Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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You are here: Home / pottery / Hunkering Down

Hunkering Down

March 7, 2018 at 9:21 am by Claudia

I woke up to this. But this isn’t the Nor’easter. That’s coming later this morning. Since I took that picture, it’s begun snowing quite heavily.

I. am. so. over. winter.

And yes, this picture is pretty, but I have already have some just like it, thank you very much, so I don’t need another one.

I have no choice but to hunker down. It’s a heavy, wet snow, so when it’s time for me to shovel, I will do it slowly, over the course of a day. I don’t have to be anywhere.

These came in the mail yesterday:

Two Shawnee miniatures to add to my collection. I haven’t added to it in a long while, but I saw a photo of someone else’s collection the other day and the next thing I knew, I was on Etsy (and eBay, but the prices were too high.) The vase on the left is a very pale pink.

Here they are with their new best friends:

Not all of these are Shawnee pottery. I like miniature pottery in general. But the top two shelves are all Shawnee.

I will have to think of something to do to distract myself. I was a model of efficiency yesterday and got going early in the day. I went grocery shopping, washed the bed linen, along with several more loads, cleaned, had a coaching session via FaceTime, ran more errands, moved the cars so our driveway can get plowed; I was on a roll.

I’ve done everything. So I’ll take it easy today because I know I’m going to have to shovel tomorrow.

Happy Wednesday.

Filed Under: pottery, snow, winter 38 Comments

Comments

  1. Linda @ A La Carte says

    March 7, 2018 at 11:13 am

    I love the new mini Shawnee’s! I haven’t added to my collection in a long while either. I’m trying to limit my collections until I clear out some more ‘stuff’. I ended up reading all day yesterday and finished a good Sandra Brown book. Today its sunny so taking Mom to Dollar Tree. She makes a list of all the birthdays in the year and buys all her cards and then has them ready. I’ll take my Kindle as I can only look at Dollar Tree for so long LOL. Stay warm and rest up for the shoveling! Hugs!

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      March 7, 2018 at 12:50 pm

      Maybe I’ll investigate Etsy and eBay. Uh oh.

      Reply
  2. kathy says

    March 7, 2018 at 11:15 am

    good to hear you will take it easy today. you sure earned it from yesterday (and deserve it anyway)! glad you can stay indoors, safe and warm.

    and hooray for treats! those minis look meant to be with the rest of that collection.

    kathy in iowa

    ps: what’s stella making during the storm?

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      March 7, 2018 at 12:50 pm

      Stella might make biscuits but probably not since I have a few left from the last batch. No cookies.

      Reply
      • kathy says

        March 7, 2018 at 10:01 pm

        oh … though i have a powerful sweet tooth, i was actually thinking more about a casserole!

        enjoy whatever you have and stay safe!

        kathy in iowa

        Reply
        • Claudia says

          March 9, 2018 at 10:06 am

          xo

          Reply
  3. Donnamae says

    March 7, 2018 at 11:52 am

    Cute additions to your collections. I was really stuck on hammered brass planters, just the other day… checking out Etsy for a long bit. Then I had a fleeting thought to check out my favorite thrift store…wouldn’t you know it…they had two. Score…and for a heck of a lot less.

    I’m really hoping that the forecasters are wrong this time. Take care…and make yourself something yummy to feast on. It sounds like you will need the energy for tomorrow! ;)

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      March 7, 2018 at 12:51 pm

      My mom had hammered brass planters now that I think of it. Hmmmmm… Don’t get me going on something else!

      Reply
      • Donnamae says

        March 7, 2018 at 8:33 pm

        Well…I’m not doing it on purpose. My mom had a few brass pots herself, but I have no idea whatever happened to them. I just think hammered brass pots with plants looks smashing. I just have to….I’m smitten! (If you look on Etsy…you might get the bug, too!) ;)

        Reply
        • Claudia says

          March 7, 2018 at 9:30 pm

          I don’t need another collecting bug! xo

          Reply
  4. Chris K in Wisconsin says

    March 7, 2018 at 12:01 pm

    Stay safe, kiddo. I know you will be careful with that heart-attack snow and take it slow and easy. Oh, how I long to be dragging the hose behind me as I walk through the yard to water the flowers. I do know that the winters get longer as I get older ~ and the summers seem so much shorter.

    The news of late is beyond ridiculous, to the point of overwhelming, so I have been reading like a mad woman. Escapism. I hope you can stay warm and cozy as the weather takes over. Someone else asked ~ any plans with Stella today? Have they changed the anticipated snow amounts? I will keep you in my thoughts!!!

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      March 7, 2018 at 12:52 pm

      No plans with Stella. I’m trying to cut down on sweets, so baking anything, though tempting, would not be a good idea.

