Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Life in our little cottage in the country

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Art and Knitting

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Some more artwork for you today. As always, there’s a story behind everything.

This grouping is hanging above the sofa in the den. I got “Please put book back after using” from Milne Antiques a couple of years ago. Since this area of the wall is between two sections of bookshelves and since I’m a passionate reader, it seemed appropriate. It came from a library in New Hampshire. Plus, we love graphics around this house.

The large print hanging below it is one of my favorites. The frame is wood, carved in scallops. You can’t see it, but the outside edges of each scallop are a beautiful soft green. It’s very, very heavy. The story: Many years ago, I was at an auction with my friend Heidi. I spotted this piece and knew I wanted it. This particular auctioneer was slow as molasses and I waited and waited until it was close to midnight. It never came up for auction. I couldn’t believe it when he said he was going to stop for the night. The audible and negative response from the crowd made him ask if there was anything in particular anyone wanted. I raised my hand and pointed to the framed print. He asked me for a bid. I said $15.00. He said “Sold!” And that’s how I got this. A steal. Every once in a while I think of adding shelves on this section of the wall, but frankly, I would miss this print and its whimsical frame too much!

Never easy to photograph, this piece lives above the picture window in the den. It’s about 4 feet wide and mounted on wood. I spotted it in a photo on Vignette’s website several years ago. (My favorite little shop in San Diego.) I fell for it because it was so charming. It was a method of keyboard training for piano students. There are little hooks on the white keys. Lori packaged it up for me, sent it across the country, and for a long while it lived above the piano until we purchased the lithograph that lives there now. I knew that this space between the window and the ceiling would be perfect and we’ve started to collect antique keys to hang from the hooks.

There’s more in the den but we’ll get to that another day.

Some of you may have seen this on Instagram. Yesterday when I was looking for something to wear – it’s SO cold out there – I went to a basket I keep in our tiny closet and dug through it. I found this sweater that I knitted about 13 years ago. I had completely forgotten about it. Since it’s cut to be oversized and slouchy, it still fit.

It was like getting a new sweater! It’s so comfortable! I’ve not knit in a while because my frantic crocheting for the Etsy shop a few years back screwed up my wrists. The last thing I knit was about 3 years ago and it was a little project.

These bunny egg cup cozies. I adore them. They’re based on a pattern from Little Cotton Rabbits (I think that’s the name) on Etsy.

Okay. I have to go. It’s grocery shopping morning.

Happy Tuesday.

 

Around the House: The Artwork by the Front Door

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Oh, boy. It’s cold  here. The temperature is now 20 degrees, but it feels like 4 degrees. It will be the same tomorrow when the snow arrives. Right now, it looks like we’ll get anywhere from 2 – 6 inches. Here’s hoping it’s on the low end. Nonetheless, I’m looking forward to watching snow fall during the day tomorrow. It’s been a while. Just not too much, please.

Kathy mentioned yesterday that she’d love to see some of the artwork we have on our walls, sparked by yesterday’s photo which showed something on the wall by the front door. I’d love to share that with you. We have a lot of it, comprising vintage, new, photos, watercolors, my dad’s oil paintings, signs…you name it.

The piece that Kathy spied yesterday is a vintage calendar print (we think) of a Norman Rockwell painting. The print itself is quite old; we can tell by the frame and the backing. I’d say 30s or 40s. This is the original frame. We found it several years ago when we were renting in Westchester County. I can’t remember whether we found it there or in the Berkshires. Something tells me it was the Berkshires.

It’s called “It’s Your Move.”

It shows a group of circus performers gathered together backstage playing a game of checkers. It’s so vivid, with each person beautifully painted and realized. As in all Norman Rockwell paintings, a moment in time is evoked by body position, facial expression, clothing, and subject matter. He was so good at that. There’s a clown, a ringmaster, an animal tamer, a female performer, and a performing dog, with a ruff around his neck. You can see part of the circus tent in the background. I love the details: the animal trainer is sitting on a bucket, the clown is sitting on a wooden box with the number 5 painted on the side – maybe it’s used in performances. The ringmaster’s top hat is on the floor and he’s smoking a stogie, completely engrossed in the game. Love the mustache on the animal trainer and the adorable and tired mutt, resting between performances. And the lovely young girl, maybe she rides bare back on the performing horses? She’s seen the men playing and is now watching the game. The clown is a little cocky, knowing that he’s got the upper hand.

As longtime performers in the theater, we are very familiar with the ongoing activities/games that sometimes occur backstage while awaiting entrances. This reminds us of them.

I just love this piece. It’s one of our favorites.

I also love the green mat and the old off-white frame. I have a few pieces that are framed in off-white – almost cream colored – frames, and I love them. We always assumed this came from a calendar, but it might be a print someone purchased. I don’t want to take off the backing or disturb it, so we’re content to not know for sure.

It’s a little gem and one we treasure.

Happy Friday.

Up On the Rooftop

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Is everyone calm? Or are you feeling frazzled? Or somewhere in between?

I’m fairly calm, though a teeny bit of frazzled has appeared as I have to go out today to get one more thing for Don. I’m feeling better, but still not tip-top (neither is Don.) This thing hangs on a while, but I think the worst is over. So I have to get one more present and that should be it.

We had our usual wrangle this morning over how many presents we’re giving each other. I keep saying that the vintage dollhouse is my present – it is!-and he doesn’t have to give me anything else. He wants to make sure he’s giving me the same amount of presents that I’m giving him. Then I reiterate that this year is different. I have my present and it came early. Finally, I said if he wants to give me three little things from the dollar store, that would be fine. Sigh.

Yesterday was sunny and much warmer and today it’s going to hit 50. Crazy. But I’m not complaining!

We watched It’s a Wonderful Life  last night. My favorite Christmas movie – no question. Cried my eyes out, of course – that never changes. I’m not a fan of Hallmark Christmas movies, nor of modern movies like Elf, though I saw it once and can appreciate it. They just don’t make our list of Must-See Christmas Classics. I think the only more recent movie that we love is A Christmas Story. We also watched Miracle on 34th Street  the other night. The black and white version, of course. Same goes for It’s a Wonderful Life. I don’t think any movies should be colorized if they were originally shot in black and white. Everything; the sets, the lighting, the camera work, costumes, was executed with the highlights and shadows of black and white in mind.

I love TCM and I’m grateful to Ted Turner for that wonderful channel, but not for his mission to colorize movies that were part of that great era of filmmaking.

I have to get going. I always forget that it gets dark so early, so I want to get out there and take care of my errands soon.

Added: If any of you follow Susan of the blog Ash Tree Cottage, please say a prayer for her. She has been in the hospital fighting an infection and in the course of her treatment, doctors found a renal mass that might have spread to her liver. Susan is a longtime blogging friend. She and her husband David need our prayers. Thank you.

Happy Monday.

 

 

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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