Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

A Little Treasure

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Over the course of 17 years, I’ve taken pictures of just about every possible “scene” inside and outside. And while those will continue, of course, I’m also going to concentrate on showcasing some favorite items that I have found/collected/inherited.

First up, my tiniest Wallace Nutting. As you know, I have a very modest collection of Wallace Nutting prints – I think there are 5 of them. Nutting was a minister, photographer, and artist who lived in New England. He photographed New England landscapes as he bicycled around the countryside. He had a studio where colorists hand tinted the photographs. They were hugely popular. He also designed furniture.

I really love his tinted photographs.

The frame, which is quite old, measures 4½” x 5½” and the photo is 2″ x 3″.

I love the carving on the frame.

I haven’t purchased a Nutting in several years, but I try to find them with the original frame and backing. Not always easy! There is a seller in a nearby antique mall who carries some of Nutting’s work. I haven’t been to that mall in a while, so I’m not sure if he’s still there. One Christmas or birthday, Don gave me an official biography of Nutting, signed by Nutting himself. I think he found it in the same seller’s booth.

This little gem lives on the bookshelves in the den.

Thunderstorms on the docket today – it’s quite humid this morning. I had planned on mowing, but I’ll have to wait a day or two. That’s probably for the best as the temperatures will be cooler starting tomorrow.

There’s a noisy crow outside. He’s quite vocal!

Oh, I walked down to Phileas’ abode and, though I didn’t actually see him – he was too quick, I heard him jump from the grass to the water. He landed with a “plop!” He hangs out on the lawn, apparently, which means we will make sure we’re noisy when we come to mow in order to give him a head’s up.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

 

Friday

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I had to crop the heck out of this photo so you wouldn’t see too much of the wallpaper coming unglued. If you look to the left of the painting, you’ll see it. After many years, these things happen. I’ll have to take a serious inventory of needed repairs. On the other hand, I’m usually looking at the exterior of this dollhouse and only rarely look at the interior – mostly at Christmas time.

I am going to order more of this miniature Roseville for the Beacon Hill.

I don’t know if you remember but I have two Beacon Hills; the “finished” dollhouse we brought home after making a long trip to Philadelphia suburbs in order to retrieve it, and the unfinished kit which is still in the box. I had planned on building it and then realized that I didn’t want to. I’m going to open the box today so I can see what I might use to fix some parts of the dollhouse.

The box is heavy, big, and awkward. Wish me luck.

It may not rain today. It’s definitely cloudy out there and we have the chance of a thunderstorm both today and tomorrow, but I’m hoping they hold off. Phileas the frog is clearly living in the culvert. Don went down there yesterday and as he drew nearer, he heard him jump into the water. So he sang to him, of course.

I’ll try to get some updated photos of the porch today. The potted plants have really taken off and are growing by leaps and bounds. After mowing a few days ago, Don and I sat on the glider and gazed at the fully leafed out trees and our property and the porch and had a tremendous moment of gratitude. My dream was always to have a little cottage in the country and it seemed that it would be an impossible dream for most of my life. But it came true.

We’re so grateful.

Ruby on the porch.

Okay. Must make our second cup of coffee!

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

Pansies, a Frog, and Miniatures

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The pansies are thriving, probably because of the amount of rain we’ve had. I have three containers full of them. By the way, these urns, or former urns, are made of a cheap composite material. I got them at the now defunct Christmas Tree Shoppes several years ago. I have two in this off-white color and two in a dark gray. Because they are exposed to the elements for several months, they’ve gradually decayed and the bases detached from the pots. For the past two summers, I’ve managed to balance the pot on the base, but this year one fell off. I decided to go with just the pot – Don likes them better this way. How much longer they’ll last is anyone’s guess. I miss the Christmas Tree Shoppes. I found our two Adirondack chairs there, as well, for $50 each! Much less than a proper Adirondack chair.

Rain is back today, tomorrow, and Friday. So we mowed the corral and the back forty yesterday. Oh, and the secret garden, which seems to be permanently boggy because of all the rain. I knew I couldn’t wait until this next round of rain exits to tackle that chore, so I went ahead  and mowed it, my boots constantly sinking into the mud.

Our froggy friend, Phileas Frog, has taken up residence down in the culvert. Don appears to be a “frog whisperer.” He walks down there and waits until he sees a splash and talks to him. Yesterday, when we were mowing, etc., I heard Don singing. I thought he was on the porch, but he was down at the culvert singing to Phileas. Apparently, he sings to him every time he visits. I tried going down there and I sang to him, but nothing. No appearance by Phileas.

Don has won him over. (I find this so endearing. Don has an inate sweetness that warms my heart.)

I spent yesterday afternoon looking at miniatures online, and thinking about the Beacon Hill. That’s a good sign, don’t you think? There is a man in England who creates the most beautiful vintage looking appliances. I’ve had my eye on one of his vintage stoves for a long time, but it would be a major expense and I’d have to save up for it. It is white and very much  like our Stella. But yesterday, I saw this new design:

Photo credit: OC Miniatures/Oliver Clarke

Oh my heavens! In mint green, no less. It’s actually a copy of Wedgewood stove, but for all intents and purposes, it’s like our Stella. It’s expensive and rightfully so, but after I pay for the host renewal for this blog, I will start putting aside some money for this gem. (I’ve saved a little each month for the host renewal and I’m just about to pay for it in full. Hurrah! That means I’ll be blogging for at least another year.)

Anyway, I’m salivating over this beauty.

The shop is on Etsy and the wonderful Oliver Clarke is the designer. This is his photo from the site and I want to make sure I credit him. I don’t know how he does this, but he is very talented, indeed. I’ve corresponded with him before and he is such a nice guy.

Okay. Have to go make a second cup of coffee.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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