Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Ode to Flannel Pajamas

2012-01-28T09:49:00.000-05:00

Blogging is fun, but it's even better in flannel pajamas.

If cleaning must be done, why not do it in flannel pajamas?

Reading is essential, but oh so much more satisfying in flannel pajamas.

Crafting? Creativity flows in flannel pajamas.

Crocheting? The hook just works better in flannel pajamas.

Cooking, Baking? Absolutely must be done in flannel pajamas.

Gardening is heaven, and I've been known to do it in my flannel pajamas.

Decorating and DIY: pajamas.

Painting? In an old pair of flannel pajamas.

Late afternoon hot chocolate: much more satisfying in flannel pajamas.

I've driven my husband to work in my pajamas.

I haven't coached in my pajamas yet, but I would if I could. Wait a minute, I coached a former student on the phone yesterday - in my flannel pajamas!

Rest assured, I do get dressed. But only under protest. In a perfect world, I would wear my flannel pajamas all day long. I'd have a different pair for each day of the week. Even in the heat of summer, I'd wear my flannel pajamas and I wouldn't sweat. Airline travel would be done while wearing my pajamas. Ditto train and bus travel.

Flannel PJ's = My favorite piece of clothing.

I love you, pink squirrel flannel pajamas.

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Some of you mentioned joining a club. Want a button? Feel free to take it and put it on your blog.

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I know many of you love our "Cooking in the Cottage" video. Some of you have told me you go back and watch it every once in while for a good giggle. For easy access, it's on the sidebar under Popular Posts. Just click on it and have fun!

Rainy Days

2012-01-27T10:05:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was rainy. Cold. Dreary. Lazy. Today looks to be the same.

I managed to amass a day's worth of mugs and glasses on my little side table. I didn't even get up to get my camera - I used the iPhone.

We ate dinner and lunch on trays in the den. That's Don's slipper to the right.

My new copy of Where Women Create arrived in the mail. I won a year's subscription in a giveaway. I'm very grateful, because at $15 per issue, I would not be buying it in these frugal times.

Thank goodness for the flowers - they help to brighten up the day. We need to schedule another trip to Trader Joe's. Next week.

(photos from the hipstamatic app on the iPhone.)

Thank you for all the wonderful hanging lamp suggestions. I knew you'd have some great ideas. Now, of course, I'm more confused than ever. So there it sits, on the kitchen table, calling to me.

My response? I don't know what to do with you yet! But I will.

I hope your Friday is cheery, despite gray skies. Or maybe you're blessed with beautiful weather today. Either way, enjoy!

Thrifty Living 2012 - More of Our Stories

2012-01-26T10:01:00.000-05:00

Last week, the five of us shared a little bit about ourselves with you. This week, we're sharing a bit more of our individual stories.

So much of what we share on our blogs is funny, happy and/or pretty. But there's a reality behind all that. Here goes.

Most of you are familiar with our story to some extent. Our work is in the arts and both of us freelance. Freelancing is challenging at any time, but for the past two years it has been especially challenging. My husband has been a professional actor for over 40 years. He has worked in the theater, television and film. He's a very, very good actor. Theater doesn't pay very much and theaters have had a tough time in this economy. Television - where Don has worked a lot during his career - has been taken over by so-called reality television, which has nothing to do with reality and everything to do with cheap entertainment. It has put actors, directors, costume designers, set designers and a host of other people out of work. The next time you sit down and watch some obviously staged reality television show, think about that.

Don has had to take a job with a car rental company in the meantime. After 40 years as an actor, he has had to learn new skills. The pay? Not good. But the job gives us health insurance and after being hospitalized twice last year, I am only too aware of the perils of not being insured. Thank goodness we were insured at the time. Don needs to work as an actor. It's the talent he has been blessed with and it also has the potential for the most income. But we need health insurance. And so the cycle continues.

My work comes and goes and sometimes requires me to be out of town for several weeks at a time. When that happens, we are paying for food for two households - doubling our expenses. I've looked for work here at home. I've worked at other jobs in the past and am perfectly willing to do so now, but I can't find anything. As far as teaching, which is what I did for 20 years, no university will even consider someone with my experience and resumé. They'd have to pay me too much, so they pass on an interview and hire someone 'up-and-coming.' And local companies don't necessarily want to put money into training someone my age. I also need to be near my ill and aging dog, Riley, who needs help getting around the house.

We don't have children, but we have two dogs that require prescription dog food and medications. We eat simply. We hardly ever buy new clothes and when we do, they are on sale. We are down to one car because the very old second car we were using requires expensive repairs that we can't afford. Since we're down to one car, I am limited as to where I can work. We live in the country - I can't just walk or take a bus to work. The one car we do have is 11 years old.

I have a job coming up in April and May. After that? Nothing on the horizon.

Thrifty? I've always had to be thrifty out of necessity. I've never had the luxury of impulse spending. In my world, impulse spending is buying a bouquet at Trader Joe's for $3.99. I'd kill for a new pair of jeans right now. At the moment, that would be an extravagance.

We don't take vacations. We very rarely eat out. We almost never go to the movies - too noisy, way too expensive. We'll catch the film later on DVD or cable.

I'm exploring other avenues for income: advertising on this blog, an etsy shop. In an ideal world, I'd be able to make a fairly good income from work online. That is my hope for the future.

Our mortgage payments are high. Our house is worth much less than it was when we bought it. If we were to consider selling, we would lose lots of money. So far, we've never missed a payment in 6 years of living in the cottage. Miracles do happen.

Like so many of you out there, we are approaching the years where we had hoped we would feel a measure of security after a lifetime of work. But the reality facing us is entirely different.

Even with all the worries and stress, we find joy in our daily life. We laugh, we get silly and we are thankful for the blessings we have. Times are tough, yes, but we're already used to tightening our belt. We're simply pulling the belt a bit tighter.

We are thrifty. As we move forward in this series, I will share my tips with you. I look forward to reading the tips from Brenda, Diane, Elaine and Jen. We have much to offer each other!

The Hanging Lamp Project

2012-01-25T10:14:00.000-05:00

It's Wednesday and I'm in the middle of an ongoing project. Well, to be truthful, I'm in the middle of several ongoing projects, enough to make my head spin in that Linda Blair/Exorcist way. The crochet is ongoing:

Note how quickly the desk has become a catch-all. Need I add that I didn't stage this photo?

As to the project at hand: I've had this idea for a while. The kitchen has recessed lighting in the ceiling and a little lamp on the countertop. I've always thought it would be nice to have a hanging lamp over the kitchen table that would illuminate the room without the constant use of many high-wattage bulbs. I know there are convertors that make recessed lights into pendant lights but I can't use that option because none of the lights are over the kitchen table.

A while back, one of our table lamps bit the dust. As I took the shade off, I started to rip the fabric from the framework. I was left with an industrial looking, slightly rusty wire cage. Hmmm. Now there's an idea. But how to do it? It would have to be a swag pendant light because the table is in the middle of the room, the socket is on the wall by the bench, and I'm not paying an electrician to install a light.

I found Susan and her shop, Shandell's, and a neat kit consisting of a cloth-covered cord, light socket and instructions for putting it all together. If I was going to have a cord swagged across the room, I thought it should make a statement, so I chose the red cloth-covered cord. To go with the red in our kitchen.

I really love it. Yesterday, I did the basics. Susan's instructions are very helpful.

I even managed to strip the wires and attach them to the plug. It works!

Here's my little dilemma. Do I buy a retro, Edison-type bulb and keep this industrial look? Part of the reason I wanted the industrial see-through look was to keep the sight line to the kitchen windows free. Or do I cover the cage with fabric, like the fabric in the second photo from the top? I love that fabric, but it's a fat quarter and there isn't enough to cover the cage. But this will give you an idea of what I'm talking about:

Fabric or no-fabric? I'd love to hear your thoughts, my friends.

Let's not even get into my nervousness about drilling a hole in the ceiling, finding a stud/joist and hanging this sucker.

First things first. What do you think I should do?

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Crochet & Flowers

2012-01-24T09:47:00.001-05:00

I've been churning out some Obsession Scarves for the shop. Perhaps 'churning' isn't the best word for the creative process. How about 'joyfully stitching'? I so want to get the shop up and running, but there are photos to be taken, pricing to figure out, mailing costs - oh my goodness. As for photos - the skies have been a tad gloomy for the past two days and not the best for picture taking.

I'm suddenly aware of color - true color - lately. I want the photos to show the real colors and, frankly, that's not always easy. For example, the pinkish tone in the to scarf is a little off, it's a deeper color. That will be the challenge.

I'm experimenting with the opacity of the watermark on my photos. This is better.

Yarn is beautiful, isn't it? The fibers, the softness. These variegated skeins are perfect for the Obsession Scarf.

Yarn and flowers.

Theses roses are stunning. They were part of a mixed bouquet that included the pink alstromeria - from Trader Joe's. Mixed bouquets can be a wonderful way to spread flowers out throughout your home...a little here...a little there.

Yellow brightens up the house on a gloomy day.

I love Blogger but I'm having some doubts lately. The cancellation of Picnik, the push for everyone to join Google+, the problems with comments, blogs being taken down as spam or for some other reason - it all makes me nervous. I haven't had any problems yet, knock on wood, but I know plenty of people who have. I'm researching WordPress. We'll see.

Thanks for all the wonderful comments about Old Man Winter! I loved reading them. Seems like most of us have a love/hate relationship with this season. We had rain all day yesterday and our pretty snowfall has turned to mud. A depressing landscape, indeed.

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Have a great Tuesday!

Question: What are your Feelings about Winter?

2012-01-23T10:07:00.003-05:00

Playing around with BeFunky again. So far, so good.

This is a photo from last winter. We have snow on the ground right now, but it's going to warm up today, so I expect much of it will melt.

I have a love/hate relationship with Old Man Winter. I was raised in Michigan where huge snowfalls were the norm. For most of my life, I've lived in areas of the country that get a lot of snow. I can remember walking through a blizzard to get to a rehearsal when I lived in Philadelphia. Several of us in the cast were trying to get to the subway and we had to cling on to light poles when the wind started gusting in order to avoid being knocked on our behinds. In Boston, where I also used public transportation, I regularly slipped and fell on the icy sidewalks, had to wait for the T (the subway) while snow and sleet stung every exposed part of my skin. The last winter that I lived there, I remember thinking to myself: You have got to get out of here.

And I did. I got a job in San Diego. I lived there for 8 years. During that first winter in San Diego, I traveled home to Michigan for the holidays. At that time, my parents were living in Northern Michigan on the shores of Lake Huron, where huge snowfalls were a regular occurrence. There was snow piled everywhere and the winds coming off Lake Huron were sharp and biting. Perfect for a Christmas celebration with family.

But when I arrived back in San Diego, the temperature was in the 70's and I felt the warmth of the sun on my face and I had that same feeling I have when I slip into a warm bath. Aaaahh.

So what did we do? Eight years later, we decided to move back East. And ten years after that move, here we are. My poor husband, Southern California born and bred, has never made friends with winter. He likes the first couple of snowfalls but then he longs for San Diego. Happens every year.

When I was younger and living in Michigan, I regularly drove in the snow and was rather fearless about it. I once drove across the state in a major blizzard to attend a friend's wedding and didn't blink an eye. Didn't have four-wheel drive. Didn't care.

Now, I watch the weather reports, I worry about Don driving home from work late at night, I do everything I can to avoid driving in the snow.

I get a wee bit depressed.

I've made a little list:

Claudia's Pros and Cons of Winter (Actually, the Cons and Pros)

It's very cold. But I like the way cold makes me feel invigorated.

It's very cold. But I get to wear sweaters.

My garden is sleeping, hidden away under the snow. But I know that I will appreciate it all the more come spring.

There's a lot of snow. But it looks so beautiful when the sun is shining and it sparkles.

All I see is white - everywhere. But I can see the bright red of our cardinals against the white of the snow and nothing is more beautiful.

I have to shovel. But it's good exercise.

I get sick of it real quickly. But the dogs love it. Riley licks the snow, Scout frolics in it.

Winter seems endless. But without it, we wouldn't appreciate the fresh green growth of spring.

It's very cold. But I get to drink hot chocolate.

So here's my question of the day:

What are your feelings about winter? Do you love it, hate it, or are you somewhere in the middle?

Blogging Tips

2012-01-22T08:00:00.000-05:00

Hello, everyone. Just wanted to share a couple of tips with you today.

Tip Number 1:

I was shocked on Friday evening when I went to edit some photos in Picnik (which I use daily) and a message on the home page informed me that Picnik would be no more as of April 2012.

What??? My head started spinning.

Google bought Picnik a while back and they're getting rid of it. The message from Picnik is rather vague, but it looks as if Google+ will have some of Picnik's features available. Of course, in my obsessive way I searched all over the web for alternatives. I messed around with Google+ and edited a photo but, for the life of me, didn't know how to get the edited photo back on my desktop. And I don't especially want to get too involved with Google+. Facebook is quite enough, thank you.

Then I downloaded a free 30 day trial of Photoshop Elements. After about an hour I was ready to slit my wrists. I'd love to figure it out and haven't given up hope, but the learning curve is rather steep.

But here's the thing: Picnik was easy, fast, accessible and great for those of us who aren't quite ready to handle the Photoshop learning curve. And it had the collage feature, which is how I made my banner and my sister's banner.

Why does Google have to mess with something that has so many fans? There are already petitions on the web asking Google to keep Picnik going. I somehow doubt Google is going to pay much attention to them.

Today I found a site called BeFunky, via a list on Diane's blog, that works in much the same way as Picnik. And like Picnik, it's free. You can pay a bit of money for the premium package and get more features - also like Picnik. The one thing I didn't see there was the Collage feature. Here's the photo I used to test the site:

A barely okay photo - there's a lot of light and shadow and some light orbs, as well. Here's the edited version:

I resized it, did a bit with color saturation and contrast, used the drop shadow frame, watermarked it with the name of the blog and used my favorite feature on this site, Vintage Colors. Pretty cool, wouldn't you say?

I usually don't use effects on my photos. I edit and sharpen and clarify. But I do like this little feature - it made an okay photo rather artsy and cool. Still have the problem with the orbs but somehow it works this way.

I'll keep trying other sites and will let you know what I find. But for now, you might consider using BeFunky when Picnik ends its run in April.

Tip Number 2:

I know many people have been having problems leaving comments, viewing blogs, and having blogs disappear in the middle of a visit. Every time I research one of these problems, I find that many of the people having the problem use Internet Explorer. Remember when I was going to start using Threaded Commenting earlier in the week? I ended up reverting back to the Pop-up Box because I read that those readers who used Internet Explorer couldn't leave comments when a blogger had implemented Threaded Comments.

Internet Explorer seems to have a lot of problems. I personally don't use it and haven't used it in many years. My suggestion is this: If you use Internet Explorer, consider downloading another browser. It's pretty easy to do and takes very little time. If you're nervous about downloading, have someone more computer-savvy do it for you. At the very least, it will give you more options for viewing blogs. You won't run into these problems nearly as much and you'll have the option of having another browser to try if one acts up. And they do. I have 3 different browsers on my computer for that very reason.

Every browser can have its little quirks, but I've found that Chrome and Firefox work very well for me.

Google Chrome - the browser that Blogger favors because it's Google, of course. There are versions for Macs and Windows/PC.

Firefox - this link may show Firefox for Mac, as I have a Mac and that's what keeps coming up when I search, but you can easily change that to Windows/PC.

If you have a Mac, you already have Safari, which is Apple's browser.

There may be more out there, but these are the browsers I know and feel comfortable recommending.

Any questions? Feel free to email me.

One of Our Favorite Places

2012-01-21T08:00:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, we went on a little drive.

It had snowed a little overnight. There will be a lot more on the ground today - we're expecting 6 inches.

We crossed the Hudson River.

Truly beautiful.

We ended up at our final destination:

Pardon our excitement but we found a Trader Joe's just a bit closer to our house (it's still an hour away) and much easier to get to. And it's bigger!

The thing is, Trader Joe's has such great prices, a trip every 2 or 3 weeks is worth it. We save a lot of money. And frugal is the word for 2012.

I also can buy these pretties for a few dollars.

Fresh flowers are simply a necessity in winter. Especially when snow is in the forecast, along with shoveling.

Fresh flowers, a mug of hot chocolate and some crocheting.

That's the ticket.

Made in...

2012-01-20T08:55:00.000-05:00

Good morning on this wintry Friday. We got a little snow last night, about half an inch or so, with a bit more to come tonight. No big storm yesterday - just a quiet, pretty snowfall in the evening.

So far, so good.

We're a sleepy bunch this morning. Riley has yet to get up to attend to business. I'm in my flannel pajamas, wrapped in a shawl, drinking my morning Peet's. Scout's in the 'tunnel.'

Note pink flannel pajamas on the left.

I wore those pajamas all day yesterday, except for when I returned the rental car. I figured it might not be a good idea to arrive at the rental counter in pink flannel.

The trip to New Haven went well, but oh, was I exhausted! Not enough sleep the night before, lots of driving and a very late arrival back home at the cottage. I arrived in New Haven about an hour and a half before curtain, so I went to IKEA. It's right next door and I needed some dinner and the food is good, but more importantly, it's cheap. I called Don to say I arrived safely, played around with my iPhone and, after dinner, took a quick walk through the store.

I bought these:

The cost was about a dollar per glass. The pale colors drew me in and they're nice and tall. We've managed to break every tall glass around here, leaving us with something close to a juice-style glass in size (also from IKEA) and some plastic crap. I figured these were a good investment. Why only 3?

I don't know. I truly don't know what I was thinking.

But here's an interesting discovery:

IKEA of Sweden.

Made in China.

Is everything being made in China now? It sure seems that way.

Call me crazy, but perhaps the lack of jobs in this country and other countries might be greatly improved if we started manufacturing our products at home. It's not rocket science. It's just common sense. Why aren't we taking care of our own?

You can't walk through Target or the dreaded Walmart or any other store without seeing 'Made in China' on most everything.

By the way, this sweet little Nisse from the Danish company, Maileg?

Made in China.

Just think what a difference it would mean to the economic picture of every country if jobs and manufacturing were brought back home. The lines of eager job applicants would stretch for miles. We could get our citizens back to work, help them become independent again. Unemployment payments would greatly decrease.

Why aren't we doing this? Perhaps the need for cheap labor should be trumped by the needs of our country's citizens.

I could write a treatise on this, but I won't. At least for the moment.

I'll leave you with this shot of the sun rising over our back forty.

Happy Friday!

Thrifty Living 2012

2012-01-19T08:00:00.000-05:00

We're starting a new series today - Thrifty Living 2012.

In this series, there will be five women sharing the economic struggles they and their families face in their particular region.

Each week, one of us; Brenda, Claudia, Elaine, Jen and Diane, will be featured with a topic on how we are living more thriftily in the year 2012. The rest of us will provide our own paragraph or so on how we apply that thrifty tip to our own lifestyle.

We run the gamut. Brenda is the only single family household. Claudia and Don live with their two dogs in New York. Elaine has a small daughter and grown children in Southern California. Jen and her husband have just relocated to another part of Canada and are looking for their first house. Diane and her husband live in Florida and are retired.

