I’ve been sticking close to home while the remnants of this ‘whatever-it-is’ are still hanging around. I’m finally feeling stronger and have more energy, so I was looking forward to getting out and running some errands yesterday. Don left the house first, then about 10 minutes later, I went out the door, only to find that the battery on my car had died. It was unbelievably cold out and I tried and tried, but I finally went back inside and texted Don and then called our emergency road service. About an hour after that, a guy arrived who jumped started the battery and then I spent the next hour at Mavis Discount Tire (about two miles from our house) where they replaced the battery.
Curses! Since my dad gave us this car, I had no idea how old the battery was, so my instinct was to just get a new one and then the guys at the shop confirmed it was bad, so now it’s a done deal.
A day spent on car problems is never a fulfilling day.
More pictures of Caroline’s abode. There are some pine boughs on the cabinet by the door.
Another view of the den.
Caroline drinks her coffee in bed.
Caroline’s new shoes, some macarons from Ladurée, and some Jane Austen.
One of the very first pieces that I purchased for the dollhouse. The wood was dark and shiny, like a lot of dollhouse furniture out there and the cushions were white satin. I painted and aged it, and then I reupholstered the cushions.
For those of you who are newer readers, this was a rescue dollhouse. I bought it for $30 and it was in pretty bad shape. It had been assembled incorrectly and there was water damage on the bottom floors. I rehabbed the whole structure inside and out and then proceeded to decorate it. It took about six years. I didn’t rush it and it was a sharp learning curve, but I really enjoyed the whole process. And so many of the pieces came from friends and blog readers. It’s a true labor of love.
Anyway, if you’re new and you’re curious, there’s a dollhouse category on the navigation bar just under the title of this blog. You can click that and read the whole story. I’ve also built and decorated a house for Don (his mini studio) which I gave him on his 65th birthday. And I’m starting, but just barely, a modern structure.
We watched one of my favorite movies ever last night – The Shop Around the Corner, starring Jimmy Stewart, Margaret Sullavan, Frank Morgan and a host of great character actors. I can’t begin to estimate how many times I’ve seen it, but let’s just say I know every inch of it. Then we got caught up in the next movie, Holiday Affair, starring a young Janet Leigh and Robert Mitchum and Wendell Corey. The real star, to Don and me, was the young boy who played her son. He was incredible – such a natural screen presence!
We couldn’t get over how honest and charming his work was. So, after the movie, I googled his name – Gordon Gebert – and found out that he had gone to become an architect and has taught architecture at City College in New York for years. He’s married to a professor at Vassar, and lives just across the river from us in Poughkeepsie! Go figure! It’s so nice to read about a child actor who grew into a well adjusted adult. If you haven’t seen this movie, you should watch it someday just to see his performance.
Okay. Have to go and run those darned errands!
Happy Saturday.
Car trouble is never fun but at least you were able to get the battery. I love Caroline’s house and her fun accessories. Today I’m going to wrap some presents and make sure I have everything I want to get for the Grands and family. It’s cold so staying inside with coffee first and maybe hot cocoa later sounds like the perfect day. Some Christmas carols and lights on the tree. I hope your errands go smoothly, I’m trying to stay out of the stores this weekend! Hugs!
Have a great day. I have to go out as we need a humidifier – the one we had died.
“Holiday Affair” is one of my favorites, and I zipped through it just last night for my favorite scenes. It’s on again this coming week. Wendell Corey is someone we don’t see enough of. Agree that Gordon Gebert steals the show. “The Shop Around the Corner” is another favorite, and it’s waiting for me in the recordings. My old friend Sara Haden is in it too as well as another great character actor, Felix Bressart. Glad you’re back on the road with the new battery.
Felix Bressart is a favorite of both of us. He’s so charming in that movie. ‘She’s dunking.’
I love the way he flees when he hears, “I want your honest opinion.”
I know! We laugh every time!
We watched Shop Around the Corner as well! My mother, who is 92, is currently living with us and she said it was the first time she had ever seen it. We were all enchanted. But then, what’s not to love about Jimmy Stewart? We are taking Mother to a special exhibit of the Nutcracker in the Paine Art Museum in Oshkosh, WI, today. We are ready to get out of the house and do something fun besides going on doctor visits!! Have a good weekend, Claudia, and I hope you are soon back to 100%!
It is an enchanting movie. I truly love it. Hope you have fun at the exhibit, Martha!
This time of year, when plans get foiled by car malfunctions, about the only thing you can do is roll with it. I really hope Caroline liked the Christmas decorations…they are charming. I’ve never seen either of the movies you mentioned…unless I was too little to remember….guess I should look them up! Hope your errands go well…I try and avoid weekend errands as a general rule if I can….too many people. Glad to hear you are feeling better! ;)
You must see it. It’s a classic! I ended up staying home because I didn’t want to deal with the crowds. I’ll do everything on Monday.
I’ll be sure to add it to my list. I just finished decorating the tree…yippee! ;)
xo
I hate dealing with the evil necessity of car maintenance and repair! Today, I’m baking two kinds of crackers for a small dinner party at a friend’s home tomorrow. I haven’t baked crackers in over 40 years, so this ought to be interesting…. glad you’re getting back to 100%, Claudia!
Have fun baking the crackers, Wendy!
