Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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You are here: Home / Archives for life

Gardening, Reading, and Nina

April 20, 2024 at 9:34 am by Claudia

Saturday morning – a gray and gloomy looking morning, for sure. I think it rained a bit overnight. Frankly, I’m tired of all the rain we’ve been having and I’d give anything for a few days of sunshine.

Both Don and I worked outside yesterday – he cleaned up and enlarged the trails up in the woods. I dug more invasive weeds out – I swear I will be doing this all summer long – and cleaned out one of the smaller garden beds. We were tuckered out after all that work! But slowly, weather permitting, I’m making some progress on early spring cleanup.

I’m three quarters of the way through with The Black Widow  by Daniel Silva. I have two more Silvas on my TBR pile and I will then be caught up with all of his books. He has another one coming out this fall. I also have three holds in my library system: John Connolly’s newest, which I think comes out in May, the next James Lee Burke, which comes out in a couple of months, and Amor Towles’ newest book of short stories, which just came out. I’m learning I have to get in the queues as soon as I can – even if the book isn’t coming out for a few months.

It’s every man for himself in the library hold system.

A little picture of Nina, which reminds me that sometimes her glorious locks cover up her face – like now – and she looks much better this way. Note to myself: fix her hair today.

Nina was customized by a dear artist who lives in Israel. Apparently, my timing was fortuitous – Nina ended up being her last customized Blythe. She isn’t customizing anymore. I love her dolls (I have two) and would certainly consider buying more. She has such a distinctive style; her dolls are like no others. I hope this is a temporary decision on her part, but she isn’t visiting IG, and I’ve had no response to some of my messages checking in on her. There are many Blythe lovers who hope for her return.

I mean, look at that face! The subtle veins, beautiful eyebrows, the slightly open mouth with teeth – she’s stunning.

I’ve had people ask if I can post videos of the girls on the shelves. I have made videos for Instagram but transferring/posting them here is next-to-impossible. If you’re interested in them (I usually set them to music) they’re on my IG Blythe account, which is ‘sophieandherpals.’

Okay. I’m a bit late posting. Have a lovely weekend.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

Filed Under: Blythe dolls, books, life 16 Comments

Daffodils

April 8, 2024 at 8:22 am by Claudia

A photo of the daffodils at our little library, taken when we were in the midst of our walk yesterday.

This is a day when my stress level is high, my friends, so I’m going to make this brief. Thank you for understanding.

Enjoy your day and the eclipse.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

 

Filed Under: life 23 Comments

We Felt Nothing

April 6, 2024 at 8:46 am by Claudia

We’ve ignored Monty far too long. It’s high time I post a photo of him.

We found him in a little shop not long after we moved to New York. We were quite taken with the expression on his face. Several Christmases ago, I added the “necklace.” And there it has stayed.

Well, we had an earthquake yesterday.

Apparently.

We didn’t feel it. Nothing. At first I thought that maybe it was concentrated in NJ, PA, and NYC. Not here. But later in the day I saw the FB page for my little town and it seems like EVERYONE who lives here felt it. As did a friend in Woodstock, which is north of us, and friends across the river in Poughkeepsie.

We were home. We weren’t driving anywhere. I was sitting at the table working on my puzzle. Don was in the living room.

Nothing.

It’s the strangest thing! After we first moved out here, we experienced one mild earthquake in NY. We had at least one in Michigan when I was growing up. And goodness knows, I experienced them in California, both when we lived there full time and when I was there temporarily coaching for the Globe. So it’s not as if we haven’t experienced them before.

It’s a mystery and I guess we’ll never figure it out.

So, we’re fine. Though, we kind of wish we’d experienced it.

It’s supposed to rain a bit this morning. Hopefully, I can get outside this afternoon and do some work. Yesterday ended up being too windy for me – pollen flying around and allergies are not a good combination. So I stayed in.

In the meantime, there is laundry to do, puzzles to solve, books to read, and a great husband to adore.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

Filed Under: life 16 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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