Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Friday Thoughts

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This morning’s sunrise. This was the view out our back window. However, I went outside to shoot this, rather than shoot through the smudgy window. Isn’t it gorgeous? We do get the best views out this window and from the window in the upstairs half bath. Last night’s sunset was glorious, too, but that view is from the front of the house.

We are having unseasonably warm weather. That will change tomorrow. So I’m going to enjoy one more day of warmth and potted flowers in bloom on my porch. The cement job looks great. Don put the skim coat on yesterday. Finished!

During all my ongoing reading, I’ve also been rereading The Deptford Trilogy by one of my all-time favorite authors, Robertson Davies. I just finished the second book in the trilogy, The Manticore. Now, it’s on to the final book, World of Wonders. I first read these books well over 30 years ago. Maybe even 40 years ago? I haven’t read them since and I can’t tell you how wonderful it has been to revisit them. Davies was a brilliant writer. I’m also reading My Name is Barbra, Barbra Streisand’s autobiography. I’m not a regular reader of biographies; I much prefer fiction. But her style is very chatty and it’s like having a conversation with her – a very accessible and compelling read.

I’m contemplating selling my first dollhouse, Hummingbird Cottage. Should I? The dollhouses take up space here and though I love it, I’m not as invested in it these days. I would sell it without the furnishings, I think. But how do I price something like that? It took 6 years off and on to repair, refurbish, and decorate. I don’t know, maybe it’s a fruitless idea. It would have to be a local sale and I can’t imagine there are that many prospective buyers.

I won’t sell the vintage houses; even if I wanted to, Don would never let me! And I’ve got the Beacon Hill to work on. Plus, Dove Cottage is here and Don’s Mini Studio.

I’m also going to sell some of my McCoy pottery on Etsy. I have so much of it! There are pieces I’ll never sell, but there are plenty that I was happy to acquire at the time but am fine with selling. I’ve been washing them and thinking about how to photograph them. That will take up a great deal of time, but having done this in the past with the scarves I used to sell, I’m fairly sure I can handle it. I’ll let you know when they’re posted on Etsy.

Letting go of anything is hard for me, but as I grow older (another birthday next week) I realize I need to let go of those things that I can willingly release.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

 

 

 

Another Shelf Tour

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Goodness. We had thunderstorms all day long yesterday and well into the night, as well. Truly unbelievable! I don’t think I’ve ever experienced that before – they never stopped. We’re due for more this afternoon. Of course, the hydrangeas are no longer erect; they’re drooping. This happens every year. Just as they’re blooming, a torrential rain comes along and no more perky hydrangeas.

Anyway, it was interesting. And rather exhausting as well. We must have had a couple inches of rain. Today and tomorrow will also be rainy and then I think we’ll get a break on Thursday.

A darkish shelf – it’s cloudy out there.

This is the bottom shelf in the pink cabinet which is upstairs in the office.

On the left, a stack of magazines and books in which I was featured. On top of them, my dad’s name plate that used to be on his desk when he worked at Michigan Bell Telephone Co. On top – a dish holding sewing pins, 2 Ladurée boxes from Paris.

Next to that stack, two more Ladurée boxes, and a Santa sitting on top of a bell from Vintage by Crystal.

To the right in the rear of the cabinet – a stack of vintage glove boxes. I love them.

In front of them, four Vintage by Crystal pieces, and a toy we had when Z was a child. We used to hold it up when we were Facetiming with him.

Behind the Vintage by Crystal pieces is my favorite piece of Roseville. It’s very hard to find and it took me a long time to find a a listing that was affordable. You can hardly see it in this rainy day picture, but here’s a better picture:

This is the Cherry Blossom pattern. It came in two different colorways, the other being earth tones. But, heck, you know why I was drawn to this colorway. I love this piece so much and now that I’m looking at this photo, I’m thinking I need to place it in the foreground instead of behind the figurines. I just did a quick search on eBay and I could only find a few pieces listed. This pattern and another pattern – Morning Glory – seem to be rare, so in a pretty affordable Roseville market, they remain pricey. I’ll post a photo of Morning Glory one day. I really love it.

Wait a minute, there should be another bunny in that photo. Where the heck is it? I’ll have to conduct a search.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

 

Shelf Tour, Part Whatever

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Oh, hello! It’s time for another shelf tour.

This is the middle shelf in the china cabinet in the den.

Back row, left to right:

A peach colored McCoy vase.

A pillow vase in the Roseville Zephyr Lilly pattern. It’s flawless. This was a gift from a reader named Sonja. Sadly, I haven’t heard from her in a long, long time. I hope she’s well.

The next vase, in that scrumptious green color, might be my favorite. It’s in the Ixia pattern and it’s 8 inches tall. I love the art deco lines to the base and the flowers, as well as the subtle shading from green to cream. I painted this one in oils.

Next is my ‘saucy’ vase. It always reminds me of a woman standing with her hands on her hips. It’s the Snowberry pattern and it’s 6 inches tall. (Another oil painting.)

And then, a favorite vase in milk glass. Perfect for flowers, though I often forget to use it for bouquets nowadays.

Center row:

A cornucopia vase in Magnolia in a beautiful shade of green. It’s 6 inches tall and it was a gift from Sonja.

A little green duck made by Shawnee pottery.

A candleholder in the Gardenia pattern. I found this at an auction.

Front row:

A 4 inch tall vase in the Peony pattern. This was the other piece I found at the same auction I mentioned above.

A gorgeous candleholder in the Bleeding Heart pattern. A gift from Cathy, a longtime reader of this blog.

And  my very first piece of Roseville, purchased back in San Diego at a time when prices were sky high. It was the only piece I could afford. It’s a small jardinière in the Bushberry pattern.

Next to the Roseville is a McCoy singing bird.

Way in the back are two silver and glass candleholders that were my grandmother’s.

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A beautiful day today and I’m going to mow the front lawn. We’re supposed to get rain for the next few days starting tomorrow, so I have a deadline.

Three of the babies were around yesterday and I found myself longing for the days when Buddy is a solo visitor. Plus, the rabbit and the big groundhog that lives under the shed were hanging around. My afternoon was spent keeping an eye on the three babies and shooing them out of forbidden areas.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday and first day of summer.

 

 

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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