Blog Catch Up!

It's been busy at my home! I haven't been blogging due to other projects that have been waiting. I decided to catch up with a post to show some of my fun projects.
Jimmy and I have both been trying to finish up our gardening. My friend gave me this little rose from her rose from Tasha Tudor's garden in Vermont. My first one died and she graciously gave me a second one to try again. It's doing well this year. Can you see the little rose blooming? So exciting.

After some gardening, I decided to finish up a doll and make her an outfit. There was a doll shoppe in Vermont called the Enchanted Dollhouse. They used to sell these little china head dolls. You would make the body and her dress. There were 5 doll kits made. They are dated and named on the back of their breast plate. They are cute, nothing real special, but fun. Several Tasha fans have a collection of these. So this is Nell and it was time to finish her. My friend Carla has Sally and she made her undies out of the same fabric as the dress fabric. I thought it would be fun, even if it isn't traditional.

I love the tiny lace on her pantaloons and slip!

Working on the puffy sleeves and bodice with some antique lace.

Her's Nell in her new dress. I think she is quite happy with it.

This is my Meg doll. I made this dress for her last November. I love the fabric. I am waiting for Emma to arrive from Etsy. I'm not sure if I will like the fabric of her outfit, so I may be working on another one SOON!

For Mother's Day, my daughter Gina gave me a gift card from Etsy. It was so fun looking and thinking about what I wanted to spend my money on! I was wanting a cradle for the little baby doll I posted a few weeks ago. I love the little scenes painted on the bed. Thank you Gina!

It also has little design and wooden knobs on the sides.

Baby Phyllis loves here new bed! She can sit up in it or take a nap. She just fits perfectly in it.

Isn't is just the cutest?!

 A lovely lady in Florida found my blog and sent me an email. She wanted to know if I would like this book. It's a classic and I was happy to get it! I wanted to pay for postage and she wouldn't let me. So sweet from a lady I have never met! Blogger friends are just so wonderful and do such unexpected things.

She also sent some goodies that she had made and a couple other dolly booklets.

She does such beautiful work. Thank you so much Maria.
So, that's what has been keeping me busy this week. I hope you are doing well and taking baby steps to return to a few things as we reopen. Stay safe. 

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day dear blogger friends. I hope that you all had a lovely day and found a way to celebrate or be celebrated! My dad called me to wish me a Happy Mother's Day. He never does that and I was so surprised and happy to hear his voice.

My Jimmy always brings me flowers and these are so pretty. Such an antique look. He also gave me money for flowers when we can go to a nursery. The weather just turned so hot and it was so windy for days...not the time for tender little new plants.

Home Sweet Home! That's where we spend most of our time these days! We decided to have the girls and Otto come to our house. We stayed our distance and were outside, so we are trusting that we all stayed safe. We got some premade veggie trays and fruit trays and had a big container of pink lemonade.

 My Gina, my youngest. We celebrate a birthday on the same day. Gina gifted me with an Etsy gift card, so that will be fun to choose a treat!

My oldest Angie who is just a wonderful mom herself.

Otto is trying out his skate board while Grandma Linda looks on. Rico is looking for some meat! Gina is a vegetarian, so he likes to visit. This is the first time we have seen Rico in months.

Otto's step sister Ava gave him  two scooters, so he talked Auntie GG into riding with him. It was so cute.

Rico just loves the sunshine! It was in the 80's again.

Jimmy outside and enjoying the kids and Otto.

A happy mama! I was just happy to enjoy my girls, the pup and of course, funny Otto.

This is one of my gifts from Otto and Angie.....it's a special keychain with a sweet saying about a grandson and a grandma.

My flowers are quite pretty right now. This is my rose that was a gift from a friend who collects old roses. It's so beautiful this year.

Chives are always a delight.

Some of my Forget Me Nots that just pop up all over the garden. I love them and they remind me of Tasha Tudor.

One of my azaleas out front. They always bloom around Mother's Day. 

