Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

  • About MHC
    • Disclosure
  • Dollhouses/Minis
    • Hummingbird Cottage
    • The Studio (Formerly TSP)
    • Dove Cottage
    • The Lake House
    • The Folk Art Dollhouse
    • The Modern Dollhouse
    • Dollhouse Source List, Information and Tutorials
  • On the Road
  • Collecting
    • Roseville Pottery
    • McCoy Pottery
    • Egg Cups
    • Bakelite
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy

Day Four Hundred Six

April 23, 2021 at 9:31 am by Claudia

They’ve definitely moved in. At around 6 am, they emerged from inside the trailer – both of them – and sang. It was like a Disney movie in which the cottage door is flung open and the heroine sings. Back and forth, back and forth – they’ve been singing and flying in and out of the trailer for a few hours now. At first, we wondered if perhaps they were feeding babies, but then as it got lighter out, I saw nest-making materials in their beaks.

Christopher and Jenny are our new tenants. Chris and Jen, for short.

I’m endlessly fascinated with them.

I couldn’t resist sharing this rather blurry shot with you. One of them perched on the hubcap (is that still the name for it?) for about 10 minutes.

We’re so glad they chose our little trailer.

It was cold and windy yesterday and there was a frost warning overnight, but when I arose early this morning, I didn’t see any signs of frost. I think we dodged a bullet and I’m very grateful. We have warmer temperatures ahead, so I’m going to do a little raking this morning – the chicken wire fence gardens are full of leaves. Don is going to replace the chicken wire in a couple of days as it’s very, very rusty and looks terrible. Also, a little weed pulling is on the docket.

In a couple of days, I’ll trot off to the nursery and buy my porch and patio plants. I can’t wait!

I bought a turntable for the English Cottage, which will make it much easier to work on, as well as adjust for better photo lighting. I have three of them now; one for Hummingbird Cottage, one for the vintage dollhouse on top of the china cabinet in the den, and now, one for Dove Cottage. Turntables wouldn’t work with the big vintage dollhouse in the kitchen, or with the modern dollhouse. Nor with the Beacon Hill, if I ever get around to constructing it. It’s too big. Anyway, once I placed the dollhouse on the turntable, I wondered why I had waited so long to get one! When I want to secure it, I stick a Scrabble letter rack under it. It’s the perfect size.

Okay. Have to get a move on. It’s sunny, finally, and a good day to work outside!

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

Filed Under: bird nest, birds, dollhouse, Dove Cottage, wren 18 Comments

Day Four Hundred Five

April 22, 2021 at 9:40 am by Claudia

Another flowering tree in the Secret Garden. This was taken early in the day yesterday before the insane weather arrived. Windy, very cold, thunderstorms. Don says the wind chill was 18 degrees when he got up this morning. We’re having snow showers at the moment and tonight might bring frost.

Enough already.

Right before we went to bed, we ran outside to bring five containers of pansies in the house. The wind was so intense and it was so cold that I figured I’d rest easier knowing they were safe.

Our little Carolina wrens hadn’t been around for several days. We figured they might have opted for a different nest. But yesterday morning, I heard them calling and I saw BOTH of them! They were flying around the little trailer and at one point, they both went inside.

Were they moving in? Or were they still in the process of choosing their new home? We’re not sure, but at least one of them was back this morning, singing while standing in front of the house. He/she went inside, as well.

Heavens, I’ll be glad when I can finally get outside to finish clearing garden beds and can go to the nursery to buy plants for my pots. Next week will be much warmer, so I must be patient. I’m working on the puzzle in the meantime.

Wish us luck tonight with the freezing temps!

Stay safe.

Happy Thursday.

Filed Under: bird nest, birds, flowers, garden, wren 19 Comments

Day Four Hundred Four

April 21, 2021 at 10:00 am by Claudia

Because I couldn’t figure out what photo to post.

We are due for thunderstorms, winds, a low of 29 degrees tonight and a low of 31 tomorrow. I’m worried, obviously, about all the plants coming out of the ground, about the lilacs, which are in bud, the crabapple trees, all of it. Our gardens cover a lot of ground so there’s no way to cover everything, and since we’re getting high winds and rain, any attempt to protect them would be fruitless.

This happened last year as well – during the first week of May. The boxwoods turned brown because of it, though I briefly worried about boxwood blight.

I know that many of you have had snow over the past couple of days as this weather front has crossed the country. I stress about these things, because they’re totally out of my control. Right now, it’s sunny, but that will change soon.

I’ll share more of my ‘career story’ soon, but I needed to take a break from it today.

Let’s see…the new puzzle is quite challenging. Nevertheless, it’s beautiful and a lot of fun. And you know I like a challenge. Amazon updated the delivery on that John Derian puzzle, first, to the end of next week, which I was very happy about. Then, this morning, I got an email saying it will be here on Friday. Good news all around.

Except for the damn weather.

Today was going to be our ‘car rider to the antique shop day’ but there’s no point in going during a storm, so we’ll delay that little trip.

We stopped everything to wait out the announcement of yesterday’s verdict and were enormously relieved to know that, in this case, justice was served. We have a long, long way to go, but this victory is a ray of hope.

I haven’t asked this for a while. What are you reading?

I’m reading The Glass Hotel  by Emily St. John Mandel. I’m about 30 pages into it. I loved Station Eleven, and am a big fan of both her imagination and her beautiful use of words.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

Filed Under: books, weather 27 Comments

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 384
  • 385
  • 386
  • 387
  • 388
  • …
  • 1775
  • Next Page »
  • Email
  • Instagram

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.

Searching?

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!

Archives

All Content © 2008 - 2025 Mockingbird Hill Cottage · Log in