I love”The Shop Around the Corner” too. I should get it on DVD – THAT’S how much I like it. But then I might play it year-round, and it would be spoiled for me – because half the fun of Christmas movies is the waiting-for-them part. The anticipation is the thing! I love that scene where Mr Maduchek [sp?] is inviting the new errand boy for Christmas Eve dinner – and he goes through the whole menu! Mouth-watering! Makes me want to invite myself along. I never knew you “rehabbed” Caroline’s house when you got it – that’s great. I’ll have to go read about that part. I love seeing old things made beautiful and useful again. “This Old Dollhouse” huh? Oh and yes, it IS great hearing about a child actor that ended up doing well in adulthood. No bank robberies, no drugs etc. Sounds like in Gordon’s case, it really was his decision to act or not. In most cases when the kids go off the tracks, I suspect stage parents play a major role – which is criminal, because I thought parents were supposed to LOVE their kids. Why would anyone force a child to do something like that? I think we can all agree, it’s not the same as eating their vegetables. Anyway, good for Gordon! I bet he LOVES being an architect. I never met an architect who didn’t. Have a fun Saturday! Peace.🛍
#Resist
I do have it on DVD. But there’s something special about watching it on TCM. And they do air it several times throughout the year.
Sounds like Gordon had sane parents. I watched an interview with him on YouTube today – he was the guest at a special screening of the movie and he’s lovely. Charming, right-sized, just a gem.
It’s indeed gratifying when we learn over time that not all child actors from our youth went down a bad road. Thinking of Ron Howard who’s become such a famed director…
Speaking of roads, so sorry for all the car problems and having to be driving so far away for repair. I think cars are such a nuisance waste of money and that people who pay so much money for them (just for show?) are misguided but, you know, my husband loves cars and if he was wealthy, he’d have a fleet of ’em. Give me my dear muscle car from the early 70s and I’m a happy girl; she sits in offsite storage right now and we try to give her a spin twice a month, for now, until we can have a proper garage for her. Have had her 43 years. Runs like a top.
If you never added one more thing to Hummingbird Cottage, it’s perfect and Caroline wants you to know that!
I didn’t have to drive far away – it’s just down the road from us.
Thanks, Vicki!
Oh. I guess I misread; I thought it was two hours!
yeah, 2 miles not 2 hrs; btw, I went over to your i/gram and I love those wide shots of Stella; could that range look any more perfect as if it was custom manufactured just for you (albeit back in the day, her future still to come) to be right there in your kitchen in 2017…you two chose so well and it’s so suited to the cottage…she is beeuuutiffful.
She is. We really love her and have absolutely no regrets about buying her.
xo
Since I’m relatively new here, I did not know the dollhouse history. How wonderful you were able to rehab it. You should have your own “tiny house living” show on HGTV. I’d watch it :-) And that little chair – well, it’s simply gorgeous!
Thank you, Kay!
Car problems are such a pain….I believe I would like to watch those two movies…I may have seen them when I was younger as I watched a lot of movies when I was a kid…When your errands are done you should enjoy a nice cup of hot cocoa to warm up…
Thanks, Nancy!
I bet Caroline was speechless when she got home!! The whole house decorated. A dream come true.
My personal philosophy re:car batteries is we get a new one for our vehicles every 5 years. If it dies before that, of course we would replace it, but so far that has never happened. Another one of my little foibles out in the open!!
I’m glad you decided to stay home today. Not only are the crowds awful, but the sneezing and coughing going on makes me a little nuts, too. Such a busy time of year, and I remember being a FT working Mom who only had weekends to get it done. I vowed then that I would stay out of the stores when and if I ever had the option and not add to the congestion of the aisles and check-out lines. But sometimes you just have to head into it!! Glad you could wait until Monday!
We have a Christmas party to attend tonight. All I have to bring is a large tossed salad. Pretty easy! Hope you have a good Saturday! Singin’ in the Rain is on tonight!!!!
Of course, I have no idea how old the battery was, so… But now, I’ll know.
Online shopping sure helps, doesn’t it? Nevertheless I do have to visit the stores, so this coming week I’ll be doing just that.
Loved those movies, as well. But weren’t there multiple versions of The Shop Around the Corner? I remember one with Judy Garland and Van Johnson and it seems like there was another, too, maybe? Or maybe I dreamed it. Currently practicing my hermit routine, staying out of stores and accomplishing very little. And I’m okay with it.
Yes. In the Good Old Summertime is one version. The Broadway musical She Loves Me is another and the third is You’ve Got Mail. All variations on the same story. Love them all, but I think the original is still the best.
Sorry about your car troubles. It is refreshing to hear of a child actor who turned out happy and successful. Angela Cartwright is another one,she is a successful artist with a studio. Have a great week end.
Marilyn
You too, Marilyn!
Holiday affair is my favorite Christmas movie! I plan on watching the dvd tomorrow. Caroline is a very lucky girl.
Have fun watching it, April!
I own DVD of Shop Around the Corner, but if I catch it on TCM, I watch it. My fav part is the scene with the owner inviting the young employee to Christmas Eve dinner. They’re both so elated to share it & not be alone after all. I never miss Holiday Affair either. Brings me back to the way it was in the 50’s in dept stores. Old black & white movies are the best: Bette Davis, Barbara Stanwyck, Jimmie Stewart, Fred McMurray…………
Same here. I own it, but somehow it’s better when I come upon it on TCM. I love the actor who plays that young boy, Rudy. He is so sweet in that role.