Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Birthday

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If you’ve been reading this blog for the past few days, you know that today is my birthday. If you haven’t…well, now you know.

I recently found the charm bracelet I wore in high school. It looks just like new. Among the charms are Comedy/Tragedy masks, musical notes, a megaphone (because I directed a play in my senior year), a Thespian charm, a bell – I think it was for choir, a cap and diploma – and a Happy Birthday Sweet 16 charm. I remember that birthday. My friends threw a surprise party for my friend Wendy and me. Wendy’s birthday is the day after mine. It seems a lifetime ago, yet I can remember it all very clearly. I suppose in the time/space continuum it happened yesterday. Or is happening now. Or something like that. I’m a lot older than 16 now, but that 16 year old girl is still a part of me. I carry the little girl I once was, the pre-teen, the teenager, the young adult, and all the ‘me’s’ I have been over the years.

I have always loved this quote from Carol Matthau:

There is no old age. There is, as there always was, just you.

Despite the fact that I sometimes feel every bit of my age, I firmly believe that age is a state of mind. So as I celebrate this birthday, I vow to be young at heart, take more risks, read more, continue to keep an open mind and heart, reach out to others in need be they human or animal, fight for the underdog, trust more, express gratitude, be less judgmental, continue to fight for the causes I believe in, dance with my husband, laugh as much as I possibly can, kiss my dogs, learn something new every day, tell those dear to me that I love them, offer a smile to a stranger, hold the door open for others, be compassionate, let go of worry as it accomplishes nothing, and be willing to embrace change knowing and trusting that there are even more exciting things ahead. And there are.

Have a great Sunday!

Studio Projects & a Celebration

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The studio fluffing and sprucing continues – inspired by the addition of Letitia. Remember when I made the chalkboard for the kitchen? I had an extra board that I painted with chalkboard paint and I ended up drilling two holes in the top, threading twine through the holes and hanging it in the studio.

Well after the arrival of the cabinet and the dismantling of most of the design wall, I wasn’t sure where to put it. I was considering shoving it in a closet when husband’s words rang in my ears…”why don’t you use the doors to hang things?” Well, I don’t want to use every door (there are 3 of them that open onto the studio) but I started eying the door to the guest room/office/music studio. I found some trim that I had on hand, painted it to match the shelf and the re-imagined bulletin board and glued it to the sides of the chalkboard. Then I threaded some pretty aqua ribbon through the holes. And now it hangs on the door.

By the way, have you tried those fabulous Chalk Ink Wet Wipe Markers? Oh my gosh, they are so much better than chalk. I suppose they are what restaurants use on their chalkboards. I’ve been on the lookout for some and found them the other day at Michael’s. I see much chalkboard writing in the days ahead.

I also painted the shelf I discovered in the shed. It now has a home just above the sewing machine table. (Why I didn’t take a photo of it before I hung it, I’ll never know.) Because this little area is a niche under the skylight and can be dark, I had to fiddle a bit in Picnik.

Excuse the cord. Now I have a place to put stuff that used to clutter up the table. Another view:

Now, if only I could find an attractive version of the lamp on the left. Any ideas or recommendations?

This morning I spied this little one in our back yard. (I also put her on my photo blog.)

She was looking at me through the kitchen window. Look at those eyes. This is why I am a vegetarian. This is why I am against hunting. And though that may not be popular, it is a very big part of me. I’m proud of it.

And it’s my birthday this weekend. I’m celebrating me.

I’d Like to Introduce You to Someone

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Hello, everyone! Have you met the newest member of the MHC family? No? Well, allow me the pleasure of introducing you to Letitia. That middle syllable has a long e sound, by the way. Letitia, meet my friends.

Letitia is named after my favorite Aunt Lettie, my Dad’s sister, who died a few years ago.

She has a tiny waist, doesn’t she? Scarlett O’Hara would be jealous.

She’s missing her label, but I’m pretty sure she was made by Acme. I found her on eBay and the price was incredibly reasonable. She traveled north to MHC from New Jersey.

She has just the right amount of rust…

And her feet are ornate cast iron.

How should I dress her?

I love it, of course. However, she seemed a little unhappy. She’s not into baseball.

What about an autumnal Pendleton look?

Very attractive. Perhaps on another day?

Wait a minute! I have an idea.  I have part of a costume I once wore. It was given to me at the end of the play’s run. My character was an oversexed older woman. (No comments from the peanut gallery.) She was chasing a younger man around a poof and as she fell backward in a sort of swoon, her hoop skirt flew up and these were revealed.

Hot pink, I might add. I think these will be perfect on my girl. I’ll add a touch of beauty at the neckline.

Et voila!

Sort of a Gigi-Colette-courtesan look.

Seriously, I am over-the-moon about my new girl. I spotted her on eBay, outbid a few other interested buyers and I got her! The shipping was very inexpensive, partly because she only lived one state away. That was deliberate on my part. She’s in great shape, has no musty smell (something you have to think about when you haven’t actually seen her in person) and she fits perfectly in the studio.

I didn’t tell husband about her until the day she was due to arrive.  Then I thought I’d better confess. You see, my birthday is this Sunday. And I thought that perhaps the purchase might be a wee bit justified if I bought her for myself. As a present to me. From me. And she truly was a great deal.

Bless him, he didn’t blink an eye. He’s known about my obsessive need wish for a dress form for quite a while. He somehow expected her to be new, possibly because I had mentioned that I might buy a new one if I couldn’t find an old one in some long ago conversation. (I guess he actually does listen to my babbling once in a while.) When he saw her cast iron feet and the rest of her vintageness…well, he fell a little bit in love. He said she’s like a Barbie doll for an adult. And she is.

I’ve already dressed her up several times. She’s even worn my blue eyeglasses on a chain around her neck. And several scarves. And an old kimono.

My Aunt Lettie couldn’t care less about clothes when I knew her, though she was quite stylish in her younger days. I adored her. My sister Meredith’s middle name is Letitia. I like having a Letitia in my home. It feels right.

What do you think?

P.S. Don’t forget my book review, if you’re interested. I’m giving away a copy of the book. It’s the post just before this one.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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