gifts — Page 24

A Walk, A Gift, An Update, A Party

August 27, 2012 at 9:15 am by Claudia

Lately, we’ve been taking long walks on our local rail trail. We don’t take nearly enough advantage of it. We’re trying to change that. A brisk walk is good for the soul, the body and the mind.

The sun was bright – it was high noon – and I was shooting with my iPhone – so there’s a bit of graininess.

A couple of days earlier, these beauties were off in the distance; yesterday they were right by the fence.

Could that baby be any more adorable? And mom had the most beautiful eyes. I’m glad I’m a vegetarian.

That’s the ridge in the background. We have that same view, especially in the wintertime, from our little cottage.

And look who we found on the path:

It’s been a week now since we lost Riley. Each new day brings a small measure of healing. I’ve been watching Scout closely and I can tell she is not herself. She looks for Riley. She does that nesting thing – pawing at the rug – far more than she used to, and she does it a bit obsessively. She used to do it on the rug in the den. Now she also does it on the rug in the living room where Riley spent most of his time. She’s very clingy. She’s anxious. She doesn’t understand why Riley isn’t here and it is deeply upsetting to her. We are showering her with attention and love. But the poor thing is a bit lost and lonely for her brother. So am I.

My friend Judy sent me a package which arrived on Saturday. Enclosed was a beautiful sympathy card with a little note saying “these might bring a smile to your face.”

You’re darn right they do! You know I love these little elfin creatures called Nisse. If you remember, Judy handmade one for me a few months back when we did a swap. I sent her one of my Obsession Scarves. This was such a wonderful surprise. Thank you, Judy. By the way, Judy has a new blog called 20 North Ora (the same name as her wildly successful Etsy shop) and I know she’d love it if you dropped by.

I hope all of my readers find their way to my new site here on WordPress. If they’ve subscribed via Google Friend Connect, they are not going to get my feed. If you know of someone looking for the blog, please send her/him my way. It’s the same URL and it’s easy to subscribe to my feed.

This Saturday, September 1st, will be the first A Favorite Thing party. I sure hope you can join in. Every week, we will share a favorite thing; whether it’s a cherished antique, a book, a piece of furniture, a vintage find. It could be a camera or a laptop or a new washing machine (goodness knows, my laptop and camera are among my favorite things!) I will post the necessary link information on Friday evening around 8 pm and it will stay open for linking through Sunday.

Quick question: Are these photos too large for you? I’m experimenting – they are a little large for my 13″laptop screen but I know readers like large photos. Let me know what you think. Update: I think they might be too large, so I changed the size.

Have a wonderful Monday.

Gifts, Shop Update & a Rose

May 31, 2012 at 8:03 am by Claudia

The heat and humidity have broken and it’s a glorious, sunny morning here at MHC. The grass has had the temerity to grow and I see a few days of mowing in the near future. (Sssh – don’t tell anyone, but I sort of like mowing.)

I have to share something with you that I received from my friend, Judy Clark. Judy has a wonderful Etsy shop that is wildly popular, 20 North Ora. Her pillows, banners and other creations are simply beautiful. Judy and were talking a while back and she mentioned that she’d like an Obsession Scarf. I knew that she had made a Nisse doll for Brenda, so I boldly asked if we could do a swap. (I wrote all about my obsession for these sweet dolls here.)

She agreed. I sent her the scarf and here’s what arrived on my doorstep the other day:

I think I got the better end of the deal. Oh. my. goodness. Isn’t she sweet? I am thrilled. I love the fabrics Judy chose, don’t you? Judy also sent along those cute pinwheels and a banner/bunting/garland (I’m never sure what to call these) that I found the perfect place for:

The dollhouse looks rather festive now, don’t you think? Just in time for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Thank you, Judy. Your work is exquisite and I will treasure your creations. Make sure you stop by Judy’s shop and see what she’s been creating.

I suppose it will be my Diamond Jubilee later this year, too. Yikes. Perhaps someone will design a bunting/garland in honor of that occasion? (I’m going to try to ignore it.)

Speaking of Etsy, I have a little update for you. I’ve listed my Crochet Flower Garland.

Initially, I’m listing the garland in the same colors I used in my own garland. I’m making them as they are ordered, so allow a few days before shipping. Each garland will have 12 flowers – 6 in aqua and 6 in the pale aqua. I’ll also include a length of ribbon.

I use Peaches & Creme yarn for these because it has a slightly stiffer quality that works well for the flowers. I ordered it in other colors, as well, so if you’re interested in the garland in another color combination, email me or convo me on Etsy and we’ll talk.

And it wouldn’t be my blog in the spring without a flower photo:

This is the New Dawn Rose that I planted last year. I’m training it to climb up the porch railing. I think this is my favorite rose (don’t tell the others) because that soft, blush pink is so beautiful.

I have to store up all the gloriousness (is that a word?) of the garden in my heart and mind. Its time is so fleeting. I’m so glad I’m home this spring to enjoy every moment of it.

Happy Thursday.

Like Water for Rocks

April 4, 2012 at 8:34 am by Claudia

Thank goodness for this lovely. Because all I’ve seen for days, weeks and months is this:

This is only a small section, folks. Not all of those clumps are rocks, by the way. But many, many of them are. Let me tell you, if I spent all day, every day, all summer long, trying to pick up every rock in this expanse of dirt, I still wouldn’t succeed. I’m going to rename this property. No longer Mockingbird Hill Cottage, the new name is Don and Claudia’s Rock Quarry.

Endless. Mind numbing. Back breaking. Fruitless. Depressing. I think that about covers it.

So yesterday we reseeded. This took quite a while as, and I know I’ve said this before, most recently in the first full paragraph of this post, this is a huge expanse of dirt. Then I hooked up the hose and watered it. This took a long while. No sooner had I done it, than the ground looked dry again. Hmmm. So I searched for our sprinkler and hooked that up. By this time, Don had left for work. I knew I would have to do all this watering in sections. When I went out to move the sprinkler, I skidded in wet mud. There was mud all over my jeans, my muck shoes, the hose – you name it. After doing this a few times, I wised up and gingerly tried to move the sprinkler to a new section of dirt by pulling on the hose. I didn’t want to have to shut off the water every time I moved it because our hook-up is way around the other side of the house, so of course, I got drenched with water each time.

Fun times.

According to my entirely self-imposed schedule, I’m supposed to mulch today. I’m sore, tired and have to do some more work on The Tempest. So you know what? I just might wait to mulch until I come back home for a few days next week. At the moment it just seems too overwhelming.

On to other things. Having my own post office box, a new thing for me, is fun. I don’t get to the post office often – maybe once a week. On Monday I dropped in to mail a package and I had two notices of packages waiting!

Regula, who lives in Switzerland, sent me CHOCOLATE. After my post about the Spicy Hot Chocolate (which Don, it turns out, likes) she took pity on me and sent me some real Swiss Chocolate. That will be going with me to Hartford. She also sent individually wrapped pieces of milk chocolate and, I think, an herbal tea, plus a crystal heart and a doily. Yesterday, with its endless wrestling with dirt and mud, turned out to be the perfect day to sample some of those little pieces of chocolate. Okay, many. Delicious! Thank you, Regula!

And Carol (who hails from Tennessee) sent me this:

A Bride and Groom she found while thrifting. They are lovely. You are so sweet, Carol, and I thank you so much for thinking of me!

Blogging Friends are Real Friends. Virtual-Smirtual. They are real as real can be.

Have a wacky Wednesday.

A Walk, A Gift, An Update, A Party

Gifts, Shop Update & a Rose

Like Water for Rocks

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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