Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Sunday

January 5, 2020 at 10:26 am by Claudia

I moved my dad’s first attempt at painting in oils to this wall. Just to the right is the entrance to the downstairs bathroom. I like it here. I well remember that red vase which was always on the 3 shelf built-in bookcase in our living room. I think I remember him painting it, but I can’t be sure if that’s a reliable memory. (He made that frame, as well.)

Thank you for your compassionate and kind comments on yesterday’s post. Neither of us could conceive of ignoring an animal in pain, or leaving it on a dark road to be hit again and again by motorists who drive too fast and wouldn’t see it in time. Taking some sort of action is a must. I called the County yesterday to tell them about the body. Unfortunately, I’ve had to include their number in my contact list on my phone. Between last year and this year, I’ve had to call them several times.

I’m very proud of my husband.

Today, we’re just going to hang out at home. I’m going to continue reading Jane Eyre and work on the dollhouse. Don’s practicing his guitar. It’s been a tiring and emotional week for various reasons and we just need to chill.

We’re both hoping that the arrival of Monday will get us back on track. Maybe we’ll finally know what day of the week it is!

By the way, I changed the name of The Cabin to the The Lake House. The inside looks like a cabin but the outside doesn’t. So as Don and I were sitting on the sofa last night talking about the dollhouses, I came up with the new name.

Happy Sunday.

 

Filed Under: Dad, deer, Don 22 Comments

Imagining

December 29, 2019 at 10:55 am by Claudia

Part of our view when we sip our second cup of coffee together in the morning.

I was entranced by it this morning. One of my greatest pleasures when I lived in cities was walking by apartments and houses in the early evening. I would get a glimpse of the interior life and style of that particular dwelling. A flash of a red wall, or gorgeous drapes, or a glimpse of bookshelves – I wanted to know more about the people who lived there. I still have that curiosity about the way people live, which is why I like Instagram and design magazines and books like Hotel Chelsea  and The Maverick Soul  and Bibliostyle.

Back to the mini studio: I imagine myself walking by this dwelling, seeing the guitar on the sofa, the Beatles print on the wall, getting a glimpse of a fireplace, of records (what does he listen to?), a dog dish (!) and a comfy sofa and Eames chair. Who lives there? Who uses that space?

That is the lure of dollhouses. You get a glimpse of a life, a style, of the taste of the imaginary owner of that house. It’s also the reason I would never have dolls residing in my houses. I want to imagine the owner. I don’t want some doll that frankly never looks all that real lounging on the sofa. This is not to say that those who make and design 1:12 scale dolls aren’t enormously talented – they are. But, for me, they never look quite right. And also for me, I have a vivid imagination and seeing a doll limits my vision. For example, I have an idea of Caroline. I could tell you things about her. But, I don’t have too many ideas because I like to keep her ‘free-flowing.’

Since the mini studio was made for Don specifically, I don’t need a doll. I just imagine a mini-Don.

I’m not sure who the owner is of the vintage white dollhouse. That’s still to be determined. Same for the modern dollhouse and the ‘newest’ vintage dollhouse. Or my rescued-from-the-dump dollhouse. That makes a sort of sense as I’m still working on all of those dwellings.

Speaking of which, this afternoon I am going to go upstairs and start painting more stone for the exterior of the rescued-from-the-dump dollhouse. I’m thinking of naming it Dove Cottage, not be be confused with the famous Dove Cottage inhabited by William Wordsworth. “Dove” because I love doves – as simple as that.

To make the painting less tedious I’m going to listen to some podcasts. I’m very into podcasts about books and reading.

Happy Sunday.

 

Filed Under: dollhouse, Don, miniatures 20 Comments

Up On the Rooftop

December 23, 2019 at 10:11 am by Claudia

Is everyone calm? Or are you feeling frazzled? Or somewhere in between?

I’m fairly calm, though a teeny bit of frazzled has appeared as I have to go out today to get one more thing for Don. I’m feeling better, but still not tip-top (neither is Don.) This thing hangs on a while, but I think the worst is over. So I have to get one more present and that should be it.

We had our usual wrangle this morning over how many presents we’re giving each other. I keep saying that the vintage dollhouse is my present – it is!-and he doesn’t have to give me anything else. He wants to make sure he’s giving me the same amount of presents that I’m giving him. Then I reiterate that this year is different. I have my present and it came early. Finally, I said if he wants to give me three little things from the dollar store, that would be fine. Sigh.

Yesterday was sunny and much warmer and today it’s going to hit 50. Crazy. But I’m not complaining!

We watched It’s a Wonderful Life  last night. My favorite Christmas movie – no question. Cried my eyes out, of course – that never changes. I’m not a fan of Hallmark Christmas movies, nor of modern movies like Elf, though I saw it once and can appreciate it. They just don’t make our list of Must-See Christmas Classics. I think the only more recent movie that we love is A Christmas Story. We also watched Miracle on 34th Street  the other night. The black and white version, of course. Same goes for It’s a Wonderful Life. I don’t think any movies should be colorized if they were originally shot in black and white. Everything; the sets, the lighting, the camera work, costumes, was executed with the highlights and shadows of black and white in mind.

I love TCM and I’m grateful to Ted Turner for that wonderful channel, but not for his mission to colorize movies that were part of that great era of filmmaking.

I have to get going. I always forget that it gets dark so early, so I want to get out there and take care of my errands soon.

Added: If any of you follow Susan of the blog Ash Tree Cottage, please say a prayer for her. She has been in the hospital fighting an infection and in the course of her treatment, doctors found a renal mass that might have spread to her liver. Susan is a longtime blogging friend. She and her husband David need our prayers. Thank you.

Happy Monday.

 

 

Filed Under: Christmas, Don, movies, vintage, Vintage by Crystal 40 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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Scout & Riley. Riley left us in 2012. Scout left us in February 2016. Dearest babies. Dearest friends.

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