It was bound to happen.
Upon reading yesterday’s post, Caroline had a request. She wanted some ‘As Is’ photos of her house. Pronto.
No matter that I wasn’t feeling well, that I was constantly blowing my nose and sucking on lozenges. She would not be deterred. Finally, simply to put an end to constant chatter coming from Hummingbird Cottage, I got out the camera.
Here you go. Caroline’s house. As Is.
Actually, Caroline and I had a couple of spats yesterday. I was under the weather, tired, and not very patient. She was in a strangely argumentative mood.
The first was over Maxfield Parrish. She said, and rightly, that she had her very own Maxfield Parrish print before I did. I agreed. However, I had to remind her that without my long-held love of Parrish’s work, she wouldn’t have known about him. I was the one who suggested Parrish to her. I told her all about his work as a painter and illustrator. Consequently, she grew to love his work. Since Caroline had more money in the bank than I did at the time, she bought the print and I hung it for her.
The second was over the watermark on my photos. She thought that it should read: Hummingbird Cottage. I explained that the watermark has less to do with the subject matter of the photos, i.e., her cottage, than with the blog itself. She pressed further. No, I said, the watermark has to do with the name of the blog (and the photographer), not the name of your house. And yes, the name of the blog is the same as the name of my house.
As you can imagine, this got Caroline thinking about creating her own blog. Have at it, I said. But when she realized how much work was involved in maintaining a blog, she backed off. She’s far too busy for that, she said.
Crisis averted.
• On another note, if you followed the wildly popular blog, Young House Love (they stopped blogging just about a year ago,) you might be interested in this podcast interview with them. I listened to it yesterday. It’s about an hour long, but if you have the time, I think you’ll enjoy it. Much is said about the quality of life, where blogging leaves off and real life begins, and the sometimes frustrating exercise of trying to please a demanding blog readership. They are admirable people.
New post up on Just Let Me Finish This Page.
Happy Tuesday.
Let Caroline know that I love her house. It is simple and cozy and those are the best types of homes. I see she likes To Kill A Mockingbird and has more than one copy of it. So do I. How I never noticed the AGA cooker in her kitchen before is beyond me! I have wanted an AGA cooker for years and years. Maybe one day I shall visit Caroline and will be able to see hers. Let her know that I look forward to seeing her Christmas decor.
I will, Debbie. She doesn’t decorate for the seasons or holidays other than Christmas.
Oh, this competition could be interesting! Love both houses! Doris
I guess a little healthy competition can be a good thing, Doris!
The little fairy who lives in my house has not yet told me her name. I think I will ask her to whisper it to me. Regarding blogging ~ it is a double edge sword. On the one hand you have to put yourself out there for the readers and on the other hand it’s hard to have a full and rich life when you are busy trying to build, maintain and please an audience. I understand why there are those who give it up and move on.
Big Texas Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
Me too. I have always told myself that if I ever start to feel obligated and/or am losing the joy of blogging, I’ll shut it all down.
xo
Lovely photos.
It really is in the details, isn’t it?
It is. I like these details, but then I look at Brae’s work and ‘details’ rise to a whole other level! I can only aspire to that.
Brae’s work continues to astonish me – just when you think the bar can’t be set any higher..
Have you seen Keli’s latest build at her iseecerulean blog? She is working on the HBS build and has some very clever ideas. You may find inspiration for the Top Secret Project there as well. You are all such talented ladies!
Yes, I was just visiting Keli the other day. Amazing!
I dont quite know what its all about but I love the photos.. I love blogging and never does it feel like a chore. Happy Autumn with love Janice
They’re photos of my dollhouse, Janice, and Caroline is the imaginary owner of the dollhouse.
I think you were right on both counts. You DID introduce Caroline to Maxwell Parrish – and it is YOUR blog. The blog’s name, or even yours directly, should be “watermarked” on your photos. Ownership, pure & simple. PS – that lucky Caroline seems to have more gorgeous copper cookware than the last time I saw the Aga. Now her kingdom needs an itty copy of “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” or maybe “My Life in France” by Julia Child. Have a great day – the weather here is about as close to perfect as this planet gets, in my opinion. Just no autumn foliage yet…?
Well, Caroline must have been having a bad day. She’s not usually so testy. As I was having a bad day as well…you can see what happened.
Claudia, you make me smile.
Perfect! I aim to do just that
Seems as though Caroline is nitpicking (sp?) at details…didn’t realize she was that type. But, she does have an adorable cottage…I suppose that was bound to go to her head! Feel better! ;)
Well, as I was saying to Janet, perhaps she was just having a bad day? And since I am under the weather, I think we were destined to butt heads a bit.
I had to chuckle at your conversation with Caroline. I do love her home though and would like to have a replica of it to live in myself. I always enjoyed Young House Love. In fact, my daughter bought one of their books for me for Christmas a few years ago. Blogging has brought so many wonderful friends into my life that I can’t imagine stopping…but then, I don’t have a fraction of the readers they did. And that’s okay with me!