My story:

This series calls for an honest appraisal of how the woeful economy has affected our lifestyles, so I will be as honest as I can, while still protecting my privacy.

My name is Claudia and I live with my husband and two dogs in upstate New York, about 75 miles northwest of Manhattan.

Ten years ago, I left my full-time position as an Associate Professor and Resident Vocal Coach for a well-known theater program to move East with my husband. He's an actor who, after having spent all of his professional life on the West Coast, found that he was getting more work on the East Coast. I was suffering from teacher burnout. Don was turning 50 and we figured it was now or never. I started to do freelance work as a Voice coach for the theater and Don? Acting is always freelance.

Since our move, we have had the usual fluctuations in income that come when both wage earners are freelancers. But the past 2 years have been terrible for us. Acting work has dried up, thanks, in part, to Reality television. (More on that next week.) Don has found himself in the same boat as so many of his actor friends, actors who have worked professionally for 40 years, suddenly facing the fact that there is little, if any, work to be found.

My work comes and goes. Theaters have had cuts in funding. Budgets don't always allow for a coach. Something has to go and it can't be costumes and sets, can it?

We bought a house at the height of the real estate boom and now make hefty mortgage payments on a house that is not worth nearly the amount of our loan. We're struggling to get by.

We've never lived anything close to a lavish lifestyle. Our lifestyle has been extremely moderate. But now? We are having to cut corners on essentials. Every month the mortgage payment has to be made and the bills paid and we cross our fingers and hope that this month we'll have enough.

I'll share more with you next week.

To read the introductions of the rest of the team, please visit:

Brenda of Cozy Little House

Elaine of Sunny, Simple Life

Jen of Muddy Boot Dreams

Diane of Lavender Dreams

Early Morning

2012-01-18T08:07:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite moments in the early morning or evening is the time when the sky is changing - when it's about to be dark or about to be light. The deep blues move and shift and if you blink, it all changes. They remind me of the blues in a Maxfield Parrish illustration. He always used those mysterious, rich shades of blue. It's one of the reasons I love his work so much.

I woke up too early today. While letting the dogs out, I saw the sky and grabbed my camera.

I wish I'd slept longer as I have to drive to New Haven again today - this time later in the day because I have to catch an evening performance. I'll be driving back home late tonight. A bit more sleep would have been most welcome. I fall asleep just fine, but somehow during the early morning hours I wake up and my thoughts start running rampant, I can't get comfortable and eventually get up.

Those middle-of-the-night thoughts and worries can really get to you.

On the other hand, I love the early morning hours when everything is quiet, when the world is still sleeping. I grab a shawl to ward off the chill, take my little furry pals with me into the den, drink a cup of Peet's French Roast and watch the sun rise.

I like the quiet. More and more, as I get older, I crave quiet. We're out in the country, yes, but we live on a very busy road. In the summertime, with the windows open, the sound of trucks and cars can be too loud, too annoying. In the winter, with the house shut up tight, those sounds fade into the background. And when it snows: quiet everywhere. We haven't had a snowfall like that this winter. I wonder if we will in this strange winter of 2012.

I'm on my second cup of coffee now. Riley seems unusually restless this morning and I can't figure out what he needs or wants. Scout is sleeping on the sofa. Don's asleep upstairs. I just sneezed five times in a row.

A glimpse of my morning here at Mockingbird Hill Cottage.

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Tomorrow starts a new series, Thrifty Living 2012. Five of us will be sharing our tips for frugal, thrifty living. We'll introduce ourselves and share our personal stories over the next two Thursdays, then we'll take turns sharing the things we do to save money in this crazy economy. I hope you'll join us.

Snow & Some Favorite Products

2012-01-17T11:02:00.002-05:00

We got a smidgeon of snow last night. Just enough to mess with Don's midnight drive home from work. What a bizarre winter this is! No snow until last night, if you don't count the freak 10 inches we got in October, when it wasn't officially winter yet.

I'm happy not having to contend with shoveling and salt and all the mess that happens with a snowfall, but snow, if you're going to come, at least cover the ground, okay? This just looks messy.

My head is spinning (just a little) from the font thing. Most of you said you liked the new font just fine, but that you also liked the old font. A few of you took the time to write me and say that my old font (Century Gothic) was more me and suited my blog. Most of you, I'd say 98%, said you had no trouble reading the old font.

What the heck should I do? I'm going to leave the new font on the blog for a while. I like it, so I'm going to give it some time, just like a fine wine, to age and mature. I loved the old font, though. Who knows? It may appear again.

I thought I'd mention a couple of products that I'm liking very much these days:

This line is carried at Target. When I was working in Wisconsin last summer and a trip to Target and Trader Joe's was the most exciting part of the week, I tried a little sample of this. I love the texture of the cream and the scent is heavenly. I bought a big old tube of it around Christmas time just for me. Wouldn't you know it? That darned Don is using it, too. Apparently, he's decided to say Yes to Carrots. I wonder if it's possible to hide it from him?

One of my Christmas presents from the aforementioned Don was this candle from Barnes & Noble. This is part of a series of library candles by Paddywax. It's made from soy, rather than paraffin, which makes it more eco-friendly. This one has a quote from Oscar Wilde:

"Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination."

Oh, that Oscar. Besides writing my favorite play ever, "The Importance of Being Earnest," he was one witty guy, always coming up with a quote that makes me chuckle.

These candles are a bit pricey at $20. But both of us love the scent (which usually isn't the case in this household) and I like to burn it in the den which sits right on top of a dirt-floor crawl space that can be a bit musty smelling at times. Besides, you can reuse the deep purple glass candle holder. Love it.

I redesigned my sister's blog yesterday. She will be the first to admit she is seriously tech-challenged. It needed some updating. She may be seriously tech-challenged but she is a seriously talented knitter, weaver and crocheter!

For everyone who might be checking in to read a Defending the Small House post, Brenda and I are going to run this series once a month on the first Tuesday of the month. It's a challenge to keep coming up with ideas and this change will eliminate the pressure of having to coming up with a fresh post every week. Yes, we're brilliant, but we're not that brilliant.

Have a great day!

Twitchy, Lamps & Fonts

2012-01-16T10:14:00.000-05:00

I've had a twitch in my left eyelid for 2 days now.

It's as if the eyelid has been possessed.

Meanwhile, it's very cold here. I had my flannel pajamas and a shawl on for most of the day yesterday. Very cozy and, frankly, warmer than a pair of jeans and a sweater, which I also had on for a short time until I realized my pajamas were a much better choice. Does extremely cold weather make you sleepy? Must be the urge to hibernate that runs through us all.

I can't tell you how happy it makes me to sit here in my blogging chair and see this funky, cheery desk across the room. Seriously, it makes me smile. It brightens up that corner of the room. I brought the lamp down from the studio and replaced it with another cute lamp that I found at Target.

This isn't the best photo; I took it very quickly. The wall needs painting, as does every other wall in this house. But you get an idea, right? A soft pink color on the shade that really suits the colors in the studio.

Here's the question of the day: Brenda and our friend Nola have been bugging me about my font. The one I was using previously is Century Gothic. (I love it.) For some reason, they have trouble reading it. Yesterday, while on the phone with Ms. Brenda, we tried other fonts and this is the one I ended up with. It's called Josefin Slab.

But at the end of the evening yesterday and again when I woke up this morning, I had a little trouble reading it. (Perhaps because of the dreaded twitch?) I spent an obsessive 2 hours this morning trying different fonts. Now I have no idea what I want.

What do you think of this font? Can you read it? Is it too dark, too light?

Let me also say that there's no guarantee I won't be messing with it throughout the day. But I promise to leave it alone for a couple of hours so I can read your comments.

Let's close with a shot of the sky this Monday morning:

I'm glad I snapped it when I did, because it looks totally different now.

Go figure. Now I'm liking the font again. I'm sure that will change in about 2 minutes.

Update: Now I've changed it to Merriweather - Josefin Slab was just too light. What do you think? And yes, I know I'm slightly obsessive, but the look of my blog means a great deal to me. And if you liked the old font, let me know that, too.

Books & Threaded Comments

2012-01-15T08:30:00.000-05:00

It's Sunday morning. I've been awake since 6 am. A mite too early for my taste.

:: My current stack of reading matter:

The Prime Suspect mysteries - these were the inspiration for the British television series starring Helen Mirren and the current series starring Maria Bello (both of which are excellent, I might add.) I'm reviewing these in March and April.

A Novel Bookstore by Laurence Cossé - A wonderful read by a French author that has been translated into English. My friend who owns a bookstore in Spring Green, Wisconsin recommended it to me last summer. I'm just now getting to it and I really love it.

Starting an Etsy Business for Dummies - If I can, I will always consult a book for 'how-to' knowledge. I need to see all the information on the page. And I like being able to go back to the reference book again and again.

Country Gardens magazine - Because when I am in the midst of Winter, I desperately need to see green things growing.

:: Someone recently asked me about compiling blog posts in book form. I'm sorry but I can't remember who it was! There are several programs available. The one I use is Blurb. It's very simple. All you have to do is download the software - then you can have fun editing and designing your book. I have another one ready to print, but I've been lazy about pushing the publish button. I like the idea of having a book for each year of my blog. My 4 year blogiversary is around the corner, so that means I'm about 2 books behind!

:: I'm going to try something out. My friend at Olive Out recently wrote a post about how to add threaded comments to a post. That means that the blogger has the ability to respond directly to a question or a comment within the comments section. I get a lot of questions and, as you know, there are still many bloggers out there who have a "No Reply-Comment" address which makes it impossible to respond via email.

I'm a little hesitant because I know that I rarely go back to a post I've commented on to see if there is an answer to my question. This means there will no longer be a pop-up window when you comment, which I've always liked. But, let's experiment! I'm willing to give it a go - who knows? It may be the perfect way to respond to your questions.

Let the thread begin!

It's absolutely frigid here. Is it cold in your neck of the woods?

Update: I did some googling and it looks like bloggers who use IE are having problems commenting on posts with embedded comments. I don't want anyone left out, so I've reverted back to my pop-up window until the issue gets fixed. So...I'll definitely do this in the future, but let's hold off until everyone can comment.

Working on Inventory for the Etsy Shop

2012-01-14T10:24:00.000-05:00

I'm crocheting some Obsession scarves for my soon-to-be Etsy shop. For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, last winter I was completely caught up in making these scarves, also known as the Queen Anne's Lace pattern. I made several of them, including a few for fellow bloggers. I love crocheting these beauties. I've decided that the Etsy shop will carry vintage finds and handmade pieces, by the way.

My goal this next week is to get the Etsy shop up and running...or at least almost up and running! I have a big old learning curve to deal with so I will be researching and asking advice from my fellow Etsy sellers.

My sister is also contributing some of her exquisite handmade (on her loom) shawls and scarves. Here's a peek at what she sent me the other day:

Let me tell you, they are soft and beautifully woven and gorgeous. I am honored to sell her creations. Check out her latest post in which she writes about how she weaves and creates on her loom.

The wind has died down, thank goodness. No damage to the trees. About 3:00 yesterday afternoon, I decided that if ever there was a hot chocolate kind of day, this was it, and made myself a cup. Then I settled in my chair and talked on the phone with my sister, Brenda and my dad.

Today might just be a hot chocolate kind of day, as well. Don't you agree?

A Windy Friday

2012-01-13T11:17:00.000-05:00

This is the kind of weather day that makes me want to climb inside the dollhouse for extra protection. The winds are relentless, I can hear them constantly. I worry about the trees, which seem to be losing more and more limbs lately. I used to like the sound of wind. No more. It makes me edgy and nervous.

I had a long day yesterday: four hours of driving in the rain, a full day of rehearsal - all on about 4 hours of sleep. But it was a good day, as well, with a terrific group of actors to work with and a director who is a truly nice person as well as very talented. Got home around 9 p.m., ate some pizza and went to bed. I'm catching up on all my email and comments. Thanks so much for all the wonderful, supportive comments on my two projects. I love creating and it's tremendously satisfying, but it's even more so when I can post photos and get such wonderful feedback from friends.

I want a real-sized version of this sofa in my living room.

Anyone want to climb in the dollhouse with me? We could have a cup of tea or coffee and a nice, cozy chat.

Before & After: From Curbside Freebie to Pretty Desk

2012-01-12T06:30:00.000-05:00

Our little freebie, found on the street, has been transformed.

This was the before:

After:

I covered foamboard with vintage fabric from the 40's to disguise the unsightly holes in the back. I wasn't sure what to do with the slide out shelf, which was originally covered in this yucky contact paper:

I almost ditched the shelf, but at the last minute I decided to cover it with the rest of the vintage fabric.

The two different levels will be handy when I'm doing research and need a lot of books. Or for when I'm using the laptop and it's not on my lap.

The only things I spent any money on were the two baskets, which were on sale at Michael's for a few dollars each. Everything else I had on hand: primer, paint, fabric and accessories. The desk was found on the street. Total cost: about $8.00. Frugal has become my middle name.

Some of these photos were taken yesterday morning and some in the late afternoon which explains the difference in the light. I'll probably add some reference books to the middle shelf as I have another Shakespeare project coming up. I also want to think up a neat way to hold business files. I need to find a lamp, as well. But this will do nicely for now.

When I first saw this piece, I was thinking, "What did Don bring home now?" It's not at all what I'm usually drawn to. But, now I really like it. It's the perfect size for this little corner. And it's a little off-beat. I'm sure ours will be a beautiful relationship!

I'm driving to New Haven today for some more work on Macbeth. See you tomorrow!

Before & After: Display Shelf

2012-01-11T09:45:00.000-05:00

A friend of mine, who had a booth in Heidi's shop, died last year. Reyna was a lovely person, with a gravelly voice and a big heart. She was always very kind to me. She had a great eye, especially for vintage books. I miss you, Reyna.

Heidi gave me a few things from Reyna's space. One of them was this little display shelf.

I am drawn to charming shelves and cubbies and all things that display tiny treasures. This one is a smallish box with a mirror backing. I know there is an actual name for this kind of thing but can't for the life of me remember it. Anyone?

Back to my story: it has been sitting in the bedroom gathering dust for a few months. My desk project inspired me to bring this little gem downstairs and re-imagine it.

Here it is. I painted it with my favorite Benjamin Moore paint; the name of the color escapes me at the moment. It's everywhere here in the cottage: on the island, on the kitchen table and now on this little shelf. The mirror was nice but not what I wanted, so I used some scrapbook paper I had on hand to cover it. (In fact, I spent no money at all on this. 2012: the year of being especially frugal.)

Perfect for displaying my growing miniature pottery collection. You'll be proud of me. I even did a little sanding to distress it.

Yes, I know you can see the seam in the scrapbook paper. I don't care.

There it is, under the Lost Lamb print that I adore. Where is this in the cottage? In a little corner of the den - right over the desk. The desk that will be revealed either Thursday or Friday. That little corner needed something in addition to the desk to make it mine...to say "This is Claudia's work space."

I like it.

Defending the Small House #7 - Controlling Clutter

2012-01-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

Hello! After a two week hiatus, Brenda and I are back with our Small House series. This week? Controlling Clutter in a Small House. In the spirit of total transparency:

"My name is Claudia and clutter has taken over my home."

I am fighting back, however, and this week is all about sorting, tossing and organizing. Let's face it, clutter can be a problem in any home, but when you live in a small space, it can be a real big problem. We live in 1200 square feet. There are 4 of us. Two adults. Two dogs. I collect lots of things. I love books. I have stacks of them everywhere. We have a bin full of winter clothes that we have yet to hang up in the closet because....well, because we haven't. Don has tons of stuff in his office. We are gatherers. It can be a problem.

Normally, everything is under control. But the last several months have been very stressful for me. I am convinced that the amount of clutter is directly related to my stress level. When I am in that sort of state, I don't file things away, I leave stacks of things sitting around - I just don't care. I can't seem to get up enough energy to tackle it all. Thank goodness, the new year has energized me and I'm attacking it every day this week.

Scout will no longer have to cover her eyes in disgust.

All that being said, as far as I'm concerned there are 2 kinds of clutter: cozy clutter and clutter clutter.

This is cozy clutter:

Don has stacks of books, notepads and his journal on the coffee table. I like this kind of clutter - it says 'lived in.'

Clutter clutter, on the other hand is just plain messy. It's stuff that is left out instead of being put away, or is not taken to the recycling bin, or is just plain unorganized.

Tip#1: Each time you make a pass through the house, pick up the clutter you see and put it back in its proper place. If you make a habit of that, you will be surprised what a difference it will make in the look of your home. You can throw everything in a basket or pail and deliver each item to its rightful place.

Tip #2: Have a designated place for mail and bills. We use this hand-painted letter holder I found a few years ago. Too many times in the past, our kitchen table has become the gathering place for all mail. Hospital bills, circulars, junk mail, statements. It makes me nuts. I'm making a concentrated effort to sort through it all, make sure Don deals with his mail without me having to bug him about it, make decisions right away about what to keep and what to toss. It's amazing how quickly it can all get out of hand.

Tip #3: Take time at least once a week to file away your paid bills and correspondence. Oh, the feeling of being in control. Isn't it nice? I'll have it again by the end of the week.

Tip #4: Keep recycling bins handy and use them. This pretty little pink toile bin is right next to our front door. I toss all the paper recycling in the bin. Eventually, it makes its way to the bins we have outside.

Tip #5: Every so often, go through your books and magazines. Keep what you really want and donate or recycle the rest. I've already mentioned how much I love books. At least once a year I go through all my books and honestly assess them. What do I really love? What will I never read again? Whatever I know I will not miss gets donated to our local library's book sale. I've passed the book on for someone else to enjoy and donated to a good cause. Magazines?

I tear out all the photos and articles I want to keep and paste them into notebooks like this one. The rest of the magazine is recycled.

Tip #6: Baskets are a girl's best friend. Not diamonds. Baskets. I don't know what I would do without them. I use them everywhere:

In the den to hold throws and blankets.

In the living room to hold cell phones, glasses and Scout's ball.

In the bathroom.

In the studio.

I have them in the bedroom (holding sweaters), in the guest room (holding quilts), in the kitchen (holding dog towels). Since we have very little closet space or storage space, baskets end up being real workhorses. They corral all sorts of things and keep clutter to a minimum.

Tip#7: If you group your treasures in vignettes or with other like objects, they will make sense and not look like clutter. It's all about the way you display them.

A lot of 'stuff', beautiful or not, scattered here and there and everywhere with no place for the eye to rest, makes for a cluttery look. Let's say you have a Hummel collection. Group them together on a shelf or in groups of three. Create a vignette. Suddenly what looked like clutter looks like a carefully thought out collection.

Tip #8: I'm all for cozy clutter. It's what makes a house a home. It shows that the home is lived in and loved. I encourage that kind of clutter. Don't worry about it. If you get the rest of your clutter under control, you've got it made!

I hope there are some helpful ideas for you here. Eliminating clutter is a battle we all wage. If you have any tips for the rest of us, please leave them in your comment - I know I'd love to read them.

And if you have any suggestions for future Small House topics, please share them.

Stop by Brenda's blog and read her tips on clutter. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Sneak Peek

2012-01-09T08:54:00.001-05:00

Here's what we have so far.

