Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Books and a Few Thoughts

August 17, 2024 at 8:59 am by Claudia

A portion of the living room on this gray morning. It might rain within the next hour, but it will be brief.

It’s been a lovely and quiet morning with coffee and a good book. As I’ve said before, I am reading The Mirror and the Light, but it’s not the kind of book that I will drop everything to read. Historical fiction is usually not my thing, but these beautifully written books by Hilary Mantel are the exception. Anyway, when reading Mantel, I need another book to read that I find gripping – usually a mystery or thriller. I didn’t have one on hand, so I finally googled ‘writers like Daniel Silva’ to see what came up. I got a few good suggestions, so I searched the library system’s website to see if any of them were on the shelves at my tiny local library. Hurrah, they were! So I drove on over and checked out 4 books. I’ve started one, Orphan X   by Gregg Hurwitz, and I’m really enjoying it.

Thanks for all the great comments yesterday. It’s comforting to know there are other adult children of alcoholics out there who have control issues. The bottom line for me: I need to feel safe. Having control does that for me. And it’s perfectly okay. I offer no apologies for something that helped me get through my childhood and still helps me to this day. I mentioned that Don is also an adult child of an alcoholic. He’s not only that, he’s been sober for 46 years. I rarely speak about this because it’s his story. He works his program every day, goes to meetings every day, and sponsors fellow alcoholics. I admire him more than I can say. And because he’s sober, ‘we’ can be. If he wasn’t, our relationship wouldn’t have started. I would have stopped it from ever happening. I’m grateful for his wisdom and guidance every day of my life and he helped me come to terms with my dad’s struggle. He is the answer to a prayer.

Anyway.

A bit more cleaning to do today and some reading, of course, and almost certainly, some shared laughter with my husband.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

Filed Under: books, reading 24 Comments

Friday Thoughts

August 16, 2024 at 9:06 am by Claudia

Yours truly is tuckered out today. Since Sunday, we’ve been working outside for several hours every day – mowing, weeding. working on some areas of the back forty, cleaning gutters, weeding some more, clearing the trails in the woods, etc. Today, I’ve opted for some rest, though I do have clean the tub and floor in the bathroom. On one hand, we love that we are strong enough for some physical labor, on the other hand…we’re sort of tired.

Yesterday, we spent all morning on a self-tape audition that Don had to submit. It was rather complicated  but it went fairly smoothly and Don was happy with it. The rest of it? You just have to let go because there’s no controlling the outcome. As I always say it’s a bit of a crap shoot. In fact, every potential job in theater, film, or television is definitely a crap shoot.

Control is an issue of mine as an adult child of an alcoholic. It’s also an issue for my sister. When you grow up living in an environment that can go out of control at any minute, having any sort of control is desperately needed. It’s why I don’t drink and never did drugs. It’s also why I need to feel in control of most situations, but of course, that isn’t always going to be the case. Don recognized this about me early on. I sometimes have to cede control and that is a good thing. Don – even though he’s also an adult child of an alcoholic – is more spontaneous. I’ll always opt for control, though. It makes me feel safer.

I can hear the mourning dove calling as I write this. That makes me smile.

Uh oh. The thought of mowing the back forty just popped in my head. You see? The urge to go outside and do something is back. But the bathtub! And the floor!

We’ll see what happens.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

Filed Under: flowers, garden 19 Comments

A Perfect Day

August 14, 2024 at 8:27 am by Claudia

Yesterday was a gorgeous day. Simply spectacular. And no humidity! I sat on the porch for a while in the morning, and then Don joined me. It was a day of great conversations, spontaneous projects on the property, good food, apple pie, and the arrival of Wren.

Here she is:

This dress was made by my friend Morgane, who lives in France. The detail of that tiny ruffled collar is amazing. She also made the headband. I learned about Morgane when I first became interested in these BJDs by Eat Zongzi (the woman who designed both Wren and Lucy.) Morgane had the most amazing photos of them playing, having adventures – an entire little world.  And then I found out this former professional dress designer designed their clothes. I might be wrong, but I think all of Wren’s clothes are Morgane’s creations.

Anyway, back to little Wren. It was so good to see her again! I plopped her wig on her head and dressed her in this ‘homecoming’ dress and then she was reunited with her sister.

Sisters.

Gosh darn it, they’re awfully cute.

I’ve spoken of this before. Wren is my mini-me. When I was a little kid, I had long brown hair with bangs, big brown eyes, and was always worrying. I remember being unable to sleep because I was worried about something or other, far more worried than a child should be. I now have a vertical worry line between my brows because of it.

She’s me.

These two couldn’t be cuter.

My friend Tania was so generous. She enclosed a dress that she had a well known Blythe designer make for Wren, as well as a little hat. I suspect she’ll miss her. I’m grateful she was willing to let me buy her back.

Today I have to send off a purchase from my Etsy shop and return/pick up a book at the library. Weed pulling is on the docket, as well.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

Filed Under: bjd dolls 22 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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Scout & Riley. Riley left us in 2012. Scout left us in February 2016. Dearest babies. Dearest friends.

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