Monday, 13 April 2026

IN PRAISE OF DUNGAREE GIRLS


So the theme on this week's Sasha Study group on FB is Dungaree's and Ballet girl's with red hair. The Dungaree girls are one of my absolute favourites of the Sasha's especially, yes you have guessed it, the 68 girls'.


Above is sweet Paige, a dungaree's girl I saw and fell in love with on Shelly's website back in the day. I plucked up courage and asked if it was possible to do a longer than usual layaway on her ? Much to my delight , her owner, a lovely lady in the US, was happy to agree. So over several months money was gathered and passed on, a storyline built and then she arrived. 

She stayed with me for many years but then for some strange reason I put her up for adoption ! So she moved on to a new mum , I was far to fickle a doll mum back in those days.

Then it took me right up until late last year to add another to the family, Henrietta or Hettie as we call her.


Hettie came out into the garden , having been changed out of her sweater and trousers and into this lovely Ruth Hartley dress set I picked up off ebay. It came with the socks , which are a perfect match for my new Rosie Bloom shoes! 


Posing on the fish pond .


a closer look 

That bench needs painting before the garden is opened ! 


a closer view


closer still, look at that face ! 

We cannot tell the time if you stand there Hettie !


Getting some sun


Can you see the time? 

Changing sides does not help us see the time ! 


"what do you mean time for your close up Mr De Mille ? Do I look like a man ? "
" Fair enough, who can tell these days ! "


Lastly standing on the rockery near the house.


I have to say that now having spent some time with her out and about in the garden, I feel the need for another couple! A lovely set of triplets !  Only problem is I have a greater need to afford them , the money !! 

Aw well just another doll or two to add to that ever growing list . . . . .


Sunday, 12 April 2026

A SUNDAY IN SPRING

 


A bright windy Sunday in April. This week seems to have galloped by partly I believe because Monday was Easter Monday, so that makes the week appear somewhat shorter. On Friday we when to West Sussex to visit with our youngest daughter , her husband and the grandchildren. Now the nights are lighter we spent longer with them. Also because Dad was required to help refit a new handle to the bathroom door with an attached lock.  The princess is growing so fast and loves of all things maths ! at which she is very good. The little prince mean while does ask during each week if school is done for the week , he goes in but he is still getting used to having to everyday ! 

He is still waiting to hear when his op will be, supposedly before summer , but with the militant doctors keep striking, who knows. 

The children are into the new Scooby Doo cartoons, so we had to play some detective games, where they were the inspectors and I played all the suspects. I have to say I could have won an academy award if it had not been a family only show ;) lol

I have to confess I fell into a few Easter sales over the weekend, nothing I didn't need, well okay I didn't need new bedding at this time, but that is only because I tend to buy quality bedding that will last twenty plus years or more. But they did have lovely bedding reduced and then with another added bonus reduction if bought over Easter. So I confess I did slip happily down that slope and bought a couple of sets.


It arrived Friday and one set washed and dried this morning, since it's a lovely windy day. Red I hear you say I thought you were doing green with pink touches. Well yes but this red has a lovely sage green edging and reverse. With the walls now in a white with green leaves, it should look fine.

Underside but due to light, it looks paler but is a lovely sage green.

Paul's eyes and feet have turned towards the garden ,now the sun is showing it's face and things are growing. We agreed last year to take part in the village garden open day this year, now we have had the paved circle done and the raised beds replaced so it's safe to walk around. But I am pleased to say he is still doing bit's and pieces in the bedroom while we wait for the wallpaper to arrive.


Paul wants to add one of these monk statues to the garden. The cowl is open and birds can use it as a nesting box. I'm in too minds. Would it give me the heebie geebies !( the empty cowl /missing face ) and therefore make the area where it stands spooky? or would it give a serene calm feel ? It stands five foot two from top to bottom and most likely place it would go is on the circle in front of the moon gate image. I am beginning to come round to the idea . . . .



I received a surprise parcel in the post, these lovely RB and mini Easter eggs, she is a very naughty but nice friend , who knows my weaknesses well ! 

Today's headliner is Cleo wearing her new mandarin collared cat dress by Ginny of A Passion for Sasha on Etsy. The raised collar is Cleo's style choice. 

On the doll/ clear out front, a couple of items have left for new homes, which is good a tiny bit more space, however I did buy from  the Rosie Bloom release of new shoes. I do find her shoes very hard to resist, it tends to be if the colours I like have already sold or if I already have them, that I manage to walk away 


I still need to get into my studio for the big clear out and put back and to find the missing outfit and also a long lost pair of VS pants . Once they say the weather is dry and warm I will be out there fighting my way through, cleaning and labelling. It will probably take me a month if I do it properly but will make a big difference to me being able to find things and use the space.

So things are happening in the house, the garden and soon the studio ! On that note I will wish you all a happy healthy week ahead, while I go see how I can pay for Paul's birds nest !!

Dee