Happy Easter!

Here's a photo of Edie two years ago as a pup.  We brought her home on Good Friday that year and I just couldn't resist posing her in the Easter basket.  Look how tiny she was!  And to think we almost lost her a few weeks ago...ugh! 

Not much to report on Merriman Park.  I did manage to get all the windows painted (the eight side windows, that is)--except I somehow neglected to make the mullions for one of the windows.  Not sure how that happened.   Also our crazy, new neighbor (who would seem to have a bit of a problem with the bottle) managed to break one of my new sconces that were on back-order forever.  MESS ALERT!: I woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of a loud thud followed by a crash onto my piano then another thud and when I rose to investigate, I found the aforementioned, crazy, new neighbor passed out on the floor with my new sconce --eerily glowing its unnatural, blue light, globe smashed to bits-- laying next to his head (which had a huge lump on it, btw).  I had gone to bed early that night because I had to take a fashion show stage down the next morning before the store opened and I guess I missed all sorts of drunken shenanigans.  Is this all TMI?  I'm hoping he'll read this and at least have the decency to offer to buy me a new sconce, but I won't hold my breath. 

I'll probably not be blogging much now that the weather is getting warmer.  It's supposed to get up to 60 today, but I'm not getting my hopes up, because every time I do it snows!  I'm afraid to put the snow shovels away because it might cause some bad juju and we'll have a blizzard!  For real.

I've got tons of outdoor projects planned for the summer, mostly landscaping and lighting.  When you live in a hundred year old house, there is always lots to do...I'll be checking in from time to time, so stay tuned. 

Monticello Collection

So I've been meaning to post about the new Monticello Collection of miniature furnishings.  How thrilling for me, as an ardent Thomas Jefferson fan!  This small collection of dollhouse furniture is copied from the real antiques which grace the well-proportioned rooms of Jefferson's Monticello.  As many of you already know, my own beloved Merriman Park was inspired by Jefferson's architecture.  Here is a chair that I picked up during HBS Miniature's annual 40% off sale.

This Louis XVI style chair is half of a pair --the other chair comes with a rectangular back.  I would have snatched it up as well, but we're still reeling from the $4000 vet bill!  I rather like it sitting on my marquetry table --I imagine the floors of Merriman Park will eventually be finished similarly.  I also have my eye on a walnut card table from the collection.

The woman in the framed photograph is my  mother.  Mother hate, hate, hated to be photographed and always shied away whenever a camera was brought out.  She dodged  the camera as adroitly as the movie star eschews the paparazzi. So most of the photos that exist of her show her face turned away, or partially obscured behind her outstretched hand.  But she thought this particular shot, which is actually her drivers license photograph, was absolutely brilliant and she even kind of showed it off --which was so unlike her.  Though I cherish the photo today, I used to not care much for it, because she was sick when she posed for it and I guess I preferred to remember her when she was well.

But I think maybe her illness forced her to reexamine her issues with camera-shyness and maybe she realized that she had been silly to dread having her picture taken all those years when she was so healthy and so vibrant (and, yes, so beautiful).  So off she went to the Department of Motor Vehicles that day and this time she stared right into the camera and she served them face!  She died of cancer shortly after the photograph was taken in 1977.  Today is her birthday. 

Happy Birthday, Mom.

Lead Roof Ridge

Here's the real lead roof ridge. I made a little finial from a pearl-headed pin.  Not sure if it's historically accurate but it just seemed to want it.  I think the faux-lead paint job on the roof turned out pretty sweet, even if I do say so myself.  I didn't get around to flashing the chimneys because I decided to make them a little taller.  Thomas Jefferson's renderings show he favored chimneys like these above: a smaller cube on top of a larger one.  I have to pick up some more crown molding to finish them up.  I couldn't etch the bricks in, yet because the humidity went sky-high today and the paint won't dry.  As I feared, we're moving from winter directly into summer.  Tornado watches out today here in Minneapolis.  (And the snow is not even all gone yet)!

 This photo is a little washed out and you can't really see the streaking effect I did to the lead roof.  Oh well, I will be sure to post some daytime shots, which seem to turn out better.

Weird Weather Alert!  I just went outside and though it was hot and muggy an hour or so ago, the temperature just plummeted and I think we might get more snow tonight!  Awesome!

Lead Roof

Phew!  It's been a tough week!  Miss Edie is now out of the woods and thanks to all for your concern.  I didn't mean for this to turn into a "dear diary" sort of blog, but I guess it's inevitable that sometimes non-Merriman Park stuff is going to creep in here and there.  (If you're interested, I posted daily updates regarding Edie's recovery on my last blog entry).

And now, back to business...

