Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Around the House

October 6, 2013 at 9:13 am by Claudia

sundaymccoy

My newest piece of McCoy – I found it about 3 months ago.

sundayfeathers

Feathers.

sundaymaple

The view from the porch.

sundaycosmos

Cosmos as seen from the den.

sundaygamache

More Chief Inspector Gamache. (I can’t get enough.)

sundaypothos

Potted pothos.

sundayporch

The porch in autumn.

sundvernors

On the kitchen table.

sundayscout

My girl.

It’s a dark and rainy day here, with more coming tomorrow. Wet leaves are everywhere. Scout is snoring on the sofa. Don is still sleeping. I’m on my second cup of coffee. We watched the Red Sox/Tampa Bay game last night (we won!) and then we watched World War Z. Ironically, we had just watched Night of the Living Dead the night before. In all honesty? Night of the Living Dead, filmed in black and white with a minuscule budget, was better. World War Z was overblown, overdone and became monotonous. How many scenes can you watch with zombies attacking people en masse? All the younger actors in the Rep were thrilled with it, which is why I thought it might be worth watching. I guess they’re more into the idea of zombies I am.

Did you know that Don worked with Brad Pitt when Mr. Pitt was but a young lad? They did an episode of Freddy’s Nightmares (I’ve seen it.) Brad was just starting out and I asked Don if he had any idea then that Pitt would turn out to be the actor/star/celebrity that he is today. No, was the answer. He was young and sort of green and a very nice guy who was model handsome. That’s it. Ah.. ..I’m one degree of separation from Brad Pitt. And from a lot of other famous actors. In some cases it’s Don who’s one degree of separation away from a famous actor or two because of my work.

Yes, we positively vibrate with ‘celebrity.’ Oy.

Scout continues to improve. So grateful.

Happy Sunday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: Don, life, McCoy pottery, Scout 62 Comments

Thinking About Things on a Saturday

October 5, 2013 at 10:04 am by Claudia

maple1

• The sugar maple. You can see where the damage occurred. There was a huge limb that grew out of that section of the tree and arched over the garden. When it came down it fell right on the garden. There are large sections of the garden where I can see no trace of my plants. Plants, for the most part, that have been growing there for seven years.

It’s not easy to see our sugar maple this way. If you remember, we lost another big limb during Hurricane Irene. This is also why we now need to get it and a few other trees pruned, so that there is no unnecessary weight pulling on the tree.

maple2

Quite a gash, no? The arborist tells us it will heal. But I can feel the tree’s pain as this limb was ripped off. Oh yes, I believe trees and plants feel things. Just how and what, I don’t claim to know. But they feel. Now that Scout’s crisis is under control, I’m going to have spend some time with this tree. More than a few hugs and positive healing words are in order.

• Leaves are falling everywhere here at the cottage. Maybe because I’ve been away and missed the first signs of color change, it seems to be happening so fast. We’re avoiding any raking at the moment. Eventually, we’ll have to get out there and clean things up, but now? We’re tired.

• You all know I’m a big Red Sox fan. My sister, who lives in Florida, is a Tampa Bay Rays fan. Uh oh. Those two teams are currently battling it out in the ALDS. The Sox won last night, but the Rays are a good team and I know it will be a battle. Meredith, I like your Rays and their manager, Joe Madden. But I’m hoping the Red Sox win. All’s fair in love and war.

gomphrena

• I took this picture of the Gomphrena growing in my galvanized planter. It looks like I used some sort of photo effect, but I didn’t. It just came out this way. I like it.

• Scoutie is improving daily. Yesterday I told Don that I would know she was getting back to normal when she demanded something or other from me by barking. A few short hours later, she wanted more food (she didn’t have anything to eat for about 4 days when she first become ill and she’s doing her best to catch up) and sure enough, after a stare-down contest, she started barking. Careful what you wish for, Claudia. She’s still tired but her energy level in general is a lot higher. I’m so grateful. This girl has been through a lot in the past 15 months: The scare with Geriatric Vestibular Disease, when she couldn’t walk or keep her balance and her eyes darted back and forth and I thought she’d had a stroke; Lyme Disease, which resulted in hospitalization and lots of worry and finally coming home on my birthday and this latest, the tumor in her vulva.

