Though not in the forecast for today – at least, when I last checked yesterday – we woke up to little snow. It’s still snowing now, but it’s very light snow and there won’t be any real accumulation.
But it’s always magical to see snow transform the landscape. Don called it ‘the frosting on the cake’ this morning and he’s right.
Our little Carolina wrens are singing away. Early this morning, I heard singing during the snowfall. I heard them several times yesterday. I get enormous comfort knowing there still hanging around. Sometimes, I see one on the porch railing. I’m sure that’s the guy who hung out here all summer and autumn. Or I’ll hear him cheeping and I’ll know he’s on the porch somewhere, but can’t see him from inside the house.
We had a nice walk yesterday. Since the forecast is fairly clear for the next week or so, I imagine we’ll do that every day. It was cold, but the air felt invigorating. We chatted the entire time, so it all seemed effortless.
Today, I’m going to clean/buff Shirley’s face. I will be using a cream that doll restorers use. Remember, you can’t use water on a composition doll. I’ll check the video again, but I’m pretty sure I put it on with a white cloth and buff very gently. The stuff I ordered to fill in the hole in the composition won’t arrive until Monday.
I know this Shirley is from Canada and a company called Reliable Toy Co., was licensed by Ideal to make and distribute the dolls there. So the original mold was the same. But sometimes, I think this girl might have been made by another company. I’ve researched as much as I can to no avail. Her face seem slightly different and her eyes seem smaller. But she has two dimples and an open mouth with teeth like all the Shirleys. And I’ve seen a few that look very much like Mom’s Shirley.
I’d love to find an 11 or 13 inch composition Shirley because they’re adorable and small, so easy to display. I think this one is 20 or 22 inches long, so she has to sit on top of the cabinet. What I am noticing in my research is that, except for the hole near her eye, which I inadvertently made, her face composition is in very good shape. I see photos of Shirleys with all sorts of facial cracks.
This is probably boring you, but it’s what I’m pursuing at the moment, so there you go!
The last day of January. Rest in Peace, Chita Rivera and Hinton Battle, superb performers on Broadway and film with multiple Tony Awards between them. Yesterday was a hard day for dancers and the Broadway community. These are enormous losses.
Forgot to mention that Etsy made me a Star Seller for January. I imagine that will go away tomorrow, but they were rewarding me for my sales and fast shipping and response. Sort of neat!
What are you up to today?
Stay safe.
Happy Wednesday.
I think it’s lovely you are tending to your Mom’s Shirley Temple doll. I did a search of your blog and found a lovely picture of her. Can’t wait to see her makeover. My Mom always wanted an Eaton Beauty Doll. Eaton’s was a Canadian department store and each Christmas they would bring out a beautiful doll. They were pretty pricy, even back then. Hugs, Elaine
I remember Eaton’s from visits to my relatives in Canada. I love the idea of an Eaton ‘Beauty Doll.’
Stay safe, Elaine.
i am grateful that my family has two very special dolls … one belonging to my mother, the other to my maternal grandmother (other extra-special things include my father’s childhood teddy bear, two teddy bears my mother made me and my childhood toy/stuffed cat elsa). so, while i am not a doll collector in the traditional sense, i like hearing about your dolls and appreciate that you share what you are interested in. best wishes on the repair work and search for a shorter shirley.
congratulations on being a “star seller”. recognition is a good thing.
after an above-freezing start to the week, this morning it’s frosty here … but it is supposed to reach 56 degrees today and 58 tomorrow so what’s left of our two-feet-plus of snow will likely be gone by the end of this week. been fun seeing the creek rise and flow faster than usual. will miss seeing the very sweet heart-shaped hoof prints of the deer in the snow, but this weather will be easier (though maybe a bit confusing) for them, earl and the birds.
usual chores done this morning. will soon head out to get some groceries and other supplies, take care of some things at my apartment, might cut my hair, then go visit family. thankful there’s no appointment in sight. i continue to knit hats slowly and read “war and peace” rather quickly (i am one-third of the way through this book and, while i have a couple questions, like it very much).
hope you, don and everyone else here have a wonderful day. stay safe.
kathy
I think War and Peace has done the trick! You’re back to reading and that makes me happy.
Enjoy!
Stay safe, Kathy.
I can’t wait to see Shirley when done! Oh, I didn’t know about Hinton Battle passing too ! Sad news for Broadway yesterday. Anyways, have a great rest of your day and weekend!
Dawn P. Albany, GA
He was so talented. I’ve been watching video of him. Extraordinary.
Stay safe, Dawn.
Snowfall and bird songs…nice! Good luck with your Shirley doll. It’ll be good to have her polished up some. We are expecting another Atmospheric River, lasting till early Friday…hope there’s not more damage than what many areas got already. Chita Rivera was an amazing woman. I saw a piece on the news about her last night…she really opened a lot of doors for herself and many others.
The name “atmospheric river” is rather poetic for something that can wreak havoc. I hope you’re safe, Barrie.
Stay safe.
I was heartbroken about Chita and Hinton B. With Chita, not totally unexpected given her age but he was far too young.
Your Shirley is a big girl! I can’t wait to see how the restoration comes out.
He was way too young. It’s shocking.
Stay safe, Jeanie.
I too am anxiously awaiting Shirley’s unveiling. For the first time since fall, I heard birds singing this morning. Birds other than the usual of the sparrows at the feeder and our Cardinal. We’ve had massive melting this week with the temps in the low 40’s and next week I hear we’ll hit 50! This is when I worry about the garden thinking spring is here in February. It’s happened before.
Congrats on the Etsy honor. I always feel assured ordering from sellers Etsy has designated as extra special.
Take care,
Kay
I know. We’ve had that happen before as well. It’s a bit of a worry.
Stay safe, Kay.
Congrats on Etsy sales!
Nothing boring about the Shirley restoration. Instead, a fascinating process.
Your snow does indeed look like a dusting of powdered sugar. In the overnight to here on Thurs morning, we got a ton of rain in Southern Calif.
My senior-aged husband scored the full-time job he wanted (over, I might add, much-younger applicants!). A new routine for us in our what-was retirement, but a welcome development.
So happy for your husband, and you! Congratulations!! That will ease some of your financial worries.
Stay safe, Vicki.