The light is changing. Autumn, though not officially here, is here.
And boy, do we need to mow. Maybe in a few days. Fingers crossed.
We’ve been fairly immersed in the coverage from the UK. Utterly fascinating. My favorite thing is to hear stories about the Queen. This morning, Sir David Attenborough shared one and it made me chuckle. What a tremendous loss to the country and to the world. What an admirable life!
I’ll be watching again today until I have to coach at 2 pm.
My back is still troublesome, but I was especially good yesterday at following my own advice to REST YOUR BACK! And I did. I get bored and I want to be outside working or walking or even cleaning inside, but I can’t. It’s frustrating, but I want my back to heal and the only way it’s going to do that is if I stop all unnecessary bending over, etc.
So I crochet hats for the girls. Yesterday I completed another one. Olivia is today’s model.
I named this “Flower Child.”
She looks like those girls in the sixties who wore crocheted cloche-like hats. I remember it well. She’s awfully adorable.
I sometimes feel guilty because I’ve suddenly indulged in this new collection at this point in my life. It’s interesting; I have no desire to add anything to my other collections, knowing that I’m of a certain age, and I really don’t need any more china or pottery or vintage furniture. That desire has basically faded. But it’s different with these Blythes. There’s something about them that I hope you get a glimpse of when I post my photos. I never would have expected to have anything to do with dolls at this point in my life, or any other point in my life, save childhood. Who knew?
But they make me happy. Don sees that they make me happy. (Actually, they make him smile, too.) I have limited space, thank goodness, and I believe – never say never, of course – that I’ve hit my Blythe limit. There are a couple of customizers whose dolls I’d love to have. But I’m very happy with the ones I have.
I’ve ordered neck joints for Sophie and Maeve and when they arrive, I’m going to install them (I’m nervous about that) so that they have more mobility. It will make an enormous difference – much easier to photograph, for one, but also letting them show some personality.
And I’m comforted by resale value. If I need to, I can sell some of them – though, honestly – it will pain me to do so.
I’m sentimental, you see.
Okay. I have to go.
Stay safe.
Happy Wednesday.
sorry that you still have pain. glad you are resting and mindful of how you move and use your back. will keep praying for you.
i hope that guilt goes away, too. if something safe and cute brings you happiness and you’re not robbing banks to pay for it, that is, in my opinion, a good (some)thing.
another cute hat (and outfit). good job, especially working on such a small scale.
happy zoom-work.
fall is starting to arrive here, too. i am glad for cooler weather, but very much dislike how early it gets dark at night.
i am sentimental, too. i can easily share sentimental things with my family, but if they don’t want them, letting go of such pieces in other ways is very tough for me (thankfully there’s not been much of that). as i sort things, i remind myself that things are things and they are not my loved ones or the shared experiences, memories and love we have forever. and better days are ahead.
on a related note, while i intentionally have not watched news about the queen, i am comforted by traditions and hope that their traditions help her family, too.
oh! i need to get a move on here … it’s almost 9:00 am!
hope you all have a good day. stay safe.
kathy
Thanks, Kathy. I, unfortunately, don’t have many close family members left. Chiefly, my sister, and though I love my nieces and nephews, I don’t see them very often. And Don, of course. Maybe the girls are my extended family.
Stay safe.
sorry, claudia. :(
i have the blessing of more family and that they are within a 30-minutes drive of me. they are blessed to have what they need and want, including of family pieces. don’t know what may happen in the future with my grandparents’ settee and teapot, the (recently reupholstered) sofa, art and so much more that my parents have given me … … … … still, i’ve been making a list of family pieces and the history of them, in case my nieces (as the “next generation”) become as i did, more sentimental over time. or maybe my little great-niece and great-nephews will think it’s all cool. :)
xo,
kathy
Yard is lovely
It is gorgeous here
Always a breeze on the coast and a shower almost daily
Prayers for you as you teach and coach
Are you finding any time to read?
Louise penny new book out this fall
My dear one…you introduced her to me.
Still chuckle when the great librarians in Greenwood thought I had either read them or would not because of the language
They got everyone for me.
You are so special to your readers.
I’m going through one of those periods when I’m having trouble concentrating on a book. I am reading, but not as much as I do normally. I think it’s because I have a lot of other things claiming my attention at the moment.
Can’t wait until Louise Penny’s newest comes out, Brenda. I keep thinking it’s far off, but it really isn’t, is it?
Stay safe, my friend.
