Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Office/Studio: Done

June 30, 2023 at 8:26 am by Claudia

Smoke yesterday and today. I don’t know about tomorrow yet, but the air quality is ‘Unhealthy.’ We kept the windows cracked, but just barely. We’re going to go get an air conditioner today because it’s hot in this house and, of course, even hotter with the windows shut. We’re getting out there early today and we’ll wear masks.

Despite my out-of-whack sinuses and allergies – I mean, 3 days of rain, storms, high mold and mildew counts and then, immediately into an air quality warning and smoke – I somehow managed to finish working on the office. I cleared out the closet (a huge trash bag full of stuff), rearranged the shelf under the work table, cleaned off the desk, organized everything, found a better spot for my easel, etc. But it was hot up there and I had to take a break during the morning session because I felt a bit woozy.

I took a shower and turned on the heating pad. Much to my surprise, I went back at it later in the day and finished everything. There are still things to be sorted but it’s much better now. I finished it off by vacuuming the room. Now, Don says he’s inspired to clear off his desk. (Fingers crossed!) I’ve more puzzles to donate and some stuffed animals to donate to a charity.

I’ll take another pass at it in a few months.

Thought you might like to see the putz sheep again, since they were overseeing my work.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

Filed Under: office, studio 19 Comments

First the Deluge, Now: Smoke

June 29, 2023 at 8:44 am by Claudia

Our skies, lately.

And now, after the deluge, we have smoke from the wildfires in Canada. I could smell smoke this morning and Don, who doesn’t have my rather spot-on sense of smell, scoffed at me. Sure enough, we have an air quality warning and the weather app says “expect widespread areas of smoke and haze, reducing visibility at times.” We had an air quality warning yesterday (my eyes were burning at the end of the day) and we have another one today.

Why does Don ever doubt me?

The lawn needs mowing but I’m not going out there today.

I’m tired of being stuck inside because of torrential rain and thunderstorms and now, smoke.

I did manage to get outside for a bit yesterday (hence, the burning eyes) and I took some photos of these beauties:

These day lilies are so gorgeous. I love day lilies with a ruffly edge and this intense color is gorgeous. The blue in the background is the color of the bin lids I use to try to keep the babies out of the garden. They’re still hanging around. I caught a quick glimpse of one of them yesterday, but sightings have been down because of all the rain. Our resident bunny mom is here no matter what the weather, several times a day. She’s a gem. She doesn’t get in the garden beds, which I greatly appreciate. Like Henry, she is gentle and has good manners.

Okay. I’m off to write out some checks and to water the porch plants before the haze gets too intense out there.

Stay safe.

Happy Thursday.

 

 

 

Filed Under: life 22 Comments

Soggy

June 28, 2023 at 8:39 am by Claudia

Rain and rain and thunder and lightning! More this afternoon and then we should have a couple of dry days. Everything looks extremely waterlogged out there. I’m not complaining, but I will be happy to see some relatively clear skies.

Someday.

I know many of you are experience smoke from more fires in Canada. Hang in there.

There’s nothing much to report on today. I tackled a few chores yesterday afternoon, did some laundry, read, and scrolled through social media. Not very exciting! I really want to start in on the office/studio, but it’s too humid in there during the day and until this front moves out, I’ll have to hold off. It’s a big, big job, involving both my little creative space and the inside of the closet. I WILL HAVE TO BE RUTHLESS. In the meantime, the stuff I’ve already pulled out of corners to sort through still hasn’t been sorted. I did do one thing yesterday: I moved the English Cottage (Dove Cottage) off one of my work tables and carried it across the room to the top of the music cabinet that we recently moved upstairs. It’s up out of the way, it looks good, and now I have more surface space.

New jacket and shorts from a seamstress in England. Normally, I wouldn’t have used Mei as a model for this outfit. I don’t know why. Maybe I think colorful clothes work better on another girl? I fought that urge and dressed Mei and I think it really suits her. That jacket has a hood. Never mind that the hood would never fit over a Blythe head! The outfit is beautifully made.

Reading is slow for me lately. My attention is all over the place and it’s hard for me to focus. I’m reading Babel, a book I have been curious about for a while. I got it from the library. It’s long and dense and I have vowed to sit with it this afternoon and polish off a chunk.

We also had a local primary election here yesterday, so we voted, though I don’t think my candidate got the nod. I’ll have to check. The other candidate will never get my vote – long story, but I’ve seen the content of her character and it’s lacking.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

 

Filed Under: Blythe dolls, dollhouse, rain 18 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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