Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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It’s Egg Cup Time

March 30, 2012 at 3:52 pm by Claudia

My alarm (on the iPhone) went off at 5:15 AM. As I groped for the phone I saw a text message on the screen from the woman I was to work with this morning in NYC. She had sent it at 2 in the morning. She was sick with a sore throat and no voice, therefore, no session today. So I got to go back to sleep, but I lost money. Such is the life of the freelancer.

So, as if to do penance, I did some back breaking work on the rocky expanse of dirt in the front yard and mowed some overgrown grass that was neglected when the aggressive bees were in residence. Every muscle in my body is aching. I’m exhausted.

On to nicer things….

I don’t do seasonal decorating, except for Christmas. But Easter is coming and that reminds me of my egg cup collection. Yesterday, Don and I worked on the guest room/office/studio which had become a major dumping ground for all of his clothes and for everything else we didn’t know what to do with. We hung a quilt on the wall that is made of fabric from Don’s dad’s shirts. His sister had one made for each of the siblings. It’s beautiful and very striking in its design. (I’d show it to you, but Don doesn’t want me to yet – it’s a private thing for him, which I respect.) That quilt has become Don’s favorite possession – it’s priceless to him. The room looks really great. Hanging the quilt involved moving the egg cup collection to a new home in our bedroom, which then led to dusting, cleaning and getting reacquainted with all of my little cuties.

The third one from the right on the second shelf reminds me of Scout. Same expression, same pink ears. The third one from the right on the bottom shelf is the very first egg cup I ever owned. It was given to me by my godparents when I was a wee child. It was made for the Fannie Farmer Chocolate company. I held onto that egg cup for years and eventually it sparked the desire to collect more. I collect mostly figural egg cups, with bunnies, chicks, ducks, dogs and people on them. But I do have a few more traditional egg cups, my favorite being the brown transferware egg cup on the top shelf in the center.

I have another wee shelf in the den that holds 6 of my rarer egg cups. I’ll show that another time.

Happy Friday. I’m sitting in my chair and I’m not moving the rest of the day.

Filed Under: collecting, egg cups, vintage 28 Comments

Shakespeare, Crochet & Pennies

March 29, 2012 at 10:31 am by Claudia

Yesterday I tackled Acts 3, 4 and 5 of The Tempest. Now I can work outside today and not feel guilty. I’ll have to take another pass at the script in a few days, but the bulk of my research is done. That creamy crochet? A special order for my blogging friend, Meri. Have you ever visited Meri? She’s very talented and I’m proud to say that I am the lucky owner of some of her creations. Crocheting these scarves is such fun, but especially so when I’m making one for a dear friend. If you have a special order in mind, don’t hesitate to ask. Meredith just completed a special order for Belinda – a flower scarf in her favorite University of Tennessee colors.

There you go, Meri, a close-up of this pretty color. I’m using the bamboo/silk yarn for this so it will be especially soft. It’s taking me a bit longer than usual. I’ve been crocheting so much lately and I’ve also been digging and wielding a rake and shovel. This has caused some soreness in my right hand with swollen fingers to boot. Don’t worry, I will list it on Etsy for you in a couple of days!

Don has been an actor for 40 years and has done a lot of televison over those years. Actors get residual payments – that means that when an episode is re-aired, a certain percentage of the initial payment to the actor is calculated and a check goes in the mail. If it’s a first or second residual, that paycheck can be a nice chunk of money. Sometimes, it’s not so much.

No, you’re not seeing things. One cent.

When I said in yesterday’s post that we were saving our pennies for a new mattress, I wasn’t kidding. As Don says, it cost more to mail it.

Let’s see, how many penny quotes does this conjure up?

A penny saved is a penny earned. – Benjamin Franklin

A penny for your thoughts. – Proverb

Penny wise is often pound foolish. – French Proverb

If it’s a penny for your thoughts and you put in your own two cents worth, then someone, somewhere, is making a penny.

There are more, but Steven Wright’s is my favorite, so I’m going to quit while I’m ahead.

By the way, I have a book review up today for Prime Suspect 3: Silent Victims. Just scroll down one post.

Happy Thursday.

Filed Under: crochet, etsy, Shakespeare 20 Comments

Book Review – Prime Suspect 3: Silent Victims

March 29, 2012 at 9:34 am by Claudia

Today I’m reviewing Prime Suspect 3: Silent Victims by Lynda LaPlante for TLC Book Tours. As always, I am provided with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

This 3 book series of Prime Suspect mysteries has recently been reissued. Originally written in the 90’s to accompany the very successful TV series of the same name starring the marvelous Helen Mirren, they are just as riveting today. I reviewed the first two books here. This book, Silent Victims, continues with the story of Jane Tennison, a DCI in the London police force, whose work ethic and talent for investigation is often overshadowed and marginalized by the sexism running rampant on the force.

In this story, Jane is starting a new job as head of the Vice Squad and a new case involving the gruesome murder of a 16 year old ‘rent boy’ lands on her desk. Rent boy is the British name for a young male prostitute – emphasis on ‘young.’ As Jane investigates further, she discovers that public figures and politicians are linked to the scandal and she is pressured to go in another direction with her investigation. This case could threaten her career.

I won’t say more than that. As in the first two books, this mystery is tightly plotted, with a cast of memorable characters. LaPlante has a gift for creating a vivid picture of life in a London squad room as well as the seamier side of life in the city. I really love the fact that the characters, including Tennison, are fully realized, warts and all. They make mistakes, they have biases, they care about their work, they get exhausted, they drink too much. Tension and the pressure to solve a case, which can be enormous, take their toll. This is a gritty look at Jane’s world and the work that consumes her.

I know you will love this mystery. I cannot say enough about LaPlante’s writing talent or this series. Oh yes, I could: I wish there were more books in the series!

About the author:

Lynda La Plante’s fourteen novels, including the Prime Suspect Series, have all been international bestsellers. She is an honorary fellow of the British Film Institute and a member of the UK Crime Writers Awards Hall of Fame. She runs her own television production company and lives in London and Easthampton, NY.

Filed Under: TLC Book Review 6 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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