Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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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 14 Comments

I’ve Had It

August 3, 2026 at 8:00 am by Claudia

I’m writing this post on Sunday afternoon because I’ve had it with the delay in dealing with the malware. Bluehost thinks the malware was removed, Sucuri still sees it on a scan. Trying to get consistent support from Sucuri is maddening. It’s been 3 days and I still don’t know for sure whether the malware is gone or not. Scream!

And because my host now has 2-step verification, Sucuri can’t get on the blog without a code – which is sent to me or is never sent. One code was sent to me today and I immediately signed on to Sucuri and entered the code in the malware removal chat but by the time the technician got it, it had expired. And then another technician took over and I said, Are you kidding me? I have to explain all of this again? And now it’s four hours later and I’ve heard nothing.

So I’m taking some steps. I’ve been thinking about this for a while. I’m starting a ‘version’ on the blog on Substack because I can no longer handle these hacker issues. I never could, really, but now? It’s impossible. The blog itself doesn’t expire until next June, but I want a backup because at any time, I might pull the plug. Also, it could continue past next June but on a ‘whenever I want to post, I will post’ schedule.

Substack Link.

Hopefully, I’ll be back with you on Wednesday with problems solved.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Filed Under: blog 16 Comments

We Can Chat Again

March 26, 2025 at 8:18 am by Claudia

Some of you noticed that comments are working again. Thanks for leaving your comments, which helped to confirm that. By the way, I forgot to turn the comment replies back on before I answered you. But it’s back on now.

I was working with my security company on another ongoing issue; the fact that they couldn’t back up the database, which they do on a daily basis. I won’t go into details, but they were finally able to get into the database and fix that issue. They sent a message saying it was working again and that a backup had been successful. So, I figured I’d try leaving a comment and much to my surprise, it worked. I tried another one, and again, it worked. Then I started to see some comments from some of you. When I discussed this with the tech, he tended to think the issues weren’t related and it was a coincidence, so I guess there’s a chance that comments might disappear again. But I think they were related.

It’s been such a long slog, full of worry and frustration. I’m grateful we can have conversations again.

As to the blog and the future, I’m not sure yet. I have to renew with my host in June and frankly, I’m wondering if I should add something like a tip jar here. I’m not entirely comfortable with that, but I’m thinking about it.

Both Don and I work so hard to stay positive, but it’s been very hard to stay in that place lately. And it’s still a bit cold and gray outside. Next week should be better. I was all set to go outside yesterday and start a bit of cleanup but, as seems to be the rule around here lately, the wind really kicked up and that was that.

March: you’ve been a dismal month.

Grocery shopping is on the docket today. I have to get my car inspected tomorrow. Exciting, right?

Just trying to breathe, stay in the moment, and stay hopeful.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

 

 

Filed Under: blog 36 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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