I’ve been working outside the last couple of days and it’s been wonderful but tiring. The fresh air, working for hours….I’m not used to it! Yesterday I cleared some of the saplings that sprout up around this property and are usually too close to already established trees. Then I started on the dreaded battle with the brambles/wild roses that take over our property, sometimes strangling the small trees that I do want to flourish.
My hands are full of wounds from the prickers (thorns.) We always called them prickers when I was a kid. Anyway, I’m going to have to continue this battle over the next few days. Yikes.
Then Don and I worked on the trail that we established several years ago in our woods. In the past few years, we let it languish. No more. We cleared branches, brambles, edged the paths with limbs that we found here and there on the floor of the forest. We love taking walks there, especially when the canopy of trees in full leaf creates a quiet getaway. We’re going to mark the trail and add some little touches that make it ours.
Lots of work. Exhausted. But happy.
Now, onto my potting shed in the dollhouse:
Notice anything new?
Yes! I’ve added a skylight.
A potting shed needs a source of natural light, don’t you think?
I came up with the idea a couple of weeks ago and then I ordered the window, along with the pots and potting soil. It sat here for several days until I made the decision to go for it. Since the walls of the dollhouse are MDF, they are a little tricky to work with. The only other time I used a keyhole saw on the dollhouse was when I enlarged the opening for the front door. And it wasn’t easy!
But I was determined to do it. The window came with a template for the opening, so I used a pencil to trace the template on the roof of the shed. I grabbed my drill and made a couple of holes that eventually gave me an opening in which to insert the saw. Don braced the house for a bit and kept asking me if I wanted him to help with the sawing, but stubborn girl that I am, I said no. I quickly realized I needed to move the dollhouse to the floor where I could work more easily. Then Don left me to it as he took Scout for a walk.
I wondered if I was making a mistake but my gut told me it would work. So I kept sawing. And finally, there was a square opening for the window. Would it fit? Yes, and with no adjustments necessary!
Ah. Much more conducive to creative work in the shed!
I am very excited about this modification. In fact, I have a skylight in my studio upstairs, so it seemed only fair to install one in the potting shed. (And the owner asked me to. Very nicely.)
Oh, wait until I get to work on the roof garden!
I also added some flowering bushes to the urns by the front door.
Love.
I hope you’re enjoying the fact that Spring has sprung and that you’re able to spend some time outside, my friends.
Happy Friday.
The skylight is lovely! You did a great job!
Thanks, Liz!
Claudia, add General contractor to your list of accomplishments! LOVE, Love Love, The Dollhouse!
I would have l loved to have one as a girl, but I had plenty of other stuff,growing up on a tiny farm in the country. Great Spring Weather,I think we deserve it. -Judy A-
If only I had the money to be general contractor on our real-sized house!
Perfect! Love the sky light Claudia — fabulous touch. Congratulations on a job well done. Your path sounds lovely…hope you show some pictures of it soon. Enjoy the weekend and have some fun.
I’m going to try to take some picture today, Vera.
As I was reading this post and scrolling down and saw the skylight, I actually quietly screamed “Skylight”. That is so wonderful and looks great. You did a good job. And you don’t have to worry if it leaks! Now the owner can have lots of natural light to work on her garden. Your big garden, yard and woods sounds so beautiful. Enjoy your time outside.
Tana
No leaking with this skylight, Tana!
In the first picture I wondered if I had missed the skylight previously!! What a great addition, and how brave you were to tackle the installation! And the path…. oh, I can just think of/ imagine all of the wonderful things that will find their way along that path. I bet there might be a bench along the path someday ?!?! After this winter, it seems like a perfect response to being stuck inside. Enjoy the day!
I will, Chris!
A pathway through the woods would be a wonderful thing to have. On a smaller scale, I need to get outdoors and start in on some yardwork.
We’ve been doing yard work today – have to get started on the garden soon, as well!
Of course it needed a skylight! Great job and I’m sure the homeowner thanks you!!
I think she’s grateful, Linda!
The skylight is wonderful! Lots of natural light now for the owner to do her potting and setting up the roof garden. I love the idea of a path in the woods. Other than our distant view of Mt. Spokane, all I see out my doors and windows are other houses. Ick! But now Hubby and I feel we’re al little old to start living in the country. I can wish though.
Blessings,
Betsy
Living in the country as its problems, too. Sometimes we think a townhouse in the city would be rather nice!
I was thinking it might be a skylight…it’s perfect! Sounds like you are quite the handy-woman to have around! Hope you will take some pics of your paths that you and Don are creating. I had hoped to do some more work outside today, after we made a Costco run…but we have some unexpected rain! Not to fret…all in good time! ;)
We’re getting rain now, Donna. That’s okay – I worked hard outside this morning – this way I get permission to rest!
A skylight is the perfect addition to the flower room – good for the plants and good for the owner. Will make working in the flower room much more pleasant, I’m sure. Love this time of year – April. Going outside without heavy winter outerwear at last! When we were kids, April always meant clearing our 9 acres of winter “debris” too. My dad was lucky he had six kids [or as we called ourselves, “the staff”] to help pick up limbs & branches, rake leaves, cut grass, weed etc. Although we grumbled loudly about it then, I think I’d give just about anything to go out and do it again this aftermoon. Have a wonderful weekend, Claudia, Don & Scoutie. PS – we called them “prickers” too. :>)
Oh good, I’m not the only one who calls them prickers! Wondered if it was a Midwest thing.
Such a sweet skylight, Claudia, and perfect for light overhead as your dollhouse lady works. The front doorway looks pretty, too. And hasn’t it been wonderful to be outside, and have longer days in the sun to tend to the spring clean-up? I’m idiotically happy about it. Wishing you a lovely spring weekend.
I’m thrilled to be outside, Haworth – thank goodness! It’s raining now, though.
Doesn’t it feel so good to work outside again? Brian and I were outside yesterday after he got home from work, doing a lot of yard work.
It feels great, Melanie!
What a genious idea! I LOVE it Claudia.
Thank you, Debbie!
I have no yard, but I do have experience pulling weeds with needle nose pliers…even regular pliers will work. They’d be good on small saplings, too.
Does Scout supervise the yard work?
These are big saplings, Terri! Scout sometimes supervises, but she gets bored.
Oh Claudia..I love skylights..I wish I had some here..How lucky the Mistress of Hummingbird Cottage is..
She is. She just needs a toilet now.
lol..or at least an outhouse..lol
Good call on the skylight, Claudia. And nicely done, too.
Thanks, Nancy!
Your skylight is wonderful! Can’t wait to see the roof garden. Your little house is so full of charm!
Hugs,
Jill
Thanks, my friend!
I love your potting shed, Claudia! Funny how much cheerier your posts are since Don came home
With all due respect to Don, I think it also due to Spring arriving, no more snow and working on the dollhouse!