Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

  • About MHC
    • Disclosure
  • Dollhouses/Minis
    • Hummingbird Cottage
    • The Studio (Formerly TSP)
    • Dove Cottage
    • The Lake House
    • The Folk Art Dollhouse
    • The Modern Dollhouse
    • Dollhouse Source List, Information and Tutorials
  • On the Road
  • Collecting
    • Roseville Pottery
    • McCoy Pottery
    • Egg Cups
    • Bakelite
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
You are here: Home / Archives for porch

Nesting Mode

November 15, 2018 at 10:59 am by Claudia

We’re awaiting the winter storm that is going to arrive around 5 pm. 3 – 6 inches of snow and, because it will be mixed with sleet, it will be heavy, wet snow. So, we’re not going to get that first pretty, fluffy snow. We’re going to get a friggin’ mess.

We did what we had to yesterday, pulled the A/C units out of our windows, put them in bins and stacked them in the shed. Then Don went off to run errands and I worked outside (and it was cold!) for about three hours, emptying pots from the front porch, taking the cushions off the porch furniture, moving things into the shed. Don offered to help, but really, I’m the only one who knows exactly what to do out there as it’s my territory. There are a couple of plants that are still blooming, so I left them there. I am incapable of dumping a plant that is still alive. It’s simply not possible. Next week, we’ll take the adirondack chairs and a couple of other porch pieces to our storage facility and I’ll move the Secret Garden and Funky Patio chairs and tables to the porch for the winter.  There’s still more to do out there, but the bulk of it is done.

Yours truly was tuckered out last night.

We fell asleep while watching a documentary about Henry VII last night. If you ever want to catch a nap during the day, watch a documentary. I like documentaries, don’t get me wrong, but the voice of the narrator eventually becomes white noise and you’re off to slumberland.

I finished the James Lee Burke novel last night and, since I’m in the mood for more, found another on my shelves from a few years back that I had barely started and never finished. I’ve read most of his Dave Robicheaux books, but I went through a period where I stopped reading them.

Time to catch up.

Oh, and I received the most wonderful, whimisical book about miniatures from an English author. I’ll share it with you after I’ve explored it.

I’ve officially moved into nesting mode, as I do every year about this time. Our cottage seems especially cozy and I find myself looking around, searching for things to change and/or tweak. I’m switching out the pillows on the loveseat, putting the cushions from the glider on the sofa (after cleaning them.) Some will go in storage, others will join the mass of cushions on the sofa in the den. And I’m reading, reading, reading. After the reading drought earlier this year, I’m so grateful to be immersed in a book!

Happy Thursday.

 

Filed Under: books, porch, reading 28 Comments

Shuffling: Indoors and Outdoors

November 12, 2018 at 10:30 am by Claudia

Available cubbies are getting limited. Book now.

Sometime this week, I have to grab my museum wax and use it to adhere each egg cup firmly in place. At some point soon, I’m going to have to pull the cabinet out to get to the cupboard under the stairs, which I open about twice a year. I store some outdoor cushions there as well as the small white Christmas trees that I use. Which reminds me: where am I going to put the plants that are currently on the bistro table when I need to move them out of the way for the Christmas tree? I don’t decorate until mid-December, but I’d better start thinking about that particular problem. Small house = no storage, no usable basement, no attic, no mud room. The result? Constant shuffling of items from one room to another.

Anyway, I have sliders which I’ll put under the cabinet. I think that I’ll stow the cushions in there next week and take all the Christmas stuff out and store it upstairs in the office until I’m ready to decorate. Then I’ll only have to move it once more to put everything back. And that will be it until I need to retrieve the cushions in the Spring.

Now that I’ve bored you to tears, thanks for all your comments yesterday. I see that we’re all coping with this same problem to one degree or another. I was fairly successful yesterday. I finished the book by Michael Connelly, read a short novel that I bought in London – finished that, and started on the newest by James Lee Burke –  Robicheaux. I’ve had it for a few months and am just now getting to it. What a poetic and lyrical writer Burke is, an amazing feat when he’s writing about murder and corruption in Louisiana! He’s one of the best.

Today we’re having brunch at Rick and Doug’s. A colleague from our days at the Old Globe is visiting.

We talked on the phone with Little Z last night, who lost his two front teeth in an hour’s time – one after another! The adult teeth are coming in right behind them. He’s so adorable, even more so with the gap in his smile.

That’s about it. The potted impatiens bit the dust last night – we had a hard freeze. I’m not sure of the status of the other porch plants, but I am going to have clean all of that up this week, do some more shuffling (into the shed, into storage) and get ready for winter. Yikes.

Happy Monday.

Filed Under: egg cups, houseplants, porch 16 Comments

Lazy and Last Minute

August 25, 2018 at 9:35 am by Claudia

The definition of lazy: shooting photos for today’s post from my chair on the porch this morning.

I didn’t even stand up.

From the adirondack chair on the right. Don was in the one on the left.

This vine appears every year and is a pain in the tush. Usually, I yank it. But this twining around the railing is sort of pretty. So it has a temporary reprieve.

It reminds me of a morning glory. But it isn’t.

I mowed a heck of a lot of lawn yesterday because the weather was so beautiful and there was no humidity. The lawn needed it and I was feeling feisty, so I tackled the back forty and the entire front lawn. It looks awfully pretty this morning.

I’ll say it again for those who think Don should be helping me (he offers to help every time): I like mowing. I’m good at it. Don is okay at it. I’m more precise.

I actually get excited when it’s time to mow. Go figure.

Today? Deductions. I had every intention of starting in on all of that tedious stuff the other day but I didn’t. I have always functioned at my best when I’m facing a deadline. I’m the person who waits until the last minute and then gets it all done, who wrote every paper in high school and college the night before. I accepted this about myself years ago. Though my thoughts are always planning ahead, my actions sometimes lag behind.

But I’m facing a deadline now, so today I will plant myself in the office and start adding and subtracting and multiplying.

This one I did stand up for, but that’s because I took it a few days ago.

Happy Saturday.

 

 

Filed Under: flowers, porch 53 Comments

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • …
  • 23
  • Next Page »
  • Email
  • Instagram

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.

Thanks for stopping by.

Searching?

The Dogs

The Dogs

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.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

Thanks for visiting! Feel free to browse, read and enjoy. All content is my own; including photos and text. Please do not use anything on this site without permission.

Disclosure/Privacy Policy can be found in the Navigation Bar under ‘About MHC.’

Also, I love receiving comments! I do, however, reserve the right to delete any comment that is in poor taste, offensive or is verging on spam. It’s my blog. If you’re a bot or a troll you’ll be blocked. Thanks!

Archives

All Content © 2008 - 2025 Mockingbird Hill Cottage · Log in

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Reject
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT