Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Day Three Hundred Seventy-Three

March 21, 2021 at 10:24 am by Claudia

Yesterday was lovely; warmer, sunny, and a definite bit of spring in the air. We sat on the Funky Patio for quite a while. My shoulders dropped as I felt the warmth of the sun on my face. Today promises to be even warmer. I walked up and down the driveway several times and then I noticed that my day lilies in the bed underneath the living room window have emerged. They are always the first signs of spring for me and the easiest to see as that bed has no leaf cover over the winter. I know there are signs of life in the other beds, but I deliberately leave them under cover until mid-April or so in order to protect the young plants. Spring weather can change on a dime here.

Anyway, that made me happy.

Two egg cups – one lustre ware, one from Prague – covered in little cozies that I knitted a few years back. The pattern was from Little Cotton Rabbits on Etsy. She makes the most adorable patterns, so lovely and so whimsical. I think Don was away at the time – maybe in Boston? Or La Jolla? Who knows? But I remember sitting in my chair during the winter, working on them.

Gosh, I love their faces. So, so sweet.

We’ve only got six more episodes of A French Village. I would say this brilliant French series is in the top three of any series I have watched in my life. It’s stunning. I have learned so much. Everything about it is impeccably done. I’ll truly be sad when it’s over. (I may have to watch it again.)

And I’m about to finish The Sentence is Death  by Anthony Horowitz.  He’s such an inventive writer. Now I have to figure out what I want to read next.

Other than that, I plan to work on the new puzzle and spend some time outside today. Huzzah for warmer weather!

Stay safe.

Happy Sunday.

Filed Under: egg cups 24 Comments

Day Three Hundred Seventy-Two

March 20, 2021 at 10:31 am by Claudia

More egg cups from the cubby cabinet. Bunnies, a chicken or two or three, a goose, a rooster, two pigs, chicks, a wooden sailor (a birthday gift from Scoutie,) a little girl dressed like a bunny, two dogs holding up a cup. From England: a walking ware cup and a little cottage. From Prague: a square cup with a hand painted egg (a gift from my husband from his time filming in Prague.) From Holland: a Delft cup. From France: a beautiful hand painted cup with delicate flowers and two morning glory cups that I found in Paris. A wood/ceramic cup from my mom. A wonderfully crazed and boldly painted flower cup that I found in a local shop. The green and white cup was one of the first ones I purchased and the chicken cup next to it was another gift from my mom. Oh, and two wooden cups and a face cup. More to come.

It’s sunny today and it will be nearly sixty degrees, an entirely appropriate forecast for the first day of Spring. Happy Spring! I am well aware that the weather here can change on a dime, but for now? I’m celebrating.

There are books to be read, puzzles to solve, drawers to be sorted, and walks to be taken. Too soon for any work on the garden but next week I’m going to start cleaning the siding.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

Filed Under: egg cups, spring 24 Comments

Day Three Hundred Seventy-One

March 19, 2021 at 10:41 am by Claudia

Wind. All last night and through the day today. Tomorrow ought to be lovely, as well as the week ahead. But the wind?

I’m over it.

Amidst the pouring rain yesterday, a couple of packages were delivered. I had to keep an eye on the porch all day long in order to retrieve them as soon as possible. One of them held my new puzzle and a book I had ordered. The other held – now, don’t get too excited – a new bathtub mat.

I was happy to see that new puzzle as it meant I could take the previous puzzle apart and start a new one. I didn’t get very far, but I need an ongoing project, as you know.

Speaking of ongoing projects, I did some work in the dollhouse.

I made the acrylic window inserts. I can’t tell you how frustrating this can be, mostly because I’m having to fit them into an already constructed window. I usually mess up the first one and have to make another. But, they’re done. And then I primed and painted the window trim.

Now for the baseboards, but I wasn’t in the mood to figure out how to do a mitre cut, so that will happen on another day. I have the tools, and I’ve done it before. I just have to remind myself how to do it.

We spoke a bit in the comments the other day about comparison being “the thief of joy.” It is. Nevertheless, I still struggle with it at times. Lately, I’ve been struggling with comparing myself to all the fabulous miniaturists I follow on Instagram. Some of them – especially younger dollhouse lovers – are so inventive and brave. I admire that so much. Others are so skilled that their work blows me away. Anyway, I’ve noticed this small, niggling little thread of doubt lately about my work. I won’t let it stop me because I know that I’m doing all of this because I love it and not to impress others, nevertheless, I’m just as human in my struggles with self-doubt as anyone else. My strengths are not in building furniture or adding rooms within rooms, etc. I don’t have many of the power tools and saws that they have – nor do I have room for them. I’m not sure where my strengths lie – maybe in an eye for color and detail? For a vision that includes the life of the owner and a story about that life and that house? Maybe a rigorous attention to scale?

The lesson in all of this is to just stop comparing. Everyone has different strengths, different styles. And I support and applaud every dollhouse lover and miniaturist out there. The most important thing is the joy of creating. That’s the lesson I keep relearning.

Just sharing in case you’re struggling with this as well.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

Filed Under: dollhouse, miniatures 30 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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