Mockingbird Hill Cottage

How much can two creative people cram into a smallish room that contains all of their stuff?

Answer: A lot.

I put the work table together yesterday. Then I did some reconfiguring. Space is always at a premium and the addition of the Boston fern (the office is its winter quarters) doesn’t help. I went in there this morning and I have to say I’m excited about the new U-shaped work zone.

Now I can paint on the table in the foreground (where the dollhouse was) and construct on the work table.

Note large fern, beachballs from Escape to Margaritaville, and toilet paper and paper towels.

This room has everything.

On the other side of the table: 6 guitars, 2 ukeleles, and a mandolin, camera equipment, the French cabinet (which holds miniatures) and houseplants.

I’m not even showing the big old reading chair, side table, Don’s desk, the printer, etc.

And this a small room.

We’ve had this vintage yellow kitchen stool for years. We ran out of room for it in the kitchen, so it’s been stashed in the closet in the den. Actually, it was while I was wondering if the stool would look good in the bathroom (it wouldn’t) that I started to think about using it somewhere and from that thought moved on to the idea of a taller work table. Don brought it upstairs yesterday and I wrestled with a configuration that could include both my desk chair and this taller chair/stool. Much to my delight, the stool fit nicely under the white table (formerly my sewing table.)

Happy camper. Trying to work on the dollhouse while sitting at the white table, having to lean to the side to look/work on the rooms on the lower floor resulted in back pain the next day. So happy to have this new addition.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Thank you for all of the birthday wishes! I so appreciate them – and you. These days, social media is an extravaganza of Happy Birthdays and I’m here to say I like it!

We had a lovely day; rather low key, by design, and full of peace. It started out with a FaceTime call from my sister and Little Z – he was very talkative and lively. Finally, he said “That’s all the news I have for you” and that was that. He makes me laugh.

Earlier in the day, Don wrote a a piece for acoustic guitar and as I was writing the blog, etc., I kept thinking how hauntingly beautiful it was. Later on, he told me that it was entitled, “Claudia.”  I swooned. When he gets a good recording – he’s still learning it – I’ll share it with you.

Don made a simple comfort food dinner (fries!) and after dinner he presented me with a birthday pie with candles and my presents. A note about the pie – it’s a sugar-free apple pie that he found the recipe for online and he was worried it wouldn’t be good, but it was fabulous! Such a good pie! As you know, I prefer pie to cake and since I’ve gone sugar-free, it’s not always easy to find a good one – especially one that doesn’t have a dicey sugar substitute. I can’t remember the last time I had some pie. This one was perfect and I’ve already insisted that Don make it again for Thanksgiving.

Presents: a copy of The Moonflower Murders  by Anthony Horowitz. It was just published here in the States, and a work table, not unlike our kitchen island, that has yet to be assembled.

This came about because I realized that working on dollhouses would be much easier for me physically if I had a taller surface. Right now, I have to torque my body into strange positions and it hurts my back. Where the heck I’m going to put it is another question!

And this. I sent a link to Don for both this and the book, knowing he might need some gift ideas. This is from Tiny Dollhouse in NYC.

A hand made umbrella stand, made by British artisan Tony Dunham. It came with two canes.

I thought it would be perfect for Dove Cottage and I’ve had it marked as a favorite for a long time.

I need to buy a couple of umbrellas.

Isn’t it lovely?

All in all, a wonderful birthday, with a FaceTime call from Rick and Doug, as well as calls from dear friends.

I am blessed.

Stay safe.

Happy Sunday.

We take a break in our regularly scheduled posts because it’s my birthday today. Hello to little Claudia, waltzing around her childhood living room with her baby carriage. I had the strangest feeling looking at this photo this morning. I found myself wanting to kiss that little girl on the cheeks. I could almost feel that velvety skin that children have. I wanted to hug her and tell her that she is loved.

I’ve never had that kind of reaction before. It was very powerful.

I trust Don has some nice little things planned today, though it won’t be all that different from other birthdays. We usually spend our respective birthdays together and that’s more than enough. I’m glad he’s here with me – that’s all I need. He (all by his lonesome) finished off the shed clearing yesterday! Tomorrow, we’ll clean the floor.

Thanks for being here today and always.

As I said on IG, my request on my birthday is for everyone to wear a mask and stay at home on Thanksgiving. I’ve had several former students contract COVID. The latest is Kate – who was in a sort of bubble with her best friend. Unfortunately, her friend was diagnosed with COVID and now Kate has tested positive. She’s a single parent. Bubbles are not completely trustworthy. They simply aren’t. I’ve heard of too many people who were around only the people in their self-proclaimed bubble, yet came down with the coronavirus.

Be scrupulous. Be careful. We’ll all survive having Thanksgiving without our extended families. And isn’t that what’s important right now?

(I know I’m preaching to the choir, here.)

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.