books — Page 161

Don’s Very Own Nirvana and Other Things

October 8, 2015 at 9:14 am by Claudia

Because miniatures are fun and moving them around is just like playing house when you were a kid:

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I call this: Don’s Very Own Nirvana.

This chair, a guitar, and all things Beatles? Heaven for my husband.

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Oooh, setting up this studio is going to be a lot of fun!

Last night, we were watching Frasier and he remarked on the furniture in Frasier’s apartment, saying that he’d read all of the pieces were made by famous designers. I said that the recliner was an Eames chair. He had no idea about the designer’s name, but I could tell he liked it.

He also has no idea that he’s getting his own Eames chair – albeit, in miniature.

It’s been sunny and warmish around here; simply beautiful fall weather.

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My girl enjoying the sun.

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A bee savoring the wildflowers that are all over the property at the moment.

I forgot to share two items that were in the box of minis that Barbara sent to me.

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Two games. Aren’t they great?

I think some lawn mowing is on the docket for the day. It’s grown pretty long from all the rain we had about a week ago. I’m halfway through Her Final Breath by Robert Dugoni. I reviewed the first book in this excellent series here on the blog. This is the second.

I also stopped by my local library yesterday and brought home four books. There’s always a little pressure when I check out library books – especially if they’re new and have a limited checkout time. Oh boy. One of them is All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. I’ve heard nothing but wonderful things about this book, so I figured it was high time I took a stab at it.

Happy Thursday.

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Morning Glories I Have Known (If Only For A Day)

October 1, 2015 at 9:59 am by Claudia

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It’s cold and blustery today and I find myself saying to Mother Nature: “No early frost, please!” I’m not ready to say goodbye to these beauties or to the zinnias that keep blooming.

I’m not ready to haul all the porch plants inside for the night in case there might be a frost.

Nope. It’s only October 1st. There’s a hurricane headed up the coast and we’re due for a lot of rain. But no frost, okay?

Good. I’m glad we’ve got that sorted out.

I’ve just finished reading A Song of Shadows by John Connolly. I’m reviewing it on Just Let Me Finish This Page today. Here is the link. Connolly is an incredible writer. Over the past year, after having read The Wolf in Winter, I’ve gone back and read all of his books in order. Now, I’ve become yet another Connolly fan who has to wait a year for the next book to come out. Sob. He’s going to be signing this book at The Mysterious Bookshop next week and I’d love to meet him, but I don’t think that little trip is in the cards for me.

Now, I’m reading Mrs. Pargeter’s Principle by Simon Brett. I’ve read all of the books in his Charles Paris series, but this is my first crack at the Mrs. Pargeter series. As always with Brett, the mystery is very well written and I find myself chuckling throughout the book. He’s very, very witty.

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(Photo courtesy of Atomic Disc)

This is currently speeding its way to us via Federal Express. Don is so excited! I have to tell you that I’ve listened to all of the mastered tracks and it’s truly excellent, by far the best recording Don has made. He and Dan sound great together. Rick Gedney, the producer, recorded and mixed it in his studio (all of the tracks were recorded in one day.) Atomic Disc mastered the tracks and put it all together in this package.

It will be available as an MP3 for download or as you see it above, a CD that you can hold in your hands and play on your CD player. I’ll have more information available next week.

We’re very excited. This means a great deal to Don and Dan. And to me. They’re having a CD Release Party at our local venue on October 17th, where Don and Dan will perform, along with several other musician friends.

All of the songs were written by Don.

I’m so proud of that husband of mine.

Happy Thursday.

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Baseboards and Zinnias

September 27, 2015 at 9:38 am by Claudia

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The zinnias are putting on an early autumn show. They just keep blooming. Along with the morning glories, they provide lots of beautiful flowery color even as the leaves turn yellow and the morning temperatures turn very cool.

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They make me smile.

Yesterday, I once again seized on a window of Don-free time to do some work on the Top Secret Project.

Don: You know the drill.

Baseboards in hand, it was time for me to try a mitered corner.

I didn’t use mitered corners in Hummingbird Cottage, though now, after having done it, I wish I had.

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I used this aluminum miter box that comes with a blade and handle. I’d ordered it a few months back from HBS/miniatures.com

I admit to getting confused about which angle goes where in a mitered corner, so I googled the whole thing and found this wonderful tutorial, ‘Mitering 101’ from Miniature Designs. It made the whole process easy as pie. Thank you!

By the way, I made a cover for that sharp blade.

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I used a cardboard express mail envelope.

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Baseboard.

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Mitered corner.

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Baseboard with table and dog.

It looks so nice!

When I put furniture in this room, I realize that it’s quite a big space. That’s why, I’m sure, some of the miniaturists working on the Creatin’ Contest are creating rooms within the space. I thought about doing that; for example, adding a bathroom. But I think I’m going to keep it open and studio-like. If mini Don has to go to the bathroom, he can hike up to the house.

I do have lots of ideas for the space, including a counter-high refrigerator and a counter top with a coffeemaker, a lounging area with the Eames chair, a coffee table and a sofa, a stereo and lots of record albums, an area with recording equipment, speakers, a computer screen, stools, musical instruments, maybe an electronic keyboard and/or an upright piano and a floor microphone. There would be a rug or two on the floor for acoustic purposes. There will be framed posters and artwork.

And a retro fireplace like the ones you see in older A-frame and mid-century modern homes. I’ve found a tutorial for it and that is my next project.

I’ll try to make a floor plan in the next few days, so you can see what I have in mind – though I’m not really sure what will go where.

So far…I’ve got the Eames chair and the baseball cards and record album Barbara sent to me.

Oh, what fun it will be!

I’ve just finished Pop Goes the Weasel by M. J. Arlidge (who wrote Eeny Meeny, a book I reviewed previously) and there is a review on Just Let Me Finish This Page today.

Now I’ve started A Song of Shadows, John Connolly’s newest Charlie Parker mystery, which is being published on Tuesday. He’s a wonderful writer and I’ve now read every book in the series, except for this one.

I’ve read nine books this month. My new early morning reading regimen is paying off!

Happy Sunday.

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Don’s Very Own Nirvana and Other Things

Morning Glories I Have Known (If Only For A Day)

Baseboards and Zinnias

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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