Looks like the birdbath will soon be totally covered in snow. I have had it. I woke up to at least 5 inches already on the ground with many more to come. We will have well over a foot more of snow by the end of the day tomorrow. I just started rehearsals yesterday and now I can’t get in again until Thursday or Friday. It’s too dangerous. Fortunately, my work doesn’t require me to be there every day. But I constantly have to think ahead and create a schedule that accomodates this endless, endless snow.
Look, I know I’m not the only one who is sick to death of this stuff. But let me whine a little. It has really impacted our lives. We’ve had to cancel or rearrange so many things since this all started on December 26th. I’ve really never seen anything like it. It’s depressing. I try to stay positive, but let me tell you, today is a day I just can’t get there. We’re struggling with a lot of worries right now, but somehow I think they might seem a bit less daunting if we could just catch a break with this weather.
That being said, those of you in the Midwest are really getting walloped. Please stay safe, stay off the roads, and be careful. My thoughts are with you.
And, I can’t seem to get a good photo of the dollhouse. I’m not sure why – whether it is a combination of the white color or the lighting in the den or something else. I’ve played and played with my settings this morning. I am frustrated! If any of you photographers have a suggestion or two, would you be so kind as to leave a comment? I’d so appreciate it. I’ve shut the blinds, opened the blinds, turned off the lamps, turned on the lamps, played with white balance, aperture, ISO – this was the best of the lot.
My order arrived yesterday from an online miniatures site. Can you see that the dollhouse is sitting on my new turntable? I love it. It will make working on it so much easier! My new shutters arrived as well. The shutters that I had on hand weren’t tall enough, so I’ve been using them to test some paint colors.
I started out with the turquoise on the right, but I think it is too bright. I added some gray to it and came up with the color on the left. I could just go with gray shutters, but I think that would be too matchy-matchy with the roof. What do you think?
I suppose I can paint some shutters today, when I’m not shoveling. And I will be shoveling most of the day. These are the times that I need to be reminded why we moved here from San Diego. At the moment, I have no idea why we made that decision. But yes, I know that come Springtime, I’ll remember exactly why we moved here.
Good Morning Claudia Sweetie…
Oh my looks like you are getting hammered out there. It is so pretty to look at, but when you have to live and get out in it, it stinks. Nope I don’t miss the cold winters at all.
We are supposed to drop down to 29 tonight and only get into the 40s tomorrow, which is cold for here in the desert. That is why we moved out here, we hate the cold.
Stay warm sweetie. I guess it looks like a few days of stew and chili, some warm foods for awhile. Dress warm when you go out to shovel, no pink jammies okay?
Many hugs sweetie and much love to you, Sherry
Ditto!!!Third week in a row the kids have been off one or more days.This time it’s ice covering everything.Or is it?Apparently the roads are fine so I am confused.Ugh.It feels like I will never get anything done or a routine.I hear you.Hang in.Spring will arrive.It must arrive.It will arrive!
Claudia, I’m so sorry about you being buried AGAIN. That has got to be frustrating. I wish there was something I could do to help.
I love the blue shutters, and I think the one on the left is fine. They’re both cute. I wish you were nearer, and I would give you some of the blue color we have on our house to try. It is very close in color to Benjamin Moore’s Covington Blue. The house is up on the blog today, but I am picture heavy so it might take some time to load. I probably should have done three parts to the house tour, but I was ready for the tour to end. ;-)
Stay warm and safe…
XO,
Sheila :-)
As a former Californian now living in the PNW, I ask that same question every winter (why did we move here?) but am also reminded why every beautiful spring & summer.
Every time you show us the dollhouse, I start to think about building one – it’s so charming. And those tiny shutters in those pretty aquas… LOVE. :-)
All of you in that part of the country have every reason to pout. This winter’s weather is ridiculous.
Hope playing with paint and your dollhouse provides a few moments of bliss!
Gripe all you want Claudia~ somehow I hope it helps to vent:)
We are just cold and rainy here and I won’t complain because it isn’t too far north of us it’s ice and snow. If we were getting that much snow I’d be yelling…stop the world I want to get off! lol:)
Love the color of the shutters on your dollhouse~ the one on the left is much prettier:)
Stay safe & warm!
paula
EEEEKKKKK!!! At least you are not alone in your feelings!!! We don’t get snow (well I do remember ONCE when it snowed here in Sacramento) but it’s been very gloomy and so GRAY and COLD for too long. Right now the sun is peeking through and it makes me SMILE!! I’m sending some rays your way!!
I am keeping fingers, toes crossed taht when I fly to Tampa (via Denver) end of the month all will be fine but I’m starting to get really NERVOUS!
