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	<title type="text">Mockingbird Hill Cottage</title>
	<subtitle type="text">Mockingbird Hill Cottage</subtitle>

	<updated>2026-10-12T13:07:03Z</updated>

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<icon>https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/cropped-siteicon-32x32.jpg</icon>
	<entry>
		<author>
			<name>Claudia</name>
					</author>

		<title type="html"><![CDATA[28]]></title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/28-2/" />

		<id>https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/?p=34590</id>
		<updated>2026-10-12T13:07:03Z</updated>
		<published>2026-10-12T13:07:03Z</published>
		<category scheme="https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com" term="anniversary" />
		<summary type="html"><![CDATA[On this date 28 years ago, we got married. Best thing I ever did. I am deeply and profoundly grateful for our marriage. We work hard at it. But, honestly, most of it is effortless. We found each other and managed to get past our fears and past patterns of behavior and forge a life [&#8230;]]]></summary>

					<content type="html" xml:base="https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/28-2/"><![CDATA[<p><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34591" src="https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-12-coolus-690x792.jpg" alt="" width="690" height="792" srcset="https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-12-coolus-690x792.jpg 690w, https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-12-coolus-670x769.jpg 670w, https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-12-coolus.jpg 740w" sizes="(max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px" /></p>
<p>On this date 28 years ago, we got married.</p>
<p>Best thing I ever did. I am deeply and profoundly grateful for our marriage. We work hard at it. But, honestly, most of it is effortless. We found each other and managed to get past our fears and past patterns of behavior and forge a life together.</p>
<p>He is incredibly supportive of me. He has my back &#8211; always.</p>
<p>As am I, for him.</p>
<p>You all know the story by now.</p>
<p>All I can add is this: I am sometimes so rocked to my core by the depth of my love for him that I am brought to my knees.</p>
<p>I somehow found the love of my life and you can bet I absolutely know how lucky I am.</p>
<p>Happy Annniversary to us.</p>
<p>Stay safe.</p>
<p>Happy Indigenous Peoples Day.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-6640" src="https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ClaudiaSignature140X93.png" alt="" width="140" height="93" /></p>
]]></content>
		
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			</entry>
		<entry>
		<author>
			<name>Claudia</name>
					</author>

		<title type="html"><![CDATA[Corners]]></title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/corners-7/" />

		<id>https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/?p=34575</id>
		<updated>2026-10-09T21:52:50Z</updated>
		<published>2026-10-10T12:00:57Z</published>
		<category scheme="https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com" term="life" />
		<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Stay safe. Happy Saturday.]]></summary>

					<content type="html" xml:base="https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/corners-7/"><![CDATA[<p><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34576" src="https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-9-bed-690x878.jpg" alt="" width="690" height="878" srcset="https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-9-bed-690x878.jpg 690w, https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-9-bed-670x853.jpg 670w, https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-9-bed.jpg 740w" sizes="(max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34577" src="https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-9-momsdress-675x900.jpg" alt="" width="675" height="900" srcset="https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-9-momsdress-675x900.jpg 675w, https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-9-momsdress-670x894.jpg 670w, https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-9-momsdress.jpg 740w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 675px) 100vw, 675px" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34578" src="https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-9-dovecottage-675x900.jpg" alt="" width="675" height="900" srcset="https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-9-dovecottage-675x900.jpg 675w, https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-9-dovecottage-670x894.jpg 670w, https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-9-dovecottage.jpg 740w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 675px) 100vw, 675px" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34579" src="https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-9-guitarandamp-682x900.jpg" alt="" width="682" height="900" srcset="https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-9-guitarandamp-682x900.jpg 682w, https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-9-guitarandamp-670x884.jpg 670w, https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-9-guitarandamp.jpg 740w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 682px) 100vw, 682px" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-34580 aligncenter" src="https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-9-petiteprincessfurniture-690x384.jpg" alt="" width="690" height="384" srcset="https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-9-petiteprincessfurniture-690x384.jpg 690w, https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-9-petiteprincessfurniture-670x373.jpg 670w, https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-9-petiteprincessfurniture.jpg 740w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34581" src="https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-9-BHpianoparrish-675x900.jpg" alt="" width="675" height="900" srcset="https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-9-BHpianoparrish-675x900.jpg 675w, https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-9-BHpianoparrish-670x894.jpg 670w, https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-9-BHpianoparrish.jpg 740w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 675px) 100vw, 675px" /></p>
<p>Stay safe.</p>
<p>Happy Saturday.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-6640" src="https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ClaudiaSignature140X93.png" alt="" width="140" height="93" /></p>
]]></content>
		
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			</entry>
		<entry>
		<author>
			<name>Claudia</name>
					</author>

		<title type="html"><![CDATA[Friday]]></title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/friday-27/" />

		<id>https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/?p=34572</id>
		<updated>2026-10-09T21:53:20Z</updated>
		<published>2026-10-09T12:53:43Z</published>
		<category scheme="https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com" term="life" />
		<summary type="html"><![CDATA[It&#8217;s already Friday. The weeks seem to fly by. The mornings are much cooler now. I&#8217;m sitting in my chair covered by a throw. Both Don and I saw butterflies that had just emerged from chrysalis last week. Don watched a young Monarch fly and rest, and then fly and rest. The next day I [&#8230;]]]></summary>

