Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

  • About MHC
    • Disclosure
  • Dollhouses/Minis
    • Hummingbird Cottage
    • The Studio (Formerly TSP)
    • Dove Cottage
    • The Lake House
    • The Folk Art Dollhouse
    • The Modern Dollhouse
    • Dollhouse Source List, Information and Tutorials
  • On the Road
  • Collecting
    • Roseville Pottery
    • McCoy Pottery
    • Egg Cups
    • Bakelite
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
You are here: Home / Archives for flowers

Sun

May 26, 2025 at 8:49 am by Claudia

The clematis is blooming. Strangely, most of the flowers this year are not on the street-side of the boxwoods, but are blooming on the porch-side. So I get to see them when I’m sitting on the porch. I guess they decided to give us a private viewing this year.

It’s sunny today. That is a big deal because most of the last week has been gray, rainy, windy, and cold. Even on days when no rain was forecast, there would be sudden showers coming out of nowhere. I am over it.

We have to mow today or tomorrow – most likely, tomorrow. So today I’m going to pull some of the many weeds that have sprung up from all the rain. Mostly, I just want to get outside. It’s been hard being house bound.

I hope you have a lovely day today, especially if you’re getting together with family and friends.

On this day, we remember those who lost their lives while serving our country. We honor them today and always.

It always seems ridiculous to say “Happy Memorial Day” when we remember what this day really means. So I won’t.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Filed Under: flowers 10 Comments

Flowers, Bugs, and the Modern Dollhouse

May 21, 2025 at 9:01 am by Claudia

Wild phlox is blooming everywhere on the property. I took this while I was mowing yesterday. We mowed the lilac side of the front lawn and the corral. After that, I suggested we mow the back 40 as well because we are due for 3 days of rain starting today. So we did. And now we are very, very tired.

But, we are appreciating the sight of a completely mown property.

Also seen on the climbing hydrangea the other day:

This guy. It’s an eastern tent caterpillar, which will turn into a moth. In the meantime, I’m sure he’s chomping on the hydrangea.

I was missing the original directions, so reassembling the modern dollhouse took a bit more time than I expected. But I did it and I remember just how much I like this dollhouse. It’s name is the Mi Pad by MIAIM miniatures.

It was designed by Elaine Shaw, who lives in London. Initially, she designed it for her daughter. It’s definitely a niche dollhouse and I don’t see it very often. Each floor is a dollhouse in itself  (like a roombox) and it’s made to stack. I purchased two floors, but there were 5 different floor designs available and I’ve seen a few miniaturists who have all five floors. I purchased the top floor first, then I added the lower floor. I love the clean lines; they’re quite a contrast from the rest of my dollhouses. I don’t know if Elaine is selling it anymore, I know she was having some trouble with suppliers at one point.

The ‘glass’ walls/windows are acrylic.

I may keep it this way, only adding a piece or two. I like the spareness of the rooms. Don looked at the photo and said “You should keep it this way.”

It’s sitting on the sewing table, which means that my little cubicle in the office/studio is now completely enclosed. Yikes. Oh, how I wish I had more space! I used to display it in the bedroom, but I sense that Don, though completely supportive, would like one dollhouse-free space.

Okay. Time for more coffee!

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

Filed Under: dollhouse, flowers, mipad 8 Comments

Vines, Mowing, Social Media & Sanity

May 19, 2025 at 8:55 am by Claudia

Our climbing hydrangea almost never blooms because I planted it in a somewhat shady spot. This year, I noticed two new tendrils reaching outward toward the light and I thought, “Maybe it will bloom this year.” We have a bloom! That sure put a smile on my face.

I mowed part of the front lawn on Saturday. And we mowed the rest of it yesterday. I’m very tired from all of that, so today is a day of rest. As I said to Don yesterday, this is the time of year when we spend at least 4 out of 7 days mowing. Tomorrow I have to mow the lilac side of the front lawn. The Corral and Back 40 will need mowing in a couple of days. And so it continues.

It’s much cooler – in the sixties – and it’s a beautiful sunny day today.

The news about Joe Biden is devastating. It’s all I can think of. I am praying for him and for his lovely family. I don’t know if there is anyone I admire as much as Joe Biden. He is a truly good man. He should be able to retire and enjoy time with his family. He deserves everything good.

And somewhat related – I had a realization this morning. I am way too addicted to social media – the kind that focuses on politics and the world. And even though the platform I use is mostly positive, I do still see and read things that are upsetting and often enraging. I react emotionally, not rationally, and I just have to pull away to gain some peace. I know a lot of you aren’t on social media at all. There are positives to social media; my Blythe IG, my personal IG (though even that is ticking me off lately) and my book and miniature accounts. But I need to pull away from them a bit, as well. I’ll take it one day at a time. Don has been known to put his phone away in a box and to hide his laptop as well. This is an ongoing battle.

Do you remember the modern dollhouse?  I’ve been thinking of it a lot lately, so I visited the shed and unearthed the bin where it had been stored. It’s meant to be easily taken apart, as I had done to store it. So now I’m going to try to reassemble it and give it a more serious take than I did the first time. Where will I put it, you ask? I have no idea. But as I said to Don, I need to be doing  something. So why not both dollhouses? Yikes.

Okay. I have to make a second cup of coffee.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Filed Under: flowers 28 Comments

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 310
  • Next Page »
  • Email
  • Instagram

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.

Thanks for stopping by.

Searching?

The Dogs

The Dogs

Scout & Riley. Riley left us in 2012. Scout left us in February 2016. Dearest babies. Dearest friends.

Winston - Our first dog. We miss you, sweetheart.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

Thanks for visiting! Feel free to browse, read and enjoy. All content is my own; including photos and text. Please do not use anything on this site without permission.

Disclosure/Privacy Policy can be found in the Navigation Bar under ‘About MHC.’

Also, I love receiving comments! I do, however, reserve the right to delete any comment that is in poor taste, offensive or is verging on spam. It’s my blog. If you’re a bot or a troll you’ll be blocked. Thanks!

Archives

All Content © 2008 - 2025 Mockingbird Hill Cottage · Log in