blogging — Page 16

The Tote Bag & Copyrights (Two Completely Different Topics)

March 8, 2015 at 10:12 am by Claudia

You remember my bag, right?

The one that Don gave me for Christmas? The one I’d been seeking for years? The one that would hold all the things that I use when I’m on the road coaching?

3-8 favorite bag

My recent trip into the city to work and coach put it to its first big test and I am happy to report it passed with flying colors.

I’ve found my perfect bag after 30+ years of searching. It’s never too late, my friends.

When I traveled to the city, I had a small rolling suitcase and this bag. That was it. In the bag?

My laptop
My Kindle
My big old fat wallet
A case full of pencils, pens, and a sharpener
A hardback book
A paperback book with maps of Manhattan
A little case with a mirror, some makeup, lipstick
My cellphone
My earbuds and the chargers for my phone, my laptop charger/cords
My little book with all my passwords and blog information
A brush
A comb
Assorted pieces of paper with info for my trip from Manhattan to Brooklyn
Lunch

Yes, it was heavy, but it worked beautifully. This bag is sturdy and well-constructed. It zips closed, which I found extremely helpful on snowy days in Brooklyn. I use it as an everyday bag, too, but the main reason for getting it was my work.

I LOVE IT.

3-8 favorite bag 2

For those of you who missed the initial post about this bag, it’s from Levenger and it’s the St. Tropez Leather Tote Bag. Right now it’s full price, and for me, that’s too pricey. But it does go on sale. Don got it for me when it was on sale for 40% off and I know some of you also purchased it at that time. It was worth every penny. This baby will last for years.

And now, a little warning for those of you who blog. I belong to a group of bloggers who share information and tips and there was a recent post about copyright infringement. One blogger received a legal notice that she was going to be sued for using an image she found on the web that was copyrighted. In other words, she used a photo that someone else owned the copyright to. She didn’t do it on purpose and was in a panic, as I would be in her situation. In the course of the discussion, others stepped forward with legal information and, in some cases, their own horror stories about copyright law.

I don’t know about you, but I see bloggers pulling photos from elsewhere on the web all of the time. That includes Pinterest, by the way. Unless you have permission in writing, you cannot use photos or graphics other than your own. Simply citing a source won’t do it. You have to have clear permission from the source. There are, apparently, people who scour the web looking for these infringements. That’s what they do. And believe me, you don’t want to be on the receiving end of a registered letter informing you of legal action.

That’s why I never use anyone else’s photos on this blog. I don’t grab photos from other sources in order to do a decorating or DIY post, for example. I don’t grab photos from Pinterest for the same reason. Unless you are willing to write the source for each photo and get permission to use that photo and/or have paid for the use of the photo, you should stop using them. You can’t just cite the source and assume that’s enough.

Okay. I just felt it very important to share that information with you. It’s all too easy to think everything we see on the web is free for the taking. It isn’t.

Last night we watched a little of Dr. Strangelove and all of Roman Holiday. Sigh. Two of my favorite movies. And today on TCM? One of my all-time favorites, My Favorite Year. It’s a little gem of a movie with a performance by Peter O’Toole that is exquisite.

Happy Sunday.

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I Can’t Take Another Picture of Snow

February 28, 2015 at 9:01 am by Claudia

2-28 riley dish garden

Here’s the challenge of the blogger in the throes of winter.

Photos.

I stand here in the morning after I’ve had my coffee, holding my camera, searching for something, anything to capture with my lens. Something that you haven’t seen before? Almost impossible after seven years of blogging. A new view of the inside of the cottage? Equally impossible. (Unless I do something like hang upside down while photographing the kitchen…)

For example, you’ve seen Riley’s Dish Garden before. Many times. The plants have changed a bit, but I’d bet money that this particular configuration is the same as the last time I took a photo of it. The morning light makes it look interesting, however, so I’m going with it.

It’s friggin’ cold out there. Unless there’s a great sunset, I’m basically looking at snow. I’ve taken hundreds of photos of snow over the years. It’s white, there’s a lot of it out there and, quite frankly, unless I tromp through the woods, I’m not going to come up with anything new. And maybe not even then. I’m sick of the snow at this point. Don is sick of the snow. Scout is sick of the snow. End of snow story.

And I’m not tromping through the woods.

We’re suffering from cabin fever here. I’d love to take some photos of little green things emerging from the ground, but I don’t think that will be happening for another month, at least.

