
It is impossibly beautiful out there. The light, the leaves changing, evidence of migrating bird activity in the birdbath – all of it is wonderful and magical.

A rather impressionistic look at the porch.
I’ve been working on a new puzzle, doing laundry, mowing part of the front lawn, feeling my nesting instincts kick into overdrive, with sneaky little thoughts of Christmas sometimes breaking through. I’m glad my jigsaw puzzle mojo has returned, as I really love working on them, and it is the best meditative process for me. Everything slows down, and my focus is on the puzzle. Everything else is eliminated for the time being. And I love the process, so I’m not at all interested in trying to speed it up.
The bookshelves in the Beacon Hill: I have now painted them 6 times. – three coats of pink, two of red, but I didn’t like that red which had a metallic quality, so yesterday I painted two more coats of another red with a bit of black mixed in.
And this is the final look.


I grabbed some books from Hummingbird Cottage, but the paint had just dried so I didn’t dare put them on the shelves. I’m going to have to make a LOT of books. That will be a good winter activity.
What else would I like besides books? Art on the walls, some pottery on the shelves, a jigsaw puzzle on a coffee table, a turntable, a stack of sheet music on the piano – maybe an ottoman for the chair – reading lamps, a rug, A plant or two.
In my experience, it’s all the little accessories and details that take the most time and the most money! So I can’t rush this, simply because I have a nonexistent budget. But then again, it’s fun scouting for bargains. So far, a lot of the things in this house I had already, assembled from a kit that I had in my stash, or reworked in some way. That was my vow when I took on the Beacon Hill: to make, reuse, and rehab.
Okay, my friends.
Stay safe.
Happy Monday.


It’s gorgeous in your world, inside and out. I’m so glad you painted the cabinet red. It’s perfect there. Can’t wait to see it with all the accessories but it’s looking fantastic!
Thanks so much, Jeanie!
Are you back home from the cottage?
Stay safe.
That bookshelf looks great now. I’m enjoying the colors and cooler temps of Fall, too.
Take care, Claudia.
Oh, isn’t it heaven?
Thanks so much, Ellen.
Stay safe.
Good Morning Claudia! Love those big not-too-red bookcases! The subtle darkening is just right! Finishing the decor details is always difficult for me. I Love the big parts… building things…… and I also Love making tiny stuff… but knowing just exactly what sort of small “fillers” are needed is not my strong suit! I end up decorating totally haphazardly ….which looks like “well lived in” or just messy not finished anything! Lol! Your theater experience has probably contributed to your eye for “staging” a scene…. even if it is just a dollhouse venue! I look forward to seeing the fine details emerge over time! Are you planning to have cornice and baseboards in this room? I know the more modern clean lined decors don’t bother… just curious!
And yes, the fall colors are being brilliant this year! (We needed something cheerful… thank you Mother Nature!)
Not cornice, because I’m not very good at cutting cornice. Baseboards, yes. Maybe a strip of wood as a finished between the ceiling and walls – I’ve done that before. I’m just putting it off!
Thanks so much, Betsy.
Stay safe.