etsy — Page 20

Topsy-Turvy

February 24, 2012 at 9:25 am by Claudia

We took a little walk on the Rail Trail on Wednesday. This one was longer – about 3 miles. It was a sunny, spring-like day. Very quickly, we shed our coats, happily basking in the warmth of the sun. We marveled that all this was happening on a day in February. In the northeast.

The sky was gorgeous. If you look in the upper-right hand corner of the photo, there is an opening in the clouds. I keep seeing the shape of a bird. What do you see?

Our mountain ridge is in the background. I call it ‘ours.’ I suppose everyone around here does. This is the same ridge that we can see from our house. Whenever we take these walks, we are reminded once again that we live in a beautiful part of the country.

So on we walked, talking about the warm weather, thinking that, most assuredly, spring is around the corner. Yes, it can only be a week or so away.

I woke up this morning to this:

What????

I went to bed last night with not a flake in sight. A few short hours later, there is heavy, wet snow everywhere. Look how our chicken wire corral fence is sagging under the wet snow. There’s not a whole lot of it and I suspect it will melt rather quickly.

What a strange winter this has been. Everything is topsy-turvy. (Another old fashioned word that I love.)

I wrote the other day about being in my fifties and feeling young and vital.

I’ve suddenly begun getting emails from the Scooter Store.

Back off, Scooter Store. I’m not ready for you yet.

The willow tree is coming down on Tuesday. Can’t think about it. I will be somewhere else that day, trying to forget what is happening to my favorite tree. I’m sorry, willow. I love you. But your beauty comes with a price. You are too destructive. We have to let you go.

I’ll have some shop updates over the weekend, so be sure to check in!

Have a wonderful Friday.

My Blogiversary

February 20, 2012 at 11:39 am by Claudia

With all the drama surrounding the septic system, I didn’t realize until yesterday that my 4th anniversary of blogging had come and gone. I started this blog on February 17, 2008. Four years and 944 posts later, I love blogging more than ever. I wish I had chronicled the various looks of this blog. My first was, I’m sure, just the basic template and a photo of the house. Eventually it evolved to this:

It’s hard to see, but the background was in a pretty shade of brown.

At one point, I used this header:

Then I had Mandy design the font:

Then I used a favorite photo of peonies, with Mandy’s font design:

Eventually I had someone design a new header and background:

I had it for about a year and a half. But there was a problem with that designer. She stopped designing and didn’t tell her clients. She also stopped communicating with her clients. I saw the writing on the wall – I knew there was a very good chance she might pull her designs or let her Photobucket account lapse – and I redesigned the blog on my own. (By the way, her account lapsed several months later and many bloggers woke up one morning to missing design elements. Make sure you are in control of your blog. Keep those images in your own account. After all, you’ve paid for them. They should be yours. Or better yet, create your own design.)

And that brings us to today. Blogs evolve, don’t they? I had an idea of what this blog was to be, but it kept changing as I found my blogging voice. The professional design never really suited me; I see that now. It was an idea, a concept, that I wanted to fit into, much like a pretty dress that is perfect for someone else, just not for me. I’m finally comfortable with who I am, what Mockingbird Hill Cottage is. This blog design, much simpler, fits me perfectly. And I did it myself.

I’ve learned so much along the way. I am not overstating things when I say blogging has changed my life. It truly has. My loves; writing, photography, design, collecting, gardening, decorating, crafting and my husband and dogs, all come together at this little URL. I’m grateful. I’m blessed.

Thank you for being there. Some of you have been with me since the beginning. Some of you are newer readers. I’m thankful for each and every one of you. I’m looking forward to my fifth year of blogging. The adventure continues.
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By the way, I’m behind in visiting everyone and I know it. Life has been a little hectic here and I find that I am crocheting things for the shop in every spare moment. I will try to visit everyone this week. Fingers crossed.

Some of you have mentioned wanting a scarf but missing out when a new one is listed. I just listed this one yesterday (update: sold).

And I’m working on this one in silk and bamboo. Perfect for spring. It will be listed tomorrow.

Happy Monday.

Leach Fields are not Pretty

February 18, 2012 at 10:32 am by Claudia

It’s finished. Two guys worked tirelessly yesterday and the new leach field is in.

My yard is a mess. The grass is gone, replaced by mud. I can’t even look at it. Like Scarlett O’Hara, I say “Tomorrow is another day.”

I don’t do well with upheaval and the constant noise of machinery outside my window. So I closed the blinds, moved into the living room and played music all day. Thank you, Steve Jobs, for iTunes and good earbuds and my favorites list right here on my laptop. And for my laptop.

I am constantly playing “Running in the Deep” by Adele. That girl is seriously talented. I am always drawn to voices with a bit of huskiness to them. Her big, powerful voice and the lyrics she writes touch my heart.

Some snapshots (via the Hipstamatic App) of the day:

I’ve added the shawls to the shop. Today I’m adding a new Obsession Scarf and I’ll most likely add another one tomorrow. I find I have to remind myself to take a break or my hand and wrist start hurting. Occupational hazard.

Obsession Scarf in Wine – Update: Sold

Apropos of nothing, I just read a post by a blogger who had recently redecorated her kitchen. It’s gorgeous. But here’s the kicker: she linked the post to 46 linky parties. That might be the all-time record. I counted twice to make sure I was right.

What’s on the docket for your Saturday?

Topsy-Turvy

My Blogiversary

Leach Fields are not Pretty

claudiahillsparks

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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