A Few of Our Favorite Things: Old Records

Many things are piled around the cabin ... including stacks of old LPs. Collected by family members and salvaged from junk sales, a little bit of everything spins beneath the needle.

The latest acquisitions ... Sarah Vaughan and Billie Holiday.

Last year's favorite finds: Glen Miller's Orchestra and The Platters.

Classical records, operatic performances, Christmas choirs and Dowop bands -- from 33s to 78s, in vinyl sleeves to original covers. The sound of scratchy vinyl is unforgettable, magic in comparison to smooth cds and remastered classics.

Although a few do need to be rescued now and then from a "skipping" song. But I firmly believe that's part of the charm of classy vinyl collections.

Red, White, and Blue

Soaring above the clouds is Uncle Sam in a star-spangled tribute.

The glass balloon is hand-painted with a crackled enamel coat of patriotic colors; the white stars are stencil across the blue top.

Gold threads attach Sam and his gilded brown basket to the base of the stripey flag balloon. Sam himself is cut from a vintage reproduction patriotic card, then fastened sturdily inside. A bit of gold Christmas garland trims the base of the balloon.

Sail away with the Red, White, and Blue!

Little Liberty

From her pointed crown ...

to her green sash and skirt ...

Little Liberty is quite the patriotic girl this Fourth of July.

Lady Liberty

Lady Liberty is dressed in liberty green, with a red, white, and blue banner wrapped around her shoulders.

Her features are hand-drawn with soft colored pencils, her raggedy skirt sewn around her painted bodice.

Uncle Sam

In a barbershop quartet coat of red, white, and blue, Sam is dressed and ready for a Fourth of July celebration.

With needle sculpted nose and a faded white beard painted on, all he needs is a sparkler in hand or star-spangled flag to wave.

In the Garden

The pretty flowers ...

... and the herbs ...

are all in bloom. While boxes of gourds and pumpkins spread, scarlet runner beans climb a pyramid of lattice. Grape and muscadine branches bend low with green berries awaiting a golden fall harvest, and bee balm springs high with spikey red petals and dreams of steeping for herbal winter teas ...

A Few of Our Favorite Things: Cheesy Cartoons

Late at night, early on a weekend morning, rainy afternoons: all are perfect times to watch classic cartoons. The cheesier the better in our book, which is why we stay stocked up on volumes of "Rocky and Bullwinkle" and "Garfield", among others.

Personal favorite? I'd have to say "Rocky and Bullwinkle". But a soft spot remains for original "Pink Panther" cartoons and the lesser-known classic "Inspector" series. Charlie Brown cartoons are a must when chanel-surfing on cable television, as are "George of the Jungle" and the hard-to-find "Grimmy" cartoons occasionally found online.

Disney's classic cartoons are among the greatest -- what could be funnier than Donald Duck and the hapless bear "rug" trapped in a hunting cabin? Or Pluto and the much-hated sweater knitted by Minnie Mouse? Mickey Mouse cartoons (especially those featuring Donald Duck) are unforgettably funny regardless of age.

The best comes last, however -- Looney Tunes. When Bugs Bunny substitutes for the Road Runner, a genius moment in humor is born; as is the bittersweet humor that gives birth to the bulldog and homeless kitten cartoon, the "singing frog" episode that celebrates Warner Bros. classic symbol.

Red Green is great comedy; Fawlty Towers is unrivalled. But no humorous endeavor holds a candle to the cheesy cartoon show when one is feeling blue.

The Little House on the Big Porch

Hullo, hullo! What's this is the corner of the Cabin's porch? Why, I believe it's a little house ...

... with little logs and little windows ...

... and a wee little green door with a tiny knob.

And who do you suppose lives inside? It's the Cordwood Cabin kitties, of course!
Well, actually, right now it's a cranky hen...

with a nestful of eggs. But as soon as her maternity leave is up, the kitties will be staking a claim on this prime piece of cabin real estate again. The warm and cozy cabin was insulated last winter to keep their wee little furry tails warm during the cold ice storms. But this summer, it received an all-new coat of paint and a crooked tin roof a la the big cabin's design.

Coming soon, the kitty's shingle sign. Asserting their property rights, of course.

Ginger Pie

Our little Ginger kitten is all grown up now...and a busy baby who spends her time searching for moles and mice among the tall field grass or catching grasshoppers in the brush. Our striped tiger is curled up on the porch swing most afternoons, all worn out from her morning activities.

We love to have our belly rubbed.