While the Edie drama was unfolding, my lead flashing and roof ridge arrived from England.  So the goal for today is to get the roof painted.  It's funny, but I realized a while back that I could have saved myself a lot of money by simply gluing wood ribs down to the plywood roof instead of using the ribbed roofing material, which was fifteen bucks a sheet (times four)!  Really, I have to paint the roof anyway so what was I thinking?  I mean, I get it, live and learn and Merriman Park is, after all, my first dollhouse --But DUH!   Oh, and while I'm at it, if you ever decide to use real, lead flashing on your model, don't bother getting the "roof ridge" because all it is is a strip of flashing wrapped around a thin dowel --you can easily do that yourself.  I guess I thought it would be, I dunno, more than just that.  But as Mr. Brady used to warn: caveat emptor --let the buyer beware!

So I decided after all that I am not going to bother with the hip roof since it really won't be seen anyway.  But I think the chimneys do need to be raised so I am making extensions for them.

Miss Edie

                  Miss Edie (left) and big brother, Jack

Miss Edith ( Edie) Bouvier Beale is the best Shetland Sheepdog in the world.  Look at those eyes --they're positively Liz Taylor-worthy, though more azure than amethyst.  I love her to pieces, but she is such a little stinker...no wonder they call her a bitch!   She loves to play with her ball and when that can't be readily found my socks or my 2(x)ist boxer-briefs will suffice, sneaking them out to the backyard to play tug-of-war with her brother, "Blackjack" (Jack) Bouvier.  (Also a pooch par excellence). With the snow finally, slowly melting away, the disappearing drifts are revealing piles of my soggy, half-frozen unmentionables and what would appear to the casual passer-by to be the scene of a very wild party.   

 Jack and Edie's parents are Show Dogs, the winners of multiple ribbons and trophies.  Also destined for the ring, Jack and Edie were disqualified from competition because of minor infractions to the American Kennel Club's staunchly strict standards:  Edie is a half-inch too small and Jack has a slight under-bite.  Silly, I know, but that's show-biz, folks, and whatevs, --that's how the best Shelties in the world came to us.  I like to say we saved them both from a life in Pageants. 

The other night Edie somehow got into a bottle of Extra -Strength Tylenol and it's a good thing I woke up after hearing her throwing them up or this would be her obituary.  She's currently in the University of Minnesota's Small Animal Hospital recovering.  Prognosis: so far, so good.  But her three-day (thus far) stint in rehab sure is costing a pretty penny.  So I guess it's fortunate the aforementioned trip to Florida was canceled, because that money, which was once ear-marked for pool-side cocktails and new, pukka-shell accessories, is now going towards saving my dear little Edie's life.

*NOTE*  I will update Edie's progress here on this page.


Update 3/31  We visited Edie last night and she was extremely listless and did not seem to recognize us.  We were more concerned about her lack of interest in food, because the girl can eat!  She was not responding quickly enough to the antidote and so underwent a transfusion today in order to rid her system of the Tylenol she ingested.  The vet says she was already perking up a little, halfway through the process.

Update 3/31PM  Just got back from the pet hospital.  Edie is still listless and not eating, but her ears perked when she heard the words "treat" and "walk." 

Update 4/1  They let us bring Edie home!  I'm not sure if they thought Edie was out of danger or if they sized us up and figured four thousand bucks was our limit.  Poor little dear has a feeding tube up her nose but at this point it seems unnecessary as she is finally eating solid food.  We make our own dog food --ground meat, rice, and vegetables-- and since she wasn't eating the dubious-looking hospital food, we brought her some of her own special blend in her own dish and she gobbled it all up.  Right in front of the vet, who seemed a bit amazed.  (Edie hadn't eaten in three days).  Still, the feeding tube was left in --I guess it was a pain to install, so might as well leave it in, in case she stops eating again--  Whatevs, I know Edie and she ain't no finicky eater.  That gruel they serve up at the hospital (which no doubt is wholesome,  hearty fair) but seriously, if Edie won't eat it , NOBODY WILL!  

Anyway, she seems much improved over yesterday.  Thanks to all  for the kind thoughts,  prayers and best wishes.  She has to go back Sunday for labs and (I'm sure) feeding tube removal.  I'll let you know what happens...

Update 4/2  Late last night Edie's breathing became erratic so we brought her back to the U of M hospital.  The vet on duty examined her and thought she would be OK so we were sent home.  (They did remove her feeding tube, as she is eating solid food).  She slept all night and ate her breakfast, though not with her usual enthusiasm.  She sure sleeps a lot.  I'm a little worried  that her "touch of pneumonia," which she caught while in the hospital and is taking antibiotics for, is getting worse.

