Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

  • About MHC
    • Disclosure
  • Dollhouses/Minis
    • Hummingbird Cottage
    • The Studio (Formerly TSP)
    • Dove Cottage
    • The Lake House
    • The Folk Art Dollhouse
    • The Modern Dollhouse
    • The Beacon Hill Dollhouse
    • Dollhouse Source List, Information and Tutorials
  • On the Road
  • Collecting
    • Roseville Pottery
    • McCoy Pottery
    • Egg Cups
    • Bakelite
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
You are here: Home / Archives for Claudia

Tiles and Picks

January 30, 2010 at 6:23 pm by Claudia


I call this “Still Life with Tiles and Picks.” Don has been practicing using a pick with his guitar and I have been finding these all over the place. We don’t need Mr. Riley snacking on a pick. I gathered them all up and dumped them on top of the mah jongg tiles in my McCoy dish. Wait…that might make a nice photo. And there you have it. Don’t you find yourself looking at everything as a potential blog photo? I do.

I’m so proud of my dogs. After much preparation, blocking off the stairs, putting all things away that an anxious dog might find potentially edible, bringing down Scout’s bed and closing the door to the den – I took Scout’s little face in my hands and explained why, for the first time ever, she had to sleep apart from us and asked her to be a good big sister to Riley. I talked to Riley, too. We left them downstairs, with a little classical music playing (just as we do when we leave the house) and cheerily said goodnight. We made a beeline for our bedroom, closed the door, turned on the white noise machine and hoped that all would go well. I, being the sap that I am, started crying. The dogs are always with us in our bedroom and this would be a major change to their routine.

This morning, we tiptoed out into the hallway, peeked down the stairs and saw them both sleeping. Scout was on the loveseat, Riley was on his favorite area rug. No messes, no puddles, no nothing! They really handled it well. They are such good dogs.

It is so cold here today – I’ve haven’t gone outside at all. Around mid-afternoon, I heard my husband let out an ‘Oh no’ as he realized the hot water pipe in the kitchen had frozen. Luckily, he discovered it just in time and we used a hair dryer to warm up the pipe. Crisis averted.

Spring, please come quickly.

Filed Under: decorating, McCoy pottery, Riley, Scout 20 Comments

Generous Gifts

January 29, 2010 at 1:22 pm by Claudia

Let me first of all thank all of you for your supportive, loving comments about Riley. The night went fairly well, except for a period where he wondered where his Dad and Scout were and started pacing. I had to get up with him twice and let him out in our sub-zero temperatures. Don and I are now thinking seriously of leaving both dogs downstairs for the night. They would be in the living room, which is the room they hang out in when we leave the house. Scout could have her bed there and hopefully, after a period of adjustment, they would be okay with it. Riley feels better when Scout is nearby. Carrying him on our narrow stairway is probably not an option, as Riley has real anxiety issues and we think this would just add to his stress. He’s also heavy – I have a tricky back, Don has a hernia…maybe not such a good idea. I’ll update you as we muddle through this.


I have been getting packages in the mail this week – lovely gifts from 2 generous blogging friends. I should just say friends. Because they are. My friend, Donna, wrote me a note the other day asking if I would like this:


Yes! Donna knows I love roses and pink and that I collect hat pin holders. This is a shaker with holes in the top and will be perfect for displaying hat pins. She also included a lovely bookmark. Thank you, Donna!

My friend Jayne of Tallulah Belle Originals is a talented miniaturist. She creates the most wonderful flowers and plants and also has begun sculpting. She recently moved into a new house and was re-organizing her studio. She asked me if I would like this:


Yes, again! Jayne made this and I love it – don’t you think it will be perfect for the shabby dollhouse? Jayne not only sent me this, but look what else she included:

Oh my gosh! Let me give you some close-ups.


Plates, glass dishes, teacup and saucer, baskets, garden pots, a wood holder for the fireplace, a kitty….


All sort of wonderful flowers for arranging…


Vases, a pitcher, a plant and a birdhouse…


A kit for making sunflowers…


And this wonderful bird who now has a new home. Thank you, Jayne.

These little surprises come at a time when I feel very worried about Riley, stressed about life in general and am longing for Spring. I cannot tell you how much they cheered me and how much I value your friendship, Donna and Jayne. I thank you all for your never-ending support and good wishes. I’m coming up on my 2nd anniversary of blogging in February. What a joy it has been!

Filed Under: dollhouse, Fellow bloggers, gifts, Riley 19 Comments

A Not-So-Good Night

January 28, 2010 at 2:57 pm by Claudia


We’re suffering from sleep deprivation today at MHC. Our dog, Riley, is a rescue who had a tough life as a young dog. He also had heartworm when we adopted him and had to go through all the grueling treatment for that disease. He has a very bad hip – most likely hip dysplasia. Because of that, he has trouble navigating at times. Even though he is about 7 or 8, he walks like a much older dog. Lately he has been falling while trying to get up the steps – from the den to the living room, or up to the second floor. It all started with one specific fall where he landed on his tail end after trying to get up the two steep steps to the living room. Clearly, he has suffered some trauma to his left hip and trying to deal with stairs just exacerbates it.

So, husband and I have been trying to figure out a way to keep Riley from the steps and help him climb them when necessary. We’ve finally decided he can’t go up or down the stairway to the second floor until he shows signs of healing. Since we (Scout, Riley, husband and I) all sleep in the same room every night this presents a problem. I volunteered to stay downstairs with Riley and sleep on the sofa in the den. Husband would have none of it. He wanted to get our Aero Bed out of the closet and inflate it, then install it in the living room and we’d all sleep there for the night.

The reality? The Aero Bed is too small for two very tall adults, every time one of us turned over, the covers were pulled off of the other, it was cold because the bed was on the floor, our charming clock which chimes on the half hour and on the hour kept us awake half the night, the dogs were thoroughly confused by the whole thing, and at 4 in the morning we were still awake. At 6 am, Don suggested I go upstairs for a couple of hours to sleep then I could come downstairs and he would go to bed for a couple of hours. And that’s what we did.

When I came downstairs, I was shocked to see a lot of snow on the ground. Seriously, I had no idea there was any snow in the forecast. I think I’ve been so worried about Riley that I haven’t taken in the outside world.


Tonight, I will sleep on the sofa and share the den with Riley. Tomorrow, Don will take a turn.

Anything for our boy.

Filed Under: Riley, snow 31 Comments

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 1734
  • 1735
  • 1736
  • 1737
  • 1738
  • …
  • 1868
  • Next Page »
  • Email
  • Instagram

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.

Thanks for stopping by.

Searching?

The Dogs

The Dogs

Scout & Riley. Riley left us in 2012. Scout left us in February 2016. Dearest babies. Dearest friends.

Winston - Our first dog. We miss you, sweetheart.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

Thanks for visiting! Feel free to browse, read and enjoy. All content is my own; including photos and text. Please do not use anything on this site without permission.

Disclosure/Privacy Policy can be found in the Navigation Bar under ‘About MHC.’

Also, I love receiving comments! I do, however, reserve the right to delete any comment that is in poor taste, offensive or is verging on spam. It’s my blog. If you’re a bot or a troll you’ll be blocked. Thanks!

Archives

All Content © 2008 - 2026 Mockingbird Hill Cottage · Log in