Wind. All last night and through the day today. Tomorrow ought to be lovely, as well as the week ahead. But the wind?

I’m over it.

Amidst the pouring rain yesterday, a couple of packages were delivered. I had to keep an eye on the porch all day long in order to retrieve them as soon as possible. One of them held my new puzzle and a book I had ordered. The other held – now, don’t get too excited – a new bathtub mat.

I was happy to see that new puzzle as it meant I could take the previous puzzle apart and start a new one. I didn’t get very far, but I need an ongoing project, as you know.

Speaking of ongoing projects, I did some work in the dollhouse.

I made the acrylic window inserts. I can’t tell you how frustrating this can be, mostly because I’m having to fit them into an already constructed window. I usually mess up the first one and have to make another. But, they’re done. And then I primed and painted the window trim.

Now for the baseboards, but I wasn’t in the mood to figure out how to do a mitre cut, so that will happen on another day. I have the tools, and I’ve done it before. I just have to remind myself how to do it.

We spoke a bit in the comments the other day about comparison being “the thief of joy.” It is. Nevertheless, I still struggle with it at times. Lately, I’ve been struggling with comparing myself to all the fabulous miniaturists I follow on Instagram. Some of them – especially younger dollhouse lovers – are so inventive and brave. I admire that so much. Others are so skilled that their work blows me away. Anyway, I’ve noticed this small, niggling little thread of doubt lately about my work. I won’t let it stop me because I know that I’m doing all of this because I love it and not to impress others, nevertheless, I’m just as human in my struggles with self-doubt as anyone else. My strengths are not in building furniture or adding rooms within rooms, etc. I don’t have many of the power tools and saws that they have – nor do I have room for them. I’m not sure where my strengths lie – maybe in an eye for color and detail? For a vision that includes the life of the owner and a story about that life and that house? Maybe a rigorous attention to scale?

The lesson in all of this is to just stop comparing. Everyone has different strengths, different styles. And I support and applaud every dollhouse lover and miniaturist out there. The most important thing is the joy of creating. That’s the lesson I keep relearning.

Just sharing in case you’re struggling with this as well.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.