Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Life in our little cottage in the country

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Springifying the Dollhouse

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Well, we had a mix up at the mechanics yesterday morning and the parts hadn’t arrived yet. So I came back home and I’ll be going back there early this morning.

When I got home I decided to do some work on the dollhouse. Whenever I feel stressed, I find it really helps to concentrate on something creative. It’s my very own crafty version of “Calgon, take me away!” Since Spring is here and I can’t do anything with my garden yet (May 1st is the magic date here in the Northeast) I thought I’d springify (my new word) Hummingbird Cottage.

How about some flowers in the window boxes?

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One…..

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Two….

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Three.

And on to another little dollhouse project. Remember that I told you I had plans for the tower at the top of the house? Don came up with the initial idea. He’s awfully creative, that guy. Well, today I started on it. That room is going to be a potting shed of sorts. And I’m going to eventually have a little rooftop garden.

But first, the beginning of the potting shed.

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I started out painting the walls a pale aqua. But it didn’t turn out as pale as I wanted it to. So I wiped some of it off and the uneven surface on the walls brought out an interesting texture. Then I thought about this being some attic room at one point that the owner had turned into a potting shed, so I aged the walls a bit.

Then, after considering floor possibilities and not being in the mood to cut sticks and paint them individually, I decided to paint some left over beadboard a vivid red. It was sort of a ‘what the heck’ moment.

And I find I like it!

The sink was the top part of a bathroom sink unit that was out of scale for the dollhouse. It was too tall. So I took it apart and just used the sink. Then I attached some legs. I removed one of the faucets and, you can sort of see it here, attached it to the outside wall. I’m going to figure out how to make a hose.

By the way, the cherub artifact on the wall should NOT have a red nose. I have to sand that red paint off. I think it got there when I was painting the floor.

Unless the cherub is a clown cherub…

Eventually, I’m going to add some pots and a bench and some tools (rakes, trowels, etc.) I ordered a few things today from a supplier and I’m excited about adding them to the room. Maybe some hooks to hang the tools from?

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I’m excited about this new space.

Hummingbird Cottage has a potting shed!

Where is Mockingbird Hill Cottage’s potting shed?

Happy Thursday.

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On Her Rounds

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Thank you for your loving and compassionate comments on yesterday’s post. Your words help me in what is a difficult and stressful time. You are the best, my friends.

No walk yesterday for Scout. I wanted her to take it easy. She was tired and sore but she has such a strong spirit, such a zest for life. Later in the day, I went to the kitchen door to see if she was ready to come in from outside and I saw her loping, almost galloping, along as she ran in from the back of the corral.

I shook my head in wonder. That girl is amazing.

And then I immediately called Don to tell him about it.

She has her ups and downs. But she is, and has always been, the most magical, life-filled, spirited dog I’ve been lucky enough to know.

Here she is on her rounds (excuse the view of the toilet):

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She has to check out the bathroom; must sniff the trash, the toilet and the bathtub. Several times a day.

This will be a short post. I have to take the car in for some repairs this morning. We’re trying to keep our 13 year old car going as long as we can. Fingers crossed.

Happy Wednesday.

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Comfort and Changes

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hotchocolate

Late afternoon hot chocolate will soon be just a memory.

Not quite yet, but soon.

I’ve been so good about eliminating sugar from my diet, but I must confess that this little indulgence is one I have allowed myself. It’s a comforting ritual, this late-in-the-day treat. It usually coincides with one of Scout’s meals. While I am preparing her dinner, I’m also heating up the milk, stirring in the chocolate and occasionally indulging in some marshmallows. After Scout’s needs are all sorted out, I carry my cup into the den, sit in my chair and slowly sip my hot chocolate.

It’s been there for me throughout the winter, through all the snow shoveling and ice chipping and roof raking. On days when Nor’easters were swirling and blowing all around the cottage, when snow was falling at an alarming rate, I took comfort in my guilty pleasure.

Some hot chocolate, some reading material, sometimes some music, sometimes quiet. Lovely.

I awoke at 5:30 this morning to the sound of Scout falling. Yesterday she had trouble getting up after a nap and fell a couple of times. I assume the same thing happened this morning. I ran downstairs and saw she was having difficulty walking. But once I let her outside and she walked around, she was okay. It’s hard to see this happening as it brings back memories of Riley’s struggles. I think her hind legs sometimes buckle when she first gets up after sleeping for a long time.

Sigh. This is very hard. My agile Border Collie is struggling.

My mom is also declining. Things have changed in the last few days. She was given a chest x-ray, but it’s clear, so no pneumonia. Her breathing, according to Meredith, is shallow. She doesn’t speak anymore. She sleeps most of the time and when she is awake, she stares blankly. No recognition of anyone. Both Meredith and I, and even my dad, feel that her transition is in the near future.

Her body has become her prison and she needs to be set free. Of that I am certain.

I now bring the phone into my bedroom at night. Just in case.

That these thoughts about my mother and Scout are constantly in my mind is obvious, I’m sure. They are never far away, hovering in the background as I move through the day, always ready to take over and make me stop in my tracks.

That’s where I am today.

Happy Tuesday.

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Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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