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You are here: Home / Beacon Hill Dollhouse / Catching Up

Catching Up

August 5, 2026 at 9:01 am by Claudia

There is much to catch up on and I’ll tackle it at the beginning of the post. First, the malware has been removed. It is hard for the security company to access my blog now because my host has enabled two-factor identification and they log on from another location, so they don’t always get the code sent by my host. That was the most frustrating thing and, apparently, it’s frustrating for a lot of customers. Anyway, one of the techs finally got on (I don’t know how he did it) and removed the malware. Hurrah! Hopefully, we’re back to normal.

I do not plan to move on from this space on the internet until my contract runs out. Or, until something else happens that turns out to be the last straw. Hopefully, that won’t happen. This blog will keep running for the time being. And I will be writing on Substack, as well. I’m not sure how I’ll do it. I want to write posts that are particular to each space. Substack will be something a bit different, but I have only written the one post and there is much I have to learn about using Substack. It’s the perfect backup space and, when next June rolls around and the blog is no more, I will use that space to write and post and share with you.

I’m rather exhausted at the moment. The stress of the blog being hacked, working on the Beacon Hill, mowing and weed whacking yesterday and  a stuffed-up head from all that work outside means I’m moving very slowly today.

I keep forgetting to tell you that Joe is home. Such happy news! He’s been home over a week and he’s so happy to be there. Outpatient therapy begins on August 7th. He has to use a walker and the movement of his right leg has been impacted by the hematoma. They can’t do anything about the hematoma. They just have to wait it out.

The back of the big garden bed:

It’s just gorgeous out there.

I laid another floor in the Beacon Hill the day before yesterday. (It takes forever.)

In the den. I still have to “floor” the 3rd floor landing, and the little art studio. And the bathroom.

The modern sofa I showed you the other day is too dark for this space. Since there are pink flowers in the wallpaper, I borrowed this sofa from the Folk Art Dollhouse. You will note that I use the same sofa in Hummingbird Cottage – also in the den.

I love these little loveseats. I have at least three of them. When I first started in this hobby, I got them from a retailer, who also sold easy chairs in the same style. Now? I cannot find them. I think the original manufacturer must have stopped producing them. I haunt the pages of eBay looking for more. And I really concentrate on searching for the easy chairs because they are so much less expensive than others I’ve seen. There is no identification mark on the pieces, unfortunately.

It looks kind of nice in this space, doesn’t it. But that means I would have to find a replacement sofa for the Folk Art Dollhouse.

Yesterday, I put together a cabinet from a House of Miniatures kit.

I have one of these cabinets in Hummingbird Cottage, as well. I’m going to buy a few more. They’re really meant to be the top half of that desk that I made a couple of years ago. But they work so well on their own. This one will hang in the kitchen. It’s filled with plastic ‘jadeite’ that I found at Michael’s several years ago.

Okay. This is a long post. Thank you so much for hanging in there with me, for your support, for being you.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

Filed Under: Beacon Hill Dollhouse, blog 6 Comments

Comments

  1. kathy in iowa says

    August 5, 2026 at 9:46 am

    that’s very good news about the malware removal … whew!

    and that’s great news about joe making more progress, being home … thanking God!

    i like what you’re doing for the beacon hill, too.

    walked at a mall this morning, not due to rain but because of thunder and lightning. i detest walking in the mall, feeling like a hamster on a wheel and being unable to avoid the greasy smell from the pretzel shop (that’s not even open when we walk) and concrete/other dust from construction on some empty storefronts. still, i am grateful to be able to walk, especially with my sister, and to have a safer place to walk when weather requires it.

    and that we fed earl and the birds, are home now and it’s raining quite steadily (when i’m awake to enjoy it!) with occasional thunder.

    happy, safe wednesday to you, don and everyone else.

    kathy

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      August 5, 2026 at 2:47 pm

      I’m amazed that you have a mall! So many of them are disappearing. When malls first became a thing in the late 60s and early 70s, I thought they were wonderful! My friend Jackie and I used to go there all the time and we loved to hang out and, of course, buy clothes. But now, and for the past several years, I cannot bear to be in a mall. I’m glad you have that space in which to walk if the weather dictates, but I know you prefer being outside.

      Stay safe, Kathy.

      Reply
  2. jeanie says

    August 5, 2026 at 9:55 am

    First of all, love your new cabinet and the cute jadeite! And GREAT news about Joe! I’m glad you’re sticking here for awhile but I’m subscribed to the other so will look for anything you post.

    Thought of you this week as I was doing a Playbill covers poster (series 5 — they have a bunch.) It was great fun to do and initially, easy, pulling together the covers. Then it came time to put in all the Playbill titles — lots of yellow, black and white! And, like other puzzles, some pieces fit perfectly in more than one spot. Or almost perfectly! Two of us were working on it and it was a good team. Next puzzle I’m on my own!

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      August 5, 2026 at 2:44 pm

      That would be a fun puzzle to put together!

      You’re at the cottage, right?

      Stay safe, Jeanie.

      Reply
  3. Irene dykstra says

    August 5, 2026 at 12:07 pm

    Morning, it’s 9:00 am and I was so eager for your post. No Bible yet. My pastor gave me a really cool book for a 6 year read. It’s got all kinds of readings for each day. It’s really nice. So glad about keeping your blog for now.

    I’ve terribly depressed. Was under my bed covers yesterday, sobbing. The sadness I have now just doesn’t seem to want to lift. I wish that I knew how to reset the chemicals in my brain.

    It’s a sunny day. So far, we’ve not had dust storms (lots of wind though), nor prairie fires. BC is burning. There are lots of family there, who’ve migrated to that province.

    I’m so sorry that you have to suffer with allergies and all, all of the time, Claudia. What a drag for you. It’s too lush there. I’d probably be allergic in New York! Must be beautiful out there. We could trade for a bit, how about it?

    Very happy Joe is home! My uncle was our church organist for just under 70 years. He had to take organ lessons at the beginning. He’d do this slide onto the bench, hah. Piano is fine but clangy (spelI); I had so many migraines. Up so late Saturday nights, babysitting, and then out with my boyfriend and his band, later. Sundays came early for me.

    Beautiful photo, that first one. Reminds me of a summer visit to Ontario.

    I have read lots of Rumi Kaur

    Put your thoughts to sleep
    do not let them cast a
    shadow over the moon]
    of your heart. Let go of thinking.

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      August 5, 2026 at 2:43 pm

      I’m sorry you’re going through so much right now, Irene. You are in my thoughts and I trust that things will get better for you soon.

      Thank you.

      Stay safe.

      Reply
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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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