TIME IS PASSING, SEPTEMBER IS JUST ROUND THE CORNER!

 Well I had a lovely few days with my youngest daughter Courtney and my two grandchildren. They are so sweet and funny and growing up so fast. They also tussle with each other as all siblings do. They also wake up at anytime after 6am ! But luckily the house rules are they play in Clara's room until 7am. 

But this still meant Nanny, who was sleeping on the sofa , had to rise very early after a late night , each morning, so was happy when it was time to return home to a proper bed and a good sleep in! lol

While I was at Courtney's I asked her about two terracotta wall pots, that were on the back wall of her garden when she moved in a couple of years ago. I noticed she'd not bothered to plant them up. I said did she want them? She said no as it was too hot where they were and she worried they'd fall off the wall if filled with plants and hurt one of the children. Can I have them  I asked, she said yes! 

So I emptied out the old soil still in them and between us we managed to take them off the wall. They were on an old brick wall that runs along the back of her garden and the wall is not in a very good condition, so she really needs to find out who is responsible for it and get it rebuilt or replaced with some fencing. So removing the pots was a good idea due to the walls condition.

Once I was home with them, Paul put them up on the wall between the two French doors on the back of the house and filled them with some plants.

Neptune is quite impressed with the floral display now below him.

Then last Wednesday we had Tom, my father in law's funeral. It all went off well, the sun was shinning and it was extremely warm. I've always thought the day should be gray and cloudy with the threat of rain but naturally in late August that's not likely.

There was a wake in the nearly pub, where sandwiches and other food was laid on. But the pub was so hot! and the food was, apart from the sandwiches, also hot. I told my girls that if I should have a wake after my funeral, I wanted tea and coffee served along with cake and desserts and only a plate or two of sandwiches.

Then I spotted this sign on the wall behind me ! Says it all really. It felt a little strange with his funeral almost four weeks to the day after his death, but it seems even when burying people there is a wait. But he had a good long life and apart from having TB at the end of the second world war, he pretty much had a healthy life.

Today, Saturday, we have the gray clouds and rain showers naturally. So at least the garden is getting some much needed water.

In my clearing out etc, I found an ariel photo taken many years ago of part of our road. A man came to the door selling the photos he'd taken and since the one he was trying to sell me was of mostly other peoples houses and gardens I haggled him down to just a few pounds. But the photo was too big and not really worth framing, so it' been moved here and there in cupboards or boxes for years.

Must be a good fifteen years maybe. It shows a small section of the recreation ground behind us along with the bowls club

The end of the garden is still not finished , so it could only have been taken a couple of years after we moved in, as the garden is totally different now. On here the front garden is mainly grass and it's at least ten years since we turned most of it into a gravelled area with central flower bed.

One day when It's finished I will get my SIL to send his drone up and take some photos. I have now cut the photo so that I only have the piece above just showing us and the neighbours, so much easier to keep.

Now on the doll front, things have been happening! Just as I was about to head off to Courtney's I won a brunette waif on eBay! Yes me, who is supposed to be being good ( I think that's almost an impossibility for me where dolls are concerned!) I could not resist her, a sweet girl whose only issue was a small scratch to her eye and a green spot from a Sasha shoe snap on one leg. So I placed a bid and won her. I then had to have her delivered to my daughter's house as Paul would be out and about with the dogs etc while I was away.

So I asked Courtney and the grandies to help me find a name for her and the name Chloe was mentioned and that's the one that stuck.

So this is Chloe, who is also the headliner for todays post. Early seventies girl, hair appears to be fine, nice and soft and not falling, at least at present.

I also should be having a preordered non Sasha doll arriving next week! So a little like our London Buses a few arriving at once.

Now it's nearly September, I'm starting to get into Chat n Snap mode and so I bought a sweater dress and hat for the raffle Sasha and then found her a pair of tights and some boots.

I'm not quite 100% sure I'm willing to give up those green boots, even though I do have another pair, but at present this is her outfit and my sister Michelle offered to make her up another set of clothes. So I may need to get her a case or bag for her belongings. 

I also have a Sasha baby girl for the raffle, who Michelle is going to make an outfit for. So things starting to fall into place. In September we will need to start on the display so that it's not the usual last minute rush!! 

On the rest of the doll/ clearing space front. I sold the dolls sized red kitchen and also a handbag and three pairs of unused shoes in the last few weeks, so even though a couple of dolls have arrived a few other items have actually left.

But I did take the sylvanian morris minor car and towing caravan for Clara and one of the wooden pirate ships for Adam, when I visited them, so that's yet more space made! We won't mention the windmill and the canal barge, that may be heading this way... after all they will only be stopping a short while before they head on to the grandies..  honest.. 

Today Sunday has been another day of sunshine and showers, which is fine, helps keep it cool enough to get things done outside as well as inside. Still lots to do in both places. I do wonder if I will ever get to a place where everything that is not needed will be gone? It could happen but will take ages!

So I will wish you all a happy healthy week ahead 

Dee

THE SECOND SUNDAY IN AUGUST

Lucas is today's headliner, yesterday he was sharing tea with his little elephant friends to celebrate World Elephant Day. He did not really take enough cake, so luckily one of his sisters arrived with more before it all went pear shaped!

So what's been happening here? Someone from the bowls club offered Paul some fish for the pond when Paul was telling him about it, when he told me , I said do we need any more as the ponds not that big but the man said his son, who breeds them said the pond could easily take some more.

So he arrived the next day with around a dozen fish in assorted sizes, from quite big to quite small! 

