Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Just Two More

May 1, 2015 at 8:36 am by Claudia

In the interest of being honest here, I feel like most of my subject matter for the last month has been my stuff: first, my egg cup collection, and then the McCoy collection. Then there are all the gifts I’ve been receiving lately, which have been delightful surprises, of course. I talk about them because I think it’s important to highlight both the giver and the gift in this space; to say thank you, both privately and online.

But I feel uncomfortable. Am I showing off too much? Do you read these posts and think, “Geez, this girl gets a lot of presents. Enough, already!”? (I think I’m breaking a rule or two by using an exclamation point, quotation mark, and a question mark in a row.)

If you had known me for a long time, you’d know I’m pretty self-effacing, an interesting quality in one who was an actress for a big chunk of her life. But actually, I know a lot of actors who are self-effacing – including my husband. I don’t like to show off or be in the spotlight.

So you can see why I worry just a tad about this sort of thing.

But if you came to my cottage, I’d share these things with you. And since I want this blog to be like a visit to the cottage, well…

That being said, will you excuse me if I share two things with you today? Pretty please?

I succumbed to another piece of McCoy. This one is a real gem. I’ve been wanting it for a long time.

5-1 newest mccoy

Isn’t it lovely? It’s about 6 inches high. Gosh darn it – I love the leaf and berry motif that is on a lot of McCoy Pottery.

5-1 newest mccoy rear

From the rear.

I’ve always thought of this vase as the companion piece to one I already had:

5-1 two together

They make sense together. Both have the leaves and berries, both are about the same height. They’re petite vases. As I was taking photos yesterday, I ended up setting them on this desk. I think I’ll keep them there.

Then, my sister (that scamp) sent me another  package this week. She is a talented knitter, crocheter and weaver, among other things. See what she made for me!

5-1 runner

A beautiful table runner. I have it folded in half in this photo because I’m still sick and I wasn’t up to tackling the stacks of mail, etc. that are currently on our kitchen table.

5-1 runner 2

Her work is so lovely, don’t you think? Thank you, dear sister, who always has several projects going, most of which you give away because you are that kind of person.

My greatest delight nowadays? Hearing my little nephew’s voice on the phone. That Little Z! I’m simply crazy about him, as is Don.

Okay.

1425945436550

I’ve been talking about this on Just Let Me Finish This Page, but for those of you who don’t know about it, tomorrow is Independent Bookstore Day. Many, many bookstores around the country are planning events. Our Independent Bookstores are essential and must be supported in this age of chain stores and online monoliths. So go out tomorrow, stop by your local independent bookstore, buy a book, and thank them for all they do. Thank them for persevering. Thank them for the caring and personal relationship they have with their customers. Thank them for sharing their love of books and reading.

Do it.

Happy Friday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: bookstores, china and pottery, collecting, McCoy pottery, Meredith 56 Comments

Around the House

April 30, 2015 at 8:25 am by Claudia

Because I’m still under the weather.

Because I managed to take some photos yesterday despite being sick.

4-30 view

Because this was my view for much of the day yesterday. The sun hitting those blinds makes them look neon.

4-30 use other stair

Because we say so.

4-30 bathroom plant

Because this plant loves the bathroom.

4-30 script

Because I love the American Musical Comedy.

4-30 impatiens

Because I got up out of my sick chair and moved all the over-wintered impatiens back out to the porch. Except this one. Because it’s blooming upstairs in the studio.

4-30 books

Because.

4-30 fabric tote

Because the antique shelf that was holding all this fabric fell off the wall and broke.

4-30 duff

Because I love this sign.

4-30 riley's garden

Because Riley’s Dish Garden has a mind of its own. Just like Riley.

4-30 creamy mccoy

Because this is upstairs in the studio. And I’m thinking of adding even more. Uh oh.

4-30 monty

Because Monty’s rear view is adorable.

Happy Thursday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

 

 

 

Filed Under: cottage 46 Comments

They’re Taking Over The Bookshelves

April 29, 2015 at 9:13 am by Claudia

bookshelves10

Remember when Don and I installed these bookshelves and this little wooden egg cup (a gift from Don and Scout) held center stage?

Well…now that I’ve got the bug again, but mostly because of the generosity of my readers, this is what it looks like:

4-29 eggcups on the diagonal

The entire shelf is full of egg cups.

4-29 eggcups in a row

There are the set of four wooden egg cups (3 are on the shelf below) and the yellow ‘man’ egg cup from reader Barb in Canada. The blue chick egg cup from fellow blogger Linda, the rooster egg cup from fellow blogger Susie. Recently, I bought the little boy and these two egg cups:

4-29 man&woman egg cup

I don’t know anything about them save for the fact that I really like them. Marked Japan.

And on Monday, a package arrived from reader Judy, who lives in Washington. Imagine my delight as I unwrapped these:

4-29 egg cups from Judy

4-29 hankscraft egg cup

This is a vintage Hankscraft stoneware double egg cup. I’ve always wanted one of these. Is it just me or is the design vaguely Art Deco?

4-29 chick egg cup

I love this sweet and sunny egg cup with a little chick. The inside of the cup is a lovely sky blue. Marked Japan.

4-29 blue egg cup

Lovely. No mark, but it’s definitely stoneware.

4-29 green-blue egg cup

And isn’t this the prettiest color combination? Marked Japan.

Judy, thank you. I love these additions to my collection.

Boy, have I been blessed. I don’t take it for granted, believe me. Thank you, one and all.

•  By the way, another round of emails went out the other day purporting to be from me. All of this is from the email hack that happened a few months back. Ignore them. They are not  from me. One of my readers thought they might be tied in to the WP issue I referenced yesterday. Nope. Just more crap from the hackers. I always receive a copy of your post comments via email, so if you’ve ever left a comment, you’re in that list of email addresses. I’m sorry about that. But we are all familiar enough with these emails that we do  ignore them, right?

Never click on anything in any email, unless you are absolutely sure it is to be trusted. If you look at these emails, you can immediately see that they are a sham and not anything that I would write. I get them all the time from friends who have also been hacked. They usually go to spam, which is where they belong.

I hope I never have to write this warning again. I am well and truly tired of the whole thing.

•  I’m under the weather today. I’ve been feeling extremely sinusy and/or allergy-ridden, as has Don, but in the last two days it has morphed into something that is almost like a cold. But it isn’t. Last night I barely slept, and I’m congested and coughing and, more than anything, annoyed. I want to work outside, and I did yesterday, but now I’m paying for it. Don made my coffee for me this morning and I’m sitting in my blogging chair feeling sorry for myself.

Waaah. Enough already.

Happy Wednesday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: Don, egg cups, gifts 34 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.

Winston - Our first dog. We miss you, sweetheart.

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