Doll Bytes and also for Dr. E's Greening Tips

Still dealing with malware, but people seem to be able to read the blog on Greening Tips, really the sister blog to this one.

UFDC and NIADA conventions have come and gone.  Barbie was one of the souvenir dolls, despite allegedly falling Barbie sales.

Small dolls of all types did well at UFDC displays, and also at the Love, Shirley Temple and Among Friends Auctions where I did OK, too!

I have new posts at my site on collectdolls.about.com, and new photos of Flickr.  I was able to Tweet Live from Love, Shirley Temple, which was very exciting.  Also new posts on my Facebook Pages Antique Doll Collector Magazine and Dr. E's Doll Museum.

My Brown Bisque Babies

Some of my new finds are on Flickr, and I'm waiting for a walking Jumeau needing some TLC and an artists' rendition of a Leo Moss, which up to now, was represented by a mini doll I made of homemade clay. Still, I love her :) Was able to find two vintage Amish dolls, in excellent shape as well.  Two tiny brown bisque babies and a wax min doll under a dome join the collection from Among Friends.

For history, you can't beat the archived online catalogs Theriault's provides.

Another favorite find, a black vinyl Miss Peep type baby with vintage overalls and lovely amber eyes and a soulful rag doll with long, blonde braids, black boots, and a calico dress.  Also have found the large, unusual Hollie Hobbie rag doll of the 70s.

In late May, I bought most of a collection of vintage porcelain and character dolls, which included a composition Rita Hayworth and a beautiful aritst French Fashion, probably by Kathy Hansen.  There were also advertising dolls like a little boy for John Deere, and some interesting Japanese dolls.  Ithas been a profitable summer, indeed, with these and several antiques joining  the museum.

Fairy Garden with Sand castles, a Jack O Lantern and Shells

On the dark side, I read in our local paper of a terrorist camp teaching little girls and boys to behead their dolls.   Also, there is the Smithsonian link I posted on Creepy dolls.

So, I have had a chance to do some gardening, not much, but I have some good Geraniums and a fairy garden or two, which I like to decorate for each season.

Artist French Fashion-Kathy Hansen?

One recipe for a drink comes from my friend AH, who is a chiropractor.  It is made of slices of cucumber, lemon and lime, and other sliced fruit like strawberries.  Put the fruit in a pitcher and cover with cold water and ice, about half and half. Chill.  It cleanses the system and is also great for acid reflux.

Friendly Gargoyle

Tonight I had to cook, and then teach for two hours.  I ran home pell mell, only to have my Dad shouting at me for making him late; he swears I told him I would be home by 1 pm.  Not possible; I never said that.

At home, I made spaghetti sauce, pretty much from scratch, not a jar.  I used one large can diced tomatoes, about 1 c. reconstituted shitake mushrooms [soaked in water], two tiny peppers I'm growing in pots, a sprinkling of parmesan, olive oil, oregano, about 1/2 c, Italian seasoning, garlic salt, pepper.  I let it all simmer.  Then, I made a rue [sp?] or rieux, of 1 tbsp butter and 1 tbsp flower, and enough milk to cover the flour/butter mixture.

I had to pause to clean up periodically, just to catch the summer ants coming in, feed cats, clean up dishes, pick up generally, clean up spilled flour in one cupboard, which was on the floor, of course.

Vintage China from Estate Collection

I boiled Barilla pasta al dente, though I do like to make it if I have room.   I graded mzidthra cheese, and also took out Italian blend shredded cheese.

I would have thrown in clams, but the kid ate them.  He eats everything not nailed down, and finds all the hiding places.

I made cheese/cracker plate, and baked triscuit pizzas with some of sauce and bits of different cheeses.

Finally, I baked meatballs, turkey, that I had made and frozen.  I thawed them in the fridge today, and baked them for 15 mins at 400degrees. They were my mom's recipe, basically, a mix of the meat, beaten egg, bread crumbs, seasoning, parmesan grated, and chopped onions.

I add the sauce with some chopped up broiled chicken.

As usual, everyone ate it, then let me work for two hours.  At 9:30, nothing was cleaned up, and I had to do all of that, too.  When I ask for help, It's Armageddon.

When did I sign up to be, not an excellent woman, but a Martha out of The Handmaids Tale?

Well, that's why, when the going gets tough, the tough collect dolls.

Till next time; Tomorrow is another day!