Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

  • About MHC
    • Disclosure
  • Dollhouses/Minis
    • Hummingbird Cottage
    • The Studio (Formerly TSP)
    • Dove Cottage
    • The Lake House
    • The Folk Art Dollhouse
    • The Modern Dollhouse
    • The Beacon Hill Dollhouse
    • Dollhouse Source List, Information and Tutorials
  • On the Road
  • Collecting
    • Roseville Pottery
    • McCoy Pottery
    • Egg Cups
    • Bakelite
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy

Chatting on Tuesday

December 3, 2013 at 8:33 am by Claudia

candleden

It’s a foggy morning here at the cottage. We woke up early, a little too early. But then again, the days are so short at this time of year that we want to grab all the daylight we can. It’s now December 3rd and I have yet to clean up the porch and stow things for the winter. Honestly, I seem to do this later and later every year. The reason? I tend to be a procrastinator about things I don’t want to do. This is one of them. It symbolizes the end of all things green and growing. Since I am about to decorate for Christmas next week, I think I’d better get a move on.

I included this photo because I have a candle burning this morning and you can see the flame reflected in the glass of vintage frame on the wall. And I didn’t have any other photo to share! Goodness, what will I do now that I can’t take endless pictures of the flowers in my garden?

You’ll notice that Scout is not in this photo. Since Don has recently started to get up at the same time as me, her ‘schedule’ has been thrown off. She goes back and forth between us. She settles on the loveseat in the living room where Don is sitting, then she comes into the den and gets in the ‘tunnel’ and, after about 5 minutes, she heads back up to the living room. She’s like the child of divorced parents, shuttling back and forth between houses. I think she’s fed up with both of us. But you know all of that, since she recently absconded with the laptop and wrote a blog post. That girl!

I’m in the midst of Daniel Silva’s newest thriller, The English Girl. He is a wonderful author that I discovered a couple of years ago and, like Lee Child, Deborah Crombie and Louise Penny, I ended up reading all of his books in chronological order. Don’t you just love it when you discover a new author and absolutely have to read all of their books? In order? Such an unexpected pleasure.

I love reading. I remember being a young girl and thinking to myself, “There are so many books to read and so much music to listen to that I will never be able to accomplish it all in my lifetime!” It was thrilling and overwhelming at the same time. While I might not say it quite as dramatically nowadays, I still feel the same way. I wish I had the foresight many years ago to record the name of every book I read and continue it right up to the present. Can you imagine how staggering it would be to see a list of every book you’ve ever read? Oh, darn it, I wish I’d done that!

Finally, a little teaser for you. The Poisoner’s Handbook (which Don filmed in Prague last winter) airs on PBS on January 7th. Just a little over a month away! Don’t worry, I’ll remind you about it. If you click on this link, you’ll see a preview!

We’re very excited.

Oh for heaven’s sake, I keep forgetting to post the winner of a copy of The Alligator Man. Missy, you are the winner. I’ll shoot an email your way.

Happy Tuesday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: books, Don, Scout 62 Comments

Making a Snow Globe

December 2, 2013 at 9:46 am by Claudia

When to decorate for Christmas? Some start decorating before Thanksgiving. Others wait until December. My dad’s family didn’t put up their Christmas Tree until Christmas Eve. Each of us has a tradition, a preferred time to start in all the hoopla.

If you’ve read this blog for any length of time, you know I have a rule: absolutely no decorating until at least the second week of December. I don’t like the bleeding over from one holiday to another that seems to rule the world of commerce and even our world of blogging. October = Halloween. November = Thanksgiving (and my birthday.) December = Christmas. I like some breathing space between my holidays. If I decorate too early, I find that by the time Christmas actually rolls around, I’m so used to seeing all the decorations that I don’t really see them anymore. The magic is long gone.

Anyway, when it’s time to decorate, I avoid themes like the plague. We use our vintage and beloved ornaments. We hang a wreath on the door. We decorate our little white tree in the living room and the big tree in the den. Simple.

