Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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What’s New on Wednesday

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The first day of December has emerged as a gray, rainy, somewhat depressing day weather-wise. We’ve seen no snow yet, although we have seen a few flakes that were here one minute, gone the next. Today’s temps will be in the 50’s, which is a bit balmy for December. Though I love seeing all the Christmas decorations throughout Blogland, this house will continue to be a No Christmas Decorating Zone for another week or so. I just can’t decorate this early. I’ve never been able to. If decorations are up too soon, I get used to them. I no longer see them. They lose their magic. And I want them to be magical. I suppose this is also a reaction to the over-commercialization of Christmas, where every store seems to trot out the Christmas decorations as soon as Halloween has passed. In good time, they will appear. In good time.

What’s new here at MHC? After being locked into a 2 year cell phone contract with AT&T, we finally made our escape and went to Verizon.

I have nothing against AT&T, my Dad worked for them for 40 years, but their coverage out here in our little town is simply terrible. Our town continues to dither about a cell tower. Things being what they are, Verizon has the best coverage here. Now, when the power goes out, we can actually call the power company.  When I get a business call, I will no longer have to get in the car and drive to an area where I can hear the message. Yesterday, I actually spoke to a colleague about a potential coaching job while working in my studio. It’s a big deal here.

See, I’m not lying. I have been working in the studio. The quarters are tight, but I have to say I am proud of how it all flows. Yesterday, I had the ironing board set up, the cupboard doors open, the sewing machine humming; all to the sound of Don’s guitar as he practiced downstairs.

I’ve also been doing more of this:

Another scarf in Mochi Plus. Gorgeous colors, aren’t they? The addiction continues. I hope to take some photos at our new yarn store very soon. Today is too gloomy and dark. Hopefully, tomorrow.

If you live anywhere near Shelburne Falls, MA, Don is playing at a wonderful cafe called Mocha Maya’s this coming Saturday at 8:00 pm. You can find them here.  Don’s a wonderful entertainer and I can guarantee you’d have a great time.

What are you up to today?

A Perfect Present

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Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the wonderful birthday greetings! Between the warm greetings on this blog and on Facebook, my cup of good cheer runneth over.

My birthday was lovely and quiet. Well, not quite so quiet when Don put on some music in the evening and we all danced (and I mean the dogs, as well!) Don and I went to our favorite local tearoom in the afternoon and had some hot chocolate with big old homemade marshmallows. Ummm good! In fact, here was my menu for the afternoon and evening: cheese and crackers, hot chocolate, pancakes and eggs for dinner with apple pie for dessert. A day of comfort food favorites.

Now for my present from Don. I saw this in Heidi’s shop when I was helping her out during her Holiday Open House. In fact, I went by it a few times before the light bulb clicked on in my decorating brain. I was tired of the rolling desk chair I had in the studio. It was from IKEA, wasn’t very sturdy and I was getting tired of the cover which was lovely, but was now seeming a bit too flowery. And since my sewing table is at the top of the stairs, rolling of any kind could result in a quick trip down the stairs, if you know what I mean. I told Heidi I loved the chair, she told Don and now it’s mine!

Isn’t it beautiful? Heidi got it at an auction. It’s as if it was made for this space. The puff is artfully covering up a bit of nail polish spilled by a previous owner. It doesn’t matter to me because the chair will be tucked in most of the time. Some details:

I’m in love. 

There it is in its new home. Dare I say this? I think the studio is finished. I do. In the past 2 months, I’ve added the cabinet, the vintage feedsack shoe bag, my vintage dress form, Letitia, the newly trimmed chalkboard, the rediscovered and newly painted shelf (which you can see in the photo) and now….the chair. And all of it was very inexpensive and in some cases, free. This space was definitely done on a minuscule budget.

It really is a room in itself now. It’s pretty. It inspires me. Don loves it. I love it. C’est fini!

Oh, here’s my pie from the local bakery:

They decorated the pie! That’s a first – what a smile that brought to my face. I always have a birthday pie. It was yummy.

Elyse sent me a little something for my birthday which I will share with you in the next post.

Hope your Monday is a terrific one.

Forgot to add that Margaret B. of The French Bear is the winner of a copy of Outside the Ordinary World. Congratulations, Margaret!

Studio Projects & a Celebration

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The studio fluffing and sprucing continues – inspired by the addition of Letitia. Remember when I made the chalkboard for the kitchen? I had an extra board that I painted with chalkboard paint and I ended up drilling two holes in the top, threading twine through the holes and hanging it in the studio.

Well after the arrival of the cabinet and the dismantling of most of the design wall, I wasn’t sure where to put it. I was considering shoving it in a closet when husband’s words rang in my ears…”why don’t you use the doors to hang things?” Well, I don’t want to use every door (there are 3 of them that open onto the studio) but I started eying the door to the guest room/office/music studio. I found some trim that I had on hand, painted it to match the shelf and the re-imagined bulletin board and glued it to the sides of the chalkboard. Then I threaded some pretty aqua ribbon through the holes. And now it hangs on the door.

By the way, have you tried those fabulous Chalk Ink Wet Wipe Markers? Oh my gosh, they are so much better than chalk. I suppose they are what restaurants use on their chalkboards. I’ve been on the lookout for some and found them the other day at Michael’s. I see much chalkboard writing in the days ahead.

I also painted the shelf I discovered in the shed. It now has a home just above the sewing machine table. (Why I didn’t take a photo of it before I hung it, I’ll never know.) Because this little area is a niche under the skylight and can be dark, I had to fiddle a bit in Picnik.

Excuse the cord. Now I have a place to put stuff that used to clutter up the table. Another view:

Now, if only I could find an attractive version of the lamp on the left. Any ideas or recommendations?

This morning I spied this little one in our back yard. (I also put her on my photo blog.)

She was looking at me through the kitchen window. Look at those eyes. This is why I am a vegetarian. This is why I am against hunting. And though that may not be popular, it is a very big part of me. I’m proud of it.

And it’s my birthday this weekend. I’m celebrating me.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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