Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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You are here: Home / Archives for painting

Mowing, Pruning, Feeling

May 7, 2021 at 8:51 am by Claudia

A glimpse of the chokecherry that grows at the base of the big maple.

We did a lot of work outside yesterday. I pruned several bushes, pulled some weeds in the garden, and then we mowed the entire front lawn. It was a gorgeous day. Today, we’ll mow the corral area and the back forty as we’re going to have rain tomorrow, Sunday, and Monday. I’m also going to do some weed whacking since I charged the battery yesterday and the whacker is ready to go.

But first, I’m going to run to the grocery store and to the nursery. I’m hoping my hanging plants are in. Fingers crossed. I want to get there early today and avoid the weekend crowds.

I’ve been feeling a lot of emotions concerning loss lately. In talking about it to Don yesterday, I realized that April 24th was the anniversary of my mom’s death, May 1st was the anniversary of John’s murder, May 6th was my brother’s birthday. Sadness, grief, mourning – it never really ends – and in this particular year, it’s been somehow harder to navigate. I’ve also been thinking and talking about my dad, especially since I’m about to start on this new adventure in oil painting. It has evoked so many memories of his work, of watching him work, knowing that for my war-ravaged father, painting in oils brought him some peace. And he was good at it. Very good.

I spoke of his wooden box filled with oil paints and supplies the other day. On a whim – actually, urged on by Don – I texted Mere to see if we threw that box out when we were clearing out the condo. I explained that I’d been thinking about him and that I was about to explore painting. Her immediate response? I have it and I’ll send it to you. After a bit of back-and-forth because I didn’t want to take it if it was precious to her, she firmly said she’d put it in the mail today. My heart grew so full! I’ll soon have it here in the cottage.

Not to make too big a deal of it, but I was so moved, thinking that Dad would be smiling and happy to see me painting. I intend to have the box nearby whenever I paint.

I’m so emotional these days! It’s all good. It’s important to let myself feel all of it. And I am.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

Filed Under: Dad, flowers, Meredith, painting 37 Comments

Sort of a Chatty Post

September 21, 2012 at 8:47 am by Claudia

Is it time to take down that coffee filter wreath? I’m thinking it is.

I want a real stair runner for those stairs – something from, say, Dash & Albert. When Riley and Scout were still sleeping upstairs with us and Riley began to be a bit unsure about his footing, we hastily tacked down those mini carpets for the treads. I tried to make them colorful yet funky by alternating a red one with a blue one.

I’m sick of them.

And every year, I look at the walls in this house, which were given only one coat of paint when this house was flipped, and get the urge to paint all of it. There are lots of dings and cracks and paint marks from furniture being moved up the stairs. I just never show them to you. When fall comes around and I see the amount of moths and bugs coming into the house lessen (we live in the country), I think now’s the time.

Then I get overwhelmed. Because I will be the painter. And there are a lot of walls. And the kitchen cupboards need to be painted. Even the kitchen island needs to be touched up.

I hate painting walls.

Maybe if I just start in one little area and do a little bit each day?

Still overwhelmed.

The view out our car window as we drove into town the other day – the day we found my Featherweight. Don’t we have  pretty mountains?

So many of you are flannel pajamas lovers. That makes me smile. And yes, flannel nighties count as well. Someone mentioned flannel sheets, but the funny thing is though I love my flannel pajamas, wear them in the morning and in the evening and other times of the day, I don’t wear them to bed. I tend to run hot. And it’s not due to menopause, which is, thankfully, over. Flannel sheets make me hot. Flannel pajamas while sleeping would send me up the wall. Don, on the other hand, runs cold and always has piles of covers over him.

By the way, I’m trying to reply to any questions that you’ve asked in your comments – right there under your comment. Since I have threaded comments now, it’s so much easier to do that. So, if you ask a question, check back. Maybe we can eventually get a dialogue going and I will respond to more than just questions. I see that on other blogs and I like the back-and-forth. I’ve not found a plug-in that I like that will allow subscribing to comments, so for the time being, if you are so inclined, check back.

Speaking of plug-ins, Brenda and I found one that will show the latest blog posts on our blogrolls (like Blogger has.) I like it so much more because I often read your blogs that way. It shows the post title and the amount of time that has elapsed since the blog was updated. The only problem? All Typepad blogs show that update as ’42 years ago.’ I’m not kidding. I don’t know why. It makes me laugh. So if you have a Typepad blog and you’re on my blogroll, my apologies.

Our elusive male cardinal made an appearance and I ran for my camera. I would have been able to get an even better picture had Miss Scout not decided to start barking at that moment. I love our cardinals.

Okay. That’s all for now. Stay tuned. I will post A Favorite Thing tonight at 8:00 pm EST.

Happy Friday.

 

Tagged With: Dash & Albert, paint, stair runnerFiled Under: A favorite thing, decorating, flannel pajamas club, painting 26 Comments

Sneak Peek

January 9, 2012 at 9:54 am by Claudia

Here’s what we have so far.

Why is it that when it’s time to paint, I shy away from doing anything to ‘weather’ a piece? I don’t want to mess with a fresh coat of paint. It looks so clean, so sparkly! So for the moment, at least, no sanding. I did add a few coats of paste wax to protect the finish.

Notice the ugly holes in the back are missing? Patti suggested covering some foamboard with fabric to cover them up. Wonder of wonders, I had some foamboard on hand. (Why, or for what project, I don’t know.) The fabric is vintage, from some 40’s era curtains. I chose it because it picks up the red theme in our den.

I haven’t done anything with the slide-in board yet. Today, I plan to run some errands, one of which is to buy some desk accessories for next to nothing.

Hopefully, the final reveal will be in a couple of days.

Tomorrow: Defending the Small House: Clutter. I should just take a photo of every room in this cottage – as is – to show what not to do.

Filed Under: DIY, painting, vintage 27 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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Scout & Riley. Riley left us in 2012. Scout left us in February 2016. Dearest babies. Dearest friends.

Winston - Our first dog. We miss you, sweetheart.

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