Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Saturday was a day of endless rain, but we need it. Yesterday, I did a little work outside, but I mainly concentrated on this:

I’ve begun to lay the living room floor.  You have to be in the mood to do this because it’s tedious and exacting. That may not look like much to you, but it took about 3 hours. I stain each stick individually, let it dry, then cut it to fit into the jigsaw puzzle that is a wood floor. This room is trickier than normal because it isn’t just 4 walls. It has insets into the bay windows, and a kind of bump out on the left – all of it making this whole thing more challenging.

It’s also messy. Each piece has to be covered in glue. I usually use another clear glue, but I’m trying a white glue for part of this – just to see how it goes.

I know that other miniaturists cut a backing the size and dimensions of the room and attach the floor to it, but I don’t. This is the way I learned how to lay a wood floor many years ago when I first started on this hobby and all floors in my dollhouses are still intact and still secure. The only one that isn’t? The one in Don’s mini music studio and that floor was the kind that is made in a sheet. I had to re-glue the join recently.

I also stain each piece of wood before I attach it. I don’t wait until all of the bare wood pieces have been glued in place to stain the entire floor. I remember someone advising me that there is less chance of warp when you stain them individually.

So, we stick with what works, no matter how tedious! I’ll add some more ‘boards’ today. Then I’ll work on the baseboards – also a pain in the tush.

I’m using my favorite stain from Minwax that I’ve had for several years. It comes in a big tube. And, much to my surprise, it isn’t being made anymore! This is ‘walnut’ and I have another tube in ‘pecan.’ I must guard them with my life!

I also managed to detach the center window in the bay window and replace the acetate that had paint on it from the previous owner’s work on the dollhouse. I had to be very careful because I didn’t want to break any of the wood surround. But it worked and it’s much better for photos now.

Outside:

Those are little leaves on the big maple!

And here is the lilac update.

Heaven.

I am going to rake out a couple of small garden beds today. I want to sow my zinnia seeds and uncover the plants in the beds on the far side of the house.

It’s beautiful out there today.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.