Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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April

April 1, 2019 at 9:06 am by Claudia

A very cold, but sunny morning. The temps were back down to the 20s last night.

Spring: You are crazy.

This cold weather will continue for the next couple of days and then the temps will gradually rise. I’m ready for full-on Spring, thank you very much.

We both woke up ridiculously early this morning. I won’t say what time. But we’re determined to be positive and sail through the day with flying colors. Wish us luck!

I did some minor faffing to the original dollhouse yesterday. Over time, changes of temperature cause things to fall off walls, or be jostled in some way or another. I rehung some pictures, a mirror, and a platter. Straightened up the sofas. Dusted the floors (with a paintbrush.) Usually, the dollhouse exterior is facing me when I’m sitting in the den, but I turned it recently – it inspires me for the work that must be done on the rescued dollhouse. It helps to remember all the steps it took to get to the finished product. So, when I turned it and looked closely, I realized some minor adjustments needed to be made.

I also painted a base coat of white on the exterior of my current project. I didn’t want any blue showing when I started the long process of attaching the ‘stones’ to the exterior. My plans yesterday for doing some work up in my office didn’t come to fruition. I did nothing but hang around with my husband, cuddle, and read. That was it. But it was awfully nice.

Someone asked the other day about sources for dollhouse furniture and tips for rehabbing a dollhouse, so it’s time to remind everyone that I have a heck of a lot of posts about Hummingbird Cottage and Don’s Studio under the Dollhouses/Minis tab on my navigation bar. There’s also a Source List, which I just happened to update last week. There’s lots of information for you there.

Okay. It’s Monday. It’s April. It’s sunny.

I’ll take it.

Happy Monday.

Filed Under: dollhouse, flowers, miniatures 20 Comments

Tulips and Jadeite

March 27, 2019 at 10:41 am by Claudia

Tulips are so darned beautiful. I’m enjoying watching the flowers scattered around our house slowly open and reveal themselves. I’m one who thinks flowers are beautiful in all their stages, even when they’re withering and drying out. This little show they’re putting on for us is standing ovation worthy.

Still battling insomnia. I can’t keep my eyes open when I’m sitting downstairs on the sofa with Don. Then I get in bed and am wide awake for hours. It’s very frustrating. But I did sleep and I feel fairly good this morning. I am pulling away from all news (I can’t help thinking that is a major contributor to my erratic sleep) and I’m going to concentrate on all that’s beautiful and good and positive. I have to.

I stopped at another Michaels on my way home from TJs and found something miniature. I’d seen a few pictures on IG, but hadn’t been able find them at my local Michaels.

Miniature jadeite.

They’re hanging in the fairy garden section, and as are all things fairy garden, they’re not quite to scale. The plate and bowls are pretty close to scale but the glasses are huge – big, big, big gulp size. They’re made of lightweight plastic, so picture my frustration as I tried to get them to stand up in this cabinet without being knocked down again as I tried to maneuver another plate into position. Many swear words were heard in the office. I finally resorted to the tacky wax I use for other items in my dollhouses and that did the trick.

I love jadeite, though for some reason I don’t own any. The manufacturer did a great job with the color.

Anyway, if you’re interested, go to Michaels and make sure you visit the section where they have the fairy garden stuff.

Have I told you how much I love this hutch? One of my best miniature investments.

And have I told you how much I appreciate you? I do. Thank you for your support and the wonderful community we have created here.

Happy Wednesday.

Filed Under: flowers, miniatures 52 Comments

Small Things

March 13, 2019 at 10:45 am by Claudia

My little row of butter pats. I think I have about 14 or 15 now, most of them ironstone. Most of them, in fact,  are from the same dealer where I found the egg cup cubby. I love small things.

Another Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs egg cup came up for auction. Unfortunately, it was Doc. Doc frequently comes up for auction, much more than any other egg cup in that collection. I’ll keep hoping for Sleepy.

This morning there was such lovely bird song! Tiny little birds were in the tree outside the den window. I tried to identify them but I’m not sure; sparrows? chickadees? I couldn’t get a good look at them. Several of them were in the tree and they kept flitting from branch to branch. Now that I look at my bird book, I’m thinking they were sparrows. Hearing their song was such a nice way to start the day.

The sun is shining and the snow is melting. That’s all I need today.

I ordered this book, originally published in Great Britain. It just came out this week here in the States. I reviewed one of Garfield’s other books, Just My Type, several years ago. In Miniature  is all about our fascination with small things. Guilty as charged. Of course, I had to get it.

Today I have to sort through our many W2s – you have no idea – and send them off to our accountant in Los Angeles, so that we can file an extension. Since we have to wait for all of the W2s to arrive here, we almost never file our taxes by April 15th. And often, though not this year, one of us is away working. Then I’m going to clean the pew with some Murphy’s Oil Soap. And read, of course. I’m currently reading a book I’m going to review on Monday – all about birds! Stay tuned.

Happy Wednesday.

 

 

Filed Under: birds, books, butterpats, miniatures, spring 22 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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