Mockingbird Hill Cottage — Page 1074 — Mockingbird Hill Cottage

On a Mission and Some Blogkeeping

January 10, 2016 at 9:34 am by Claudia

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What the heck?

I just got this space set up and now I have to leave it! That doesn’t seem fair.

I really love my little office space, which is bright and inspiring and just what I envisioned. I wish I could wiggle my nose and transport it to Hartford. There are desks in the apartments – IKEA desks, by the way – but the top is made of glass. I will do my best to create a nice little workspace there, complete, I think, with a few pieces of pottery that will function as containers for cords, charging equipment, and pencils and pens.

I have much to do before I go. Today, thanks to your suggestions, Don and I will venture forth on a mission to find a pair of jeans. I don’t have a lot of time to look, nor do I want to order anything online without trying it on first, but we’ll check out Gloria Vanderbilt at Kohl’s. Bless my husband. He went along with me a few months back when I was searching for jeans. And now he’s offered to do it again.

It’s raining very, very hard here today. I can hear the sump pump going on in the basement. A thoroughly yucky day and not one I would normally venture out in if given a choice, but we have to.

Blogkeeping: I get a lot of requests asking me to recommend books to read. I just wanted to mention for those of you who are newer readers of this blog that both blogs – this one and Just Let Me Finish This Page – show my current read and the book I’ve just finished on the sidebar.

Also, the navigation bar on Just Let Me Finish This Page has a section called 2014-2016 Reads, with sub headings according to year. If you hover over the heading, the sub headings will show themselves. 2014 and 2015 have a list of all the books I read in that particular year and the month in which I read them. I don’t speed read and have no desire to – that would take all the pleasure from reading – but I read 73 books in 2015. If you’re ever looking for titles, for something to look for at the library, these lists might help.

Also, both blogs have a heading in the navigation bar titled Book Reviews. There you will find a list of the book reviews, complete with a link to that review. The list on this blog is the most complete, as it references reviews on both blogs – though not every review. I’ve been doing this for about 7 years and I’ve reviewed well over 100 books. But there’s a hefty list – about 98 titles – on Mockingbird Hill Cottage. Just Let Me Finish This Page’s list is limited to the reviews – about 40 – done on that blog.

Hope this is helpful.

Happy Sunday.

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A Mini Saturday

January 9, 2016 at 9:41 am by Claudia

Don: Stop here. Do not read!

A package from England arrived in the mail yesterday, just in time for me to spirit it away from Don’s curious eyes and open it up in my office. I ordered two small appliances from Elf Miniatures for the Top Secret Project.

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This under counter Miele refrigerator, which opens:

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The shelves are removable, the crispers slide in and out, and it came with some rather bizarre plastic food. It was made in Korea. Maybe for little kids playing with minis? Anyway, I won’t be using that particular selection of food, but it’s fun!

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Also in the package – a Miele microwave oven.

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It also opens and has a turntable. Apparently, I mistakenly ordered two of these, so Hummingbird Cottage has a new microwave, as well!

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My idea is to build a little counter that has the microwave and a coffee maker on top, the fridge on the bottom, and maybe a stool that Don would perch on when having a snack. The whole thing would go along the same wall I have the fridge and microwave on in this photo.

When I get back. No time now.

I woke up way too early this morning and could never get back to sleep, so I’m pretty tired today. I have to get my hair trimmed, run a few more errands, and do some laundry.

Yesterday, I spent a few hours looking for a new pair of jeans. A very frustrating few hours. Here’s my question for you. Where do you get your jeans? Where does a tall woman (I’m 5′9″) with a curvy tush and hips find a good pair of jeans? Keep in mind that I don’t have a lot of money to blow on jeans. Any suggestions would be welcome!

Can I just say that I hate dressing rooms, fluorescent lighting and the mirrors in those dressing rooms? I felt fat and pale when I was in there. Well, I am pale as a rule, but I’m not fat! But my formerly angular body is definitely curvy.

Two thank yous to share:

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Kathy from Iowa sent Scout a birthday present! Two bags of her favorite treats (she really loves them and they’re nice and soft for chewing) and some chocolate treats for her parents. Kathy, Scout hasn’t had time to send you a thank you email yet, but she will. I’ve taught her good manners.

And Nancy sent me these Christmas minis:

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Thank you, Nancy! Nancy, I lost your email address. Can you message me with it, so I can write a proper thank you?

It’s clearly a Mini Saturday!

Happy Saturday.

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In My Efficient Mode

January 8, 2016 at 9:48 am by Claudia

1-8 livingroom

Here I was, ready to share a shot of the living room with you, a pretty view of the sunlight pouring into the room…and then I saw a pair of Don’s socks on the red chair.

Real life, my friends, real life.

This will be a short one, as I have to get going and run lots of errands today. I finished the script yesterday and now everything is about doing laundry, buying what I need, gathering all the bits and bobs that I need for my five weeks in Hartford.

Good news: I don’t have to live in the hotel for the first week and then move everything over to the apartments on my day off. I will be in an apartment from the start. Yay! One less hassle, especially since I’m still being careful with my ankle. The less hauling things around, the better.

Though I hate the thought of leaving my family, I find myself moving into my efficient ‘let’s do it’ mode, something I always do when I have to leave town. It’s the only way I can manage the separation and the tasks that have to be done.

Once again, I’ll take along a quilt for the bed and a quilt to hang on the wall and some pieces of pottery. I’ll buy fresh flowers and put them in a pretty vase and do everything I can to make my little apartment my own. And I’m buying a small humidifier, because those apartments get really dry in the winter.

More later – have to get a move on!

Happy Friday.

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On a Mission and Some Blogkeeping

A Mini Saturday

In My Efficient Mode

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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