Paris puzzle finished. Finishing off the trees was tedious. But I love this puzzle and, though I can barely imagine begin able to visit Paris again, this sure makes me want to.
I have had it with the heat. Yesterday, the heat index was 105°. Once again, I spent a long time watering everything in the morning, then I stayed inside for the rest of the day. The weather forecast was for thunderstorms in the afternoon – a 90% chance. I watched the radar and was so happy to see that we were going to get some rain. The wind kicked up, so much so, that Don went outside and took down the umbrella and I put the hanging plants on the floor of the porch. Storms were supposed to arrive by 7 pm.
Nothing. Nada. Zip.
Dumbfounded, I looked at the radar and there wasn’t a storm in sight.
This has happened EVERY TIME a major storm has been predicted. We are desperate for rain. The grass is brown, the plants are suffering. The humidity is high and my allergies are out of control.
Okay. Thanks for letting me vent. This has been a depressing summer and it looks like it’s going to continue.
Pippa and and the girls are sick of it, too.
Short of going naked, this is the coolest outfit we’ve got and Pip won out. They’d like to run in the sprinkler, but we don’t have one. Maybe we should walk over to the river?
Stay safe.
Happy Friday.
Love that puzzle… you amaze me
Thanks, Brenda!
Stay safe.
I have done that puzzle! A friend picked it up for me at a yard sale. In the end, it was missing one piece. I found the windows to be the most difficult.
The humidity is horrible up here in Mass today.
I had problems with the windows in the yellow building. But I soon found my rhythm.
It’s terrible out there, isn’t it?
Stay safe, Lynda.
I did see on the national news last night of how the entire East half of the USA is burning up with intense heat. We’re in the 90s where I am in coastal Southern Calif, every day, and we have a lot of haze and overcast/muggy, but we’re not as bad as you in New York for sure. I hope it gets better for you soon. One hears about the terrible flooding in various places, yet you’re in drought as we are of course in Calif. It’s like the whole natural world has gone mad; but it’s climate change and so worrisome. WE are the problem, the humans; it’s not blessed Mother Earth. Best to you today for a better Friday! (I do LOVE the Paris puzzle.)
I forgot to say that Pip is adorable in her romper and it’s so cute, the pose. These girls do grow on me each day!
(At first, I didn’t know what to think of the Blythes; had never heard of them til you as a budding [and now-serious] collector. But you’ve brought so many new things into my life [over these many MHC blog years] of which I’d formerly had no knowledge … even butter pats; and egg cups; and I had Putz houses but didn’t even know Putz was the name for them[!] … that I had to trust you knew what you were doing. The Blythes are so original-OOAK; it’s cool to know that there is no doll out there exactly like yours; each is her own girl; and the special accessories of the handmade CLOTHES and shoes are just so exceptional [exquisite small works of art; of course your eye knows exactly what to choose and from whom/which artist].)
(Reminds me of the best Barbie dolls and clothes from the early 1960s, like specifically 1962-64; the 12-inch dolls and gorgeously-made clothes of the day, with their equally well-made shoes and handbags [teeny Princess phone; wood basket of yarn and needles; I can think of so many wonderful pieces from that era; some were thoughtfully-reproduced in the early 2000s], really didn’t take up all that much room, especially if you could contain them to a genuine Barbie carry-case. [The 18-inch American Girl dolls take up a bit more room; I’m lucky enough to have ONE with a carry case; sometimes when AG has a really good sale and I hit it just right, I’ll very occasionally buy some small thing for my doll {I love the accessories for their various historical-figure dolls; it’s all so well made but generally very cost-prohibitive; my favorite in the clothes is probably sweaters and fine cotton fabrics}.])
(It dawns on me that the Blythes are, in a way, just another form of unique ‘miniatures’ [lov’in all miniatures, from doll houses and accessories, to those Squint Boxes which you {and I also} had in a limited subscription, long time ago now; so many wonderful offerings and glimpses into miniature worlds, even the little fairy/gnome gardens] and it’s so great when there’s limited space for one’s collections, that we can go small [even reminds me of how, in a not-so-spacious apartment, I’ve known someone who still made room for an aquarium {maybe I should call it a fish tank; the humane kind, where you change out the water and it’s large enough to not stress out the tiny fishies}, having created a stimulating underwater world in miniature for the swimmers {and an equally-wondrous and relaxing waterworld for the human observer!}].)
