Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Delights

On Thanksgiving Day we're thankful for
Our blessings all year through,
For family we dearly love,
For good friends, old and new.

For sun to light and warm our days,
For stars that glow at night,
For trees of green and skies of blue,
And puffy clouds of white.

We're grateful for our eyes that see
The beauty all around,
For arms to hug, and legs to walk,
And ears to hear each sound.

The list of all we're grateful for
Would fill a great big book;
Our thankful hearts find new delights
Everywhere we look!

By Joanna Fuchs

I made a necklace for my Dollie and Me doll.

Here she is, ready for Thanksgiving.

I've included a few of our favorite recipes:

Cornbread Stuffing

1/8 cup butter
1/4 medium onion, chopped
1 medium leek, white part only, finely chopped
1 or 2 green onions, white part and 1 inch green, chopped
1/2 large clove garlic
1 celery stalk, chopped
8 oz cornbread stuffing mix
1/8 cup chopped parsley
1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted
1 can (14 oz) vegetable broth

In the microwave heat butter until melted.  Saute onion, leek, green onions and garlic until golden, add celery.  Microwave until tender.  In baking pan combine dressing mix, vegetables, parsley and pecans.  Pour in the veggie broth.  Mix lightly.  Baked, covered, for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Sweet Potatoes

1-1/2 cups cooked sweet potatoes
1 egg
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup butter
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup milk

Mix together and pour into baking dish.  Top with topping.

Topping:

1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup pecan pieces

Bake at 300 degrees for about 25 minutes.  Be careful-topping burns easily.

Enjoy!

 

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Cats Haven

Today Paul and I volunteered for the first time at Cats Haven.  Cats Haven is Indianapolis' oldest no-kill cat shelter. The shelter was founded over 20 years ago as a sanctuary for special-needs cats and kittens, as well as senior cats who had outlived their owners. The shelter now cares for nearly 300 cats within its network.  It is currently the only known private non-profit shelter that does Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) in central Indiana. Cats Haven is passionate about helping pet owners keep and care for their animal companions by providing assistance when able, as well as information and resources.

We scooped litter, swept floors, cleaned baseboards and windows (where the little nose prints were) and, of course, snuggled with and loved on the kitties.  Here are some pictures of some of the residents:

 

It was nice to spend time with the kitties.  We plan to go back.

 

Christmas Gift and Hobby Show

Yesterday (Saturday) we went to the 64th annual Christmas Gift and Hobby Show at the state fairgrounds.  It's always a lot of fun.  There's over 180,000 square feet of shopping space, all under one roof! 

There's entertainment and exhibits.  And there's even Santa and an elf with a reindeer.

As is often the case, we found stuff for us but not many Christmas gifts for others.  With that much shopping in one place, it's kinda hard not to find something we like!

We had a good time looking at all the great things there!



 

Happy Halloween From Dollie and Me

Several years ago I stumbled upon a book while living in England.  It was about a doll named Blythe.  I was very interested because I had a Blythe doll when I was young.  The book is Hello Blythe!  30 Postcards (Collectible Postcards), by Gina Garan (publisher: Chronicle Books, published: March 26, 2004).  The book was about Blythe's travels told in postcards.   I bought the book and really got a kick out of it. 

Here's a picture of my vintage Blythe doll:

At the time I didn't know new Blythe dolls were being made.  The current Blythe web site says:

Manufactured by Kenner in 1972, the original Blythe (now known as “vintage”) was produced for only one year and then was retired because of poor sales.

Thirty years later, in 1999, Junko Wong, President and CEO of CWC saw Blythe snapshots at the CWC New York office opening party. She fell in love with Blythe and knew she would be an instant sensation in Japan.

Then, in late 2000, she made her comeback in Japan when CWC produced a charming TV commercial for Parco department store starring Blythe. After the TV spotlight she became an overnight sensation in Japan and Asia.

 
Neo Blythe was reborn, no longer as a child’s toy but as a fashion doll appealing to adult doll collectors. Neo Blythe ushered in the era of contemporary doll culture and collecting.

