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
    • The Beacon Hill Dollhouse
    • Dollhouse Source List, Information and Tutorials
  • On the Road
  • Collecting
    • Roseville Pottery
    • McCoy Pottery
    • Egg Cups
    • Bakelite
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy

Escaping is Good

September 13, 2017 at 10:17 am by Claudia

I took my plants back home with me last weekend, hoping to lighten the load that I’ll be dealing with later this week when I move back home. This shefflera was in the aqua McCoy pot – which I loved – but I thought it looked pretty in this Guy Wolff pot. And somehow it needed to be on the French bistro table in the living room.

Done.

I drove back to Hartford yesterday afternoon and watched the show last night. For a Tuesday night audience, this group was wild! They laughed and laughed and had such a good time. I think that, especially in this time of political upheaval, hurricanes and earthquakes, people need an escape. Theater offers an escape. For 2 or 3 hours, one can be transported to another time and place. When that production is just plain funny, what a joy it is to have the opportunity to release in laughter. It is for me, and I know this production very well. Escape to Margaritaville  will be much the same. An escape for those who need one. I’m proud that both Don and I are part of productions that provide that. Laughter helps to heal. In our own way, we’re part of a temporary solution.

Speaking of Don, he’s settled in and is now managing the trip from Jersey City to Manhattan quite handily. He catches a bus a block from his apartment. It gets him to the Port Authority Bus Terminal (the same terminal we use when we take the bus from our neighboring town) in twenty minutes. Rehearsals are a block from the terminal. All good. They worked on music on Monday. Yesterday was what we call the Meet & Greet. When you’re doing a big Broadway musical, the Meet and Greet involves literally hundreds and hundreds of people; producers, publicists, agents, investors, cast, crew, writers, etc. Jimmy was there, as well. Now they’re doing table work. There are script changes and song changes and new cast members to bring into the fold.

That hollyhock is still blooming. In fact, when I left yesterday, there were even more blooms.

I might be leaving tomorrow but all of that depends on Darko and his assessment of the show. If he ‘freezes’ it, that means no more notes from him to the actors and I will freeze my notes as well. We’ll see. He’s rehearsing some sections this afternoon and we’ll see how it goes tonight. It’s a wonderful production, wildly funny and touching and beautiful and magical. As it should be. Once again, Darko has outdone himself. He’s amazing.

Last Saturday, there was a historical preservation tour going on in Hartford and the building I’m in was on the tour. There is a penthouse apartment that sits on the top of the building – all glass – and I’ve always been curious about it. It turns out it’s two apartments and since one is empty at the moment, we were allowed to see it. I’ve always been curious about it so I grabbed the chance. Unfortunately, you take an elevator to the twelfth floor and then you have to climb up three flights of stairs (and there are a lot of stairs) to get there.

In other words, in order to live there you have to be young and in great physical shape.

Nevertheless, I arrived – panting –  and viewed the apartment. It was smallish, same floors as I have here, same sort of kitchen, but the light and the windows and the views! Goodness.

From one of the windows – this view of the Capitol and part of Bushnell Park. Imagine watching the fireworks from here! You can see all the way to the Connecticut River from the other side of the apartment. Beautiful.

Okay. Have to go and send some notes to the actors.

Happy Wednesday.

 

Filed Under: Broadway, Escape to Margaritaville, Hartford, theater 20 Comments

Fog, Paths, Pottery & Hartford

September 12, 2017 at 9:41 am by Claudia

This is the view I woke up to – one of my favorites:

Fall and fog.

Sigh. I have to drive back to Hartford today. I’ve been nestling in here at the cottage and it’s been a joy. I don’t want to exaggerate, however. I’m only going back for 2 days – maybe 3 – and then I’m home for good. I packed up quite a few things last Sunday and hauled them home. Hopefully, this will make the rest of the packing easier. Fingers crossed.

Don made this path with some pavers he found at Lowes – it’s behind the kitchen. You can see our rain barrel, which handles overflow from our wonky gutters. There is a flat grassy area behind the kitchen that gets very wet as it’s at the bottom of a small hill. We’d like to do more with it next year. Anyway, this little path is the start. (Don was very busy while I was away!)

I made biscuits last night. Yes, I’m the only one here, but…Stella. And biscuits.

Note baking chart inside oven door: Biscuits – 450. Check. 12 -15 minutes. Check, although I tend to go for 11 or 12 minutes at max.

Made a jelly roll lately? 400 degrees, 12 -15 minutes.

They get so poufy that they sometimes fall over. That’s because they’re Cloud Biscuits. I’m taking some back with me. Comfort food.

