SUNDAY SNIPPETS

The weeks seem to be passing quite quickly as usual, so although we feel like we are getting things done, the time does seem to be running out before winter will rush in.

It will soon be time for the Chat n Snap, but I did alter the theme due to everything that's happened so far this month, to make it easier for Paul. I have changed the theme to Royalty in honour of Queen Elizabeth the second and the new King Charles. So hopefully there will be some snazzy dressed Sasha's and Gregor's cutting the rug as the saying goes.

Not much has been happening here apart from the never-ending quest to get the garden sorted.

We have been working on the flower garden, which is the first section you walk into via the metal gate.

It did have the bearded Iris bed in the centre, but although beautiful when the plants were in flower, it turned into a weeding nightmare ever after.

At one point we were going to keep the iris bed but turn it into a colourful flower bed and build a circular path around it but now we have decided to remove the iris bed and completely pave a central circle around the sun dial increasing the flower beds slightly to meet the edge with small paving off to reach the covered benches and the way to and fro. So, all the grass needs to come up and the circle dug out! 

Elsewhere in the family exciting things have happened...

After waiting nine years my youngest daughter, parent to the princess and prince, has finally fulfilled her wish to have a cat.

And not for her any old moggy, no, a beautiful Maine Coon kitten!

Above is a photo she shared of Clara and the kitten checking out the front view.

I have to say seeing this beautiful kitten did make me wonder about getting one but then Mabel came through meowing constantly for, yet another dish of food and I suddenly went completely off the idea! So, I will be enjoying their cat when I visit. 

She is called Nimue, since her dad's called Merlin. And yes, I am a little jealous, but it won't last once Mabel sees someone move and starts meowing for more food again!

On the doll front, I have just received as I mentioned a new to me Sasha, who I will show more photos of this week. I'm trying to find her look.

I have not been actively selling or buying, so nothing much happening there.

Although I did receive a wonderful gift from a wonderful friend, who bought a Gotz doll and didn't like the new style of joints, so sent her to me as a gift because she knew I loved this dolls face and they are rarely made, so getting hold of one is hard and also expensive.

She reminds me of my granddaughter Clara, with her big blue eyes and white, blonde hair and her sweet full cheeks.

Well, not much else to say but have a happy healthy doll filled week

Dee

A NEW GIRL ARRIVES

 On Thursday 15th the post woman kindly delivered a few parcels, and I immediately spotted the doll box! I'd last tracked the doll a few days back and she was still in the US, so I was surprised to see her box.

I saw her on a US site a few months back and just fell for her, if anything I should have walked away as I could have picked a very similar girl off UK ebay but you know what it's like when you see one you love, you just have to go with it.

Anyway, I fell and paid her off a couple of weeks back and she was on her way. Of course, during her travels, our Queen passed away, so she was a nice lift when she appeared.

She is very minty looking and white strings so a 1970 girl.

Her string is a little weak, but I think that's more due to age than her being handled.

On the day she arrived in one of the other parcels was this..

A castle hall! Not for the Sasha's I might add but for some mice and some small bears I already own.

Also, in the post that day was a book on some dolls given to the Queen and Princess Margaret, so you can guess where this is heading.

Yes, she can only be called Elizabeth after everything, the queen, castle rooms, book etc! I will probably call her Beth for short, but she is named for the late queen.

Now she's off for a wash and a change of clothes and to meet her new siblings.

A SAD TIME FOR THE COUNTRY

 I did not post here after the sad death of her majesty Queen Elizabeth the second, I found along with many others, that it was very much like losing a close member of the family. I have spent most of that time watching the coverage of the late queen's journey from her estate in Balmoral to Edinburgh, the scenery shown as the camera's high in the helicopter, followed her car made one understand just why she loved her home in Scotland so much, the raw beauty was a sight to behold.

 Her laying in state in Edinburgh, then her journey on to London and her journey to Westminster Hall where again she lay in state for people to pay their respects. I thought her flag draped coffin and guards were a perfect tribute to such a wonderful monarch, who served this country along with many others beautifully for seventy years.

 

Whether you agree with a monarchy or not, the queen was a remarkable woman who served her country and the Commonweath from the moment she came to the throne. She was also a mother, grandmother and great grandmother who did her best as all mothers do, sometimes we get it right sometimes not.

As a country we do pomp and ceremony extremely well and so it was with her majesty's funeral a beautiful, glorious sight from the military getting ready, to the final church service at Windsor. Nothing quite so tear jerking as watching the piper play and leave the church as the queen's coffin is lowered into the vault, the sound of the pipes slowly receding.

x

I thought the wreath of flowers on the coffin from King Charles were gorgeous.

