LAST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH

and how this month's flown by! It's been a very exciting and tiring one here in the village.

First up let me show you a photo, got permission, of my new granddaughter Clara Elizabeth.

Here she is sleeping on Grandee , when I first arrived to help poor mum and dad get some sleep ! Nothing quite like a new baby to let you know that life will never be the same again and sleep.... well you can say goodbye to getting any of that, for more than three hours at a time for the next few months!

While Mum and Dad got sleep and adjusted to the new baby based routine, Clara and I got acquainted. She learnt I was calm and firm and I learnt she was just gorgeous and of course extremely intelligent !

It was a lovely time helping them but it was also nice to get home again and get a good nights sleep! Of course I wish they lived just down the road and not two hours away but that how life is now. Years ago families filled the surrounding streets and now families can be on the other side of the world never mind the country. So I'm lucky that I don't need to get a plane to go see her.

Now the weather forecast for the coming week is of course a blast of arctic weather! They are even mentioning the white stuff ! ( I swear someone up there looks at my work rota! ) Which today , Saturday , as I type this with the sun, so hot through the french doors that I've had to pull the curtain over ! Seems impossible but outside in the sun it is crisp but not freezing! and again today Sunday as I continue this post the sun is streaming through the windows.

The sunshine today

So onto the dolls. I bid on but did not win a Sasha which I would have loved but alas it went elsewhere , why do certain dolls always appear when you do not have enough funds to make a winning bid? Mind you I'm also supposed to be concentrating on my new studio and it's needs but some dolls you cannot let slip by.

I did however receive a Schoenhut boy that I happened across a few weeks back and made an offer on which was accepted. He is quite petite at 14 inches or at least looks that way and has a face style I do not already have. Plus he looks like a boy! you know how some dolls will look either female or male and this one looks male.
I don't have many boy Schoenhut's so he appealed to me.

He came without a wig which I find much easier. If they have a wig that's so old and tatty it needs replacing , you then need to try and find one that is exactly the same or the doll looks different and not always for the better. So the fact he does not have a wig for me in this case is a bonus in one way.
In another it means I need to find the right one for him and although I have started to build up a supply of different wigs unfortunately they are almost exclusively girl ones.

So I'll be spending a while getting him kitted out and finding him a name , at present Jack is the front runner.
For the moment he's been dressed to keep warm in clothes that are too big.

But he wanted to introduce you to him dog , who arrived at the same time, so of course they had to be faithful companions.

He wants to call his dog Dutch and is wondering if Kuno and Archie can give his dog some pointers for training!

I also found this items on ebay which arrived this week as well.



Well March is just round the corner and so it will soon be the fifth and Doll shelf photos will need to be sent in, so that we have some great dolls etc to drawl over and be inspired by.

My log cabin should arrive in March and so once this cold spell has passed it will be all hands on deck to get the fencing in , the gazebo emptied and  down and the base put in place. All sounds so easy when written but it's going to be very time consuming when happening and reliant on good weather!

Hoping that once my cabins in, I won't have trouble from.... mice! this still sealed tub should be full of fat balls for the birds

However Paul found it today empty! because they have eaten through the bottom and helped themselves!

the seed husks and bits they'd didn't want left on the floor !

I have a couple of story's in the pipeline which will need to be set up and photos taken , so they can appear on the blog.

Plus of course there is now granddaughter visiting to fit in, so a busy time ahead.

Enjoy the coming week and let's hope that after this mini ice age that's about to appear we head into the spring weather we've all been waiting for!

Dee

PS Thank you Julie for the lovely card

SAD TO SEE

BUT NEEDS TO BE..

and this time the gorgeous Calico Kate who had been with me for at least five or six years. It strange how sometimes you just have to have a clear out if your dolls , well for me anyway, but it does allow then others to come take their place later

But it had been rare for her to get any attention and my loss is someone elses gain.


If we never moved our dolls on , no one else would have the joy we had of owning them.


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YOU CAN GO

BUT BE BACK SOON...

Alas they rarely return once they have left..

and so it was with the lovely button nosed lass. Yet again I decided three button girls was too many and then she was off, snapped up just as I was about to keep her! But it's nice to have owned her and others have arrived in her place.