I’ve been noticing a line of pottery on Instagram, greatly favored by much younger bloggers, some of them fanatic collectors. It’s made by potter Rae Dunn and it’s sold at Home Goods, T J Maxx and Marshalls. She has other lines, as well, that are sold elsewhere. The appeal of this particular line centers on the use of words in a engaging font, along with the slightly irregular shape of the mugs. I’m not about to be a big collector, but I did buy a few pieces, drawn, in part, by this one:

Why Chill? Well, besides the obvious good advice, Chill is me. C. Hill. As I said on Instagram, this was embroidered on every item of clothing I wore in gym class or took to camp. It was written inside all my book covers.

I’m C. Hill. And I remain a Hill legally. Even though I go by Hill-Sparks professionally, I never changed my name when I married Don. I had no desire to shed what had been my legal surname for over 40 years. Don was completely fine with that.

So. Long story, but that’s why I love this mug!

Some more pieces. I love the bowls. We always need bowls around here. I’ve always been drawn to words on things – I’ve had some of the Emma Bridgewater Toast and Marmalade pieces for years. The lettering on the Rae Dunn pieces is very like the font I chose for my blog; another reason I’m enamored.

The mug behind Chill says Play.

And then there’s this one, which was in yesterday’s post. I found it at Home Goods. Also Rae Dunn.

Luckily, I don’t have a lot of extra room around here. Maybe a few pieces, but that’s it.

Some of you wrote to me when Irma was on the way to the Tampa area and I’d love to hear how you’re doing. When you have a moment, please leave a comment. Mere and her family are okay. Exhausted, but okay. Little Z declared on his own last night that it was time to go to bed. He was tuckered out.

Happy Tuesday.

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: baking, Don, O'keefe and Merritt, pottery, Stella 52 Comments

After the Storm and an Anniversary

September 11, 2017 at 8:45 am by Claudia

I got home yesterday afternoon and managed to mow the front lawn before something broke off the lawnmower. I wasn’t doing anything but mowing the grass: no weeds, no rocks, no nothing. What is it called? Planned obsolescence? Yep. Now the lawn mower most likely needs to be replaced. To say I’m ticked off is putting it mildly.

That’s why I love this girl. Built to last and last and last. (She’s two years younger than me, by the way, so she’s no spring chicken!)

I was so happy to see her when I arrived. So happy to see my house. I suppose it’s because my time in Hartford is almost over – not quite – but very close to being complete, that I just want to stay here now and not make the trip back there tomorrow. I’m such a nester. Ironically, Don was on his way to Jersey City while I was driving west toward home. He’s feeling lonely. I’m feeling lonely. What’s wrong with this picture?

Last night was the first time I really used the burners on the stove because the last time I was home, I made biscuits, but Don worked the cooktop. I just love having gas again. It’s so much easier to control, the food doesn’t cook too quickly, as I often find to be the case with electric. Don’t get me started on the electric stove in the apartment!

I chatted with Don when I arrived back home, and most importantly, I talked to my sister. Late in the evening, we realized that Irma was weakening and that she wasn’t going to inflict as much damage. When I talked to Mere earlier in the day, she was truly frightened. As were we. It was such a tense day, waiting, waiting and waiting. I can’t imagine how hard it was for them. This morning, Mere sent me a text saying they were okay. Some downed limbs. Obviously, they had high winds during the night, but miraculously, they still have power. My nephew went back to Orlando yesterday morning because he didn’t want to miss classes. They got much higher winds there and they have no power. But he’s okay. The family is safe. That’s all I ask for.

Having said that, I know many of you are surveying the damage to your homes right now. And I know that the eastern side of the state got a lot of storm surge and damage. I’m thinking of you and hoping that, most importantly, you are safe.

Today is Don’s first day of rehearsals for Escape to Margaritaville. His hiatus is over. I know he’ll be happy to be reunited with his pals. And Houston is still on. Don just got an email about hotel rooms, etc. I’m glad. I have a feeling the people of Houston could use an escape right now.

Today is also the anniversary of 9/11, a day we will always remember. We had just moved east and I well remember the eerie quiet that morning. Beautiful blue skies, much like today. But no sound – except for the fighter jets that were scrambled from a base north of us as they flew right over my head (we lived about a half-mile from the Hudson River.) I will never forget that sound. Or talking to Don (who was in Calgary doing a play) for hours on the phone, trying to grasp what had just happened, watching the second tower go down with utter disbelief. Such loss, the enormity of which is still hard to take in, all these years later.

We will never forget.

Happy Monday.

 

Filed Under: Don, Escape to Margaritaville, hurricane, Meredith, O'keefe and Merritt, Stella 32 Comments

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 867
  • 868
  • 869
  • 870
  • 871
  • …
  • 1845
  • 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 - 2026 Mockingbird Hill Cottage · Log in