Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Monday, Monday

August 20, 2018 at 7:17 am by Claudia

I have to be honest here. Sometimes I can’t remember whether I’ve already used a photo in another post. I suspect I might have posted these two photos of the living room recently. But I’m not in the mood to look back through my posts, so here they are again because that’s all I’ve got for you today!

Some days I just forget to take pictures and yesterday was one of them. I’ll do better today.

We had a nice time with our pals yesterday and then Don took off to do his thing and I took off to do mine. Nothing momentous.

We’ve been waking up at 5 or 5:30 every morning for the longest time! Too early! I seem to have moved from a routine 7 hours of sleep to 6 or 6½. I have no idea why. It’s not ideal, that’s for sure, because I always feel like I didn’t get quite enough sleep. Sleep patterns are fascinating. What makes them change? What throws us off?

We watched Network  the other night. It was on TCM On Demand. I hadn’t seen it since it first came out in 1976. Let me tell you, I was stunned by how prescient screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky was about media, news as entertainment and reality television. He saw it all way back then. I kept gasping as I listened, immediately looking at Don for confirmation of what I’d just heard. It’s stunning, really. Peter Finch has a big speech – several really – that just blew me away. The movie is a satire, but the satire has come true.

If you can, watch it again. 42 years later, it has come true. And that’s not a good thing.

Happy Monday.

 

Filed Under: living room, media, movies 29 Comments

Relief

August 19, 2018 at 8:53 am by Claudia

Big thunderstorms rolled in late yesterday afternoon with lots of thunder and rain and downpours. This morning? It’s cooler. The humidity is low.

As Don and I sat on the front porch, we sighed with happiness. What a difference!

I mowed the front part of the property yesterday and managed to get it done before the rains came. Very satisfying! Because someone who reads this blog said I complain about mowing, let me be clear. I like mowing. I really  like it. I look forward to it. I’ve been pretty clear about that on the blog. I can see the results right away and that makes me happy. I’m grateful that I have the strength and the stamina to mow almost two acres of grass. I often insist on doing it all myself. In fact, I did that yesterday. It’s great exercise.

Mowing in high humidity? It’s hard. That’s a fact. But stating that fact doesn’t mean I’m complaining. It’s just an acknowledgment of something we all know to be true.

Moving on.

Look what I found on the ground this morning.

What????  It’s too early! It sure is beautiful, though.

A couple of you dear readers asked if I could take a photo of the cabinet that shows a wider, longer view so that you could understand where it is in the house. Of course!

Taken this cloudy morning. I was standing in front of the sideboard, with the front door to my left. The living room is to my right. If you walk forward toward the stairs, the den is on the left. And right next to the cabinet is the downstairs bathroom.

It’s such a relief to see that I don’t need to paint those cubbies. I see the egg cups and they’re very clear. I’m sure it’s because they’re so colorful against the darker wood. Not only would painting the cubbies be a pain in the tush, I was hesitant to mess with the rustic look of the dark wood contrasting with the white cabinet and doors, not to mention the little letters and names above the cubbies. I wanted to keep it as is and now I can.

We’re having brunch with Rick and Doug this morning and then Don is off to do his photography thing and I’m going to run an errand or two.

Happy Sunday.

 

 

 

Filed Under: antiques, collecting, egg cups 76 Comments

All Together Now

August 18, 2018 at 8:03 am by Claudia

Yesterday’s recycling efforts were thwarted when I packed up all the bags of trash, stuffed them in large contractor’s bags, loaded them in my car, along with a bin full of bottles and cans and cardboard, drove the five minutes or so to the Transfer Station, only to see the gates closed and a handwritten sign on brown cardboard shoved in the gate saying “Closed on 5/17.” No reason, no warning. I wasn’t happy.

I suppose Dan could have been sick or unable to come into work for some reason, but doesn’t the town have someone who can sub for him? The station is only open 3 days a week as it is.

The joys of living in a small town.

It was extremely hot and humid and I had to haul everything out of my car upon returning home and shove huge bags into the trash cans. Plus, my plans for mowing a bit before the rain came in the afternoon were curtailed when the rain came much earlier.

What to do? Clean the bathrooms, vacuum, do a load or two of laundry and play with my egg cups.

I started retrieving them from various shelves and cabinets, upstairs and downstairs.

I pulled a chair up to the cabinet.

I had to take into account the wood on the doors that blocked some of the cubbies.

I played and played. At times,  I’d stop and look at everything and then I’d smile. Some of my larger egg cups won’t fit in the cubbies, so I’ll put them all together on one of the hanging shelves. But the vast majority them did fit and I can’t tell you how neat it is to see them all together in their new home.

This is what it looks like at the moment. That may change. You’ll notice there is a space waiting for Sleepy, if I ever find him.

Don is just as delighted as I am. Every time he passes the cabinet, he remarks on what a difference it makes in the cottage.

It does.

I think our cottage is full of a lot of wonderful things, but my favorites are those that have a sense of whimsy. These do. So do the Jumping Jacks hanging by the kitchen door and the signs and graphics and little charming knick knacks. I hope they say a lot about Don and me. I think they do.

By the way, reader Jay suggested it might have been hung on a wall with what is now the bottom being the top, etc. That makes sense to me as the writing above the cubbies would have been right side up that way. Perhaps a mail sorter for a little office or hotel? I like it the way it is because it works for our house. Clearly the dealer did, too.

I stopped by the post office yesterday and there was a package waiting for me from Dottie, a reader of this blog. She had written me to say she had something she wanted to send me.

Inside was the most exquisite little mug with a Shakespearean theme.

The design goes all the way around the cup. So beautiful! I will treasure this always, Dottie. Thank you so much!

Okay. I’m off to make a second cup of coffee and, hopefully, recycle and mow a bit – though it might storm today.

Happy Saturday.

 

 

Filed Under: collecting, egg cups, gifts 42 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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