Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Bird Song, Quilting & Egg Cups

April 2, 2017 at 9:19 am by Claudia

Slow and steady wins the race, though I am far from the finish line. Each of these squares measures 12 x 12, so hand quilting one of them takes some time. Since I find that after about an hour and a half or two hours max, I start making mistakes, that’s about all I do a day. Yesterday, I hand quilted while watching figure skating in the evening. But I often do it in the late afternoon while listening to Randi Rhodes’ daily show on YouTube. I was a big fan in the Air America days, though that radio station is long gone. I recently rediscovered her and 4 – 6 pm in the afternoon is now my listening/hand quilting time. She’s whip smart and tough as nails.

It’s still very cold at night around here and I wake up in the morning to frost on the car windows and ice in the birdbath. Spring is taking its sweet time. But as I look at the trees, I see the beginning of buds. And I hear lovely bird song in the morning, along with the beautiful cries of the mourning doves. It’s coming.

This morning I walked outside in my flannel PJs and a winter coat to retrieve the New York Times from its place on the driveway. Cold, but lovely. I decided to substitute for Don, who cries out “Good Morning!” to our trees and animal life every morning. He’s not here, so I took over. I think I’ll do that every morning until he returns. He’ll be happy to hear that. And I just might visit our horse friends this afternoon with some carrots. We’ll see.

When the heck is Easter? I never know from year to year. Okay. I looked it up. It’s April 16th. I’m not into doing a whole egg cup series this year. There are plenty of post in the archives about my egg cup collection. But I’ll throw in a photo or two or three in upcoming posts.

Like this one:

Happy Sunday.

Filed Under: Don, egg cups, quilting, spring 25 Comments

Review & Giveaway: The English Roses by David Austin

April 1, 2017 at 10:22 am by Claudia

Today, I get to share a gorgeous book with you, The English Roses by David Austin. If you love roses, you have certainly heard of David Austin, the creator of English Roses and owner of one of the world’s leading rose nurseries, David Austin Roses. Whether you know of him or not, you’re in for a treat.

This is a sumptuous book, full of gorgeous photographs as well as essential information. It’s divided into three sections: Part One – The Origins and Nature of an English Rose; Part Two – A Gallery of English Roses; Part Three – English Roses in the Future and Rose Cultivation.

You’ll read about the rose and its ancestors, the qualities of an English Rose, the first English Roses, along with a host of helpful information.

Yes, I’d like a garden exactly like this one, please.

Part of the Gallery of English Roses.

This is in hardcover, 319 pages of beautiful photos and essential information. It is large – perfect for your coffee table.

I love roses, though I do battle with them every year! This book is a gem and I’m so enjoying what it has to offer, not the least of which is its sheer beauty.

One of you lucky readers will win a copy of this book. Just leave your name on this post and I’ll pick a winner on Tuesday night. Good luck!

Thank you again to Firefly Books for so generously sending me these gardening books and, in equally generous fashion, sending a copy to one of my readers. Beautifully done.

One of my readers mentioned that she received a questionable email from me. I’m assuming it’s from an earlier hack. If you get one, let me know what email it originated from. And don’t open it, of course.

Happy Saturday.

Filed Under: books, garden, gardening, giveaway, roses 40 Comments

A Quiet Friday

March 31, 2017 at 9:12 am by Claudia

Much loved McCoy pottery and a dash of Shawnee (the duck) with a smidgen of our Aquitania lithograph.

Gray, colder, and rainy today, which is often what happens during spring in the northeast. I saw a robin this morning. I can’t wait until the birdbath becomes the neighborhood pool once again and I see the groundhogs and bunnies and chipmunks who live alongside us on the property. I saw several deer right outside my kitchen window the other day. I didn’t know they were there and I walked into the kitchen to close the window, which startled them. Beautiful creatures. I’m amazed by their hearing and/or sensory awareness. Sometimes I’ll quietly walk up to a window and they’ll immediately know I’m there.

Don’s doing well. He’s been spending all day at rehearsal, learning music, being fitted for his costumes, that kind of thing. We don’t have a lot of time to talk, unfortunately, because of the time difference. When he gets home from rehearsal, I’m immersed in Rachel Maddow and have to tear myself away so we can chat.

I have to replenish my larder today, but other than that, I’m laying low, reading my book, doing the crossword, reading the New York Times and Washington Post and quilting.

Not very exciting, I know, but it feels a little bit like heaven at the moment.

A quick reminder: It’s fine if you respond to a post via the email version that is sent out every day, but I can’t reply. Those posts come from my server address, which won’t let me respond. So if you want dialogue with me, reply on the blog itself.

One more photo of the Pileated Woodpecker:

Happy Friday.

Filed Under: birds, china and pottery 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.

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Lambs Like to Party

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