I worked on this puzzle off and on yesterday. I’m really enjoying it. I really love puzzles with lots of people and/or objects. And this one is beautifully illustrated.

I also mowed. I wanted to finish the front lawn so it wasn’t uneven. Don wanted to mow, but pulling the thingy that starts the mower is hard on his hand, so I did that. He did mow a bit, but his hand got sore, so I did the majority of the mowing. He’s frustrated.

It may have been better to wait until today, because back-to-back days of mowing was hard on my back. It’s better this morning, but I’m going to baby it today, which means I’m not going to go to the miniatures show outside of Hartford. I’d love to, but I don’t think a total of four hours in the car is a good idea. Sigh. So I’m frustrated as well. I just have to remind myself that this is just a weird stretch that we’re going through.

I’d be tempted to spend money so it’s all for the best. And there’s always next year. Besides, I usually find my miniatures online and I suspect that will be the case as I start to work on the Beacon Hill.

I’m reading The Ink Black Heart  by Robert Galbraith. (JK Rowling) I love this mystery series centered around private detective Cormoran Strike. The book clocks in at a little over a thousand pages long. The previous book in the series was also quite long. It can look daunting, but they’re so well written and so readable that I really don’t notice it. Except for carrying it around or holding it while I’m reading in bed. It reminds me of reading Gone With The Wind  when I was in 8th grade. It was the longest book I had ever read at that point and I was quite proud of myself.

Side note: When someone hurts my husband’s feelings, this particular someone being a longtime friend, everything in me goes into protective mode. (I know this person very well.) I want to tell that person off. That happened yesterday. I’ve never had children, but I imagine that’s how parents feel when someone hurts their child. You want to make it all go away.

Anyway, you know how I feel about my husband. But it’s not just how I feel. He’s loved by so many because he is truly kind and compassionate, always helping others, always generous. He’s also wise. Yesterday, he reminded me that the person who hurt him is troubled and that we should simply pray for him and wish him peace.

So we did. And do.

But boy, I still want to tell him off.

Just being honest.

Stay safe.

Happy Sunday.

The view out the side door this morning. The light in autumn is simply beautiful.

It went down to 39 degrees last night and we had to turn the heat on this morning. It was really cold! It will warm up a bit this week, so this cold – for now – was a one time thing.

I mowed A LOT yesterday. And yes, you could immediately assume I mowed too much and you’d be right. I did the lilac side of the front lawn, the corral, the secret garden and part of the front lawn. My back was hurting by the end, but I’m much better today. We have to finish off the front lawn and, at some point, this next week, mow the back forty. I also have to weed whack but my back sometimes hurts from holding it. If I’m smart, I’ll do a little each day.

But, boy, did it feel good to actually so some work outside. After a few weeks of having to lay low, I really appreciated the opportunity to mow. Plus, the temperatures were cool, which made the whole thing much more pleasant.

I started on the puzzle and have most of the edge pieces in place.

I need to clean up my part of the office today. It’s completely out of control! Don put his area in order last week and now I’m embarrassed at the contrast.

My nesting instincts have taken hold. Every fall, like clockwork, I want to concentrate on our house and making it cozy. I have no plans, per se, but I’m suddenly aware again of my surroundings in a way I’m not when it’s summer and the gardens are blooming.

Mowing today, the puzzle, washing towels, cleaning up my wee studio, looking at the Beacon Hill and contemplating what I want to do with it. I want an overall style, but I’m not sure yet what it will be. In the meantime, I have to prime that all-red room that’s driving me nuts! I need a clean, clear palette, then I can think about what I want to do.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

Sophie used to look like this. Her head tilted downward, as all Blythes do. That meant I had to take pictures from below – or just let it be, like this one.

Same with Maeve:

See how her head tilts down? I’m on my knees here, trying to shoot upwards so I can see her face.

Yesterday, I decided to go for it. I gathered all my tools (some of which I’ve had to purchase especially for Blythe work) went up to the office, put a towel on the hard surface of the desk, and started the process of adding a neck joint. First I had to take the head apart and pull out the body. Then I cut off a portion of the neck, sanded it, and made a hole in the center of the neck with an awl. I dry fitted the neck joint, made sure it fit correctly, and then screwed it to the neck. Then I inserted the neck joint, closed up the doll, screwed the head back together and:

Maeve, finally able to raise her chin and tilt her head to the side. Whoo hoo! I worked on Maeve first, thinking I should experiment on her before I worked on Sophie. I had to unscrew her head and take it apart twice, to make some adjustments, but I did it! Doesn’t she look lovely?

Claudia Hill, neck surgeon.

I had to come downstairs to show Don, I was so proud of myself.

On to Sophie. I learned from working on Maeve that the hair can get in the way of things, so this time, I put Sophie’s hair in a pony tail.

Much smoother the second time.

And here they are.

Look at Sophie raising her chin proudly.

They were complaining that the least I could do after putting them under the knife would be to change their clothes.

Thank goodness for You Tube. I ordered the neck joints from Palma Dolls in Spain because the customizer of my three VegaDolls, Natalia, recommended her. The parts are made with a 3d printer. Palma Dolls filmed a video just for this kind of body and neck joint and I’m sure I watched it 20 times.

I’ve been wanting to do this for almost a year but I was worried I’d screw up when I had to cut off part of the neck or make the hole for the screw. Every time I looked over at the dolls, both Sophie and Maeve would be looking down. All the other girls have some form of a neck joint. Anyway, it’s done. The girls made it through surgery just fine.

Sophie and Maeve were my first two Blythe dolls.

Okay. Just wanted to show off a bit!

I’m coaching this afternoon and fixing Sophie’s eyelashes. Long story.

And eating a piece of sugar-free apple pie.

And maybe crocheting another hat.

But first, I have to add all the changes that have been made to the script to my copy of the script so I’m all set for this afternoon.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.