All of the dogs we have been lucky enough to have in our family were rescued and each of them dealt with chronic problems, diseases and, in the case of two of them, attacks from other dogs. I was thinking about that the other night. I’ll have to list everything someday. It’s mind boggling.

• And finally, I didn’t get around to picking the winner of a copy of Lowcountry Bombshell until this morning. The winner is longtime reader, Claudia Ehlers. Congratulations, Claudia! (You have a beautiful name, by the way!)

Happy Saturday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: animals, dogs, Don, flowers, nature, Scout, trees 36 Comments

Sorting Out The Studio

October 4, 2013 at 9:36 am by Claudia

When did I first go to Hartford this year? April? That sounds about right.

Well then, since April, my little studio has been rather a mess. I packed up 2 boxes of supplies to take to Hartford, along with Mabel. Then when I returned in late May, knowing I would be leaving again at the end of July, I simply stacked the boxes on the floor right by my chair.

Yesterday I grabbed a couple of hours while Don was here to keep an eye on Scout and I finally unpacked those boxes and put everything in its proper place. I grabbed the camera and quickly took some pictures. No styling. No perfect lighting. Just as is.

studio1

This is what greets you at the top of the stairs. If this is your first time visiting the studio or craft space, whatever you want to call it, it’s located in the hallway upstairs. I don’t have a separate room for my things. This is it. Consequently, it’s almost impossible to get a complete shot of anything, especially in front of the cabinet – too narrow.

studio2

The skylight is a welcome source of light. (It’s rather dark here today as it’s going to rain, so excuse any graininess in the photos.) You can see Mabel, back in her rightful place.

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A closer view of the mantel turned shelf.

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My little nisse is hanging from a hook. And on the little shelf? My original Lamb With The Party Hat. See how tiny he is?

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Underneath that vintage doily cover is my trusty Elna.

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I refolded all the fat quarters that I took to Hartford. Oh fabric, you are so pretty.

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My bookshelf, beloved muse Lambchop and some framed press that I’m rather proud of. The little vintage toy piano was a gift from Don. The other lamb, made of paper, was a gift from my sister Meredith.

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Letitia, wearing my bloomers (from a play I was in, long ago.)

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The cabinet that I got via Craig’s List, formerly painted in a combination of taupe and blue, now a soft pink.

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The corner between the cabinet and the door leading to the guest bedroom/Don’s studio/office. That’s a flannel covered mini-design board on the wall and my chalkboard on the door. The silk parasol was a gift from my cousin when I was a young girl. He brought it home from Korea.

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On the board? My current favorite quote.

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Little treasures and supplies inside the cabinet.

The light isn’t the best, but take heart, if you want to see more you can find a lot of other photos of the studio on the blog.

Today I have to find space for all the reference books I’ve stashed in various totes since April. They go on the bookshelf in the bedroom. More sorting. More arranging.

And I will be watching my Red Sox in the ALDS at 3:00!

Scout update: Little miss continues to improve. I wish the bleeding would stop but yesterday, when I had to run to the vet for some special food, I happened to see the doctor who operated on her and she assured me again that it was normal. It only happens when she urinates – I guess that area is still healing. We have towels stashed in all her favorite places in which to recline, including the ‘tunnel.’  Last night she was so ravenous it was like she was hopped up on speed! But she’s eating and I can’t tell you how happy that makes me. We are still really tired as we haven’t been sleeping all that well.

Here she is. This was taken just a moment ago:

recoveringScoutie

Scout says thank you for all your prayers and love and everything. We do, too. Have I told you how much you all mean to me? A whole lot.

Happy Friday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: Scout, studio 63 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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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

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