Mockingbird Hill Cottage — Page 1597 — Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Charlie the Tuna

October 6, 2011 at 6:03 pm by Claudia

When I was in college, still living in the dorm, a package arrived for me one day. I didn’t get many packages. I lived close enough to home that I managed a weekend home at least once a month and my mom would load me up with treats to take back to the dorm. She sent letters and newspaper clippings in the mail, but no packages.

When I opened it, I discovered that Mom had sent me something totally unexpected. Whimsical, even. We were a family on a very tight budget and practical always won out over whimsical. She had ordered it specially for me. It was a Charlie the Tuna watch. It was just the sort of thing I was drawn to – a little off-beat, a lot whimsical. She knew that about me. I loved it.

For those of you who are too young to remember, Charlie the Tuna was the star of Starkist Tuna commercials. And because Starkist took only the best tuna, Charlie was always turned down, hence, the “Sorry, Charlie”at the end of each commercial.

Well, I wore that watch all the time. And then, as the years passed, I forgot about it. About a week or so ago, I found it tucked away in a box with my Alpha Psi Omega pin (a college drama thing) and a little straw hat brooch that my great-aunt had made. My mom is on my mind all the time, as you know, and seeing the watch again brought back so many memories. It no longer had a watchband. Not even sure whether it had a battery or was a wind-up watch, I took it to our local jeweler. Turns out it was a wind-up watch and it needed a complete overhaul. Yesterday, I went to pick it up and had the jeweler add a watchband that I had stashed away in my jewelry box.

I don’t want to take it off. It reminds me of Mom, the mom who has a great sense of humor and who I loved to hang out with. It reminds me of the days when I could make her laugh until she cried. That’s the Mom that bought this watch. This watch that I forgot about has become a priceless treasure.

Thanks, Mom. I love you.

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There’s still time to link up to Reality Shot Thursday. Just scroll down one post. I’d sure love to keep this little meme going. It’s a lot of fun!

Reality Shot Thursday #2

October 5, 2011 at 11:59 pm by Claudia

Hello, everyone! Welcome to the second Reality Shot Thursday. It’s all about letting everyone in on a glimpse of real life in our homes every Thursday. I’d love to have you join us.

Remember how I described a Reality Shot as what is just to the left or right of a staged, pretty photograph? Here is my example this week. It’s not pretty.

You’ve all seen my dollhouse.

It sits in a corner of our den. I always crop every shot of the dollhouse for reasons which will be abundantly clear when you look at the photo below.

Eeek. Starting in the lower left hand corner: a big old tub full of dollhouse furniture, etc., the room air conditioner that my husband put in when I was away and sealed with blue painter’s tape. No, you’re not seeing things. Honestly, that tape is so ugly that I no longer see it. I’ve put on blinders.

Continuing the tour: two bags from Trader Joe’s full of dollhouse building and redecorating supplies, a box of coffee stirrers to be used in some future project in the dollhouse, a mug full of pencils, foam brushes and paint brushes, a can of paint, and a basket full of supplies.

Attractive, isn’t it?

I’ll give you one more shot of the air conditioner artfully trimmed in blue painter’s tape:

In my defense, I got home from Wisconsin in July. Don had already put the air conditioners in. I promptly got sick and had two surgeries. By that point, I just didn’t care anymore. And so it has remained.

We’ll be storing them away for the winter very soon. Bye, bye painter’s tape.
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Dollhouse: A Hardwood Floor

October 4, 2011 at 5:49 pm by Claudia

Today: I’m cutting popsicle-type sticks with my Easy Cutter. Why? I’m going to stain them and construct a floor for the living room. Cut, cut, cut….then stain. Cut, cut, cut some more….and stain some more. Here’s what it’s starting to look like:

I haven’t glued anything down yet. I’m going for a wide plank look to the floor with a dark stain. I tested it out by putting my little chest of drawers on the wood. I like it. Visualize some faded oriental rugs on that dark wood.

I’ve had such fun the last two days, pouring over my catalogues and looking at all the amazing dollhouse miniatures on Etsy. Since I have a budget of just about nothing, I’ve just bookmarked my favorites. I did order some wallpaper and beadboard, as well as some molding and trim for the windows. I’m going to tackle this house one room at a time.

With all the stress and worry concerning my mom and dad, I find that working on the dollhouse provides me with an escape of sorts. For a few hours, I am immersed in the creative process and it brings me great pleasure.

My friend Norma wanted to see a close-up of the chest of drawers:

A little grainy, but it will do. Let me tell you about this piece (which is one of my favorites.) When I was a little girl there was a line of mini furniture for girls called Petite Princess – Fantasy Furniture. This was during the sixties. I remember bugging my mom to buy them for me but she didn’t go for it. A few years ago, I found some pieces which were mint in the box at a nearby antique store. This is by far the neatest piece and it’s made of plastic. You’d never know it, would you? And I love the fact that it was Shabby Chic long before our current craze. It’s been distressed (not by me, it came that way) and has a faux marble top. The drawers open, as well. The scale is a little off on some of the other pieces, but this one fits in perfectly.

Don’t forget Reality Shot Thursday. I will most likely have the post up just after midnight on Thursday. I’d love to have you join me! If you’re so inclined, please spread the word about my little meme.

I just so happen to be looking at this week’s bit of reality as I sit here writing this post. I wonder what it will be?

Charlie the Tuna

Reality Shot Thursday #2

Dollhouse: A Hardwood Floor

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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