Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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You are here: Home / Archives for gifts

Flowers and Gifts

July 15, 2010 at 7:22 am by Claudia


Queen Anne’s Lace grew everywhere in my neighborhood when I was little girl. I don’t think I really appreciated the delicate beauty of this flower until recently. It was a weed, everyone said. Weed: implying bothersome, something to be yanked out of the ground. Thank goodness I’m older and somewhat wiser. This is a flower. It graces us with its presence in fields, at the side of a road or, in my case, under the shade of the catalpa tree.

Thank you so much for your wonderful suggestions about the table. What varied responses! I heard from some new (to me) readers, too. It seems most of you are pro painting. Some suggested just painting the legs and leaving the top dark, some suggested different colors….I’ve read them all and now I am in the process of ‘pondering.’ As I sit in my blogging chair, I can see it in the kitchen. I stare at it. A lot.

It’s too hot to paint at the moment – which gives me a little more time to consider all my options.

I received packages from two of my friends this week. I met both of them through blogging. First was a box from my wonderful friend, Brenda of Cozy Little House. She was cleaning out her linen closet and found a few things she thought I’d like. And she threw in a book, too.


Beautiful pillow cases, some crochet and a pretty book. Thank you, Brenda!

Ann Marie of Frog Hollow Farm Girl wrote me a note when I was posting my embroidery for the Stitchalong and asked me if I would be interested in some of her late mother’s embroidery supplies. I was so touched and honored that she would want to share something so precious to her Mom with me. I received two packages yesterday.


Beautiful embroidery floss and several hoops.


Also included were some neat metallic yarns and a note from Ann Marie. What a special note this was: she told me the story of her mother, Lilly, who was born in Ireland and trained as a nurse and midwife. She eventually sailed to the United States and met Ann Marie’s father Anthony and became an American citizen in the 70’s. Lilly passed along her love of cooking, gardening, reading and entertaining to Ann Marie.

I know how much Ann Marie misses her mother and I am moved beyond measure at this lovely gift. Thank you, Ann Marie.

How blessed am I by the wonderful friends I have met through this little blog!

Filed Under: Fellow bloggers, flowers, gifts 31 Comments

A Wonderful Gift

May 28, 2010 at 12:05 am by Claudia

About a week ago, I received an email from my friend, Becky. Many of you know Becky, who writes the wonderful blog, Sweet Cottage Dreams. If you don’t know her, please visit. She has wonderful style, a compassionate heart, and two of the cutest Scotties ever. Becky said she wanted to send me something that was perfect for me. Of course! (I love presents.)

Today, Becky’s package arrived. I saw this envelope upon opening the box:


Scottie stationery


And this is what I unwrapped:


Oh my goodness, I am in love. This is a vintage fuzzy Koala and baby that is a bank! Look, I’ll show you.

This is the sweetest little bank. It is on the coffee table right now. I adore it.

Thank you, Becky, for this sweet, unexpected gift. I’ve been smiling all day.

In other news, Mom is home from the hospital. I’m afraid we don’t know much more about what caused her problems. She is tired, but happy to be home.

When I was at the beach on Wednesday, I gazed upon the Pacific Ocean and thought how clear, clean and blue it was….and relatively safe from the oil spill. Our friends in Louisiana and along the Gulf Coast do not have that luxury. How awful it must be for them, their livelihoods and for all the sea life in danger. It will have ramifications for all of us.

Today, I am having lunch with another blogger, Maryjane of The Beehive Cottage. We’ve never met before. We are going to meet in Temecula and shop and eat. I will take photos, of course!

Have a wonderful day.

Filed Under: Fellow bloggers, gifts 14 Comments

A Reunion & a Package in the Mail

May 25, 2010 at 10:45 am by Claudia

Good morning! As you know, I attended a memorial last night for Craig Noel, the man who shaped this theater for 70 years, first as an actor and director – then after WWII, as the Artistic Director. It was beautifully done, with tributes from many actors and directors who worked with Craig over the years. At the end of his career, he was awarded the National Medal of the Arts – the nation’s highest honor for artistic excellence – at the White House. I was proud to have known and worked with him, to have called him my friend. I worked as a vocal coach on many shows he directed and he never gave up trying to get me to act in one of them. He was passionate about theater, about education (he founded the MFA program that brought me out to San Diego in 1993), about actors and how theater could enrich the community. He had a wonderful laugh and a wicked sense of humor. He was a mentor to so many – he was my husband’s mentor. Craig was the kind of man who enriched and touched the life of everyone around him.

So many people were there from years past; it was amazing. I saw many, many old friends and students. It was that rare event that became a reunion. I was very conscious that an era had ended and that I would never be with all these wonderful artists again. So today I am reflecting on a life well lived and on all the people who are better for having known Craig Noel.

I have to switch direction a bit here to share a package that arrived in my mail slot yesterday. I waited until I arrived back at the apartment to open it.


International Air Mail! It was from my friend Norma who lives in Australia. What is inside?



My very own cuddly Koala – and baby! Norma wrote me after reading my post about Darcy and said she was sending me a cuddly Koala. Isn’t Mrs. Koala adorable?


A close-up of the little baby. Remember that list of possible names? I have to go back to it and pick out names for these two.

Norma told me that there is a place in Sydney where you can visit Koalas who have been raised to be around humans. You can cuddle them. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?

Thank you, Norma for this wonderful gift. I am very touched by your thoughtful gesture. As I mention frequently, the generosity of bloggers continues to amaze me.

Have a wonderful day.

Filed Under: gifts 21 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.

Thanks for stopping by.

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