      Latest estimates (and there’s already 3 inches on the ground) are 14 – 18 inches.

      Reply
  5. Margaret says

    March 7, 2018 at 12:03 pm

    Was that “someone else’s collection” mine? I don’t want to be a bad influence.

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      March 7, 2018 at 12:49 pm

      No, although yours reminded me of them! I’ll message you with that particular post I found on IG. xo

      Reply
  6. Wendy T says

    March 7, 2018 at 12:13 pm

    I love miniatures of any kind. Your new to you pottery pieces are so sweet. Hope you decide on something fun to do today as you wait out the storm. Picked up my kitty yesterday afternoon, and kept her isolated in my bedroom for a few hours. She stayed on one side of the door, and my other two were on the other. I think the latter were commiserating with the former. And, also wondering why they couldn’t go into my bedroom, as that is their favored room for an after dinner nap. Hayley was as chipper as ever and vacuumed up her food despite recovering from the teeth extractions (we fed her late and very wet food). Relieved she’s fine and back at home. Today will be “fun”….tax prep! (You know I’m being sarcastic…)

    Reply
  7. Deborah Robinson says

    March 7, 2018 at 12:30 pm

    Hello!
    This is the first I’ve heard about Shawnee miniatures; as a long time collector of Fiesta & Bauer, (but not of late), these little beauties intrigue me. Thank you for sharing!
    As for this storm, it sounds like a hot tea (or toddy), good book and/or classic movie and a hot bath, after shoveling very, very, very slowly (in Elmer Fudd’s voice). Take care of yourself.
    Ciao,
    Deb

    Reply
  8. grace says

    March 7, 2018 at 1:26 pm

    Dear Claudia, you have been riding the weather wave rather adeptly and clearly ready for a break. Enjoy your calm today and thanks for the beautiful views which believe it or not will eventually morph into springtime magic!

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      March 7, 2018 at 3:12 pm

      It seems far off, Grace! Thanks.

      Reply
  9. Janet in Rochester says

    March 7, 2018 at 1:27 pm

    Hunker yourself down in your favorite reading spot & go to town, Claudia. You deserve it. Isn’t that the best feeling? When you force yourself to getting all the yucky jobs done first & then suddenly you find them DONE? Be sure you have some snacks, a nap blanket and something hot to drink nearby. All that might actually make the nor’easter a pleasure to experience [well, almost]. Peace.

    #Resist
    #ProtectMueller

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      March 7, 2018 at 3:12 pm

      Some hot chocolate later this afternoon, I think! Thanks, Janet.

      Reply
  10. Laura says

    March 7, 2018 at 2:50 pm

    Love your miniatures. Rest up and stay safe. Sounds nasty. xo Laura

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      March 7, 2018 at 3:13 pm

      It is nasty, Laura. Lots and lots of snow. And it will hit 40 degrees tomorrow. Such strange weather!

      Reply
  11. Marilyn says

    March 7, 2018 at 3:45 pm

    Those Shawnees are lovely. It is snowing here after a morning of rain and snow mixed. We are going to receive 5- 12 inches.
    Marilyn

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      March 7, 2018 at 6:18 pm

      I measured about two inches ago and it was over 8 inches with more to come. Stay safe, Marilyn.

      Reply
  12. Kay says

    March 7, 2018 at 3:56 pm

    I’d never heard of Shawnee miniatures. I always learn something from reading your blog. Here’s hoping your wet snow is quickly followed by warmer weather so it disappears quickly. That’s provided you don’t get too much and it floods. Oh, dear – March has been so sucky.

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      March 7, 2018 at 6:18 pm

      And I heard of them from another blogger! See how it goes?

      March is only 7 days old and it’s been very sucky!

      Reply
  13. Christina says

    March 7, 2018 at 5:26 pm

    I hope there is not too much shovelling tomorrow! I am so over winter, too. x

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      March 7, 2018 at 6:19 pm

      This had better be it. It’s terrible out there. Very dangerous. A car went off the road just a few feet from our house.

      Reply
  14. Melanie says

    March 7, 2018 at 7:25 pm

    I am drooling over your miniature pottery collection. Where do you have this shelving unit/collection? I saw a news clip on the 4:00 news about your storm. Looks and sounds terrible. Stay safe and be careful shoveling!

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      March 7, 2018 at 7:27 pm

      It’s up in my office. It’s terrible here today, Melanie. I stopped measuring at 8 inches. I’m sure it will be close to 14 inches when it’s done.

