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Fourteen Years

February 17, 2022 at 9:30 am by Claudia

Well, wouldn’t you know it? It’s the 14th anniversary of my first blog post.

I certainly never entertained the idea that I would be blogging 14 years later, but this little blog has become a daily ritual and I’m so grateful for it.

Journaling never clicked with me, but this new-fangled “web log” that combined photos and text? That fit me perfectly. Ever the performer, I clearly had to have an audience. And what a wonderful audience I’ve had – the best friends a girl could have. Truly.

Thank you for being there, for stopping in each day. Some of you are newer readers, a few of you have been with me since the very beginning. I don’t take any of that for granted, believe me.

You’ve been there with me through the loss of my father-in-law, my mother and father, and my two babies, Riley and Scout. You’ve comforted me when I was feeling low, made me laugh just when I needed it, commiserated with me on the state of the world, most importantly, shared your lives with me and this wonderful group of readers. Thank you.

Thanks to Don who encouraged me from the very first time I said there was a thing called a blog and maybe I should start one. He truly is the best partner in life. Always encouraging me, always patient when some technical thing goes wrong and I’m stressed, even occasionally writing posts. I love him with all my heart.

What a joy it has been! I’ll keep going until the day comes when I just know it’s time to stop. But don’t worry, that time is far, far off.

Thanks for putting up with my ramblings about my collections, my garden, my cottage, my work, my travels, my dogs, the books I read – my life here in a little town in the Hudson Valley.

Much love to you.

Stay safe.

Happy Thursday.

A Recital

February 16, 2022 at 9:43 am by Claudia

Today, the warm up begins. I could hear a bird singing this morning. I know it’s way too early, but I have spring fever. So does Don. And so begins the next month or so, when I think everything I see and hear means spring is coming and then we get snow. Or ice.

Madeleine is preparing for her recital. (She’s a soprano.) Imogen is directing the whole thing. No information yet as to when it will take place, but we’re all looking forward to it.

More views of the living room in the English Cottage:

When decorating each of my dollhouses, I’ve been inspired by a special piece of furniture. With this cottage, it was the sofa, which I purchased during the early demolition stage. And the mustard colored cupboard, which I already had.

In Hummingbird Cottage, I was also inspired by the sofa.

And with Don’s studio, it was also the sofa.

I guess the sofa is key, just as in a real life house.

I made a lot of progress with the puzzle yesterday. I’ll take a picture of it today.

It’s supposed to reach 57 degrees tomorrow, so we’re going to take a drive in the afternoon. Maybe we’ll stop by an antique shop or a bookstore. We just need to give ourselves a mini-adventure so we don’t go crazy. A bit of fresh air and a different perspective – always important.

Also: Johnny Weir (commentator on Figure Skating) in his outfit yesterday, and Don, as Malvolio in Twelfth Night:

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

Some Greenery

February 15, 2022 at 9:19 am by Claudia

One more day of extremely cold weather and things should start to improve around here. It can’t come soon enough!

I always envisioned a large potted plant in this corner and I’ve had my eye on this one for several months. It’s from TinyDollHouseNYC. Anyway, I finally ordered it on Saturday. It arrived yesterday. Since I’m so used to Etsy orders taking a long time to reach my mailbox (simply because of the geographic location) an order arriving that quickly was a shock. But then again, we’re not that far up the road from NYC.

It’s more beautiful than I had imagined it to be. Doesn’t it look great in that corner? The fronds are made from paper. It also picks up the green in the Strawberry Thief fabric on the sofa – not that I thought of that when I ordered it. And unlike my houseplants, it doesn’t need watering! I’ll take a wider shot later today when I have more light in the studio.

I want a very narrow table for that spot under the painting and haven’t been able to find one yet. You know, a place to toss mail and keys, with a vase full of flowers. I’ll keep searching.

As I start to add the final details, I am so grateful for my IG followers that urged me to go back to the dump where I had seen this house on display and ignored it because ‘the last thing I need is another dollhouse,’ and GET THE HOUSE!!

They were right. For me, this experience has been the most challenging and creative of any of my dollhouses. I really disliked the house as it was. It was in terrible shape, as well. The porch and windows and window frames were missing. A sloppy glue job. There was much to undo and much to add back. This is the first time that I completely reimagined the exterior and interior of a house. Hummingbird Cottage’s exterior is basically the same as it was when I found it – windows were correctly repositioned, new shutters, new paint job – but that’s it – except for the addition of the roof garden. Don’s mini studio was a made from a kit and with that project I started to be a bit more creative. I added the board and batten look to the exterior, which completely changed the basic look of the house. So I guess it makes sense that I would go even further with this dump-dollhouse rescue. I added stones to the exterior. I got rid of the stairs and an interior wall as well. I passed on a bathroom this time and chose to make what would have been the bathroom the art studio. I was thinking outside the box and it was fun.

I’m really proud of what I’ve done on this one.

I’m also slightly overwhelmed by the enormity of the Beacon Hill project. It’s nearly time to start in on that behemoth. As Don and I say to each other on a regular basis:”The adventure continues!”

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

Fourteen Years

A Recital

Some Greenery

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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