dollhouse — Page 75

Top Secret Project Update

August 10, 2015 at 9:12 am by Claudia

Despite my level of exhaustion yesterday, or maybe because of it, I needed a little creative distraction. So, when Don was away for a few hours, I went upstairs to my little lair and worked on the Top Secret Project.

It goes without saying (but I will): Don, stop reading this post!

I had this vision of a board and batten look on the studio, so I purchased some basswood strips at Michael’s. I thought I had purchased enough for the look I wanted, but when I went back through my photos from Chautauqua, I realized that the battens were about a foot apart on most of the cottages, much closer together than I had originally planned. Since I’m working in 1:12 scale, that means the battens are an inch apart.

So I didn’t buy enough. But no matter, I can get started, right?

8-10 TSP wood pieces

I started with the front of the studio, since the battens here only need to reach the height of the windows and I had enough wood on hand to execute the look. Then I painted. Two coats.

8-10 TSP board&batten 1

I’m really happy with it. I started on this when Don was still here – with strict orders not to come upstairs – and I had to stop myself from asking him to come upstairs and “see what I’ve done!” I usually share the ongoing steps of these projects with him and now I can’t. But I can share them with you.

8-10 TSP board&batten 2

I had to close the sliding door. We do live in the country after all – a little critter might decide to visit.

What do you think?

We watched Strangers on a Train last night, one of my favorite Hitchcock movies. Perfect.

The obligatory flower photo:

8-10 zinnias

Cheery zinnias.

New post up on Just Let Me Finish This Page – it’s a review of The Cairo Affair by Olen Steinhauer.

Happy Monday.

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Knock, Knock

August 8, 2015 at 9:36 am by Claudia

8-8 daylily

These day lilies in the side garden just keep blooming and blooming. They have a much longer bloom time than other day lilies on the property. And the plants have become very tall! It all makes for a strikingly sculptural look.

Lest you think I have been ignoring Hummingbird Cottage, let me assure you that I tweak it now and again. Yesterday, I was sorting through a bag of minis that someone had given me and I found a door knocker. (The sorting was happening because I have stuff stashed all over the house and it’s driving me crazy. Oh, for a separate room that is just for me! I can’t tell you how happy that would make me.)

Anyway. Upon discovering the door knocker, I thought that Caroline would appreciate it.

8-8 brassdoorknocker

But it was brass. I see that a lot in dollhouse miniatures, just as a lot of the wood furniture has a darkish finish, neither of which appeals to me all that much. So I got out some metallic silver paint.

8-8 silverdoorknocker

Much better.

8-8 knockerwbrassknob

Wait a minute. The doorknob is a brass jewelry fitting. And the knocker needs to be straightened a bit.

8-8 allfixed

A dab of paint and there you go.

This was just a little task to keep me occupied while I watched Scout like a hawk during the day. Over the past couple of years, Scout has suffered from seizures. They happen rarely, but they happen. And when they happen, our poor girl suffers and we are terrified. Our vet assures us that they are nothing to be unduly alarmed about, they’re part of being a very elderly dog. As they happen rarely, there is no sense medicating her. It’s been several months since one occurred. Yesterday, while Don was away in the city, she had another seizure – this time while she was outside.

When the seizure was over and I was able to get her back in the house, I settled her on the rug, called Don, and then proceeded to stay very close to her the rest of the day. By mid-afternoon, she was up and walking around and drinking a lot of water. By early evening, her appetite had returned and she was fine.

There are all sorts of changes due to her advanced age, but I don’t talk about them very much. I’m protective about that information, just as I was about my mother’s slow decline.

We simply adjust to each change and do everything we can to make her life as easy as possible.

Happy Saturday.

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The Garden, A Butterfly & Some Top Secret Work

August 7, 2015 at 8:18 am by Claudia

I’m fast approaching that time in the late summer garden when I stop caring quite so much. As the month turns to August and the light changes ever subtly and parts of the garden are starting to look a wee bit tired, I pull back from the whole thing. Self-protection? Just plain tired of pulling weeds? Probably a little of both. I did yank some weeds the other day for all of two minutes, but that was it.

I still check for daily changes. I await more morning glories. I snap photos. I water the pots and the chicken wire fence garden. But I don’t do a whole lot of cleaning up. Too much energy that I simply cannot summon up. I liken it to pulling away in a relationship; you know it’s going to go south, and your instincts kick in as you create some distance between you and the object of your adoration.

I let many of the plants go to seed, and nothing is cut back or pruned. The birds need those plants, for seeds and shelter. I’ll cut them back next spring.

8-7 hens and chicks

I did summon up the energy to repot the hens and chicks that are on the Funky Patio. They were overgrowing their original container. They needed more space.

This one will come indoors with me for the winter.

8-7 swallowtail

This black swallowtail was enamored of the geraniums, but his wings were fluttering so quickly that it was hard to get a picture. This is the best of the bunch. I love these beauties. At one point yesterday, there was an Eastern Swallowtail and a Black Swallowtail circling each other, swooping, soaring, and (I suspect) competing for the tastiest blossoms.

Don: Don’t Read Any Further!

I grabbed some time yesterday to paint and install two more windows in the Top Secret Project.

8-7 project window 2

These windows also open and can swing in or out.

8-7 project red

This will give you a hint as to the color I’m going to use on the outside walls. Yes, it’s reminiscent of our real-life shed. It was Don’s idea to paint the shed red, so his studio is going to be in the same color range.

Happy Friday.

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Top Secret Project Update

Knock, Knock

The Garden, A Butterfly & Some Top Secret Work

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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