Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Storms & Pumpkins

October 15, 2010 at 6:33 pm by Claudia

Oh boy. We’re in the middle of a nor’easter here. Rain, lots of it, and very windy weather. We don’t want to put the heat on yet. It’s just too early. But this damp, cold weather is getting to me. We’ve cleaned out the gutters at least twice this week and with all the wind, I’m sure we’ll do it again.

Here’s what we plan to do this weekend:

That, and watch baseball.

I’m inclined to leave the cabinet the way it is for a while. I might paint it, but the funky handles are growing on me. I also don’t want things to be too matchy.  So for now….it stays. Who knows? I may change my mind by tomorrow. Thank you for all your wonderful ideas, my friends.

I found the most wonderful pumpkin last weekend. Gorgeous, actually. Well, to me it is.

The light gray color, the texture and color of the raised, veiny areas, all of it makes my heart skip a beat. I think I have placed a moratorium on orange pumpkins for this year.

Where do you think I’ve put it?

On the dollhouse. It remains in the first-coat-of-primer state I left it in when I had to do all my prep for my work in San Diego. But, I’ll get back to it. For now, it’s all decked out for the season.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Filed Under: dollhouse 30 Comments

A Potpourri Post & a Question

October 14, 2010 at 10:39 am by Claudia

I have a lot to share with you today! And at the end of the post I have a question for you.

Thank you for all the anniversary wishes! We had tea and scones in our favorite tea room and hung around MHC the rest of the day. I’m very grateful for my husband. I waited a long time to find the right guy and he was worth the wait.

Thought I’d share a photo of the kitchen island in it’s repainted, pristine state. All too soon husband will be cooking and Riley will be circling the island endlessly in search of crumbs and it will lose it’s luster.

I had to leave it untouched for 3 days while the Varathane sealer cured. Husband, yesterday: When can I use the island again? Me: Not until tomorrow morning. I love this piece – originally a very dark sideboard found at auction for $60, it has been invaluable to us in our cupboard-deprived kitchen.

My friend Debi of Life in My Studio had a giveaway recently. A friend of hers sent her a box chock full of beautiful trims and she generously chose to share some of the beauty with us. My package arrived the other day.

Isn’t it pretty? Look closer – that is a beautiful flower brooch with a lovely doily tucked behind it.

This will be adorning  my jean jacket. Immediately. Debi, by the way, is extremely talented. If you haven’t visited her, you must. I am continually in awe of her creations.

My goodness! This is just part of the beauty that was in that package. Oh my gosh. Here’s more.

Since I am a relative newcomer to the beauty of trims and lace and ribbon, my collection was rather small. Not anymore! Thank you, Debi. I see these in a pretty jar in my new cabinet in the studio.

My friend Jan of Bessie Mary wrote a post recently about Halloween candy and she mentioned some pumpkin spice malted milkballs. In my comment I wondered if I could find them around my neck of the woods and related a story from my college years: my Mom would send me cartons of malted milkballs (they actually came in milk cartons) because they were my favorite candy. Look what arrived in the mail:

My own beautiful package of pumpkin spice malted milkballs. And I’m here to tell you that they are delicious! Thank you, Jan!

(It strikes me that I really painted the table white so that I had a new staging area for blog photos…)

I have been given awards by two of my blogging friends and have been remiss in posting them. Cory of Pink Dogwood Blossom gave me the Cherry on Top Award and Julia of Julia’s Sew Sweet and Special Occasion Clothing for Children gave me a Beautiful Blogger Award. Thank you both very much. I will post them on my awards page.

Lastly, remember my new cabinet for the studio?

I would love to hear your thoughts on painting or not painting it. Right now, it is a sort of khaki/tan color with blue trim.  I’ve been back and forth on this – it’s not my usual color combination, but maybe that’s a good thing? I’ve thought of giving it a finish like the one I did for our television cabinet:

I added a few layers of paste wax after painting and got a wonderfully aged look. But that may not work with the almost deco look of the cabinet.

What do you think? Paint, no paint, a different color combination?? I’d really love to hear your ideas.

Filed Under: DIY, giveaway 32 Comments

Wedding Photo w/Cast

October 13, 2010 at 1:08 pm by Claudia

Okay…by popular request:

This is the only photo where I deliberately allowed the cast to be visible. Since it was not very attractive, we covered it with a white nylon sock. Somewhat dainty foot on the left, huge prehistoric foot on the right.

And here is one of my favorite photos of us – right after we took our vows.

We each had a little gray hair, but you couldn’t really see it. Now – you can.

Filed Under: life 38 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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Disclosure/Privacy Policy can be found in the Navigation Bar under ‘About MHC.’

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