Hello, my friends! Yes, I am cleaning today and fighting the urge to take every Christmas decoration down. Does anyone else struggle with that sneaky urge? We keep our decorations up through January 1st; that’s the rule here at MHC. The only thing I have permitted myself to put away are Christmas cards. Some of the greens scattered around the house would be gone today if it wasn’t so darn windy. I’m staying inside – the wind is fierce and the wind chill is in the single digits!
Don gave me the new Dan Brown book for Christmas – I gave him the new George Carlin autobiography. I wanted to read something that is fast paced and engrossing – and it is. The other book, The Paris Apartment, was sent to me by the author, Claudia Strasser, who has a blog with the same name. She generously sent copies to some of her readers. I was lucky enough to be one of the recipients and I am enjoying it a great deal. Thank you, Claudia!
Okay, that takes care of reading and cleaning…the obsessing, ahem, dreaming is about the dollhouse. I am, fortunately or unfortunately, one of those people who, once a project is begun, obsess about it. And often, even before it is started! That has led me to think about the dollhouse all the time, read the blogs of all the incredibly talented miniaturists out there, think and think about what I need to finish, start, research, make….you name it. Goodness, that will take me through the dull days of Winter, won’t it? And beyond, of course. As you can see, the dollhouse has taken over the kitchen table. Luckily, I have a husband who likes seeing a project in progress – he thinks it looks exciting. Thank goodness, because space is at a premium here and I don’t know where else I could put it. Oh, it could go upstairs in the guest bedroom/office/studio, but then I would be in Don’s private lair. Besides, there is better light in the kitchen.
Excuse me while I dream a bit more, will you?
And, the fun begins on the doll house! You are going to have so such a great time with the renovation and decoration! Keep the pictures coming.
2010 is almost here. It is going to be a good year.
Hi Claudia
What a lucky girl – great books!! I can’t wait to see how the doll house progresses. I mentioned wanting one, but was given the where would we put it evil eye:)
Happy New Year!
Leann
I think the dreaming and the obsessing with the dollhouse is one of the best parts. Sometimes when I don’t feel well I just lie in bed with miniature books and dream and plan till I fall asleep:) I don’t think I have ever seen the back side of your house before- it is lovely! Have you planned your rooms yet?
Hope you have a Happy New Year Claudia!!
LOL, chickee, just dream on. I read The Lost Symbol and liked it but his best book by far is Angels and Demons. I read it many years ago before The Da Vinci Code and thought it was much better the that one. I’m a voracious reader and am never without a book. Read, blog, craft, eat, eat, eat!! Life is fun.
xoxo,
Connie
I am so looking forward to your finished doll house. I too have been cleaning today. I got a new hard floor shark steam cleaner for a gift and have been cleaning floors today. I have taken down just a few Christmas decor today. It went up little by little , that is how it will come down. Blessings to you!
Gwen
Hi Claudia,
I just can’t wait to see what you do with your doll house, whatever you do I just know it will be fabulous!
Happy New Year Sweet Friend!
Love and hugs,
Karyn
oh my yes, me too!!! I am so ready to take down all the Christmas finery and get my house back in order. the family protests if I do it before Jan. 1st so I spent the day cleaning closets and cabinets. Silly I guess but as much as ZI enjoy the beauty of Christmas I want a sense of normal and serene back!
ooohhh you are getting started on your house…how exciting. You will have sooo much fun.
I only have 1 decoration to take down…a new home ornament from our realtor lol.
You are too funny! It must be fun to imagine what each room could be used for. I am with you about the Christmas decorations. I always leave them them up until after the 1st too, but since this year things went up BEFORE Thanksgiving, I am done. I want them to disappear! I don’t think I’ll do that next year!
Well Claudia, I’m the same way. I’m compulsive and I’m obsessive. I can’t wait to get this Christmas gear put up. I’m thinking on into January organizing now and then spring planting!
Brenda
Love the new project Claudia! Can’t wait to see how the progress goes and hope you show us everything as it happens….
I hope someday Dear Hubs and Dear Bebe will work on building a dollhouse and then I get to help decorate it! :0)
What a great project for winter, can’t wait to see it in progress. I am knitting, weaving and reading the Dan Brown book, very good so far.
Luv and miss you,
M
Hi Claudia,
I’m having a wonderful “Valentine Swap. Won’t you join in the fun? Just pop over to my blog and check out the details.
Have a great evening and a Happy New Year.
Cathy
Hi Claudia,
I’m having a wonderful “Valentine Swap. Won’t you join in the fun? Just pop over to my blog and check out the details.
Have a great evening and a Happy New Year.
Cathy
So fun, I can’t wait to see the renovations on the doll house!! So fun. And I take the tree and all the decorations here down on the 26th…every year. lol Enjoy your evening.
