Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Battery and Deer

February 6, 2023 at 9:46 am by Claudia

I don’t think it’s possible to cram anything else into this cabinet, though I did add a silver candlestick which you can’t see because it’s on the left in a corner.

Success! We went outside yesterday around 1 pm with our new jumper cables in hand. After watching a couple of YouTube videos because it had been so long since either of us had jumped a battery ourselves, we carefully attached the clamps. We spent the most time trying to find the recommended ‘unpainted metal’ in my car that we were supposed to use as a ground for the negative clamp. (Drawings in manuals are always hard to figure out. And I mean – ANY manual.) Don started his car, I waited about 5 minutes, then I turned the key and….huzzah! It started right away. Then we took off the clamps and I drove around for about half an hour.

When I returned, I pulled up to the shed next to Don’s car (which is more protected from the wind – more on that later) and I saw a few deer up in our woods, so I stayed in the car. Wait a minute…I kept seeing more deer…there were 13 or 14 of them! I’ve never seen that many deer on our property at the same time. Maybe 6 at most. I waited and then I couldn’t wait any longer so I exited the car as quietly as possible but they heard me, of course. I went in the house, alerted Don, and we looked out the window and were able to see all of them run off in a long line, flicking their white tails.

It was glorious to see.

Anyway, Don said he read a lot about frozen/cold batteries and that’s what happened to mine. The wind on Friday was so extreme and it came from different directions throughout the day. The wind chill was way below zero. My car, parked near the funky patio, was unprotected. Don’s was parked facing the shed. So his battery was fine, but mine froze.

Last night, I went out to make sure I had completely shut the door of the car when I was trying to quietly exit earlier in the day. I had, but I took the opportunity to start it – just to check that all was well – and it started immediately.

Weather: no snow on the horizon except the occasional snow shower (that means nothing sticks or stays) at least through February 20th. I don’t see any snow on the mountains either – at least the portion of the ridge that I see out my front window.

I cannot remember this happening before. It’s a bit alarming.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

 

Filed Under: china and pottery, deer 24 Comments

Just What I Needed

February 5, 2023 at 8:58 am by Claudia

What a week it has been. Actually, three  weeks.

Our dear friend Adrian is now on the heart transplant list. For some reason (we had a bad connection so we lost this bit of info) the insertion of the machine to help his heart pump is not considered the best idea for him now. We had a long talk with him the other day from his hospital room. I hope we can speak to him today, as well.

I’m still shocked about the show I was involved with not moving to Broadway. The cast had received notices that contracts were coming and that it was a done deal. There is so much disappointment among cast members – and me. I’m in a conflicted position on this one because I know the reason why it didn’t move forward and it involved someone I know and love, so I understand both sides of the story. But, on a personal level, I lost out on income I was counting on. So I understand, but I feel a little anger, as well.

So yesterday, I attended a zoom meeting hosted by an online Blythe friend. Her guests were the two women, mother and daughter, behind the account Play From Your Heart. They make the most whimsical hats and accessories for Blythes and I’ve long been an admirer. They live in Germany. Hearing their backstory was inspiring. They were speaking to us from their studio, surrounded by their magical creations, and I was so grateful to be there. So grateful. I needed some magic and whimsy. And I got it. I thanked them for that, briefly mentioning it had been a tough couple of weeks, and the opportunity to play, to visit with people who are creative and charming, and also to be with like-minded Blythe lovers – well it was just what the doctor ordered. I almost didn’t go, but I ended up logging on at the last minute.

Wren attended because she is wearing one of their creations. The beret.

I want to buy a couple of their wonderful hats for Blythe dolls but will have to save up for those. The reason Wren (and Lily) get to share this little hat is because it’s smaller and less expensive. I love it.

Anyway, I desperately need an escape these days and the girls and their world provides that for me.

I’ve considered selling Wren and Lily because we could use the money. But every time I look at them, I see those beautiful faces, the worried look on Wren’s face that reminds me so much of me as a little girl, and I can’t. Yesterday, as I was telling Don about the zoom meeting, I was holding Wren. He took her in his hands and said how much he loved her face and eyes. Then he held Lily. And then he whispered, “Don’t tell the other girls, but these two are my favorites.” I told him I had been considering selling them. “You need to put that idea out of your head,” he said.

So that’s that. At least, for now.

Stay safe.

Happy Sunday.

Filed Under: bjd dolls, Blythe dolls, wren 20 Comments

Winter Woes

February 4, 2023 at 9:37 am by Claudia

Yesterday was an insanely windy day. It was relentless all day long with gusts of up to 50 mph. We’ve had that before, but the combination of wind and cold gave us well below zero wind chills. The wind drove me crazy, as well as Don. About 8 pm, I remembered that we hadn’t gone outside to start our cars, which we should have done sometime in the afternoon. So we bundled up, ran outside, and started our cars. Well. Don’s started. My battery was dead. That has never happened before in this type of weather. I tried again about 10 minutes later, but I didn’t want to crank it too much. Crap. Now, we either have to call our insurance company or buy some jumper cables. We used to have them, but darned if we can find them.

It’s below zero now, and 3 hours after Don got up, the house still isn’t fully warmed up. It will reach 20 degrees today, which is warmer than yesterday. Tomorrow, we’ll be back in the forties.

Sigh.

Just letting you know that Spoiler Alert  is now streaming on Peacock. I hope you can see it soon. It’s so close to my heart and the unexpected opportunity to act in the movie was one of the most important things to ever happen to me. And the movie itself is beautiful and powerful with brilliant performances by Jim and Ben.

A glimpse of me in the movie. Ben is in the bed, I’m speaking to Jim. And that’s Bill Irwin reflected in the mirror.

Another quick sketch from yesterday – once again, done from my chair in the den.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

Filed Under: sketching, Spoiler Alert, winter 35 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.

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Lambs Like to Party

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