So now there are around twenty fish in the pond and it does mean when you feed them, you get to see a lot more coming up for the food! I just hope its not too many.

The weathers been reasonable, so we've been getting outside gardening or using the gazebo to sit and read or chat.

It was our 48th wedding anniversary, we married very young barely out of nappies ;), on Wednesday, so we treated ourselves to a trip round the garden centre and bought some perennials for the garden. They seem to mostly be on the yellow spectrum , not deliberate just how it worked out on the day. Now we are going to have to find a space for them!

On the doll front, I sold a small KK doll and also the kitchen unit and sink, so made a nice bit of space where that used to sit.

Also my special doll I had to buy arrived on Saturday, who I'm calling Beatrice, Bea for short.

Now you know why I couldn't resist her, a cute little brunette button nosed lass. She arrived in her lovely outfit and when off round the garden to check the place out!

I'd like to say I'm back to being good on the doll buying front, but every time I say that a gorgeous doll appears over the horizon saying " really.. I don't think so " in which case I'll say nothing....

I'm off to stay with at the palace with the little princess and prince for a few days this week and the following week we have the funeral, so I will not be blogging for at least the next two weeks but hope to see you all back here on the 26th August.

So have a lovely doll filled healthy couple of weeks 

Dee

 

PREPARE TO BEA DELIGHTED

 Or not !

Now if you remember I said that I wished I'd not sold off quite so many of my Sasha's when I saw just how few I now had. My intention had been to look into adding a few next year but if a special one came along I'd have to jump in and get her.

So when a good friend offered me this brunette button nosed child, well there really wasn't a chance I'd say no! I did sort of try resisting but not for long.

She came in this beautiful outfit along with another set with a coat and shoes. My friend knows my love of bright clothing for the dolls.

She's already taken a trip round the garden, looking at the waterlily that opened up this morning.

I do so love the button girls.

I was going to call her Missy, then it moved to Missy B, then today to Beatrice but Bea for short! So Beatrice it is. Some of these dolls do insist on picking their own names!

I'm sure she's going to fit right in with this opinionated family and will be more than a match for the two other button girls here. So I'm off to introduce her to them.

A SUNDAY IN AUGUST

In fact the first Sunday in august. The weather is a bit hit and miss, yesterday was quite wet at times but lovely and sunny at others, a typical British summer really.

We have spent part of the week tidying up both inside and out and dealing with things regarding the funeral. Which is now arranged to be held in a couple of weeks. It's strange how a death in the family makes you think of putting your own house in order and making changes, which is probably a good thing in some cases.

Since it's august we have been working in the garden, weeding, moving things tidying things up etc.

One of the things we did was move the sundial from the flower garden up to the circle in the path by the folly. We are trying it out here, as when we finally start on laying paving in the flower garden this may look out of place now it's aged and the paving will be new. 

Claudia was our headliner today, wearing a Special Delivery dress and Rosie Bloom shoes. She's quite a quiet shy lass from 1970.

My eldest daughter popped round with this early anniversary gift !

A lovely cream tea consisting of sausage rolls, scotch eggs, quiche, scones, cream ( under the cakes) and jam plus four cakes along with some English breakfast tea ! So much we were able to share it with Lindsey at lunchtime. Delicious thank you Lauren xx

On the doll front, I'm still working on the adoption fee for a special girl who should arrive before the end of the month, which will be lovely. I finally found the missing Ginny shorts and the other boys are now almost dressed for summer.

I've sold a non Sasha doll and a few other bits and pieces. So very slowly doll items and non doll items are moving on and one day I hope to actually notice some space has appeared! But it's not quite happened yet!

So I wish you all a lovely calm fun filled week ahead 

Dee

AUGUST 5TH , DOLL PHOTO DAY ARRIVES.

 A bumper filled doll photo day this month, with lots of lovely photos to admire, so lets get started.

First up with have a couple of Simples brunettes. Yes I know ! I nearly did a double take when these arrived in my mail two days early...   Looking beautiful dressed these two are ready to escape.. I mean enjoy some summer fun... when it arrives.

Almost as amazing is that I actually had my photos for this month sorted and here's Saffy out by the new woodland pond area checking things out.

Then she asks " Is this supposed to stop people getting in to the folly? " from inside the folly! 

From Chris T, we have pretty maids all in a row. Looking gorgeous in their matching blues.

Along with this beautiful red head showing us her teddy.

And little Miss No Navel showing us her rabbit 

Lastly from Chris T, a trio of delightful No Navel girls. Wonderful..

From RoRoPo we have Beverley riding Lefty barefoot! She is such a good rider she doesn't worry about boots or shoes even when the day is cold!

Over at Gregoropolis, Steve's girls are looking to enjoy some time at the beach. I wonder what they are looking at? A handsome lifeguard or one of their brothers playing the fool for some girl?... we will never know..

Many thanks to everyone for sending some photos for the doll day. Always time to add a few more.

AUGUST! SO SOON...

 Well August arrived quickly! It only seems yesterday that July had just started! Now a week or so back a blonde arrived here after i decided I did not have enough dolls!

So this young lady arrived and tells me her name is Stevie and that she's a singer! She was hoping I'd make her a new outfit but other things happened, so she's going to have to wait patiently.

She did find a pair of shoes to match her dress while she waits some attention. 

So a new month ! Time is slipping by... and since it's a new month, doll photo day will soon be upon us, so please get those photos sent in, so we can have some doll candy to admire.