Such care had been taken with them adding rosemary for remembrance and myrtle from a plant grown from her majesty's wedding bouquet. Oak for strength among other things.

It's been lovely to see the crowds of people paying their respects over all the days since it happened up until yesterday, her funeral.

No doubt the media will be sharpening their pens to stir the pot about the royals, costs, relevance, etc it is such a shame that no one allows people time to recover before the boot goes in.

I myself will be looking at the wonderful photos and gathering the information on the beautiful flowers of Charles wreath and quietly moving forward.

Dee

HER REIGN ENDS

 

R.I.P QUEEN ELIZABETH THE SECOND

 

ITS THE FIFTH SO DOLL PHOTO DAY

 September is here and so is the fifth, so let's share those lovely photos you have sent in.

Over at RoRoPo, Adelheid and Holly are out in the garden checking out the plants that are flowering.

They both add some more colour to this colourful garden, little gems of colour themselves.

Will, Marco and Miles from Grgeoropolis insisted that after those girls took centre stage last month, that it was time for an all-boy appearance. And what a great trio of early lads they are all, those brooding good looks and attitude! You are always welcome lads

From Wendy, in Australia, we have a Miss Dolly Schoenhut doll, who she has patiently, strand by strand brought the hair back to its crowning glory. 

Magda's been out in the garden checking out the new folly window and wall, I think she approves!

She is also feeling happy because Mum finally changed her out of her spring outfit!

Many thanks to everyone sending their doll photos for the post. Still time to add more, just get them sent in.

Dee

A SEPTEMBER SUNDAY

 It's been a bit of a chaotic week! First off, we suddenly found there were still eight fish! After only seeing two for days, I suddenly counted another six hiding down among the pots. So just one goldfish seems to have vanished/been eaten? who knows.

However, Saturday Paul found one floating on the top, so we are now down to seven but five of them were finally up eating and rushing about, similar to how they were before. We will wait to see how it goes but nice to know only one fish vanished and not seven, so we don't need to go and get some more.

Also, this week Paul's dad took unwell and spent most of Thursday sitting outside the hospital waiting for them to find him a cubicle inside. At one stage there were seventeen ambulances waiting with patients with some coming and going. It didn't look good first thing in the morning, and we were all fearing the worse, then a couple of hours later he was awake and seeing his granddaughter sitting beside him eating a sandwich, said he was hungry and scoffed down the other half!

He also requested Paul leave the packets of biscuits the ambulances people had given us when it was time for us to leave him to sleep! He is now up and about but still in hospital while they try to work out what happened! So, he appears fine while the rest of us get over the stress!

Naturally that meant not much else happened this week.

On the doll front, I sold another doll and some clothing and some props which was nice and made a bit of space. We won't dwell on the fact that three non-Sasha dolls arrived although I will share a photo.

I do actually have a Sasha on her way to me also. I really should not be spending on the dolls with everything else than needs doing but sometimes you need to have a little treat or three!

Tomorrow is the fifth, so if you have any doll photos to share, please send them along, so we can all see them.

Now I'm off to sort out my photo for the fifth.

Have a lovely healthy happy doll filled week ahead

Dee

 

FLOWER POWER AND MORE

 September!!! 

Arabella is outside checking over some plants we have bought for the garden.

" These plants seem to have multiplied. " Arabella states" and why all these ones the same? "

" Well because they will survive hot weather, they love hot weather, and we had a discount voucher so decided now was the time to get them"

"And what's with all this grass! " 

"Those three behind you, was one big one that had planted itself between the edge of some paving! So, dad finally took it up and split it into three clumps and we'll replant it in the flower borders"

" But Grass? " Queries Arabella 

" Yes, grasses in the borders are very in these days"

" Mm " She's not convinced

" Now can I ask you a question? " I ask

Arabella nods

"Why are you dressed like some hoodlum in a vest and boots?"

"Mother I am dressed like this because of the weather and being outside" she rolls her eyes as if I'm stupid for not knowing " and just because I am dressed so, does not mean I am a hoodlum? You should Never judge a book by its cover!"

With that she walks over to!

" Where did you find that? I thought I'd hidden that away!"

" I found it where you left it, in the old studio. Now I cannot stay to chat I have to go see Aunty Plum about getting this scooter pimped!"

" Getting it what! " I gasp but she's already riding away " Where's your HELMET?" I yell to her disappearing back 

"Wherever you hid it!" drifts back to me as she vanishes out of sight!