Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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You are here: Home / Archives for life

A Touch of Green

January 4, 2013 at 8:11 am by Claudia

plant

A little touch of green helps so much in this landscape of white, brown and gray. Thank goodness for house plants! And color, yet another reason why I like color in my house. If my house was filled with whites and neutrals right now, I’d have to do something desperate. And we don’t want that, do we? As it is, this very cold weather has insured that none of the snow is melting in the near future.

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Oh reliable, dependable pothos, I love you. I can neglect you and still you hang in there and when I come to my senses and water you, you are perky once again, almost as if you were never thirsty in the first place.

I’m loving my new camera. My favorite subject remains my little girl. As Don says, she’s the most photographed member of our family.

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She’s never very pleased when I follow her around begging her to stay still and pose for me. This was taken in the kitchen and she was much more interested in the possibility of food.

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I ask you, how could I not take pictures of this girl?

I am now realizing that yesterday’s post might have been confusing. I’m finishing the afghan in the normal way: adding a yarn border. The batting and the backing are for the quilt top that I finished a couple of years ago and that I am now making my winter project. Sorry for any confusion.

I’ll be back at 8:00 pm EST for A Favorite Thing. And now I’m off to take my coolant-guzzling car in to be checked.

Happy Friday.

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Filed Under: life, pets, photography 38 Comments

The Check’s in the Mail

December 28, 2012 at 7:30 am by Claudia

A reminder about the great holiday deal going on at the Frédéric Fekkai Website – valid on all items. With a minimum $50 purchase, you will receive 10% off your order and a complimentary exclusive holiday headband. You can read more about the products in my post here. And be sure to visit the website to explore.

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I thought you’d get a kick out of this. I wrote “A miracle is a change in thought,” one of my favorite quotes, on the chalkboard quite a while ago.  One day I came home and saw my husband’s addition – which made me laugh out loud. I wanted to say, “You got that right, buddy!”

Which is why I shoveled for over 4 hours yesterday. I have a job that I have to get to today. I need the ‘check in the mail.’ I have never shoveled such heavy, wet snow. Just shoveling the stuff at the end of the driveway from the snowplows on our road took me over an hour and a half. I have to say that about a quarter of the way through it all, I thought I wouldn’t be able to do it and I started crying. I was exhausted. I took a break, came in and called Don, drank some water and ate some protein and I went back out again. And again. And again.

Normally I’m not fazed by shoveling snow but this stuff was terrible. The snow had turned to rain during the night and by the time I got to it at 8:30 AM, it was impossible to move. Every part of my body is sore.

On top of all that, I am worried about boarding my Scoutie. I trust she will be okay, but I’m worried about her. I feel guilty. Please send positive thoughts her way, my friends. I want her to weather this easily and happily. I have to do it again later in January.

I’m glad Don is working and is in sunny San Diego, but I’ve got to tell you, I’m jealous. I miss him. I also miss his shoveling assistance.

Happy Friday.

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Filed Under: life 61 Comments

Camera Love & Flannel Pajamas

December 21, 2012 at 8:00 am by Claudia

It’s amazing what a good camera can do. Let me stop and say that my other camera is very good indeed and has served me well. I plan to keep it around here because I’m rather fond of it. However, this new camera is…well, it is several steps up and, goodness, I am in love.

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Oh, that bokeh. I’m sure glad it’s Christmas time, if only for the Christmas tree lights! It’s a perfect time to experiment.

And here comes Scout, wondering why the heck I’m taking her picture yet again.

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If looks could kill.

Scout is always highly photogenic, but I’m loving the detail in these photos. And the bokeh. And the light shining through her pink ears.

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Pretty dried hydrangeas. Ah, camera, you make me very happy.

In other news, my squirrel flannel pajamas are showing signs of wear and tear. A tear in the back, worn fabric near the pockets and, ahem, a rip in the crotch…so I had to buy a new pair.

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I got these at Target. Nick and Nora – my favorite brand of PJs. I love the color and the little birds on wintry branches. After I came home with them and wore them a few days, Don said he missed my squirrel pajamas (probably because he gave them to me.) He sounded so forlorn that I wore them every night until he left for San Diego. Sort of sweet, don’t you think?

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Fellow flannel pajamas lovers, I plan on having some sort of bloggie get together in January or February. On a date I will set later, each of us will link up with a photo of ourselves wearing our flannel pajamas or with a photo of the pajamas themselves. They can be simple or funny or anything you like. We’ll call it Flannel Pajamas Day. What do you think of that idea? Hey, don’t worry. I’ll have a big old picture of me in my pajamas. I promise.

I’ll be back tonight at 8:00 est for A Favorite Thing – Holiday Edition.

A reminder about the great holiday deal going on at the Frédéric Fekkai Website – valid on all items. With a minimum $50 purchase, you will receive 10% off your order and a complimentary exclusive holiday headband. You can read more about the products in my post here. And be sure to visit the website to explore.

Happy Friday.

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Filed Under: camera, life, pajamas, Scout 68 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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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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