Why is it that when it's time to paint, I shy away from doing anything to 'weather' a piece? I don't want to mess with a fresh coat of paint. It looks so clean, so sparkly! So for the moment, at least, no sanding. I did add a few coats of paste wax to protect the finish.

Notice the ugly holes in the back are missing? Patti suggested covering some foamboard with fabric to cover them up. Wonder of wonders, I had some foamboard on hand. (Why, or for what project, I don't know.) The fabric is vintage, from some 40's era curtains. I chose it because it picks up the red theme in our den.

I haven't done anything with the slide-in board yet. Today, I plan to run some errands, one of which is to buy some desk accessories for next to nothing.

Hopefully, the final reveal will be in a couple of days.

Tomorrow: Defending the Small House: Clutter. I should just take a photo of every room in this cottage - as is - to show what not to do.

The Day that Got Away

2012-01-08T15:26:00.002-05:00

Well, I meant to have a post up by now, but I've somehow lost control of the day.

Started painting this morning; haven't cleaned, swiffered or taken a shower. Or eaten any lunch. In the middle of it all, Brenda called with a blog problem and we spent a big chunk of time on the phone talking about it. Now, it's 3:30 and I need to clean up a bit.

The desk is painted. Now I have to figure out what I'm going to do. Maybe a little 'aging' and some beeswax and then I have an idea for the shelves.

I had planned to attack the clutter in this house today (especially since Brenda and I are tackling "Clutter in a Small House" this Tuesday)....but that will have to wait until tomorrow.

How's your Sunday going?

My Boy

2012-01-07T14:06:00.002-05:00

My boy and I are spending time together - just the two of us. Since Don has been taking Scout on a daily walk lately, Riley and I have been hanging out. If you don't know Riley's story, we rescued him when he was about 2 years old. He had been found on the streets of Patterson, NJ. Not long after we adopted him, we discovered he had heartworm. Thanks to my wonderful friends at the animal hospital where I was working part-time, he came through with flying colors.

Riley was neglected and abused before we found him. He didn't know how to relate to humans. He was a little like a wild dog. But I could see a sweet disposition underneath all that. There are still things that scare him: reaching for his collar, coming at him from behind, touching his ears or his paws. If scared enough, he'll bite. He's come a long way, from a dog that couldn't ask for attention to a boy who needs and wants attention. I can pet him now. I can lean down near his face and whisper to him, stroke him, and he is no longer scared.

Those eyes. They are the eyes of a gentle soul, who never deserved what happened to him as a young boy. We really don't know his age but we estimate it to be around 10. We've had him for 8 years and what a gift he has been. There were times I was afraid of him; afraid he would bite me, afraid he would bite someone else. I truly believe he has come to me as a teacher and a guide. For he has taught me patience. He has taught me to love unconditionally. He is my very special boy.

He has a debilitating disease of the lower spine and pelvis that will eventually take him from us. Going on a walk is a tough thing for him. We must walk very slowly and he gets tired quickly. Scout, who just turned 13, is the youngest 13 year old dog I know and needs lots of exercise. So Riley and I hang out together. I give him some special treats and hug him and tell him that I love him and to please, please stay with us as long as he can.

My babies are aging. And I simply cannot bear the thought of losing them. They are my children. Not 'like' my children. They are my children. I love them with all my heart.

We've had several scares with Riley - times where we thought we were losing him. But he has nine lives, this survivor, and I'm so grateful he does. He walks like a very old dog. Toward the end of the day, he can no longer hold his hind quarters up. We lift him up and down the stairs to the den. He can no longer consistently control his bowels. Some days are good, others are no so good. He's pretty stoic, but I can only imagine the pain he must be in.

I call him "Handsome." Don calls him "Rye Bread."

He's a gift, a treasure, a teacher and an angel.

Yearning for a Simpler Life - Is it Possible in this High Tech World?

2012-01-06T09:32:00.000-05:00

Why am I waking up so early?

This morning, I found myself wide awake at 5 AM. Don was awake, too, and we chatted a bit. The thing is, Don can go back to sleep easily. I can't.

So here I sit, with stingy eyes and caffeine chugging through my body, wondering if I can get a nap in later in the day. I swear, I haven't had a good night's sleep for a week.

The new, slightly-ill-fitting-but-it-will-do-slipcover. In fact, it's more than slightly ill-fitting. In a perfect world, I would tackle this project and make a slipcover. I tried to once and ran screaming out of the room. Besides, this chair is old and on its last legs, so why bother?

We were watching television last night and found a channel that had very, very old black & white television programs: The Jack Benny Show, The Goldbergs and Dinah Shore.

We were enthralled.

There's an aura of timelessness about them. And a simplicity that I yearn for sometimes. The Goldbergs was amazing - like a teleplay - a live broadcast, start to finish. At one point, a cameraman goofed up a shot, one of the actors flubbed a line and they kept right on going. As a theater person, this warms my heart. Because they couldn't rely on retakes, they had to do it. Live. And improvise if they screwed up.

Dinah Shore sang a long, complicated medley with Ella Fitzgerald. Tough stuff, musically. They had to really be on their game. No auto-tune. No retake. No relying on special effects and lots of loud noise in the background. Just a piano and their incredible voices.

What passes for talent nowadays often isn't.

Do you ever yearn for a simpler time?

The Model T was my dad's toy. The paint has chipped. It was well-loved. When my dad sees it, does he wish for a simpler time?

I bet he does. I sure do.

I have a twitter account and use it every once in a while, but frankly, it's hard to keep up with everything. Blogging daily, thinking of and writing posts, taking pictures, checking Facebook, the occasional tweet, thinking about my future Etsy shop, making a website for my theater work, should I join Linked In, what about Google+?

I don't want to sound like one of those people who say, "When I was a girl, we had to..." We had to, what? Walk to school? Yes, over a mile and no school bus deposited me right at my door. Use our imaginations? Yes. No computers, no computer games, no X box, no texting. Just me, a doll or two, or a cardboard box, or the world outside my front door. Read? Yes, for hours. No technical-age distractions. Just a book and my imagination. Have conversations face-to-face? Yes. Of course, there was the phone, but for the most part conversation involved sitting with someone and looking them in the eye and talking. No hiding behind an email or a text. Television? 3 major networks. No 24/7 news stations. No reality shows. No endless news cycle that results in a lot of misinformation. Rather, a sense of a larger community sitting down to watch the Beatles on Ed Sullivan, or tuning into Dinah Shore or Bonanza.

It's a mixed blessing, this world of ours. On one hand, I wouldn't be writing this blog without the incredible technical innovations of recent years. I wouldn't have met all of you. I couldn't google something at the drop of a hat. So much that used to take a chunk of time, doesn't anymore. On the other hand, what have we lost?

A friend of mine who teaches theater on a university level tells me that she sees a real difference in today's students. Their brains are wired differently. They can't concentrate for very long on a task. They don't know what to do without their cell phones. They don't know how to write. They don't know how to memorize. She's actually including a segment this coming semester on how to memorize lines. Pretty essential for a drama student, wouldn't you say?

I love my iPhone and my laptop and my digital camera. They have become a part of my daily life. Certainly this blog wouldn't exist without the computer and the camera. But yet another networking site? And I now have to keep track of tweets? I know Social Media is highly recommended to get your blog out there, but the very thought leaves me exhausted.

I don't know.

What do you think about all this? Too much technology? Too little? Is there such a thing as a simpler time? How do you balance all of this? Don says that he sometimes feels out of the loop because he wants to maintain some distance from all of this. Yet, he wants to be in the loop. But how do you stay in the loop and still lead a life that is filled with quiet, meditative moments, time for the imagination to soar, time for good conversation?

Your thoughts?

On the Road and a Blogging Tip

2012-01-05T10:56:00.001-05:00

Two posts today, this one and a book review. Just scroll down for the review - a terrific book, Our Man in the Dark.

I didn't post yesterday because I was working in New Haven, CT for the day. I'm 'consulting' on a production of Macbeth that has been adapted to take place in 1969 at the end of the war in Vietnam. Consulting is always a bit problematic because I am invariably called in after the play is well into rehearsal - it's always a struggle to change things at that point. Nevertheless, I do my best. I'll be working there for the next two Wednesdays.

The bad: I had to rent a car (we only have one car at the moment) and it ended up being more expensive than we thought it would be. Since I have to pay for everything first (I'll get reimbursed later) I wasn't too happy about it. Two hours there and back, plus 6 hours of rehearsal = a long day.

(no pretty pictures today!)

And I spilled coffee all over my books. It's my own fault. I was trying to carry everything with me as I made my way to the car rental counter. Instead of dumping the coffee immediately, I carried it with me while looking for a trash can. I was so tired that I had no idea it was sloshing over everything. Not happy.

The good: the cast is very nice (including an actress I've worked with before) and the theater is right next to an Ikea.

After not visiting an Ikea in over a year, I've been there twice lately. I actually ate dinner there last night before hitting the road for the trip home. I bought a new Ektorp slipcover for my blogging chair. The white slipcovers are only $29, so when the current slipcover becomes too stained and washing it no longer does the trick, I buy a new one. It doesn't fit the chair exactly, but it works.

And I bought hangers to use in my ongoing purge and clean-up of the house.

I've also been creating a new website for my coaching business. A simple, and most importantly, free site.

On another note, I'm glad I decided to bite the bullet and redesign my blog a few months back. If you remember, I discovered my designer was no longer in business and feared that I might wake up one day to discover her Photobucket account was gone, along with my designs. By the way, she never bothered to tell any of us that she was out of the business and stopped all communication with her previous clients.

Several bloggers woke up yesterday to discover elements of their blog designs were missing, replaced by the dreaded "Bandwidth Exceeded, Upgrade to Photobucket Pro today" message. I hope the problem is easily remedied, but I fear it might not be.

My advice? Take control of your blog. It's made an enormous difference to me. I am no longer dependent on another's work. It's so easy now to make your own header and background. I found that googling a question like, "how to make your own blog background" or "how to design your own header" brought forth a wealth of information. It involves playing with your html code a bit, but there are tutorials everywhere. The great thing about Blogger is that you can go in and play with your code, hit preview to see what the changes look like and if you don't like them, nothing is permanent and you can revert back to the original code.

And thank you, thank you for all the tips about the old desk. I sure got some great ideas from everyone! I'll keep you posted.

Book Review: Our Man in the Dark by Rashad Harrison

2012-01-05T08:30:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone. Today I am reviewing Our Man in the Dark by Rashad Harrison for TLC Book Tours. As always, I am provided with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Our Man in the Dark is a work of historial fiction that takes place during the days of the Civil Rights Movement. John Estem, a bookkeeper working for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., finds that he is being watched by the FBI. They know that Estem, who wants to be somebody, has taken a large sum of money from the SCLC for his personal use, and they use that information to get Estem to work for them as an informant. The story, which has a Noir edge, follows Estem as he wrestles with his own demons, as well as the demons of others.

King, Ralph Abernathy and Andrew Young are a strong presence in the book, as well as a host of vividly drawn fictional characters. The author writes in detail of the time period, recreating the world of Atlanta and Los Angeles in the 60's. Harrison is a wonderful writer. What I found especially compelling was the fact that each of the characters is flawed, each is damaged - including King. We now know of King's sexual infidelities and the fact that the informants for the government infiltrated black organizations at the time. J. Edgar Hoover was known to have pursued any information he could get on King (and many, many others.) King had his own demons, like everyone else in the story. And it is that struggle that fuels much of this can't-put-down novel.

It's tricky writing about someone like Estem. He is the core of the story and some of his misguided choices are not those of the traditional protagonist. But through it all, I found myself liking him in spite of his flaws and respecting his honest look at himself. As the plot got more and more intricate and the story moved toward King's assassination, I couldn't put the book down. That's good writing, indeed.

Rashad Harrison writes beautifully. He takes us on a journey through a very troubled time in our nation's history and, in the process, creates a riveting story. I can't recommend this book highly enough.

About the author: Rashad Harrison has been a contributor to MedicineAgency.com, an online journal of political and cultural commentary, and his writing has appeared in Reed Magazine. As a Jacob K. Javits Fellow, he earned a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from New York University. He lives in Chicago, Illinois.

A Project

2012-01-03T10:35:00.001-05:00

Thanks for all the great comments on our crazy little video! If it brought a smile to your face, it was worth it. It makes me laugh every time I watch it. My favorite part? Right at the top when Scout walks between Don's legs while he's cooking.

Okay. I'm going to share some pictures with you. Pictures of something which is just plain ugly at the moment. I was editing these in Picnik when I suddenly thought, "Why are you spending any time on these? Just post them!"

Husband brought this home a month or so ago. He found it on the street in a neighboring town.

It's a university town and this was clearly some student's desk. He obviously came to his senses and got rid of it.

When Don proudly showed off his find, I must admit I was thinking, "Take it back." Don't you love the holes? Most likely for electronic cords, etc. Why do I keep seeing a face when I look at them? Oh and wait - there's this:

A slide out shelf that is clearly homemade and covered in hideous contact paper which reminds me of the kitchen table we had when I was a kid.

The top.

Normally, I would pitch this thing. But, I need a little desk downstairs. Don has the one in the office/guest room/studio. Our little spinet desk by the stairs is a wee bit fragile. This 'thing' is rather petite and fits into a corner of the den.

And I am being extremely frugal this year.

Should I take this on?

It's a challenge, for sure, and I do love a challenge. I have a few ideas floating around in my head. Since I didn't win any chalk paint in any of the numerous giveaways I entered, I have no idea what color to paint it. And I don't want to spend much money. Still thinking a creamy color might be the best choice, as the cupboard that holds our television is right next to this and it is a creamy color.

The colors used in our den are red, tan and cream, with a dash of teal.

I need your help. Tell me what you envision for this 'thing.' Other than the trash.

I would be very grateful for any and all ideas you might have!

Cooking in the Cottage

2012-01-02T09:37:00.001-05:00

At the risk of looking like a total fool (and I often do) I'm posting this little video we made the other night while cooking dinner. It was cold and windy out, which is why the shades are pushed into the window openings, and we were playing a favorite tune. Hijinks like this are the norm in our little cottage.

Starring: Don, Claudia, Scout and Riley
Don: the chef; in baseball cap
Claudia: in old sweater, baggy jeans and no makeup
Scout: looking for crumbs
Riley: looking for crumbs
Filmed: with iPhone
Quality: going for an edgy, cinema verite feel; in other words, totally amateur
Fun level: high

(I have 2 posts up today, there's one with actual pretty pictures right below.)

The Woods are Lovely...

2012-01-02T08:47:00.004-05:00

Yesterday, I took a walk. I needed some fresh air and time and space to contemplate the year ahead. We are fortunate to have a rail trail nearby and I don't take advantage of it often enough. The temperature was balmy for this time of year and the sun was shining. iPhone in hand, I took some pictures along the way.

Alert from the Spelling Police:

You are being cited for "One too many N's."

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.

But I have promises to keep.

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.

(Robert Frost)

Thank You

2012-01-01T09:14:00.000-05:00

Good morning on this first day of 2012.

As I start a new year, my 4th year of blogging, I want to take a moment to thank you.

:: Thank you for your friendship. Because of blogging, my world has expanded. I am so grateful for the many friends I have made. And friends you are.

:: Thank you for your patience. I try to be honest here on this old blog and write from my heart. That means I occasionally step up on my soapbox and let 'er rip. No one has ever accused me of being passionless and that passion sometimes overflows and I simply have to write. And you, my friends, read what I have to say and agree or disagree and that's what makes it all worthwhile. (Once a teacher, always a teacher.)

:: Thank you for your kindness and compassion. In the midst of all that's going on in my life, I know I can write about it and you will listen. Sometimes I just allude to something. Sometimes the enormity of it all cannot be contained and I have to write about it at length. Through it all, you are there, with words of wisdom and love.

:: Thank you for your sense of humor. I have a wicked sense of humor. So do you. Most of the time, I see the world through a humorous prism. Your humor shines through in your comments and I often laugh out loud as I read them.

:: Thank you for your generosity.You are so generous, my friends, with advice, with words that touch my heart, with ideas, with unexpected presents for no reason other than you care, with wisdom.

:: Thank you for taking a moment out of your day to leave a comment. I am busy. You are busy. Sometimes I want to leave a comment on a blog post and I simply don't have the time or energy. That must happen to you, too. So I deeply appreciate it when you do. I've said before how much I love the dialogue that happens here. It makes my day.

:: Thank you for following.If you are a follower, thank you. I appreciate every one of you.

:: Thank you to all my newer readers. I appreciate the wonderful emails and comments you've left. If I can find you, I promise to visit each of you in the days ahead.

:: Thank you for enriching my life.

May your 2012 be filled with blessings,
each and every day.

Heading Toward a New Year

2011-12-31T09:13:00.001-05:00

Good morning. Don't know what it's like in your neck of the woods, but our New Year's Eve seems to be a little rainy and definitely cloudy. I woke up too early, yet again. I don't know what my problem is lately, but I keep waking up well before I should. My mind starts its usual flitting from one subject to another and then I can't get back to sleep.

I'm reading a book that I will review this coming week but I'm also reading these 2 books:

Design Sponge at Home is chock full of all things home. I've long been a fan of Design Sponge, and the book does not disappoint. The first section is called Sneak Peeks, after a regular feature on Design Sponge that gives readers a glimpse of someone's home. (We all love that, don't we?) Also included are sections on DIY Projects, DIY Basics, a Flower Workshop and Before & After. It's a little modern, a little edgy, but mostly full of lovingly decorated homes and apartments. Decorated by the homeowners, I might add. Just what I like.

Judy Collins. I've been a fan since high school. Not only does she sing beautifully, she writes beautifully. And her eyes are really that blue. How do I know? I met her. Years ago, she gave a concert at Masonic Auditorium in Detroit that I attended. In those days, we were able to get backstage pretty easily. I can't imagine it being so easy nowadays. Anyway, she wore a long, flowing dress and looked ethereal. As she stood in the center of the stage, her gorgeous voice filled the auditorium (and Masonic is huge) and we all fell in love with her. Somehow I managed to walk onstage after the concert where I found Judy standing with her guitar. We stood there chatting and Judy graciously autographed my program. (I did the same thing with Gordon Lightfoot. We walked into his dressing room, took photos, and got his autograph!) I had a lot of chutzpah in those days. On an interesting sidenote: Don also met her a few years ago in New York. A big thank you to Don for giving me this book for Christmas.

What else is going on? Well, (and we will sound like country bumpkins here) Thursday Don and I drove over an hour to New Jersey where we visited Ikea and Trader Joe's. Whoo hoo! We were pretty gosh-darned excited about the whole thing. I bought a few little things for the kichen at Ikea but we got out of there pretty quickly. Since we're in a holiday week, it was packed with families and kids running everywhere, including right in front of me. I had to think fast as I dodged innumerable out-of-control children. (Don't parents keep their kids in check anymore? My parents would simply have not allowed us to run amok.) That kind of thing makes me very tired. Trader Joe's was a more productive experience - we stocked up on lots of food and I bought these:

Frugal me. If I could, I would only buy flowers from Trader Joe's because they are always healthy, as well as cheap. This bouquet was $3.99. If I bought the same bouquet up this way, it would have been at least twelve dollars. My favorite flower for vases? Alstromeria. They last a long time, so I really feel like I get my money's worth.

