Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Vines, Mowing, Social Media & Sanity

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Our climbing hydrangea almost never blooms because I planted it in a somewhat shady spot. This year, I noticed two new tendrils reaching outward toward the light and I thought, “Maybe it will bloom this year.” We have a bloom! That sure put a smile on my face.

I mowed part of the front lawn on Saturday. And we mowed the rest of it yesterday. I’m very tired from all of that, so today is a day of rest. As I said to Don yesterday, this is the time of year when we spend at least 4 out of 7 days mowing. Tomorrow I have to mow the lilac side of the front lawn. The Corral and Back 40 will need mowing in a couple of days. And so it continues.

It’s much cooler – in the sixties – and it’s a beautiful sunny day today.

The news about Joe Biden is devastating. It’s all I can think of. I am praying for him and for his lovely family. I don’t know if there is anyone I admire as much as Joe Biden. He is a truly good man. He should be able to retire and enjoy time with his family. He deserves everything good.

And somewhat related – I had a realization this morning. I am way too addicted to social media – the kind that focuses on politics and the world. And even though the platform I use is mostly positive, I do still see and read things that are upsetting and often enraging. I react emotionally, not rationally, and I just have to pull away to gain some peace. I know a lot of you aren’t on social media at all. There are positives to social media; my Blythe IG, my personal IG (though even that is ticking me off lately) and my book and miniature accounts. But I need to pull away from them a bit, as well. I’ll take it one day at a time. Don has been known to put his phone away in a box and to hide his laptop as well. This is an ongoing battle.

Do you remember the modern dollhouse?  I’ve been thinking of it a lot lately, so I visited the shed and unearthed the bin where it had been stored. It’s meant to be easily taken apart, as I had done to store it. So now I’m going to try to reassemble it and give it a more serious take than I did the first time. Where will I put it, you ask? I have no idea. But as I said to Don, I need to be doing  something. So why not both dollhouses? Yikes.

Okay. I have to make a second cup of coffee.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

A Little Treasure

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Over the course of 17 years, I’ve taken pictures of just about every possible “scene” inside and outside. And while those will continue, of course, I’m also going to concentrate on showcasing some favorite items that I have found/collected/inherited.

First up, my tiniest Wallace Nutting. As you know, I have a very modest collection of Wallace Nutting prints – I think there are 5 of them. Nutting was a minister, photographer, and artist who lived in New England. He photographed New England landscapes as he bicycled around the countryside. He had a studio where colorists hand tinted the photographs. They were hugely popular. He also designed furniture.

I really love his tinted photographs.

The frame, which is quite old, measures 4½” x 5½” and the photo is 2″ x 3″.

I love the carving on the frame.

I haven’t purchased a Nutting in several years, but I try to find them with the original frame and backing. Not always easy! There is a seller in a nearby antique mall who carries some of Nutting’s work. I haven’t been to that mall in a while, so I’m not sure if he’s still there. One Christmas or birthday, Don gave me an official biography of Nutting, signed by Nutting himself. I think he found it in the same seller’s booth.

This little gem lives on the bookshelves in the den.

Thunderstorms on the docket today – it’s quite humid this morning. I had planned on mowing, but I’ll have to wait a day or two. That’s probably for the best as the temperatures will be cooler starting tomorrow.

There’s a noisy crow outside. He’s quite vocal!

Oh, I walked down to Phileas’ abode and, though I didn’t actually see him – he was too quick, I heard him jump from the grass to the water. He landed with a “plop!” He hangs out on the lawn, apparently, which means we will make sure we’re noisy when we come to mow in order to give him a head’s up.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

 

Friday

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I had to crop the heck out of this photo so you wouldn’t see too much of the wallpaper coming unglued. If you look to the left of the painting, you’ll see it. After many years, these things happen. I’ll have to take a serious inventory of needed repairs. On the other hand, I’m usually looking at the exterior of this dollhouse and only rarely look at the interior – mostly at Christmas time.

I am going to order more of this miniature Roseville for the Beacon Hill.

I don’t know if you remember but I have two Beacon Hills; the “finished” dollhouse we brought home after making a long trip to Philadelphia suburbs in order to retrieve it, and the unfinished kit which is still in the box. I had planned on building it and then realized that I didn’t want to. I’m going to open the box today so I can see what I might use to fix some parts of the dollhouse.

The box is heavy, big, and awkward. Wish me luck.

It may not rain today. It’s definitely cloudy out there and we have the chance of a thunderstorm both today and tomorrow, but I’m hoping they hold off. Phileas the frog is clearly living in the culvert. Don went down there yesterday and as he drew nearer, he heard him jump into the water. So he sang to him, of course.

I’ll try to get some updated photos of the porch today. The potted plants have really taken off and are growing by leaps and bounds. After mowing a few days ago, Don and I sat on the glider and gazed at the fully leafed out trees and our property and the porch and had a tremendous moment of gratitude. My dream was always to have a little cottage in the country and it seemed that it would be an impossible dream for most of my life. But it came true.

We’re so grateful.

Ruby on the porch.

Okay. Must make our second cup of coffee!

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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