Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

  • About MHC
    • Disclosure
  • Dollhouses/Minis
    • Hummingbird Cottage
    • The Studio (Formerly TSP)
    • Dove Cottage
    • The Lake House
    • The Folk Art Dollhouse
    • The Modern Dollhouse
    • Dollhouse Source List, Information and Tutorials
  • On the Road
  • Collecting
    • Roseville Pottery
    • McCoy Pottery
    • Egg Cups
    • Bakelite
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
You are here: Home / Archives for Blythe dolls

Lilac Buds and What are you Reading?

April 22, 2023 at 9:25 am by Claudia

We’re getting close! There are lots of flowers on the lilac bush this year. That seems to vary from year to year, depending on what happened weather-wise during the winter. I look forward to them opening and inhaling that glorious scent.

I snuck in a little bit more work outside, but not much. Trimmed some old hydrangea blossoms, trimmed a bit of one of the ‘pricker bushes’ – darn, I always prick myself. “Pricker bush” is what we called them when I was a kid and it’s stuck after all these years. We have two of them. I also trimmed a few of the wild roses. And I cleaned the bathroom.

It was a bit too warm yesterday, but as of Monday, the temps will be back in the sixties. We may mow the lawn today. I also have to get Don to do a few things today that he won’t be able to do after his surgery. Wish me luck! He’s been noodling away on his ukulele, since he can play that by strumming with one of his fingers – that will serve him well during the post-surgery healing process.

Mabel insisted on trying on the new hat. I also chose to post this so you can see the GREEN in the background! Huzzah!

I’m reading Colson Whitehead’s mystery, Harlem Shuffle. That man writes beautifully (I guess we already knew that as he’s won two Pulitzer Prizes.) Don has read two of his books and loved them. He bought Harlem Shuffle  and then never got around to it, so I grabbed it. I’m really enjoying it.

And War and Peace – ongoing. I think we’re about a third of the way through it. Tolstoy was a genius. Don and I are continually astounded by the beauty of his writing; his knowledge of human frailties, the descriptions that are almost cinematic – brilliant. It is a true pleasure indulging in this slow read. I don’t think I would have done it otherwise.

So here’s a question I haven’t asked for quite a while: What are you reading?

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

Filed Under: Blythe dolls, books, flowers, reading 45 Comments

A Glimpse of Spring

April 16, 2023 at 9:10 am by Claudia

Sophie seeing sunlight for the first time in months. She looks rather stunned.

Well, I ventured outside for a bit yesterday to start cleaning up some of the garden – mostly pruning. But I was shocked by how quickly I got tired. My arms felt very weak, as well. That’s why I know I’m not completely over this crud. In some ways, I’m much better, but I clearly cannot rush the recovery process. I saw a post from a friend of ours in California who said that she and her family have had ‘upper respiratory crud’ for weeks.

We are both so sick of this.

But I did get a wee bit of work done. I guess, after I’m finished with the show, I’ll just do a bit every day – not too much, but enough to start to make a dent in the garden clean up. While I was out there, I had the chance to really look around me and I was shocked at how far along new growth is! I’ve missed a lot of it due to work and illness. There are leaves on the hydrangeas, the clematis has grown and filled out without my knowing it, the rose bush is leafed out – and that’s just what I could see from the porch. A sight for sore eyes.

Today, per orders from my husband, I’m taking it easy. I have a two hour drive to NJ on Tuesday and a return trip the next day. I want to make sure I feel fit enough for that journey.

Big news: Yesterday afternoon, around 3 or 4, Don’s cell phone rang. It was Adrian. Oh, what a blessing it was to hear his voice! It’s very weak but he talked about post transplant – or what he can remember of that time. At one point, his brother heard him quoting from Shakespeare. I’m not sure when this occurred in the aftermath of the surgery. He just shared bits of things with us and he didn’t talk long because he was very tired. But we told him we love him and that we are praying for him all the time.

It’s funny; as I heard Don’s phone ring, I had the strongest feeling it was Adrian. Then I heard Don gently say, “Adrian?”

What a blessing that call was.

We’re due for rain, heavy rain, tomorrow. And much colder temperatures.

Just saw two wild turkeys by the kitchen door. Beautiful.

Stay safe.

Happy Sunday.

 

Filed Under: Blythe dolls, garden, Sophie 22 Comments

Edging Around the Corner and Adrian

April 15, 2023 at 8:37 am by Claudia

Well, the heat has left us, thank goodness. 90 degrees in mid-April is too much! We are due for rain for the next 3 days, and much cooler temperatures. Only in the fifties on Tuesday.

We stayed indoors yesterday and it did make a difference. We’re edging around the corner with this ‘crud’ but both of us still cough off and on and I’m still congested – though that may be due to allergies, it’s hard to tell.

Good news about Adrian: he took a walk yesterday, many of the tubes (one in his stomach, one in his nose) have been removed. He passed the ‘swallow test’ yesterday so he can start eating food, and he’s more alert and talkative. What a great news bulletin that was! It’s been less than a week since the heart transplant. We’re overjoyed!

The trees are budding, little green leaves are appearing. I’m sure the heat sped up that process. Birds are singing like crazy – the joys of spring. Now, if I can just get out there and do something soon. There is much cleanup ahead and I haven’t bought one flower for my pots. I feel way behind, but working and being very sick have slowed me up.

A new outfit arrived in the mail the other day and I realized that I had always envisioned Maeve as the perfect girl to model it.

I can’t get over how cute this is! It’s by La Petite Pamplemousse on Etsy/Wir’s Mom. I have a couple of her dresses and she makes the most beautiful clothes. And, she lives in California. She made the beret, too. Best of all, her clothes are very reasonably priced.

Love the flowery pants (I’ve had a pair or two like that) and the wonderful jacket. It also came with a little knitted scarf. I love Maeve in hats of any kind. That fiery red bob works well with a hat.

(I’m running out of shoes. With so many girls, I’m going to have to order some more.)

Finished Underland  yesterday. Read a chapter of War and Peace.

Tonight, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel  is back!

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

 

Filed Under: Blythe dolls 10 Comments

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 35
  • 36
  • 37
  • 38
  • 39
  • …
  • 102
  • Next Page »
  • Email
  • Instagram

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.

Thanks for stopping by.

Searching?

The Dogs

The Dogs

Scout & Riley. Riley left us in 2012. Scout left us in February 2016. Dearest babies. Dearest friends.

Winston - Our first dog. We miss you, sweetheart.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

Thanks for visiting! Feel free to browse, read and enjoy. All content is my own; including photos and text. Please do not use anything on this site without permission.

Disclosure/Privacy Policy can be found in the Navigation Bar under ‘About MHC.’

Also, I love receiving comments! I do, however, reserve the right to delete any comment that is in poor taste, offensive or is verging on spam. It’s my blog. If you’re a bot or a troll you’ll be blocked. Thanks!

Archives

All Content © 2008 - 2026 Mockingbird Hill Cottage · Log in