Not the best photo of her but I've not time to find the better ones at present.


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BYE BYE BABY

BYE BYE

I love the Caleb's and the Cora's and have at one stage or another owned three Caleb's and two Cora's but no sooner do they arrive that I start thinking of selling them!

It could be that they are hard to capture in photos' which is a shame as they are lovely dolls.

These three were around for a very small amount of time before they moved on to be appreciated more elsewhere.


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GOING...

GOING... moved on..

Wolfgang

This lovely button nosed lad was a favourite but alas I foolishly decided I did not need three button nosed boys.. so..

He had such style ..




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SUNDAY...REPORTING FROM WARZONE

Well I am away from home out in the wilds of West Sussex! A dangerous place due to it having been the last known place of the Ice Queen palace.she may appear to be gone....but can an ice cream.. I mean ice queen change her hundreds and thorands,, I mean spots?😉

Despite the hidden danger I am down here in wildest Sussex facing this time not a Queen but a Princess!

Princess Clara Elizabeth! Yes the beautiful grand daughter. I have come to help out the worn out King and Queen of said Princess, who decided a spot of Jaundice followed by constant all night feeding was the way to bring joy to her parents.

So Grandee/ Nanna is giving a helping hand by pandering to the Princess while the King and Queen recover from the shock of just what having a baby arrive can mean!

Which is why before I left I managed to set up a few mini blog posts that I can slip on while I go three or even four rounds with the Princess Clara! So far she's won one, we've drawn one and there are still a couple to go! I'm hoping for a tie it would appear victory may be to much even for this hardened old soldier mum!

I would share a photo but at present.  The embattled King and Queen don't want the media envolved! Princess Clara Elizabeth bound to win points just for being a cutie and she's already got too much power as it is without getting the people on her side.

So I'll be back at the end of the week in the village recovering... Will I have been victorious ? Or wil I be licking my wounds and planning my next encounter? Only time and a good nights sleep for all involved will tell!!


Dee

HERE TODAY...

Gone  tomorrow ....

I thought I'd spend this week looking back at some of the dolls who we have loved and.... well not lost ...... just allowed to move on to fill someone else's home with love.

This sweet girl came to us for a while but then decided Switzerland was an interesting place to go.

Her eyes were repainted for me by Shelly.




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GRANNY'S TALE .... THE END ???

Then next morning after Granny's look into the future, the village was carrying on as normal.......well maybe not quite normal.....

Ollie is shocked at seeing a strange man behind the counter in Granny Fortuna's shop !

" Hello.... " says a young voice....  cough cough " I mean ...Hello young lad What can I do for you? " the much deeper voice continues " My names Uncle Alfonso , I'm looking after the shop"

A loud thud sounds on the ceiling as Ollie looks at this newcomer with suspicion !
" Uncle Alfonso? why have you got the same birth mark on your head as Bruno? "
A small silence lasts before 'Alfonso says " I'm his Uncle! It's a family birth mark all the males have it !" he ends on what sounds like a relieved sigh.

Still not quite believing this person Ollie says " If you are uncle Alfonso's wheres Bruno? "
" He is with his aunt.... aunt... Delphinium !"
"That's a flower !"
" Is It ?.. I mean my darling wife is named for the most wonderful very tall flower, for she is just the same !"
" What a wonderful tall flower ? "
Alfonso's decides this conversation is getting out of hand so comes round from behind the counter

Ollie looks amazed, wasn't he taller a moment ago? He seems to have shrunk !
" Well " mutters Ollie " Bruno does not have any long trousers .... maybe you are Alfonso "

" Should you not be getting home? " asks Alfonso " It will be very very dark soon "
"It's only half past three!"

Suddenly a door opens and a voice shreaks ....

" What ! Is! Going ! On! " says Granny " And who are you? "
" That's Uncle Alfonso " supplies Ollie helpfully
" That is NOT Alfonso " states Granny " Not unless he's sudden lost a foot  and a half in height and had a hair transplant! "
Uncle Alfonso seems glued to the spot!

