friends

A Surprise in the Mail

July 9, 2022 at 8:57 am by Claudia

You know I love to tell a good story, so here’s one for you on this Saturday morning.

Stacy, a longtime reader of this blog, follows my Blythe account on IG. That’s because she is also a Blythe collector, though I didn’t figure out that she was the same Stacy that follows the blog for a bit. But I finally did and thought how neat it is that we both collect these girls.

She messaged me when she heard about our tree and said she’d like to send me a few Blythe outfits to cheer me up. I was touched by her kindness and kept an eye out for the delivery of the package to my PO Box.

It arrived yesterday. Usually, I’m a bit slow about getting to the post office, but miracle of miracles, I picked it up that afternoon. Thank goodness.

When I got home, I opened the box. There were adorable clothes; some overalls, a t-shirt, a dress, a little coat, some fun little Blythe headphones and some bits and bobs. I’ve had a moratorium on buying new clothes for the girls for a month or two, so having someone send me some as a gift was very exciting!

But I soon realized that there was something else in the box.

I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was a Blythe doll.

Here she is:

These is how she looked when I unwrapped her. Oh my god. Isn’t she adorable? She was customized by the same woman who customized my very first Blythe, Sophie.

A close up:

Don wasn’t home at the time and I couldn’t wait for him to get back so I could show him this unbelievable gift! I was so excited that I ran outside to tell him. He was so happy for me.

How lucky am I? I never cease to be amazed by the generosity of my readers. I have been thoroughly spoiled over the 14 years I’ve been writing this blog.

Stacy wrote the loveliest note to me. Thank you, Stacy. I love this new addition to the family. Her full name is Stacy Katie, but I think she’ll be called Katie for short. She looks like a Katie to me.

And here she is after having been dressed this morning:

I can’t stand it, she’s so darling! Maybe a bit of a tomboy? All shall be revealed.

She and her sister Sophie will spend some quality time together later today. Maybe while I’m slaving away mowing the lawn.

In other news, I saw a deer right next to the garden at 5:30 this morning and so I went outside. She moved to the catalpa tree and I stayed there – maybe 8 feet away? – softly talking to her. Said good morning and please don’t eat my flowers. Then we just stared at each other for about two minutes. I’ve never seen a deer stay in place for so long. Then she took off. I think it’s the fawns’ mom. Since I’d just sprayed the plants the other day she didn’t eat anything. I checked. Phew!

A really lovely moment.

Thank you again, dear Stacy. Katie and I have had some bonding time this morning.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

March 16, 2022 at 8:53 am by Claudia

Nothing much to report from the cottage. We’re both still sore and nursing our injuries. Between the two of us, we get things done. I actually vacuumed yesterday. I couldn’t stand all the stuff on the kitchen floor. But I did it slowly and carefully.

It’s cloudy here today, but the high will be 63 degrees. Yesterday, I put some recycling out on the porch and took some time to be there and get a whiff of spring in the air. I’m looking forward to cleaning up the porch and the property, washing the siding on the house, and cleaning the shed!

We’re going to watch Zelenskyy’s address to Congress this morning. It’s on at 9 am.

Sophie is wearing a new sweater from AuntieShrew, a seller on Etsy who lives in Canada. I really love it. Nicole’s knitting is beautiful. I love big, slouchy sweaters in my real life, and I love them for the girls as well. I briefly had Sophie’s hair in braids and then a pony tail. She’s awfully pretty isn’t she? My friend Susan – who crocheted that red cap for my girls – has a doll from the same customizer who could be Sophie’s twin.

I had a long and wonderful phone conversation yesterday with my best friend, Laural, We caught up on everything. I’ve known Laural since I was 12. We’ve been through so much together. Both Laural and my friend Jackie (who I’ve known since I was 4) know me in a way that no one else does. Think of it – Laural and I met not long after Meredith was born! She was just a baby. And Jackie and I met before we started kindergarten. There is a shared history that cannot be duplicated in a ‘newer’ friendship. I was in their weddings (I sang in them as well). Their parents were like second sets of parents to me. We were there for each other in happiness, tough times, through the death of family members, growing pains, everything. Jackie still lives in my home town and recently retired from a long career as an elementary school teacher. Laural lives in the Chicago area and had a long career in the theater – especially children’s theater. I also need to mention my dear, dear friend Kay, who I’ve known since she was born – I think we’re 3 years apart? Is that right, Kay? Her parents were my godparents and we spent countless hours together as kids. She lives in Florida now after having lived in Maine for many, many years. We also share that bond of growing up together, in and out of each other’s houses, knowing siblings and parents. You’ve seen her comments on the blog. I’ll write about my cousin, Eileen, in another post – she’s family and a friend, as well.

Thinking about friends today.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

English Cottage Bedroom

February 12, 2022 at 9:08 am by Claudia

While Don was cleaning out his file drawers up in the studio and dumping stuff in a big trash bag, I was across the room in my half spontaneously working on the bedroom in the English Cottage. I played around with a few things in order to begin dressing the bed. I have two ‘iron’ beds and I’d been using the single bed because this bedroom is so tiny. But, I decided that the double bed would be the better choice. So I switched them out. Then, I put something together that works enough for me.

I’ve since tweaked that dust ruffle so it hangs correctly. The dust ruffle is a handkerchief that was sent to me by Martha, a longtime reader of the blog. It was her dear mother’s. Thank you, Martha. I finally put it to use and I love the way your mom’s hanky graces this house.

The quilt is a patchwork quilt sent to me by Barbara. When I turned it over, I discovered this print which works perfectly in the bedroom. Thank you, Barbara! I have to get pillows and a lamp and some books on the bedside table and I’m not sure if the red chair will stay, but for now, I really like it there.

Can I tell you how much I would like this to be my bedroom?

The rug was in the modern dollhouse, which I packed up for storage. Thankfully, I quickly realized how perfect it is for the bedroom.

Since I moved the red chair (made by Arlette’s miniatures) into the bedroom, I decided to use this chair that had been in the modern dollhouse in the studio:

The interior so far:

I don’t know about you, and I’m certainly not blowing my own horn, but this is a place I would find utterly charming and want to move into immediately. Preferably, somewhere in the Cotswolds.

I’m really happy about finally getting my miniature mojo back. I’ve accomplished quite a bit this week. Still more to go, but my dump-dollhouse is becoming a swan.

From the archives:

Maeve and Pippa on the piano.

Oh, as for yesterday…we did get out, just to drive to a neighboring town to buy groceries (we were out of practically everything.) I wanted to stop at an antique store there, and we did. It was the mustiest smelling place I’ve ever been in and the “antiques” were not antiques but junk. Ah well. At least we have a full larder and we took a nice drive.

Stay safe,

Happy Saturday.

A Surprise in the Mail

Friends

English Cottage Bedroom

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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