitar in the living room, I can hear the rain falling, I have a shawl wrapped around my shoulders, and after I hit ‘publish’ I’m going to read some more.

Happy Thursday.

 

Where to Put the Table?

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I’ve been “miniature thinking.” When I purchased that incredible Arts & Crafts style table at the IGMA show, my thoughts went immediately to the antique dollhouse. It seemed like it might be the ideal fit for such a piece, mainly because of this:

The fireplace flanked by built-in bookcases. This is exactly like the fireplace/bookcase combo we had in our Craftsman bungalow rental in San Diego. The only thing missing is the glass doors on the bookcases. It even matches the fir used on all the woodwork in that house.

By the way, I had to retake this photo this morning because I had placed the painting upside down.

So, late in the day yesterday, I climbed up on the ottoman and turned the house around. It sits on top of the china cabinet in the den. I think I found a good place for the table.

Isn’t it perfect there? I really love it. It’s a keeper.

When Don came downstairs, I called him over and asked his opinion. He loves it. (Honestly, I couldn’t have a more dollhouse/miniature-supportive husband.) He suggested a lamp for the living room as well as turning the dollhouse around so we can see into the rooms. I took him up on his suggestion. I do this periodically with Hummingbird Cottage, as well. It’s most often turned with the exterior facing outward, but every once in a while I turn it around so I can see all the details.

The next hour was spent with various camera lenses and settings, playing with finding the best way to photograph the rooms. It’s very tricky, but fun. You just have to be in the mood.

This wallpaper is temporary. I cut it quickly and I attached it with tacky wax. I may go for something a bit more permanent. I’ve also briefly considered painting the walls. But that seems too rash. I don’t want to lose the natural wood used by the maker of this house.

However, I am entirely capable of cutting the wallpaper a bit more accurately and maybe even using some in the other rooms, though the bedroom is almost inaccessible. I’ll have to play with that.

The more I work with this house, the more I fall in love with it. It’s so charming. You know, I brought it to the counter at the antique shop without really seeing the fireplace and bookshelves. I just knew I wanted it. When I took it out to the car and looked more closely, I gasped. What a bonus!

Imagine all the loving care that went into this little abode.

Once, I accidentally dropped something down the chimney top on the roof. Believe me, the opening goes clear down to the hearth. Amazing.

I did a lot of work around the life-sized house yesterday, which I find helps me in battling anxiety. If I have a chore to focus on, I don’t have any symptoms. So today might involve a little mowing and/or work on the rescued dollhouse that is sitting in my office/workroom/studio (I never know what the heck to call it.)

Happy Wednesday.

 

Reading, Gutters, & Falling Leaves

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Every autumn, after most of the wildflowers on the property have already bloomed, these pale lavender beauties come along. I’m not sure exactly what they are, but they look like an aster. I have to remind myself not to yank them before they bloom. The plant itself just looks like an unattractive weed. But from weeds, beauty often follows.

We had our first cup of coffee this morning and then headed out (I was still in my pajamas) to clean the gutters, as we’re due for rain. It’s a messy job, but it must be done. After we finished, I raked a bunch of leaves in piles. I’m going to put them on the tarp later today. Then we came in, treated ourselves to our second cup of coffee and looked at the weather forecast.

It had changed. No rain today.

Oh well, we got it done and won’t have to do it again for another week.

I can’t believe how fast the leaves are changing and how many have already fallen. It seems early this year, but maybe I’m wrong. Many of the trees surrounding the house have turned color and are dropping leaves constantly. The one holdout is the catalpa, but as soon as we get a frost, all the leaves will fall to the ground en masse.

I finished Birdman  by Mo Hayder. Excellent. A real thriller, but gory, which I don’t mind. But if you do, you might want to pass. I’ve ordered the next two in that series from my local library system. I’m now reading Down to the Woods  by M. J. Arlidge. I’ve read all of his books and this is the newest. The plots center around a police inspector in Southampton, England by the name of Helen Grace. I’m also reading Paris to the Moon  at the same time. Fiction and nonfiction, which makes for a nice balance.

It was a gray day yesterday. Another gray day today. I’d like to see some sun, but I don’t think that’s going to happen.

Happy October.

Happy Tuesday.

 

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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