On the docket today: taking down most of the Christmas decorations. The tree will stay up until tomorrow. New Year's Eve is not that big a deal for me. I'm usually asleep before midnight. Since Don is working tonight, if I am awake, I'll say Happy New Year to the dogs.

I will say that 2011 was not the best year for us: lots of worries about a greatly diminished income, worries about my parents, the loss of some trees during Hurricane Irene, and two surgeries for me. I'm happy to say goodbye to it. I'm both looking forward to and wary of 2012. I wish for a year that is full of new adventures and prosperity and good health for us. At the same time, my mom is getting frailer, my dad is exhausted and Riley is declining. I know there are sad times ahead.

I wish you all a very Happy New Year! Enjoy your celebration, whatever form it takes. Here's to a wonderful 2012 for everyone.

Words

2011-12-30T11:15:00.001-05:00

Some more thoughts (my own, of course):

I've been thinking about language and the written and spoken word since yesterday's post. Writing about a consistently misspelled word can apparently push some buttons. But we are in an age that is increasingly high-tech - where some school children are no longer being taught cursive writing, where 'text speak' uses abbreviations and parts of words, where students graduating from high school and college do not have a command of the language and have few writing skills. I see it everywhere and it makes me sad.

I'm a stickler for correct spelling and I make no apologies for it. I've been known to go back to an old post here on this blog and correct a typo. Brenda and I routinely alert each other to errors in our posts. I'm grateful. I want to know. I used to be an excellent speller but I find as I get older, I'm not always sure of the spelling of certain words. So I look them up. Don often asks me how to spell a word. I ask him. Why wouldn't we want to spell the word correctly? Not knowing the correct way to spell a word is no reflection on our intelligence. There are a lot of words in existence and knowing how to spell them all is next to impossible.

I think the written word matters. What is seen on a page or on a computer screen matters. And once it's published, it's out there.

I don't text that often but when I do, it takes me longer because I don't abbreviate. I don't use LOL, U instead of you or R instead of are. I just can't. I've tried, but it's like wearing clothing that just doesn't suit me. It doesn't fit. (I'm not saying it's wrong to use those abbreviations, mind you, just not for me.)

As for blogging, I tend to write my blog posts the way I speak. So sometimes, by choice, I stretch the boundaries of good grammar. That's a style choice. Every blogger has his/her own writing style and that's as it should be.

But, oh, do I edit. Because this blog is a reflection of me and what I value. And I want it to be well written with no misspelled words.

That's also why I do book reviews. Writers spend years writing a book; carefully choosing each word, editing and re-editing. I want to honor their written words, especially those that are on an actual page, in a book I can hold in my hands. eReaders can be wonderful tools (I have one, though I only use it when I travel) but I feel increasingly compelled to champion three dimensional books. Independent Bookstores are going out of business. The biggest sellers for Amazon and Barnes & Noble? eBooks. On the one hand, if eBooks keep people reading, more power to them. And the smallish eBooks many bloggers are writing - full of how-to advice - are great. But if someday I get a book of fiction published - oh my gosh, I would want it to be in an old-fashioned, real, not virtual, book that I can hold in my hands and display on my bookshelf. The carefully edited words imprinted on a page, the page corners that can be turned to mark a place - oh, heaven! That must be the same feeling the authors whose books I review have when they first see their books in print. Because words matter.

My work in the theater involves the written word. I'm working on another Shakespeare play right now, in fact. Did you know that Shakespeare invented many words that we routinely use today? There are many languages in this world of ours, but the one I can speak and write is English. It's a beautiful language that has been used to inspire, incite, woo, preach and tell a great story. It enables us to communicate all the big and little things we feel.

Let me add: I am as guilty as the next person of sometimes using incorrect grammar and not expressing myself as well as I'd like to. And I miss the occasional misspelled word. But writing is an ongoing learning experience, isn't it? I sure have learned a lot in the course of my almost 4 years of blogging and I hope to learn more.

The end to a year is a time for reflection, for pondering. I'm pondering the power of the written word as I head toward 2012. Maybe that will be my word for 2012: Write (better.)

As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

A Little Bit of Random on Thursday

2011-12-29T09:40:00.001-05:00

Some thoughts on a cold day in December:

:: I'm seeing "Best of 2011" posts all over blogland. The very thought of going back through all my posts and figuring that out exhausts me. If you'd like to visit my archives, have at it. I won't be doing a "Best of" post. (I can barely remember why I just got up to go to the kitchen.)

Don gave me this hat for Christmas. I love it.

:: This one has always bugged me. When I see a bumper sticker or anything else that says, "I (heart shape) something," I read that as "I love." Isn't that what it's supposed to mean? When we were young and we wrote our initials and made a heart and then added the initials of whoever was our latest crush, we were saying, "Claudia loves so-and-so." Not "Claudia hearts so-and-so." But everywhere I turn, someone is writing the word 'heart' instead of what the heart symbolizes - love.

It makes me nuts.You can love, but you can't heart. Heart is not a verb, it's a noun.

:: I've been itching to write this for a long time. I understand that correct spelling doesn't come easily to everyone, but in this high-tech age we all have spell check or a dictionary as part of our computers. I see this particular error everywhere in blogland and on Craig's List. Please, please, please: it's Dining room, not Dinning Room. A dinning room (if there was such a word) would be a room where a lot of noise is made.

:: What's with news programs fudging the facts? I see this every so often on CNN and I know it happens elsewhere. The talking head makes a sweeping statement that simply isn't true. It may be partly true, but a quick bit of research will prove that it isn't entirely true. Or it might be out-and-out wrong. Here's an example: Last night we were watching the local evening news, which in our part of the country comes out of New York City. That's a big market with well paid anchors. The anchor was talking about Chris Christie, the Governor of New Jersey, who is apparently stumping for Mitt Romney. He made a reference to Christies's 'having withdrawn from the Presidential race.' He never was in the race. There was a lot of press speculation about Christie's presidential aspirations several months back and a lot of air time was taken up with all that, but he never entered the race. Considering a run is not the same as running. You can't withdraw from something you never entered. Word choices matter. Shouldn't a newsperson know more about political facts than me?

Am I being too picky? I don't think so. News organizations have a responsibility to report the facts. Even a little fuzzy reporting is too much. Walter Cronkite must be rolling over in his grave over what passes as reporting nowadays.

Okay, enough complaining.

I have a project in mind for this. I need to think it through and buy a few components. I'm not sure which way I will go with it....stay tuned.

Printers, Typewriters and Rain

2011-12-28T09:20:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was about running errands, dealing with medical bills and attempting to get my printer to actually do its job and print out a script. I had the dubious pleasure of spending an hour and half trying to get that sucker to print every page. Not just every other page. And not to print 10 pages and then start over and print them again. Or tell me, over and over, that there was no paper in the printer when there was. I finally realized that a cheap, plastic part at the rear of the printer was becoming loose and I had to stand in an extremely awkward position and push against it to make sure it stayed in place. You would have loved that picture of me - hunched over, with my back protesting and a stream of curse words coming from my mouth - while 89 pages slowly printed out.

Makes you appreciate the simplicity of the typewriter. This is Don on Christmas morning, playing with his new favorite thing. (In the beginning days of this blog, I used to ask Don if it was alright to post photos of him. Now - I just post them.)

Anyway, after all the printer drama, I ended up getting a late start on my text research. It also rained heavily and I was constantly running upstairs to see if the roof was leaking. (It didn't.) So I'll be back at it today.

By the way, I've discovered that finding actual typing paper - not printer paper or all purpose paper - is next to impossible. Remember typing paper? I bought some parchment paper at Office Depot but it was a bit pricey, so I will have to investigate this further.

Normally, I hate photos of me. Especially now that the March of Time is clomping all over my face and neck. But Don took this one the other day.

I could use some lipstick but, otherwise, it might work for the blog at some point. Hello, 59 and one month. Yikes.

Time to feed the dogs. Have a great day!

It's Time

2011-12-27T09:02:00.001-05:00

My house is a mess.

After a lovely Christmas, I inevitably wake to harsh reality. The fact is, there is much purging and organizing to be done here at the cottage. Clutter is running rampant. My closets are a mess. Everything, and I mean everything, needs to be sorted into keep or throw away piles. The spare bedroom/office/husband's studio looks like we just moved in and are using it to store everything until we decide where to put it.

I still haven't put away the summery things on the porch. Really. It's December 27th.

More than in any other year I can remember, I have avoided certain tasks - like sorting, organizing and purging - none of which are things I usually want to do. Clean out the closet? I'd rather read a book. Put everything away in the shed? I have to google something. Wade into the mess that is the office? I need a nap. I just haven't been able to deal with it.

I have a theory. I've been suffering from emotional overload this year, much of which I've shared with you on this blog. When that happens, I retreat to a safe place. It might be a book, or this blogging world, or my favorite music. I don't seem to be able to cope with those other, not so fun, tasks that need to be done. I feel overwhelmed at the very thought of them.

I have a feeling that if I just make myself tackle one, the others might follow. I know I will have a feeling of accomplishment.

I'm just about ready.

Unfortunately, I have to tackle some script work today and tomorrow. That has to come first.

But the wheels in my brain are turning. It's time. Wish me luck!

(I love the way the Hipstamatic camera app makes these messes look sort of fuzzy and artistic. Like I purposely made the mess to take an artsy picture.)

If you're here for our Defending the Small House Series, Brenda and I are taking a couple of weeks off. We'll be back with a new installment on January 10th.

The Day After

2011-12-26T08:30:00.002-05:00

This photo says it all: I wanted an iPhone for Christmas and Don (who is staying away from the computer more and more lately) wanted a vintage typewriter. I found this 1961 Remington Monarch on eBay and it's a beauty! The two-tone case is covered in a linen-like fabric. Hi-tech and low-tech happily coexisting in the Hill-Sparks household.

One day, I'm going to get a vintage IBM Selectric. I worked many an office job on Selectrics and I absolutely love them.

The rat-a-tat-tat of the keys was a constant yesterday afternoon. Don was like a kid again.

I hope you all had a wonderful day. Ours was filled with presents, dogs, food, music, dancing and more food. It started off with this:

My Christmas Coffee Cake. Don likes to butter the top.

Santa left some peanut buttery treats for the doggies. (Since we have no fireplace, the yule log via the television is on throughout the morning.)

Christmas Scoutie.

I'm always a bit sad when Christmas, with all the decorating and shopping and planning, is suddenly over. No Christmas music playing on the car radio, no Christmas movies on television, no beautifully wrapped packages.... I remember being very upset by that when I was a child. I suspect I still am that child on the inside. Just like I want my birthday to extend for a week, I want Christmas to be more than one day.

As to beautifully wrapped packages, full disclosure: I forgot to buy scotch tape, so I had to seal my packages with blue painter's tape. Yep.

I'm glad you liked the photo of my mom, dad, brother and me visiting Santa in yesterday's post. Poor Meredith (my sister.) Every time she sees that photo, she wonders where she and my other sister figure into the equation. You see, there was just my brother and me for many years. Then, when I was 8 and Dave was 13, Leslie came along. Three years later, Meredith came along. So it was like there were two sets of kids. The older ones and the younger ones. Meredith, you were a beautiful child and I sorely wish I had a photo of you and Santa. Ask Dad if he has one. Then I will be more than happy to post it. After all, you are my adored youngest sister.

I'm off to run some errands. Have a great day.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T05:00:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas! I hope your day is full of love, peace and joy.

Christmas Eve - When Do You Open Your Presents?

2011-12-24T09:05:00.000-05:00

I have become obsessed with these adorable creatures. I see them everywhere on Scandinavian blogs. In my usual fashion, I had to know what they were. After googling, writing emails and visiting websites, I discovered they are Nisse or Pixies and that this particular design is from a Danish company named Maileg. Thanks to my Danish friend, Dorthe, for helping me out on this one! Until I find a way to order a larger-sized pixie, I ordered the little ornament from Garnet Hill. Half off. Much to my surprise, they overnighted the package and it arrived yesterday.

I love him.

He will be displayed year round.

Who says toys are just for kids?

Today will be filled with baking, helping Heidi out in her shop for a few hours, reading a script and wrapping Don's presents while he is at work. Yes, he has to work tonight. He's feeling much better, by the way.

I found a 'new' vintage ornament at Heidi's yesterday.

Beautiful, isn't it? But there's something even more special painted on its side.

A bluebird. Such sweetness.

I have a quick question. Do you open your presents on Christmas Eve or on Christmas morning? What's your family tradition?

I'll be back with my official Merry Christmas tomorrow morning.

The Day Before Christmas Eve

2011-12-23T09:55:00.001-05:00

Happy day before Christmas Eve! I completely forgot to display this Santa until this morning. And that would have been a shame, as he is absolutely beautiful. My mom gave Don and I a few of these large Santas over the years - I think there is another one in the shed. Note to myself: go get it.

This Christmas, especially, I want to honor my mom. She will be spending Christmas in the nursing home. It will be the first Christmas in 66 years that my parents haven't woken up together on Christmas morning. My dad has been decorating her room and he will spend much of Christmas day with her. He decided not to decorate his condo. When you're alone and your beloved wife is not by your side, decorating loses its appeal.

Isn't the detail incredible?

Don isn't feeling well. He had chills last night, so I tucked him in with an afghan and my childhood quilt (my grandma made heavy quilts.) He's not up yet.

He's mad at himself for letting me open my iPhone early. He says he should have stood up to me, been firmer. I know he wants to buy a couple of small presents so I have something to open on Christmas morning, but if he doesn't feel better, that might not happen. Present opening may be confined to Don and the dogs!

Lots of movie watching yesterday: White Christmas in the afternoon and two of The Thin Man series in the evening. Love some William Powell and Myrna Loy - they had such great chemistry. Plus, the series was shot in the 30's, so there are beautiful Art Deco sets and fabulous clothes. And the wonderful dog, Asta, played by a dog named Skippy in real life. Skippy was a popular dog in the thirties; he worked in lots of movies, including one of my favorites, The Awful Truth.

Can you tell I love old movies?

If they took my ridiculously long list of cable channels away, and let's face it, I'm usually complaining that there is nothing worth watching on television, I would be fine if only I still had Turner Classic Movies. Is it possible to subscribe to only one cable channel? I sure would save a lot of money.

I'm making my list of things to buy at the grocery store. Don has to work on Christmas Eve, so I will spend the time baking our Christmas Coffee Cake and a pumpkin pie.

How are your preparations going?

Favorite Ornaments

2011-12-22T09:49:00.002-05:00

I'm feeling a bit more peppy today. It was a rainy day yesterday and Don's day off, so we turned on all the Christmas lights as soon as we got up and proceeded to do only those things we wanted to do - my prescription for a restful day. Some popcorn and Ball of Fire with Barbara Stanwyck and Gary Cooper on TCM was the perfect way to end the day. Have you ever seen Ball of Fire? It's a wonderfully wacky comedy directed by Howard Hawks. You will love it.

Today, some dog (who shall remain nameless but is white in color) gets a trip to the dog wash for a bath. The other one needs a bath, too, but his back and hips have been particularly troublesome lately, so I'm not going to put him through all that.

As I sit in my blogging chair which faces the Christmas tree, I thought I'd share a few favorite ornaments with you. This one is old and the perfect shade of pink.

What makes these especially beautiful to me is the way the colors have faded and softened over time.

The acorns are only a few years old. I bought them at Heidi's shop.

My bottle brush ornaments. What would I do without them? I found them at Heidi's shop, as well. If you ever get to this neck of the woods, Heidi has a Christmas room full of fabulous ornaments, many of them vintage. She is known for her collection of vintage ornaments - and the Christmas room is open year round.

We moved out here in 2001. After driving a truck full of our worldly goods across the country, we arrived on the doorstep of our rented cottage, which was very small. We had already arranged to store many of our boxes and some furniture because there simply wasn't enough room in the cottage for them. I had painstakingly organized the packing of the truck so that everything we needed for the house was unloaded first, leaving all the things to go to storage in the back of the truck. After we unloaded, everything else went on to the storage facility, which was rather far away.

Christmas came around. I looked for all our ornaments. Couldn't find them. I tore the cottage apart. Nothing. Dang it. We had mistakenly sent those boxes to storage! No time to drive there and even if we had the time, the facility was huge and our stuff wasn't easily accessible.

Off to the local drugstore we went. We bought a lot of generic colored balls and lights. No beautiful silver glass tree topper - that was in one of the boxes. We found this little tin angel and figured she'd do until we were finally reunited with our decorations. But every Christmas since, she has won out. We just love her. Sometimes you find the perfect decoration and don't even know it!

This is the last ornament we put on the tree every year, in honor of our beloved dog, Winston, who died too young. He was with us for 8 years. I miss him every day.

I hope you're finding some pockets of quiet time this holiday season.

Tired

2011-12-21T05:00:00.000-05:00

I've been posting every day for a couple of months now. Haven't missed one. I won't miss one today, but I'm cheating a bit. Today, my friends, I'm tired. I've got nothing. The way Scout looks, with eyes at half-mast? That's the way I feel.

Our Christmas is very simple, but it still requires some shopping. I'm just about finished. Still have to gather together the ingredients for the Christmas Coffee Cake I make every year. Really, on a scale of 1 to 10 - 10 being having to buy lots of presents, go to lots of parties, worry about making Christmas fabulous for the kids, etc. - our Christmas is about a 1. So I'm not complaining.

I'm just tired. It's been a stressful few months for my family.

And I want to apologize to all of you who have commented on this blog for the first time, who are new readers or followers. I'm so behind on visiting you and responding to your comments. I'm usually on top of all that, but I'm really behind. I promise to make that a priority in the next few weeks.

See? I'm tired, but I'm still smiling.

Defending the Small House #6

2011-12-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

{Living Big in 1200 Square Feet}

Welcome to week number 6 of Defending the Small House. Today's topic: Displaying Collections in a Small House. Most of us collect something or other; many of us have multiple collections. How do we show off our beloved collections in a small space?

I collect china and pottery. And I just seem to accumulate more and more. I can't help it! I collect hand-painted china, china hat pin holders, Roseville Pottery, Fiesta and, my largest collection, McCoy Pottery. I have many pieces of McCoy, scattered throughout the house. How do I display them?

Tip #1: Find furniture pieces that will hold your collections, whether they are cabinets, shelves, boxes or something else. Grouping collections together in a cabinet or on shelves will make a big statement. I have a few cabinets that hold and display my china.

This cabinet is in the kitchen.

This cabinet is in the den.

Putting the china and pottery in a cabinet protects the pieces and also brings pieces made by different manufacturers together so that they have more impact. This particular cabinet has a mix of McCoy and my good china, as well as some hand-painted pieces that I treasure. By the way, the interior of this cabinet used to be the same color of wood as the outside. It was too dark in there. So I painted the inside a pale pink. Now the china doesn't get lost in the dark interior of the cabinet and the pieces really pop.

Tip #2: Use your collections to create vignettes, like the one below. The birds are singing, they are on the piano, and the little white bird is perched on a dictionary of musical terms. Everything works together to make a sweet vignette.