Update 4/2 PM  We brought Edie back to the U of M this afternoon because her breathing was very labored and we assumed that her pneumonia was getting worse.  Turns out it had nothing to do with the pneumonia, And while we waited for her tests to come through, her breathing became easier.  It's just going to take time and I guess she is going to slip and slide her way to recovery (hopefully) so I just need to relax every time she hacks up a lung and not assume the end is near and just let nature take its course.  


On a positive note, her appetite is back --and she demonstrated a little bounce in her step just a bit ago.  And that gives us hope.  

Update 4/3  She is definitely on the mend.  Rather lackluster in the AM but over the day became more animated than I've seen her.  She even chased a squirrel up a tree on her walk!  Well, it wasn't much of a walk --just a few feet down the sidewalk and after the squirrel incident, she got pretty exhausted.  But her appetite is good and she even is taking an interest in her ball.  

The meds thing is pretty confusing.  She's taking six different drugs --some need to be given with food, others on an empty stomach, some can't be taken at the same time,  most of them have to be cut in half or quarters.  One has to be dissolved in water and shot with a syringe down her throat.  (You can imagine how much she likes that). 

Update 4/4  Much more energetic today.  Chasing her ball and ran to the door to greet me home!  We're still concerned about her congestion.  The vet might add another (!) antibiotic.   

Update 4/7  Her personality is thoroughly recovered and she seems her own self, again.  Still a little congested, but that is slowly getting better, too.  Tomorrow she returns to the vet for a final check-up, mainly to make sure her liver is not compromised. 

Update 4/9  Edie had a check-up yesterday and passed with flying colors!  The vet said she was "a textbook case" of Tylenol poisoning recovery, which I guess means she isn't the only dog to have overdosed on the stuff.  We've been referring to her as "Neely," aka Patty Duke from Valley of the Dolls.     

This will be my last Edie Update --back to Merriman Park!  Thanks to everyone for your concern.

Open Sesame!

Just realized that I haven't posted a photograph of Merriman Park with the front opened up!  I honestly can't begin to tell you how completely marvelous it is being able to open the two, swinging, hinged doors and ne'er again have to worry about the windows plopping out and go crashing to the floor (usually snapping off a pediment or a keystone in the process).

The right side door used to stick a little, but I was able to correct that flaw, so everything now opens smooth as silk.  I really need to get those stairs glued in place.

 The double stair glimpsed behind the Palladian screen in the Entrance Hall (bottom center).

Here it is with the center component removed.  There will be doors in all the openings on the back wall;  the intent is to give the illusion of more rooms beyond.  I have been toying with the idea of adding a few inches off the back of the house so these doors would open onto a hall, but alas, I think space constraints in my real-life house prohibit this expansion as well.  But I plan on using working doors, just in case I someday change my mind.  And you, dear, regular readers of  this blog know how much I like to change my mind!

A new Follower of Merriman Park, Cassandra, recently read my entire blog --start to finish--  the whole thing!  And she was kind enough to comment on nearly every post!  This made me go back and re-examine my older posts and I realized just how much the plans for Merriman Park have changed over time. BTW, check out Cassandra's miniature village --it is simply fabulous --and as I've said before:  I don't use the f-word lightly.  You can click on her icon to the right to guide you to her most enchanted world.

Coach Lamp

I ordered a pair of coach lamps to flank the front door of Merriman Park and they were on back-order so I kind of forgot about them.  One of them arrived in the mail yesterday, which makes me a little nervous.  There was no explanation as to why they sent just the one and of course no one has answered my inquiries as of yet.  Hopefully, I'll end up with a matching set and not get two similar but different lamps!  (This stuff happens to me all the time). 

Once, back in my thea-TAH days I was making a costume and needed a certain number of paste jewels to sew onto the bodice and the helpful staff at the shop I bought the gems at assured me --swore up and down-- that they could "special order" the number I needed, so I reluctantly purchased the few they had in stock (against better judgment) and foolishly stitched them to the garment and OF COURSE it turned out they were no longer available! 

Ever since, I am a bit sceptical of "back" and "special"-orders.  Anyway, here's the lamp"

I like how the black cast iron color is repeated in both the lamp and the balcony railing.  Cross your fingers that the other lamp arrives, someday!

As I feared the LED, battery-powered light is absolutely garish!  Karin Corbin says I can tone it down with paint, but the color is such a ghastly, neon-bluish hue that I fear any attempt at masking it will only result in an even more hideous tone.  I suppose I will try anyway because I could never live with it as is.  Perhaps there are less shall we say vulgar colored LED bulbs available?

Maggie Smith (as the Dowager Countess of Grantham): "It's too bright!  I feel as if I am on-stage at the Gaiety!"