Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Okay. I’ve chosen my dental insurance – Delta. I know my dentist takes it and I don’t want to change dentists. It’s a bit pricey and I’ll review it at the end of the year to see if I want to go with a cheaper plan, but the important thing for this anxiety-ridden person is that I did it. It’s done. It isn’t weighing on me any more and believe me, it has been. (I got it through AARP, by the way.)

I can either stay in anger mode about the fact that we are getting much less and paying more because the union screwed up, or I can write a letter to them (which I’m going to do) and then let it go. Because there’s nothing else I can do. It’s a done deal and I doubt whether my letter will make a bit of difference but I’ll feel better having done it.

There’s a lot of activity going on in the dollhouses. (I listen in at times.) Christmas trees are up in both Hummingbird Cottage and the Modern Dollhouse. It looks to me as if there is still more decorating to be done but I’ll leave them to it for the time being.

They’ve inspired me – we’re going to get our tree later this morning. Don is really excited. Usually, he is much more laid back about the whole thing, but we desperately need some Christmas around here and that is fueling his excitement. I’m going to find the Christmas tree stand and get things prepped and we’ll drive over to our local nursery/farm stand and be there when they open. The neighboring town (which is a college town) has fairly high – this is relative, of course – COVID numbers at the moment, so we’re being very careful.

But oh! A tree! The smell of pine! Sparkly vintage ornaments!

We’ll decorate it tomorrow after it settles.

I’m pondering whether to create another Christmas tree for the Lake House. I almost did that last year but ran out of motivation. It’s very finicky work, involving lots and lots of glue. And I’m not sure if I have anything around that I can use as ornaments. But something tells me I do. I’ll have to do some searching.

Too soon for a tree for the English Cottage. The owner is abstaining this year as the house is being renovated.

Thanks for all your support, my friends. It means a great deal to me. I’m overwhelmed by everything that might be facing us, but am trying to stay in the moment and appreciate what we have. I know that if we do that, we’ll find a way.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

The bedroom with lovely afternoon light.

This, of course, is not from yesterday, a day in which we had rain of Biblical proportions. A constant deluge from morning until night – so much rain that our culvert flooded, our shed, though covered with a tarp, still leaked, and all of our work on the roof above our door was revealed to be useless.

All I can see right now are dollar signs. Don, a more cheerful and hopeful person than I, says everything will work out.  Don’s childhood was so hard that he was forced to cope with things – he had to be a survivor. Consequently, nothing fazes him for long. I envy that.

I, on the other hand, worry way too much. We balance each other, which is a good thing. But right now, I’m seeing new roof for the shed, new roof for the house. A pandemic. No work. You know the drill.

Both of us acknowledge that so many people are coping with far worse things. Perspective helps. But I don’t mind telling you I’m a bit panicked here at the cottage.

We will consult with someone about the porch roof over the front door. Maybe there’s a temporary fix until we have more funds on hand. We now readily admit figuring out where the water is coming from is beyond our capabilities. But at least we tried!

In the meantime, Don’s knees are really bothering him from kneeling on the roof two days in a row, so I have ordered him to take it easy.

Right after we moved in 15 years ago, there was a rain that everyone who was a longtime local called a “100 years” rain. Our chimney leaked, the basement was flooding and water was pouring out of a pipe in the basement wall and we couldn’t figure out where it was coming from – we had rubber boots on and were crazily trying to stop the water. And all the while it was endlessly pouring. We finally stuck a broom handle in the pipe and it stopped.

That’s what yesterday was like.

We’ll probably get our tree tomorrow instead of today.

I am reminded of a song from Mame:

Haul out the holly
Put up the tree before my spirit falls again
Fill up the stocking
I may be rushing things, but deck the halls again now

For we need a little Christmas
Right this very minute
Candles in the window
Carols at the spinet
Yes, we need a little Christmas
Right this very minute
Hasn’t snowed a single flurry, but Santa dear we’re in a hurry…

Can’t think of a better lyric for this year, can you?

I did work a bit on the dollhouse yesterday and I took some delight in being able to stand up at my new work table to work on the second story. Very satisfying!

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

On this dark, dreary, and rainy day, I thought I’d share this little corner with you. We recently bought an inexpensive up light from Lowe’s. Remember Christopher Lowell, the decorator that had a show on HGTV? Back in the days when every show wasn’t like every other show? He loved up lights. This corner can be dark and we have a beautiful plant there as well as our vintage advertising from Paris and a Maxfield Parrish hanging on the walls. Don had been complaining that he’d like to see the artwork more clearly, so…up light. It makes a wonderful difference in that corner.

Yesterday was all about Don buying some 1 x 4s from Lowes, me measuring our big tarp and cutting it to fit the rear section of the shed roof, then Don up on the roof with me passing tools to him, getting the tarp in place and then nailing down the wood that will secure the tarp. I spent a lot of time inside the shed, tapping on the support beams so Don knew where to nail. It took several hours, but it’s done. Boy, were we tired afterwards! Today, we’re supposed to get an inch of rain, so we’ll see if the caulk and the tarp are working. Cross your fingers for us!

We’ll stay indoors today and start making calls about dental insurance for me and Don’s coverage for his eye. We have a week until our decisions need to be firmed up so I’m taking it slow and trying not to stress about it all.

And the Christmas tree will be purchased tomorrow or Wednesday, depending on the weather. I cannot wait to decorate this year! Oh boy, do we need it!

Select Blinds had a 50% off sale yesterday, so I ordered two more mini blinds, this time, for the bedroom windows. That should do it for a while, though the bathroom will need one eventually. In looking back through my planner for this year, I saw that I had it on my list of things that needed to be done this year. Hey, I actually accomplished a goal! (Actually, several items on the list have been ticked off.)

The dollhouse may have to be ignored for a few days as I sort out insurance and we decorate for Christmas, as well as organize the interior of the shed and put things away for the winter. But I hope to be back at it next week.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.