Claudia — Page 1593

Birdies, Nests, Dollhouse Miniatures; Presents in the Mail

September 9, 2011 at 10:40 am by Claudia

Part of a robin’s egg, found on the patio a few weeks ago, clearly needed to be back in a nest. This particular nest is being carried on the back of one of my McCoy singing birds.

A few months back, my friend Jill of Little Nest Studio had a giveaway. Jill is a longtime blogging friend. She is one of the nicest people I know and very talented. And she loves miniatures. I was lucky enough to be one of the winners (I seem to remember there was more than one.) Jill wanted to make something special with the winner in mind. Oh my gosh…she did.

Yesterday, in the midst of the rain, I saw a package down at the mailbox. You’d better believe I skedaddled right on down there. The box had the prettiest hand-addressed label and may I say that Jill has the coolest handwriting in the world? I’m jealous. She writes in a style that immediately says ‘Artist.’

I couldn’t wait to see what she had created.

Yes, there are wrapped presents there (check out the sweet rick rack and flowers), but first…what do I see on the right?

Oh, happiness! Some of my favorite coffee! That darn Jill knows me very well, indeed. I let out a little cry of delight when I saw this unexpected goodie. Just ask Don. He was right there. (See what I mean about the handwriting?)

Here’s what Jill created for me. Get ready to swoon.

Oh my goodness! It is absolutely perfect. Jill’s embroidery skills leave mine in the dust. When we were both part of 39 Squares, her work was consistently beautiful. A close-up of her stitches:

I’m fiddling with Picnik – no sunshine for several days makes for difficult picture taking. The blue is more vivid than this photo indicates, it’s more like the previous photo. But back to the stitching…isn’t it beautiful? I love the rick rack trim she added, as well. Frankly, this is too pretty for my kitchen. Don would forget that he wasn’t to touch it and within seconds, there would be some sort of stain on it. Have I ever told you about the mess he made of my wedding dress? Just think about spare ribs and sauce and you’ll get the picture. I will have to find a better place. Hmmm. My thinking cap is on.

What else was in the package?

For my dollhouse: this charming table (made and signed by Jill) in my favorite colors. Won’t it look sweet in my dollhouse – perhaps in the kitchen? She also sent the vase, which looks very much like the McCoy pottery I collect and display here at MHC.

Oh, that’s not all.

She also sent the tote bag and flip-flops. Adorable. Do you think Jill knows my favorite colors?

Every single treasure in this package was made with me in mind. That blows me away. Seeing all this beauty, this precise and heart-felt handwork, touches my heart. I am surely blessed by knowing Jill and I’m so grateful to call her my friend.

Thank you, dear Jill.

The sun just came out. Do I have Jill to thank for that? I rather suspect I do.

Damp

September 8, 2011 at 9:19 am by Claudia

Someone stop me from screaming. This rain is endless. And I know how much some of you in Texas need it. As usual, the part of the country that doesn’t need rain is getting way too much while there are huge areas that are desperate for the stuff. This morning I woke to torrential rain and a bit more leakage from the chimney. The sump pump is working overtime. The dogs come in from their ‘constitutional’ outside looking like drowned rats. More roads closed. More flooding.

Yesterday in the early morning, I took the car in for its inspection. It passed, thank goodness, but I was given the charming news that ‘your exhaust system will be the next thing to go.’ Thank you, Bill the Mechanic. The Honda CR-V is ten years old, so I guess that is to be expected. I hope our county mobile DMV is on schedule today because I plan our renewing my registration. The mobile DMV is stationed in various small towns throughout the week. Thursday is our day.

Anyway, on the way back from the inspection, I viewed the devastation in our neck of the woods. Flooding everywhere. Crops decimated. Remember these photos from last year at this time?

This whole area – acres and acres of land in what is called ‘the flats’ completely flooded. No corn, dead sunflowers, rotten pumpkins. Water everywhere. It was really shocking to see. Our farmers are really suffering. I live in an area that is very popular in the fall. Pumpkins, apple picking, sweet corn – all of it is essential to our local economy. My complaints seem rather petty when viewing the larger devastation that has been heaped on so many in our area.

Let’s close with a happier scene from the porch last week:

Those are my hot pink garden clogs, by the way. Here’s to dry weather and more time on the porch – soon!

In Need of Sunshine

September 6, 2011 at 5:44 pm by Claudia

Rain, rain, rain. It seems to be raining endlessly here, which is bad news for the already swollen rivers and for those who are still coping with flood damage from Hurricane Irene. So many people in our area have lost so much. One of our friends still does not have power. Another has 3 feet of water in his house. Enough already, please?

I took this photo the other day – you know fall is on the way when the Sedum Autumn Joy starts turning pink. Such gentle splashes of pink all over the garden.

This vine is growing in our back forty. Does anyone know what it is? The leaves are star-shaped with spiky white flowers.

Growing all over the edges of our property – and everywhere else on my travels around the neighborhood.

The day after the hurricane I noticed this spectacular spider web. It’s stretched between two trees in our overgrown back forty. Amazing, isn’t it?

Mom is still in the rehabilitation facility. She is barely speaking to anyone – she says about 10 words to my Dad and my sister and then sends them home. I call her every day and lately I get about 30 seconds of phone time before she cuts me off. She is withdrawing from everyone. She wants to die and she says it fairly often. I wonder if this is her way of pushing us away so she can transition. I don’t know. I only know that my father is heartbroken and that my mom is desperately unhappy and determined to remain that way and that there is nothing but sadness permeating everything.

A little sunshine might help.

Birdies, Nests, Dollhouse Miniatures; Presents in the Mail

Damp

In Need of Sunshine

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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