Mockingbird Hill Cottage — Page 795 — Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Buds

April 29, 2018 at 10:11 am by Claudia

Yesterday turned out to be warm and sunny. The thunderstorms and rain came in the evening. So, I got a lot of work done outside, continuing to clear the garden beds, cut back brambles – that sort of thing.

Today is cloudy and much colder. But by mid-week, we’re due for temperatures in the eighties, then back to normal. And so the pendulum swings back and forth. Welcome to Spring.

I was delighted when I saw that the flowering quince is in bud. That, my friends, is a sure sign of spring.

And then I turned to my right to check out the lilac.

Oh boy! With the warmer temps coming this week, these buds will be opening soon.

I’m so much happier when I’m working outside. That needs to be examined, because I should be just as happy when I’m confined to the house or when it’s snowing – again. It’s something I keep working on; finding joy in the everyday and letting go of perceptions and fears that keep me from that.

By the way, one of you suggested BritBox – a streaming service which streams British television shows. The suggestion came because Monty Don has a show that airs on this service called Gardener’s World. So I went for it. It’s a modest amount of money per month and I have been watching his show, catching up on it, and absolutely loving it. It makes me happy, I learn things, and there’s something about it which generates a peaceful feeling in yours truly.

Now, if I could only live in England!

Happy Sunday.

Needs Tuning

April 28, 2018 at 10:02 am by Claudia

Oh rain, I know we need your moisture, but can you go away for a bit so I can get some things done? The grass is growing ever longer, the garden beds need a lot of work, I have to plant seeds soon, not to mention more pruning and cutting back.

I can’t do any of these things in the rain. I suppose I could, but it would be frustrating. And wet.

What did I do yesterday? I recycled. In the rain. I wrote out bills and mailed them. I went to the grocery store. I cleaned the bathroom. I cleaned the wood floors. And I oiled and polished the piano, something I haven’t done in a long time.

I should do it more often. It’s old and that wood needs moisture. Maybe I can train myself to do it once a month? Anyway, I felt that my grandma was smiling down on me. But at the same time, she was yelling, “Get it tuned!” You’re right, Grandma. I promise.

I’m not necessarily a fan of mahogany, perhaps because all the furniture in my grandmother’s house, as well as some of the furniture in our house, was that dark color. It was the style at the time. But I love this piano. It’s a family treasure with a lot of history and, as I get older, I appreciate its beauty more and more.

Gosh. I have to get it tuned. When money has been tight – and let’s face it, it’s been tight a lot for us – tuning it was way down on the list of things to be done. Neither of us plays it that much. Don uses it to tune his guitars sometimes. I’m the one who studied piano for eight years, yet I don’t sit down and play very often even though Don always urges me to. And now that it’s really out of tune, I can’t bear to play it. So, I have to get my act together and have someone come out and tune it. I also know it needs to have some maintenance work. But before that happens, I will get it tuned.

There!

Just a few days ago, but it seems longer. It was sunny. I swear, it was sunny.

Happy Saturday.

Wrestling with Mother Nature

April 27, 2018 at 9:09 am by Claudia

My journey into the land of poison ivy and brambles is temporarily over. I do have some more brambles to deal with on the other side of the house, but that will have to wait. We have a lot of poison ivy around here, coupled with old trees that have had vines snaking up the bark for years. I bought inexpensive pruners and some gloves and I did my best to snip all of those vines, which resulted in a lot of contorted body positions in order to get to the vines. It won’t eradicate the poison ivy, but it will temporarily stop the growth all the way up the trees. And then I threw the pruners out.

Brambles are a never-ending battle. But I did my best to cut them back where they needed to be cut back. I don’t want to eliminate them entirely as they bloom in the spring and the flowers and scent are heavenly. I wanted to cut them back where they interfere with walking the property and where they send up their shoots and envelop other plants and trees. My hands and legs have several little wounds from my attempts to wrestle with the brambles. To be expected.

All of which made Claudia tuckered out at the end of the day.

Today: rain. Tomorrow: rain.

And I have to recycle today!

A few photos taken in the evening yesterday. These are meant to give you an idea of what is coming up out of the ground. Hostas, day lilies, sedum and coneflowers. Don’t mind the leaves. Since I keep the leaves there all winter, I need more than one pass to get them out of the beds. I haven’t got a chance to do a second pass.

More day lilies and hostas.

This grass is so consistent. Always one of the first plants to come up in the garden, it has spread over the years. That’s a narcissus in the middle of the grass. And the hyacinths are in the distance.

Last night, at the end of a sunny day, I stood at the front door and looked out at the green grass and the gardens, watched the birds flying here and there, caught a glimpse of a groundhog (Henry?) and watched the reflection of the sunset in the waters of the river that is just across the street. Pretty darned lovely.

And Don is coming home on Sunday night. He really misses his home and who can blame him? Especially as winter has departed and spring is here.

Happy Friday.

Buds

Needs Tuning

Wrestling with Mother Nature

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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