Love the blue/gray shutter!!
xxoo
I feel so bad for you, Claudia..having come from CT, I DO remember a winter or two where it never seemed to let up. I remember vividly the feeling of almost claustrophobia and it seemed it was every weekend. Being shut in like that compounds your worries and makes you feel helpless. poor dears. I hope playing with the dollhouse helps. I do love both shutters as I am total adoration of that color blue lately…….but I agree that toning it down with gray is the way to go. I forget, where did this house come from?? I love the turntable…perfect!!! What are the rooms going to be? Will there be a craft room or sewing room? What does Don do as a hobby when the weather keeps you in like this?
Do you have enough sweets on hand?
lolol I still remember Don’s query. Love it.
xox Rella
Oh Claudia- You have a definte case of cabin fever. I have no doubt about it- the weather really does have a huge influence on our moods. At least here in Kansas we have spots of warm weather in between our snowstorms that make winter not seem so bad. They’re saying that by the end of the day, we’ll be in the middle of the snowstorm of the decade- luckily they gave us plenty of warning and the cupboards are full and Netflix are waiting.
Hang in there – I can’t wait to hear about your trips to NYC.
Claudia, Here I am complaining about highs in the 40s and 50s. I am ashamed of myself after looking at your birdbath.
About the photos of the dollhouse….White is the most difficult to photograph. I think that is why you don’t see too many plain white dollhouses. Once you get the new shutters on, you will be surprised at how much the photos will improve. I like the one on the left. Yes… gray would be too matchy, matchy. I am so excited to see you working on the house again.
The snow is starting to get to me, too! And it’s only early February, so we have a couple more months to endure!
I feel so bad for you all in the path of all this snow. I did have snow envy but once you get past January you start looking forward to Spring. I can imagine you are feeling claustrophobic with all that snow.
I like the turquoise shutters, it is very cottage like. I am afraid I can’t help you with the photos, I have the hardest time taking indoor photos.
Hang in there, Spring WILL come your way…eventually!!!
I feel quilty for our warmer weather while you and so many others are getting clobbered. I thought of you on Saturday as an estate sale here said they had antique doll house furniture. I did not go because I must save money. I wonder how folks with cabin fever coped before the internet? Be safe. xo,olive
Oh my! When I heard on the news about the huge storm hitting, I thought of you – and hoped you didn’t have to commute in it. I’m glad you’re staying put. The dollhouse photo looks good to me, and the painting is progressing nicely. Before I read your comment about the shutter color, I was thinking how much I liked it ~ it’s YOU (:
Take care and think Spring. xo
You look like you are living in a beautiful snow globe. By the way I love the doll house, you should put potted plants on the porch when you are done so it is always Spring.
Hang in there,
Mere
I am SOOOOOo over it.
…and I just love that little house. You’re making me want one of my very own.
Hello Claudia,
Wow! We are watching for snow coming later tonight…
~ Gabriela ~
Tell me about it, Claudia, we moved here from Phoenix.
Today and tomorrow we will end up with maybe 20″ of snow and winds 35mph+.
Mid-MO is having it’s very first Blizzard Warning since records have been kept – that means in more than 100 years.
It just keeps getting deeper and deeper.
Your own tiny house, how neat is this.
Hugs,
Gerry
Claudia, I’m so sorry you’re getting that much snow. I’ve been through that myself living here in Colorado and for a while in Utah. It can make life almost impossible to live. We don’t have the snow, but right now we have the cold. Extreme cold. It’s -6 right now and the windchill factor is about -30. I spent two hours this morning thawing out some pipes and thank goodness they didn’t burst.
I love your doll house. DH and I used to do them and I’ve been wanting to do another.
Hi Claudia, yes, we are having the same weather here at Frog Hollow Farm. I’ve been able to stay indoors today so I caught up on some things, like organizing and re-organizing and then organizing some more! Why don’t you try a darker background with the dollhouse? Ciao, bella!
we are getting walloped right now in chicago! i guess it was our turn finally…
i would love to be in san diego right now, that’s for sure!
i really love both blues for the shutters, but agree with you that the more subdued blue is the way to go.
take care!!
I spent a few winters in snow, and I don’t miss it. Nope, not at all. Not to rub it in, but today I was actually able to eat lunch outside at a cafe, with the sun on my back. It was heavenly. The grey skies have really put me into a funk this year, so it was just what I needed. Hang in there, your sunny, blue skies are around the corner. (Okay, maybe around the corner and down the block… so sorry.) Please stay safe and warm until then.
On the brighter side… I LOVE your shutters. I like them both, but I think I’m liking the one w/some grey in it the most. I’m really loving your dollhouse. So sweet!
