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 books

Reading and Music

March 29, 2022 at 8:46 am by Claudia

Part of the daily view around here – either in the chair or on the piano bench or on the sofa.

I like it.

My sister sent me a huge box of my grandmother’s sheet music – a lot more than I expected! I haven’t opened it yet. I’m wondering where this was stored over the years. I don’t remember seeing it and I’m the one who took lessons and inherited her piano. Maybe it was in storage at her house? Anyway, this morning I’m going to open it and tomorrow I’ll share what I found with you.

Maybe it will inspire me to get the piano tuned. It needs it – I know that because I played a bit the other day and cringed at the sound.

It’s sunny today and really, really cold. I’m sorry, isn’t it almost April 1st? For the last couple of nights we haven’t heard the peepers. They don’t call out when it’s this cold. Though I did hear the bullfrog. Another cold night tonight and then it should gradually get warmer. Can we stay in spring now?

I started reading this beautiful novel yesterday. I purchased it on a visit to Books are Magic in the Cobble Hill section of Brooklyn. It’s on the shorter side – 278 pages long – and I’m already entranced. As you know, I love Powers’ writing. He has the ability to talk very technically about the universe, or nature, or space, or mathematics and science, or music and make sense  of it – especially to this reader. He manages to do all of that and write a work of fiction with beautifully written characters and an engaging plot.

I find his mind utterly fascinating.

My back is getting better. It’s at its worst first thing in the morning but I am recovering from the initial pain much more quickly and the rest of the day I feel fine. I’m still careful, of course. For example, I want to start painting in oils again and the best place, really the only place, to do that is at the kitchen table. I want to bring my easel downstairs, along with all my supplies. But first, I have to add pillows to the chair so that I can use the easel without aggravating my back.

It’s cold today, too cold to work outside (which I probably wouldn’t do anyway) and, though I’m reading a lot these days, I need to do something else – like painting. Egg cup? If so, which one? I’m pondering.

I’ve closed comments  and deleted yesterday’s post. I got a comment from someone that’s never been here before accusing me of being racist, which couldn’t be further from the truth. If my husband, who is white, had done that, I would have said the same thing. If anyone of any ethnicity or race or color had done that, I would have said the same thing. I know and have witnessed that same kind of violence in white men and have spoken out about it on this blog. I have no patience for people who don’t know me, but have no problem attacking me based on my having an opinion that never once mentioned his color. It wasn’t about that. I don’t need trolls coming after me.

Anyway, we will now move on.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

Filed Under: books, Grandma, music 33 Comments

What are You Reading?

March 26, 2022 at 9:42 am by Claudia

Saturday.

Another rainy day for us, though it hasn’t started yet. On Monday, the high is only going to be 29 degrees. With wind. Oh, joy.

Looks like March wants to go out making a strong statement. I’ll be happy to see it go.

Don is currently in his car filming another car concert. He really gets a kick out of that. Don is a brilliant actor, but he’s really a performer at heart. He’s been performing since he was playing in bands at the age of 10. I know he misses doing that and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he starts playing in public at some point. Also, he hasn’t done any acting in over 2 years and he misses it. Bless him, he finds ways to keep his creative juices flowing.

I am smack dab in the middle of The Lincoln Highway, which I’m really loving. Amor Towles is a terrific storyteller and he tells this one from different points of view. I just sit back and enjoy the ride.

I’m anxious to get back outside and do some work. I did pick up some fallen branches the other day. There’s more to be done but I felt like I was doing something. With the constant babying of my back driving me crazy, grabbing a few branches felt like a victory.

I mentioned what I’m reading. I’m also reading some Mary Oliver essays in her book, Upstream.

Tell us: What are you reading?

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

 

Filed Under: books, reading 65 Comments

Checking in on Friday

March 25, 2022 at 9:09 am by Claudia

A foggy morning here in the Hudson Valley. We had more rain overnight. It’s now nearly 9 am and it’s still  foggy.

Don is taking my car in to get its annual inspection. I suspect I might have to get two new tires, but I’m sure as heck hoping I don’t.

I caught these two reading together, or rather, Pip was reading out loud to Madeleine.

This picture confirms my theory that every photo looks better with books in it. There is nothing I love to see more than a room full of books, especially when I can read some of the spines. I just want to jump in the photo and explore.

The girls are reading a Spanish version of Tintin. As both of these girls came from customizers in Spain, this seems appropriate. In fact, half of my dolls came from Spain. Go figure!

My back is getting better, as is Don’s shoulder. Slow and steady wins the race. I’m very careful of what I do and how I do it. Though it’s always painful first thing in the morning, that pain is decreasing, thank goodness. This morning was much better.

Other than that, my friends, there’s nothing else worth writing about. I’m reading, I vacuum (carefully, ) I do laundry, I make the bed (also carefully.) I’m eager to start painting in oils again, but I’m even more eager to start yard, porch, and shed cleanup. I see one of my day lilies is coming up and the lilac has tiny buds. I haven’t checked the status of the daffodils yet, but I might do that today. Spring is definitely here, though we have a couple of cold days coming up on Sunday and Monday.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

Filed Under: Blythe dolls, books 24 Comments

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 39
  • 40
  • 41
  • 42
  • 43
  • …
  • 206
  • 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