Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe

November 25, 2024 at 8:11 am by Claudia

Well, a month from today is Christmas.  I have a feeling all of us are craving the magic of the lights and decorations, especially this year. Since we buy a tree, we’re going to hold off getting one until later next week, simply because we want it to last through the beginning of 2025. I have to admit that I’m craving some sparkly lights. I have a small artificial tree – a couple of them – and I may pull that out of the shed and put some lights on it. Maybe it could go on the little green table that sits to me right here in the den. And, of course, the porch lights need to be hooked up. I’ll probably have them up by Thanksgiving.

I wish I had one of those antique feather trees. They’re so beautiful.

It was a low-key weekend. Reading, a walk at the library, watching old movies. We checked the rivers on Saturday and they’re much higher than they were before our two days of rain earlier this week. Thank goodness! The Canada geese looked quite happy as they paddled around on the river.

I think I’ll prod Don into taking another walk this morning.

In addition to creating little Jessie’s face up last week, I also received another doll in the mail that I won in a giveaway. It’s a “Boto Doll” a BJD designed by a young woman who is Asian – I think, Chinese – and lives in Germany. She just moved there from France, where she has been pursuing a graduate degree. Anyway, I was surprised and pleased when I won the doll. She’s about 10 inches tall – taller than I expected – and very solid and heavy compared to my other BJDs and Blythe dolls. That was surprising. Because her body is a different size, I had to order her wig, shirt, pants, socks, and shoes from the designer. Very inexpensive, but, as you can see, nothing is every truly free!

She’s named Ling.

I think she’s adorable. Right now, she’s living on the shelf under the dollhouse, standing in front of the little dolly clothes cabinet. Because she’s heavier, she can stand on her own.  I did ask Don if he minded another doll staring at him while he’s watching television. Nope, he’s completely cool with it, bless him.

Jessie was a giveaway doll, too. Lucky me!

A reminder: BJD dolls are Ball Jointed Dolls, made of resin. (Blythe is plastic.) Because they are created by independent doll creators, they’re eventually made from a mold and it’s a complicated and expensive process. Usually, but not always, the designer comes up with a new doll design and lists it on IG or their website. They can make only a limited number. After all the orders have been received, production will start and it can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months to receive the finished product. My BJDs were much less expensive than a customized Blythe. I like them because they’re generally smaller and I can easily add them to the edges of the shelves in the cubby. Plus, they have so much personality!

My BJDs are the two Eat Zongzi dolls I have – Wren and Lily, Jessie, and now, little Ling.

I have one more coming in a month or so – just the head, which will have a finished face up, along with a wig. I’ll add the same body I use for the Blythes – an OB 22 body.

That will be about it – only so much space! But I do find myself wanting to customize one more Little Keiko so that Jessie can have a sister.

There was an old woman who lived in a shoe…

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

 

 

Filed Under: bjd dolls 20 Comments

Saturday Thoughts

November 23, 2024 at 9:35 am by Claudia

The rain stopped overnight. We got a really good soaking, which was desperately needed. We even got some snow flurries yesterday. They didn’t last long, but it was a hint of things to come.

We plan on walking this morning, something that we’ve not been consistent with lately. I’ll drop off the book I just finished, Lone Wolf  by Gregg Hurwitz. I just finished a luxury read, straight through from 6 am to 8:30 am. This book is his latest and now I’ll have to wait, just like everyone else who has already discovered him, for his new book to come out next year. (I just checked: February 11th, 2025.) This may have been my favorite because it centers on AI – artificial intelligence – and its danger. Since this is a subject I think of quite often, it was timely. And chilling.

I’ll check out some John Sandford books when I stop at the library because he’s an author our tiny little library has on the shelf. And I’m still not ready to read Gray Wolf. It’s not time yet.

What else? Clean the bathroom. Wash the towels. Hang out with Don. Stay away from the news for my emotional well being.

Sometimes we’re sort of forced – or nudged – into doing something. With Jessie, when she was still a blank head with lovely little features, I sought out one of my favorite customizers to ask what she charged. She lives in Belgium. She is very kind and extremely talented. She customizes a lot of Little Keiko dolls and the results are beautiful. She was willing to adjust her price, given I already had the head and also had an OB22 body on hand. But she is a true artist, so she likes to supply the perfect wig and outfit, as well. Completely understandable. After dithering over the decision for a long time, I declined, because I didn’t really want to spend that much money. She understood and was lovely about the whole thing.

Then my friend recommended another customizer who had done one of her Little Keikos. I’ve spoken about her before. She finally responded to my friend’s request and contacted me saying she would be able to book me toward the end of November. I wrote her back asking about the price. No answer. Wrote again. No answer. The whole time this was going on – since September – I flirted with trying to do it myself. But I didn’t have much confidence. In the meantime, another friend gave me a list of the things I would need to buy to in order to do a face up. Very inexpensive, all of it, so I ordered what I needed and a stack of supplies sat on my desk for a month, Still no answer from the customizer, who I knew was having some personal problems.

I had already been watching lots of videos about the face up process. I had done a lot of research. And I won the head in a giveaway, so I hadn’t invested the kind of money that might make me fearful about screwing it up. I wrote the customizer and told her I was going to go for it and she was apologetic yet greatly relieved. She’s going through an awful divorce. It worked out for the best for both of us.

Sometimes, you need a nudge and the universe gives you one. You just have to pick up on those messages.

And now I’ve got little Jessie.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

 

Filed Under: life 16 Comments

Thanks!

November 22, 2024 at 8:35 am by Claudia

Didn’t have a new photo, so this is what you get!

And it sort of looks like this at the moment because I cleaned it up after working on Jessie.

Oh, wait a minute! I do have a new photo:

Jessie and Derek are walking Bertie.

As you can see, we still have some flowers on the porch. I have another week to enjoy them. The week after Thanksgiving will bring really cold temperatures and there will be no saving them then.

I had a lovely birthday. Very low key, just the way I like it. Much time was spent answering Happy Birthdays on the blog and Instagram and Facebook, all of which brought a smile to my face. I heard from childhood friends, high school and grad school friends, former students, family (Z sent me a happy birthday message on his very own phone,) neighbors and lots of theater colleagues. It brings an awareness of the crazy quilt of my life and how blessed I am.

Don made breakfast yesterday – french toast and scrambled eggs. And then he made a spectacular dinner. I requested crabbiless crab cakes (something we have only once a year, on my birthday.) Oh my heavens! DELICIOUS!

He spoiled me, as he always does. My only request was a new bottle of my favorite perfume (Amazing Grace by Philosophy) and he came through. It should last several years.

Oh, and I actually put on makeup.

Thank you for all your birthday messages and for all the kudos on the creation of Jessie. They mean so much to me!

Don whispered in my ear yesterday: “Don’t tell the others, but she’s my favorite.”

It rained all day long yesterday! And it’s raining today. In fact, just down the road, friends of ours got some snow! We didn’t. Go figure. There are lots of little microclimates around here. Anyway, we thrilled about the rain.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

 

 

Filed Under: life 24 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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