Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Seen While Antiquing on a Sunday Afternoon

November 23, 2015 at 9:09 am by Claudia

11-21 sunrise

Sunrise.

11-23 sunset

Sunset.

That sounds like a good title for a song. (I sang it many times at many weddings back in the days when I did a lot of that sort of thing.)

The cupcakes are gone, thank goodness. No more temptation.

It’s a very cold morning but we managed to avoid all the snow you midwesterners got. I trust that it’s melting away rather quickly?

I’ve got lots of things to do, like cleaning up outside and storing everything on the porch that needs to be stored. We haven’t even taken the air conditioners out of the windows yet. Inertia seems to be part of this grieving process. I’m not a complete sloth, but it is definitely hard to get motivated. Crochet? Yes. I’m just about to complete another scarf and I’ll be listing it tomorrow. More yarn is on the way. I’m reading the latest Michael Connelly, but slowly.

We took a drive across the Hudson River yesterday afternoon to visit some antique shops. Just to look, mind you. One of the things I wanted to do on my birthday was to go antiquing and the day got away from us and now that it gets dark so much earlier, we decided to wait until Sunday.

We went into the antique shop where we purchased the one Maxfield Parrish that I own. There were about five of them on the wall – gorgeous, every one of them. (No Dinkey Bird.) But this guy prices his Parrishes a bit too high, I think. Heck, maybe the one we bought was a little pricey. I can’t remember now. After searching on eBay and Etsy, I’m realizing that a good Parrish can be found for less money.

In that same shop I saw these and I posted them on Instagram:

11-23 roseville bookends

The most beautiful Roseville bookends – in the shape of an open book. They were in flawless condition, not a mark on them. This is the Snowberry pattern. They were priced at $195. I gave a little gasp when I saw them.

A conversation ensued on Instagram. Everyone agreed they were beautiful, but too pricey. I had never seen them before and said that if I had lots of money, I would buy them at that price. Linda loved them and promptly went to eBay, where she saw some listed. I then went to eBay when I got home and saw some listed at a significantly lower price, but often there was a chip or repair. Or only one was available. But there were some pairs that were in pristine condition and they were priced at $140-150 at the most. So, rather than obey an impulse, it pays to shop around. (Although, if you had handed me $200, I just might have bought the two in the photo.)

And I’m not one to pass up a deal if there’s been a repair. I don’t buy for investment purposes but for the pure pleasure of collecting something beautiful that I love.

Linda said she liked Snowberry best in blue. I have one piece in that blue, so Linda, here’s a photo of it:

11-23 bluesnowberry

Roseville’s blue is really beautiful.

I’m such a nut for pottery and china. I can’t resist. Well, I can and do resist, but I’m attracted to it wherever I go, like a moth to a flame. I wouldn’t sell my Roseville or McCoy or my egg cups, but I sometimes look around the cottage at all the china I have amassed and seriously think about selling some on Etsy. The shop is subtitled ‘Vintage and Handmade’ and so far, it’s just been handmade.

I’m thinking about it. But it’s still in the thinking stages.

Happy Monday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

 

Filed Under: antiques, Maxfield Parrish, pottery, Roseville pottery 33 Comments

Post Birthday

November 22, 2015 at 8:52 am by Claudia

Between the blog, Facebook, and Instagram, I received hundreds of birthday wishes. My cup runneth over! Truly lovely and deeply appreciated. Thank you. All of that love brought a smile to my face more than once during the course of the day.

The morning was difficult, with tears and sadness. Then I received a birthday call from my dear cousin Eileen. It’s the first time we’d be able to talk, other than via email, since Dad’s death. It was a long, wonderful conversation and by the end, my mood had completely changed. Talking about family and loss and memories with someone you grew up with, someone who shared the same larger-than-life (Eileen’s words and perfect ones at that) family is healing. I felt lighter. It was the best birthday gift.

Then I spoke with Meredith and Little Z and there was more healing. Another wonderful gift.

I took this selfie during the day yesterday.

11-22selfie3

63.

It is what it is. I took it because I’m wearing a beautiful gray sweater that Don gave me 21 years ago. My first birthday present from him. I still wear it. I still love it.

Don made me a wonderful birthday dinner.

11-22birthday dinner

Those are my favorite Crabbiless Crab Cakes. Oh my heavens. Mouth watering good.

And I had birthday cupcakes. And a card from Don and a card from Scout. And a little present. My other birthday present has not arrived yet. I’ll share it with you when it does.

But the thing that Don gave me that moved me beyond words was a birthday card.

From my parents. To their daughter. From Heaven.

I cannot express how beautiful that gesture was. He is a wonderful man and I am blessed.

The end of the day:

11-22sunset

I’m not kidding. It was spectacular.

Thank you for all the lovely birthday wishes. Thank you for being there.

Happy Sunday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: birthday, Dad, Don, Eileen, Meredith 45 Comments

Birthday

November 21, 2015 at 8:43 am by Claudia

11-21 newbornclaudia

Newborn Claudia.

I found this photo at my parents’ house. That’s my brother, Dave, on the left. God, he was a beautiful child. Simply beautiful.

Things I love about this photo: the cowboy gun belt my brother is wearing, my dad’s bow tie, the lamp, and that barkcloth used for the curtains and the pillows. I have a remnant here that looks an awful lot like this print. Mom looks beautiful, but tired, doesn’t she?

I was very sick when I was born. I turned blue and had something called infant diarrhea. So, though I was born on the 21st, I didn’t come home until Thanksgiving Day. For years, my dad would utter thanks for my homecoming during our Thanksgiving blessing.

All three of these loved ones are gone.

Obviously, this day is bittersweet. I’m trying my best to be happy, but I have to tell you, I’m mostly sad. And I think that’s to be expected. I just lost my dad three weeks ago. I’m still mourning the loss of my mom eighteen months ago.

Anyway. Happy Birthday to me!

I think it will be a low-key day, spent with my husband and doggie.

On the business side of things, I’ve listed a new Obsession Scarf on Etsy. It’s the chunkier version of the yarn I’ve been using, so it’s a bit wider and just a bit shorter in length – though the length of all of the scarves varies according to the particular skein I’m working from. It’s in a gorgeous gradient called Into The Woods. Beautiful.

11-21 intothewoodsscarfblog

11-21 intothewoodsscarfblog2

Happy Saturday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: birthday, Dad, Dave, etsy, mom 112 Comments

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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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Scout & Riley. Riley left us in 2012. Scout left us in February 2016. Dearest babies. Dearest friends.

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