miniatures — Page 78

Knock, Knock

August 8, 2015 at 9:36 am by Claudia

8-8 daylily

These day lilies in the side garden just keep blooming and blooming. They have a much longer bloom time than other day lilies on the property. And the plants have become very tall! It all makes for a strikingly sculptural look.

Lest you think I have been ignoring Hummingbird Cottage, let me assure you that I tweak it now and again. Yesterday, I was sorting through a bag of minis that someone had given me and I found a door knocker. (The sorting was happening because I have stuff stashed all over the house and it’s driving me crazy. Oh, for a separate room that is just for me! I can’t tell you how happy that would make me.)

Anyway. Upon discovering the door knocker, I thought that Caroline would appreciate it.

8-8 brassdoorknocker

But it was brass. I see that a lot in dollhouse miniatures, just as a lot of the wood furniture has a darkish finish, neither of which appeals to me all that much. So I got out some metallic silver paint.

8-8 silverdoorknocker

Much better.

8-8 knockerwbrassknob

Wait a minute. The doorknob is a brass jewelry fitting. And the knocker needs to be straightened a bit.

8-8 allfixed

A dab of paint and there you go.

This was just a little task to keep me occupied while I watched Scout like a hawk during the day. Over the past couple of years, Scout has suffered from seizures. They happen rarely, but they happen. And when they happen, our poor girl suffers and we are terrified. Our vet assures us that they are nothing to be unduly alarmed about, they’re part of being a very elderly dog. As they happen rarely, there is no sense medicating her. It’s been several months since one occurred. Yesterday, while Don was away in the city, she had another seizure – this time while she was outside.

When the seizure was over and I was able to get her back in the house, I settled her on the rug, called Don, and then proceeded to stay very close to her the rest of the day. By mid-afternoon, she was up and walking around and drinking a lot of water. By early evening, her appetite had returned and she was fine.

There are all sorts of changes due to her advanced age, but I don’t talk about them very much. I’m protective about that information, just as I was about my mother’s slow decline.

We simply adjust to each change and do everything we can to make her life as easy as possible.

Happy Saturday.

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The Garden, A Butterfly & Some Top Secret Work

August 7, 2015 at 8:18 am by Claudia

I’m fast approaching that time in the late summer garden when I stop caring quite so much. As the month turns to August and the light changes ever subtly and parts of the garden are starting to look a wee bit tired, I pull back from the whole thing. Self-protection? Just plain tired of pulling weeds? Probably a little of both. I did yank some weeds the other day for all of two minutes, but that was it.

I still check for daily changes. I await more morning glories. I snap photos. I water the pots and the chicken wire fence garden. But I don’t do a whole lot of cleaning up. Too much energy that I simply cannot summon up. I liken it to pulling away in a relationship; you know it’s going to go south, and your instincts kick in as you create some distance between you and the object of your adoration.

I let many of the plants go to seed, and nothing is cut back or pruned. The birds need those plants, for seeds and shelter. I’ll cut them back next spring.

8-7 hens and chicks

I did summon up the energy to repot the hens and chicks that are on the Funky Patio. They were overgrowing their original container. They needed more space.

This one will come indoors with me for the winter.

8-7 swallowtail

This black swallowtail was enamored of the geraniums, but his wings were fluttering so quickly that it was hard to get a picture. This is the best of the bunch. I love these beauties. At one point yesterday, there was an Eastern Swallowtail and a Black Swallowtail circling each other, swooping, soaring, and (I suspect) competing for the tastiest blossoms.

Don: Don’t Read Any Further!

I grabbed some time yesterday to paint and install two more windows in the Top Secret Project.

8-7 project window 2

These windows also open and can swing in or out.

8-7 project red

This will give you a hint as to the color I’m going to use on the outside walls. Yes, it’s reminiscent of our real-life shed. It was Don’s idea to paint the shed red, so his studio is going to be in the same color range.

Happy Friday.

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And It’s Monday

August 3, 2015 at 8:51 am by Claudia

8-3 rudbeckia_

We’re grabbing the advantage of some early morning coolish weather to open all the windows and air out the house. Thank goodness for air conditioning, but there’s nothing like fresh air. Today promises to be very hot and humid, so we’re enjoying it while we can.

Don and his friend decided to drive back a little earlier than they’d originally planned, so I had to scurry to clean up my temporary work space in the kitchen and move the Top Secret Project back upstairs.

If You’re Don: Stop Reading Here.

8-3 SecProjslidingdoors

I managed to install the sliding doors and the trim around them, as well as the window over the doors. I’m happy to say they work. Insert sigh of relief here.

8-3 SecProjslidingdoors2

I’ve had to contact HBS because the roof came with some damage on one corner and I don’t think I can correct it. They have great customer service, so I know they’ll take care of it for me. I’ve plenty to do in the meantime.

8-3 barkclothcover

It’s not every Top Secret Project that gets its own bark cloth cover, now is it?

I’ve just finished reading a great police thriller by Jane Casey – After the Fire – that I’m going to review today on Just Let Me Finish This Page. Casey is a British author and a well-known one. I hadn’t read any of her books and, since we’ve actually had some Twitter conversations, my interest was piqued. This book is part of a series centering around Maeve Kerrigan, who works as a policewoman in London. I was so impressed that I’m going to go back and read the rest of the series. Here’s the link to the review.

Don had a fabulous time at the Festival. He’s tired but happy.

8-3 hollyhock

New blooms every day on the hollyhock – my 2015 Surprise Plant.

Happy Monday.

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Knock, Knock

The Garden, A Butterfly & Some Top Secret Work

And It’s Monday

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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