Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Day Two Hundred Sixty

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A new addition to the English Cottage, aka Dove Cottage:

This gorgeous rug from TinyHomeGoods on Etsy. They carry many designs. I was looking for something faded looking and this beauty perfectly fit the bill. If you’re looking for miniature rugs, I highly recommend this shop. They have a nice texture and are beautifully finished on the edges. It was a gray day yesterday and the mail didn’t come until around 3:30, so the skies were already growing dark. The pics I posted on IG weren’t all that great, but I’m like a little kid when something new arrives for the dollhouse, so I posted anyway. These, taken this morning, are better.

A wider view.

It’s taking shape, isn’t it?

I haven’t answered your comments from yesterday but I will. I’ve been suffering from anxiety for the last few days. I’m not sure why but I’ve learned that it doesn’t always come from a logical, understandable place. I’m being kind to myself, as best I can. The good news is that I slept 8 hours last night! I can’t remember the last time that happened. Hence, I’m running a bit late today and Don is recycling at the moment and when he gets back I’ll make our second cup of coffee, so the post is going up early and I’ll answer comments in a bit.

I hope you’re enjoying a quiet and peaceful weekend.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

Day One Hundred and Sixty-Nine

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I had to make a quick run to the grocery store and post office yesterday. As I came to the intersection and stopped at the red light, I saw a big truck coming from the other direction with an American flag flying near the side rear view mirrors. Inevitably, that kind of vehicle – and it’s almost always a truck – belongs to a Trumper. I’m used to seeing them. As I turned and drove to the parking lot, I noticed the truck was ahead of me and as the driver, who was a woman, parked, sure enough, I saw tons of bumper stickers extolling how great the Orange Man is.

Sigh.

I kept an eye on her as I walked toward the entrance – she was ahead of me. Would she wear a mask? Yes, thank goodness. You never know. It is  a mandate here in NY and has been so for several months, but I’ve seen more than a few people not wearing masks.

Ran in, got what I needed, ran out, stopped at the Post Office, picked up a package and bought some stamps. That’s all I want to do in the outside world for the present. Today is dark and rainy. It’s been raining off and on all morning and we might have more thunderstorms. Two days ago, we had really stormy weather and it’s now been confirmed that a tornado touched down about ten miles south of us in the town where we go to pick up groceries. It’s also home to the antique shop  where I found the vintage dollhouse. A little too close for comfort. Thankfully, no one was injured, but there was damage to buildings.

In the mail was a package from reader Nora. Nora has recently started to collect miniatures and is as enthralled with that world as I am. I’m going to share what was in the box, but forgive me ahead of time because I took the photos this morning and the light is terrible!

This is a leather chair made by Arlette Shelton, who also made the sofa I’m using in the English dollhouse. I knew that Nora had purchased it but was stunned to see it inside the box! Nora explained that she was going to go with 1:24 scale, rather than 1:12, and she wanted me to have it. It’s simply gorgeous. Arlette’s work is impeccably done.

Isn’t it beautiful? I have no idea where I’m going to use it, but rest assured, I will. I never cease to be amazed by Arlette’s work. This chair is solid and heavy and simply splendid.

Also in the box:

 

A mini canvas of The Lantern Bearers  by Maxfield Parrish. Although Nora didn’t know it, this is my favorite Parrish. I still hope to find an original print someday (they’re very rare.) I’m thrilled!

Also in the box, 5 tiny little dogs standing on barrels, playing instruments. They’re very whimsical and sweet, but impossible to capture on this dark morning. More photos coming – in fact, I’ll take another round of photos of everything in the box – hopefully, tomorrow.

Thank you so, so much, Nora! I will treasure these beautiful miniatures.

We’re hanging out at home today. Don is deeply into Hamnet. I’m about to finish A Private Cathedral  by James Lee Burke. New books will be started. It’s a quiet – so far – and rainy day and we’re very happy with that.

Congratulations to my best friend Laural and her husband who became grandparents for the first time yesterday. Their daughter Jennifer gave birth to a baby girl, Ellie. (Jen is my goddaughter.) Welcome to the world, Ellie!

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

Day One Hundred Fifty-Eight

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Despite the destructive efforts of the deer, I have a least one flower on the Rose of Sharon. I might get two or three more. (I could have had 20 of these beauties, darn it!) Anyway, I’m grateful for this one. I opened the blinds in the bedroom this morning, looked outside, and saw this gorgeous lavender flower. So excited! Next year, it will be protected, you can be sure of that.

We watched the Convention last night. I thought it was incredibly well done. In fact, I would go so far as to say that I prefer it this way. There’s a sense of intimacy that you don’t get with a huge audience of delegates. I felt that each speaker was talking directly to me.

Michelle Obama. That’s all I need to say. Such a powerful speech. I love her.

Since we usually start to get ready for bed at 10 pm, we were up later than usual, which means I slept a little longer than usual. My schedule is sort of all over the place lately. But it was worth it.

Dear reader Kathy in Iowa has sent me a couple of gift certificates for The Mysterious Bookshop and Oblong Books. Thank you so much, Kathy! I so appreciate your thoughtfulness. The perfect gift for this book lover.

And Barbara sent me a package yesterday containing a book, a face mask in Liberty of London’s tana lawn fabric along with some squares of the tana lawn, a mini version of our “Life is very short”…sign that we have hanging on our staircase wall (it’s going in Don’s mini studio) and this:

Eeeek! I had admired this refrigerator when Barbara posted it on Instagram. It’s made by an Etsy seller, TinyfrankMiniatures. It’s carved out of wood. I searched high and low for a realistic retro refrigerator for Hummingbird Cottage and never found one. The few I found were made of plastic, weren’t to scale, and looked cheap. I finally made one myself out of a wooden box and I was quite pleased with it. So now, the question is: do I change it out with this one or do I use this one in a different project? Not sure, yet. I just know I love it. That curve at the top! (I wish we had one like this in our cottage.)

Thank you, Barbara!

It’s a beautiful day here. Low humidity and 80 degrees. Perfect summer weather.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

 

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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