Mockingbird Hill Cottage — Page 944 — Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Camera Therapy

February 3, 2017 at 9:41 am by Claudia

As I sat in my chair, shawl around my shoulders (it’s very, very cold outside) reading A Gentleman in Moscow, blinds shut, lamps lighting the room, I thought how lovely it would be to shut out the world, stay in my chair and read all day long. No news, no emails, no fights – just escape.

That isn’t me, as you know. But for a few hours this morning, it was a lovely fantasy.

I am really enjoying A Gentleman in Moscow. The author, Amor Towles, is a beautiful writer. He has created a world within the walls of the Metropol Hotel in Moscow in the year 1922 and I have completely embraced it. I can’t wait to get back to it.

Perhaps I can do the same thing here, never leaving, never having to admit that there are threats upon the horizon. Sigh.

We ran off for a half hour or so yesterday – only that as it was so windy and cold that we had to retreat to the car – to take some photos of the spectacular landscape that is part of our town. I took my new lens, which meant I had to use the iPhone to get a distance shot, but it was fun to play. Freezing, but fun.

Apple orchard against a changing sky.

Our mountains off in the distance. Don says that he loves the clouds in the Hudson Valley. They are always changing, almost always spectacular in their way. Yesterday’s clouds were no exception. Changing by the second, big swaths of mist moving in and out of the horizon, it was a wonder to behold.

Via my iPhone. On the top of one of the mountains, you can just make out the lookout tower that is part of the property belonging to the famous Mohonk Mountain House.

And I saw a woodpecker from the kitchen window – way off in the dead ash tree that is now surrounded by a maple tree. He’s shadowy in these photos, almost as if he wanted to hide from me.

I’m doing my best to find pockets of creativity in my day. Sanity savers: books, the daily NY Times Crossword, my camera, and Don Don Don Don Don. Oh, and vegan Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Imagine how my heart soared when I saw that in the supermarket!

Thank you so much for yesterday’s discussion and for sharing your challenges and the ways in which you strive to achieve balance in the face of worry and despair. Your thoughts helped so many. There is a coming together here that surely provides solace for the soul. I certainly feel that way as I read your thoughts.

Much love to all of you. Peace.

Happy Friday.

Bluebirds & Finding Balance

February 2, 2017 at 9:57 am by Claudia

Next week, it will be one year since our girl left us. When winter started to set in, I grabbed this memorial stone (a gift from dear Linda) and brought it inside. I didn’t want her out there in the elements.

I know you understand.

I am in the middle – in fact, both of us are – of trying to figure out how to balance my anger and outrage about what has happened since January 20th with the fact that I have to take care of myself. Someone said I was very angry and my internal response was, ‘You’re damned right, I’m angry. The election was stolen. We have a man of dubious mental fitness at the helm of our country. People are being hurt, families are being uprooted.” I won’t deny it and I won’t apologize for it.

Watch the signs, my friends, we are being maneuvered into a position where war seems like an inevitability.

And, though I consider myself a tolerant person (but human, like all of us) there is no room for tolerance when we’re talking about racism, bigotry, misogyny, Islamophobia or xenophobia. That is non-negotiable.

Complacency is not an option. Acceptance is not an option. My favorite sign from Don’s post about the March in Washington was “If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention.”

Nevertheless, I need to take care of myself. And you need to take care of yourselves. And how do we do that? It took me ages to fall asleep last night because this was swirling about in my brain. I don’t want to lose my edge, to lose my desire to fight. I could never forgive myself if I sat back, gave up, and did nothing. But I also have a life to live, work on the horizon, things to do and, at the age of 64, I want and crave peaceful pockets in my days.

This is a question – a discussion – I would love to have with all of you. How do we maintain balance? I can’t let everything he says drive me insane. I have to accept the fact that he is insane and that’s not going to change. I need to see the bigger picture and as Don reminded me this morning, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

How do we find balance? How do you find balance? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. I think we can help each other.

