Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Bed Makers & Non-Bed Makers – Which Are You?

October 19, 2011 at 5:00 am by Claudia

As I was washing the sheets today, I pondered bed making. Do you think, as I do, that people are divided into two groups: those who make their beds every day and those who don’t? I know people who never make their beds. They change and wash sheets, of course, and perhaps for a few hours the bed is freshly made, but for the most part it isn’t. And it doesn’t seem to concern them one bit.

I have a sneaking suspicion that Don, for example, would never make his bed if he hadn’t met me. After 17 years together, I’ve trained him well enough that even when I am out of town he will make the bed. Maybe not as early in the day as I would, but he’ll get around to it.

You can surely tell that I am a staunch and true member of the Bed Makers Club. The bed has to be made. End of discussion. I don’t necessarily like the process of bed making, but I love the end result. When Don was sick a few weeks back, he stayed in bed for 2 days. It killed me. I desperately wanted to make that bed. The only time I really don’t care about whether the bed gets made or not is when I’m really sick. When I had my surgery this past summer, for a few days I cared not a whit about the bed. Then, for a period of a month, per doctor’s orders, all I could do was pull the covers up. No lifting of the mattress. No tucking.

Didn’t like.

I’m curious about those who spend a fortune on expensive sheets and pillows and dust ruffles and never make their beds. I’d like to have a little chat with them and find out what makes them tick. They, in turn, might examine my need to make the bed and conclude that I am a wee bit anal.

I can’t help it. I love the look of a freshly made bed. It satisfies me. Even if I never get back in the bedroom until it’s time to go to bed, I know the bed looks nice. There are the rare occasions when I am so caught up in events or errands that I forget to make the bed. When I innocently walk upstairs later in the day and see it in all its unmade-ness, I gasp. I’m not kidding. Ask my husband.

So, even though I know we need a new mattress, that we need a king size rather than a queen size bed, that I’d like a new blanket, I can ignore all that if the bed looks crisp and pretty.

By the way, when I was in Wisconsin this summer, I was informed that Tempur-Pedic had donated lots of their beds to the theater and that I would have one in my apartment.  I had my doubts about whether I would like it (“it’s a foam mattress” kept running through my brain) but I have doubts no longer. Oh my goodness, I loved that mattress. No more sore hip if I stayed in one position too long, no sore lower back from sleeping on my back. Hey, I’m in my fifties; I need more cushioning. The whole memory foam thing is true. It really does shape to your body. Alas, they’re pretty expensive and must remain on my ‘someday’ list. I know that mattresses are highly personal choices but if you get a chance to try a Tempur-Pedic, you should. And no, I’m not getting compensated for this, I just really miss sleeping on that mattress!

But, as usual, I digress. Back to my question. Are you a bed maker or are you a non-bed maker? Tell me. Share your thoughts on the subject. I’m conducting an unofficial poll.

Filed Under: life, question 45 Comments

Reality Shot Thursday #3

October 13, 2011 at 12:01 am by Claudia

Hello everyone! Welcome to Reality Shot Thursday, where we take our cameras, move them just a bit to the left or right of our pretty staged photos and share the results.

This week: an area of my home that has been the focus of a few pretty photos in the past. Here’s what it looks like now:

Let’s look a little closer. And bear in mind, this is a dark corner, so the photos are a tad grainy.

This desk has become a catch-all for receipts, mail, pieces of paper that we don’t know what to do with, and spare change. And, apparently, a used kleenex (I’m the guilty party.)

Above the desk:

My filing system. Every piece of mail or paperwork that eventually has to go upstairs is shoved here. And it stays there until I can’t stand it anymore. Since I’m in the midst of this awful cold, the mess will stay there a while longer.

As you can see, I have made a few changes on the blog – a new banner and a new background. My blog designer is no longer in business and I have been craving a lighter look. So I took the reins. I hope you like it.

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If you’re taking part in Reality Shot Thursday:
Publish your post. Please remember to link back to me.
Click on the title for your post and copy that post’s URL from the top of your browser.
Use the link tool at the bottom of this post and paste the URL into the appropriate box – just follow the directions.




Filed Under: life 16 Comments

Reality Shot Thursday

September 28, 2011 at 8:02 pm by Claudia

Welcome to the first Reality Shot Thursday!

I think all the gorgeous photos out there in the blogiverse are wonderful. I love seeing them and I’m continually impressed by how beautifully they are staged. That being said, it’s easy to think that bloggers actually live that way every day. And maybe some do. But most of us don’t. We move aside piles of stuff to create a pretty vignette to photograph. So I thought: why not post what I call a Reality Shot once a week? My first Reality Shot was last Thursday and this is the first week of the weekly meme. I’m so glad you’re here.

My shot this week needs some background.

This is the bench in my kitchen. We keep various tools and other essentials inside the bench. I added some cushions with different patterns and textures that tied in with the colors in the kitchen. I used to post some of my photos on Houzz and this one has the most hits, which continually surprises me. Over 270 people have added it to their ideabooks. I just checked and it’s still being added on a daily basis. Go figure.

Here is the way it looks on a normal day (if only we had a mud room!):

Cushions not perfectly aligned
Shoes under the bench
damp, muddy towels used to wipe the dogs’ paws in the wet, rainy weather
a staple gun
the cardboard holder for a saw – we’d lost it and then I found it on the floor under the bench
Scout’s dog leash
more towels under the bench

Also: the photo quality isn’t as good as the first photo – it was a gray day.

That’s real life in our house.


If you’re taking part in Reality Shot Thursday:
Publish your post.
Click on the title for your post and copy that post’s URL from the top of your browser.
Use the link tool at the bottom of this post and paste the URL into the appropriate box – just follow the directions.

Filed Under: life 17 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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The Dogs

The Dogs

Scout & Riley. Riley left us in 2012. Scout left us in February 2016. Dearest babies. Dearest friends.

Winston - Our first dog. We miss you, sweetheart.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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Thanks for visiting! Feel free to browse, read and enjoy. All content is my own; including photos and text. Please do not use anything on this site without permission.

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