Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

  • About MHC
    • Disclosure
  • Dollhouses/Minis
    • Hummingbird Cottage
    • The Studio (Formerly TSP)
    • Dove Cottage
    • The Lake House
    • The Folk Art Dollhouse
    • The Modern Dollhouse
    • Dollhouse Source List, Information and Tutorials
  • On the Road
  • Collecting
    • Roseville Pottery
    • McCoy Pottery
    • Egg Cups
    • Bakelite
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
You are here: Home / Archives for living room

Thursday

April 27, 2023 at 9:05 am by Claudia

This morning while it was raining. Next week, the forecast has it raining every day.

We’re doing last minute things today that require Don’s physical help. He just came back from recycling (though that’s something I can do, of course.) We’re going to move the egg cup cubby so that I can get the cushions for the porch and Don can switch out a couple of guitars that are stashed there. He’s going to move the two 50 pound bags of salt that are still on the porch to the shed.

He made a pie for us yesterday because he’s going to want some after his surgery. He prefers calling it a “procedure” and maybe that’s the right word for it. It will be done in his doctor’s office. We don’t know yet what time it will be but they’re going to call us today.

I may buy some plants for my pots today. I’d like to take a run to the nursery before the weekend. Lots of people who live in the NYC area have weekend places up here and it gets annoyingly crowded there on the weekends.

Ella in red. I had a strong urge to tie a ribbon around those gorgeous curls, so I did. I have to say, once again, that FerroDolls is brilliant. Her work on faces is beautiful and complex and detailed. They’re called “Face Ups” by the way.

I wish you could feel those curls. The mohair is so, so soft.

I’ll try to write a post before we go tomorrow. It will all depend on the timing of the appointment.

Note: I’m worried about reader Brenda. I haven’t heard from her for quite a while. She hadn’t been feeling well and I also know a family trip to Indiana was planned, so I’ve held off writing about this. But, Brenda, if you’re reading this, can you check in if at all possible? I’m concerned. I’m sure other readers are as well.

Stay safe.

Happy Thursday.

 

Filed Under: Blythe dolls, Don, Ella, living room 38 Comments

Day Three Hundred Forty-Seven

February 23, 2021 at 10:09 am by Claudia

A different view. This was taken just inside the kitchen. The pantry is on my left and next to that, the kitchen door. As is, of course – Don’s laptop and headphones on the coffee table. I don’t usually highlight the clock that I bought 10 or 11 years ago, but I do love it. It’s mounted on the side of the pantry and the antique marionette plates that we bought in Paris are right below it.

Of course, I bought it because of the style and that Jadeite green color. It’s two-sided, so you can see the time from the living room and the kitchen.

Did some work on the puzzle yesterday but my lower back has been bothersome of late and leaning over the table aggravates it, so today I’m going to take it easy. I finished Mrs. Tim Carries On  this morning. I’m definitely going to read more by D. E. Stevenson. For those of you who love British books and books in general, I thought I’d mention an account I follow on Instagram that I’m sure you’d like. Her name is Miranda Mills and she frequently writes about books and reading. She also records a lot of videos, which I love. Her mother joins in on some of them, talking about books and baking. Until last year they lived in London, but they moved to Yorkshire, so you get to see a lot of the Yorkshire countryside, as well. She has two accounts: Miranda’s Bookcase, and Miranda’s Notebook. I was just watching her most recent vlog this morning, this one centering on humorous books. She is the person who turned me on to the Mrs. Tim books and many others.

And we watched The Dig  last night. We’re a little late coming to it. I have heard nothing but raves about this movie, as has Don, so we carved out some time to watch it. Simply stunning. Ralph Fiennes and Carey Mulligan are superb, as is the rest of the cast. We’re going to watch it again in a few days. As far as I’m concerned Ralph Fiennes can do no wrong. He is a superb actor – one of my favorites. If you haven’t seen it, it’s on Netflix.

Don is out shoveling. We got about 2 inches of heavy, wet snow, so for now, it looks like a winter wonderland with snow on all the branches. That will change as the day goes on and the temps reach 39.

I can appreciate it, and I do, but I’m pretty much over winter. I have to force myself to acknowledge its charms.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

Filed Under: books, living room, reading, snow 30 Comments

Sunday: The Night Circus and Hinterland

February 2, 2020 at 10:52 am by Claudia

Slice of life: Don’s glasses, some nylon guitar strings, a toleware crumber that Don gave me years ago, one of our favorite houseplants, Don’s phone and a stack of books and New Yorkers that he is reading, and my McCoy bulb planter with mahjong tiles.

It’s sunny right now but it’s going to rain this afternoon.

One more episode of Hinterland  to go and we’ll watch it tonight. Despite my complaints about the interview style, the show is truly excellent. Wonderful, rich acting by all, from the leads to the small one-time-only appearances. And a great arc of character development with the lead character that has been written and acted beautifully. I’ll miss it. I’m glad we stuck with it because it was well worth it.

I feel about Hinterland  as I do about The Night Circus  or any book, movie, series that I’ve been so caught up in that I can’t imagine it ending. And then I go through a period where I have no idea what to read or watch and everything I consider will be judged, whether fairly or unfairly, on the merits of what I’ve just finished.

I finished The Night Circus  yesterday afternoon. I loved it. It’s magical, wondrous, beautifully written and imagined. It’s a love story contained within a rich fabric of the mysterious, the imagined, shifts back and forth in time, and the relationships of all who work in or encounter this circus. The descriptions of place and time are so vivid that you feel you are there. It’s very different than most books I read and I’m so glad I pulled it off the shelf at Oblong Books a couple of months ago. I recommend it highly. In fact, I can’t recommend it enough. Be patient in the beginning as you try to sort out the movement back and forth in time. It’s well worth it.

I walked around the den, pulling this book and that book, and I finally hit on a Kate Atkinson that I’ve had in my TBR stack – Transcription. That’s what I’ll be reading next.

I didn’t get to Rick’s plants yesterday, so I’ll head on over there this morning.

Happy Sunday.

Filed Under: books, living room, reading, television 12 Comments

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 8
  • Next Page »
  • Email
  • Instagram

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.

Searching?

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

A Note

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.

Disclosure/Privacy Policy can be found in the Navigation Bar under ‘About MHC.’

Also, I love receiving comments! I do, however, reserve the right to delete any comment that is in poor taste, offensive or is verging on spam. It’s my blog. If you’re a bot or a troll you’ll be blocked. Thanks!

Archives

All Content © 2008 - 2025 Mockingbird Hill Cottage · Log in

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Reject
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT