Yesterday was spent cleaning in preparation for my best friend’s visit tomorrow. It was raining outside most of the day, so it was the perfect day to tackle this sort of thing. Since I am a procrastinator by nature, I seem to function at my best when I’m under the gun. (I’ve had many years of writing papers at the last minute!) It’s amazing what you see when you look at your home through the eyes of an incoming guest. Yikes.
I am the type of cleaner who does the surface level cleaning weekly – dusting, vacuuming, swiffering, cleaning up the kitchen, etc. But deep cleaning and I don’t have a date all that often. It’s looking pretty good here. Today: the dreaded bathrooms, my least favorite thing to do.
So tell me, why did I, in the midst of all that cleaning, finally start to work on the new dollhouse project? Am I nuts? I think it was because I was on a roll energy-wise. However, I had just finished cleaning up the entire workspace here in the office and there I was, making a mess.
Okay. This particular kit – the Fairfield – is old. I got it several years ago on eBay. It’s made of plywood pieces that have to be sanded after you punch them out of a sheet of plywood. They’re a pain in the tush. A couple of the pieces I’ve worked with so far were slightly warped. In other words, this is the kind of project that has me cursing much of the time that I’m working on it. Yesterday, I put together the base for the house.
This is the underside of the base. At times, the instructions were a bit confusing to yours truly.
That’s the top. The house will be built on that base.
Greenleaf (the maker of this dollhouse) now has some half-scale kits that are laser cut – which, believe me, is much more accurate. My Fairfield, judging from what I’ve read on other blogs and the Greenleaf forum, will need lots of sanding and tinkering to make sure everything fits together well. Will I have the patience for it? The jury is still out.
But I do like a challenge. So, we’ll see.
So you can get an idea of the much smaller footprint of this house:
It fits on my table with lots of room to spare.
I want to share two fascinating articles with you about minis:
A French Museum devoted to Miniature Film Sets
Syrian Refugees Are Recreating Demolished Monuments in Miniature
One more note: As this election season proceeds and I write the occasional political commentary, I welcome discussion in the comment section, as always. But I am going to have to institute a few rules. We must treat each other with respect. And we are not allowed to yell. By yelling, I mean writing in all caps with lots of exclamation marks several times within a comment or, as I’ve seen at times, in whole sentences. That, my friends, is the equivalent of yelling online and in emails. I warned someone about that yesterday and, in the future, I’ll delete any comments that I deem disrespectful.
Is it subjective? Yes. Decisions will be made according to my strong feelings about common courtesy and respect.
(All caps to emphasize a word every once in a while because the commenter doesn’t have the option to use italics is a different thing.)
Okay.
There is a book review up on Just Let Me Finish This Page today: John Connolly’s newest, A Time of Torment, which is being published today.
Happy Tuesday.
I love a clean home but the deep cleaning doesn’t happen here too often I must admit. Now I really am chuckling to myself that you started working on the new dollhouse during the cleaning, but hey I understand that need to create sometimes. Enjoy and I know you can’t wait to have your friends visit!
hugs,
Linda
I’m really looking forward to it – I don’t get to see Laural nearly often enough!
I’m so pleased that you’re going to tackle the Fairfield! My niece and I assembled a Greenleaf kit last year (albeit a simple one) and I found that the warping improved as the build progressed. (I did find the wood awfully splintery though.)
Understandably emotions are running very high over the upcoming election in America, but our own house rule has always been discuss, don’t shout. My daughter and I are at complete odds on some issues, but we can still respectfully disagree. I am constantly dismayed by the number of people I deal with at work who think it’s acceptable to send discourteous emails or leave voice messages that they wouldn’t dare express face to face.
Very splintery! Which is very annoying!
I think people feel like they can get away with rudeness via email or online. In fact, I know it. It’s very sad.
Yay! You’ve started your new build, Claudia. Since this is an older kit, I can understand the use of plywood (it must be sturdy and heavy-ish?) Do contemporary kits use plywood too? I went to both sites. Wow, those miniatures were fascinating. If it weren’t for the coin or hand photographed with the mini, one could hardly tell it wasn’t a full size room. And it’s so sad that so many historical sites are being destroyed to the point that they cannot be reconstructed or repaired. I’m a firm believer that history helps shape and define the present and guides future. The salvaging of Syrian historical structures through miniature-building elevates the craft and art of miniatures to another important level of purpose. Have fun with your friends. Is it a one-day visit or will they stay with you for a few days?
It’s not all that heavy, but fairly sturdy. I love what you said about ‘another important level of purpose’ as to the Syrian historical structures. You’re so right, Wendy.
They’re just coming for the day because they have lots to see and do in NYC.
I’m all-things computer-challenged so don’t know how to underline, therefore comes the caps. I’ll try to watch it when I’m trying to give emphasis.
As frustrating as the new doll house is to construct, it really is a great size for your cottage in terms of taking up space, isn’t it. Wow, I don’t think I could ever attempt to make a house from scratch as you; it’s complicated and a lot of work (I think it would take away the delight factor from me). My husband continues to amaze me, as he can put most anything together without an instruction booklet…and in record time, often improvising in the process if things are missing from a kit. I just didn’t get that gift/brain that you and he have, which is why sewing was difficult for me, with patterns. Cooking with a recipe. Trying to put up wallpaper. Forget it; I’m a disaster at all of it.
Have a wonderful time with your friend tomorrow, Claudia (in your sparkling clean house)!
You don’t do the ALL CAPS thing in anger directed to someone else who is commenting, etc. It’s fine.
