Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Gilly and Ruby standing on the pew.

It’s so gray and rainy around here that trying to take any pictures is futile. But I just happened to have this one from a few days ago. I’m contemplating a change of clothing for them as they’ve been wearing these dresses for quite a while.

But then again, maybe not. The days when I was regularly redressing the dolls are over. If the current ensemble is working, it stays. You’ll notice I did not do the Christmas sweater thing that I’ve done in years past.

Are you as exhausted as I am with this daily insanity? Now we’re in a war that never needed to happen. What next? I had a meltdown the other night and Don patiently listened to me. I have to severely limit my exposure to the news. I’m trying my best to stay away from any news apps. But it’s tricky. I can’t go outside and lose myself in chores. Too early in the season. I can work around the house, but there’s only so much to do (or that I want to do.)

We only have so much time left on this planet and THIS is what is happening? This is what we have to look forward to? Imagine the expletives I am voicing on an hourly basis. Then add in Don’s. We’ve had it.

We need some peace and we do our best to find some peace every day. But, my god, it’s hard.

End of rant.

I tried reading the new book by Elly Griffiths, The Frozen People. This is book one in a new series. It just didn’t do it for me. The writing is clunky and although I’ve read plenty of books about time travel, it didn’t work for me here. Now, as always, that’s just my opinion. I zipped forward to the ending and read it. And then I picked up another book that I got a from our library, which I’ve never read for some reason – Practical Magic  by Alice Hoffman. What a relief! The prose moves beautifully. It’s so well written. I immediately relaxed, knowing I was in good hands. That’s how it has to be for me these days. I do not have the patience to cross my fingers and hope the writing and subject matter will improve. The book has to grab me from the beginning and Practical Magic  has done that.

I’ll return The Frozen People  to the library today. I have another book waiting there for me.

Stay safe, my friends.

Happy Friday.

What a bizarre 24 hours of weather here! Wet snow fell yesterday for a few hours, which turned to rain, which turned to freezing rain overnight. Now it’s foggy and messy and yet, the temperature is going to reach 50 degrees. So we’re just going to stay inside and let Mother Nature clean up the mess on the ground. Temperatures will be warmer this week and next week, but will kind of be all over the place. You can tell that Spring is trying to break through.

I checked last year’s photos on IG and the peepers seem to arrive around March 13-15. It happened the year before as well. That’s just around the corner!

I was feeling under the weather yesterday and am still feeling that way today. Sinus crap, I think.

Progress so far. The colors are off because I had to lay this out on our bed and it’s still gloomy in that room. This little project is keeping me sane. Don really likes it, so that’s all that matters.

The dollhouse wallpaper that arrived the other day. Sigh. It’s a bit lighter and brighter than this. I tend to feel frustrated when I unwrap a package of miniature wallpaper. It’s hard to gauge the size of the print from a little sample on a web page. I may do some research today and order something brighter – especially for the hallways. The stairs are so dark that I feel the need to counteract that darkness with cheery color.

I can’t really move ahead until I have something I like. And I always like to do the living room first.

Wish me luck.

Don just went outside to explore the weather situation. I’m staying in. My head is stuffy and I need more coffee.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

The view of of what we call “The Plain” at the back of our property. It’s my neighbor’s property and it has provided many a gorgeous view over the years. Snow is definitely melting here, but today is very cold. Tomorrow, we get 1 – 3 inches of snow and ice, which would normally piss me off, but it will be 51 degrees on Wednesday, so it won’t last. The craziness of March: it’s kind of all over the place, but we’re definitely headed toward spring. In mid-March we usually hear the peepers for the first time and that’s only two weeks away!

This has been a tough winter for us in terms of heating oil bills. We will have to order one extra shipment. It’s been so frigid and cold since December so we’ve had to use more oil than we’ve ever used in the past 20 years. Don is currently trying to get that last order in with our supplier before oil prices go sky high, thanks to this latest boneheaded attempt at distraction by you-know-who. And he’s is also going to fill up the car’s gas tank, as well.

I can’t handle this insanity, so I’ll be crocheting today and doing the laundry and anything else that will bring some calm to my mind.

I should get some of the wallpaper I ordered for the dollhouse in today’s mail. I’m curious to see it in person. Fingers crossed!

I mentioned that I wanted to get the giant box that contains the Beacon Hill kit out of the office/studio and I did. I went through all the components to see if there was anything I still needed and then I taped it closed. Don came upstairs and helped me move it downstairs and out to the shed. Hurrah! It took up too much space and if there’s anything you know about our house, it’s the fact that space is at a premium.

The Beacon Hill has become the dollhouse I wish I had never purchased – simply because of its size. I can’t tell you how much time I have spent thinking about where the heck I will put it when I’m done. Ah well, something will be worked out. I’m used to this – my entire house is like a Jenga puzzle and I’m constantly thinking about storage and what I can do to improve it.

I hope you’re all hanging in there, given what’s going on.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.