Thank you, little moth, for staying on the spirea for quite a long time. I enjoyed taking lots of pictures of you.
I also saw our friend, the Hummingbird Moth, flitting around the geraniums. And there’s been a steady stream of visitors to the birdbath. The temps have been quite warm and humid and they need some relief! Even the bees take a little drink from the birdbath. It’s the neighborhood pool.
I’d have loved to take some pictures of the frolicking birds with my telephoto lens, but alas, I don’t have one. Plans to buy one were scotched in favor of paying my dentist! There must be priorities, after all.
Starting my Christmas list right now.
It rained last night and we’re due for storms today. I’m anxiously awaiting a package from miniatures.com containing two hedges for the dollhouse roof. I thought it would be here yesterday, but no such luck! I’m terribly impatient when I’m waiting for a package – are you? If it isn’t here by the time I think it should be; well, it isn’t pretty.
I’m also anxiously awaiting my copies of American Miniaturist, so I can see Hummingbird Cottage’s spread in the August issue. Caroline is also experiencing some impatience. She wants to see her house in print!
I’m reminded of this print that we have on our bathroom wall:
It’s actually a card Don gave me long ago because it reminded him of Scout and Riley. It’s entitled “Waiting for Postie.” Very British.
That’s me at the moment – I’m waiting for postie.
Sneak peeks:
I have to say that I’m loving the ‘pea gravel’ more and more. Though it was a pain in the ass to execute, I think it looks great.
I’m already thinking about my next project, which will have to be on the smaller side. Mockingbird Hill Cottage is definitely on the smaller side, which means there’s only so much display space. Even thought I don’t want to admit it in the midst of all this summer splendidness, winter isn’t that far off, and winter is the perfect time to work on a new dollhouse.
Ideas, ideas – I’ve got a lot of them.
Happy Wednesday.
It is frustrating to wait for a package to come in the mail – especially in this age of instant everything. I’m very excited to see what you’ve done with the dollhouse! I’m afraid I’ll be seeing my dentist soon … with no insurance. The month was very cooperative indeed :)
Oops, that should be MOTH, not month!
Good luck with the dentist, Debbie!
You are reminding me that actually I am waiting for the postie, too. ;-)
Hope there’s fun things in the mail, Regula!
Love the English postcard. You know…that’s my sweet baby, Morning Glory, the fox terrier on the right!
Looks like my Riley, too! Down to the ears and the marking on the back!
I am always impatient when waiting for something in the mail!! I laughed out loud at the card of the doggies at the door! So cute! The doll house rooftop garden is going to be fabulous. I say yes to ‘another’ doll house…easy for me to say!
hugs,
Linda
Moth photos are lovely…can’t wait to see what you do with a new lens!
I just wish I had it now! See? Impatience again!
I’m also waiting on the postie. A new medical bracelet and new bras! Nothing as exciting as your hedges and magazines. I’m really liking your pea gravel too. May I visit Caroline sometime? :-)
Blessings,
Betsy
Of course! She’ll have you to tea, Betsy.
The rooftop garden is looking lovely.
I find garden miniatures in particular quite beguiling. I began with a potting bench which quickly transformed into a garden room. I had better rein things in before that turns into a mini garden centre. I was very taken with your photos of some of the homes in Chautauqua and think a miniature cottage would be lovely. The “Primrose” is a small kit that I’ve seen altered to look a lot like a Chautauqua-style cottage. So many possibilities!
Oh I know! I could go nuts with the garden minis. I’m thinking of the Primrose or the Vineyard and/or a few others. Too many possibilities, Barbara!
Such pretty flowers.
Has Henry and the babies moved out?
Well, Don tells me he sees the occasional groundhog. I saw one this morning, but it looked more like one of the babies grow into an adult than Henry/Henrietta. But I think most of the babies have moved out and have made their own tunnels. All of that happened in my time away in Chautauqua.
Oh, I am so glad Kathleen asked about Henry et al. I was wondering about them the other day!
The moth photos are wonderful.
I was out in the gardens/ yard working for 2 1/2 hours this morning. Rain tomorrow and then t is supposed to be close to 90* & humid all weekend and I wanted the majority of dead-heading and weeding finished before it is upon us. It is a picture-perfect day here today. About 78* for a high and NO humidity!! Some days are diamonds!
Fun re: the new project for those long days of winter! Looking forward to the reveal coming soon of the rooftop garden!! Hope the post-person rings today for you!
Oh boy – it’s humid here today, Chris. A partial reveal will be on tomorrow’s post! (See above for the answer and Henry and babies.)
