Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Life in our little cottage in the country

Plants, Books & Birds

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Yesterday, I noticed that most of the petals have fallen off my brown-eyed susans. Sigh. I’m sure that was partly due to the rain, but also to the change of seasons. They hang in there for so long that it almost seems like they’ll be there forever. So now, I have a few roses that bloom again late in September, the hydrangeas, the giant zinnias, and the geraniums that are in tubs by the funky patio. And the porch plants, of course.

But growing season is definitely coming to an end.

This is the pot that holds the geranium. (The frog is not real.) Since it sits next to some potted impatiens, they kindly decided to self-seed in the geranium pot. Not only that, they bloomed! I love little surprises like that.

We’ve had three days of rain and I’m over it. It rained again overnight. I need to mow the lilac side of the lawn, but it looks like that will have to be delayed until tomorrow. Too wet.

I finished the The Girl in the Eagle’s Talons  the day before yesterday. And I’ve started on the newest Mick Herron: The Secret Hours. As always with Herron, I am never disappointed. He writes intricate plots about British spies, with intelligence and a good deal of dry humor. To be honest, I haven’t been motivated to do anything other than reading. Maybe it’s the nesting instinct that comes with the seasonal change?

Although I did clean the bathroom yesterday.

Today, we go grocery shopping, so at the very least, I’ll get out of the house.

This is blurry because I shot it through the picture window in the den. This is the little Carolina wren who hangs out here and periodically perches on the porch railing, chirping repeatedly. With each chirp, his/her head goes to the right and then to the left. I researched it and it’s a definitely a call – either of danger (not in this case) or simply a form of communication. I’ve always felt that this little guy is calling for his mate. Since they mate for life, let’s hope the other little one is okay. He doesn’t call out every day, but at least once or twice a week he lands on the railing and chirps for about 3 minutes.

I think he’s the bird that sleeps on top of the porch light. We’re very happy that he likes to hang out here.

Question: my Rose of Sharons have tons of buds on them but nothing has opened recently. I’m wondering if they stop opening when it gets colder at night? Does anyone know?

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

Brain Fog Monday

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My geranium – another plant that I overwinter – finally bloomed. I had to prune it earlier in the season and the rain knocked off an earlier bud before it could open. So, knowing that rain was coming for the weekend, I moved her to a safer place on the porch until the threat passes. I think I’ve had this plant at least as long as the Boston fern, if not longer.

Monday. It rained all night and it’s still raining now. I slept in a bit because we were up later than usual. Don has an eye appointment this morning.

Lucy telling me all about her day. She insisted on replacing her sweet dress with some dungarees.

She’s right. They suit her. She’s my scrappy girl.

It was a low-key weekend. I read a lot! I’m nearly to the end of The Girl in the Eagle’s Talons. The writer who is taking over this series has done a bang-up job. She understands the characters and remains true to the essence of the storyline that Steig Larsson established many years ago. I imagine that isn’t at all easy.

Mere sent me a photo of my nephew and his girlfriend, taken when he was sworn in as a District Attorney. They swore them in as soon as the bar results were posted. And he has a trial starting this week. I am so proud of him.

Looks like there’s a tentative deal in the writers’ strike, which has been going on longer than that of the actors. I eagerly await the details. Several of my former students from Boston University are writers in Hollywood. I hope they got everything they were fighting for. And I hope the actors get the same. AI is the biggest threat, both to the writers and the actors – that, and streaming.

My brain is a bit foggy this morning as I’m still not fully awake, so I hope this all makes sense! I’m not even sure what is on the horizon for the day; more reading for sure. And some dreaded bathroom cleaning.

Rest in Peace to Terry Kirkman, a founding member of The Association – he wrote “Cherish” and “Everything that Touches You.” I got to know him through Don who knew him from his Los Angeles years. How lucky I was to “know” him. He was unfailingly kind to everyone, including me. He worked for years with people in recovery and he had a heart as big as all outdoors. I’m very sad. I was a huge fan of The Association, saw them live in concert, but I was an even bigger fan of Terry and the man he was. Rest in Peace, Terry.

Say safe.

Happy Monday.

 

 

 

 

Saturday

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Scenes from the porch.

We’re due for quite a bit of rain today and tomorrow and then, hopefully, it will be dry for several days.

Happy first day of fall! I am so ready for it. To state the obvious, summer was quite disappointing this year. Now the temperatures are more moderate, downright cool in the morning, and I feel like I’ve come out of a stupor (the word Don used when we were talking about it the other day.)

Two more books were picked up from the library yesterday; Mick Herron’s newest – The Secret Hours, and Lisa Jewell’s newest – None of This is True. The latter is in the large print edition, which I ordered by mistake. When I saw I would be number 157 in the queue for the regular print edition, I stuck with the large print. And I’m currently well into The Girl in the Eagle’s Talons  by Karin Smirnoff, who is taking over the series that was originally written by the late Stieg Larsson. It’s very well written – I’m still sorting out the characters.

Don made a sweet potato pie the other day and it was a definite hit! I really love it. Sugar-free, of course. As is the case with our apple pie, it gets even better after it’s been refrigerated.

The Boston fern is doing very well this year. I have had this fern since Don was out in La Jolla doing the first production of Margaritaville, so that would be six years. It goes outside in the summer and then overwinters upstairs in our office. There have been times during the winter months where I thought it might be a goner, but it has always come back. I’m sure it loved the rain and humidity that was this summer.

Anyway, it’s looking good,

Okay. I’ve run out of things to say and I need another cup of coffee.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

 

 

 

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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