Blythe dolls — Page 85

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February 2, 2022 at 10:01 am by Claudia

Well, over the course of two hours, I managed to fit a grand total of 6 blue pieces into the puzzle. At this pace, I should be done by July.

We’re in a bit of a warmer patch today and tomorrow – it’s nice not to have to run a drip from the faucet – but on Friday that will change. And it will be subzero again on Saturday. Such is the weather merry-go-round of January and February. One piece of good news, the forecast is for just an inch of snow and ice on Friday, rather than the larger amount of the previous forecasts. Fingers crossed that this forecast holds true.

I finished the Julia Dahl and have started this book, Slow Horses by Mick Herron. I found it last year at Oblong books and it’s been in my TBR pile ever since. At least one of you told me at the time that it is a great series. I’m only about 20 pages in.

At the same time, I’m reading:

The Wood by John Lewis-Stempel, a book I’ve had for a couple of years. Lewis-Stempel is British and he writes about nature. So many people I follow raved about this book. It’s written in a monthly form, starting in December, so I’m going to read December and January this week so I can eventually read February when it’s February, etc.

Some new outfits arrived in yesterday’s mail – made by Qiuilizo, who made that adorable blue hooded jacket and pants that Imogen modeled for you recently. I’ve been wanting some casual wear for the girls and these fit the bill.

She made the bags, as well.

I can’t stand it, these two sisters are so cute!

Once again, I am in awe of the talent out there, people who are creating and designing clothes for these dolls. When I think back to my grandmother making doll clothes for every doll of mine from Tiny Tears to my Barbies, I cannot comprehend how she did it. But, bless her heart, she sat down at her little sewing machine in their den and created beautiful clothes.

And I have none of them now. My mother either gave them away after I moved out of the house or, more likely, my sisters inherited the dolls and clothes and my mom gave them away after they had grown out of playing with dolls. Whatever reason, how I would treasure having some of the clothes now. I do have quilts Grandma made, thank goodness.

Is there a toy or doll you had as a child that you still have? Or that you wish you still had? I’m curious.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

An Audience And A Sunset

January 31, 2022 at 9:32 am by Claudia

Saturday’s sunset:

Another very, very cold morning! I turned the heat down a bit too low last night, so it’s taking a long time for our 131 year old house to heat up. Both Don and I were having a hard time this morning with winter and cold and snow and being stuck in the house. So, while drinking our second cup of coffee, we did a gratitude list.

It helps.

January is nearly over and then February. March is always wintry but a change is slowly occurring by then, so it doesn’t seem quite so bleak. I don’t mean to wish away time but I do think knowing we’re done with January helps.

The puzzle has entered the ‘pulling my hair out’ stage, where I have to examine pieces by shape – in different positions, different light – in order to try to fill in the empty spaces. It is such slow going! I limit my time there so I don’t start screaming and scare Don.

We taped an audition in the den yesterday, which took no time at all now that we’ve found a good spot. Afterwards, I realized that we had an audience.

Between the girls and the animals, there was quite a large group attending the performance. Appreciative, I think…one could say ‘rapt.’

I am going to force myself to read a chunk of The Missing Hours by Julia Dahl today. I’m having trouble getting into it and normally I love Julia Dahl’s writing. Maybe it’s because the main character hasn’t gone missing yet and right now the story is about 18 year olds and drugs and sex. Frankly, that bores me. I want to smack them. But the number of pages in this book is on the short side and I think this is one where I have to get some sort of rhythm going in order to ‘get’ it. At least, I hope that’s the case.

Okay, friends. Stay warm!

And stay safe.

Eight and Done

January 30, 2022 at 9:21 am by Claudia

We got about 3 inches of snow, but the winds were/are bitter and it was well below zero last night. Still, we have power and the snow can be easily shoveled. Next Friday, we’re supposed to get snow and ice and that is worrying. I know many of you were in the path of this storm and got much more snow. I hope you are safe and I pray you have power.

Today, I introduce you to Madeleine. I wanted one more girl and I wanted her to have curls. Most of the curly haired Blythes have too many curls for my taste, but one day last week, I saw this girl and I was enchanted. There is no other way to describe it. I thought about it for 24 hours and then I went for it. It helped that she was very reasonably priced.

Here she is. She arrived on Friday afternoon all the way from Spain. I now have 4 girls from Spain.

She was dressed this way when she arrived. The dress, the little sweater, the scarf, the socks and shoes, and that adorable tote bag: all of it charming.

She had originally been named Kate and I was going to keep that name, but to me, she looked French. I started thinking of names and right before she arrived, I came up with Madeleine. I think it suits her. (My paternal grandmother was named Madeline – different spelling – but there’s a nice connection there.)

The tote bag had a scroll of instrumental music inside, as well as a book. When I examined the book more closely, I saw it was a Tintin book! Tintin is a beloved French comic book character. So my instincts about her were right. And, of course, wearing a scarf is very French.

Isn’t that the sweetest face?

Normally, I immediately want to dress a new doll in something I have in my wardrobe stash, but this outfit is so adorable that I’m going to keep her in it for a while.

Of course, the other girls in this family are fascinated by her curls. Sophie, for so long the only child here, now has 7 sisters. (I’m not sure she’s thrilled with that.)

Quite frankly, I have no more room on the top of the sheet music cabinet for another doll. I managed to create some room for Madeleine and her curls, thank goodness, but 8 (!!) is enough. Or to spin it more positively, 8 is great!

I now have 2 girls from Russia, 1 from Belarus, 1 from England, and 4 from Spain.

Can I say that few things make me happier in my daily life than looking up from my chair and seeing my girls. I’m so lucky that Don is almost as enchanted with them as me.

Stay safe.

Happy Sunday.

Currently Reading

An Audience And A Sunset

Eight and Done

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A Note

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