Fast forward nine years.  This time I stumbled over a eighteen inch doll called Dollie and Me.  Made by the Madame Alexander Doll Company, she reminded me of an American Girl doll, only less expensive (and just as beautiful).  For some reason I got it in my head that I could do with this doll what Gina Garan did with her Blythe doll in her book - only I would photograph my doll in various holiday outfits instead of travel sites.  I guess it popped into my head because I'm taking a beginner's photography class and needed a subject.

I bought the doll and embarked on a shopping spree for her on ebay.  After purchasing dozens of outfits, shoes, tights, etc. I was ready.  This is my first "official" holiday picture:

 

 

 

I didn't make the outfit (I'm not a good seamstress) but I did make a necklace for her to go with the outfit:

 

Here she is in her trick-or-treat outfit:

Next is a Thanksgiving shot.  And maybe a Thanksgiving necklace!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM DOLLIE AND ME!

 

 

 

Preppy?!

Paul's Post

I was recently looking up some info on one of my favorite designers, Daniel Cremieux.  The paisley shirts that I talked about in an earlier blog are from Cremieux.  I found a reference to Cremieux on Wikipedia that described it as "a brand of preppy style clothing."  Preppy?! Me?! That can't be right.
 
This gives away my age, I guess, but I remember when I was in high school that preppy was for the well-to-do kids, but something to be avoided for everyone else.  I remember things that made fun of "preppies" like the "Official Preppy Handbook" by Lisa Birnbach.

I then read more on Preppy in Wiki and found this statement "Examples of preppy attire include argyle sweaters, crewneck sweaters, grosgrain or woven leather belts, chinos, madras, Nantucket Reds, button down Oxford cloth shirts, seersucker cotton suiting, pearl necklaces and earrings, gold bangle or large chain bracelets, loafers and boat shoes."

I then thought about my wardrobe and thought - Oh my God, I am preppy!

For example here are just a few of my sweaters:

Argyle sweaters - Strike one!

I always were oxford cloth shirts with a button down collar to the office - Strike two!

These are then a few of the shoes that I have bought recently. 

 

 

Boat shoes - Strike three!!!

 

And in addition, I almost always wear chinos rather than jeans and I use braided leather belts.

I guess I'm going to have to accept this.  But it's not all bad.  At least things like baggy cargo pants and torn jeans are out of fashion.

Yes, he is preppy.  I can vouch for it.  But if I was thinner, I'd be a fashionista! - Lisa

Romeo and Juliet

Today we saw the new Romeo and Juliet movie.  It was directed by Carlo Carlei and stars Douglas Booth as Romeo.  It was quite good, really.  I've also seen the version with Leonard Whiting as Romeo (directed by Franco Zeffirelli and released in 1968).  I was too young to see it in 1968, but when I did see it in my teens - and I saw Romeo - YOWZA!  He was gorgeous!  I developed an immediate, huge crush on Leonard Whiting.  Oh, Juliet was OK but Romeo was absolutely dreamy.  Now I've seen Douglas Booth as Romeo and it was yet another YOWZA moment!  He's pretty dreamy too.  I don't know which I like better.  You can decide for yourself.


 

Leonard Whiting

 

Douglas Booth

Covered Bridge Festival in Parke County, Indiana

Yesterday we went to the Covered Bridge Festival in Parke County, Indiana.  Apparently Parke County is the "covered bridge capital of the world".   The festival is headquartered in Rockville, the county seat.  There are a lot of things to do and see, but we got caught in a massive traffic jam on the way there (30 minutes!), and even though we left early we still didn't have enough time to see everything.  In fact, I think it's unlikely a person can see and do everything in one day.

It was fun.  There are a lot of craft and antique dealers.  We found some cat items:

Another salt and pepper set for the collection!

And this hilarious wine bottle holder.  Paul is a wine lover and we couldn't pass this up!

There are 31 covered bridges in the county.  We went on a drive to see several of them.  Here are a few pictures:

The festival runs from October 11 to 20.  Here's the link for the info about the festival:

http://www.coveredbridges.com/