Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Much Better

October 9, 2017 at 8:42 am by Claudia

Don is safely in New Orleans after flying down in a posh private plane, with food and snacks and a chance to sit in the cockpit and places to put his feet up and lots of talk and laughter with some of his castmates and the director and choreographer. It’s a tough life.

Today they start teching the show but not before he gets out for that beignet and some coffee.

I ended up feeling rather ambitious yesterday, so I listened to some of my favorite music and cleaned up the office. I had done nothing to organize the desk for a few months, resulting in stacks of paperwork, stuff I brought back from Hartford, mail, etc. The same, if not worse, was the case with Don’s desk. This is what happens in our house when we spend a chunk of time away from home.

Much better! And very satisfying, I must say.

No, I never got around to painting all the furniture for Little Z’s dollhouse. Bad Aunt. And now I think he’s getting too big for it. It has been transformed into a shelf unit for printer paper, etc.; not on purpose, it’s just handy that way.

Very satisfying, indeed! Now, on to Don’s desk, where there were piles of things from his time in California, CDs, mail, photos, and a giant sombrero that he found in an antique store in Walnut, IA. I knew he wanted to hang the sombrero on the wall and I was sick of seeing it on top of everything on his desk, so…

There it is. Don loves Mexican culture. I must say, it’s really beautiful. And it’s vintage. I texted him a photo of the ‘done deed.’ Thumbs up.

Believe me, this is much better than it was! There’s actually some space on the top of the desk.

The rest is up to him, but since he’ll only be home for about a month or so at the end of the year, I don’t think it’s at the top of his To Do list.

I usually keep my laptop on the desk but, since I got back from Hartford, it’s been downstairs in the den next to my blogging chair. So I hadn’t really spent too much time up in the office, but that will change when I figure out what I’m going for with the new modern dollhouse.

It’s a ‘surprise’ holiday to yours truly. I do not like there being no mail delivery. No, I don’t.

Harrumph!

Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian readers!

Happy Monday.

Filed Under: Don, office, studio 34 Comments

More Chatty on Wednesday

October 26, 2016 at 9:56 am by Claudia

• I saw a bluebird drinking out of the birdbath the other day. I never see bluebirds around here except in the fall or early winter. I didn’t have time to take a picture. Then I saw our resident bluejay chasing 3 or 4 bluebirds away. (Maybe they’re on their way to warmer climes?)

10-26-bluebird

This is the best I could do. He was a long way off, so I used my zoom lens. Trust me, he’s a bluebird. Or she. I love bluebirds and I see them so rarely!

That darned bluejay was chasing lots of birds away, the bugger. I was upstairs at one point, sitting at my desk, and I heard a loud squawking. He was right outside my window, talking to me!

• This is what it looked like around here last night:

10-26-flowerfreeze

I had to bring in all the plants from the porch as the temperature was going down to 31°. Tonight? 28°. I would have left them inside for the day, but the guy was coming from the alarm company, so we had to move them all back outside. Back inside tonight. Since the overnight temps will warm up to the forties after tonight, I’m hanging on to these plants as long as I can.

I covered up the barrels of geraniums with sheets. And this morning, I hacked through the ice in the birdbath so the birdies can get a drink. I am still seeing robins and finches and cardinals (they hang around all winter) and the bluejay, of course. The other day, my sweet mourning dove was drinking from the birdbath.

10-26-ididhaveitplates

• I hadn’t lost my mind! Look what I found among the books on my bookshelves – Plates.

Gosh, I love these books. I also forgot to mention another favorite magazine, also no longer available: Flea Market Style. It came out quarterly. I’ve been looking through some back issues that I saved. I really miss it. Another sob.

10-26-studio

• This was my Instagram post yesterday. And it still looks like this today! I’m dining on oatmeal and raisins with some apple cider, syrup and tahini added. Mmmm! And of course, you can see my favorite coffee mug.

• Alarm problem solved. The repairman replaced the sensor.

10-26-sunset

• Finally, last night’s sunset. Beautiful.

Someone who lives in this house with me is preparing a guest post for the blog. I won’t say who. It will be up tomorrow or Friday.

Happy Wednesday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

 

Filed Under: birds, flowers, media, studio 41 Comments

Rearranging

August 27, 2016 at 10:37 am by Claudia

The roller coaster ride that is a lot of sleep, then too little sleep, then a lot of sleep continues. I have to follow the same advice I give to Don: Some times it just happens. You’ll get through the day.

It’s true.

So, it was very hot and humid yesterday which made me stay in the house except for the usual watering of plants. I sat in our newish chair in the living room and read. Occasionally my eyes would wander over to the portraits of Scout and Riley on the wall.

And then to the Parrish.

And then back again to the dogs.

So I finally got up and tried the canvas of Riley and Scout in place of the Parrish.

8-27 dogwall

Much better. It belongs there. When Winston arrives, the wall will be complete.

So…where to put the Parrish? I wandered around the house, trying it here and there. We have limited wall space, especially upstairs where we have attic rooms with slanted walls. I stood in the studio/office and thought about it. I left the Parrish propped up against the work table. I walked away.

Eventually, I tried this:

8-27 parrish

I had the calendar hanging here, but I moved it over to the far left side of the shelf, after trying the Parrish there first. I preferred it here, because just to its right is this:

8-27 2parrishes2

I may tweak the placement of The Dinky Bird – maybe a bit closer to Pierrot’s Serenade.

When I first created this little space, I was all for keeping it clean. By that, I mean relatively free of clutter on the desk and clutter on the walls.

I failed miserably.

I have stuff. Let’s face it. I collect egg cups, I collect mini pottery (over on the wall to the left of the desk,) I have a bulletin board full of memories and photos, I have all the clutter that goes with building  miniatures, and then I have the Parrishes. And the pottery. And…you get the picture.

But I thought about the Maxfield Parrish and how much I love his work and how long I’ve waited and waited to be able to purchase one or two of them and I thought: why not have them both on the wall that faces me when I’m working at my desk? I can lift my gaze from the keyboard and gaze upon the glorious colors and smile. And I do.

8-27 newchair

One other thing. I mentioned this on Instagram a few weeks back, but I don’t think I shared it here. We found this chair at our new favorite antique shop for $25.00. It’s a mid-century bentwood chair and, gosh, is it comfortable. It’s been added to our mismatched set of chairs that surround the kitchen table. It’s in great shape. I love it.

In case you’re interested: the Matryoshka doll/tea ball and tin of Anastasia tea were given to me by the producers of Anastasia, as was the round medallion on top of the tea tin. The tiny Delft shoes were a gift from Susi in Amsterdam, the shadow box contains a brooch give to me by my late brother, and the tin over on the work table was an antique shop find.

Happy Saturday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

 

Filed Under: decorating, dogs, Maxfield Parrish, office, studio 24 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.

Thanks for stopping by.

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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

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