Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Thoughts on Sleep, a Book, Square #9

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I found this little treasure the other day just sitting in a corner in one of our local antique shops. It’s in perfect condition for a book published in 1901. I love old books – such care was taken with the illustrations and design. “Lyrics of Love of Hearth & Home and Field and Garden” – sounds tailor-made for a nester like myself.


Sigh.

Square #9:


A picket fence covered with climbing roses. The outline is a bit wonky because I was racing to finish before Antiques Roadshow started. However, it never started because PBS had some other show on in its place. Bad PBS. We like our Monday night schedule of the Roadshow and 24. As it was, we sat on the sofa listening to a documentary about the Warner brothers (of movie studio fame) and fell asleep. At 9:05, I woke in a panic – “24!!! – Turn the channel!!” We made it in time.

This is when I fear we are getting old. Every evening lately we both doze off for a bit while watching the tube. Am I becoming my grandmother? How come I can sleep so easily in front of the television and then lie awake when it is time to actually sleep in my bed?

The weather has been so lovely the last few days – temperatures in the high 40’s and low 50’s and sun. Glorious sun. Everyone is infected with spring fever. I have to do some text work on Taming of the Shrewtoday. For those of you who asked, work on the dollhouse has been put on hold as I prepare for my work in San Diego which starts mid-April. I also have to ready the garden and do all sorts of things around the house as I will be leaving it in my husband’s care for 10 weeks. I love him, you understand, but he’s not me. I will have to leave detailed instructions for him. He will do his best. The rest is out of my control. Gulp.

McCoy Monday & Square #8

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Hello and welcome to my little Monday homage to McCoy Pottery. Today’s piece is a hanging planter. If you look closely at the left side of the pot, you’ll see a groove going all the way down the side. There are a total of 3 grooves on the planter. A chain or some other kind of holder fit snugly in the grooves and that’s how the planter was hung. I love the leaf pattern on this particular piece. I took a photo of the bottom to show you the McCoy mark. This is the only time I’ve seen it separated – with Mc on one side and Coy on the other.


You can also see where the 3 grooves meet. This little beauty resides on a little shelf in our sideboard – right by the front door – and we keep the key to our clock in it.

On to Square #8:


A vase (McCoy of course) full of lilacs. Hmmm….I wonder what tomorrow’s square will bring?

Scout’s Indignation & Square #7

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Miss Scout is a bit indignant. If you look closely at her left rear paw, you will see why.


She has to wear a sock, of all things! She is not happy. The other day I discovered that one of the pads on her foot was very red and irritated. It looked like she scraped it on something. It was bleeding, so after a little clean-up and some neosporin, I grabbed one of my socks and on it went. And to add to the indignity, each time she goes outside we have to slip a plastic bag over her foot with a rubberband to keep the sock dry. Sensitive soul that she is, she actually went into a funk for a day or two. However, she has now come to terms with the whole thing. Sort of. She is like an elephant, though, she never forgets – which is why I am on the receiving end of that stare.


Aren’t these the most scrumptious colors? I went to Michael’s yesterday to look for a bigger hoop (couldn’t find one,) a needle threader (found it and it has saved my eyes and my patience!) and some more floss. They are so beautiful, I just had to take a picture.

I’m having so much fun on this embroidery stitchalong! To tell you the truth, I have not been motivated to quilt or knit in a long while. I did a lot of piecing when I was in San Diego last year. And I’ve picked up my knitting many times – knit a couple of rows – and then ignored it for weeks on end. This embroidery is so portable. I can pick it up any time and stitch a little square or two. Each of the colors of floss in the photo were about 30 cents each – much less expensive than yarn or fabric. I wouldn’t mind embroidering a pattern but I really like the free form style of embroidery. Okay. On to Square #7:


This one is entitled “Ode to Claudia’s Blue Eyeglasses with a guest appearance by her Purple Coneflowers.” (Boy, it is so much easier to get a good close-up on a sunny day!)

Have a wonderful Sunday. Ours promises to be sunny and in the low 50’s! Does this mean that Spring is on the way?

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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