Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Flowers, Floors, and 3D Printing

June 15, 2026 at 8:28 am by Claudia

This crown vetch is my favorite thing at the moment. And, as you can see, bees love it. It’s quite tall and is growing outside of the big garden bed. This year, with all the reseeded plants filling every bit of the big garden bed, it’s getting a very natural and wild look. If I could ever so slightly control that, it would be good news for me. Less weeding, more plants, less back pain. Fingers crossed!

Oh my god, the Knicks! That game was intense and both Don and I had given up and were sure they’d have to play at least one more game in NYC, but wow! They rallied, they took control, and they WON. We were up too late and woke up too early the next morning, but it was worth it.

The wood floors are complete in the Beacon Hill kitchen.

I love this kitchen, The three windows over the sink are so charming. My only wish it that is was a bit larger, but that’s okay. There’s room for a stove and refrigerator. Speaking of stoves, I had an idea over the weekend and wrote a post on my IG miniatures account that showed a photo of Stella. I asked if someone thought it might be possible to make a 3D printed version of my stove. It would be much less expensive, and I might be perfectly happy with it. Someone came through and we are going to collaborate. I will provide photos of Stella and measurements, as well. The husband and wife team on that account would offer it in their shop so that others could also have a vintage stove in their dollhouses. I figure, why not try? My ideal is the one I’ve shown you, but it’s over $300 and neither of us is working. This one would cost me between 50 and 60 dollars. I’d have to paint it and figure out what paint to use so that the white looks like enamel and the chrome is chrome-looking. I figure, what have I got to lose? Even if it’s not my ideal, it can be a place holder until I can save up the money for the one on Etsy.

Wish us luck!

The temperatures are much more sane this morning, so I’m going to do some work outside.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Filed Under: Beacon Hill Dollhouse 6 Comments

A Little Flooring

June 13, 2026 at 8:43 am by Claudia

The catalpa is blooming – not as much as last year, which seems to be a recurring theme this summer – but it’s lovely. I’m hoping we don’t get any more rain for a few days, because the blooms are fragile and are knocked off the tree by the rain.

It smells heavenly.

I worked on the Beacon Hill for about 3 hours in the morning yesterday.

It’s a little blurry, but I’m about halfway through laying the floor.

With the cupboards. I’m using a pecan stain on the floor. Today, I’ll finish it.

You are so sweet to suggest ways in which I can get past the heat in order to get more time with the Beacon Hill. But, I’m okay with that, really. First of all, for me it’s always about the process. I love the process and I purposely take my time on any project I’m working on. This is therapy for me and I’m grateful for it.

And, after a lifetime of working in the theater at night and teaching during the day, routinely working until 11 pm every evening except Monday, getting to bed late, as well as working away from home for long stretches of time, we now find ourselves to be early morning people. We wake up early and we get our best creative work done in the morning hours. So being limited to the morning before it gets too hot is fine with me!

It’s all good.

We’ll be watching the Knicks tonight. And celebrating the removal of a name that should have never been displayed on the Kennedy Center. I’ve performed there. I know what it feels like to be in that space. It’s a sacred place.

Finished floor pictures on Monday.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

Filed Under: Beacon Hill Dollhouse, flowers 10 Comments

Hazy, Hot, and Humid

June 12, 2026 at 8:32 am by Claudia

Oh my god. The heat and humidity have just about done me in. All Don and I were capable of yesterday were the bare minimum of essential tasks and that was it. I watered outside and on the porch. And a bit of pruning in the early morning. That was it. I didn’t even work on the dollhouse. No A/C in that room. At one point, it was 94° but ‘felt like” 103°.

I also couldn’t keep my eyes open and I felt lethargic. I took an hour-long nap and I swear I could have slept more.

Another day of this slop today and some high temps tomorrow, as well. We had some rain last night and today we’re supposed to get thunderstorms.

I am going to make myself do a little work in the dollhouse this morning, just so I can say I DID something.

The Knicks, the Knicks, the Knicks! What an incredible game!

We have daisies popping up right next to the porch entrance:

There are more daisies this year than last. I love them. A ‘cheerful flower’ indeed.

I also did some work outside yesterday morning  and the humidity was so horrid, I thought I was going to pass out. All I was doing was some pruning, but my heavens, it was like walking through muck. So back inside I went.

The crown vetch is blooming. I’m so happy it came back. I think it’s beautiful.

So, a little dollhouse floor work today. Then, when it becomes unbearable, I will turn on the A/C downstairs. Oh yes, we did put in the bedroom unit and I have to say it went right in that window without the usual maneuvering stress. Easy as pie.

Okay, my friends. Time for our second cup of coffee.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

 

Filed Under: life 16 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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