It’s a beautiful fall day here, after an amazing storm last night. I bought a couple of magazines, magazines as you know are very expensive now, and managed to drop them in a big puddle outside the store. Thanks to your influence, I now have three Blythe dolls and I love each one for different reasons. Two are factory, and one is custom. I bought the custom because she was very pretty and also she had cute ears that stick out. When she arrived, I learned that I have to take her head apart to put the cute ears on. Not sure I’m ready to do that. Would you mind sharing the name of the local woman who makes shoes, or does she make clothes? I have ordered some of both from Asia and from Ukraine, but as you can imagine there are difficulties in receiving them. It’s a shame because the Ukraine artists are very talented. I hope your back heals well And perhaps you can both enjoy the secret garden with the early autumn light. That was a beautiful photo. Take care
She’s Crafty By Cora on Etsy.
I’m surprised the customizer didn’t add the ears on herself! Maybe to keep them from breaking?
Stay safe, Nora.
Hi Claudia, I’m so sorry your back is still bothering you. Hope it improves soon. Thanks for your link to your post about Blythe dolls. It was very imformative. I think the dolls appeal to our inner child and we all have one. I played with my dolls till I was 11 or 12. Today, 12 year olds are so much more grown up and sophisticated than 60 years ago.
I’ve been looking for my Blythe doll and have narrowed down two possibilities. One is from British Columbia so that is a positive factor. She comes with a plaid skirt, blouse, cute knitted cardigan, stockings and the cutest pair of shoes along with her school bag. I’m so excited!
Forgive me for procrastinating in getting that calendar in the mail. I haven’t forgotten. I’ll let you know when I’ve mailed it so you can watch for it.
Hugs, Elaine
Oh goodness, don’t worry. Whenever!
I’m excited for you! If you want/need advice about your choice, let met know.
Stay safe.
dear Claudia/Don — beautiful pix of garden, doll — really like that hat! may or may not have had one very similar back yrs ago — remember the 60s & 70s vividly — not admitting anything, haha!!
grands love to ask us about “those flower child” years, of course, I give them “sanitized” versions only b/c they are like sponges and then phonograph players w/repeating Nannie stories!! sure hope your back recovers soon. take care. stay healthy/safe
Thank you Linda!
Stay safe.
Hope your back gets better soon! I’ve had terrible back problems at times and it can be miserable…
I get very wrapped up in all the traditions and processions and events of the Queen’s ceremonies. The regard held for her has been so remarkable.
By the way, Olivia’s new hat is great….and I’m sure she’ll be good at sharing with her sisters!
All the girls have to share! That’s a house rule.
Stay safe, Barrie.
Thank you Claudia! I have seen some of her beautiful work on Etsy, it’s nice to deal with someone local. You might be right about the customizer wanting to protect the ears. 👂 😉 Looking forward to seeing how your girls new necks work out. Hope your back is better soon
Her work is excellent and with her being in CT, once the item is shipped, it should get to you quickly. It may be under CraftCoraShop.
Nervous about the necks!
xo
I think Olivia looks smashing! Sorry your back is still giving you problems. I picked up my husband from the hospital today….so he’s home now, safe and sound. Now life can proceed….I can stop holding my breath.
I have sort of stopped collecting…I did however, pick up a free old singer sewing machine from a good friend….the kind with the ornate iron stand. So now I have a winter project. I’m gonna paint the iron, and then decide on a top. It came with a top complete with machine, but the machine is going to my DIL for spare parts, and the cabinet was poorly painted, so I won’t be using that. The top either be a nice piece of cherry (?) wood, or glass, or a stone remnant. It’s going in our small entryway. Time will tell.
Hope the coaching went well today! ;)
Happy to hear your husband is back home, Donnamae!
Have fun with your project – I’m sure it will be smashing.
Stay safe.
Oh, Claudia! Whatever makes us happy. We have earned it at this point in our lives!! I am sorry about your temporary reading block. I went through one of those for about 2 mos early this summer. I dread when that happens. But I am back to about 2 books a week again and it makes me very happy.
You are right. Rest is always the key. But it is so difficult to accept. And, as you know, not easy to accomplish. Once we do figure out that it actually does work though, that seems to make it easier to believe and to do. And realizing that fighting it only prolongs the pain is a rather Come-to-Jesus moment. Resting sooner, rather than later is the key! Hoping tomorrow is better for you. Take care.
I’m reading, just very slowly. I’m a bit down today so I’m going to try to lose myself in the book I’m reading. I need to escape.
Thank you.
Stay safe, Chris.
I turn on BBC as soon as I get up and will be getting up at 5 or so on Monday to watch the final farewell. I wrote about her today. It’s hard to believe and I don’t know why it should be — she was 96 for heaven’s sake!
Love your cute crocheted hats. It’s always better when you can feel productive while resting, I think!
Thanks, Jeanie.
Stay safe.