Mockingbird Hill Cottage — Page 1466 — Mockingbird Hill Cottage

I Have a Problem with Paper

October 16, 2012 at 9:27 am by Claudia

Please take a moment to appreciated the fairly neat look of our kitchen table. Yes, it’s neat looking, as in funky and cool, but I am referring to the fact that I can actually see the table. And my pretty DIY table runner. This is no small achievement.

You see, my friends, I have a hard time dealing with paperwork, mail, junk mail, cards, letters, receipts – all the stuff that we are inundated with every day. I blame some of this on living in a small house. Where the heck do I put everything? But in truth, I just don’t want to deal with it. So I don’t. Until one day, I start screaming about the mess and it’s fall and the air is crisp and I feel energized and suddenly I’m sorting through things and barking out questions like “Do you still need this?” to Don and the next thing you know, things are looking pretty good on the old table.

I have a shredder.

It is currently so jammed full of stuff to be shredded that I am overwhelmed at the idea of sitting down and tackling it.

I’ve run out of places to file older paid bills and receipts. And I don’t really have much in the way of storage space.

I have an aversion to paperwork of any kind. I admit it. My eyes glaze over, I stare at it and then I try to figure out where to put it. I sort through a pile and make a new pile. After a while, I give up and make some hot chocolate.

I can’t be the only one out there who has trouble dealing with this stuff. Please tell me I’m not.

And then, please share any tips you might have. I really want to tackle this once and for all. Keep in mind: I have no attic. I have no usable basement. I have a shed where mice have been known to flourish. I’m organized in many ways, but in this particular area, I’m not. I’m really not.

Don is even worse.

Help.

Happy Tuesday.

What the Heck is in That China Cabinet, Part 2

October 15, 2012 at 11:09 am by Claudia

Well, for those of you who were extra observant this morning, you might have seen a quick panicked post about my camera not working. I couldn’t get the shutter to work and as this has been a bit problematic lately, I thought I no longer had a working camera. Dollar signs flashed in front of my eyes.

I figured out what the problem was and all is well, for the time being. Sigh of relief.

Now for the next installment of “What the heck is in that china cabinet?”

Here you see the kitchen china cabinet in all it’s jumbled glory. Starting with the top shelf, on the left:

1. Some Emma Bridgewater pottery: A saucer and pitcher. I have another pitcher holding our toothbrushes in the bathroom. 2. A child’s plate, also Bridgewater 3. Baked egg cup, Bridgewater (All the Bridgewater pottery was bought when I was in England.) 4. Small cream pitcher, Bridgewater 5. Fiesta teapot that I saved for myself when I sold my collection. I love it.

Top shelf, on the right:

1. McCoy vase 2. Platter, Johnson Bros. Rose Chintz (I have the dishes, as well) 3. Lovely shaker given to me by Donna 4. McCoy pot 5. McCoy pot 6. Depression glass salt and pepper shakers

Middle shelf, left:

1. Roseville pottery 2. Harlequin pitcher with my Bakelite flatware 3. Brown transferware sugar and creamer 4. pine cone candle from Poland, given to us by the same friends who gave me 5. tiny teapot 6. plate from Anthropologie with the initial H

Middle Shelf, right:

1. Teacups from my collection of Edwin Knowles china 2. Large plate that I bought in California because I loved it 3. McCoy vase 4. McCoy planting dish 5. Very old Brush McCoy pitcher 6. China salad plate made in France

Bottom shelf, left:

1. McCoy pottery planter 2. Red Wing Pottery vase (the inside is a soft green 3. Fiesta teapot 4. McCoy planting dish with a nest I found on the property inside)

Bottom shelf, right:

Lots of Edwin Knowles China.

There are a few vases missing from the cabinet. They are currently holding all the flowers I had to cut when the frost hit on Friday night.

There you go. Always dicey trying to photograph the inside of a cabinet. On a cloudy day.

These scarves are currently in the Etsy shop:

Happy Monday.

Post Frost

October 14, 2012 at 10:08 am by Claudia

Friday afternoon found me hurriedly snipping all the flowers still blooming in the garden before a frost hit later that night. It’s too early. And it was even more frustrating because the rest of the week promises fairly warm temperatures. Today it’s supposed to be 69 degrees. What the heck?

The hanging plants from the porch spent the night on the kitchen table. All of the potted porch plants were nestled together on and under one of the benches and covered with sheets.

I have vases throughout the house full of pretty flowers.

My newish hydrangea has been shorn of all its blooms.

I love these pink tinged flowers. I’ll let them dry here in this vase.

The catalpa didn’t drop all of its leaves at once, but it dropped many of them throughout the day. (I’ll take some photos later today.) The hyacinth bean vines I have running along the fence bit the dust. So did the sweet potato vines. Sob. I know it’s all part of the life cycle of a garden but, nevertheless, it makes me sad.

I spent the day mowing the lawn and raking leaves. Some of the leaves I could just mow over and mulch. But there are certain areas of the yard where the massive amount of fallen leaves is just too deep to mow. I have still have a bit more mowing to do but its raining today.

Ah well, I’ll be forced to drink hot chocolate and crochet another Obsession Scarf.

We’re watching a lot of baseball this week. If my Red Sox can’t be in the post season, they were rather dreadful this year, then I will cheer for the Tigers (my home town) and the SF Giants.

How are you on this Sunday morning? What are your plans for the day?

Linking to Elaine’s Sunny Simple Sundays.

I Have a Problem with Paper

What the Heck is in That China Cabinet, Part 2

Post Frost

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

Archives