      Reply
  15. Cheryl Lawson says

    March 7, 2018 at 9:17 pm

    Hi Claudia,
    I love your collection of Shawnee miniatures. I collect them as well but have found them difficult to find these days, other than online. These colorful little vases and pitchers make me happy every time I look at them! I’d love to include some photos for you but don’t think they will copy to this comment format. Stay safe in the storm; I really enjoyed your post.
    Cheryl

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      March 7, 2018 at 9:30 pm

      They’re very hard to find! I never see them in shops. The storm has hit us hard. At least two large limbs down, maybe more, as I can hear cracking up in the woods.

      Reply
      • Cheryl says

        March 8, 2018 at 1:57 pm

        We’re driving through Georgia as I write this; left New England for a vacation just before the last storm hit. I probably should feel guilty.:-) Thinking of you and everyone getting snowed in today. Stay warm and enjoy good book?

        Reply
        • Claudia says

          March 9, 2018 at 10:11 am

          Thanks, Cheryl!

          Reply
  16. Vicki says

    March 8, 2018 at 3:28 am

    Gosh, I just don’t know what to think of such weather; even the headlines on major news outlets are describing your nor’easter as ‘AWFUL’. You were wise to ‘get going’ ahead of the hunkering down, of course; you know the drill. As I’ve said before, my husband despises the task (huge chore; exhausting chore) of shoveling snow.

    Speaking of, he got his results back from 23&Me (took awhile) and was quietly shocked I think, to find out he has no ‘variants’ for Alzheimer’s. He’s forgetful, ever since I met him when he was a lot younger but it’s a sort of absentmindedness; I mean, he’s whip smart. But I think he can’t turn off his mind very well, and he juggles a lot (works two jobs/too many hours in the work week) on never enough sleep and too much stress & responsibility. At this ‘senior’ age, we’re all going to succumb to a certain amount of forgetfulness because our brain cells just start dying off (from what I’ve read). Both of his parents died from complications of clinically-diagnosed Alzheimer’s so, natch, all of their adult children feel uneasy about their own proclivity.

    Was interesting to see the DNA results in terms of ancestry because of a few wild cards thrown in – – like finding out he had some Scandinavian origins; but everything else was pretty much what we already knew. I guess I’ll do this testing for myself one of these days – – but I don’t want to know any bad news about health prospects (I get enough of it in real time; I don’t want to know about the future); I would just like to see what the DNA comes back for origins/ethnic roots, wondering if what I know about ‘the family tree’ is correct. Was helping one relative with the family history (just recently, last month) and found out she was in touch with another ‘cousin’ who did his DNA and found out it doesn’t jive with any of us, yet it should, so he’s done more genealogy research and is starting to realize his grandfather was likely/informally adopted (out of an orphanage) into our family by my great-grandparents in the late 1800s before they left ‘the old country’ for America; this is all ‘news’ to me and I’m more than a bit skeptical; it’s a mystery for sure.

    I love the miniature pottery you have SO MUCH; always love it when you share it on the blog!

    Stay safe out there, Claudia. Brrrrrrr.

    Reply
    • Vicki says

      March 8, 2018 at 3:53 am

      Something so poignant earlier today…

      I was at the cemetery. Took the long-way drive around (it’s peaceful) over to where our family plot is located. I often, on my way (when I go this way), see a marker near the curb of a lane where there are older graves and not a lot of flowers because I’m sure some of those departed people just no longer have descendants here, and it’s a loop in the lane which is sort of out of the way from mainstream traffic through the property. But this one grave always stands out to me because it consistently has a perfect, diminutive bouquet of fresh flowers – – nothing elaborate but somehow ‘just right’ and very carefully arranged. I slowed down one time and learned it’s the grave of a child. Heartbreaking.

      And today, for some odd reason, I put 2&2 together and realized it must be the son of a former neighbor of mine (small town) with whom I’ve lost touch over the years; she’d be age 94 now. I always remember her age because it was the same as my mom. Something in the name clicked today; I don’t know why it didn’t before with me. She has adult daughters but she’d never told me of having had a 3-year-old son who died, who would have been her first child. I do think it is she who is putting fresh flowers weekly on that baby’s grave, 70 years later. I felt my breath catch with the realization and it moved me to tears. A mommy who would never forget.

      I’ve decided I’m going to look her up and talk to her; none of her daughters were living in the area and she was widowed during the time she’d been my neighbor, which was a lot of years ago. She was pretty alone except for a couple of cousins. Most of the longtime neighbors had moved or passed on. I just feel a very strong need to connect with her. I was so touched by this experience today. We have no idea the depth of pain some people hold within, over most of a lifetime.

      Reply
      • Claudia says

        March 9, 2018 at 10:08 am

        Lovely. Let us know if you find her!

        Reply
    • Claudia says

      March 9, 2018 at 10:08 am

      I’ve never had the desire to do the DNA testing, but I can certainly understand why someone would want/need to. Glad to hear the results of your husband’s test revealed no Alzheimers variants!

      Reply
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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.

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