Hugs,
Jill
I’m right there with you on this winter..ugh! I’m so so done with it all and we still have February to get through! Keep warm:)
Claudia: I entered you in the OWOH contest for my little Nature Keeper. I’ll email if you win. You’ll have to name her, if you do; and then her doll in the series will carry that name! I like the turquoise. Research some victorian houses and mimic some of those colors; they were pretty wild – maybe what you need right now in “Snowdom”. Take care. Brianne
Hi Claudia…we’ve been hit with the white stuff here in Michigan as well. It’s lovely but I’m sorry you are hemmed in by it all…how frustrating! Spring comes soon! Then you’ll enjoy that beautiful porch and outdoor life once again. Hang in there!
I love turquoise on anything so I do love the color of your shutters but I also love that darker gray that you have painted your cottage shutters. Maybe that would be a change to try? The photo problem could possibly be helped with a different background…white again cream/white is always a difficult shot for me.
Sending you some BIG HUGS!
Coralie
I just talked with my daughter in CT. She’s over it for sure. Her husband had to go out of town for work so she’s home with the girls. They can’t get to their wood, so they are hoping the power will stay on. They have a wood stove but without the wood that won’t help. She said lots of carports, porches, decks, etc are collapsing. I haven’t talked to the daughter in MA today, but i”m sure she’s over it, too.
I love the grayed turquoise for the shutters. I like the slight contrast from the roof!
oh Claudia- I really do feel for you–it could easily be me too but for some reason we’re not getting hit as hard here in Minnesota this year. Stay warm and be careful with the shoveling! I love the shutters that have a bit of grey in them ♥
Hi Claudia,
I’m so sorry to hear about all the snow, I’m sending you some warm sunshine from CA. Be careful, don’t slip, know it’s easier said than done.
Love the shutters, how fun to putter around the doll house.
I will be out in the back thinking about you today while I work on my art project.
xoxo~Tracie
I wish I could make it all go away for you, but I can send you a hug.♥
Hi Claudia,
You moved for your beautiful vintage home!
We don’t get snow where I live but we do get heavy fog! and its no fun to drive in when its a thick as pea soup…
Keep warm and soon spring will be here.
Big hugs, Elizabeth
Hi Claudia! I am so with you on being finished with the bad weather, but I’m trying to keep a positive outlook even though my house is leaking! Embrace the flakes!! Please don’t paint your shutters gray! I think you are just being down because of the horrible weather. That turquoise is so pretty and I think houses in that style were brightly painted. Not sure so don’t quote me! And gray is so NOT you!! I think that before I painted the shutters I would think about what other colors will be on the house. I love that house and can’t wait to see the rooms on the other side. Keep up your spirits and take time to snuggle! Linda
I must have missed seeing your post…that is why I am late coming by. I am so sorry about all your snow! I can only imagine how house bound you must feel. I am hearing we are going to have an early spring….that could be just lovely!
I like both colors of the shingles, but I know what you mean about the brightness of the one on the right.
As for the photography, other than building a large light box (and you can do that cheaply), have you been using a tripod (I am sure you have but I thought I would ask)? Also, adding something dark in the area might help. After the shutters are on it might be a little easier, plain white is hard to photograph. It sounds like you have tried everything else.
I am excited to see how you house comes along!
Hugs,
Terri
hey claudia,
love the shutters either way.
hang in there with this snow. it’s rough, i know, but you can do it, goshdarnit, you’re from michigan!
here’s my Rx: find a bottle of suntan lotion, close your eyes and take a big whiff.
follow-up treatment: tulips or hyacinth plant from the market.
follow-up follow-up: have a summer dinner, play music, dance with don.
spring will be here but it’s gonna take a while, me thinks.
sending hugs and sunshine!
xo
elyse
I hear ya about the weather. I’m over it too, but just a few days ago I got a bit of a gift when I looked outside. it was a white dove made from snow. I posted it on my blog. Have to look for small glimpses of light in all this gloom right? stay warm. Blessings, Joanne
10minutes2breathe
this is a crazy winter claudia! we were so lucky with this last storm though and only got some rain and very little ice. the kids finally went back to school! i saw snow melt today. the sun came out. i think i got a little vitamin D.
hang in there. snow makes you readjust everything and demands your flexibility….darn stuff. it is pretty, but so are cookies and too many make your stomach hurt, right?
the doll house shutters are way cute. at least you know how to use a camera. i just turn mine on and take crappy photos…lol.
i hope the birds find their bath soon….and you find your way back to the city. good luck…stay warm.
sue
Wow! You’re really getting pounded with the snow! I hope it stops soon…stay warm!
I love the cute dollhouse shutters, either color.
….just be really careful doing all that shoveling. I recall days of it when we lived in New England – of course we were much younger and our shoulders still in their prime….couldn’t do it now!
Feeling bad for you and all the other friends who are literally buried in snow again!