Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Winter Shift

December 9, 2017 at 9:21 am by Claudia

We’re going to get our first snow today, somewhere around 1-3 inches. My discovery of that bit of information while making a quick check on the weather app on my phone changed our plans yesterday.

I had to hold off on removing our window air conditioners until Don got back – too much heavy lifting and carrying down the stairs for one person and besides, Don got mad at me when I put them in all by myself last summer. We held off another week because I was sick. But news of snow coming propelled us into what I call Winter Shift mode. That’s when, in addition to removing the A/C, we shift things around in the shed. This involves storing all my gardening pots in the shed, putting the A/C units into their individual bins, moving the lawn mower to a less accessible position and moving the snow blower into prime position. Oh, and stowing rakes, brooms, etc., and replacing them with snow shovels and containers of salt. We also had to do a bit of refiguring.

Anyway, after that, I was tired. So that was my ‘drive.’ We’ll do it another day.

It felt good to accomplish something, even if it wasn’t very exciting.

Come spring, we’re going to rent a dumpster and toss much of what is in the shed. We put things in storage there when we first moved in 12 years ago and most of them have been attacked by mice (before we knew any better) and many of them have been hit with damp (also before we knew any better). We want all of it out and gone, so we can refigure the shed and make it a much more usable space – a place for the lawn mower and snow blower and garden tools and maybe a little potting bench and that’s it.

I always look forward to the first snow. It’s a lovely change. And we have more coming on Monday. It’s when Christmas is past and the long winter lies ahead that I become less than thrilled with snow shovels and salt and dirty snow.

Our friend Vicki has checked in from California. I urge you to go over the comments in the last few posts to read her harrowing accounts of what they are going through right now. It’s simply unimaginable. She, and everyone in the path of the wildfires, needs our prayers and support. It’s not over yet, not by a long shot. But so far, they are safe and so is their home and we are so grateful for that news.

Happy Saturday.

Filed Under: life 36 Comments

Better

December 8, 2017 at 8:47 am by Claudia

Since the den has been my ‘home’ for the past several days, I’m looking at it with fresh eyes. It’s cozy and quirky. I really love it in here.

I’m feeling better. By mid-afternoon yesterday, I felt a change coming on and, though I’m still coughing, it’s nothing like it was. I’m not one to run to the doctor for meds when I’m dealing with something that just needs to take its course. I think there’s too much overmedicating going on as it is. Luckily, I didn’t need to be anywhere, wasn’t working on a show, and had the luxury of time. And Don, of course.

All iPhone photos because I’m too lazy to get up and get my big girl camera.

My new ringtone on my phone is the theme from Sherlock. It makes me happy. It also makes me not want to answer the phone because I want to listen to the whole thing! I just wanted something different from the same sounds I hear coming from every phone, everywhere. Don’s is Sweet Home Alabama.

But not the Alabama of Roy Moore, let’s be clear on that.

In honor of Benedict Cumberbatch, we watched Dr. Strange  last night on Netflix. It’s based on one of the Marvel superhero characters and it was a lot of fun; special effects driven, because that’s what fuels all those movies. Benedict was sporting an American dialect and I missed his deep and dulcet British tones. Hey, I’m an American and I coach dialects for a living so I appreciate our sounds, but I will admit to being a sucker for a British accent. Especially when uttered by Benedict Cumberbatch.

That dracaena that sits on the floor next to the dollhouse is about 14 or 15 years old. I bought it in a grocery store when we first moved out East. I moved it downstairs because I kept forgetting to water it. The pot is Bauer pottery from California. I bought it many years ago when I lived there.

The other Zz plant, which sits on the table next to the sofa.

Don says he’s going to take me for a drive today. Doctor Don’s orders.

Happy Friday.

Filed Under: decorating, den, Don 54 Comments

Crappity

December 7, 2017 at 9:49 am by Claudia

Currently feeling like crap.

That’s really all there is say, my friends. Congested in head, in chest, coughing, and trying to clear all of this out of my system. It will pass. Been there, done that. When you have allergies, as I do, and are already mildly to very congested on a daily basis, a cold just piles more on.

Luckily, Don is here and I’m not having to manage everything on my own. We’ve been watching episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm  at night, laughing like crazy, which often results in another coughing jag, but what the heck? Laughter is the best medicine.

Shots from around the house:

The sun came out yesterday (and it’s shining again today) which was very welcome after fog and rain for two days. I know I should be evolved enough that weather doesn’t affect my mood, but I freely admit I’m not. Sunny, please. And maybe some occasional fog.

I occasionally scan the ground where we found the individual pieces of this plate. I’m hoping that after the winter passes, the ground will heave up some more. Come on, Mother Nature, do your thing.

I only have four more Nancy Drews to collect and then I’ll have all the editions illustrated by Russell H. Tandy. I haven’t been looking for them lately, but yesterday I bid on one on eBay. We’ll see what happens. One of the missing editions, The Hidden Staircase, is very hard to find and is almost always in less-than-perfect condition. But I’m not a perfectionist and I figure if I find a pretty good copy, I’m fine with that. Should the gods send a perfect copy my way, so be it.

I’m reading the latest John Le Carré and it’s excellent. But it’s slow going – partly due to my feeling under the weather and partly because his pace is slower than most of the spy thrillers being written today. It’s actually a lovely change.

Happy Thursday.

Filed Under: books 44 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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Scout & Riley. Riley left us in 2012. Scout left us in February 2016. Dearest babies. Dearest friends.

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