Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Yesterday was such a beautiful day. The sun, the light, the colors on the maple trees. It was simply gorgeousl. We mowed the front lawn – I think I did about 2/3 of it and then Don took over because my back was hurting. He also raked a lot of the catalpa leaves. It felt so good to be out there working on a beautiful autumn day. Then we came in, had some lunch, and I promptly took a nap.

We’ve been watching baseball every night because we LOVE baseball and we know that it will soon disappear until spring. Shohei Otani’s performance in last night’s game was the most extraordinary showing I have ever seen. We are still talking about it this morning. (Donnamae – I’m sorry about your Brewers. I know this loss must be hard for everyone in Wisconsin.)

On Sunday, we’ll tune in again and see what happens with the Mariners vs. the Blue Jays.

A lone zinnia appeared despite the frost/freezes. I see another bud, as well. I appreciate these little miracles as we deal with a not-quite-winter October here in the Hudson Valley.

I’ve been circling around the Beacon Hill lately. It really would be the perfect winter project. I think I’ve been overwhelmed by the enormity of the whole thing (and the potential cost.) But lately I’ve been thinking that it does not have to be perfect, or the culmination of my dollhouse projects, or even the last dollhouse. I just need to take it one room at a time and go for it. I may not use much wallpaper this time. It’s never easy finding a pattern I like – so many are kind of hokey – and I think it can be limiting. I do have ideas for the living room and that might be where I start. The hardest and most challenging will be the stairs. Since they are already in place, I have to either leave the dark wood or try to paint them – which might just be impossible. In the meantime, I think I’ll replace a few of the windows and do some minor repair work.

Okay.

I have to make more coffee.

If you’re marching today, bless you!

Stay safe.

At our local library.

Yesterday we were searching for something in the closet in the den. While doing that, we rediscovered this lithograph that we used to have on the wall. It’s really lovely and the handmade frame from the early 1900s is spectacular. I found it at an auction not long after we moved into the cottage. We ended up hanging it here.

 

It’s a Guardian Angel lithograph. They were very popular in the early 20th century. My grandmother had one – a different scene – on the wall of her guest bedroom where I would sleep when I was visiting. It was on the wall just to the left of the bed. I remember really loving it and feeling some sort of protection from that angel. It was originally my great-grandmother’s so it is very, very old.

Years later, my grandmother had to sell her home and I regret not taking that print. But I was clueless at that point in my life and it never entered my mind. Of course, I ended up spending many years looking for a print like the one on the wall in her house. I finally found this one when we moved here. It’s not exactly the same, but it has the same theme – the Guardian Angel protecting innocent children – in this case, from falling off a cliff.

And that frame! It’s so graphic in its design. We’re happy to have it on display again.

Today, I’m mowing the lawn and Don is raking leaves. We had a frost warning last night and I covered up some vulnerable plants with sheets. Once again – fingers crossed that they’re okay.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

It’s very foggy this morning. Though the rain was gone by yesterday, it was rather gloomy all day. Today, we might get a bit of sun. Fingers crossed.

We’ve been watching baseball most every night. Consequently, we’ve been staying up later than we usually do. The older I get, the harder it is to change my routine(s) – is the same true for you? In this case, we sleep in longer, so all my morning ‘chores’ are thrown off, including the blog.

I’ve always been someone who takes a long time to wake up in the morning. Most of my family knew not to talk too much to me first thing in the morning. Though my dad was very talky in the AM and couldn’t understand why I didn’t want to chat. Don understands, thank goodness. Though he, too, can be chatty first thing in the morning and sometimes I have to say “No more.” I need my coffee and some quiet time.

On Monday, I finally painted an abstract for the modern dollhouse. I wanted something rather large, so I found a good-sized  canvas and went at it. It’s not so easy to paint something abstract, I have found, so it was a challenge. Originally, I was going to paint it in oils, but they take weeks to dry, and I didn’t want any of the paint coming off on the wall. So I grabbed the acrylics that I use for miniatures. I’m fairly pleased with it.

I have it propped up on a table behind the sofa. I’ll try to get a shot of the whole room later today; it involves temporarily removing the plexiglass panels. I’m looking for a rug for both this dollhouse and the girls’ house. (And all the rooms in the Beacon Hill, of course. But that’s in the future.) This space also needs some large potted plants.

This dollhouse is sitting on the bookcase in our bedroom.

We’re going to make ourselves walk at the library today. Now that we’re not doing much work outside, we need to make sure we get our steps in. Some outside chores are on the docket, thought. I will be mowing the front lawn later this week and Don has a lot of catalpa leaves to rake.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.