Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Priming & Spoiler

December 20, 2021 at 9:41 am by Claudia

I spent the afternoon putting primer on the dollhouse.

Where I started.

First coat.

Second coat.

I’m going for a third coat today. I’m using Killz primer and it’s still taking more than one or two coats.

Yikes. Remember the red and brown interior rooms? Imagine how much primer it’s going to take to create a neutral palette! Yikes again.

I haven’t painted the porch floor yet, because I’m not sure if I’ll paint it or cover it in some wood veneer. Heck, I have no idea what color I’ll paint the dollhouse – though, just as happened with Hummingbird Cottage, a neutral color seems more and more appealing to me. Maybe just because I’m so glad to see that garish yellow disappear. Or something tone-on-tone, if that’s correct, like the photo above. A subtle main color with white accents.

As is always the case because I rehab dollhouses that have already been constructed, getting around areas like the porch posts and trim takes some body contortion. But it sure is nice being able to stand up at the work table Don gave me and work on the dollhouse.

For those of you who asked:

Don playing Spoiler. That circular metal disk is part of the resonator. It’s a Gretsch, which is a great brand.

Okay. Have to get a move on.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

 

Filed Under: Beacon Hill Dollhouse, dollhouse, Don, guitar 18 Comments

Flowers And A Guitar

June 26, 2021 at 9:25 am by Claudia

The coneflowers are emerging – most of them still green, but here and there, the petals are turning purple. Since they self-seed, I have more and more every year. This year, especially, I see the increase. Since – to me – they are one of those quintessential cottage garden flowers, I’m fine with that.’

And my new clematis, which I planted in the bed under the living room window has produced a lovely flower.

Well, I never got around to painting yesterday because the technician from our security company never showed up. We had a window from 12 – 4 so I decided not to paint because I didn’t want to be disrupted by his arrival. But, in the end, he was delayed and after waiting until 4:30, we called to ask them about the delay, so I could have painted, darn it! Obviously, the technician had run over in his appointments, but then they wanted us to have yet another window from 5 – 8 and Don said no. So it will be next Friday instead. This, by the way, is for some sort of upgrade they  want to do (in the middle of a pandemic no less) not for anything we requested. So I get a bit peeved when our time is wasted.

Anyway. I’m going to paint today.

I did a lot of weeding yesterday, lots of laundry, made some phone calls that I’d been putting off, paid some bills – so I accomplished a lot. Painting today will be my reward.

One of Don’s birthday presents was a very modestly priced bass guitar. (He asked for one.)

I have to say I think it’s so cool that a 70 year old guy got a bass guitar for his birthday. Don just gets cooler every year.

We are now at 8 guitars, two ukuleles, a mandolin, two desks, two additional work surfaces, a dollhouse, a dollhouse kit, two file cabinets, a china cabinet, a big old chair from the 40s, a plant stand, an old bench, a cart full of paints, and a French cabinet – all in the office/studio. It’s somewhat artfully arranged, but let’s face it, it’s packed.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

 

Filed Under: Don, flowers, garden, guitar, life 25 Comments

Still Life

January 8, 2020 at 10:25 am by Claudia

This was my view as Don and I sat on the sofa for our second cup of coffee. A still life of our favorite things. Don is playing that guitar as I write this.

I read the script for Jane Eyre  yesterday and I’ll be speaking with Elizabeth, the director, either today or tomorrow to firm up what she needs and wants from me for this production. Looks like I’ll be spending a couple of days in Hartford next week. The first rehearsal is Tuesday and I’ll work with the actors a bit on Wednesday. I may go in on Monday evening so I don’t have to stress about trying to get there in the morning with the usual traffic jams on the Interstate. We’ll see.

Today I’ll be doing research on the dialects required for this production. That’s always fun!

I’m nearing the end of Jane Eyre  (the novel.) It’s a beautifully written and powerful story. Even though I knew the story going in, I have been enriched by the pleasure of reading Brontë’s prose. I suspect I started to read it when I was young but never finished it. So here I am, all these years later, finally  reading it! It was worth the wait.

Last night, we watched the first episode of the final season of Schitt’s Creek.  I love that show and will be so sorry to see it end. It’s simply wonderful. It’s on POP TV here in the States and on the CBC in Canada. Eventually, once this airing of the final season has ended, it will move to Netflix. The actors are brilliant and actor/producer/writer Dan Levy (son of Eugene Levy) is a force to be reckoned with.

I’m off to have some breakfast and then do some work.

Happy Wednesday.

Filed Under: coaching, dollhouse, Don, guitar, miniatures 14 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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