Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Day Three Hundred Twenty-Two

January 29, 2021 at 10:28 am by Claudia

I worked on the dollhouse bathroom yesterday, but I wasn’t completely happy with my work. I decided to wallpaper the sloped ceiling/eaves/what-do-you-call-them? and some of the wallpapering was just a bit off. Most dollhouses are made to be wallpapered in sections, laying flat, before you put the rooms together. Not all, but most. But when you’re renovating an existing space (and a tiny one at that) it’s a challenge. Trying to measure hidden parts of the walls – even using a pattern like I do – is very difficult. I think I’ve hit on a solution; which is in reality, a disguise, and I’ll try it later today. Anyway, lots of time spent upstairs in the studio with frustrating results.

Later in the day, I worked on the puzzle:

I finished the Battery and Wall Street and Brooklyn and the Brooklyn Bridge, plus the place where the East River and the Hudson River meet. The next section will be the most difficult, because it’s basically rust colored pieces in varying shades denoting the grids in Manhattan. And more water, as well.

It is unbelievably cold here today. The wind chills are well into the below zero range. It took at least three hours for the house to warm up this morning and I’m still wearing my flannel pajamas and a hooded sweatshirt. More of the same tomorrow, then it will remain cold, just not as cold. And then snow on Monday and Tuesday. Since the snow is on the horizon, we put in another order for groceries this morning and we’ll pick it up tomorrow.

But…the sun is shining.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

Filed Under: jigsaw puzzles 36 Comments

Day Three Hundred Twenty-One

January 28, 2021 at 10:13 am by Claudia

Don decided that his glass paperweight needed to be a part of this grouping.

I’m okay with it.

Oh, friends, I don’t have much to share these days. I find myself without a whole lot of energy or things to talk about. Winter is always tough for me, but when you add in the pandemic and being homebound…well, I’ll admit it. It’s getting to me.

We aren’t going inside stores now. It’s just too dangerous as the numbers spike and we learn of troublesome variants. We’re unable to get the vaccine at the moment. There just isn’t enough of it around here and people who are at high risk are the priority. So we have no idea when we’ll have the opportunity to be vaccinated.

And, starting this afternoon, we’re headed into a deep freeze for the next three days, with temps in the single digits and wind chills sending them into below zero territory. It’s going to be extremely cold and windy this weekend. More snow coming on Monday and Tuesday in the form of a winter storm.

Both Don and I are having a hard time at the moment, though our nature is to be positive, so I’m sure we’ll get there eventually.

The sun is shining, so that’s a positive.

Anyway, we’re fine. We know exactly what to do to change our collective mood. But I also believe in letting myself feel what I’m feeling. It’s real and totally understandable given our situation.

I’m going to force myself to do a little work on the dollhouse this morning, right after I finish this post. But first, some oatmeal.

Stay safe.

Happy Thursday.

Filed Under: life 43 Comments

Day Three Hundred Twenty

January 27, 2021 at 10:14 am by Claudia

Once again, all my good intentions went by the wayside as I ended up spending time on the puzzle.

I can’t help myself.

Today, I promise to vacuum and swiffer, work on the dollhouse, and pay bills.

Just finished yet another long call with the IRS. When I paid our tax bill online on October 15th, I entered my social security number. But it never got credited (we’ve received late payment notices) because Don’s social security number is the primary number on the account. Because there is some end-of-the-year computer updating going on, every time I called, whoever I spoke to was unable to transfer the payment in order to credit it. Every person I spoke to was quite lovely and when it would fail, they would put a hold on the account so I wouldn’t be sent more letters and then they’d ask me to call back in two weeks. Today, it finally went through.

I’ve learned my lesson on that one. But, hey, it was the first time I had ever paid online.

It snowed yesterday. I’d say we have about 3 inches on the ground. It was quite lovely. We may get a bit more snow today.

I’m starting Winter Solstice  later today. Loved Jane Casey’s police procedural, Cruel Acts. She’s a wonderful writer. I always love it when I can’t quite figure out what will happen in the end.

I’m off to write out some checks and pop the bills in the mail.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

 

Filed Under: jigsaw puzzles 20 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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