Tip #3: Display your collectibles in like groupings. What does that mean? Well, for example, here I grouped together 3 McCoy bird planters - 2 the same color and one in a contrasting color. This group makes a statement. To top it off, I added a bird nest that I found in our yard.

You can also display things in color groupings:

Here I have 3 pieces of McCoy in yellow and a Fiesta pitcher in yellow. That makes a statement.

And here I have 3 pieces of aqua McCoy Pottery, alongside my good china, which has an aqua rim. If you were to look on the shelf above, you would find 3 more pieces of aqua McCoy grouped together.

If you collect something like vintage kitchen utensils or rolling pins, you could hang them on the wall in a group, creating a striking, graphic look.

Tip #4: Think up. Boy, do I ever 'think up.' I have a lot of pottery displayed on the top of my cabinets. This is the hutch in the den that you saw earlier. I used to have this Roseville Pottery scattered around the house. But when I grouped it together and placed it on top of the hutch, it all worked. I have a special fondness for these pieces and they make sense together. They are also nicely protected up there.

Here are some more examples of thinking up:

On top of the white cabinet in the living room, also grouped by color.

On top of the kitchen cabinets.

On top of the white china cabinet in the kitchen.

This works especially well with pottery because it tends to be large. Because of that, it doesn't get lost up there.

Tip #5: Smaller collectibles pack more of a punch when grouped together. I have some collections that are small in stature. I group them together.

I collect egg cups:

The vast majority of them are on this shelf unit that I found in an antique shop. Grouping them together tells the story of the collection. And it makes me smile.

Look for interesting pieces on which to display your collections. This shelf is a favorite of mine; I picked it precisely for this purpose and I think it enhances the egg cup collection. The rest of my egg cups are on a sweet little shelf in the den:

My husband's jumping jack collection is displayed by our side door.

See? Hard to keep a frown on your face when you see these! Grouping them together tells a story.

Same with my bakelite flatware:

I also have a few mini collections. These are the beginnings of new collections. All grouped together to make more of a statement.

Miniature pottery.

My bride and groom cake toppers.

Tip #6: Don't hide your collections. Live with them. Use them. I'm very visual. I love seeing my favorite things around me. I don't rotate my collections, storing some of them away, while others remain on display. No way! I'm proud of my collections and they say a lot about me. Heck, collecting McCoy Pottery set me on a new path with color and it shows in my decorating.

I use my pottery to organize things in my studio. I put fresh flowers in my vases. I use my china. I tuck one type of collectible in another type of collectible. I don't know about you, but I love nothing more than exploring someone's collections. If I visit a home for the first time, I immediately gravitate toward collections and books. And sometimes, the books are a collection.

Tip #7: Don't think for a moment that having a small house means you can't display everything. You can. You should. As long as you find a way to group your pieces so that they make a kind of sense, your home will not look cluttered. Group by color, group by size, group by type of collection - as long as it makes sense, it will work.

Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope these tips are helpful for you. Make sure you visit Brenda for her take on displaying collections in a small house.

And finally, Happy Holidays to everyone - if you celebrate Christmas or Hannukah, please have a wonderful, magical holiday!

We're going to take a couple of weeks off from this series. We'll be back on January 10th.

On Hunting

2011-12-19T08:00:00.000-05:00

On my mind this morning: I had to write this. It's from my heart.

If you've read this blog for a while, you know I am a vegetarian and strong advocate for animal rights. This time of year makes me cringe, as it is hunting season. Every day I hear rifle shots in the distance. It makes me sick to my stomach. I hate it. Every time I see some local guy wearing camouflage clothing, I want to grab him and give him a piece of my mind, beg him to think of the animals who have a right to live along with us, and frankly, tell him there must be another way to prove his masculinity other than shooting an innocent creature. No one is this area has to hunt. Those days are long gone.

And do not tell me that hunters are doing the noble thing and saving deer from the agony of starvation, that they are helping to thin out the herds. Bull. No one who hunts does it for that reason.

I live my life from a simple premise. We are all equal. I'm not just talking about humans. I am not superior to any other animal. We are all creatures sharing this planet. What gives anyone the right to hunt another - whether human or animal?

And it's not a fair fight. A rifle or a bow and arrow used to stalk and hunt a creature who has no defense, no equivalent weapon, does not a fair fight make. What's noble about that? If you need to shoot a gun that much, go to a target range and fire away. Stay away from innocent animals.

Don doesn't hunt. I wouldn't be with him if he did.

If you ever want to hear me lose it - mention hunting, or bullying, or hurting children in any way, or harming any defenseless creature.

I could say so much more. My heart is heavy as I hear those rifle shots. I am haunted by the thought of those innocent creatures being killed for sport.

This may not be a popular post, but it is the way I feel. And you know that I write from my heart.

How I wish we were more evolved; that we lived with love and compassion for all living things. That we treated every living creature the way we want to be treated.

Glimpses of a Sunday Morning

2011-12-18T08:43:00.001-05:00

Out of my iPhone camera (using the Hipstamatic App) on a Sunday morning:

The tree.

Me.

My boy.

My girl.

Happy Sunday.

On the Docket for Today

2011-12-17T12:28:00.001-05:00

Well, I made it through 2 out of 3 movies last night - The Bishop's Wife and Christmas in Connecticut. I succumbed to my need for sleep and didn't see The Shop Around the Corner - but we own a copy, so I can watch it any old time I want to. There's even more yet to see - White Christmas, Miracle on 34th Street, A Christmas Story and A Christmas Carol (the one with Alastair Sim as Scrooge - the best, in my opinion.) And, of course, It's a Wonderful Life. I consider all of these to be essential viewing for my particular Christmas season.

I managed to find our Christmas records (actually, CDs) yesterday. Since we keep them in a closet in the den, a dimly lit one at that, this requires a flashlight and my reading glasses. Maybe even a magnifying glass. But found they were.

Today I'm planning to:

:: Start reading this mystery by Rashad Harrison. I will be reviewing it in early January.

:: Play Mah Jongg on my iPhone. I bought a hard case for it yesterday. I've already dropped it once in this house and I know I can be clumsy and distracted at times. The front and back of an iPhone are made of glass. Dropping it on pavement or cement equals a recipe for disaster. You'll notice I've chosen a case in my favorite color.

:: Start crocheting one of the Obsession Scarves. My wonderful sister sent me some yarn the other day, thinking I might want to crochet some scarves for my Etsy Shop. I can't wait to get started.

In the same box with the yarn were these adorable yarn ornaments. Aren't they cute? They make me smile.

So, to wrap up my incredibly complex list of things to do today: Crochet, read, eat, make my bed, maybe throw in a load of laundry, perhaps dry the laundry, swiffer, vacuum, eat, read, crochet, play a game or two of Mah Jongg. Watch Bringing Up Baby and The Philadelphia Story on TCM. And eat again. Then read in bed.

Over and out.

There is No Perfect Christmas

2011-12-16T10:07:00.000-05:00

I forgot to include this photo of my Christmas decorating post. I just threw some big silvery glass balls and some clippings from the tree under the glass. Well, I didn't throw them; if I had done that, the pretty glass balls would be no more.

I see that the runner needs a little ironing. That won't be happening. And to be honest, stacks of paperwork and mail currently share this table space with the pretty arrangement under glass. It's not perfect.

Since both Don and I have families that live far from us, we will have a quiet Christmas. We don't spend a lot of money on gifts - and remember, I already have mine. (I need to stop playing Mah Jongg on my iPhone!) We no longer exchange gifts with our families, there are too many grandkids and nieces and nephews and brothers and sisters and half-brothers and half-sisters. We all agreed to stop doing that a long time ago.

Though I would love to see my family at Christmas, I think that the quiet celebration we have has really helped me to calmly and gratefully experience the season. There is no longer any frantic shopping at malls, any tension-inducing last minute preparations. I remember being so crazed by all the things I had to get done for the holidays that I couldn't really enjoy the moment.

When I was a child, I longed for the sort of perfect Christmas I saw on television or in the movies. This will date me, but I remember watching the Andy Williams Christmas specials every year. The extended Williams family seemed so happy, so well dressed, so full of Christmas cheer - they brought beautifully wrapped presents with them, they sang together and, all the while, pretty snowflakes fell outside the windows.

Of course, the house was a set, the snow was fake. I'm sure the Williams family had the same kind of complicated relationships that we all do. When I was a child, we didn't have a lot of money, but my parents managed to save enough to have many gifts under the tree every Christmas. They worked hard to make the day very special. But there were tensions, the inevitable tirade from my father, aunts and uncles who drank too much, tears, sometimes a bit too much forced good cheer.

Christmas can be very complicated. The pressure to have a perfect storybook Christmas can take its toll on the best of us. It wasn't until I was an adult that I realized that no Christmas can be that perfect. Only on a soundstage.

With that realization came relief. I don't need to be exhausted, to feel pressure to spend lots of money on the right gifts, to create the perfect Christmas.

I just need to be.

Wednesday, in the early evening, I was sitting in the den. The tree lights were on. The outside lights were on. Don was quietly playing his guitar in the living room which was lit only by the lights on the white tree and on top of the cupboard. It was beautiful. Peaceful. Magical.

Not perfect. But more than enough for us.

Take a moment for quiet reflection. Turn off all the lights but the tree lights and squint your eyes like you did when you were a child. Play Christmas music. I think that if you can experience that wonder, that peace - even for a second - you've received the perfect Christmas present.

We'll Give it an A for Effort

2011-12-15T10:27:00.000-05:00

I'm a fan of Dottie Angel. Have you visited her blog? She's the Queen of Granny Chic and makes all sorts of wonderful things with doilies and embroidery thread and vintage fabric. About a week or so ago, she had a wonderful post on making a table runner. In her wonderfully quirky way, she put it together with bits of lace and doilies and old hankies and embroidery thread.

I thought: 'Hey, I have lace and doilies and old hankies and embroidery thread! I'll give this a try!"

I gathered together all my 'bits and bobs' as Dottie, aka Tif, calls them. Then I saw an old square of linen in my stash and decided to use it as the base of my creation - sort of a mini table cloth.

It didn't come out the way I had planned.

Problem: Linen stretches. It wrinkles. See evidence above. Because of that, attaching strips of lace and other thingamabobs throws everything a bit out of kilter.

I like all the doilies and the lace and the hankies. Maybe I need to add more?

I feel like I have to add more to the blue handkerchief, to disguise the fact that it isn't laying flat. Pardon me, the photo is a tad blurry, rather like I feel at the moment.

We show so many successful projects on our blogs. In the spirit of total transparency, I figured I'd share something less than successful.

I'm just an inch or so away from shoving it in a drawer.

And yet, I like it. Should I try to rescue it?

A la Christmas in Connecticut

2011-12-14T11:36:00.000-05:00

1940's movies with country cottages and inns have always been a favorite of mine - White Christmas, Christmas in Connecticut and a host of others. I'm so drawn to the overstuffed chairs and sofas covered in flowery chintz or barkcloth. Don and I were watching some movie recently - can't remember the title - and I said, "I want that sofa! That's a Claudia sofa." It was covered in the most wonderful flowery fabric. I wanted to freeze the frame and take a picture of it.

The dollhouse has become the vehicle for getting that look (in the least expensive way!)

A "Christmas in Connecticut Chair" for the living room. Don't you just love it? I can imagine curling up in this comfy chair, book in hand.

And my new "Christmas in Connecticut Sofa." I am nuts for this fabric. I first saw it on a chair (same style as the one pictured above) that I couldn't find anywhere but on one website and it was out of stock. I bookmarked it, but had given up hope of it ever coming back in stock. Then I ordered another pinkish print sofa from the same website that turned out to be out of stock, as well. By happy chance, during the course of a phone conversation concerning the out-of-stock-sofa, the woman I was speaking to happened upon this sofa. In the same print as the chair I had originally fallen for. It had been lost on some shelves somewhere. Yippee! Now it's part of Hummingbird Cottage.

I think I've decided that the dollhouse is going to be done in the style of Christmas in Connecticut, don't you?

And now that I think of it, as I look at photos of MHC's living room, I realize that it is also in this style. My lord. Why did it take me so long to realize this? Whenever someone asks me my style in the future, "Christmas in Connecticut" will be my quick response.

I couldn't resist adding this sun-filled view from the kitchen into the living room.

I've run out of the wood for the chair railing. And I need to choose wallpaper for the studio and the bathroom. In the meantime, the dollhouse seems to be thriving in it's new home in the living room of Mockingbird Hill Cottage.

Go read Brenda's post today on Where Do We Fit in the Blogging World? This is a subject that Brenda and I have spent long hours discussing on the phone. I have a suggestion for a name for those of us who are bloggers of a certain age - 45+. What about "Seasoned Nesters" - but maybe that isn't all-encompassing enough?

Defending the Small House #5: Holiday Edition

2011-12-13T00:02:00.000-05:00

{Living Big in 1200 Square Feet}

Welcome to Defending the Small House, number 5: Christmas Decorating in a Small House. I'm so glad you've taken some time to visit during this holiday season. Brenda and I are really looking forward to this special edition linky party!

I am not someone who decorates for Christmas with a 'theme' or a different color palette every year. I couldn't care less about that kind of thing. For me and my husband, Christmas decorating is about using favorite decorations that we cherish. Some of them are mine from my childhood. Most of them we've collected together. They each have meaning, even the ones we had to buy at the local drugstore when we first moved out East and realized that all our boxes of ornaments had inadvertently been put in storage!

If you've learned anything about me from reading this blog, you've learned that decorating and adorning our house is only done with things that have meaning to us, with a history or an interesting story to tell. Likewise with Christmas decorations. Even if it involves me digging frantically through every bin at Big Lots a few years back to find my bottlebrush wreaths - that's a story I'll tell for years to come! Tip#1: If you decorate with the things you love and that have meaning to you, you can't go wrong.

I suspect this happens in most homes - I'm absolutely sure it happens in small homes. Furniture has to be rearranged. In our case, the dollhouse had to move up to the living room because it usually lives in the corner of the den where we put the big Christmas tree. So - up comes the dollhouse, the yellow chair moves near the kitchen, the red chair moves to the other side of the loveseat. I like the chairs in this new arrangement. Tip #2: As you decorate for Christmas and have to move things around, look at it as an opportunity to view your space with fresh eyes - you just might discover something you like.

For instance: I'm rather liking the dollhouse is this new place. As Don says, he sees it more clearly here because there is a lot more light. What do you think?

The Big Lots bottlebrush wreaths. I have 4 of them. The others are hanging in the living room windows. Tip #3: Repetition of an item or shape can tie a room together. The wreaths are hung in the kitchen, above the piano and on the living room windows, connecting both parts of what is essentially a large room.

I just added the reindeer.

The dollhouse has been decorated.

We have a little white tree in the living room. I won a beautiful small tree skirt a couple of years ago in a blog giveaway, so I had to buy a little tree to go with it. It looks prettier with the lights on.

The other day, I chained stitched a garland for the tree. Simple and sort of homespun. No cost, since it was yarn I had on hand. Tip #4: Look at the things you have on hand and incorporate them into your decorating. In this case, I thought about the pink ornaments on the tree and the garland that hangs on the white cabinet (see below) and a little light bulb went on - so I grabbed the same yarn and made the garland.

I always use the branches we've trimmed from the bottom of the tree to decorate the house. They work beautifully on top of the white cupboard. Whoops! I have to tuck that light in.

These are on the windowsill above the kitchen sink. I have more in two glass milk bottles on another window sill. Tip #5: Use live greenery wherever you can. It is beautiful in its simplicity. If you live in a very tiny space, some boughs or garlands may be all you need to create your holiday home. Don't underestimate their power to transform your space.

I just posted about this snow scene yesterday. I used a vintage jar, some kosher salt, a putz house and bottlebrush trees. Tip #6: Make your own snow scene with a jar and some small Christmas ornaments. You can use any size jar, any size ornament or bottlebrush tree. Make a few and group them together.

On to the den. Monty is dressed for the holidays. Tip #7: Sometimes a simple bow works wonders.

I usually crop the television out of my Christmas tree photos, but since this is a series about small houses, I'm going for truth in advertising! There it is, right next to the television. As you can see, I have a lot of vintage ornaments - lots of old Shiny Brites. And I have my big bottlebrush ornaments that I got a few years back from my friend's shop. I kept buying them every time I went in there. I think I have 9 of them. I. love. them. They add so much to the tree. I don't know what I'd do without them, so I guard them with my life.

This is an early evening shot. I've given up on trying to take photos of the tree in the dark. It never works.

We always have a real tree. We don't have room to store a large artificial tree; besides, I can't imagine a Christmas with my husband without a real tree. That's just our preference. But, I've had plenty of Christmases with a small tree, usually artificial, in the various apartments I've lived in. You can make anything work and look beautiful. Maybe you could buy a small live tree and plant it at the end of the season.

I try to keep things simple. This is a small house; I have a lot of pottery everywhere, most every available surface has something on it already. We don't have the luxury of storing those things to make way for the Christmas decorations because we don't have an attic or a basement. I'm careful about what I use because I want the decorations to stand out, but in a classic, simple way. So I decorate with a light hand and try to enhance what I already have. Tip #8: Sometimes less is indeed more. If there are a lot of things fighting for attention, they make less impact.

Of course, in the end, holiday decorating is all about the things you love and treasure, about your very own holiday traditions. Have fun!

Be sure to visit Brenda to read about her Christmas decorating ideas for a small space.

Grab a cup of coffee or hot chocolate, sit down in a cozy chair and pay everyone a visit. I know I will be visiting everyone. Let's spread some holiday cheer! With great thanks and holiday wishes from my little cottage. Blessings to you all.

----------------------------------------------
Links will remain open for two days, so if you need some extra time to link up, you've got it!

To link up to our party:

1. Publish your post and please remember to link back to my blog.
2. Click on the title of your post and copy the post's URL from the top of your browser.
3. Use the linky tool at the bottom of this post and paste the URL into the appropriate box. The directions are easy to follow.

A Necco Snow Globe

2011-12-12T06:00:00.000-05:00

You all know about my recent find: the vintage Necco candy jar with its Art Deco styling.

Suzan suggested that I turn it on its side and create a Christmas scene inside. I couldn't get that idea out of my head, so I trotted off to the store to get some Epsom salts for that snowy look. No Epsom salts. But they did have kosher salt. Perfect.

I used some bottle brush trees, a couple of smallish pine cones, and one of my Putz houses.

The view from above.

I really love it. I didn't tell Don about it, just waited to see if he noticed it. I was upstairs sewing in the studio when I heard, "Brilliant!" Smile. I quickly told him, however, that it was someone else's idea. That's one of the fabulous perks of blogland - it's a wonderland of ideas shared by generous fellow bloggers.

I've seen a variety of snow globes all over blogland; sometimes in a small jar or under a cloche - you could create one quite easily. I had everything on hand except for the kosher salt which was about $1.50. Kosher salt is great because it's coarse and looks glittery and snow-like.

I may have to make another one. Maybe you could make a snow globe today!

Don't forget - tomorrow is a special edition of Defending the Small House. The theme is Christmas Decorating in a Small House and we are inviting you to join in via a linky party. I'll have the links up and ready just after midnight - east coast time. Join us!

