Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Two Days

December 23, 2021 at 9:17 am by Claudia

How is everyone doing?

Since our Christmas is fairly low-key, we’re fine.

We are laying low today. I have some things to do, as does Don, but mostly, we’re going to listen to holiday music, read, eat, and watch It’s a Wonderful Life  tonight.

I spent some time trying to get all the girls lined up on the music cabinet in order to take a picture. I was worried one of them would fall off. But I figured it out and here they are:

Sophie, Maeve, Imogen, Olivia, Pippa, and Zoe.

They now live in the den – and they’re still in this position. If I put them upstairs in the office, I’d barely see them. Better here, where I can look at them while I’m writing this blog post.

I’m finishing up a Maigret mystery – Maigret and the Reluctant Witnesses. I find Simenon’s rather short mysteries are perfect when I’m not ready to commit to a long novel. They’re a little apértif.

We watched The Kennedy Center Honors last night and I cried several times. Joni Mitchell, Bette Midler, Berry Gordy – music that I have loved most of my life. Hearing that music, seeing them honored, hearing their stories, was a perfect way to spend an evening. For several years recently, the Honors were not what they used to be. The choices made by the producers resulted in a rather shallow production, instead of a grand salute to talented and brilliant artists who have performed and created and innovated over a lifetime. Some of the honorees were far too young, in my opinion, to have earned an Honor. This time, they got it right. Fingers crossed for the future.

Okay. Time for our second cup of coffee.

Stay safe.

Happy Thursday.

Filed Under: life 25 Comments

Almost Ready to Kick Back and Relax

December 22, 2021 at 8:18 am by Claudia

It’s a simple Christmas this year. The decorations are minimal – the tree, and few little things here and there. I’ve never been one to decorate our bedroom or anywhere else in the house except the living room area, anyway.

I like it this way.

We went to the grocery store yesterday and stocked up. We always get a vegetarian ‘holiday roast,’ aka veggie turkey, and we were worried they’d soon run out. And we found ourselves wondering if, given the current Covid numbers, we’d start ordering groceries again. The jury is still out on that, but it’s definitely a consideration. This morning, I have to drive Don to the eye specialist for his shot. After that, we’re in for the holidays. No errands. We’re going to kick back and relax.

I’ve ordered a few little gifts for Don online. The guitar is his big gift, but he has to have some things under the tree, right? I did it all through Amazon because time is a big factor and the last thing I want right now is to be out in the stores.

Sadly, there will be no white Christmas here this year. Ah, well.

I’m still napping in the afternoon and falling asleep in the evening while watching TV with Don. I keep thinking I should be back to normal now, but the six weeks on the film were something that I cannot adequately describe. They would have been hard for me at the age of 25, let alone 69. So I guess I just have to accept that and let my body tell me when it’s all caught up.

Okay. I have to go and make our second cup of coffee and then head out to the Don’s doctor.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

 

Filed Under: Christmas, decorating, Don 26 Comments

The Blog, Broadway & Pip

December 21, 2021 at 8:29 am by Claudia

Remember when I told you that Google was no longer going to support Feedburner, which sends emails of my posts? And I told you to bookmark the blog and that I was not going to pay for an email service? Well, if you haven’t bookmarked the blog the time is now. Since I’ve been back posting regularly, the email version of the post has gone out at all times and hours. Yesterday morning’s post went out at 2 am today. I can always tell when this happens because I get no comments on the blog – or very few – and the number of people visiting the blog drops sharply. I’ll check on the blog and sure enough, the email hasn’t gone out. It’s clearly the beginning of the end for Feedburner.

I am not going to change over to another email service. I already have to pay quite a bit of money to keep this blog going and I have to draw the line somewhere. So it comes down to you. I always post by 11 am EST. I am back to posting every day. Come to the blog directly. Thanks!

Final coat of primer. Except for the green parts, they need one or two more. I’m ignoring the porch floor at the moment.

The list of Broadway shows that are closed because of Covid grows longer. My friend Derek Klena’s show, Jagged Little Pill, just announced that it would not reopen again. My heart breaks for everyone that is finally – after two years – working again only to have the show close because of breakthrough infections. (Derek was the lead in Anastasia.)

I could go into a rant right now but I’ll spare you that. You know how I feel and I know you feel the same way, too. Just imagine a stream of cuss words coming from my mouth.

An outfit arrived in yesterday’s mail and I immediately put in on Pip. Since she has never worn something her sisters haven’t worn first, I felt she deserved it. Oh my heavens, she is adorable in it!

The scarf, the dress, and the tights are from Miema Dollhouse, based in Germany. The little bunny came with the dress.

I can’t stand it, she’s so cute. I really love this dress.

Why can’t I get away with something like this? The only real-life designer that I know of that does stuff like this is Gudrun. Maybe I should shed my jeans and t-shirts and start wearing striped tights and print tunics…

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

Filed Under: blog, Blythe dolls, dollhouse, Pippa 57 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.

Thanks for stopping by.

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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.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

Thanks for visiting! Feel free to browse, read and enjoy. All content is my own; including photos and text. Please do not use anything on this site without permission.

Disclosure/Privacy Policy can be found in the Navigation Bar under ‘About MHC.’

Also, I love receiving comments! I do, however, reserve the right to delete any comment that is in poor taste, offensive or is verging on spam. It’s my blog. If you’re a bot or a troll you’ll be blocked. Thanks!

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