					<content type="html" xml:base="https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/friday-27/"><![CDATA[<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34573" src="https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-9-wildflowers-675x900.jpg" alt="" width="675" height="900" srcset="https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-9-wildflowers-675x900.jpg 675w, https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-9-wildflowers-670x894.jpg 670w, https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-9-wildflowers.jpg 740w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 675px) 100vw, 675px" /></p>
<p>It&#8217;s already Friday. The weeks seem to fly by.</p>
<p>The mornings are much cooler now. I&#8217;m sitting in my chair covered by a throw.</p>
<p>Both Don and I saw butterflies that had just emerged from chrysalis last week. Don watched a young Monarch fly and rest, and then fly and rest. The next day I observed a newly emerged Great Spangled Fritillary doing the same thing on the front lawn. It&#8217;s such an honor to witness that. New life, instinctively flying, but still needing rest. Drying their wings. And all this being done solo, without any assistance from a mom or dad.</p>
<p>Yesterday, however, I was outside and I saw a dead bird on the driveway right behind our car. It was a sparrow. I come across dead birds on our property, but only rarely. So when I see one, it&#8217;s a shock. I blessed him and buried him up in the woods, marking his grave with a rock. That sadness stayed with me all day.</p>
<p>We&#8217;ve had a couple of very windy days, so the ground is covered in leaves. I don&#8217;t want the trees to shed their leaves too quickly.</p>
<p>I&#8217;m almost finished with my puzzle &#8211; should finish it later this morning. I&#8217;ll take a picture of it when it&#8217;s finished. It&#8217;s been challenging and quite fun!</p>
<p>Today and tomorrow, I am going to finish reading <em>Ransom</em>, as it&#8217;s due on Sunday. Then I&#8217;ll go back to <em>I Capture the Castle</em>, which I had to put down when <em>Ransom</em>  arrived at my local library.</p>
<p>Stay safe.</p>
<p>Happy Friday.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-6640" src="https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ClaudiaSignature140X93.png" alt="" width="140" height="93" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
]]></content>
		
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			<thr:total>14</thr:total>
			</entry>
		<entry>
		<author>
			<name>Claudia</name>
					</author>

		<title type="html"><![CDATA[Chilly]]></title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/chilly/" />

		<id>https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/?p=34566</id>
		<updated>2026-10-07T12:26:21Z</updated>
		<published>2026-10-07T12:26:21Z</published>
		<category scheme="https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com" term="life" />
		<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Late afternoon sun hitting the limelights. They&#8217;re really beautiful this year. Monday and Tuesday nights were very cold. Last night we had a frost advisory, so I hauled the porch plants to the shed. Usually, I bring them inside. But someone local (online) was putting her plants inside her garage for the night and I [&#8230;]]]></summary>

					<content type="html" xml:base="https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/chilly/"><![CDATA[<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34567" src="https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-7-limelights-675x900.jpg" alt="" width="675" height="900" srcset="https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-7-limelights-675x900.jpg 675w, https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-7-limelights-670x894.jpg 670w, https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-7-limelights.jpg 740w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 675px) 100vw, 675px" /></p>
<p>Late afternoon sun hitting the limelights. They&#8217;re really beautiful this year.</p>
<p>Monday and Tuesday nights were very cold. Last night we had a frost advisory, so I hauled the porch plants to the shed. Usually, I bring them inside. But someone local (online) was putting her plants inside her garage for the night and I suddenly thought: the shed is our version of a garage. Why not?  So, except for a couple that are in pots that are too heavy to move, every little porch plant spent the night inside the shed.</p>
<p>This happens here every early October. We think it&#8217;s still warm but we have to deal with an unexpected frost. I still have zinnias about to bloom, so I&#8217;ll have to see if they&#8217;re still with us. This is the same time that my almost-ready-to-bloom morning glories would be hit by a frost and die on the vine. That&#8217;s why I didn&#8217;t plant any this year &#8211; too many years of disappointment.</p>
<p>The heat kicked on early this morning. We&#8217;ll soon have to bite the bullet and buy heating oil. I shudder to think what it will cost this year. The thermostat is going to be set at a lower temperature this winter.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-34568" src="https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-7-schefflera-675x900.jpg" alt="" width="675" height="900" srcset="https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-7-schefflera-675x900.jpg 675w, https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-7-schefflera-670x894.jpg 670w, https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/10-7-schefflera.jpg 740w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 675px) 100vw, 675px" /></p>
<p>My schefflera is coming back. This is the plant that dropped all of its leaves a couple of months ago. I thought it was a goner, but lo and behold, little tiny leaves have been forming &#8211; slowly but surely.</p>
<p>I&#8217;m working on my jigsaw puzzle &#8211; yesterday, I was completely immersed in it. My sanity says thank you.</p>
<p>Today, we grocery shop as we are out of almost everything. Next week, we get vaccinated for Covid and the flu.</p>
<p>Nothing new on the Beacon Hill. I have to sit down in the studio and cut baseboard molding, but the puzzle is more interesting than the baseboards, so it&#8217;s been winning the attention contest.</p>
<p>Stay safe.</p>
<p>Happy Wednesday.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-6640" src="https://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ClaudiaSignature140X93.png" alt="" width="140" height="93" /></p>
]]></content>
		
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