Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Life in our little cottage in the country

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A Little Santa

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Errands run. Unfortunately, more are on the docket for today. I imagine we’re all going through that at the moment!

Do you remember these bunnies that I purchased earlier this year? They were made by the wonderful Vintage by Crystal. She makes all sorts of whimsical figures out of spun cotton.

She has an Etsy shop and also a blog where she sometimes holds sales. The Christmas blog sale happened last week. Let me tell you, you have to move quickly! She opens the sale at 11 am and if you want something, you have to email her ASAP. I wanted three different items, but only snagged one.

That being said, I’m thrilled with the one I snagged. And I must say that Don is as enchanted as I am by this little beauty.

Isn’t this beautiful? The base is covered in Japanese newspaper. Santa is holding a lamb. His body is made of spun cotton. It can be hung from a tree or it can sit on a table.

He’s currently on display next to our little Christmas tree. Don wants us to display him year round. Have I ever mentioned the fact that my husband is adorable?

Well, he is.

I will refrain from mentioning anything about the horrors going on in Washington DC except to say that the best Christmas present ever would be to see Trump impeached and in jail and all the Senators and Reps who are voting for the Tax Scam voted out of office in 2018 and 2020. I’d be willing to go without other presents indefinitely if this present came my way.

And we can do that. Money and greed should not be what motivates a public servant. If it is, you are no longer qualified to call yourself a public servant. Period.

Okay. Moving on to the other side of this crap. Don and I are getting a present that I already know about – Pete Souza’s new book of photographs taken during the Obama presidency. Don doesn’t know this, but someone had to buy it and it was yours truly. It will be under the tree on Christmas morning.

I woke up way too early this morning so I’m going to use it to my advantage and go shopping early in the day. Then, I hope I will be done!

Happy Tuesday.

Must Have Something to Nuture

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Since I can’t wander outside and take pictures of the gardens, I wander inside and take pictures of the houseplants. Ever the nurturer, I have to have something that is alive to take care of. After the passing of our beloved dogs, there are no dogs to care for. The gardens are out of action until spring. Don is pretty self-sufficient.

So, houseplants it is. (I’ve already decided that Don will need some houseplants in his NYC apartment. He agrees.)

The monstera has not one but two leaves emerging.

There are three sansevieria flower stalks. I discovered the third yesterday. Meredith, who grows her plants from our parents outside since she lives in Florida, has even more.

This is what they look like, and I always see little drops of liquid – some sort of sap like substance. Eventually, little white flowers with a heady scent will emerge.

The new ZZ plant babies are getting ready to open – on both of my plants.

I still have Riley’s Dish Garden, which has pride of place in the center of the kitchen table. If you don’t know the story, when our dear Riley left us, I planted a garden in his dog dish. It has changed here and there, but this particular succulent has stayed and it grows every which-way – straining for the sun, I imagine. I leave it as is and I’ve noticed lots of new growth lately. I miss you, Riley.

Today is an errand day. It, I am sure, is the first of many this week.

My favorite Christmas ornament:

This very old bluebird ornament. I love it so!

Happy Monday.

Caroline’s Christmas

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To be honest, I wasn’t going to help Caroline decorate her house this Christmas. Just wasn’t in the mood. But some gentle reminders from readers helped to change my mood and yesterday found me digging out the mini Christmas boxes.

Caroline was at work, so I went ahead and did it all myself.

I made that Christmas tree three years ago. It involved lots of glue and lycopodium, which is preserved princess pine. A few hours later, I scrubbed the glue from my fingers and I had a finished tree. Next year, I’ll refresh it as it’s lost some pine bows along the way, but it’s held up surprisingly well. You can find the post with instructions here. Decorating the tree is always a challenge (much cursing was heard yesterday) so I keep it simple.

Nancy Drews on the coffee table. Christmas candies in a bowl.

Just a little bottlebrush tree here in the living room, as the tree lives in the den.

Christmas cards on the side table.

Another bottlebrush tree in the kitchen.

And some wrapping supplies in the studio/office.

I have to tell you – I took these photos with my new iPhone. I couldn’t be happier with them. The camera is a big improvement from the one on my older phone. Taking pictures with my big girl camera is problematic because I can only get so close to the subject matter. The rooms are tiny and I have spent many, many frustrating hours taking pictures that didn’t capture the details.

This, on the other hand, is a big WOW! I can get right in the rooms because of the iPhone’s smaller size. I’m so happy with the results. I didn’t do any editing except to brighten them a bit. Other than that, they are as taken and the details really show. I can’t wait to take a whole new round of pictures of this house and Don’s mini Studio.

Caroline was happy with the results.

I’d love to find a mini version of an aluminum tree for the new modern dollhouse. I’m on it.

Happy Friday.

 

 

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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