Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Life in our little cottage in the country

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Better

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Since the den has been my ‘home’ for the past several days, I’m looking at it with fresh eyes. It’s cozy and quirky. I really love it in here.

I’m feeling better. By mid-afternoon yesterday, I felt a change coming on and, though I’m still coughing, it’s nothing like it was. I’m not one to run to the doctor for meds when I’m dealing with something that just needs to take its course. I think there’s too much overmedicating going on as it is. Luckily, I didn’t need to be anywhere, wasn’t working on a show, and had the luxury of time. And Don, of course.

All iPhone photos because I’m too lazy to get up and get my big girl camera.

My new ringtone on my phone is the theme from Sherlock. It makes me happy. It also makes me not want to answer the phone because I want to listen to the whole thing! I just wanted something different from the same sounds I hear coming from every phone, everywhere. Don’s is Sweet Home Alabama.

But not the Alabama of Roy Moore, let’s be clear on that.

In honor of Benedict Cumberbatch, we watched Dr. Strange  last night on Netflix. It’s based on one of the Marvel superhero characters and it was a lot of fun; special effects driven, because that’s what fuels all those movies. Benedict was sporting an American dialect and I missed his deep and dulcet British tones. Hey, I’m an American and I coach dialects for a living so I appreciate our sounds, but I will admit to being a sucker for a British accent. Especially when uttered by Benedict Cumberbatch.

That dracaena that sits on the floor next to the dollhouse is about 14 or 15 years old. I bought it in a grocery store when we first moved out East. I moved it downstairs because I kept forgetting to water it. The pot is Bauer pottery from California. I bought it many years ago when I lived there.

The other Zz plant, which sits on the table next to the sofa.

Don says he’s going to take me for a drive today. Doctor Don’s orders.

Happy Friday.

Sun and Color

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I don’t think I’m going to get around to painting that wall in the kitchen this week. Don’s one-day-earlier arrival is throwing a spanner in the works, plus, to be honest, I don’t want the hassle of moving everything around and besides, I can start in on all of this in January when he’s back in the city for Margaritaville. (That was a long run-on sentence!)

Speaking of Margaritaville, my cousin and her husband were in the audience last night. They drove down to Chicago from their home in Northern Michigan to see it. Hopefully, though I haven’t spoken to him yet, Don met up with them at the Stage Door after the show. Actually, Don and I haven’t ‘spoken’ very much at all as he’s babying his voice this week. We speak in texts. Thank goodness for technology. When I had vocal problems as an actress, I didn’t have that option.

Forgot to show you these Rae Dunn pots that I picked up a few months back. I wasn’t sure what to put in them until I saw little sansevierias at Terrain (they’re marketed for terrariums) that I thought would do nicely. I need to do a little more excess soil removal!

Sunny pictures from the kitchen and living room:

I like color. I like sunny, bright, and welcoming rooms.

I like my house.

Though we could use a lot more storage and a mudroom (still dreaming about that possibility) the truth is, we’re fine. (Oh yes, and a garage!) If we never get those things we’ll be okay. We’ve been okay for the 12 years we’ve lived here, so all indications are that we can handle it indefinitely. That doesn’t stop me from dreaming, however.

I won’t even go into yesterday’s news. I had to talk myself down last night in order to fall asleep.

Happy Thursday.

 

Making My Home-Away-From-Home

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I rose early, drank my coffee, took a shower and then started packing up anything I hadn’t already packed. Then the loading of the car. Believe me when I say that every available space is taken by the time I head out the driveway!

The usual construction delays on I-84, with a stop at Trader Joe’s for fresh flowers – a must when I’m headed to Hartford.

I arrived around 12:40 and it took precisely one hour to unload the car. This involves me grabbing what I can carry, walking across the parking lot, entering the code for the building, going up the elevator, walking to the apartment, dumping the boxes/bags and then doing it all over again. About 15 times. That’s part of the reason I leave as early as I can. I just know that it will take time.

And, being who I am, I have to arrange everything and get settled before I can relax.

I took photos of the empty apartment but for some reason, they never registered on my iPhone. Hmmm. Anyway, here are photos of the apartment with everything I added to make it like a home.

As always, I bring two quilts that I made and hang them on opposite walls. You might remember there are two bizarre small, square canvases hanging on the wall just above the quilt. Rather than stare at them and contemplate ripping them from the wall (can’t do that) I hang the quilt as a distraction. It works.

I also bring lamps from home because the lighting is never enough for me and lighting is everything. The gray lamp on the table is from our office at home. The lamp at the far end of the sofa is one I’ve had for ages (originally from IKEA).

Fresh flowers in a mason jar on the coffee table, along with some books and magazines.

The basket is also from home. It’s holding my glasses, Carmex, and some chargers.

This time, I brought along a houseplant from home. I have these great window sills that are very deep, so why not put a plant there?

The desk. I brought that lamp along with me as well. Also added from MHC, framed photos, a piece of Roseville pottery, various notebooks and agendas.

The piece of painted wood is something I bought when we were in Cambria, CA. It’s from the oldest house in Cambria and the lovely junkers that owned a shop there added the vintage ladle. I think we’ll eventually hang it in our kitchen but it provides a nice splash of weathered color here. The copper mug is engraved with ‘Anastasia’ and was a gift from Christy (our very own Anastasia.)

The photo is of Don and me on the beach in CA celebrating our anniversary.

What’s the only item currently on the bulletin board?

A photo of our stove! I like to remind myself of its beauty.

I brought along the McCoy pot that was a gift from Tina and Noble. While at Trader Joe’s buying flowers, I noticed this plant. Hmmm. As I thought it might, the plant pot fit perfectly inside the McCoy. And now it’s in the other window.

This yellow lamp has been here as long I’ve been using this particular apartment, which is the one I always request. When I arrive, I find it in various places. This time it was on the desk. I promptly move it to the kitchen counter.

There’s the other quilt, currently covering up some mirrored squares that are inexplicably about 4 feet apart. This looks much better!

More flowers from Trader Joe’s in a vase I brought from home. And I always throw some fabric scraps in my suitcase – usually vintage barkcloth. I like this particular pattern here on the table.

In the morning and evening, I plop myself on the sofa and man the remote and/or read.

There you have it! I have a full day of rehearsal today and I’ve got to start getting ready.

I really like these apartments which are, to me, really high up there on the company housing scale. Tall, tall ceilings, a loft-like feel and shiny laminate floors, plus a very nice kitchen. It feels like home away from home. By the way, I also did an Instagram Stories last night which shows much the same thing you’re seeing here, only with my voice added.

(Don and I have already face-timed twice and I’ve been gone less than 24 hours.)

Happy Friday.

 

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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