Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Our Lady

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After I returned home from mailing our check to the IRS, I checked in on the blog, only to read Regula’s comment that Notre Dame was on fire. I googled to find out what was happening and the still shots I saw filled me with dread. So, like so many, I turned on the television and remained glued to the screen for several hours.

Heartbreaking. I have no other words.

But I am heartened that the main structure was saved.

We visited Notre Dame last October during our trip to Paris. I am so grateful that we got to see it intact. Who would have dreamed that only 6 months later the roof and the spire would be consumed by fire? Beyond belief.

I’m going to stop now and share some pictures I took of Notre Dame.

She will rise again.

That’s it for today.

Happy Tuesday.

Antique Shopping

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As we sit here on this sunny Saturday, aware that snow is on the way overnight, I happened upon this photo from Paris.

I don’t know if I ever shared it with you. So quintessentially French, don’t you agree? I remember seeing this woman looking a statue for the longest time. When she moved on, I snapped her picture. Older, fashionable, the long skirt, that ever-present Parisian wardrobe must – the scarf, and that red beret, matching her red sunglasses.

Oh, how I wish we were there right now. I miss it so much! I often look at my photos. I find them comforting.

Not much to report here. We’re hanging out, reading, playing and watching movies. We’re awaiting warmer temperatures – which happen to start today! We’re going to see temps in the low forties. Hallelujah!

Yesterday, I dropped all my book donations off. Then I took a little drive to Milne Antiques. I haven’t been there in so long and I felt guilty. Milne is the place where I found all the vintage French and English pots last year and where I found the “Please Put Book Back After Using” book holder that I have on the wall in the den. Oh, and the handmade child’s bookcase that lives in the upstairs hallway.

I didn’t plan on buying anything as we’re on a strict budget now; I just wanted to stop in. Rebekah, the owner, is in England right now, supervising the packing of a container of finds that will be heading across the ocean soon. But Jasmine was there and we had a nice chat.

Some photos of my favorite things from yesterday:

This large cement garden fixture with a bunny rabbit leaning back to relax made me smile. I’m didn’t even bother looking at the price! It’s from the collection of Allan Katz, famous expert on Folk Art/Americana. He lives in Connecticut, not all that far from us.

This wall cabinet, from France? Oh my heavens! I really love it. I’m still thinking about it today. Here’s the interior:

I can’t stand it, I want it so much.

Moving on to my other favorite piece. If we had a foyer, I’d have grabbed this immediately.

This petite church pew. Look at that carving on the side! The gothic design! Oh, my goodness!

Another view. Be still my heart.

By the way, the two huge stone deer that you see in the background are also from Allan Katz.

This shop kills me! Even though I was familiar with a lot of the inventory, there’s always stock that’s fresh and new.

And wait until that container arrives with all sorts of antique garden pots!

It felt good to get out and have a conversation with someone other than Don. It gives him a break and, god knows, he deserves it.

Today is sunny so far. Fingers crossed!

Happy Saturday.

Potpourri on Saturday

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• The tree is still up and will be until January 1st. Most likely, I will take it down on that day simply because I need to put it all away in the closet under the stairs. Currently, all the Christmas boxes are taking up residence in the office and I’m starting to sort through things there – getting rid of anything I don’t need. I need the space.

• I finished up in the bedroom yesterday – one more bag of books going to the library. That makes five.

• One of the little things in what Don calls my “stocking.”

A bumper sticker from our local used bookstore. Reminds me of when I had bangs.

• Do you remember me telling you that one of my presents from Don was going to be late? He ordered it stateside but it turns out it shipped from China. He showed me a picture of it on Christmas Day. It arrived yesterday.

It’s difficult to get a good photo of it, but here it is. He swears I mentioned ‘neon’ when we were discussing gifts and I have no recollection of that at all. None; which is slightly scary. Anyway, when he first showed it to me I was surprised, to say the least. But I actually really love it! It’s LED, by the way, not neon. Saint-German is the area of Paris we spent a lot of time in. It’s really lovely. We carried the sign around the house yesterday trying to determine where it would work the best, but we had always thought our office – which is full of memorabilia and whimsey – would be the best place for it, and it is. I like it here because I can see it clearly when I’m working on my projects.

I don’t think it would work anywhere else in the house (doesn’t fit with the rest of the decor) save the upstairs hallway, but we couldn’t find a good place for it there. This little area, tucked under the sloped ceiling, is perfect.

He’s such a sweetie! I’m a happy girl.

• The piano tuner messaged me this morning saying the piano was built in 1941. Mom would have been 14 then, which makes sense as I seem to remember her taking piano lessons when she was a teenager.

• I ordered a piece of sheet music yesterday on Amazon. Did you know that most sheet music today is only offered via a digital download? Ummm…no. I wanted the real deal, with a cover illustration and everything. So I found a used version that was in very good condition and I ordered that.

I remember growing up in an area where I could find sheet music at several local shops. My piano teacher ordered sheet music for us from Grinnell’s, a long ago store in downtown Detroit. Grinnell’s was a fantasy land for me. It had several floors filled with pianos; all sizes, all shapes, all prices. It had a great sheet music department. You could buy things like metronomes there. Once a year, we had a recital on one of the upper floors of Grinnell’s where we were judged by professional pianists. It was all very exciting and scary and wondrous.

There was also a shop in San Diego when I lived there – I don’t think it’s there any longer, but maybe it is – right by Balboa Park. It was a music store and when I could finally afford to have my piano shipped from Michigan to San Diego, I went there to buy all sorts of classical music. They had tons of sheet music. Does anyone know if it’s still there? I’d like to think it is.

Another thing from the past that I miss.

Our conversations here at the cottage have been full of this kind of thing lately. What have we lost to technology? Our list keeps getting longer.

Happy Saturday.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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