Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Hello, March

March 1, 2022 at 9:29 am by Claudia

Goodbye, February! You were a true pain in the tush.

Hello, March, you changeable month. You tease us into thinking spring is here and then, suddenly, snow. Or ice. Hopefully, not ice, as we’ve had enough of that this year, thank you very much.

The first thing I heard this morning was the song of the Carolina wren coming from somewhere on the porch. I took this as a good sign.

Unlike sunny yesterday, today is a gray sky day with rain in the forecast.

I worked on this relatively simple 500 piece puzzle while waiting for my newest puzzle to arrive. It’s a charming scene from La Jolla Cove. I spent lots of time there when I was living in San Diego.

It was fun. I have another one of San Francisco (both of these were sent to us by a fellow Old Globe alum.) Do I start that or wait for my new puzzle to arrive in today’s mail?

This is what is called a quality problem.

What else? We’re watching Stranger Things  on Netflix – a series we’ve known about but never got around to until now. I’m enjoying it. I’m still reading and loving Dead Lions, the second novel in the Slough House series. I did the grocery shopping yesterday – something Don loves to do – but needs must! I could tell he wished he was doing it instead. I mailed off some bills at the post office. I wore a mask, and even though masks are no longer required here, I saw quite a few fellow shoppers wearing them. I will continue to do so because, frankly, I don’t trust the virus not to resurface. I’m so accustomed to wearing a mask for  14 – 15 hours a day that I often forget to take my mask off when I’m back in my car. It’s no big deal. And to hear whiny truckers complain about it (though I suspect all of that is about disruption rather than an honest protest) makes my blood boil, especially when we see what Ukraine is going through each and every hour of the day.

I needed some cheering up the other day, so I grabbed one of the girls and changed her outfit. Somehow, it’s quite comforting.

Pippa says hello.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

Filed Under: Blythe dolls, jigsaw puzzles, Pippa 22 Comments

Chores and Miniature Books

February 28, 2022 at 9:04 am by Claudia

Bill paying (always my job) grocery shopping (usually done by Don) juggling the budget (always a pain in the tush) – that’s my agenda for today. Don is still in pain, but he stood in the shower this morning letting the steam hit his back and he slowly exercised his left arm and shoulder and things feel loser now, which makes us hopeful. We’re watching it on a day-by-day basis.

It’s colder today. It will only reach 32 degrees. But it will slowly warm up as of tomorrow. Our neighbors came back from skiing yesterday and, as I was sitting in the kitchen working on a puzzle, I realized I was hearing the sound of a snow blower. I jumped up and ran into the den to look out the window. Sure enough, Bill was using the snow blower. Shortly after that, Don got a message from Bill saying he found a rock that was jamming the works and all was well. Sigh of relief!

I needed a few more mini books to fill up the bookcase in the English cottage, so I ordered some from LandauHouse, my favorite mini book maker. Lots of children’s books on nature, and a red ‘leather’ set of Jane Austen. I can’t wait to put them on the shelves.

Sarah always throws in an extra treat – this time, A Flower Fairy Alphabet.

I’m waiting for a new puzzle to arrive. In the meantime, I’m working on a smallish puzzle – maybe 500 pieces? – that was sent to us by a longtime friend from San Diego theater days. She sent two for us and two for Rick and Doug. The one I’m working on is of La Jolla Cove, a place I love. It’s fun. Lots of seals, of course! I’d like to be walking on that beach right now.

Okay. I’m off to write out checks and ask our electric company why our bill is so much larger this month.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Filed Under: Don, miniatures 31 Comments

Sunday Update

February 27, 2022 at 9:08 am by Claudia

Thanks for your well wishes for Don. He is in pain, but he’s sure he didn’t break anything. If this goes on much longer, he’ll have it checked out. We’ve been icing, etc. I’m taking care of him. But keep him in your prayers, okay?

I went over to our neighbors’ property yesterday to try to shovel their driveway. Unfortunately, the snow is like a block of ice, so I had to chop at it with the shovel and then clear some of it in layers as best I could. They have a long curved driveway. Sadly, I didn’t get too far. It was too hard on my back and my neck.  I managed to clear enough so they could at least pull in off the road.

Then I texted Laura and explained what was going on – Don’s injury, my back – and she immediately responded with sympathy and a “Don’t worry! We’ll take care of it!” We have good neighbors.

I finished this yesterday. It was extremely difficult and a real challenge. I loved it. This isn’t the best photo, but it’s beautifully designed.

And, amazingly, a Blythe outfit that went missing in the post arrived yesterday. It came from Russia and arrived in the US in November, where it sat on a barge for a long time and we gave up hope. Then it showed up in Chicago, where it also sat for almost 2 months. But it dropped off the radar again, so Olga refunded my money. This past week, she wrote me saying it looked like it had resurfaced again. Go figure! This time, the delay had nothing to do with Russia but with the USPS. It took 103 days to get here.

Maeve is today’s model:

This is as close to a cat as Maeve will get since Mom is allergic. Olga – pippydolls on IG – makes beautiful clothes. And she has been such a great communicator during all of this. We became friends.

Today, we’re laying low here at the cottage. With all the melting and then temps plunging down to single digits at night, it’s slippery out there. But it’s going to reach 45 today, so once that happens, I’ll venture out to put out the trash, etc. I won’t let Don do it.

The egg cups arrived safe and sound. Country Living did a great job of packing and protecting them. They’re back home in the cubby and on the shelves.

Stay safe.

Happy Sunday.

Filed Under: Blythe dolls, Don, egg cups, jigsaw puzzles 32 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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Scout & Riley. Riley left us in 2012. Scout left us in February 2016. Dearest babies. Dearest friends.

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