Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Mini Gifts & Violets

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I was the lucky recipient of a package from Barbara. Inside were presents for Caroline and Mini Don and a couple for me, as well.

For Caroline: two Petite Princess chairs, a lovely wooden tray (looks like tole!), three pieces of china in a sweet bird motif, a pillow and a Maxfield Parrish!

A clearer shot of the Maxfield Parrish.

Also in the package for Caroline:

Three Nancy Drews with cover illustrations by Russell H. Tandy. It took me a while before I realized that they actually open.

The famous orange silhouettes inside the cover.

More illustrations and text. Amazing.

Mini Don received some treats as well:

British-themed pottery (perfect for a Beatles fan) and a metronome.

And two beautiful Swarovski Crystal bunny rabbits for me. Aren’t they sweet?

It ain’t easy taking a good photo of faceted crystal!

Thank you so much, Barbara! We are thrilled with our gifts and humbled by your generosity.

I finally got a shot of the violets that grow under my sedum. It’s actually larger than this, but this is all I could capture without trying to lift the sedum branches and handle the camera at the same time:

Today, I’m buying mulch, more potting soil, impatiens and maybe some other plants. Then weeding and mulching, which will continue through tomorrow, potting and planting.

Happy Thursday.

Some Notes and Some Minis

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Two quick notes:

• My host has been having a bit of trouble with the server. Yesterday, for example, it was down for about an hour or so. It’s maddening, but it happens. So if you tried to visit and couldn’t, that’s why. It’s out of my control.

• I’ve likened this blog to my cottage. It’s the online version of my home. Most everyone is welcome, but I expect visitors to behave with maturity and respect. If someone came to my home only to try to have an incendiary conversation, I would ask them to leave. Not acceptable. The same holds for the blog.

Yes, I often talk about the state of our nation nowadays. But, far more often, I don’t. That means that most of the conversations here are about something other than politics. If the only reason you come here is to agitate or be rude, never having participated in any other constructive way, then you are what is called a troll and you are not welcome. You will be blocked.

I haven’t visited any blog where the writer has a different political viewpoint than mine and left a comment when I’ve never commented in the past or had some sort of give-and-take relationship with the author. I may be disappointed, I may disagree; however, I simply move on.

This isn’t the Op-Ed page or a place on the web where anyone can leave a comment, no matter what is said, and it isn’t Twitter. This is my home.

Over and out.

• Okay. On to something entirely different.

Every time I think I might stop my subscription to the monthly SquintBox (simply because I want to save some money) it arrives in the mail and I’m charmed all over again.

This month’s box arrived yesterday. The theme for February is A Little Romance. This was a fun one, with actual packages to open! (Photos taken with iPhone, late in the day.)

This little package had a perfume bottle inside.

A plate of cookies and a terrarium with a butterfly on top. (Cookies from Sharon Harbison. Terrarium from Judy at Butterly Nature.)

This little case was sealed (I had just opened it when I took the photo.)

Inside: Jewelry! (Made by Jen from MiniMakes.)

This box had lovely wrapping paper and ribbon. Inside:

Something wrapped in tissue paper with a flower embellishment.

Inside the tissue paper, this lovely handmade book, which opens to:

A designer stationary kit. Isn’t this amazing? It’s made by María de Hoces, a miniaturist and bookbinder.

Darrin, who created SquintBox, does such a lovely job of coming up with a theme and sourcing wonderful miniatures. Thanks to Darrin and the miniaturists who created these treasures.

• I will have a book review up on Just Let Me Finish This Page today. It’s for Robert Dugoni’s latest – The Trapped Girl. I’ve reviewed his books in the past – he’s a wonderful writer. I’m off to write it now, so stop by, if you can. Here’s the link.

Happy Tuesday.

Heading Back

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I just finished Believing the Lie  by Elizabeth George. I was determined to finish it this morning as, at over 600 pages and in hardcover, to boot, I didn’t want to lug it back to Hartford. Excellent! The complexities of the characters and the plot are George’s strength. The mysteries are always character driven and aren’t necessarily tied up neatly at the end of the book. As in real life, things can get messy, remain unresolved. I love that about her writing. I’m officially on an Elizabeth George catch-up binge now, so it’s on to another one later today.

The horizon last night. Pretty dramatic!

I’ve had a lovely time here at home with the love of my life. Being apart means, for us, a greater appreciation of what we have between us. That we are fortunate and blessed we know. That we don’t take it for granted is a daily truth. As I get ready to head off to Hartford for the next 14 days, I am so grateful I got a little time here at the cottage.

We watched Sherlock  last night – how can it get even better? How is that possible? It is simply extraordinary. One more episode next week. I hear rumors this might be the last season. I hope it isn’t. But the producers and writers seem very wise, so if they feel it’s time to end it, I understand.

The newest Squint Box full of minis arrived while I was away. This one is all about winter and nesting and comfort. There’s a tray with a vintage travel poster (come to think of it, it could also work as art to hang on a wall), a kit to make succulents (isn’t that neat?), a tray with candles, a loaf of bread and knife on a cutting board, and…a Slinky! Boy, does that bring back memories! I remember trying to get my Slinky to come down the stairs just as they showed it on the commercials. I was only moderately successful.

Very, very cold here today. Soon, I have to get ready to head back to Hartford. I love my work, as you know, and I can’t wait to see what the production looks like onstage.

Don will be back at the ranch, taking care of things. By the way, he has done an excellent job of watering the plants! I’m quite pleased. I’ll be back home for at least two months before I head off again to Hartford, but Don will be off to the West Coast even before that – at the beginning of April. Busy times ahead for both of us. We don’t take that for granted, either.

Happy Monday.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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