A Walk Down the Road

2011-12-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

Scout and I took a walk yesterday - just down the road from our cottage. Would you like to come along?

(All photos taken with my iPhone)

Thank you for taking the time to leave me such heartfelt and caring comments. You are all so dear to me. I'm going to make some lists today. Walking with my Scoutie and some work on a stitching project that I'll share with you soon helped. No answers so far, but I managed to distract myself and that in itself was a blessing.

And I made some hot chocolate. But then again, I do that almost every day.

Have a wonderful Sunday.

A Penny for your Thoughts

2011-12-10T09:34:00.001-05:00

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by everything? When all that needs to be done, or decided upon, or fixed, or tolerated, or accepted whirls around in your brain endlessly and the enormity of it all overwhelms you?

That's where I am at the moment.

There's so much to attend to. I'm not talking about Christmas - ours is usually fairly calm and simple. No, this involves life decisions; trying to create work that will bring in an income, while at the same time trying to live on considerably less than we have earned in the past, wrestling with all that needs to be fixed in this house and wondering where the money will come from, worrying endlessly about my parents and sometimes feeling so sad about them that I cannot bear it.

I tend to live in my head and that isn't always good.

I'm a firm believer in the simple truth that we create our lives. That thoughts have power and that sending out positive thoughts and visualizing the end results we want to see in our lives will ultimately create those results. What you send out comes back to you. Simple, but profound.

But sometimes I get to a place where I am caught in a whirlwind of my own jumbled fearful thoughts and try as I might, I can't find my way to the place I need to be.

What do you do when this happens to you? How do you break away from worry and take action? Any advice? I have a feeling I already know the answer but I'd love to hear your thoughts, my friends.

Decorating: Broken Ornaments and Coffee Cups

2011-12-09T09:52:00.001-05:00

Yes, the decorating has begun. In fact, I'm almost done. On a whim, husband and I got our Christmas Tree on Wednesday, a few days earlier than usual. Yesterday, the tree was decorated. Not without mishaps: one of my favorite vintage ornaments fell and shattered into tiny shards; Don decided to have some coffee and while pouring it into a mug that had a tiny hairline crack, watched in horror as the mug exploded into pieces and coffee spilled onto everything - including Riley.

Now Riley smells like coffee.

Outside lights are up.
Trees are decorated.
Wreaths are hung.
House is a mess.

After I finish up today, the big bins will be carted back to their home in the shed.

I might even store all the summery porch paraphernalia. This is the longest I have ever let that particular chore go.

The dollhouse has been moved to the living room to make room for the Christmas tree. The decorating elves worked a little magic here, as well.

Don't forget - next Tuesday's Holiday edition of Defending the Small House will include a Linky Party. Take some pictures of your holiday home and share them with us!

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

2011-12-08T09:58:00.001-05:00

The Good: My Christmas Present came early. On purpose. I've been wanting an iPhone for the longest time. I'll admit it - I envied all my friends who had one. I'm not a person who needs the newest and best in the tech/electronic world. But the iPhone? That's another story. I patiently waited until I qualified for an upgrade, which just so happened to coincide with the Christmas season.

I validated this particular Christmas present wish to my husband by saying that (a) I tend to be on the road a lot (how valuable it would be!) (b) I could take cool photos when I didn't have my camera on hand (for the blog!) (c) it has all sorts of Apps that are lifesavers (and free!) (d) it has much better reception that my other cell phone (it does!) (e) I can get a GPS App (safety when driving alone!)

I took advantage of the new iPhone 4S coming out and got the previous model, the iPhone 4. Much, much less money. I'm totally in love with it. I chose the white version....so pretty!

The Bad: We had very heavy rains yesterday and last night. Our roof started leaking again. It's either the chimney flashing or some problem with a shingle or two. Hurricane Irene inflicted some sort of damage up there. We'll have to have someone take a look at it. Cross your fingers that it's only a minor repair, please?

The Ugly: While dealing with the leaky roof at 1:00 am, I grabbed my pretty cane-back chair (from the studio,) and proceeded to step up on the seat. The chair fell over and I stepped right through the cane. Yep. I was too tired to cry. I think I can patch it with some glue, but it will never look as pretty as it did.

That was my favorite chair. Ever.

I took the photo with the neat Hipstamatic App on the iPhone. This shot provides a little peek into our lives this morning. The lint brush is out because Scout sheds profusely. The box the iPhone came in is still on the coffee table. Those aqua bins are full of Christmas decorations, and Scout is looking toward the stairs because she thinks she heard her dad getting up. False alarm. She's now back to her floor position.

I'm going on very little sleep but the sun has just come out. That helps.

When Do You Do Your Christmas Decorating?

2011-12-07T05:00:00.000-05:00

Let me say, straight off, this is a photo from last year's tree. I do not decorate until the second week of December.

Christmas is wonderful, magical, full of meaning. To my mind, the season does not start the day after Thanksgiving. I need a little breathing space. I need to take in the end of November, the early days of December, the fading away of Autumn, before I start decorating. For me, the holiday season loses its magic if decorations have been up for weeks by the time Christmas day rolls around.

I also have a major issue with the way merchandisers and advertisers push the season on us earlier and earlier every year. So, as is often the case with me, I dig in my heels and do the opposite of what they want me to do.

I have a feeling many of us base the starting date of Christmas decorating on what our families did when we were young. My parents didn't decorate until about mid-December. We kept the decorations up through New Year's Day. As a kid, I really loved the anticipation, the looking forward to that special day when we decorated our home, because it meant that Christmas was about 2 weeks away.

I do the same. We also buy a real tree every year and I want it to last through the holidays. So, we'll go out this Friday and get our tree. We'll let it sit for day, give the branches a chance to settle. then we'll put on our favorite Christmas music and decorate. I may hang the outdoor lights earlier in the week. Maybe.

When my dad was a kid, his family didn't decorate their tree until Christmas Eve. I know others who decorate right after Thanksgiving. Some choose not to decorate. Variety is the spice of life!

What do you do? Tell me. Have you already decorated? Do you count the days in November until it's time to decorate for the holidays? Or do you wait? What is your family tradition?

Defending the Small House #4

2011-12-06T06:00:00.000-05:00

{Living Big in 1200 Square Feet}

Week #4: Storage in a Small Kitchen

Welcome to week number four in our Defending the Small House Series. Brenda and I were chatting about our small kitchens the other day. I've lived with mine for 6 years now and Brenda, with a recent move, is just getting used to hers. I had to live with my space for a while to figure out what I needed.

Here are some of my solutions.

The kitchen itself is a large room, but one half of the room is meant for a table and chairs. There are large windows on all the walls. Consequently there isn't a lot of wall space. The cupboards are at the other end of the room. There aren't many of them and there is very little counter space.

Tip#1: Create additional storage space with stand alone furniture. I've done this with 3 large pieces of furniture. Not long after we moved in, we bought a storage bench that sits just inside our door. It provides additional seating, as well as storage for those things that I need to have on hand but don't use very often.

I use the space underneath the bench to store a basket that holds dog towels (required for muddy paws!) If the basket was sitting on the floor by itself, it would look out of place. But by tucking it underneath the bench, it looks as if it was designed for that spot.

This kitchen cupboard came with us when we moved here from our rental cottage. There was even less space in that kitchen, but there was a bit of available wall space between the cupboards and the refrigerator. We found this cupboard which has proved invaluable in both kitchens. It holds a lot of china, including my entire set of good dishes. There is no space for them in the kitchen cupboards. Behind the doors are dog brushes and combs, cleaners, swiffers, dusters, window cleaner, lint brushes...if you don't have enough cupboard space, find a piece that has cupboards built in.

And the third piece is the kitchen island. I've written about it in past posts. I was desperately in need of more storage space and more counter space. I purposely looked for an old sideboard that would fit in our space. Once I found it, a little paint transformed it into a kitchen island.

This is a life saver for us. Not only does it provide additional counter space but look at those cupboards and drawers! I store pots and pans in the cupboards, as well as my Kitchen-Aid mixer and blender. The top drawer holds linens and dish towels, the bottom holds all sorts of baking pans. I didn't have room for these before the kitchen island came into being.

Now we have a fair amount of floor space, so I was able to go for something long. But I've seen smaller versions of these sideboards. I've also used a butcher block, a rolling metal cart, and a rolling wooden cart for extra counter space in other kitchens.

Under the island? Big containers of dog food. They would look very unattractive if they were out in the open. Since they are stored under the island, that isn't a problem.

Tip #2: Look at pieces of furniture in a fresh way. Think about how you can repurpose them for your small kitchen. I cannot tell you how vital this old sideboard turned kitchen island has become to our daily kitchen life. I use it all the time. Don uses it all the time. If we had to rely on counter space, we'd be in trouble. If you look at the photo above, you'll see the large black microwave that came with this house. I'm too cheap to get rid of a perfectly good microwave (though I look forward to the day I can get a smaller one) and it takes up a lot of counter space. The island gives that space back to me, and more.

Tip #3: You can have a pantry in a small kitchen. And it doesn't have to be a walk-in pantry. I can't take credit for ours. It was here when we moved in. But, oh my gosh, it holds so much! It's about 3 ft wide, only 12 inches deep, but when you open it:

Not only are there the shelves you see here, the inside of each door has shelves as well. They aren't deep but they hold a lot. (I'm trying to talk Brenda into building something like this in her kitchen.) I'm showing you this because it doesn't take up a lot of space. Perhaps you can find a bit of available wall space or a corner where you could build something like this.

Tip #4: Sometimes the strangest thing can be repurposed for storage. Not long after we moved in here, we went to a small local auction. Because we love old signs and graphics, we bid on this old chain display piece - simply because we liked the fonts and the colors. We had no idea what we were going to do with it. The next day, I had a moment of inspiration, cut some dowels and came up with this:

Our paper towel holder. It may not be for everyone, but we love it. It's a great conversation piece that looks like a piece of folk art and it keeps plenty of paper towels on hand. I like the idea that this piece which used to live in a hardware store now lives and functions very nicely in our kitchen.

Tip #5: Pottery, baskets and boxes make for great storage in a small kitchen. I use my pottery to hold all sorts of things.

This pitcher holds my collection of bakelite-handled flatware.

This old wooden box holds bottles of distilled water for the dogs.

Back to this photo: there's a piece of McCoy pottery on the window sill that I use to hold utensils, even paint brushes; there's an old jar that holds dog biscuits, I store a large Fiesta serving piece on top of the microwave, that vintage red canister holds cookie cutters, and a large white crock holds utensils that we use constantly when cooking.

Use vases to hold utensils, wooden boxes to hold plates or placemats, baskets to hold spices or napkins - the possibilities are endless.

Storage problems can be solved. How I wish I had a photo of our kitchen in the rental we lived in before we moved to the cottage. It was teeny-tiny. Both my current kitchen and Brenda's look huge compared to that space. I had an old butcher block that I used for a kitchen island. It was about 2 feet by 2 feet. (We just sold it recently through Craigs List. I feel sort of sad.) I managed to fit in the kitchen cupboard. I hung pots and pans from a metal rack hung on the wall. Somehow we managed to make it work and make it work efficiently.

You can, too.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Be sure to visit Brenda for her tips.

Next week: Christmas decorating in a small house. We're going to have a linky party, as well! So get ready to share your decorating ideas for a small space with us. The links will be at the bottom of my post. Next Tuesday, December 13th!

Mockingbird...Hummingbird

2011-12-05T09:14:00.001-05:00

Work on the dollhouse has slowed a bit lately. It's hard to keep those construction crews working when other things need to be done. They tell me they need more wallpaper and trim for the bathroom and studio. They have to tile the bathroom floor. Blah, blah, blah. There's always something.

The dollhouse finally has a street address. 21 is my favorite, maybe even lucky, number. It's my birthdate. The urns arrived a few weeks ago. My plan is to age them a bit with some paint. I'm not crazy about this color. They will be filled with something festive for the holidays.

A long time ago I wrote a post about the dollhouse and asked everyone to suggest a name for this sweet cottage. One name stuck with me: Hummingbird Cottage. I'm sorry to say that I cannot remember who suggested it - if you did, let me know. Drum roll.....I dub thee, "Hummingbird Cottage."

There. It's official.

I'd say the street name is Mockingbird Lane, but wasn't that the street the Munsters or Addams Family lived on? I'll have to google that.

Don, poor guy, worked until midnight last night, got up early today to start jury duty, will come home, change clothes and work until late tonight. Let's hope he doesn't have to serve on a jury. A day or two of this schedule is hard enough, but a whole week?

Be sure to come back tomorrow, when Brenda and I tackle the challenge of finding storage in a small kitchen.

Googled it. The Munsters lived at 1313 Mockingbird Lane.

Use Other Stair

2011-12-04T08:50:00.001-05:00

Last week, when Don and I were out and about looking at everything vintage, he saw a sign that he loved. He called me over and I agreed it would be a wonderful addition to our home. But we didn't see a price and, since old signs tend to be pricey around here, we moved on. I thought about it several times during the course of the week. Turns out Don did, too.

Yesterday I was visiting the same shop and figured it was time to at least ask about the price.

$24.

Hello.

Welcome home.

But please use the other stair. If you can find it. The only 'other stair' around here is the spooky one that leads down to our outside-entrance-half-basement. If you want to use it, more power to you.

It's no secret that we love words and fonts and signs. We have signs scattered around the cottage. This one is made out of wood and measures 24 x 18. It's old, chippy and battered. Just the way I like it. The dark green color perfectly matches the green fabric on our desk chair - a lucky coincidence.

And as Don says, it balances "all the flowers."

Really? There are too many flowers here? I don't think so.

But he's right. Being aware of the weight and balance of a room is important.

Evidence: Christie's beautiful rose painting on the left, graphically wonderful sign on the right.

And it's fun. Everyone needs a bit of fun in their home.

Presents for Your Loved Ones (or You!)

2011-12-03T09:57:00.001-05:00

Every once in a while, I treat myself to a little something. The challenge is to get something for a wee amount of money. Do you do that, as well?

Yesterday, my little treats arrived.

First up: This is both a personal and business-type treat.

My business cards from Moo. Have you visited Moo? They offer business cards, mini cards, Christmas cards...you name it. I ordered the mini cards about a year ago, and though they are lovely, they're just too small for me. This time I went with a regular business card. The process couldn't be easier. I uploaded a favorite blog header photo and the rest was a breeze. You can put what you like on the back. I included my blog URL and the URL of my future Etsy shop. The card stock is of a great quality; thick and durable. I ordered 50 cards for $21.90, but they have all sorts of quantities.

These would be a great stocking stuffer for you or someone you love. And Moo has no idea I'm writing about them, I'm just pleased as punch by the quality.

Next up: While reading one of my favorite blogs, Pretty By Hand (you should see the wonderful quilts and embroidery created by this blogger,) I came across this post. It was all about the pin toppers created by talented Gigi Minor of Pinks and Needles. I was instantly smitten. What's a pin topper? Here's the one I ordered:

A little bluebird. She makes these. You should see the amazingly scrumptious pin toppers in her Etsy Shop. They are so lovely, so whimsical that I dare you not to fall in love with them.

Little bluebird is flying right over the pincushion I bought from Betty. I can tell you right now: I will be ordering more of these. She has cupcakes, flowers, a little sewing machine....I want them all.

Oh drat, there's a dog hair on the pincushion. But then, there are dog hairs everywhere here.

I'm thinking these would also make excellent stocking stuffers or gifts for someone who loves sewing and needlework. Or they could be a special treat for you.

Last, but not least: Many of you may already know of her blog, but for those of you who don't...stop everything and read Susan Branch's blog. Yes, that Susan Branch. Writer, illustrator, and nester. She writes the most wonderful posts - all about food and home and the seasons and pets and everything that makes a house a home. You really feel like you're sitting by the fire in her home, chatting away.

I've known about Susan for a long time, but when I first discovered her blog, I did that thing you do when you are instantly entranced by someone. I went back and read every entry. I even bought 2 of her books because I now have a big old crush on her.

Give yourself a little present. Make a cup hot chocolate and settle in with her wonderful writing and illustrations. And make a cup for me!

Smooth Sailing

2011-12-02T08:31:00.001-05:00

During this time that my Mom has been in rehab and, soon, a nursing home, my Dad and I have talked on the phone several times a day. Mom will never be back in the house she and Dad shared. That this is terribly sad is an understatement. My Dad is heartbroken. So our calls cover everything: the good, the bad, the sad, the heartbreak.

Dad worked for Michigan Bell Telephone Company for over 40 years. That probably accounts for the fact that he hates to talk on the phone. If Mom was home and well, these phone calls would not be happening. One nugget of good that has come from all of this is our talks. We've come to know each other on a deeper level. I've shared things with Dad that normally wouldn't come up in the course of a one minute "Hi Dad, how are you?" conversation. And he's done the same with me.

The other day, he told me a box was coming in the mail. Yesterday, it arrived. Packed carefully inside was this:

A beautiful wooden boat with cloth sails. Maybe a schooner? Here's the story he shared with me. When Mom and Dad retired to their beautiful home in Northern Michigan after living downstate in Dearborn for nearly 40 years, they visited Mackinaw Island. This move 'up north' had been a dream of theirs for a long, long time. They had finally done it. When Mom saw this boat, she bought it for my Dad and gave it to him with the words, "There will be only smooth sailing ahead."

That was 25 or so years ago. Dad gave this to Don and me with the wish that there be only "smooth sailing" ahead for us. I cannot put into words how deeply this touches me.

I really love this little ship. Welcome to Mockingbird Hill Cottage.

Thanks, Dad.

By the way, the whole time I have been taking pictures of the boat, I have been straddling this:

When Riley sprawls, he sprawls. He has yet to get up for the day. Typical boy; he likes to sleep in.

Have a lovely Friday.

Craft/DIY: Crochet Snowflake Garland

2011-12-01T10:00:00.000-05:00

Last year I shared a pattern for a crochet garland. Whenever you see a photo of the white cabinet in the living room you see the garland, which is hanging on the cabinet door.

That was right around the holidays and I remarked how much like snowflakes these little flowers looked. So yesterday I played around a bit with yarn and hook.

Sweet little yarn snowflakes. As I begin this post on Wednesday evening, I've made about 9 or 10 or them. By the time I post tomorrow, I'll have made more.

I'm back on a sunny Thursday morning. I did indeed make more snowflakes, while watching Dial M for Murder on TCM. Alfred Hitchcock and crochet = perfect evening.

I count 14 snowflakes. But you can make as many as you want. Lots more and you'd have tree garland. Or you could hang each snowflake separately, with different lengths of ribbon, and place them in a window. If you have some butcher's twine in that yummy red and white combination, you could use that as the base for your garland. It would look very Christmas-y.

Simple. And sweet. The birds approve.

I used Sugar 'n Cream yarn in white. You can find it at Michael's and most likely Hobby Lobby and Joann's. I chose it because it's the next best thing to Peaches n' Cream. I used Peaches n' Cream for the aqua garland because I had a lot on hand and the yarn itself is rather stiff which makes it perfect for this kind of thing. Sugar n' Cream is less stiff, but still works. It's also very inexpensive.

If you're interested in trying this, here's the link for the pattern (which is based on this pattern.) You can make your snowflakes any size you want - I ended up making 7 loops on these. The snowflakes should look folky and handmade, so have fun!

