The rain stopped overnight. We got a really good soaking, which was desperately needed. We even got some snow flurries yesterday. They didn’t last long, but it was a hint of things to come.
We plan on walking this morning, something that we’ve not been consistent with lately. I’ll drop off the book I just finished, Lone Wolf by Gregg Hurwitz. I just finished a luxury read, straight through from 6 am to 8:30 am. This book is his latest and now I’ll have to wait, just like everyone else who has already discovered him, for his new book to come out next year. (I just checked: February 11th, 2025.) This may have been my favorite because it centers on AI – artificial intelligence – and its danger. Since this is a subject I think of quite often, it was timely. And chilling.
I’ll check out some John Sandford books when I stop at the library because he’s an author our tiny little library has on the shelf. And I’m still not ready to read Gray Wolf. It’s not time yet.
What else? Clean the bathroom. Wash the towels. Hang out with Don. Stay away from the news for my emotional well being.
Sometimes we’re sort of forced – or nudged – into doing something. With Jessie, when she was still a blank head with lovely little features, I sought out one of my favorite customizers to ask what she charged. She lives in Belgium. She is very kind and extremely talented. She customizes a lot of Little Keiko dolls and the results are beautiful. She was willing to adjust her price, given I already had the head and also had an OB22 body on hand. But she is a true artist, so she likes to supply the perfect wig and outfit, as well. Completely understandable. After dithering over the decision for a long time, I declined, because I didn’t really want to spend that much money. She understood and was lovely about the whole thing.
Then my friend recommended another customizer who had done one of her Little Keikos. I’ve spoken about her before. She finally responded to my friend’s request and contacted me saying she would be able to book me toward the end of November. I wrote her back asking about the price. No answer. Wrote again. No answer. The whole time this was going on – since September – I flirted with trying to do it myself. But I didn’t have much confidence. In the meantime, another friend gave me a list of the things I would need to buy to in order to do a face up. Very inexpensive, all of it, so I ordered what I needed and a stack of supplies sat on my desk for a month, Still no answer from the customizer, who I knew was having some personal problems.
I had already been watching lots of videos about the face up process. I had done a lot of research. And I won the head in a giveaway, so I hadn’t invested the kind of money that might make me fearful about screwing it up. I wrote the customizer and told her I was going to go for it and she was apologetic yet greatly relieved. She’s going through an awful divorce. It worked out for the best for both of us.
Sometimes, you need a nudge and the universe gives you one. You just have to pick up on those messages.
And now I’ve got little Jessie.
Stay safe.
Happy Saturday.
agree about nudges – big and little encouragements to do or not do something. i’ve had lots of them and also, in a different-but-related way, found God’s blessings in some very hard things. good to pay attention to signs and feelings!
jessie is fitting right in and i think if you share a group photo of all the girls together, i won’t be able to pick her as the (first but maybe not the last?!?) one you created … your work stands level with or better than the others. and you get the satisfaction of that work. good going, claudia!
glad you had a nice rainfall, also that you have some books to read. authors’ names have been noted here.
chores await here, too. the first ones have names like earl and burl (haha). they have food and water all the time; i just add food and water to the nubbins i find most mornings. i like to be early and consistent for them, but that obviously didn’t happen today. :l
hopke you all have a great weekend and stay safe.
kathy
Thank you so much, Kathy!
Stay safe.
Looks like Jessie is fitting right in…you did such a great job with her face up. Their outfits are always so fun to see. Jessie’s dress looks quite detailed. We also got some much needed rain yesterday, dry and crisp out this morning. I’m doing much the same as you .. reading and chores around the house. Take care.
That’s a dress made by a wonderful account – HillyRags. I got it through my friend Susannah, who lives in London. She was selling some clothes and I snapped it up.
Stay safe, Barrie.
Love Jessie in her pretty pink dress with three of her sibs. What a lot of research you did before making Jessie beautiful yourself. You don’t see many of the Keiko dolls for sale on-line or maybe I’m looking in the wrong place. Hope you and Don enjoy your weekend. Hugs, Elaine
Well, they are sold via the creator – usually a couple of times a year. You reserve one and then the batch is made according to the number of reservations and it arrives about 5 or 6 months later. Any bjd designer must do sales that way. It’s an expensive process and they aren’t backed by a big company. Little Keikos are also relatively new, so those who own one aren’t ready to give them up.
Stay safe, Elaine.
Would your girls like a little black or Asian playmate?
I’m not buying any more Blythes for the time being. They do have Asian playmates – Wren and Lily are Asian, as well as another doll I just won in a giveaway. They’re aren’t many black Blythes, unfortunately.
I enjoyed Jessie’s backstory. And am impressed about how you eventually jumped in to create her.
We had torrential rain yesterday, and a leak from a window. I texted my wonderful contractor last night and he sent out a worker who covered the window. This morning, the contractor and one of his other crew came out to caulk up the hole where the rain was coming in. The window was to be replaced anyway and we were waiting for it. We have to wait 3-6 weeks for new windows. That sure slows down my renovation.
I’m sorry about the leak! But I’m happy you’re getting new windows, Wendy.
Stay safe.
And Little Jessie is a gem! All the girls are looking good. And isn’t a nice long read wonderful? Glad you got rain, too. I hope the stress is easing as you ease back into life. I have a feeling that no matter what we do, the stress will be with us indefinitely.
I’m doing my best to occupy myself so I don’t focus on the news, Jeanie!
Stay safe.
Looks like Jessie is feeling right at home now. Can see why Don has a soft spot for her, She’s adorable plus you were the one to bring her to life. We actually did have snow on Thursday – about an inch. By afternoon it was gone because it got up in the low forties. But the few pots of geraniums sitting on the patio are still going strong this morning. Tough little buggers.
I put my Schefflera on the east facing covered front porch last spring after repotting it. It had been in the same pot for years and wasn’t showing any progress. The outdoor air apparently agreed with it because by the time I brought it in the end of September it had lots of new growth. I have a friend who puts almost all her house plants outside for the summer and now I’m a believer too.
Take care,
Kay
I have too many to put outside, Kay. But I know a lot of people do that very thing. Oh, I forgot, I do put the geranium and the Boston fern outside and it does wonders for them.
Stay safe.
I’m still on the Hold list at my library for Gray Wolf… so I am waiting too.
I’ll have a busy week to get ready for Thanksgiving at my home. I enjoy having family over but I am always glad when it is over, too! ;)
Glad you got some rain and hope you are enjoying your weekend.
Stay safe, Claudia!
Thanks so much, Ellen!
Stay safe.