Sparkling clean might be an exaggeration, but it’s better than it was!
Have you ever read about Dutch cabinet houses? Goes ‘way back, to the 1600s; elaborate and beautiful doll houses owned by wealthy women of the time. Considered works of art then, as now; museum-quality pieces with handcrafted originals and even commissioned items. Of course, someone else who had incredible doll houses was the heiress who died in these recent years, daughter of the copper baron…let me think of her name: Huguette Clark. Living in Southern California, I’m eagerly awaiting the outcome of her family’s sumptuous estate in Santa Barbara, Bellosguardo, which is supposed to become a real jewel in the crown for the city, open to the public pretty much as she left it, with gorgeous antiques, hopefully a doll house or two…as she was such a creator/collector of them…as well as dolls, which she loved, in addition to paintings (she was an artist), etc. As a visitor to Santa Barbara many times and also having once lived there about 30 years ago, I’d wondered all my life about that property and who lived there as it’s only truly visible from being on a boat out on the ocean…and even though she hadn’t visited Bellosguardo since I think the 1950s, she kept it meticulously/curiously maintained. I’ve seen photos and it’s a gem. A lot of her doll houses were Asian in nature, like houses from Japan in I think the previous century; 19th century houses. This reclusive woman has fascinated me; her story is so odd, interesting and sad…insanely wealthy but as if she lived on an island where the inside of her homes was her oasis, sheltered from a world she must have felt uncertain about, with everything around her that she could love and find happiness from when she didn’t have it with, at least later on, ‘real’ people and ‘real’ life.
Yes, I’m familiar with Dutch cabinet houses. I’ve also seen the Thorne Rooms in Chicago. Although it was so many years ago, that I’d like to seem them again now that I love miniatures!
Vicki..I had to laugh when you said your husband put things together without an instruction book…Do men ever use an instruction book?..lol..
Ha! And if you’re out in the car, will they ever ask for directions if lost?
Never!..or at least not until they are so lost they may never find home again..lol…
Ah, cleaning. After fighting this allergy aggravation for over a month I finally found relief when I bought a personal vaporizer and started breathing in warm mist three or four times a day. Within 48 hours my throat stopped aching. That led to my feeling like doing some extra cleaning and rearranging things on the bookshelves. Oh the joy of being able to swallow without pain. Claudia I hope you and Don have a lovely visit with your friends. They can’t help but feel welcomed by the charm of your lovely home and gardens.
I hope they like everything. This will be the first time they’ve seen our little cottage, Janie!
Deep cleaning and I don’t have dates very often either! Your new project looks complicated…better you than me. I don’t seem to have the patience I used to…I used it all up on my boys! Hope you have a great visit with your bestie tomorrow! ;)
Thank you, Donna! Looking forward to tomorrow!
Remember on your build…No Hot Glue.
The smallest I have built was a 1/144th scale. I would not be able to do that anymore as my hand shake too bad. I have Guillan Barre and this is one of the remnants I came away with. But I know people who had it much worse.
I am getting tired of the election already. I have a friend at work who puts everything she can against Hillary on Facebook. Who knows what is true and what isn’t about either one of them.
Have a great time with your friends. It is always so much fun catching up. Remember, They came to see you and Don not your house. Are you able to take a day and meet them in New York? Maybe show them part of your job. What leads up to a play. Or are they in your line of work already? Anyway have fun and bring on the memories!
I never use hot glue, Teresa. Rest assured! 1/144th scale is too small for me! I don’t dare try it. No we aren’t going to meet up in the city, though we did that last time they were here. Laural is also in the theater so she completely understands what I do! We met when I was 12 and she was 13 and we were doing summer theater.
I was gifted last week a note pad with this caption: I’m very busy….doing things I don’t need to do in order to avoid doing anything I’m actually supposed to be doing. It’s me to a T.
It’s me, too, Mary. I love that!
Gosh, my standards have lowered tremenously in cleaning since I had children at home. I deep cleaned constantly back then. Now, I’m happy if it looks presentable and the kitchen and bathrooms are clean. I guess that’s what a long period of health struggles does to you. I’ve learned that most people are here to see us, not the house. I’m sure your place looks great Claudia and your friend won’t be judging you anyway. Your new miniature project looks like lots of fun and I’m looking forward to watching it evolve into a thing of beauty. You have a real talent with them.
Have fun with your friend Claudia.
Blessings,
Betsy
I know you’ve had your health struggles, Betsy, but I have the same attitude. Life’s too short!
Have a wonderful visit tomorrow. My best friend (for the past 60 years!!) and her husband are coming for a visit in Sept. Haven’t seen her in a few years though we text daily and talk on the phone quite often. Just isn’t the same….. but sitting down w/ coffee or to watch a movie with some popcorn is just so so much more fun!! Have fun!!!
I am excited about you starting a new mini house..it’s always fun for me to watch your progress..Have a great visit with your friend Laural…
Claudia, I just finished Pat Conroy’s My Reading Life. It came to me quite by accident and if it weren’t for you posts about him, I would have passed it up. Such a wonderful memoir and a fantastic celebration of books and writers! I enjoyed it from cover to cover. Now, I need to go read some more of his books, and re-read Prince of Tides, which I was much too immature to appreciate the first time through.
I think that pleasant, respectful comments would not be a problem with your readers. Just do not start a discussion on those who robocall on the telephone and do it all the hours of the day and leave no message and the ones who do leave a message. I cannot remain polite on that subject. Notice I did not use one exclamation point, though I often do.
It will be so nice to see the process! Of building this minihouse not the deep cleaning.