Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Husband, Reading & Life

August 17, 2017 at 9:16 am by Claudia

Sometimes I grab my phone as I’m walking home and I quickly take a picture of a Hartford street because I need something  to put on a post. Let’s face it, my friends, you’ve seen Hartford many times over the past six-going-on-seven years. I had a very long day coaching yesterday and I have another one today and I’m tired, so this is what you get.

Well, not just this, but basically? This.

I thank God every day for my husband, but last night I was especially grateful. I was very tired (sinus/allergies are getting me down, along with the news) and I was about to head to the bath. We were face-timing and he was sharing a detailed story and every time he looked at me, I was yawning. Big yawns, the kind that make your eyes water. Finally, he just stared at me, features not moving, and I started giggling. Every time I would recover and look at the phone, his face was closer. This happened about six times, his features never changing, until all I could see was his eye. You probably had to be there, but I couldn’t stop laughing.

No one can make me laugh like he does and boy did I need a laugh.

He has also urged me to stop reading Twitter or watching Rachel Maddow for a few days, to give myself a mental health break. I think that’s a good idea. So far, so good – no Twitter this morning.

I haven’t been able to lose myself in the plot of a novel the way I’d like to. I’m reading The Late Show, Michael Connelly’s newest, but my attention span has been less than optimal. So I’m taking it along with me today for those periods when I have a few minutes between coaching appointments. Instead of automatically checking Twitter, I’m going to make myself read.

My newest decorating tip:

When a lamp is sitting too low on a table and it starts to annoy you, risk running into the stinky, smoky cigar shop and buy three empty cigar boxes for $5.00. Bring them back to the apartment, spray perfume all over yourself to get rid of the smoky smell, and stick them under the lamp. I have a pretty white box under the other lamp. Don, who collects these boxes, ends up the winner because he’ll get these after I get home.

I’m keeping the white box. I’ll show that to you some other time.

Don has been busy. I asked him to take the crap that we have stashed next to the shed to our local dump, aka Transfer Station. He cleared out the whole area yesterday and made several trips there and I’m so proud of him because, believe me, that’s a whole heck of a lot of work. I started doing it when he was away, but could only carry so much in my car. The CR-V is better for this type of thing. Thank you, husband!

And guess what?

The stove is ready to go. It’s being crated this week and will start it’s journey to Mockingbird Hill Cottage next week! Oh my heavens! I can barely contain myself.

Of course, we had a moment of “Gulp” when we totaled up the entire cost: Stove, crating, shipping and whatever Gino is going to charge us for hooking up the propane and trimming a bit of the cover on our baseboard heat so that we can fit the stove in.

Gulp. Gulp. Gulp. And a bit more Gulp.

It’s a big expenditure for us, but it will only appreciate in value. And we’re besotted by it, plain and simple.

Okay. Have to go get ready for another busy day.

Happy Thursday and Stay Strong.

Filed Under: books, Hartford, O'keefe and Merritt 39 Comments

This Will Be Brief

August 16, 2017 at 7:57 am by Claudia

Honestly, I am too sick to my stomach today to write much. And no, I don’t have the flu.

I happened to be in the apartment as yesterday’s press conference was unfolding. As I heard the words coming out of that man’s mouth, my heart was in my mouth and my stomach churned.

But I wasn’t surprised. This is who he is. This is who he has always been. If you’re surprised, I presume it’s because yesterday was so blatant, so in-your-face, so unapologetic. Because we’ve always known this about him.

He and his father owned apartment complexes and discriminated against black applicants. They settled out of court – which means they were guilty. He spewed birther accusations for over five years. He believes he has superior genes. His father took part in a Klan march/rally. And he has at least three staff members who are White Nationalists.

This is who he is.

But it’s not who we are.

As for the ‘I don’t like Hillary’ or ‘the lesser of two evils’ nonsense, there was never  any comparison. Never.

I’m praying that this is resolved immediately. That we are somehow able to rebuild a democracy that has been ripped and shredded and desecrated during the past seven months, that we are able to heal and emerge stronger than ever.

But it won’t be easy.

That’s all I can give you today.

 

 

Filed Under: Donald Trump 80 Comments

The Earrings. Again.

August 15, 2017 at 8:47 am by Claudia

Do you remember this pair of earrings?

You might remember, then, when I lost one of them last December while doing something in the kitchen and Don and I tore the house apart trying to find it and this went on and on as I completely moved everything in the kitchen the next day, cleaning as I went, until a reader said I should check the silverware drawer (which I was sure wouldn’t work) and then I opened the drawer the next day and there was the earring nestled under the forks? You can read about it here.

I’ve had these earrings for a long time.  It must be twenty years now – I suspect even longer than that. They’re my favorites as they are long and dangly but simple in design.

At the end of Saturday’s rehearsal, I walked back to the apartment and spent the evening answering comments, reading, watching tv, talking to Don on the phone – the usual. Then I prepared to take a bath, which is sort of a nightly thing for me when I’m in Hartford. After I pulled my t-shirt over my head, I reached for my earrings.

There was only one. I immediately did what you would do. I pulled up the cushions on the sofa, I looked under the sofa, the coffee table. I looked in the kitchen. I looked at the t-shirt, shaking it in case the earring was caught on it. I looked in the laundry basket. I looked in the bathroom. Nowhere to be found. Just to be sure, I did the whole thing all over again before I got in bed.

Calm down, I told myself. Maybe the Universe is telling you it’s time to let them go.

But I love  them, I stubbornly said.

But, perhaps due to a lavender scented bubble bath, I remained calm. The next morning, I checked the elevator and the lobby, where there are tables that sometimes hold items that have been found in the building. Nothing.

I decided I would retrace my exact route home Saturday night when I walked to the theater on Sunday morning. Which I did. Imagine me walking slowly, staring at the cement, all the way to the theater. Of course, I found nothing, and I was thinking that even if it had been there, somebody would have picked it up.

I walked into the lobby of the building where the rehearsal rooms are. Nothing. The elevator? Nothing. The long walk down the hallway to the rehearsal space? Nothing. Thinking I’d check the green room and the bathroom after I set my bag down in the rehearsal room, I turned to walk through the doorway.

In the corner between the wall and the doorway, just inside the room – there it was.

Perfectly protected from someone stepping on it, it was tucked into that corner and the silver flashed in the light and I shouted out, “There’s my earring!” thereby shocking the stage management team and Darko, who were already in the room. I guess it decided to spend the night in the rehearsal space.

Amazing. That’s twice now. Since then, I’ve been using those plastic things that slide up the shepherd’s hook on the earring but I need smaller, snugger backs (is that the word?) The ones I’m using work perfectly with another pair I brought along, but not so well on this one.

The Universe is clearly telling me to get some backs and use them.

In the meantime, I check my ears about a thousand times a day.

My nephew went home from the hospital yesterday evening. We are very happy to know that the healing process can continue at home.

Happy Tuesday.

Filed Under: life 48 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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