Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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A Blue Mood

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I’m not feeling sorry for myself, dear friends. And I’m not asking you to feel sorry for me. I’m just being honest. Today was the first time I really hit the wall with homesickness. I’ve had bouts of it before during my seven weeks away from home. Today is another thing entirely. Today is tears, sadness, more tears, thinking about my sweet dogs, my husband, my garden – home.

I have 3 weeks left here. I have a little more work to do on these productions, but not much. Frankly, I could leave in a few days and all would be well. I would not be honoring my contract, however, and I am true to my word. I think that is what makes this particular stretch harder: the knowledge that I’m not really needed much longer yet I have to hang in there for 3 more weeks.

I’m not as busy as I was when we were in rehearsals all day. So I have more free time. That sounds as if it is a good thing, but more free time equals more time to think about my far away family.

Ah well. As my mother used to say, “this too shall pass.” At least I think it was my mother. She may well read this and say to me, “I never said anything like that.”

I already feel a little better. Writing is always cathartic for me.

3 weeks and counting…

How I Met My House

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AnNicole at Our Suburban Cottage is having a How I Met My House party today.

We had been looking for houses in about 3 different areas of the Hudson Valley in New York. Some were on one side of the Hudson River, some were on the other. Each time we saw a listing that we liked, we would get excited because the photo of the house would look so charming. (We were in the market for something older with charm.) Inevitably, we would finally visit the house and it would smell, or be about to fall down, or be on a busy corner. Each time, disappointment.

We had been renters for years: both of us moved around a lot before we got married. Having a house in the country had always been my dream. So, we kept looking.

Finally, one Friday my agent sent me a photo of this house. I fell in love – could we see it right away? I didn’t want to miss out – the price had just been lowered. No, she was going away for the weekend and couldn’t show us until Monday. I showed it to Don. He loved it.

We waited through what seemed like an endless weekend and finally saw the house on Monday. The property was overgrown. No matter. We walked up to the house and I fell in love instantly with the wrap-around bluestone porch. While I was rhapsodizing about the porch, my husband walked in and saw a house flooded with light and a kitchen that had high ceilings (he’s 6’4″.) This little farmhouse had recently been gutted and taken down to the studs because a previous owner had been an eccentric cat lady. The downstairs was open, the pine floors were wide plank, and the den was two steps down from the rest of the first floor.

I had had a wish list – storage, a basement, 3 bedrooms. This house had no storage but there was a shed on the property, the basement was entered from the outside and believe me, nothing could be stored there, and there were only 2 bedrooms. But when you fall in love, you fall in love.

I complain about the lack of space all the time – but each time I do I immediately say “But I love this house.”

We named it Mockingbird Hill Cottage. I’m away right now for 10 weeks working across the country. I keep my home in my heart, counting the days until I can be there once again.

Our Sign, Thanks to Tina and Paula

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A few weeks ago, Tina of Cherry Hill Cottage, one of my favorite blogs, posted about a sign that a fellow blogger had made for her. The blogger was Paula of Castle and Cottage. I fell in love with the sign, immediately clicked on the link to Paula’s site and wrote an email asking her if she could make one for me. She did. I freely admit going with what Tina chose because it was also perfect for my kitchen.

It arrived on my birthday.



I took photos of the sign during the day and at night – I was trying to capture how beautiful it is. Don had been saying that we needed something to hang over the sink/kitchen window that was large and graphic. The sign we previously had there was too dark and hard to read. Almost immediately after that conversation, I read Tina’s post…and here it is. We love it.

Paula has an Etsy shop and she has all sorts of signs available in many shapes and sizes. She will also do a custom order. And her prices are extremely reasonable. Working with Paula is thoroughly enjoyable. Stop by and tell her I sent you! You will love her work. We sure do.

Have a wonderful day before Thanksgiving!

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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