I avoided all necessary work today (not proud of myself, but can’t/couldn’t go outside comfortably in the afternoon [and we had a big week; I’m tired; too many appointments/exams {medical}, errands; the car in twice for repairs; we purchased a cluster of agapanthus for a hole in the landscape which we need for curb appeal {as I can’t stand that bare spot one second longer} but it all still needs to be planted; ugh {does complaining of being too busy sound self-important?}]; in the 90s after 5pm PST here; I again wish it would just RAIN once and for all with this tropical storm off the West Coast/Pacific O [wherever the darned storm is by now, geographically, I guess more in the desert and higher mountains, bypassing us as usual where I live {I really have no idea; like you, I’m just over it, Claudia!}]), so I have been scrolling forEVER on Amazon in the past hour, looking at jigsaw puzzles, Claudia, as your Paris puzzle put me in the mood; my gosh there’s such a variety and I could probably buy 20 but won’t (you always seem to pick out the best ones of real quality, like good art).
What more have you got coming (puzzle-wise) to show us?
Nothing at the moment as I have to clear the kitchen table to work on my tax deductions. I can’t work on them upstairs at my desk because we don’t have A/C in the office and it’s simply impossible to work there right now.
xo
Thanks so much, Vicki. I’m wasn’t really a doll collector before this recent exposure to customized Blythes. These dolls, in particular, fascinate me. I can scroll my IG feed endlessly looking at all the variations.
Another plus: the resale value is relatively high. So if I ever want to sell them, I will recoup most of the money I spent on them.
Thanks for appreciating them, Vicki.
xo
We are reaping what we have sown. Heartbreaking.
Stay safe, Vicki.
I am sorry you are dealing with all that heat and humidity. I know what that feels like. My in-laws used to live on Guam…I visited then several times. When I landed the first time, I expected an island paradise with ocean breezes, but instead it seemed like I had walked into a sauna. The air was so thick with humidity, but pleasantly scented with plumeria. That scent was heavenly, but, it was difficult to breathe. The other day it was that steamy here as well. It was a Guam day. And I would imagine with your allergies it is all the more difficult just to breathe when it’s that humid.
I can’t believe the rain dissipated. Sounds like you are doing the best you can….hang in there! ;)
It’s very hard to handle this humidity. I feel ill most days and I just have to keep going.
Stay safe, Donnamae.
We must have gotten your rain here in VA – over an inch in the rain gauge from last night’s storm. Now we just have the 57% humidity it left. Delightful.
ceci
Lucky you! Not so lucky here.
Stay safe, Ceci.
Running through the sprinklers. I remember those days, such simple pleasures.
I am quite enamored of your two smallest Blythe dolls and the one that you showed with Wren. I don’t know anything about them, but I get the impression that there are enough variations on customizing them to make my head spin. I do have a soft spot for Imogene and I enjoy sharing in your joy.
Let us hope that we’re soon blessed with rain. I want to go puddle hopping.
The two smallest aren’t Blythe dolls. They are BJD dolls (Ball jointed dolls) that are created by an artist in China. Blythe lovers are often doll collectors of other kinds of dolls, as well. The creator of Wren and Lily creates limited editions of her designs and a lot of Blythe collectors collect them, too.
As for customizations of Blythes, you’re right! No two are alike.
Stay safe, Christine.
My son has just returned from a couple of days in Paris. It was 98 degrees there on Wednesday. They had been to his partner’s sister’s wedding at a chateau in the French countryside.
I can’t say that I wasn’t a little bit envious, though not of the heat!
Again, I hope you have rain soon.
Happy Friday
I would not want to be in Paris in this heat. That’s why we went in October both times we made the trip.
Stay safe, Dee Dee.
That is a charming puzzle! I’ve never been to Paris….but maybe some day!
We are still dry and warm here in the Bay Area…just a bit of humidity. We need the rain!
We do too!
Stay safe, Barrie.
It’s raining today here after 90 yesterday. We need it too –but I was hoping for a swim day! I missed so much of the weekend, which was nice.
I almost bought that puzzle last year at the local bookstore in Gaylord. And now that store has gone out of business. I planned to get it (or the London one) this year. I know I can replace a puzzle outlet but I can’t replace that charming bookstore.