Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Spring is Crazy This Year

May 20, 2019 at 8:10 am by Claudia

That lovely bridal veil spirea bush that came with our property is in bloom. It’s so gorgeous. Every year, I am amazed by its beauty. I could take endless photos of it.

We had lots of thunderstorms last night – severe thunderstorm watches were up for a great deal of the northeast. We were trying to watch To Kill a Mockingbird  on TCM, but it kept getting interrupted by that godawful warning noise that scares the crap out of you and a robot-voice issuing yet another long warning. I know it’s necessary, but since the flow of the movie and several key scenes were muted by the recurring warnings, we gave up.

Thankfully, we were spared any damage and I don’t think we got any hail. It hit the eighties here on Sunday and it was quite humid. Today will bring a high of 86. Then it’s back down to the 70s tomorrow. Our crazy spring continues.

After spending several hours over at Rick and Doug’s, we headed home. Our first task was to get the A/C unit for our bedroom out of the shed. We immediately installed it. We wanted to be able to sleep and not sweat! Mission accomplished.

The lovely little bell-like flowers on the Solomon’s Seal.

During our visit to Rick and Doug’s, we got to throw a ball to Sam, who loves nothing more than catching it in the air. It brings back memories of our dogs. Winston and Scout were great runners – Scout was as fast as any dog I’ve ever seen. Like Sam, they would chase balls for hours. It’s fun to get the chance to play with a dog again. And we adore Sam.

Baby morning glories. They’re coming up, as well as baby zinnias. This year, I also planted some sunflowers and they’re also breaking through the ground. It will be interesting to see how they do.

Happy Monday.

Filed Under: flowers, garden, rain, spring 22 Comments

Sunday

May 19, 2019 at 9:15 am by Claudia

I could be wrong, but this seems like the largest version yet of this hosta. It was here when we moved in, so I have no idea how long it’s been around. I suspect all the rain we’ve been having has contributed to its extra-large status.

I think about dividing it, but it’s the oldest hosta around here and I sort of don’t want to mess with it. It’s earned its size.

I did some bramble trimming yesterday, but it involved a bit too much bending over to gather up all the branches. (Doesn’t everything involved with gardening involve too much bending?) But it was such a beautiful day and I wanted and needed to be outside doing  something.

I also had to put a low wire fence that I had stashed in the shed around the big garden bed because someone (I’m talking to you groundhog-who-lives-next-door) has been munching on some plants. We’ll see if it makes any difference. I’ve seen this guy at work and he’s quite agile. Thinks nothing of standing on his hind legs to reach up and pull a tall plant toward him.

Much of the rest of my time was spent on the glider, basking in the sights and sounds of a (finally!) beautiful spring day – lots of birdsong, lots of green. Even though the lilacs are slowly fading, their scent is still strong.

Reading on the porch is one of my favorite things to do, but I’m easily distracted by everything around me. How can I not be?

We watched Moonstruck  last night. It’s a perfect little gem. As many times as I’ve seen it, it seems fresh and new each time I see it again.

We’re off to Rick and Doug’s for some brunch this morning. Rain later today. But right now, as I write this post, it’s sunny.

Happy Sunday.

Filed Under: flowers, garden 27 Comments

Green & White

May 18, 2019 at 10:33 am by Claudia

It blows my mind that the violets that have self-seeded in this flower bed are all white, when, not 3 feet away, there are scads of purple violets. As you can see, I have sweet woodruff growing in this bed and those flowers are white as well. The Solomon’s Seal has little white flowers. Everything else is green with no flowers yet. It’s as if the violets knew that there was an unofficial green and white color scheme here and purple violets were barred from the garden bed.

Ain’t nature grand?

More of the ferns that have also self-seeded here in the bed. One of my readers told me the name of this fern last year and darned if I can remember! That’s Solomon’s Seal next to them.

Love the quilted leaves of this Abiqua Drinking Gourd Hosta that I planted last year in the shade bed. I just now noticed that green bug. I didn’t see it when I took the picture.

Gosh, you just can’t beat hostas. We have so many of them here – a couple of them were here when we moved in, but the rest have been added over the past 13 years. So many varieties. I may have to buy a couple more – but they’ll have to go here in this shade bed. The big garden bed is now too exposed to the sun. I made the mistake of planting one there last year and I quickly realized it was a mistake and moved it over to this bed.

Today is gloriously sunny and we’re finally going to see temps in the 70s. Don refused to let me mow today so he was out there mowing rather early this morning. He’s going to shoot portraits for the rest of the day. I guess I’ll read and sit on the porch. I cleaned the bathroom yesterday and did lots of  laundry. Each day I can tackle more, but I still have to be careful with my back.

At least I’m no longer sleeping in my chair, which I had to do for a couple of nights!

Enjoy your day.

Happy Saturday.

Filed Under: flowers, garden 23 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.

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The Dogs

The Dogs

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

Winston - Our first dog. We miss you, sweetheart.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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