Mish-Mash

I spent yesterday afternoon working on the wiring for the manor.  It was a beautiful day outside and I should have been out there working around the farm, but when the mood strikes you've got to take advantage of it.

I moved the porch light and balcony lights to a new run on a 10v transformer.  To this I added the conservatory chandelier, parlor fireplace, and gazebo light.  The conservatory chandelier and the gazebo light are actually run to a plug so that I can have the option of unplugging them when I want to create a darker night mood.  In the process, I pulled out some hair and spoke a few choice words as I was trying to run the wire through little holes to hide it under the foundation.  In the end though, it all works beautifully.

Parlor fireplace.

I also decided to place my newel post lamp on the bottom of the staircase in the front entry as this is where it would have been placed in Victorian times.  I read somewhere that the Victorians placed these lamps to signify that their mortgage had been paid off, but I can't find it back.  I have found articles though that say this is a fable.  I prefer to think of it as one of those quirky Victorian truths.  Here's an interesting article on newel post lamps.

I'm not able to get a really good picture of the lamp, but it is very similar to this one . . .

A little secret surprise you really have to look for.

With that done I moved everything back into the manor and sat looking at it for awhile whilst eating a piece of cherry pie and ice cream Brian brought up for me.  I could get used to this!

The little dog I ordered for Rosemary finally arrived and now the task is to find a name for it.  I left it up to Brian as he seems to come up with the perfect names.  It's a King Charles Cavalier and is made by Karl Blindheim, as are all the cats and dogs of the manor.  I fell in love with his work quite a number of years ago at the Chicago International Miniature Show, where I purchased a Siamese cat (see the parlor photos above).

Speaking of dogs, here's my little Penny . . . we got her from the tech school at MATC where my friend worked.  She texted me, I said yes, and the rest is history!

And here are a couple of my other dogs, Casey and Oliver.  We have six dogs in total, one being a livestock guardian dog.

Please excuse the mess . . . Brian took over my guest room as an office
while he works from home and the dogs love to be with him.

Brian had to go to Menards yesterday for a few things and asked if I needed anything.  I jokingly said, "yes, I need a miniature crow bar".  Ask and ye shall receive!

Today I'm going to work on wallpapering and flooring for Rosemary's new bedroom and the ensuite bathroom.  This will likely take up most of the afternoon.  I fear more hair pulling is in my future . . .