Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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You are here: Home / Archives for dollhouse

Playing with the Lake House

November 1, 2024 at 9:47 am by Claudia

Wednesday night’s sunset.

And this is not an exaggeration. We stood outside for the longest time. It was glorious.

I’ve been reading a lot – just finished an Orphan X novel this morning. I’ll start We Solve Murders  by Richard Osman later today. And I’ve been adding some bits to the Lake House, my vintage Cape Cod-style dollhouse.

Yesterday, I spent some time painting an unfinished sink/cupboard unit. I decided to go for a pale shade of yellow because the house is so dark inside. I stained the counter. What I have chosen to call the ‘kitchen’ is so darned small that this is the only thing that will work. It’s the same unit I have in Dove Cottage as the kitchen island. I tested it in the Lake House and when it fit perfectly, I adored another one. It’s been sitting there, woefully unfinished, for over a year.

There it is, next to the massive door hinges. Bless the maker of this sturdy house! I will never change them out.

Anyway, I think it looks pretty good.

You remember that my goal is to make changes that are not permanent. No gluing, no hammering, no painting. This is such a beautiful creation and I am honored to be the new owner. Someone made this with love. It’s solid as a rock. Therefore, my vow has been to leave it intact. The wallpaper in the living room was added to make it less like a black hole. It’s attached with the same tacky stuff I use to secure dollhouse paintings. I could pull it down in a second. I think I’m going to redo it at some point, just to make it neater.

Here’s a peek at the bed I managed to get through the bedroom doorway. I don’t have any covers or quilts for it yet. But it’s finally there!

I added this painting – a miniature Wallace Nutting – given to me by Barbara, I think. I’m going to try another rug here today.

A new painting and chair addition to the kitchen. The paintings and this chair are from my stash.  Actually, so is everything, except for the sink/cupboards.

I want to get a small narrow table with sides that can be raised to make the table bigger. I think it would work well in the kitchen. I spent some time on eBay yesterday searching for one. Nothing yet.

All this has been fun; cleaning the house, rearranging and adding some items, sprucing it up. It’s all cosmetic. It’s a real challenge. At the same time, I’ve been thinking a lot about the Beacon Hill and checking into what elements might have to replaced or adjusted. I have an unused kit from the days when I was thinking about building it myself. I was going to sell it on Craig’s List, but I now know I’m going to have to use some windows and a door and parts of the base.

Okay. Dollhouse(s) update.

Usually time goes by so quickly for us but, I swear, these days heading up to Tuesday are dragging by at an impossibly slow pace. Hang in there, everyone.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

Filed Under: dollhouse, miniatures 30 Comments

Voting, Fog, Books, and Dollhouses

October 30, 2024 at 9:09 am by Claudia

A foggy morning with a view of the burning bush and a splash of light from the porch light.

It’s supposed to be 75° today and 80° tomorrow. What???  I swear, the weather has been all over the place lately. We did have a light rain for about an hour yesterday but it’s not nearly enough considering how low the rivers are. It is dry, dry, dry here. Hopefully, we’ll see some rain on Monday and Tuesday.

We voted on Monday. There was a line but not a long one and things moved very smoothly. We had a nice conversation with a couple standing behind us – lovely people. It felt so good knowing we’d voted and that our votes have registered. Now, we wait. (Hey, I had no makeup on, but I did wear red lipstick in honor of Kamala.) Her speech last night from the Ellipse was powerful, a well-planned and perfect response to Trump’s January 6th horror show.

Now, we wait.

I had to block another Trumper after Monday’s post. I wouldn’t have them in my home and won’t have them here.  I long for the days that all of us remember, when you could agree to disagree and didn’t have to worry about the other party trying to dismantle our democracy. But there’s no agree to disagree this time (frankly, there wasn’t in 2020, either.)

The washing machine has been repaired. Hallelujah! I still watch it like a hawk; I can’t quite relax yet.

Something wonderful arrived in yesterday’s mail:

What a gorgeous cover!

As is my wont, I will delay reading it. A new book comes every two years now, so I don’t want to quickly breeze through it. I also don’t want to start it with the election niggling away on the edges of my thoughts. It deserves better. But I fully realize some of you might want to read it right away because  of the election – it can take you away to another world.

Anyway, that being said, I have two books from the library to finish and the new Richard Osman, We Solve Murders, is waiting for me to pick up. The Osman will have to be read within 10 days, while the other two books can be renewed. Do you find yourself juggling books that you’ve had on hold? I sure do! And now we add The Grey Wolf  to the mix.

These are quality problems.

I cleaned out the vintage Cape Cod style dollhouse the other day. It had – as dollhouses do – become very dusty. Don remarked that I need to get some lamps because it’s so dark in there. He’s right, so that’s on my list. I managed to move a single “wrought iron” bed into the small bedroom that’s only accessible via the interior doorway. I’ve wondered whether I could do that for about 3 years and I finally took some action. I’m painting a little sink/counter unit – just like the one in Dove Cottage – for the other small room. Still need to fill the shelves on either side of the fireplace but it’s getting there. I’ll take some pictures soon.

Forgot to mention! Ten bluebirds here yesterday,  at least three more today. I guess MHC has passed their test!

Okay.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

 

 

Filed Under: books, dollhouse 30 Comments

Peeking Inside an Abandoned (Doll)House.

August 5, 2024 at 8:15 am by Claudia

It’s almost as if it’s been empty for years. Whoever lived there moved out and left a few pieces of furniture behind, leaving us to wonder what happened.

Such an elegant chest of drawers, now sitting there in an empty room.

Is there anything left inside those drawers? If only we could get inside!

And what’s this? This was rather fancy furniture at one time. Did they chat with each other in front of a roaring fire? How many conversations were had here?

A dark and narrow stairway.

A lovely curved sofa. So strange!

Did they have to pull up stakes quickly? Was it too difficult to take all of the furniture? Or maybe it wouldn’t fit in their new abode.

And now it sits there with no chatter, no people coming in and out of the house, no ‘life.’

(This is how I feel when I peek in the windows of real life abandoned homes as well.)

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Filed Under: dollhouse, miniatures 30 Comments

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Welcome!

Welcome!

I live in a little cottage in the country with my husband. It's a sweet place, sheltered by old trees and surrounded by gardens. The inside is full of the things we love. I love to write, I love my camera, I love creating, I love gardening. My decorating style is eclectic; full of vintage and a bit of whimsy.

I've worked in the theater for more years than I can count. I'm currently a voice, speech, dialect and text coach freelancing on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theater.

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