Yesterday, I put together the only Christmas decoration that will be on display until I officially start decorating. It’s something I created a couple of years ago, when I  found a vintage Necco candy jar in an antique shop. I made a snow globe. Or as I called it at the time, a Necco Snow Globe.

Making a Snowglobe

mon1

I started with the jar. It’s quite large, about 13 inches in height, and is in the Art Deco Style. It’s one of my favorite finds.

mon2

Because of its design, I am able to turn it on its side.

mon3

It’s very simple. Buy some Kosher Salt or Epsom Salt.

mon4

Decide what you want in your display. In my case, I’m using these fir trees.

mon5

And this little Putz house.

And a tiny pine cone.

Fill the bottom of your jar with the coarse salt.

mon6

And add your scenic elements.

mon6a

And you’re done.

Oooh. Isn’t it pretty?

monday7

It couldn’t be simpler. You can use any size jar, from a tiny baby food jar or salt shaker to a large jar like this one.

Who doesn’t love a snow globe?

I was a bit low on Kosher Salt and I’m going to buy some more today because I want that layer of snow to be deeper than it is.

Just like the first time I put the snow globe together, Don came in the door and noticed it right away. (This isn’t always the case!)

Do you make your own snow globes? And when do you start decorating?

I must take a moment to acknowledge the derailment of the Metro North commuter train yesterday. Four people were killed and many injured. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved in this terrible accident. This particular line – the Hudson Line – is the train I have taken countless times when commuting into Manhattan.

Happy Monday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: Christmas, decorating, DIY 47 Comments

Creative Clutter: When Tidy Needs to Take a Hike

December 1, 2013 at 9:21 am by Claudia

sundayflowers
sundaydesktop
sundayworkspace

sundayimpatiens

sundaymccoy

sundaydollhousebathroom

All photos edited with the Tranquil Effect on PicMonkey

If I had to use two words to describe the cottage today, I would choose Creative Clutter. There are piles of books waiting to be read, potted impatiens brought in from the porch and stashed everywhere, paintbrushes drying in a piece of McCoy Pottery. On the top of the dollhouse: tools and paint and scraps of wood. On the coffee table in the living room: stacks of books, an agenda, guitar picks, scribbled notes, all of Don’s creative tools. A guitar tucked in a corner of the living room. On my desk: more scribbled notes, my filofax, stamps, colored pens, a scrap of fabric.

I sometimes struggle with Creative Clutter. I tend to be tidy. Don, however, loves it. He sees it as creative stimulation, proof that interesting things are happening here in the cottage. He’s right, of course.

Now, the piles of mail and paper on the kitchen table don’t fall under the category of Creative Clutter. They need some attention. But the rest? Right now, it’s not bothering me. I’d rather be in the midst of projects in process. I’d rather be in a wonderful creative tangle. I’d rather see books everywhere, with places marked, waiting to be picked up once again. I’d rather see paintbrushes and paints and flowering plants on every available surface and guitar picks and the words to a new song hastily written on a scrap of paper.

I’m learning. I’m learning to pick my battles. I’m learning to let go of my need for order when that very order might stifle creative expression. I’m learning that this cottage is the home of two very creative people and if they are creating….things are good. Better than good.

Happy Sunday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: life 33 Comments

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 1319
  • 1320
  • 1321
  • 1322
  • 1323
  • …
  • 1844
  • Next Page »
  • Email
  • Instagram

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.

Thanks for stopping by.

Searching?

The Dogs

The Dogs

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.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

Thanks for visiting! Feel free to browse, read and enjoy. All content is my own; including photos and text. Please do not use anything on this site without permission.

Disclosure/Privacy Policy can be found in the Navigation Bar under ‘About MHC.’

Also, I love receiving comments! I do, however, reserve the right to delete any comment that is in poor taste, offensive or is verging on spam. It’s my blog. If you’re a bot or a troll you’ll be blocked. Thanks!

Archives

All Content © 2008 - 2026 Mockingbird Hill Cottage · Log in