" Impostor! Call the police !" says Granny

Alfonso retreats behind the counter suddenly growing in height!
" lets not be hasty " he stutters "  I'm his son Alfonso junior !"

" Liar " says Granny getting angry " What have you done with my grandson? "

Suddenly she dashed forward and pulls on the strange mans beard which drops down!
" Brun...o..." says Granny
" Hello Granny " says Bruno in a whisper

" Bruno " says Granny her voice breaking as she pulls him into her arms " Bruno "

" Bruno thank goodness you are safe " Granny says tearfully " I was so worried you were in the clink!"
" Clink? "
" Jail.. Prison..house of correction... " sniffing Granny gives Bruno another hug

"What an earth were you doing and why are you dressed like an old man? "
Sighing Bruno says guiltily " I didn't want to call Uncle Alfonso to come look after the shop.. I don't trust him " he finishes.
" You are such a wise boy " Granny mutters then raising her voice " Ollie look after the shop a moment!"

Ollie cannot believe Granny's asked him .. him to mind the shop! he's round at the counter before Granny and Bruno have barely moved out the way.. " That will be three pounds ten pence " says Ollie practicing.

" Ollie " says granny without turning " just call if a customer wants serving  "
"Yes granny " sighs Ollie .. slightly down , then brightens.. he'll just call when they want to pay .

" Granny walks with Bruno towards the door to their flat above the shop " I promise I will always let you look after the shop in future If I'm unwell "
 Bruno stays silent convinced granny's still recovering and she'll forget once she's fully on the mend
..
Bruno nearly trips over when Granny carries on " You can open the shop tomorrow while I have a lie in to help finish this cold and I'll get up at 10 and make you a lovely big breakfast "







Christmas Eve

Bruno is so happy, Granny's borrowed some trousers , to check the fit , and promised Bruno he'll have a pair of long trousers in the new year as a treat for working so hard up till Christmas.

Granny is very happy " Look how well we have done Bruno ! and after such a late start, what with my cold !"

" The shelves are nearly empty! I think it was our best lead up to Christmas since we opened !"

"I've been thinking just having a shop at Christmas does not give us a lot of money to last the year and you are a growing boy! "
" I am? "
" You are !"
" So I was thinking..... "

"What! " exclaims Bruno

" I can see it now" Granny continues  " Easter Bunnies, ducks, hen's and of course cards  and not forgetting Easter eggs!

Granny can see it all....in her head...

"Good Luck with that " Bruno sighs " You do know they are moving the sofa etc back in here tomorrow? "
" Of course... but I have heard on the village grapevine .. "
" Don't you mean old biddy line? " scoffs Bruno
" Don't be rude Bruno.. my friends and I are not old Biddy's .. Biddy's yes but old no! Anyway where was I?.    Oh yes we have heard talk of a big and I do mean big new studio for all the village houses etc and I think there should be a shop.... all year round.... after all a shop is not just for Christmas... "




The End.

I hope you have enjoyed Granny and Bruno's tale. I am planning to give Granny and Bruno a space for their shop, all being well, so the village children can have somewhere to go to get presents and food etc.

ITS' SUNDAY

And I was going to be writing the last post for Granny's Christmas/winter tale however a little someone decided they wanted my attention!

Yesterday , 13 days early , I became a Grandmother! To a beautiful little girl. my daughters labour was very quick  and she was born  early in the morning ,so this little princess does not do waiting about !
I so pleased it all went well and I don't have to worry about them heading to hospital in the midst of a snow storm or on icy roads!

In other news it's been a very good week. I managed to sell my blonde Ochre eyed Gotz , so with three dolls sold I have placed my order for the Log Cabin !!

Cannot quite believe it's on order, just hope they can get their lorry down our road. There is a tight turn at the top, on a small length of road and then a single track country lane at the bottom! Their lorry comes complete with a forklift, so hopefully that can be used to deliver it the final few yards ! It will arrive late March to give us time, once the weather improves to clear the site.

It's bigger than what it's replacing, so will also need to rearrange the shrubs in the bed near it. and see what sort of base we need to put in. So come March we'll be out in the garden as long as its dry trying to get it all done.

