Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Around MHC West

June 8, 2010 at 5:47 pm by Claudia

We all know it’s the little touches that make a house a home, right? MHC West will never be the same as my real home, but I have added a few little things that cozy this place up. Some are things I’ve bought or brought from home, others are from my sweet friends.


My ribbon board: I bought 2 of them last year and took one home. Since I’m in the same apartment, the other was still here. You can see notes and cards from friends and family, my 39 squares project, Elyse’s wonderful clothespin, and some prize ribbons.


The two prize ribbons were snagged at Vignettes.


That’s my furry nephew, Max, next to the ribbon. He sent me a Mother’s Day card. He is, along with my dogs, the sweetest dog in the world.


My blog ribbon from Jeanne. Terri sent me the postcard from Paris. She had a fabulous adventure there.


Gorgeous ribbon and seam binding and a vintage Paris medallion I bought from Vignettes when I first arrived. And my vintage doll clothespins.


The first two fabric hearts I ever made – they have their flaws, so I kept them for myself. I like having them around.

:: I finished reading Anne of Green Gables on the Nook and am now reading Anne of Avonlea. Like many of you, I saw the television series based on these books and own the DVDs. When I’m reading, I hear the voices of Megan Follows and Colleen Dewhurst in my head. I wrote about this last year, but I’ll say it again for those of you who might not have been reading this blog at the time. I had the great good fortune to work with Megan Follows several years ago. She was in a production of The Sea Gull right here in this theater. I don’t talk about these things often, but I’ve worked with a lot of well known actors. I think I was most excited to meet Megan. When we had our first work session, I said that I hoped she didn’t mind but I was a huge fan of her work in that series – that she must hear that all the time. She immediately said that she didn’t mind at all. She never tired of hearing how powerful that series was for so many. Megan was a delight. She was all grown up with children of her own but she’ll always be Anne, won’t she?

:: I had the strangest dream last night. I’m a big Gregory Peck fan. I was lucky enough to hear and see him in person when he was doing his one man show. He had the most glorious, deep, resonant voice. In this dream, there were several people in one room. We were all crying – were we in mourning? I don’t know. Suddenly, Gregory Peck came in the door. He was wearing a checked flannel shirt and was as handsome as you might imagine. I hoped he would come up to me. He did. He leaned down to speak in my ear. And out of him came the most nasal, high-pitched, southern twang you’ve ever heard. He might as well as been a cast member on Hee Haw. And then I woke up.

Aren’t dreams fascinating???

Filed Under: decorating 22 Comments

A Gift & a Photographer

June 7, 2010 at 3:50 pm by Claudia

Last week I was totally convinced that I only had 3 weeks left until I went home. I said it to my husband, my friends, my sister. On the morning of the 4th, I was in the shower and I thought: “Wait a minute, today is the 4th…you’re leaving here on the 4th of July…that doesn’t sound like 3 weeks.” I don’t leave for four weeks. That was disappointing – somehow 3 weeks seems so much more doable.

This morning started off with a trip to the Apple store in a nearby mall. I love, love my MacBook! But a little crack had developed along the right front edge near the trackpad. After researching it online I found that many MacBook owners had experienced the same problem and that Apple was replacing the casing for free after deciding it was not caused by misuse – just by the top hitting the bottom when the laptop was being closed. I had an appointment at 9:45 and by 10:45 it was fixed. I got a new keyboard and everything! They couldn’t have been nicer.

When I knew I was taking it in, I bit the bullet and bought a portable hard drive to back up my computer. I can’t believe I went this long without one. So now everything on my computer is backed up and I don’t panic at the thought of losing it all.

On to pretty things. Brenda and I were having a great phone conversation last week and she recommended a blog to me. I quickly went to the blog (while I was talking to Brenda) and gasped at the beautiful photography of Georgianna Lane. I fell in love right then and there. Georgianna is an unbelievably gifted photographer. Brenda was on her computer, I was on mine and we oohed and aahed over everything. An idea came to me: I would start to collect her work, frame it and display it on my stairway wall.

The other day I checked my mail slot and there was a package waiting for me. From Georgianna. Brenda had sent me two of Georgianna’s prints! The package was beautifully wrapped.


Sorry for the lighting but I took this late at night after I got home from the theater. I didn’t want to wait to unwrap it until morning. Here is what was inside:

Gorgeous.
My colors.


Georgianna wrote a lovely note in the notecard on the right telling me this was a gift from Brenda. She also included the notecard on the left.

I think you will love her work. She has a blog and an etsy shop. Just click on the links and stop by for a visit. Thank you Brenda and Georgianna!

Filed Under: Fellow bloggers 24 Comments

A Hidden Treasure

June 5, 2010 at 5:01 pm by Claudia

On my way back from the theater after dropping off notes for the actors, I finally checked out this tiny complex of apartments/cottages that I pass daily. I usually pass by the rear of the buildings. Today, since I had my camera, I decided to take a peek.

These buildings are just off Balboa Park. I don’t know when they were built, but they are definitely vintage. That makes me happy. San Diego is lovely but sometimes all the buildings look like a sea of new beige stucco. Fortunately, the neighborhood surrounding the park has many wonderful old buildings. From the rear, these apartments look very nondescript, but when you look through the front gate, you see 2 rows of cottages (they are all attached) with beautiful landscaping and such charm! I took some photos.


This is the view as you come in the front gate.


One of the adorable cottages. Each front door has the look of a french door.


Can you see the little bridge? I’m in love.


This is the rear of the complex – where the 2 rows of cottages meet.


Each apartment owner has plants and flowers everywhere.


This is a busy neighborhood, especially on the weekend. Today, cars were backed up trying to get to the Zoo. But when I walked in the gate, it was quiet. There was a fountain gurgling, plants were blooming and each little cottagey apartment was utterly charming.

I chatted with a woman who lived there and was outside pruning her plants. She said the apartments were quirky – as all older apartments are – but that she loved living there. She had been there 8 years.

I’ve always been so drawn to cozy, charming little places like this. When I first moved to San Diego in 1993, I lived in an old building with Spanish influence. My particular unit still had hand stenciled beams in the living room. The kitchen had all the original tile from the 20’s. I loved that apartment. It only had one drawback – the busy corner it was on with a school right next door. I would have stayed there had not Don arrived in my life. Eventually I moved into the home I shared with him for 6 years, an old Craftsman home. Can you tell I go for old?

It struck me today that I would have snapped one of these units up had I known about them when I was new to San Diego. It might have made it harder for Don to woo me away. What a hidden treasure – a quiet little enclave in the middle of the city.

By the way, I got such a laugh when some of you said the heart shaped rock in an previous post looked like a piece of toast when you first saw it. I can see that. Perhaps you were also hungry?

Filed Under: cottage, decorating, garden, San Diego 33 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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