And by the way, I'm not 'officially' decorating yet. Just playing. Decorating will not begin for at least a week!

Around the Cottage

2011-11-30T08:49:00.001-05:00

Well, the big news here at Mockingbird Hill Cottage is....hang on to your hats...the septic tank was emptied yesterday!

I know. Take a moment to collect yourself. If I had been a bit more on top of things, I would have taken pictures. I could have devoted a whole post to the process.

Let me tell you, the guy who drives that truck and empties the tank deserves to be paid very well.

I keep forgetting to share this little gem with you. I discovered it in a local shop and was planning to sell it in my future Etsy shop. But Don claimed it. It's about 2 inches high and says:

I'll hold your rings
For you;
While dishes or
Washing you do.

Souvenir of Lake George, NY

Lake George is quite a bit north of us, in the Adirondacks.

The little lid comes off and there is a little well with a piece of wood in the center, just like a ring holder. I used this on Thanksgiving when I took my wedding ring off in order to make biscuits. It lives on the window ledge by the sink. I love these little wooden souvenirs. They look handmade and are so gosh darned charming.

Can you find Scout in the background of the photo?

By the way, I've actually signed up for my Etsy shop! Someone already had the name Mockingbird Hill - I couldn't add 'Cottage' because there were too many characters. So it will be under my user name of ScoutHarper. I have no idea when it will open, but I'm aiming for the first of the year. I will carry vintage finds and some handmade things, as well. I'm getting excited.

Playing with the Necco Candy Jar:

Filled with the fabric Easter eggs I made a couple of years ago. The pastel colors remind me of yummy candy.

I'll eventually fill it with something Christmas-y but I refuse to start Christmas decorating this early. I'm adamant about the subject. Hey, I love Christmas decorations as much as anyone else, but for me, the season loses its sense of wonder if I rush into decorating the minute Thanksgiving has ended. We always get a real tree - usually around December 10th or so. Then the decorating will begin.

They're in the jar temporarily. In fact, I've already removed them. The inside of the jar still smells musty. I've used coffee grounds in the past to remove mustiness. I have some ready to go. Any other suggestions?

I must thank you for the wonderful and moving comments on the "Blogging Etiquette: Mean Girls" post. Wow. I read them all more than once. I was touched and in some cases, moved to tears. This clearly resonates with all of us. Whether we've witnessed someone being bullied or suffered through the bullying of one of our children or have been bullied ourselves - this kind of behavior leaves lasting scars. I feel passionately about the subject and it's clear that you do, too. Thank you.

Defending the Small House #3

2011-11-29T05:00:00.000-05:00

{Living Big in 1200 Square Feet}

Week #3: Cozy Lighting in a Small House

Welcome to week number three of our 'Defending the Small House" series. Brenda and I thought we would chat about cozy lighting this week.

(Apologies to those of you who thought I published this post last night! I hit publish accidentally - with no text other than our logo. Yikes.)

Let me say, right at the top, I do not like most overhead lighting in a room. I'm not talking about chandeliers, necessarily. I'm really speaking about those fixtures that sit in the ceiling in the middle of a room. We all have them. Each bedroom in the house I grew up in had a ceiling fixture and even at a young age, I begged for a lamp instead. The light from those fixtures is harsh and doesn't create a cozy, warm space.

Tip#1: Avoid relying on overhead fixtures. Create a warm look and feel with lamps scattered around the room. The only overhead lights I use are the 6 pot lights in the kitchen ceiling. And in the evening, I warm up the light in the kitchen by using this lamp.

I find myself turning it on even when the overhead lights are on. It somehow softens the light and adds warmth to the room. After I'm done in the kitchen for the night, off go the pot lights and this little lamp stays on. (By the way, I covered the shade with fabric from my stash. It has so much more personality now.)

The other overhead lights in this house are in the hallway and upstairs bathroom. Still haven't found something for the bathroom (I'm looking) but in the hallway, which is also my studio, I use this lamp in the evening.

It sits on the bookcase and immediately adds warmth to the the hallway/studio. Be gone, overhead light!

I like the soft pools of light that lamps produce. Overhead lights, even the ever popular chandeliers, just don't do that.

Tip #2: Reading lamps should be plentiful. They should provide good, strong light for you and your family and guests. I've been a guest at a few homes where there weren't enough lamps available for reading. Sometimes there's a lamp available but the lightbulb isn't a high enough wattage to provide good light. If you're worried about the wattage being too strong, get one of those 3-way bulbs. Or put the lamp on a dimmer. I'd rather have too many lamps than too few.

I don't know about you, but I need reading glasses now and I need good light!

In our home we have reading lamps by all the main seating pieces.

There's a floor lamp that you can't see by the loveseat. You'll see it later. It lights the reading area for both the loveseat and the chair. There's another floor lamp between the piano and the yellow chair. It works nicely for reading or playing the piano. As you look through the french doors into the den, the lamp that is lit is by my blogging chair. We also have lamps on either side of the sofa.

By the way, I bought this lamp (in the den) when I was in my early twenties at Hudson's warehouse sale. Hudson's used to be the major department store in the Detroit area. Unfortunately it has been swallowed up by Macy's. Just wanted to mention that it has had many shades and has been with me for, ahem, many years and it still works like a charm.

Is this the time for me to say I detest CFLs? I know they are supposedly good for the environment, although the fact that they need special clean-up and disposal because they have mercury in them is worrisome. But until the light is softer and warmer I will be staying with incandescent bulbs - even if I have to order them from some far-off place.

Tip #3: Add small lamps that are wonderfully quirky and bring warmth to a corner or two. I call these personality lamps. I have a few of them. I love placing them in a corner where they add to the evening ambiance.

This is my parakeet lamp. It provides a soft, subtle glow.

Don and I found this little lamp several years ago and fell in love with it. Eventually I found the perfect red shade. It sits on our spinet desk and softly lights the base of the staircase.

Tip#4: Take your standard issue lamps and add shades that make them stand out. We have a floor lamp that I bought many years ago from Pottery Barn. It's had several shades over the years and frankly, I wasn't happy with any of them. Two years ago, I was working in California and I found this shade at Christie Repasy's shop. I fell in love with it.

Beautiful, vintage - it changes the whole room. (Don isn't as crazy about it as I am, but it's staying.)

Here's what it looks like in the evening. (Still haven't painted the base white. I will.)

Our other floor lamp was missing it's original glass shade when we bought it. It came with a paper shade that just didn't work. But the lamp itself had beautiful green glass in the stem and base. I carried the measurements with me for months until I found the right shade. The green (which is around the rim of the shade) perfectly matches the green glass on the base.

Tip#5: Grab that glue gun and decorate your lampshade! Take a run-of-the-mill lampshade and add buttons or flowers or fabric or burlap or vintage hankies and change it out completely. That's what I did with the kitchen lamp. The shade was old and stained and one day I grabbed some fabric from my stash and covered it. It made a huge difference.

Add some buttons or lace around the rim. What about some fringe? A bit of whimsey can completely change the look of a standard shade.

What's on my wish list? Sconces for the sides of the cupboards on either side of the kitchen sink. A small light in the upstairs half bath. It would have to take up very little space and be hung on the wall because of the size restrictions in that room. That's it. We can't have a chandelier because this is an old house with low ceilings and my husband is 6'4" - that would be disaster. Though I love the look of them, they really aren't a good fit for this little cottage.

I just have to add: I've been watching a lot of House Hunters in the evenings. Don's been working late. Am I the only one who's sick of seeing young buyers look at a large walk-in closet and say it's too small? Or complain, yet again, that the appliances aren't stainless? They really haven't a clue, have they?

I hope you've enjoyed this week's edition of Defending the Small House. We love to hear your comments, ideas and suggestions. Make sure you visit Brenda and see her ideas on cozy lighting. See you next week!

Blogging Etiquette: Mean Girls

2011-11-28T00:30:00.000-05:00

This is a bit of a rant, so bear with me.

The other day a friend sent me a link to a couple of blog posts that I found deeply troubling. The blogs and bloggers shall remain nameless. Since I'm talking about blogging etiquette here, linking to them or naming names would be bad manners on my part.

One blogger wrote disparagingly about a woman who was sitting nearby in a public space. A certain aspect of her appearance apparently didn't meet with the blogger's approval. Not only did she write about this woman in a negative way based on something purely superficial, her readers joined in. The comment section was full of mean-spirited comments and the written equivalent of laughter about the other woman and the way she looked - a woman, by the way, that none of the commenters had actually seen. Only one commenter had the guts to call them on this bitchy, hurtful behavior. We used to call it 'picking on' someone. It's also called bullying. Whatever you call it, it's despicable. They were picking on someone who didn't even know she was being written about - who didn't have the chance to respond or fight back.

The other blogger published a photo of herself with a very heavy set person (facing away from the camera) prominently in the background. She invited her readers to give the post a caption. For the moment, I'll give her the benefit of the doubt and assume her intention was for the title to be about the part of the photo she herself was in. Anyway, her readers did supply titles. Not very nice ones. Most of them - not all - were pertaining to the innocent person in the background of the photo who didn't even know her picture was being taken. As to my 'benefit of the doubt' - the blogger didn't elect to delete the comments. Or even address them. And I assume she cropped, or didn't crop, the photo. It's getting harder and harder to make that 'benefit of the doubt' stick, isn't it? Making fun of someone who can't fight back is all too easy. It takes no skill, no wit, and certainly no strength of character.

Both bloggers are younger, probably in their early thirties, and are "mommy bloggers." A different generation than me. Both have children. I can't help but wonder how they would address this kind of behavior if it was directed against their children? Would they say it's wrong? Would they be spitting mad if anyone bullied or picked on their children? They would have every right to be. Or, on the other hand, will their children emulate their mothers? After all, parents are role models, aren't they? What kind of example is being set here?

Do they not realize that what they are doing is wrong? That tearing someone else down to build yourself up is the worst kind of behavior? That there is no excuse for it whatsoever? And all this is being done publicly, on the internet, where anyone can see it, including the innocent victims.

I've said this before on this blog: the blogging world is just like the real world. It reminds me of both the good and bad parts of high school. There are kind, funny, talented, generous, compassionate and genuinely good bloggers out there. There are cliques. There is a sort of 'in crowd.' There are popularity contests. And apparently there are mean girls (and mean boys, I suppose) who trash those who are 'different,' who march to the beat of a different drum, who dare to look and dress in a style that doesn't meet with their approval, or whose body weight doesn't conform to their standards.

It's so disappointing. And, to be honest, it makes me very angry. Even as a kid, I didn't tolerate that kind of behavior. Thanks to my parents, I knew it was wrong. You would think that as adults, we would be able to leave the need for that kind of petty, pathetic aggression behind. I guess we can use our blogs in any way we choose, but to use a blog as a vehicle to make fun of someone you don't even know and have never really talked to, simply because you're bored and want to trash some innocent bystander - well, to my mind, that is beneath contempt. And sadly, it brings out a sort of mob mentality in those who comment.

I expect more from women. We should raise each other up. We should show compassion. We should cheer each other on. And we should show, by our behavior, by the words we choose to write, that bullying of any kind is unacceptable.

I realize I'm preaching to the choir here. Thankfully, my readers and the bloggers I visit are simply not like that.

We all say and do things we regret. But the beauty of writing a blog is that we have the chance to think and edit before we hit 'publish.'

I love blogging. I guess my love for this medium makes the misuse of it even more shocking to me. And the sad fact that no one stood up for these unknown women, save one person, is very troubling. Maybe I'm naive to expect more of grown women. But I do. They should be deeply ashamed.

Vintage Find: Necco Candy Jar

2011-11-27T09:43:00.001-05:00

Don and I drove to a favorite antique shop yesterday. The day was so beautiful that we had to get out of the house and pretend it was spring! Anyway, my plan was to look, not buy.

But then I saw this:

This is a vintage Necco Candies display jar. It's about 11 inches tall.

Look at the Art Deco-style graduated glass sides. It reminds me of the Chrysler Building. I'm a sucker for this style.

Swoon-worthy Deco graphics. Well, swoon-worthy for me.

I saw a vintage jar lot (4 or 5 fabulous designs) at auction last year. I bid on them, but they quickly went out of my price range. I'm fairly sure this jar was part of that lot. Since the auction is local, the buyers are usually local dealers. Several months ago, I saw an Art Deco-style jar with ridges in the design that I recognized from the auction lot in this very shop. I didn't buy it and I kicked myself for it later. But, wonder of wonders, I got another chance.

I still hemmed and hawed. Could I justify the purchase?

Don started to list all the treasures I could display in the jar. (He gets us, ladies.) He suggested that I use it for a rotating display.

Okay, you talked me into it.

I'm not putting this in my studio. It will live in the living room and kitchen.

Would you leave some suggestions for treasures to display in the jar? Obviously, with Christmas coming, my first thought is vintage ornaments. Or pine cones (I have a slew of them, gathered from all the places I've lived.)

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

By the way, I used to live fairly close to a Necco factory in Cambridge, MA. And I love Neccos. So, it's rather perfect, isn't it?

Frugal Decorating: The Living Room

2011-11-26T08:41:00.001-05:00

It's no secret that I like vintage. I'm drawn to previously loved items. They have a story to tell.

I'm also fairly frugal when it comes to furnishing my home. This frugality comes partly out of necessity but also out of a strong sense that I can get what I want for much, much less than I would at a big box store and that it will have much more style and personality to boot.

I thought, as Brenda and I explore living in a small space, I would occasionally highlight a room in my house and its mostly frugally obtained contents. Today, the living room.

Okay. Starting in the lower left and corner:

Red chair: Snagged in an antique mall in San Diego around 13 years ago. I was drawn to it because it reminded me of a chair my grandparents had in their den. Cost? $50.

Green table: You can see it peeking out between the chair and the loveseat. Chippy green paint and pretty lines - found it in an antique shop in a neighboring town about 8 years ago. Cost? $30. I probably overpaid for it.

Loveseat: My first piece of furniture for my Cambridge apartment oh-so-many-years-ago. I think I paid $400 for it. I've had it for at least 21 years. It's lived all over the country. Underneath the slip cover are dark gray cushions that have seen a lot of wear. Slipcovers are a wonderful thing - this particular one changes the look of the loveseat from slightly boring to vintage. When you calculate how many years I've had it and the cost, it has paid for itself many times over.

Coffee table: Our friend cut this down and refinished it for a client who ended up deciding against it. We bought it from him for $75.

Rugs: Both rugs are from Lowe's. Can't remember the exact price, but they were around $80 each on sale.

Wicker rocker: Purchased at an antique mall - cost? $60.

Sideboard: Don and I bought this when we first moved in together. That means we've had it for 16 years. It's heavy, made of tiger oak and gorgeous. I'm not sure on this one but I think it was around $150.

Large white cabinet: Huge, lots of storage inside, beautiful and snagged for $100 at auction.

Blue bench (next to cabinet): Found in a little antique store - lots of beautiful patina and chippy paint. Cost? $40.

Yellow chair: This is the only piece that we paid full price for. We bought it a few years back for $800. Yikes. We needed another chair and couldn't find one that was comfy enough. It's really well-made and will last a long, long time. A rare purchase for us.

White table: Free. It used to be a prop in the Boston University prop space. I grabbed it for my office at BU. Somehow it made its way to my apartment. I've had it for about 21 years. I painted it about 2 years ago.

Piano: Free. I inherited it from my grandmother.

Forgot the lab stool (by the chimney in this photo): Found it at a local antique store for $25. It functions as a table and as a way to reach the pot lights in the kitchen as well as the top of the cupboards.

Also forgot the lamps: The floor lamp by the loveseat was on sale at Pottery Barn. Can't remember the price - bought it many years ago in San Diego. The parakeet lamp on the sideboard was a birthday present. The vintage floor lamp by the piano was about $50 - again, bought many years ago in San Diego.

I also hang on to my furniture for a long time. I don't decorate according to 'trends' or 'what's hot' at the moment. I choose things I love and that suit my style and that will stand the test of time. And even if I could afford one, I would never have a decorator. Too much money for someone else's input and/or style. Not for me.

Isn't finding a previously loved piece a wonderful thing? And getting a bargain to boot?

Have a great Saturday. It's sunny here and the temperature is supposed to be in the low 60's. Yippee!

Mr. Cardinal

2011-11-25T07:38:00.001-05:00

I glanced out the kitchen window the other day, saw 3 little birds, a woodpecker and our cardinal hanging out together, and ran for my camera. By the time I got back, everyone was gone but Mr. Cardinal. The same thing happened to me last year. I suppose I could walk around the house, camera hanging around my neck, always at the ready for any photo opportunity - but let's face it, my neck would hurt after a while.

I did manage to snag a great shot of Mr. Cardinal, my elusive friend:

I didn't edit anything on this photo. Just resized it.

I'm not especially enamored of gray skies and wintry weather. But I find great delight in the occasional splash of red on the landscape provided by Mr. Cardinal. Cardinals are beautiful any time of year, but winter seems made for them. Mr. Cardinal is fast. He doesn't stay in one place very long, so capturing him via the camera lens is always a challenge. When I finally looked at my shots, every one of them was blurry but one. One is fine with me. Victory!

How was your Thanksgiving? Ours was just perfect. A long walk with the dogs on a beautiful sunny day and dinner cooked by...me. No, you're not seeing things. I cooked the whole meal and I have to say it was Delicious. We ate too much, of course, that seems to be required on Thanksgiving. I wasn't sure if we would have pie after eating that rich coconut cream birthday pie but who am I kidding? No pumpkin pie? Nuts! I'm sure glad I made it. Ummm-mmm good!

I will waddle around the house today. Or perhaps I should take a walk. That might be the wiser choice.
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Oh, almost forgot - Brenda and I have a new logo for our Defending the Small House Series. This one suits us to a T!

Cooking on Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T08:06:00.001-05:00

I'll be spending a lot of time at the stove today. Or rather, my new Aga cooker. Yes, I know I've mentioned how times are tough for us - that I'm frugal by necessity. But Don surprised me with a new Aga for my birthday!

You know where this is going.

It's for the dollhouse. I'm thrilled because I have had one of these bookmarked on this computer for about 3 years. (Photos are a bit grainy because it's early morning here and shooting into the dollhouse kitchen is like photographing a tunnel.)

I baked a cake.

I've always loved British decorating magazines with cozy, low-ceilinged kitchens complete with an Aga. Now I can say I own one.

But back to the true meaning of today. I wish for you and your loved ones a Happy Thanksgiving. I could list all the negatives in my life at the moment, but I'm not going to. Gratitude and thankfulness is the order of the day. I have much to be thankful for and I truly am aware of my blessings every day.

I am very thankful for all of you.

Eat lots of food, take a nap, take a walk - enjoy.

Scenes from the Birthday

2011-11-23T09:17:00.001-05:00

Thank you for all the sweet birthday wishes. I read each and every one. The day was low-key and lovely. Despite the gray day predicted, much to my delight, the sun came out. Don took me to lunch at a vegetarian restaurant in a neighboring town. I'd always wanted to go there.

The town is charming with lots of wonderful old buildings on the main street.

This is the entrance to the restaurant.