So sad about the money for a new lens..My mother used to call that “Robbing Peter To Pay Paul”..lol..I can just imagine the wonderful shots you would get with that lens..oh well..such is life Claudia..Yes I do get impatient waiting for a package..I ordered a nice book about container gardening last month as the price and shipping were very low..I waited almost a month because I assumed that it was sent media mail..I finally couldn’t take it any more and wrote to the Amazon dealer who sold it..he said he figures it was lost in the mail and he returned my money as he had no more copies of that book to send me..I understand that these things happen but it is still frustrating…like I said “such is life”..lol..I also think the pea gravel was a great choice for the roof top garden..can’t wait to see it finished..I would be delighted to see you work on another dollhouse..what fun!
Oh, that must have been so disappointing! I’ve had that happen. Or sometimes the shipping is so slow you’re absolutely sure it was lost in the mail and then it turns up weeks later!
I just LOVE that “big” green wicker chair of Caroline’s, which looks even more inviting now that it has those lovely cushions. She certainly has great taste. I like the pea gravel too – very authentic-looking. PS – how could Don possibly have passed on that card? I only know Riley from his photo on your home page, but he and Scout could have been the models for that card – perfect! Enjoy the rest of your day. :>)
We spent a whole afternoon once trying to get them both to sit in those positions so we could recreate the picture. Well, you can imagine what happened. When one was sitting, the other got distracted. When they both sat, by the time I got the camera up to my eyes, they had moved. Oy.
Ooooh, I’m waiting for the postie too! I have a sackful of vanilla beans (if or homemade vanilla extract aka vanilla vodka!) and some extensions for my Q-Snap stitching frame. I just got notification that they’ll arrive next Friday but I’m hoping it will be earlier.
I do better with projects in the non-winter months, in that I get more done. In the winter, I seem to spend a lot of time lamenting that it isn’t some other season, though you’d probably wonder why I complain about the relatively mild California winters! Hoping the El Niño rains are as huge as “they” predict!
I hope they are too – you guys need LOTS of rain!
I love that you have ideas, ideas; makes the brain work! It’s always great to have something to look forward to, and you have a good attitude about suffering (less) thru another winter by doing a fun indoor project. Can’t wait to see the creations and LOVE today’s photos of your miniatures!
Keep the brain sharp, I say… that’s why I do crossword puzzles and watch Jeopardy and read and work with miniatures. Oh, and my real work, too!
The reveal will be tomorrow.
Claudia, hope your post has arrived by now. I love the framed card that don gave you…sweet. blessings, xoxo,susie
It arrived today, Susie! Thanks!
Oh Claudia! You make me laugh with your pea-gravel statement!! That’s a really cute card– worthy of a frame. Thanks for the sneak peak on the roof top again… So are you thinking of getting a second dollhouse? I have two you know… One for each of my grandaughters…neither is complete. YET!
I have a couple of new projects in mind, Patricia. They’re are in the ‘thinking’ stage right now!
Love that print! And the miniatures…I just can’t believe how some of them look so “real”. They’re amazing. Claudia, you know I love you and are a dear friend, but…but…you used the “w” word AND the “C” word. Both in one post. Gaaah! lol
My apologies! I realize now that I said the two words that must not be uttered in the summer!
Claudia, you have became my sister’s and my best friend. We love your blog and your dollhouse. We can’t wait if you decide to make Caroline another neighboring house or a guest house…….. And hey, I dislike the dentist as much as you! Only thing……….my nephew is a dentist and we don’t have a big bill to worry about. Wish every body had a “nephew!” Hope your postie comes tomorrow, DEB
Aw, thank you, Deb!
Lucky you to have discount dental work!
Won’t you please thank Caroline in advance of my anticipated visit. I am quite certain she also fluffed the lovely cushions on the wicker (so like her) in addition to serving up such a delicious looking beverage and placing a favorite magazine within easy reach……………………………….if only in my dreams. Insert wistful “sigh” here.
Caroline is a much better than hostess than I am, Chris. She seems to know just the right touches to add to make your visit a memorable one.
I certainly appreciate a mannerly insect that will be still long enough to get photographed! The chair and footstool are so adorable. Love the glass of juice beside the book/magazine.
This particular moth was very obliging, Barbara!
“Waiting for Postie” is just too cute for words, Claudia! I love framing cards for wall art. The “Waiting for Postie” reminds me of another scene from one of my favorite movies (wink, wink), P.S. I Love You, when Hillary Swank was impatiently waiting for “Postie Don” to deliver her mail! I need to put that DVD in and watch it soon. It’s been a while since I’ve seen it and, gosh, I love that movie!
And we know who that postman was, Donna! I believe he’s upstairs sleeping in our bed at this very moment!