Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Life in our little cottage in the country

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Discombobulated

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Gone.

That gorgeous Christmas Tree was so dry after having been here for over a month, that it had to come down yesterday. On top of running errands, we added the dismantling of the tree as one of our chores for the day. It took longer than I thought, but eventually, Don carried it out to the woods, propped it up against another tree and thanked it. We both said thank you repeatedly as we were taking down the ornaments. I do have qualms sometimes about trees – living things – being raised only to be chopped down for our temporary use during the holidays. I have to be honest and say that I go back and forth on that one, just as I do on a number of issues.

I missed seeing those lights when I came downstairs this morning. But I do like the clean look of the house.

Does this ever happen to you? You look everywhere to make sure you haven’t missed some decoration that needs to be packed away. You do it more than once, and finally, satisfied that you have corralled all of the Christmas stuff, you pack it away.

The next day, you notice something you missed. In my case, as I was sitting on the sofa having coffee with my husband this morning, I focused on Stella and saw the two bottlebrush trees that are sitting on her shelf. Whoops! I’ll have to find some place to put them until next year.

Did any of you notice that I closed yesterday’s post with “Happy Monday?” Yep. It wasn’t until we were in the car running errands that I realized it was Thursday, not Monday. The first thing I did when we came home was edit the post to the correct day. I swear, it seemed like a Monday! I’m discombobulated.

I’m working on Dove Cottage. I added some missing window sills and a window frame the other day. I’ll do a bit more today. And I’m deep into Jane Eyre, which is beautifully written, isn’t it? I have to finish it, then read the script for the play, then do some work on the dialects – all over the course of the next 4 or 5 days. I’m starting 2020 off with a work commitment and that makes me happy.

Happy Friday.

Stone Work

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The tree is still up. Do Christmas trees have a more intense scent as they begin to dry out? Because for the past few days, the scent has been much stronger. Anyway, we came downstairs this morning, turned on the tree lights and decided we would wait until New Year’s Day to take the tree down. We can’t quite say goodbye yet. I’ll miss seeing the tree from my chair in the den.

But we’ve had it up since December 1st, so January 1st seems like a good long run.

I spent about three hours up in the office working on the rescued dollhouse, Dove Cottage. The ‘stonework’ is slow going. Here is its current status:

I’ll try for a clearer picture today but it’s awfully dark out there as we’re into our second day of rain. I’m heartened by the fact that I was able to cut the stones to fit the curve of the doorway. I’m still not sure whether I like the whole thing, but I think when I paint the shingles, which might be sooner rather than later, and put the shutters up, the look of all that stone will be softened.

Dollhouses on the brain. That seems to be all I’m thinking about lately. That, and the high cost of living, which we have vowed to do something about this coming year. Budget. Budget. Budget. We’ve had a good couple of years, but it’s time to cut way back. We lost a lot of money this year with the changes to the tax laws. As you know, actors and performers and freelancers were royally screwed. We paid far more than either of us has ever paid in all our years of earning a living. Until the law is changed, that will be our reality and it’s a grim one. Cross your fingers for us; we both need to work more in 2020. And we’re ready, willing, and able!

I just might paint that roof today.

Happy Monday.

 

Friday

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From Santa.

That hat, by the way, is the classic Deerstalker worn by Sherlock Holmes.

I think Santa gets my reading preferences.

Santa also brought me some Carmex, some actual photos made from digital pics of our trip to Paris, some pencils, and some sugar-free chocolates from a local chocolate shop. And some books, a notebook, scented soap and bubble bath.

We were so tired yesterday. And today! I seem to be in a waking up early mode lately, so I never feel like I get enough sleep. Ah well.

It’s a gray and drizzly day out there. I’m glad we’re keeping the tree up for a few more days. I never take it down right after Christmas. I’ve only done that once in my life and it was because both Don and I were leaving for out of town jobs. I wasn’t raised that way, which I suspect informs a lot of our holiday choices. We always kept the tree up through New Year’s Day. And many people keep it up through Epiphany – thereby honoring the 12 days of Christmas. Everyone is different of course, but personally, I would have found it impossible to be here the day after Christmas and have no reminders of the season or the reason we celebrate. We’ve had the tree since December 1st, so I suspect we’ll have to take it down on Monday. But I’ve found that if the tree is healthy and you water it every day, it will last at least a month.

I did remove the decorations from the dollhouses, but that’s it so far. I still love coming downstairs in the morning and turning the tree lights on. It’s enormously comforting. The porch lights stay on for at least another month. We live in the country and it’s lovely to see Christmas lights glowing through January, especially with it getting dark so early.

Reader Kathy sent a box of goodies and it included this Italian version of To Kill a Mockingbird.  Isn’t it a beautiful cover design? Thank you, Kathy!

Today we grocery shop. And I’m off to find a copy of Jane Eyre, which, surprisingly, I don’t have on my shelves. I’m coaching a version of it later in the month and I want to reread it before I do my research on Yorkshire dialects, etc.

Happy Friday.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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