Rain, rain, rain. Yesterday we had thunderstorms and lots of rain later in the day. Today, we have a steady rain and there are flood watches up all over our area. We live right between two rivers, but our house is on a little hill and floods have never been a worry.
The Lenape – the indigenous people who lived here before us – called the land we live on “the land between the rivers” because we’re surrounded by rivers, just steps away from our property.
The first Rose of Sharon popped up yesterday morning. In fact, right after I got up, I looked out the window of the kitchen door, and there it was! What a lovely greeting. It is getting pummeled, of course, by the rain. And today, another bloom has appeared. Oh, I love these flowers!
I’ve been reading and putzing around the house. I’ve also been working on the Beacon Hill a bit. I’ve painted and repainted that darned buffet and I’m still not sure I like what I’ve done. I do so want it to be a part of the house because it was one of the pieces that the previous owners included with the house. A little homage to the house’s history, if you will. I’ll post something or other about the buffet soon – when I get it the way I want it. (If that ever happens.) I know it sounds silly, but I’m trying to use only the acrylic paints I have on hand. I don’t want to drive to Michael’s, which is a bit of a haul, and spend more money on paint and gas (so expensive!) for the car. So, I do a lot of mixing and experimenting.
I forgot about this chair, which I was going to put in that upstairs room where I removed the fireplace. It may not work there, but I’m waiting to see what it looks like when it’s wallpapered. I’ve had my eye on a chair for the living room, but it’s too expensive for me right now. So I tried the Morris chair in the living room and it just might work there.
I could make replacement cushions that coordinate with the sofa. Or I could use the “leather” cushions that came with the chair.
Nothing is written in stone, of course. That’s the fun of a dollhouse. And it’s much easier to move furniture around than in real life.
I’ll be back at work on the buffet later this morning. I also have to do a little more spackling around the sealed up fireplace on the third floor. Wish me luck!
Stay safe.
Happy Wednesday.
I like that chair with its “leather” cushions. It reminds me of a “Dad’s” chair where he would sit and read the paper.
We had heavy storms on Monday but the plants are bouncing back and the grass is happy.
Take care, Claudia.
My hydrangea is drooping because of all the heavy rain.
Thanks, Ellen.
Stay safe.
I love the Morris chair, and being a traditionalist, like the leather. It will be interesting to see where it “lands.” Have you already tried stain instead of paint on the buffet or is it too late? It’s looking terrific, Claudia.
It had a dark stain when I got it. I don’t want too much dark wood in the house and the floors are already dark.
Thanks so much, Jeanie.
Stay safe.
it’s all lovely, claudia … the flowers, what you’re doing for the beacon hill, you living right by two(!) rivers, some rain to give you a break from the heat and allergens …!
i am trying to get errands and other must-do stuff done ahead of friday, when we might get some rain during the day. i want to be able to just sit on the sofa then, to do nothing but watch the rain … so i hope the forecast is right! whether the forecast is accurate or not, it will be good to cross things off my long to-do list. :)
oh!!! guess what popped up as a suggestion to watch on youtube yesterday? something about “kit and michael’s final moments together” … your scene in “spoiler alert”!!! the youtube channel was focus films. it is, as you know, a very tough scene to watch… :( but it was fun to see you acting … :)
happy, safe wednesday.
kathy
Ah, how lovely! Yes, I was a part of their final moments together and what an honor it was.
Stay safe, Kathy.
just checked … “spoiler alert” was released in december 2022, and we’d already heard your big news about having a part in the movie. it’s been more than three years then that i looked up anything about the movie, so having a youtube clip of it pop up yesterday … the clip that had your part in it … was sure a happy surprise. :)
How neat!
xo
Good Morning Claudia! I think the Morris chair looks fine in that spot. It doesn’t block the doorway too much visually, and tucks into that nook without being too large for it. We had a Morris chair when I was growing up… it had the lovely old leather seats too. I always love to see the updates on the Beacon Hill… no matter how it ends up it is a joy to follow the process! So thank you for posting the “maybes” as well as the “no doubts”…. its food for my soul. :)
We had showers yesterday, we are being deluged today…! My yard is mostly flat, but we are well above river level here too.