Although I'd put Mary on to sell I found I just could not do it, I know I know I should have put another doll on but it's hard to part with the Sasha's and Gregors I now have, so swapped her for another of my No Navel's. I have a few non Sasha dolls on and if I can sell a couple of those I'll probably pull off the no navel too. I also sold a few clothes and a couple of props.

When I put Mary on I realised she could do with a hair wash, so I'll be doing that in the coming weeks.
One of the things I'm hoping for once my Studio is ready, is being able to put everything away in drawers cupboards etc , all labelled so I can find things! Every so often I remember something I own ,prop wise, but have not seen for ages!

I have to confess that even though I have sold some dolls another did manage to snare me!

I came across this Zwergnase girl by chance and I just loved her . So even though I'm selling a Zwergnase doll, I put in an offer which was accepted .

She's a limited edition called Augustine, a name I just love. Now I really must resist adding any more!

The weather here is turning colder again! but then it is still Winter which I keep forgetting ! Today we have had glorious sunshine followed by this afternoon a burst of heavy rain in which was hail! We were at the garden centre at the time and after it stopped and we walked back to the car , if was so much colder than this morning.

Paul repotted the bay trees in two of the bigger terracotta pots we owned which we are hoping will help stop the one on the right from getting blown over again! While he was at it, he re-potted the small Acer on the right also into a bigger pot and finally the leftover primroses have been planted out in the front centre flower bed along with a few pots of tulips we got in the garden centre.

This week we also went to the cinema twice! First to see Darkest hour, a brilliant film in which Gary Oldman is wonderful and deserving of an Oscar
Then on Thursday I went along with my middle daughter to see Three Billboards outside Ebbings Missouri,  it was a fanatic film , Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell , I have to say both deserve to win the Oscar for their performances, this film does have it's violent moments but the film is well worth watching.

Well I'm juts off to write the final chapter in Granny Fortuna's Christmas tale!

Have a lovely week, stay warm

Dee

GRANNY'S TALE INTO THE FUTURE...

After a restless day, mainly spent sleeping and worrying Granny waits for night to fall and that idiot wolf to return! She'll be able to see just how much she's going to make with Alfonso in the shop.

"Who is that ? " demands Granny looking at the stranger behind the counter

" and what are all these signs ? "
" that's the lad Alfonso's put in to run the shop for him "

x

+

" What does that mean ! " demands Granny " Uncle Alfonso's shop ! He cannot even spell his own name!"
"Shush " says the wolf.. listen if you want to know whats happening..

" Ollie I told you children are not allowed in the shop!" says the lad at the counter

" I know but I waited until I saw Alfonso leave "

" Do you know how Bruno's doing ? " Ollie asks
" I think he comes up for trial next week " says the lad

" T Trial ! " gasps Granny in shock " My Bruno !"

"What is going on!" demands Granny in her you will tell me now voice!
The wolf just grins and says " you'd best pay attention or you'll not find out !"

Granny hurriedly moves closer so as not to miss anything
" I heard " says the lad confidingly " That old Alfonso's going to say that Bruno stole the taking from last week and gambled them at Shifty Fred's betting shop ! "
" But he didn't " gasps Ollie
" Well we know that but that Alfonso's got the judge in his pocket.. it's his brother!"
" No" No" gasps both Ollie and Granny
" But what ...what.. about Granny Fortuna? why's she not helping Bruno " says Ollie sounding almost in tears
" Because she's in the nut house " " Nut house? " questions Ollie
The lad sighs " The mental home for people who have lost their marbles !"
Ollie's totally confused now, he never knew Granny had any marbles to lose and why would she need to go to a house if she did? "
" any road " the boy continues " that Bruno could be looking at 5 years maybe more in a young offenders unit "

Granny looks grief stricken , her Bruno locked up.. her sweet innocent lad .. her lip trembles..

Crying Ollie leaves the shop " I  I I'm going to get Mum to get him a good lawyer !"
" it won't help " says the lad.

Granny returns to the wolf.. " Take me back " she whispers, her voice sounding old and trembling " take me back .. what have I done... "


to be continued....


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