Yummy chocolate cake to enjoy at the end of a special day together. It was quiet and simple but just wonderful to have my little family together. No hugs yet! Maybe soon. We are all longing to go to the Oregon beach one of these days. We had a trip planned in March during spring break, but that didn't happen. I just keep thinking how much it will mean when we finally get to go.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Happy Mother's Day to all my family and friends...especially my blogger friends. Thank you to so many of you who have stayed in touch with me through my health issues and busy times with my family. I think of you all so often, even though I haven't always had time to spend blogging. I think bloggers are very special people and I have been blessed by so many of you. Enjoy this beautiful day. 

Happy Mother's Day

Wishing all my blogger friends a very HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

It's been a busy week and I haven't had much time for blogging. The sun was with us for about 3 lovely days. I got my flowers planted and Jimmy got his veggies in. We should have LOTS of tomatoes. It's been raining all day today...buckets and even some thunder and lightening. We sure didn't have to water the new plants!

It's azalea time in the Pacific Northwest. They are all in bloom right now. I didn't loose any of my azaleas this winter!

I had to replant the flower been under my front window.  I call it my Tasha Tudor garden. Tasha loved crows and every time I hear a crow, I say hello Tasha! I have crows tucked into my little garden.

I love petunias. This is a newer one that I first bought a few years back. I have to have one every year. I do love the colors!

My little fairy girl has been watching over my front flower beds for many years. I love the forget-me-nots at this time of the year. I'm not sure where they will pop up and that's part of the fun.

I do enjoy gardening and love the fresh look that spring time brings.

I will be going to Vermont on Wednesday for a very special Tasha Tudor event. I'm getting excited.

Happy Mother's Day! 

Thursday Treasures....Meet Miss Aurora May

My Thursday Treasure is actually a beautiful 14" Milliner doll that my Jimmy bought for me a few months ago from an antique dealer who has become our friend. Marci is a doll person and is trying to get me to join her UFDC group. We will see..... I had to wait for this beauty until Mother's Day.

Most of these dolls were made in the Thuringian Forest of Germany in the mid 19th century. The enjoyed a popularity in Europe and in America.
They remained popular until the china head dolls moved them out.

Their heads are made of papier mache. Sometimes they are called varnished heads. Her body is leather.

Her dainty hands are made of wood.

Her little feet are made of wood too.

The type of curls they have reflect the changing styles of the times. Mine has short little curls. Some have long ringlets and some have that funny little knot on the top of their heads. There is not much left of her hat, but I think I will leave it for now.

Although they are called milliner dolls, they were actually dolls meant to be played with and not displayed in milliner's shoppes.

I love her. I named her Aurora May as we love Aurora Colony and it was a German colony in Oregon. May seemed like a very nice middle name for her as she was given to me by my  Jimmy in May.

Mother's Day with Gina in Seattle

Saturday afternoon, Jim and I drove north to Seattle. Our daughter Gina invited us up for Mother's Day. We arrive about 9 PM and spent the night chatting until it was after midnight! Eric is on tour, so we didn't get to see him. We all slept in and Gina fixed us a wonderful brunch. Their home is lovely and very comfortable. Here's my baby cooking me breakfast!

We had an egg and veggie dish, potatoes and fresh fruit....along with lots of Seattle coffee. You have to drink coffee in Seattle!

This is my grandpup....Rico! He is a cutie and such a companion. I'm not a big dog fan, but I have to admit, this little guy stole my heart away. He is a good little dog.

After breakfast, Gina took us to her favorite nursery....Swanson's. Oh my, oh my! It was an adventure! It was the most awesome nursery I have ever visited. It's a good thing this isn't in my neighborhood. You can see Jimmy sitting on a bench doing some people watching. Gina and I spent 2 hours looking at everything and doing some shopping!

This red peony was just beautiful! Gina was soooo tempted, but decided to think about it for awhile.

A pink beauty!

The nursery is divided up for easy shopping!

The roses are blooming a bit early in the Pacific Northwest....isn't this a pretty one?

I took a picture of this lovely plant so I could find it back home. I just love the flowers.

I think Gina was in heaven! Look at that smile.

The last section we visited was the Asia building with so many different maples. I wanted them all!

Thank you Gina for making my Mother's Day so special. I love you lots and am blessed  to be your mom.