Nobody used to paint the old dark furniture until the “Shabby Chic” style came along…. and it always tended to the palest of colors. I suppose the exceptions were the Gustavian Gray pieces, but they are also fairly pale in tone. I am curious how the buffet will end up!
As I said to Jeanie – there is already a lot of WOOD in this house – the stairs, the floors, the fireplaces. I like a mixture of painted and stained wood. Also: my grandmother was painting wood furniture when I was a kid! She did a lot of that!
Thanks so much, Betsy.
Stay safe.
Hi Claudia! I like hearing that your grandmother painted furniture! My Mom isn’t a decorator at all… when I figured out (in my 30’s) that I could paint the furniture I went to town! I did a lot of pieces for other people’s children… but also some for myself and I love bold colors… I painted gardens and vines and birds all over them…. real-life size almost “trompe l’oeil” style. Roses… delphiniums… lilies, hollyhocks… buttercups… it wasn’t quick but I had fun! And it actually inspired me to do wall murals too… :) The dark blue you mentioned for the buffet sounds interesting…!
Thanks so much, Betsy!
xo
Rain usually provides the perfect opportunity to get inside work done, including crafts. No rain here, but it would be welcome as the ground is so dry. We’re in our usual summer pattern of overcast cool mornings and sunny warm afternoons. The heat you experienced a couple/few weeks ago was supposedly heading west but never quite made it to the coast. We got into the low 80’s one day and then back ten or more degrees cooler the next day.
I also like the Morris chair with the leather cushions. You could soften the all brown look with a throw pillow? Will you have coverings on some of the windows? Curtains or drapes here and there will help break up all the wood and soften the look. Whatever you choose, it’ll be just right. You’ve done such a marvelous job on your other houses.
I am not a fan of curtains – either in my real-life home or in my dollhouses. Sometimes I make a fabric shade, but that’s about it.
Thanks so much, Wendy.
Stay safe.
Claudia, sometimes I think you would be the about the best photographer ever! Honestly I’m blown away by your photos!
Hot here. Sometimes when you go outside it feels like a burn from the sun. We’re used to it of course but when a few of my family comes in, they can’t remember it. The nights are just amazing really and if it weren’t for all our street people, I’d walk around downtown, looking through all the windows like I used to. Just soaking in the warm, soft air.
I’m feeling sad. My old friend said to remember to put on classical music at times like this. Just zone out, become at peace. I’ll pull out my accordion now, what an inappropriate time.
I’m sad. I miss when people got together, when there was noise. When kids were all outside in the evening, laughing, playing. Ruckus. We could be inside, visiting, having tea – a drink?
Spoiler alert were the last words my cousin (sister) said to me.
Thank you for this blog.
It’s not quite the same world, is it? It makes me sad, too.
Stay safe, Irene.
I love the leather seat on the chair also. It looks so comfortable. Have you considered painting the buffet a color that would make the vases “pop” more? Perhaps a cream with a touch of “salmon”in it. Hard on my phone to tell exactly what pinkish color(s) are on some of the vases, in the wallpaper roses, the sofa, and in the flowers in the pot behind the sofa. Since your grandmother painted furniture, maybe thinking of her work will inspire you to paint the buffet both in a way that fits the room and is a rembrance of her. I’m sure whatever you decide will make you (and your followers) smile when we see it. Have fun and stay as comfortable as you can. It’s 90° here today in Southern California and expected to be 102° on Saturday with no rain in sight. If you feel like it we’d be happy to take any rain you want to send. : )
The buffet isn’t going in the living room, Madge. It’s going to be in the 3rd floor hallway.
It’s now a dark blue. We’ll see how that works out.
Stay safe.
We have a Morris chair just like that in our living room. The arms are tiger oak. Got it at a local secondhand shop.
So glad you have that chair, Cheryl!
Stay safe.
I had a little fall off of the ladder while I was trying to paint (which I am not supposed to be doing
after my surgery) I am good, just a few bruises. I can’t believe how quickly you are getting the Beacon Hill done and I love that couch! Where did you get that? We need rain so bad and most of my flowers have hit the dust. I just refuse to go out there when it is 110 degrees! Have fun continuing on your dollhouse. How is Don doing?
I hope you’re okay, Deb! Don’t do things you’re not supposed to be doing!
The sofa I got from miniatures (dot) com as they were going out of business.
Don is well.
Stay safe.