♥ Teresa
hi claudia,
i am the same with projects. big ideas will even keep me awake all night long.
it was fiercely windy! we took the boys to see the fantastic mr. fox. very wes anderson and cool; kind of grown-up, humorous.
looks like you’ve got chilly days inside covered with books and a good project. got hot chocolate, too?
thank you for the special comment on my blog.
xo
elyse
Claudia, that dollhouse is going to provide endless hours of fun for you! I can’t wait to see what you do with it. Make it the house of your dreams. :-)
I don’t want to take my decorations down because I just got them all up right before Christmas. LOL! So I will wait till Epiphany (or after). I hate for Christmas to end. I’m always sad to have a nekkid house. ;-)
I might just leave the kitchen ones up till Claudie comes to visit this spring. LOL!
XO,
Sheila :-)
Hi Claudia :)
You’re better than I am. The only thing still up is the tree and garland. Everything else had to go the day after Christmas LOL
I love your dollhouse :)
xo,
rue
Yep, I am so ready too! but it will wait until Saturday after the new year celebration…have fun with your dollhouse…I worked on one years ago and totally got into it so i get *it*…
Rene’
Yes, Claudia, I am the same way. I am so tempted to start taking it all down tomorrow. I do love the lights, but I’m anxious to declutter :)
It’s absolutely frigid here, too. I drove Amanda back to the city today and the wind gusts on the Mass Pike were downright scary.
Have fun reading and obsessing :)
Donna
Hi Claudia,
I want to take my Christmas decor down so badly also! I am doing it this weekend for sure. I miss my other goodies that had to be put away to make room, lol! Plus, once Christmas is over, all I can think about is spring.
I hope you are feeling better!! The books look wonderful. what great gifts!!
I am like you, once I get something in my mind, I HAVE to finish it or I cant even sleep at night, lol! I bet your dollhouse will be gorgeous and so much fun to decorate :)
Big Hugs,
Amy
That dollhouse looks like it’s going to be lot’s of fun! Can’t wait to see what you do.
hugs,
paula:)
Claudia, I have decided to set aside a little time each day to get to know another blogger better. Today I read all the way down to the endo of the posts on your blog & loved getting to know you better. I LOVE your doll house!!!!! You will have so much fun putting that together. It was so cute where you decorated it for Christmas. And you are right it is not the cost of the gift but, the thought that went into it. Have a Happy New Year & stay well. Hugs! Charlene
It’s OK, Claudia, to Obsess over the DollHouse and all the dreams you have for it’s renovation. I’ll just obsess over your posts about it, so I’m watching my sidebar and your BlogLink. I don’t want to miss a thing!
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨) ¸.•´¸.•*´¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•` * ¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
……..|___|…TE DESEO
……..|000|…QUE EL AÑO QUE VIENE VENGA
……..|000|…LLENO DE LUZ Y AMOR
……..|000|…Y PROSPERIDAD
……..|000|… FELIZ AÑO NUEVO 2010
………\00/…. Q ESTE AÑO SEA CARGADO
……….\0/….. DE BUENAS VIBRACIONES Y BUENOS DESEOS
………..||…… PARA TODOS, SON LOS SINCEROS DESEOS
………..||…… DE ANA
………..||…… QUE LOS REYES TE LLENEN DE REGALOS
………._||_….FELI… FIESTAS!!!
♥¸.•*¨)¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´♥♥.¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨) ¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)★¡¡¡Feliz AÑO NUEVO!!!
Claudia,
Your dollshouse is fabulous, and reminds me of all the time I put on renovating mine… prior to sell it! Hope my hubby will make me a new one sooner or later… as for now I enjoy seeing your WIP.
Have fun!!
Monicaxx.
Oh Claudia!!! I just LOVE your dollhouse!!!! I can see why you are obsessing over it girl…it’s going to be so beautiful…I can see it in my mind’s eye ~ wishing you a very Happy and Blessed New Year! hugs and love, Dawn
Hi Claudia,
There is NO way you are 57! I so thought you were in your 30’s. I’m somewhat blown away.
You look amazing.
~janet
I took my few decorations down the day after Christmas.
Anxious to see your doll house completed … knowing it will be exquisitely done.
Have a beautiful & blessed NEW YEAR … I will be in & out of communication for a couple weeks.
TTFN ~ Marydon
Oooh dreaming is a good thing! Speaking of cleaning, I always get the urge to clean everything out right after Christmas for some reason and can hardly stand it and want everything clean now! I love that Paris Apt book, how great you received it from Claudia herself, Claudia! Here’s to wishing you a wonderful 2010!
xo~Tracie
Caludia,
Heres to you a Safe and Happy New Year.
God bless
Heidi
I almost bought one last year and didnt, now I wish I had! Please post the inside photos when you are finished!
Let the fun begin, Claudia! I can’t tell you how many months Pennethorne Manor sat in the kitchen being worked on. It faces south and the light there is so wonderful! Probably why I’m procrastinating on Villa Villekula . . . maybe I should bring it up from the basement (dungeon) and work on it in the sunlight . . . hmmm . . .
Good luck with your dollhouse! I can’t wait to see your progress!
Hugs,
Teresa