Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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A Very Soggy Monday

December 18, 2023 at 9:15 am by Claudia

It has rained and rained and rained and is still raining this morning. We got about 3 inches overnight. It’s some storm that came up from the Gulf, but we were already drenched here and definitely did not need more.  Who would have thought that a week before Christmas we’d be getting rain instead of snow? And – at least through January 1st – there is no snow on the horizon.

I’m still a bit under the weather but I’m definitely feeling better than I was. Don is also feeling much the same. We were as sure as we could be that we didn’t have Covid, but we ran a test last night anyway. Negative.

We just feel crappy, that’s all.

I wasn’t sure where to put the putz houses this year. Their former space was on top of the music cabinet which is now upstairs, having been replaced by Blythe headquarters. I put them on the bookshelves, but their sweet colors were lost among the colorful book jackets.

So I moved some things off the little spinet desk and here you go. I’m always tempted to start looking for more of them when I see them here and on various IG accounts. But I didn’t do any antique shopping this year, so I haven’t added to the collection.

This seemd like an appropriate place for this little guy.

I’ve sold a few  smallish pieces of aqua McCoy, but only a few. It’s my favorite color and I’m going to hang on to it. Activity in the Etsy shop has stopped for the last week. I suppose no one is buying at the last minute for Christmas. Plus, my shop has less McCoy than it had. There are other beautiful pieces including an incredible Roseville vase. I’m considering adding a few more pieces of McCoy.

I’ve been working on a beautiful puzzle and expect to finish it today or tomorrow. I’ll share a picture of it then.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Filed Under: Christmas, decorating, McCoy pottery, putz houses 30 Comments

Potpourri on Saturday

December 16, 2023 at 9:21 am by Claudia

My dears, I’m under the weather today with some intense sinus stuff, so I’m going to keep today’s post on the short side. I just need to hunker down and wait this out. A little dolly companionship is my prescription.

♦ The outside of the vintage dollhouse – the ‘Lake House’ – has been decorated. This year the owner used white wreaths found at Target. She discovered that they were larger in size than the green wreaths previously used, so they make more of an impact.

A sweet little deer is visiting on the porch. (An ornament from – once again – Target.)

Alas, the interior has not been decorated as I need to either make or find a tree that will work there. I would love to find a white or pink tree because the interior is so dark that one of the trees I make would be impossible to see. That’s for another day/year.

♦ An outfit that I ordered 2 months ago arrived in the mail the other day and Lucy volunteered to be the model.

Alas, after I posted it, I realized they were on backwards. Though they work either way. However, the pockets are supposed to be on the tush. (By the way, I would like to have a tree up all year round because photographing the girls by the tree is the best.)

The correct way:

♦ And a quick jaunt to the library yesterday revealed this:

Forsythia buds opening because the poor bushes are confused by this weather.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

Filed Under: Blythe dolls, Christmas, decorating, dollhouse, flowers, miniatures 15 Comments

A Little Miniature Christmas, Part Two

December 15, 2023 at 8:03 am by Claudia

I have spilled water at least 4 times this week. I’m distracted and stressed by worries and the state of our country and the world. It’s time to nest in my home with my husband and shut the rest of the world out. As Don and I say quite often “I give up.” In our parlance, that means: I let go, I realize I have no control over anything or anyone. I’m surrendering.”

We have to remind ourselves of this on a daily basis.

______________________________________

Let’s visit Dove Cottage for the holidays. As always, there are some holiday touches, but the cottage is tiny, so the decorations are kept to a minimum.

The tree is up and decorated. Some presents are already under the tree .

A little bottlebrush tree on the table.

A cheery kitchen with cookies baking in the Aga.

A cup sits waiting for some strong, hot tea.

On my Blythe IG feed, my friend Dani started a Christmas Prompt Challenge. There is a list of words to choose from, and when it’s your turn, you are assigned a word and have to compose a photo. Then you tag the next person up with a new word. Mine is today and the word is “Reindeer.”

This is my photo:

My caption: “She loved the reindeer so much that she would sit in the snow for hours just to be with them.”

Oh, that adorable Pippa! And those adorable reindeers from Target.

Frankly, I should have a tree up all year long because taking pictures with those lights in the background is the best!

Today, I’m laying low and working on my puzzle. I have to pick up Bel Canto  from the library, but that’s about it. It’s Protect Your Mental Health Day here at the cottage.

Happy Birthday (yesterday) to my cousin Eileen, who reads this blog. I love you dearly.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

 

Filed Under: Blythe dolls, Christmas, dollhouse, miniatures 29 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.

Thanks for stopping by.

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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.’

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