Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Life in our little cottage in the country

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A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words (But You Know I Will Talk Anyway)

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This says it all. Pack, pack and, oh, pack some more. I can’t remember how many boxes I sent out this way in January – 6 or 7, I think. I have easily more than doubled that amount. Since I decided not to drive back, I am faced with sending all this stuff. Last week, the first things to go were the white flower basket (continually photographed with flowers in it during my stay), the wrought iron piece I also bought at the Barn Sale, and my dream Cherub painting. They were all awkward sizes and, in the case of the painting, precious cargo. So I had some lovely people recommended to me by Lori at Vignettes pack them. They should arrive at MHC tomorrow. In the meantime, I have packed books and more books, fabric, yarn, clothes, files, and stuff. Today I spent a lovely 45 minutes running up and down the three flights of stairs (on a humid San Diego day) and loading the car with 9 boxes. I drove out to the same shipping place and lugged them all inside. And now they are on their way.

There is still more. I had to buy a printer when I came out here, my little vintage birdcage needs to be packed, along with my Christie Repasy painting, all the pillows I bought in an attempt to make the furniture in this apartment even slightly comfortable (they are pretty and I don’t want to leave them behind), the two lamps from IKEA that I want to use on our bedside tables back home, and a few other pieces of china, etc. Oh, and my husband bought me a guitar. That has to get home.

I am overwhelmed but have made a good dent in the whole thing. The rest of the stuff can’t go until the end of the week because I still need it here. It will still cost much less than the cheapest car rental quote, and that doesn’t even count motels, meals, and gas.

Do I ever want to go away for 6 months again? No. No. No. Especially not to a place where there are so many wonderful shops and barn sales with tempting treasures to buy. Because then I have to pack them. Oh, and where I need so many supplies in order to work – books, printer, paper, scripts. No, I think I will stay home at the Cottage for a good, long while.

I’m off to sit on the sofa and do some hand quilting.

Opening Night, A Dollhouse Shop & Scarves For a Cause

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Cyrano de Bergerac opened last night and is a resounding success. What an absolutely beautiful production, in every way – costumes, set design, sound, lighting, music – and if I may say, beautifully spoken. It helps to have an outstanding Cyrano. We do. And to be perfectly honest, I didn’t have to do too much in the way of coaching him. He is a wonderful actor with an amazing voice. My colleague has directed it beautifully.

Everyone who works on each production always gets a single long-stemmed rose on Opening Night. The brilliant costume designer gave me a copy of one of her designs, another wonderful colleague gave me a plume, handkerchief and a lovely quote – all of which figure in the play. One opening down, two to go. Then I fly home.


I found the most amazing dollhouse/miniature shop the other day: Miss Peggie’s Place – located in Pacific Beach. Why oh why can’t I plop this place down in upstate New York? I could have gone nuts there but was saved by three facts: I haven’t even seen my dollhouse in person, I already have too much to pack and I do not want to spend too much at present. I did buy this mini sewing basket because I fell in love with it ~ and I plan to have a craft/sewing room in the dollhouse (since there is no room for one in the cottage.) Isn’t it sweet?

Miss Peggie’s Place has been in the same location for over 30 years! Miss Peggie ran it for most of that time until it became too much for her. She died a few years ago and there is a new owner. I lived here for 8 years but wasn’t into the dollhouse thing then or I would have been there all the time.

These are the scarves I decorated for Design Gives Back at Kelee’s blog. I used scraps from the Quilt Along quilt and cut out circles with pinking shears. Then I glued them on with fabric glue, sent them home to MHC and my husband took a couple of photos of the dogs in their new scarves. It is such a great cause. Just click on the link and you can read all about it.

Don tells me the dogs wouldn’t stay still – they had just had a walk (hence Scout’s pink-rimmed eyes – she was excited) but I think they look pretty cute!

Have a great Sunday!

Pink Saturday

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Hello and Happy Pink Saturday! Please visit Beverly and stop by all the Pink Saturday posts!

I am just a week away from my return trip home – I am happy that I will be returning to my husband and dogs, but I will miss my friends, both new and old, here in San Diego. I’m packing and shipping all my stuff (since I’ve been here 6 months, I’ve accumulated quite a bit!)

So, let’s take a break from list making and packing and look at a few pale pink pretties.

This was at the most recent Barn Sale: pale pinks: in the pillows, the flowers and the depression glass. So pretty coupled with the white chair and table, don’t you think?
Also at the sale: I love this desk – white on the outside, then a hidden pink surprise when opened. That is such a neat idea.How I wish I could have taken it home! And there is that pink purse again! (It was in an earlier PS post of mine.) Check out the frou-frou shoes on top of the desk! See the pink tole trash can by the desk?
And these pretty flowers – don’t they look like roses? They aren’t. I got them at Trader Joe’s and can’t remember their name. If anyone knows, please let me know! I think they are beautiful.

I am saving up some Barn Sale photos for future posts. I’m afraid there will be no more Barn Sales – I will be back East where Shabby Cottage Chic is not as prevalent. I will have to go on a shabby quest, won’t I?

Have a great weekend!

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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