2-28 Riley Dish Garden 2

I think I need to dust this plant. See the little cobwebs? That’s something that a camera lens can do for you – help you to see tiny details that you might miss otherwise. I cropped this photo into a close-up of the plant and there, right before my eyes…little cobwebs. Edited to add: And dog hair. No mites, don’t worry.

Maybe I should do this with all the areas in my house. It would bring a whole new level of dirt and dust awareness to my cleaning regimen.

Don has a gig tonight. I’m staying home with Miss Scout, who cannot be without either Mom or Dad for any length of time these days. I’ll treat myself to a long soak in the tub, bubble bath included.

We watched the first two episodes of House of Cards last night. We’re wondering if this season will bring the same excitement, brazen behavior and ruthless actions as the first two seasons. So far it doesn’t seem that way, but it’s early on in the 13 episode season, so we are refraining from any conclusions until we see more.

I call the Underwoods (the characters played by Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright) the Macbeths of Washington D.C. Very Shakespearean, this series.

An Octoroon received a rave review from the New York Times. Huzzah! (Don’t look for my name in the credits in the review. I didn’t come on board until the last moments in the process. I am in the program, never fear.) I’m so honored to have been a small part of this incredible production. This play is an important, powerful work. It’s heartbreaking, wildly funny, and tragic. It’s daring and beautifully written. You can read about it in the review, if you’re interested.

Happy Saturday.

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An Anniversary: Seven. On to Eight.

February 17, 2015 at 9:27 am by Claudia

2-17 anniversary

Today I start my 8th year of blogging.

What??

On February 17th, 2008, I cobbled together a very rudimentary template (remember those basic templates on Blogger?) and hit publish. I’m not sure I even had a header, other than the title of this blog. In fact, my first post didn’t have a photo because I hadn’t yet figured out the mechanics of uploading one.

Thanks to a husband who encouraged me to “Just do it!” I ventured out into the fascinating world of the blog. Those were the early days, although there are many pioneer bloggers who have been around for much longer, when the community was smaller. I blogged every few days and the first time someone left a comment was so exciting!

And now, in the blink of an eye, it’s seven years later. I’ve written over 2000 posts. If I was really industrious, I’d try to put together a photo history of all the different headers and designs I’ve used for Mockingbird Hill Cottage. Actually, I think there’s a blogiversary post somewhere in the archives that does just that. So many different looks; many of them came about as the blog platform itself grew, allowing more creativity, more possibilities.

Eventually, my little lamb with the party hat turned into the ‘look’ of MHC; in blogging and/or advertising lingo: the brand. When I moved to WordPress over two and a half years ago, I designed this simple header consisting of the name of the blog and the lamb with the party hat. And there we will stay. That header shows you, the reader, where you’ve landed – at a familiar place, a place where you can stop and linger and chat, if you’re so inclined. I like that consistency. I think it matters.

The blog has always been about our life in the country. That was the original tag line, you know – Life in Our Little Cottage in the Country. Seven years later, I’m still writing about the same things I wrote about at the beginning. And I’ve even started another blog about my love of reading.

I’ve made many friends through this adventure. (That’s what it is, you know, an adventure.) You’ve come to know me. Us. The dogs. My family. You’ve been with me through the everyday, the exciting, and the heartbreaking. You were there all through our journey with Riley, with love and support and prayers. You were there as I struggled with the slow and heartbreaking loss of my mother. You were there when we lost Don’s father and you were there when I mourned the untimely loss of dear friends. You’ve listened to Don’s music, watched us dance on a home video, cheered Don on when he filmed in Prague and read his posts about the experience. You’ve come along when I’ve worked out of town, exploring new places with me. You’ve been big fans of Dame Scout’s posts (when she deigns to write) and she has become sort of the star of the blog. (Sssh! Don’t tell her that.)

You followed me when I moved the blog to WordPress (all by myself) and found a new home that I love. You stuck with me. Without you, there wouldn’t be a blog. Or, at least, the blog wouldn’t have become what it is today. Readers come and go, that’s the nature of blogging. A few of you have been with me since the very beginning – isn’t that amazing? Whether you are a longtime reader or a newish reader, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I can’t imagine life without you.

Writing this blog has been, and continues to be, sheer pleasure. There’s simply no way I can adequately find words to say what it has meant to me. It’s changed my life. It’s that simple. I sit here, writing this post, and can’t imagine life without it. Someday I may decide to stop. Who knows? But for now, I move on to year number eight.

Happy Tuesday.

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The Tote Bag & Copyrights (Two Completely Different Topics)

I Can’t Take Another Picture of Snow

An Anniversary: Seven. On to Eight.

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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