Mockingbird Hill Cottage — Page 99 — Life in our little cottage in the country

On Strike

July 14, 2023 at 9:12 am by Claudia

Don is officially on strike. I will periodically talk about the real perils facing actors (and writers) and the outrageous offers from the AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers). You can Google what they are trying to do to actors. And by the way, no actor currently gets residuals for anything filmed for streaming. The producers and CEOs get millions. The actors? Nothing. Streaming series can be played again and again, are watched by millions of people, and the actors get nothing. Not so for the corporations and CEOs.

They also want background actors (formerly known as extras) to submit to an AI ‘scan’ and sign over the rights to their image forever. Then the studios can own that image and use it in other projects. If that happened all the background people you see in any film would be AI-generated. Fake. Background actors get a paltry $200 a day for what are often hours and hours of work. And they’re supposed to sign away the rights to their image (for no fee, by the way) so that the studios can save money by not hiring background actors? Their ability to work would be eliminated. This disdain for human beings who play all of the characters you see in the background in any film, that make the film come to life, is disgusting. I watched the background actors work on Spoiler Alert (and there were a lot of them) and they were truly excellent at what they do. It takes a special skill to be real on screen and not steal focus. I don’t know if I could do it.

Just as the studios are attempting to use AI to write scripts, they’re also trying to use it to eliminate the need to pay actors for their work.

Don and I have been extremely wary about AI for a long time. And don’t think it’s just about actors and screenwriters. It can and will impact everyone if it isn’t regulated ASAP.

If you have a minute go to YouTube and listen to SAG President Fran Drescher’s speech yesterday. It was magnificent.

On a lighter note, Don says he can now change his status from ‘unemployed’ to ‘on strike.’ 💪

It’s raining. It’s hot and humid. My brain is in a fog.

I took this picture to show those of you who are unfamiliar with catalpa trees the bean pods hanging from the branches. It’s often called the ‘bean tree.’ The pods begin to appear in mid to late summer. Makes for a messy cleanup later on, but I wouldn’t trade my catalpas for anything.

And a photo of Livvy and Ella.

They’re darned cute.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

Garden Clean-Up

July 13, 2023 at 9:13 am by Claudia

I’m happy to say that the phlox that were chomped on by the deer have come back. Some of the plants will take a bit longer to bloom because of that. This particular plant somehow managed to escape the ravenous deer. I count on the color of the phlox as we get into mid to late summer. I planted them the first full summer we were here and they never fail. They also self-seed and plants that self-seed are my favorite things in a garden.

I did way too much work outside yesterday. It was rather coolish in the morning, but the humidity was there and by the time I was throwing in the towel, it was overwhelming. Nevertheless, I cut back the catmint, which was quite overgrown, cleared around the stepping stones in the big garden bed, pulled weeds, cut back some wild roses, and started to take a whack at pruning the burning bush. That bush is so darned big now that it’s taking up a lot of the that garden bed. It’s spectacular in the fall when it turns red, but the rest of the time, it shades too much of the garden.

There is also another bush that has taken over – a wild honeysuckle. We have them all over the property, but this particular one that is between the burning bush and a pricker-type bush has to go. It’s taken over yet another spot for flowers in that bed and I’m tired of it. So I’m going to cut it back at the end of the summer and dig it out. Wish me luck!

I like a wild-ish look to my gardens, but not that wild.

Anyway, it felt good to get a good start on cleaning up that bed.

Oh, and the burning bush is scheduled for a big old pruning very soon – what I’m doing now is relatively minor. I did manage to see the now abandoned robins nest that was tucked inside that bush. It’s a perfect place for a nest as it’s completely hidden from predators. Smart birdies!

Next up, the boxwoods in front of the house, which are looking sort of sloppy.

It hasn’t been an easy summer for garden maintenance, what with the endless rain, the smoke from the fires, and the humidity. I am definitely playing an extreme game of catch-up.

Stay safe.

Happy Thursday.

Guess Who?

July 12, 2023 at 8:29 am by Claudia

At some point in the late afternoon, I took a quick glance outside and what did I see?

Buddy.

And later, I realized that he was with one of his siblings.

So I officially give up. Trying to figure out what is going on with these guys is fruitless. They’ve been gone, they’re back. Maybe they were off building their new homes and were taking a break? Maybe they haven’t even started doing that yet? Maybe both of them are living under this tree? Or one of them is? Maybe they were hanging out with mom up in the back forty? Who knows?

Of course, I had to go out there and erect my little bin wall again. Even so, the sibling knocked one of the lids down and was in the big garden so I had to make an appearance, just as I did this morning when a baby bunny ended up in the memorial garden.

Speaking of bunnies:

A mama and her baby. They were hanging out by the Funky Patio.

And then,

Mama, baby, and off in the background, the groundhog who lives under the shed.

Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom.

Today it is supposed to be unbearably hot and humid so I’m going to make this short. I need to do a little work outside before the humidity gets to me.

This summer? A love-hate thing. I love the summer but the weather conditions, and that includes smoke from wildfires and flash flooding, has been a giant pain in the tush. Still, I love watching our animal family, and yesterday I saw a hummingbird moth flitting between coneflowers, and the grass is really green again, and our well is filled up, so I’m grateful.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

On Strike

Garden Clean-Up

Guess Who?

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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