I fell in love with this mobile. Since the sun was pouring in the windows, I couldn't really see it as I shot this photo. But I think you get the idea. The paper is folded origami-style. Each piece has several contrasting patterns which form something very like a quilt block. I want to make one!

The restaurant interior was shadowy and wonderful. The food was delicious and here you see my birthday pie and candle. (I'm wearing my Charlie the Tuna watch.)

Unbelievably delicious coconut cream pie. With home-made whipped cream.

Oh my lord.

I got presents from the dogs and Don. One of my presents hasn't arrived yet. It's for the dollhouse. When it arrives, I'll be sure to show you.

Don got the waitress to take this shot. We had the restaurant to ourselves. I love the shadows and sunlight. There's the mobile on the right.

We had a perfectly wonderful afternoon before Don had to leave for work. Then I entertained myself by reading all my Facebook Birthday greetings. Facebook can be annoying, but it sure is nice on your birthday!

What are your plans for Thanksgiving? Ours will be just the two of us. I'm not even sure what I'm making...no turkey for me, of course, although Don may have some. Side dishes: mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, my biscuits, vegetables, maybe pumpkin pie (we still have leftover coconut cream pie in the refrigerator.)

Quite frankly, I could eat mashed potatoes and biscuits and I'd be happy.

Defending the Small House #2

2011-11-22T06:00:00.000-05:00

{Living Big in 1200 Square Feet}

Week 2: Furniture Placement in a Small Living Room

Welcome back to week number 2 of our series. Brenda and I had so much fun with our first post and now we're back with the second. Thank you for all of the wonderful comments and suggestions. Before I forget, I'd love for you all to visit Betty Jo at Living Real. She wrote an excellent post last week on living small.

Today we're tackling the living room in a small house. Let me share my living room with you and I'll talk about the challenges I faced when decorating the space.

{Highly professional drawing by me.}

Our living room and kitchen are essentially one big room, but they are not entirely open to each other. You can see that there are partial walls between the two spaces. The one on the left is probably about 3 feet wide and the one on the right is about 2 feet wide. But the rest of that 'wall' is open.

The living room wall on the left is 15 1/2' long. There are two windows and a chimney that break up the wall. The living room wall on the right is 8 3/4' long.

Okay, now you're saying, "Wait a minute Claudia, a living room that's 13 1/2' by 15 1/2' is big!"

Here's the problem. The area from the chimney to the front door is essentially part of the entrance. And the wall on the right is only 8 3/4' long. The area beyond that is part of a passageway from the front door to the den to the bathroom to the stairs.

Long story short: The actual seating area is 13 1/2' x 8 3/4' - and there are only 2 useable walls in that space.

This is the area from the chimney to the front door. The photo below is of the passageway I was referring to earlier. I wanted to clearly define the passageway, so I did not put any seating there. No one wants someone walking between them and the person they're talking to in the middle of a conversation. This needs to be a space where you can take off your coat, take off your boots, go upstairs, or walk to the bathroom or den.

You can see why this particular part of the room has to remain relatively clear of furniture. The large,white cabinet is on the left, and a small spinet desk is tucked into an area by the stairs. That's a closet on the right and beyond that is the doorway to the bathroom. The rug in the foreground is really Riley's rug. He has a progressive disease that causes him great pain and he needs to sprawl out on a warm rug. Tip#1: Use what you are given to help define the living space. I've used the chimney as a dividing point - it's directly across from the end of the 8 3/4' wall, so I've used the line between the two points as a invisible fourth wall. It defines the seating space.

Okay, so what do we do? The biggest item in the room is the piano. There is really only one wall to place it against - the 8 3/4' long wall on the right as we face the living room from the kitchen. There is no baseboard heating there and no windows. You don't want a piano near any extremes in temperature. So the wall it is.

The piano has been in various positions on this wall. This latest, with it flush against the partition seems to work the best, as it allows some extra room for a chair. The chair and the piano share a floor lamp, as well. So I've killed two birds with one stone. Tip #2: Decide where your biggest pieces will go, then fill in the rest.

I now have only one other wall to use. The loveseat has to go there, which means the chair must be placed in the open entrance to the kitchen or on the far side of the loveseat, near the front door. Actually, we've done it both ways. Usually, we have our wicker rocker in this space, as well - but we've moved it upstairs to the bedroom. (It needs some repair.)

So, the red chair will be positioned in the opening to the kitchen. I like this because it helps to further define the living room, making it clear that it's an entirely different space than the kitchen.

There's the red chair. It picks up the red in the kitchen and defines the living room space. The loveseat tucks into the space created by the chimney and the partition wall. I don't have a lot of room for side tables, so you can see I've used a vintage stool and a small green cottagey table.

Truth be told, I much prefer the wicker rocker in the room. Normally it would be in that area between Riley (sleeping on the floor) and the green table. Don likes the space created by its absence. I like cozy. I wonder who will win?

What about the coffee table? While it may seem large, it actually works beautifully. We love this piece which we've had since our San Diego days. It was refinished by a dear friend of ours and we bought it from him for $75. It's gorgeous. When we lived in our rental we had to put it in storage. When the time came to move to the cottage and get everything out of storage, we had our doubts about whether it would work in the space. But it does. It's large, yes, but it helps to create the cozy, intimate atmosphere I'm after. It connects the two chairs and the loveseat. Chairs can be pulled up to it, chips and dip and munchies can be laid out on it, feet can be put up on it. It's fabulous.

Recently, we tried rearranging the space. We moved the sofa so that it was perpendicular to the wall. We replaced the large coffee table with the white coffee table (much smaller) from the den.

It didn't work. The minute we moved the round coffee table out, the room lost it's cottage coziness. We learned very quickly that small-sized-everything just looks puny. And it makes the room seem much smaller. Tip #3: Don't limit yourself to small pieces of furniture. Have one or two large pieces in your small space.

Tip #4: Find balance. Yes, we've used big pieces as suggested in Tip #3 - we've got a piano and a big old coffee table in here. But those big pieces are balanced with some smaller ones, as well. And it all works together to make a cozy space.

And though I talk of the entrance area as separate, the pieces of furniture that are in that end of the room are part of the greater living area. The sideboard and the white cabinet are large pieces and nicely balance the weight of the furniture in the rest of the room. And the placement of the loveseat and chair is balanced by the chair and piano on the other side of the room. The coffee table ties it all together.

Tip #5: Go with your favorite colors and patterns and don't think you have to go with neutrals or whites to make the space work or seem bigger. I love color, as you can see. There are some dark wood pieces in the space, but they are balanced by lighter, painted pieces. One chair is a yellow and red check. The other is a red and white check. The loveseat has a pale green and white slipcover. The rugs are floral. There's lots of green and blue pottery around. The bench by the white cabinet is blue. But it all works. If you want neutrals or whites, go for it. I don't think, however, that it makes that much difference in the perception of the space. If everything in this space was neutral and/or white, you'd still perceive it as a small, cozy space. And you don't need to back away from pattern, unless that is your preference. As you can see, I love pattern. It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it works in this space.

You have to take what you're given and make it work. Embrace that small living room and honor it's size. I think that to deny that this cottage is small is just plain silly. It is small. Why not celebrate it? Of course I'm biased, but I think we've created a charming, cozy living room. We've accepted the quirkiness of our space and made it work for us.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Please visit Brenda and see what she has done with her living room.

We look forward to your comments and ideas! Some of you suggested a linky party and we probably will have one or two along the way. We'll give you plenty of warning.

It's My Birthday

2011-11-21T06:00:00.000-05:00

It's my birthday today.It's one of those odd number birthdays that I can never really get behind. I think the only odd number birthday I was excited about was my 21st. I was 21 on the 21st. I liked that.

In honor of the day, I'm sharing 11 (odd number) things about me that you might not know.

1. I was very sick when I was a newborn - so sick that my parents had to leave me behind in the hospital. They finally got to bring me home on Thanksgiving. For years, every Thanksgiving meal was started with "Thank you for letting us bring home our daughter on this day." My dad mentioned that to me the other day. It was the first time in a long time that we talked about it and it made me smile.

2. I have a dimple in my right cheek. I have a smaller one in my left cheek, as well. And I'm talking about my face. My parents love that dimple. (So does Don.) Mom used to give me 'posing' instructions for the annual school picture. I had to sit with that dimple facing the camera. No argument; Mom said to.

3. I cry very easily. I'm a sap.

4. I can burp on cue. Several times in a row. A lovely talent. My brother once told me burping like that would give me an ulcer, just to get me to stop. It worked. At least for a while.

5. I have brown eyes and one is a deeper shade of brown than the other. I actually didn't realize that until a few years ago.

6. This is to be expected with the business I'm in, but I can speak in most any accent and can quickly imitate the way someone sounds. (Nothing malicious, mind you. Although if you cross me, watch out.)

7. I've been in 12 weddings. Just picture the many late 70's - early 80's bridesmaid dresses I wore. And the lovely hair-dos.

8. I often dance around the house. I'm not a dancer in any way, shape or form. Whenever I start to dance, Scout starts barking. Either she thinks something exciting is about to happen or she's begging me to stop.

9. If I step into the shower and see a spider, I will turn off the shower to safely escort it to dry land. I've trained Don to do the same thing. We had a spider hanging out in our bathroom for such a long time that Don named him Sam. If I accidentally kill a bug, I feel terrible.

10. I know how to lash and can make a lean-to. Not that it comes up anymore. Just one of the skills I learned as a camp counselor oh-so-many years ago. I can tip a canoe, too.

11. I used to decorate the inside of my Barbie case with wallpaper from my godmother's sample books. Then I'd fashion a hanging lamp with a pipecleaner and a dixie cup. You see? Even as a child I was decorating and re-arranging. Then I'd play Barbies with my godmother's daughter, Kay, and proceed to tell her what her Barbie had to say. It was as if I had written the whole script. Bossy. My mom said my 'directorial' attitude used to make her want to throttle me. Who, me?

That's all for now or you'll know absolutely everything about me.

Letitia Says

2011-11-20T12:21:00.001-05:00

Oh, goodness. What's Letitia doing now? She's taken off her flower choker.

What's that, Letitia? Look closer?

Ah.

She found the crochet flowers I made last winter.

She really is a flower child.

Letitia says: "Adorn yourself with flowers, no matter the season."

Good advice, my friend.

Blogging Tips

2011-11-19T12:15:00.000-05:00

Hello fellow bloggers! Thought I'd share a couple of tips today.

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1. No Reply Comments - I love, love getting comments. Sometimes those comments include a question I'd like to answer or a particular thought I would like to acknowledge. I have my comments linked to my email address, so they appear in my inbox. If there is a question involved and your email address is part of your Blogger Profile, I usually respond immediately. However, when I receive a comment that has the dreaded 'No Reply Comment,' there is no way to answer you directly. In that case, I either have to try to track you down or I have to hope my already overloaded brain retains the question so that I can address it in a future post.

The retention? Doesn't happen too often these days.

It's so easy to take care of this problem!

a. Go to your Dashboard and click on Blogger Profile (right by your photo in the upper right hand corner.) Then click 'Edit Profile.'

b. In the Privacy section, check the boxes next to 'Show my profile' and 'Show my email address.'

c. Then move on to 'Identity' and enter your email address.

d. Save.

Easy. It just takes a moment. Then, when you ask a question, I can answer you directly. We can actually have a conversation! Isn't that nice?

2. Photo Resizing. My friend Rita ran out of storage space for her photos yesterday. She had to buy more space. I know that this has happened to several of you in the past. I suppose at some point it will happen to me. However, I've been blogging for close to 4 years now. I post a lot of photos. I haven't run out of space yet. Why? Because I resize my photos in a photo editing program. The one I use is Picnik. You can do the same thing in Photobucket or any number of other editing programs.

When I upload photos to Picnik, like this one of my piano, I usually get a message in the lower right hand corner:

See the large numbers there? That means that my photo is 2640 x 1980 pixels. That takes a lot of storage space. That's why you see the exclamation point next to the size. If I click on that exclamation point, here is the message I get from Picnik:

It only makes sense that if Picnik thinks this is a large photo which has a large file size, that size photo will take up a lot of storage space in Picasa, which is usually where all your Blogger photos are stored. In Picnik, there is a resize button. Photobucket has one, too. Picnik's is on the left hand side of the screen. When I click on Resize, the current dimensions of the photo are displayed.

Too big. So I change them. In my case, I usually change the first number to 800. I know others who change it to 600. Either will work. You just want a more manageable file size.

Click apply and you're done. Same photo but much less storage space. When you use the resized photo in your post, you can still make it small, medium, large or extra large in the body of the post. Resizing it prior to posting just ensures that the file size will take up much less space in storage. Some of you may have another way you resize. That's fine. If you don't normally resize or if this has not been on your radar, the next time you are ready to post a photo, quickly check its size. If it's too large, resize it.

I learned this early on from Connie at Living Beautifully. It's been invaluable. Thank you, Connie.

I know this will help those of you with storage issues. If Connie hadn't passed this information on to me, I would have had to buy more storage a long time ago!

In other news, it's finally sunny here.

And my birthday is Monday. How did another one come around so quickly?

Sing Anyway

2011-11-18T10:27:00.001-05:00

Don and I had one of those conversations that happen when you wake in the early morning hours and chat a bit before going back to sleep. It was about music. Remember that song? What were the lyrics? Who sang it? - followed by both of us singing snatches of the song.

Do you know I used to be a singer? I was. I started out in school choir, church choir, vocal ensemble, then went on to perform in musical theater for years and I sang at weddings, too. Yes, I got paid to sing. Music has always been an important part of my life.

When I went on to graduate school to study acting, I moved into classical theater. I didn't sing as much. Then I started teaching and coaching and, well .... not much singing anymore. The last time I sang in public was at my niece's wedding. Since she has a 15 year old daughter, you can see just how long it's been.

But I still sing. Like most people, I sing in the car, I sing around the house, I sing to the dogs, I sing with Don.

Sometimes I play the piano and sing,

I realized this morning that I haven't sung very much lately. Life has been tough. I haven't felt there was much to be joyous about. When I feel like that, I pull back, move inward and set up protective walls around myself. I imagine that's a normal human reaction.

And, apparently, I don't sing.

That's not a good thing.

"Some days there won't be a song in your heart. Sing anyway."

Emory Austin

Act 'as if.' Whenever I feel down or am scared of trying something new or am unhappy, I try to use these words. Act as if. Act as if I'm joyous. Act as if I've got tons of money in the bank. Act as if I'm a published writer. Act as if I have no fear. Act as if I haven't a care in the world. Act as if all is well.

Soon I start believing it. And then it starts to manifest.

That's what singing anyway is about. If you sing, even if it's only in the shower, you can't help but feel lighter and happier. Your mood changes. It's transformative.

So I'm going to remind myself to do just that. To sing anyway.

I hope, whatever the trials and tribulations in your lives, you find a moment to 'sing anyway,' too.

Trying to Capture the Light

2011-11-17T08:01:00.001-05:00

Early evening - and it gets dark so early these days - and I thought I would experiment with the camera. No flash, of course. Just playing with the settings on my camera. Since it is what is called a bridge camera, there is only so much I can do. I think.

Lit by lamps and the ever-present glow from my laptop. The colors become muted in the photos. My eye sees the scene one way, the camera sees it very differently.

Riley's sleeping in the den. He has no idea I'm taking his picture. Scout's red toy is on the bench.

She looks pissed off. Is there anything wrong, your highness?

There's something about a house in the evening. When I lived in Philadelphia and Boston, I would walk for blocks and blocks in the evening. Brownstones, row houses, apartments - all of them lit by lamps, offering a tantalizing peek into the interior. Just a quick glimpse of a corner or two - a snapshot of the world inside that particular home.

I love taking pictures. I love photography. Normally, I wouldn't post these but I'm experimenting, trying to capture what my eyes see. It's a challenge.

Before I forget, I want to share a couple of cute things I got in the dollar bin at Michael's. I bought them just the other day, so I think they might be available in your neck of the woods, as well.

This is a little notebook that I keep on the table next to my blogging chair where I'm very comfortable, indeed. I'm using it to jot down ideas for blog posts.

These drawer pulls were a dollar and change. I bought 4 of them. I have no use for them at the moment, but I will. They look like porcelain. Love them.

I think I've contacted everyone personally, but if you're here for Reality Shot Thursday, I regret to say it is no more. Last week someone posted a very suspicious link which I deleted. Luckily I caught it right away but that was because I was home that day. I don't want anything on this blog that would be offensive or harmful in any way. Since the title of my meme was Reality Shot, it may have been found by spammers or those with bad intentions. I refuse to give them a platform of any kind.

Thanks so much to everyone who participated. I had fun; I hope you did, as well.

Here's hoping the sun comes out today! It's been a rainy week.

The Painting

2011-11-16T08:38:00.001-05:00

Do you have some special something you'd grab if there was, God forbid, a fire or flood in your home? I have several. Heaven knows if I'd be together enough to think of any of them in a moment of panic. But I do know that I would be yanking this off the wall:

For those of you who are newer readers of this blog, a couple of years ago I was working in San Diego for an extended period of six months. I often visited my favorite shop: Vignettes. This painting was hanging behind the counter. I'd seen it for the first time the year before and I couldn't take my eyes off it. Over the course of several months, I visited it; rather like paying homage at a shrine. I'd stand there, pretending to look at something else, while I was really stealing glances at the painting. Eventually, when I realized how transparent I was, I started talking about it to Lori, the owner of Vignettes. The price was more than I had ever paid for a piece of art. It really wasn't all that much, just a lot for us. Our modest income forces us to be extremely frugal.

Lori called the dealer, who was willing to give me a bit of a discount. She wrote down the price on a business card. I still have it.

Still, I couldn't imagine actually buying it.

But I loved this cherub painting that had come to Vignettes all the way from France. Sometimes we see something that touches us deep in our core and no amount of rational thinking will change the fact that we are in love - in love with something that brings us joy. You know that feeling? Well, I had it.

Eventually, I took a picture of it. I had it on my computer desktop. I pondered. I was afraid to tell Don of my need for this piece. Would he scoff? Would he not get it?

I finally emailed the photo to him. And then, fairly sure that he wasn't a fan of cherubs, I haltingly tried to explain my passion for these cherubs. And my love for the pale aqua of the frame. And the price.

After being away from my family and home for 6 months, perhaps I felt I deserved a treat. Bless his heart, he understood.

Sigh of relief. Still not absolutely sure I would buy it, I trotted off to Vignettes. There it was. No one had stolen it away from me. Then Lori saw me and said that she had been thinking of me, especially since a customer had come to the shop, bought the painting and was having it wrapped up when, at the last minute, he changed his mind. She said all she could think about as the painting was taken down off the wall was how upset I would be.

That did it. The universe was telling me to buy it. I wouldn't be so lucky a second time.

It hangs in our bedroom. It's inspired the choice of the pale aqua coverlet on the bed.

Which brings me to our bedroom. The bedroom needs work. We have several pieces of furniture that need to be painted. That's a project I want to tackle soon. I'd like to try chalk paint but it's so darned expensive. Anyway, I want the color to be inspired by the colors of this painting. I'd love any suggestions you might have, especially from those of you who have used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. If I use it, I can only afford one color, so it has to be the right choice.

Any ideas?