Blessings,
Betsy
I think they had such a huge readership – I mean, HUGE – and they worked their butts off to give informative content. Always helpful, always funny. A curious thing happens with some readers, just some. They start ‘expecting’ things and think they should have their say in what kind of content is posted. There’s no way you can please everyone. I think they wanted more of a home life with their children – one that didn’t revolve around blogging – and, though they’re too nice to actually say it, I think they got tired of trying to please everyone and of making decisions on their house based on what would be a good blog post. It’s tough, for sure.
Caroline’s cottage is always so neat and clean, wish I could keep mine so nice.
I just listened to the YHL podcast this morning and I found it very interesting. I don’t have a blog but I read a few different ones each day. I can see how the glossy staged home decor bloggers are getting burned out. Always changing up their rooms, painting every piece of furniture in sight, it must be exhausting. I find myself drawn more and more to a select few that show live as it really is and are a good read. Thank you for being one of the few that I look forward to each day.
They were completely honest bloggers, I think. There was never anything too staged about their work. They created spaces in their home that made them happy – a lot of the posts were about DIY and How To projects. But readers of that kind of blog get very demanding and the pressure to make every decision with the blog in mind must have been enormous. Also, as you can tell, they are devoted to their children and they didn’t want the blog taking over their lives. It isn’t easy to walk away from that kind of money-making blog, but they did it and they are to be commended. Like Sherry said, “It’s our forever home.”
I really enjoyed YHL, they were one of the first blogs I found. They were always down to earth and seem like a very sensible young couple. It was good to hear them in the podcast say they are living the life they always wanted. I can’t even imagine what it took to walk away from the blog and the money it generated. It just goes to show money inst everything and it can’t buy happiness. I wish they would come back to blogging but I was happy to hear them both say how important family life is.
I’d selfishly love to see them blogging, but I totally understand why they walked away. More power to them!
I listened to the podcast last night. It was so good to see a post from them, and it was fun and informative to hear how they feel about all of it. Sounds like they were able to pick up w/ their previous jobs and continue on with some of their creative outlets as well. I always loved their blog.
Oh, that Caroline!! It is hard with 2 families living so closely together. Bound to happen that you bang heads, so they say, once or twice. Hope that you are feeling better!!
Not really better. Well, at times I feel better, but I’m worried about a long day in NYC tomorrow. Just praying that I’m that much better tomorrow and that I’ll be able to handle it.
Loved that podcast. For those of us who really liked that blog and miss them, it helped to explain things. I think they’re really smart and have their hearts in the right place.
Great photos of Caroline’s cottage.
Could you provide the links to the two miniature sites you mentioned … Brae and Keli?? I don’t think I’m familiar with either of them.
I hope tomorrow finds you feeling much better, especially since you have to venture into NYC!
I’ve mentioned Brae’s site before – she’s at otterine.com
Keli’s blog is I See Cerulean – iseeblue.typepad.com
Please tell Miss Caroline that I thoroughly enjoyed her “as is” pictures..she has such lovely taste…simple, comfy and pretty..just like someone else I know..lol…I hope you have a better day in the city tomorrow with no rain…and no running late..
I’m taking an earlier bus just so I don’t have speed walk. I’d end up being late and coughing, to boot!
Me thinks Caroline may have let her ‘published home photos’ go to her head. Yes her home is lovely and all that, but she should keep in mind who HELPS keep that sweet cottage that way!
That said, I love the photos! Wish my home were that neat.
hugs,
Linda
Sometimes Caroline needs to be (gently) taken down a peg or two!
I have to admit, Caroline’s house looks fantastic :)
I hope you are feeling better and you get some rest. Your photos are always lovely.
Caroline is quite the character! She wouldn’t be famous if it wasn’t for her blogging friend. Ha,ha! And her house is nasty neat!
What a charming little cottage. I have never seen a “doll House” that looked so real, and one that I felt like I wanted to actually visit, so I could sit and talk with Caroline. What a fun blog , and I have to say, I enjoy yours pretty much above all the rest.
Wishing you a good day tomorrow in NY. Wish I was going with you…tomorrow is my 76th birthday, and it would be wonderful way to spend time with a friend.
Gosh, I hope we’re never too demanding of you as readers of your blog!
Very catchy dialogue; fun … today’s post!
If a person was unfamiliar with your blog and the doll house, and they were just looking at these photos but knew nothing else about them, they’d think it was a human house. Your attention to detail is just unreal, Claudia. I love looking at these photos. It’s a house I’d want to live in. And to think it’s a miniature is just really quite something.
Thanks for the post.
My first thought after reading this post – BRILLIANT WRITING! I pictured you having a conversation/spat with Caroline – it was quite amusing! Thanks for the entertainment!