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Changes: In Flowers, the Cottage, and the Weather

July 22, 2015 at 8:31 am by Claudia

7-22 hydrangea1

Hello, gorgeous!

I am fascinated by this hydrangea. I’ve been watching each blossom evolve from an off-white to tinges of pink to a deeper purple to a faded lavender. It really puts on a show.

7-22 hydrangea2

It’s doing well in its current location, which was supposed to be on the outside of the dog corral but, due to winter and our worries about Scout, is now inside the mini dog corral – next to the remembrance rose. There’s a little fence around both plants, basically to keep Scout out of there, and it seems to be working.

Let’s pause for a moment to utter a thank you. The humidity broke overnight. We couldn’t be happier. The windows are open, the front door is open, Don’s making breakfast, Scout is snoozing in the living room.

I might even be able to function today.

7-22 livingroom

The living room wall sans dollhouse. Lest I be accused of staging a photo, look closely at the desk. Yes, that’s my duster.

The Maxfield Parrish has been moved to this new position and we love it here. It’s much easier to see and it’s not hidden in a darkish corner like…

7-22 DH

the dollhouse is. It’s not all  that dark, but it’s very difficult to photograph the outside with the light from the window to its left.

But I like it here in the den because I can see it from my good old blogging chair. That’s a good and a bad thing. I can see it, but that also means I think about it a lot, which means I’m constantly dreaming of new accessories. Which means I have to pull the reins in on my “I want” list.

Moving the desk was a good thing but the whole situation arose out of a need to keep the dollhouse safe when Scout bumped into the dollhouse table. So we still had to move the pottery that was on the desk or it might have suffered the same potential crash-to-the-floor fate.

7-22 bookshelves

The two smaller McCoy vases are now on the bookshelves.

7-22 sideboard

The large vase has moved to the sideboard.

I promise I am not going to become a blogger that informs you about every item I move from one place to another in the cottage. Lord, no. Just the bigger changes. Since I had written about Scout’s problems and the need to relocate the dollhouse, I thought I’d share the end results with you.

Frankly, I don’t move things around all that often – when it happens, it’s usually out of necessity.

Although I may write a triumphant post when I finally move all the crap off the kitchen table.

Happy Wednesday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: decorating, flowers, garden 44 Comments

Midsummer Garden: Hot and Humid

July 20, 2015 at 8:19 am by Claudia

What do the weather people say? Hazy, Hot, and Humid? HHH?

Yep. We’ve got it.

And like an idiot I mowed some of our massive front lawn yesterday. Not all of it, I’m not totally insane, but a good three quarters of it. The irony is that I declined an invitation from Don to attend a street festival where a lot of his friends were going to be playing music. I don’t do well in humidity – my sinuses and allergies go haywire and I usually end up feeling sick – so the thought of standing around in 95 degree temps, looking at a lot of people wearing tie-dyed shirts and patchouli oil, was not at all attractive. (I’ve never, even in my youth when it came into being, liked the tie-dyed look. Or the smell of patchouli oil.)

Then, because I wanted to do  something, I ended up mowing. In that same HHH weather.

And when Don came home, he wasn’t faring too well, either. Too much heat, too much sun, too much humidity. We spent the rest of the day praising our air conditioner.

Even with all of that, that guy brought me a present – some pretty earrings that I love. xo

Some photos from the gardens:

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7-20 side garden

7-20 bee balm

7-20 former clematis

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7-20 sidegarden2

7-20 view of the porch

Best time in the garden: mid to late July.

What’s the weather like in your neck of the woods?

By the way, today is the last chance to leave a comment on my post, Self-Care: Maintaining Balance. If you leave a comment, you’ll be entered for a chance to win a $100 Visa Gift Card.

Happy Monday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

 

 

Filed Under: flowers, garden 40 Comments

In The Garden And In Print

July 18, 2015 at 8:50 am by Claudia

We went on a Target run yesterday morning (more throw rugs for Scout, food, etc.) with a stop along the way at Five Guys.

I know. Greasy french fries. Wonderfully greasy. I can’t help it. They’re the best fries in my little world. Lunch consisted of an order of fries, some root beer, and when I got home, a couple of slices of cheese for protein.

Anyway, we checked the mailbox on the way up the driveway and, lo and behold, there was a big white envelope from a certain magazine.

Just to prepare you, my hair was a mess and I had no makeup on. Sadly, this is often the case around here, whether I’ve been running errands or not.

7-18 me holding magazine

There it is!

7-18 me holding article

And there’s the article. In print! And it’s 7 pages long, not 6. I miscounted!

Don, always my biggest supporter, kept saying how proud he was of me. All day long. He’s a gem.

7-18 copies of mag

I purchased five copies. One to cut up and frame. One to take down to Florida to show my dad and sister when I visit. Three to save.

I’m dead chuffed, as they say on the other side of the pond. Translation: I’m very pleased, indeed.

Does this make me an American Miniaturist? If so, I’m thrilled!

7-18 self-seeders

Garden news: the Rudbeckia/Brown-Eyed Susan I planted down in the far right corner of the big garden bed self-seeded and I have two new (and big) plants that have been rather conveniently situated in what was previously a bare patch.

Lucky me!

7-18 browneyed susan1

I love these incredibly cheery flowers.

7-18 browneyed susan2

This one looks like it’s raising its petals to the sun. Or perhaps it’s performing an interpretive dance?

It’s a rainy day here. Reading, cleaning, and some mini work are on the docket. I hope your Saturday is a splendid one.

Happy Saturday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

 

Filed Under: American Miniaturist Magazine, dollhouse, flowers, garden, miniatures 80 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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