Today’s schedule? My camera. A Gentleman in Moscow. Maybe a walk. Some hot chocolate. A hug from my husband – make that several. Stay away from Twitter.

I did find a pocket of camera time yesterday. Last week, I saw a bluebird at the birdbath and I couldn’t get to my camera and lens quickly enough to take a picture. Yesterday, while on the phone with Don, I saw another bluebird and I told Don, “I have to hang up. Now.”

But gosh darn it, they move so quickly, and I have to station myself nearby the windows because if I go outside, I’ll scare them away, so my options are more limited.

The presence of bluebirds around here in the winter makes me smile and it also makes me wonder: Where are they in the spring and summer? Do they come here from more northern climes? Is this their winter home? There are a lot of them around here this winter and they’ve been hanging around for quite a while.

Not all that successful, but I did manage a few shots with the telephoto lens.

Late afternoon, gray sky, but there he is.

This one is hidden in the wild roses, aka the dreaded brambles. They provide good cover.

This little sweetie was way off on the other side of the corral at the edge of the woods.

I’ll keep trying.

It’s amazing, really, how many birds are active at any given moment in the dead of winter. When I stop and concentrate entirely on watching for movement of some kind, I realize that there are dozens and dozens of birds flying around. All the time. It’s truly a wonder.

It’s sunny today. More bird watching/photo taking is on the docket.

Because it makes me happy and it’s a form of self-care.

I have a new book review on Just Let Me Finish This Page today. Click here to read it.

Happy Thursday.

Two Questions For You

February 1, 2017 at 9:59 am by Claudia

Just had to take a picture of the February page on this calendar from Rifle Paper Co. Isn’t it pretty?

Happy – and often lately, unhappy – February! But of course my wish is for it to be continuously happy for all of you.

We just won’t talk about the nominee for the Supreme Court. I did not watch any of his reality-show-like announcement. As I’ve tweeted to him many times, I’d rather watch paint dry. By the way, if you do tweet him, keep using the hashtag, #PresidentBannon. It will annoy him to no end.

By the way, I will now be referring to that man with this abbreviation: FIC. I’ve given hints as to what this stands for in my posts and in my comment replies. Let’s see who will be the first reader to correctly answer the question: What does FIC stand for? Go for it!

It snowed all day long yesterday – I suppose we got about 3 inches or so. In the early evening darkness, we shoveled the driveway. It was a powdery and lightweight snow, so much to Don’s disappointment, he didn’t get to use the snowblower.

Now the sun is out and it’s reflecting off the snow and it’s perfectly lovely. Cold, but lovely. It took forever for our little cottage to heat up this morning.

I sat in my new chair and read for a couple of hours this morning. Don brought coffee to me. (Yes, I know I’m lucky.) I had the throw wrapped around me and we kept the blinds shut and the shades down for a long time and enjoyed our little cocoon. Now I’m upstairs in the office, writing to you, while Don plays his guitar downstairs.

If only we could stay in our cocoon and escape the news of the day, of the month, of the year. Well, we could, of course, and we can certainly delay it for a while, but in the end, we must be responsible citizens and take action. And every day, more action is needed, until I forget what I’ve done and what I have yet to do, between all the petition-signing, phone calls and research.

I need to start making lists.

A quote from my favorite wise man, William Shakespeare, seems apt:

I think our country sinks beneath the yoke.
It weeps, it bleeds and each new day a gash
is added to her wounds.

Macbeth/spoken by Malcolm in Act 4, Scene 3

Let’s change the subject. I’m finishing up a book that I will review on the other blog later today, Unpunished by Lisa Black. Then I will start A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles.

What are you reading? What have you just read? What do you recommend?

And don’t forget: What does FIC stand for?

Thanks for sharing.

Happy Wednesday.

Camera Therapy

Bluebirds & Finding Balance

Two Questions For You

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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