Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Day Two Hundred Ninety-Six

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We have snow coming later today, somewhere from 2-4-6 inches, depending on the individual forecast. It starts during the day. We’re looking forward to watching it fall. (The last snowfall occurred during the night.)

Drum roll. Don’s present arrived yesterday after 3½ weeks of going nowhere. So we wrapped our presents to each other – we each had one late package – and opened them in the evening. I gave Don a book that he wanted. He gave me a miniature side table for the English Cottage. (I just so happened to send him a link and he took the hint.)

I took these this morning and it was still fairly dark outside. I’ll get better photos for you later.

Isn’t it lovely? I believe the seller found it at an estate sale. I don’t know how old it is, but I suspect it’s from the 80s or 90s. It’s handmade. It’s actually prettier in person than it was in the photos on Etsy.

I’d like a real-life version of this table. The scallops and curves are beautiful.

A view from a little further back:

Note how you can see one of Don’s Big Boys through the window in both photos – and an old black and white photo of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. That makes me laugh. A lot of miniaturists use backdrops and I suppose I should – eventually. But when something is in process, I figure you understand.

I also received a thumb latch door handle, which I’ve already installed on the exterior of the door. I tried to get a photo of it, but it was too dark in the room to get a good shot. I’ll share that with you tomorrow, hopefully.

It’s taking shape, my friends, it’s taking shape.

Also, our neighbor brought over some eggs for us. Her chickens have finally started laying.

Aren’t they beautiful? I love those soft pastels. I guess chickens often stop laying eggs in the winter but these guys are obviously on a different schedule.

They’re almost too pretty to eat!

17 days. Ignore the shenanigans from the Republicans in the House and Senate. It’s bad performance art. Seditious bad performance art, but bad performance art, nonetheless.

Okay. Time to go. Have to do a little prep for the upcoming snow.

Stay safe.

Day Two Hundred Ninety-Two

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Today is grocery shopping day, so we’re going to go early – as always. Then we’ll hunker down at home and have our second cup of coffee. The coffee is our reward for masking up and hand sanitizing and everything involved in taking a trip to the grocery store.

A reminder of what the English Cottage, aka Dove Cottage, looked like the day I found it at the dump:

All by its lonesome, abandoned by its owners, missing shutters, windows, doors and trim.

Someone had to rescue it.

Just the other day:

I’m quite happy with the way this renovation has turned out. I have a beautiful door handle – a thumb latch – on its way to me. This particular Etsy seller, who I’ve ordered from before, only had one left in stock. So the door will have an exterior handle and when more are available, I’ll order one for the interior. I’m thinking of porch lights on either side of the door. And then I have to figure what I want to do with the ‘porch’ area. I’ve got ideas.

One of my Christmas presents from Don was this battery operated lighting fixture. I never wire my houses for electricity because I look at all that is involved and immediately say, “Nope!” I wish I was braver. I’m not. Luckily, there are battery operated lights available. All of my houses need them so I’ll add them over time because they’re not cheap. Anyway, this one is a bit taller than I had thought so I’ll hang it over the kitchen island. They are made with a too shiny brass, so I always age them a bit. I aged it the day before yesterday. I’ll hold off hanging it until I’m sure of the exact placement of the island. If you’re looking for battery operated lights, most miniature shops carry them. But the shop with the greatest variety is the Little Dollhouse Company in Toronto. That’s where Don got this fixture.

Someday, when all of this is finished, I’d love to visit that shop and revisit Tiny Doll House in NYC. I’ve been there before but it’s been a long time. A simple trip on the bus into the city seems unimaginable at the moment. And to think we used to do it all the time!

So. Grocery shopping. Disinfecting. Coffee. That’s on the docket for today.

Thanks for all your comments yesterday! Love seeing what you’re reading.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

 

Day Two Hundred Ninety

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I ordered two jigsaw puzzles for this winter. I’ve been eyeing the puzzles offered by John Derian. Since I can’t get to his shop in NYC, I ordered them online. I was going to order them from his site but the shipping was really pricey, so I caved and ordered through Amazon Prime.

Aren’t they gorgeous? Butterflies and a nineteenth century map of New York City. Derian’s work and aesthetic are exquisite. He’s on IG and I’ve spent hours looking at photos of his NYC apartment and his home on Long Island. I absolutely love the way he decorates. I’d like to be him when I grow up!

I digress. Winter is here, which means more time inside and I need something to do besides reading and working on dollhouses. So…puzzles are back. I’m not sure when I’m going to start one, but soon.

A reader of this blog – Janet – contacted me and asked whether I wanted a piece or two of the Petite Princess furniture she had when she was a child. I already had a couple of them, but I didn’t have the chaise. She generously sent it to me, along with a little birdcage and a plant.

Petite Princess furniture is 3/4 or 1:16 size, so it doesn’t fit in my 1:12 dollhouses, but it does fit in the folk art dollhouse. I’m thinking it will look neat on the upper floor.

Check out this mini snake plant! I just published photos of my parents’ snake plant in bloom and, as always, I got lots of responses from people saying they had no idea that snake plants bloomed. They do. And evidently the maker of this plant knew that because the white flowers are very much like the blooms on my plant. I love it.

Thank you, Janet! I’m honored that you shared these beauties with me.

Yesterday was about washing sheets, vacuuming, dusting, etc. I also cleaned and dusted Don’t mini studio. Because it’s so close to the window it collects a lot of dust. Now that we have new mini-blinds, I’m going to make sure that it isn’t in direct sunlight for too long. I already see a repair I have to do on the floor because the glue has lifted.

That’s about it. I’m still waiting for Don’s other present. Sigh. If it doesn’t come today, I’m going to reorder. (It shipped out of Los Angeles on December 11th and there have been zero updates since then.) His present for me that was also missing arrived on Saturday. He’s holding it until the other present arrives and then we’ll exchange gifts.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

 

 

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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