Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

  • About MHC
    • Disclosure
  • Dollhouses/Minis
    • Hummingbird Cottage
    • The Studio (Formerly TSP)
    • Dove Cottage
    • The Lake House
    • The Folk Art Dollhouse
    • The Modern Dollhouse
    • Dollhouse Source List, Information and Tutorials
  • On the Road
  • Collecting
    • Roseville Pottery
    • McCoy Pottery
    • Egg Cups
    • Bakelite
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy

Dinner With Friends

August 16, 2019 at 10:17 am by Claudia

My wonderful husband saw this on a ‘free books’ rack and brought it home to me. It’s an edition I don’t have with wonderful cover art. And there’s a little sticker inside the cover with an address in Boca Raton, Fl.

He gets me, that Don.

As I was sitting at my desk slogging through records and figures when he came in the door, this little present was a welcome respite.

I just finished The Overstory  and I’m still reeling from the power and majesty within its pages. It’s surely one of the most meaningful books I have ever read – right up there in my Top Ten. If you haven’t read it, I encourage you to do so. It’s long, dense, beautifully written, and ultimately, life-changing.

I’m not sure what I’m going to start next. I’ll figure that out later in the day.

We had the best time last night. Three of our former students were visiting. Rick, Doug, Don, Christine, Glen, Julie and I gathered round the table and shared stories and memories and caught up with each other. It was as if no time had passed. The three of them have wonderful lives. They’re doing well. They are, as they were when we first met them, formidable and beautiful human beings. To have a positive impact on someone’s life, no matter how minuscule in the larger picture, is its own reward. It was a very powerful and wonderful evening.

Today, more figures. And maybe some lawn mowing. We’ll see.

Happy Friday.

Filed Under: books, friends 12 Comments

Dreaded Chores, Flowers & Garden Life

August 15, 2019 at 10:53 am by Claudia

It’s time to add up our deductions and send them off to our tax preparer. We always file an extension and I can put the whole thing out of my mind until…da, da, DUM…August. And now we’re here. So that’s what I’ll be doing this afternoon and tomorrow. Of course the amount of deductions we as performing artists can take has shrunk to next to nothing, but New York State still allows them. So we still have to do the same amount of calculating.

Sigh.

A little bit lobelia has popped up in my geranium pot. There’s a big pot of lobelia nearby and it self-seeded here in the geraniums. I love those little garden surprises.

My yellow garden spider is still here.

I’ve never seen one stay in the same place for so long.

We had another one hanging on the siding next to our kitchen door, but it was particularly windy that day and the spider was constantly buffeted by the winds, so it moved on. Where, I don’t know.

So today, it’s deductions and other chores. We’re headed over to Rick and Doug’s for dinner, as three of our former students will be in town. Can’t wait to see them! They were members of the last class that I taught at The Old Globe/USD. Jim Parsons was one of their classmates. It will be fun.

As for Las Vegas, I plan to be indoors most of the time I’m there. I’ve never had the least desire to visit but my hand has been forced. Since I’ll be working much of the time, it should be fine.

Happy Thursday.

 

 

Filed Under: flowers, garden, spider 18 Comments

A Good Day

August 14, 2019 at 10:52 am by Claudia

Well, this was alarming.

Mother Nature: I’m happy that it’s cooler right now, but don’t assume that means I’m ready for Fall. I will be soon, but please don’t rush me. Okay?

Yesterday was a strange and good day. Don drove down to New Jersey to buy more film for his Crown Graphic camera. Fuji has stopped making it and, consequently, it’s getting more expensive. There are photographers who swear by it – and it’s really true, there’s nothing anywhere near the quality of this film for polaroid photography – and they hoard it knowing that the supply is finite. There’s someone out there trying to develop an alternative and we have our fingers crossed that he succeeds.

Anyway, on the way back he called me with the news that he had booked the job he auditioned for last week. It’s a small role, just a day’s work, but it’s significant because it’s the first job he’s booked since Margaritaville. He needed that. We were celebrating when an email came up on my laptop from the Anastasia National Tour asking if I was available to coach a couple of actors next week – in Las Vegas, no less.

So, while I was talking to Don about the job he just booked, I booked a job myself!

Good news for the Hill-Sparks household.

I’ll be jetting off to Las Vegas next Wednesday and I’ll return on Saturday. Crazy, right?

It’s always a good day when two freelancers book a job. In the 25 years we’ve been together, we’ve never booked jobs on the same day.

Just saw our pair of mourning doves. One is looking for food on the ground, the other is sitting on the edge of the birdbath. They were there yesterday evening, as well.

Okay. I got a late start this morning, then I had a phone call with Darko, and I’m just now getting to the blog!

Happy Wednesday.

 

Filed Under: Anastasia, Don 44 Comments

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 581
  • 582
  • 583
  • 584
  • 585
  • …
  • 1775
  • Next Page »
  • Email
  • Instagram

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.

Thanks for stopping by.

Searching?

The Dogs

The Dogs

Scout & Riley. Riley left us in 2012. Scout left us in February 2016. Dearest babies. Dearest friends.

Winston - Our first dog. We miss you, sweetheart.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

Thanks for visiting! Feel free to browse, read and enjoy. All content is my own; including photos and text. Please do not use anything on this site without permission.

Disclosure/Privacy Policy can be found in the Navigation Bar under ‘About MHC.’

Also, I love receiving comments! I do, however, reserve the right to delete any comment that is in poor taste, offensive or is verging on spam. It’s my blog. If you’re a bot or a troll you’ll be blocked. Thanks!

Archives

All Content © 2008 - 2025 Mockingbird Hill Cottage · Log in