Sentimental journey

Momma has been mourning the death of her one and only aunt.

Aunt Barbara was a childhood doll collector who shared her love with dolls with Momma. She gave Momma one of Momma's most prized dolls, Belinda, and they spent many delightful hours talking about dolls.

Momma and Aunt Barbara loved to peruse the early Pleasant Company catalogues featuring the original trio, Kirsten, Samantha, and Molly.

Aunt Barbara (who was born in 1928) particularly liked Molly. (Heck, she even looked like Molly - down to the braids and glasses!) Each item in Molly's collection could trigger a flood of memories and hours of conversation.

So which American Girl doll was Momma's first?

My Big Sister got Kirsten and Addy for Christmas 2006. It was the first time Momma had actually seen and held an American Girl doll, and she fell in love.

Momma quickly found some online groups dedicated to Pleasant Company/American Girl dolls where several people mentioned finding used dolls at Goodwill. Skeptical, Momma stopped by after work and found a beautiful Pleasant Company Molly for only $9.95! (Her one and only time, I might add.)

Goodwill Molly has become a mini Aunt Barbara over the past eight years. She has her drop-leaf kitchen table like we have, Kit's roll-top desk and typewriter, and other goodies that remind her of Aunt Barbara and other family stories.

RIP, Aunt Barbara. We shall meet again in the giant dollhouse in the sky.

Betsy-Tacy and Tib

Momma has been Frightfully Busy lately and I have been Terribly Ignored, so Momma told me to publish some back stories.

Here are my dear friends Betsy-Tacy, and Tib - dolls Momma created, based upon the wonderful books by Maud Hart Lovelace.

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Momma used this illustration from Betsy-Tacy Go Downtown as a basis for the three girls: Betsy got Samantha's Middy Dress with Tam, Tacy got Samantha's Play Dress, and Tib got Sam's Spring Party Dress. All three got Samantha's Lacy Whites, as well as Addy's black Meet stockings, and either Addy's or Kirsten's black lace-up boots.

Oh, and you'll love this. The real-life girls that inspired Betsy, Tacy and Tib went to Pleasant Grove School!

Peg o' my heart

Imitation is the sincerest of flattery, right?

I have been a longtime admirer of Kirsten's Adventures. She's also Pleasant Company and has an attitude that I quite admire.

One of her boon companions is Pegleg Sally. I have long wanted my own version of her, and Momma said she will finally be joining my Steam Team!

I think I shall call her Peggy.


(Kirsten has not had any adventures in a very long time. Does anyone know why? I hope she and her Momma are okay.)

Bluestocking? No. Blackstocking? Yes!

Inquiring minds have been asking about the status of my library in the sky.

So far I have mini copies of:

• Meet Kaya
• Meet Felicity
• Felicity's Surprise
• Very Funny, Elizabeth
• Meet Caroline
• Meet Josefina
• Josefina's Surprise
• Meet Kirsten
• Kirsten's Surprise
• Meet Marie-Grace
• Meet Cécile
• Meet Addy
• Addy's Surprise
• Meet Samantha
• Samantha's Surprise
• Nellie's Promise
• Meet Rebecca
• Meet Kit
• Really Truly Ruthie
• Meet Molly
• Molly's Surprise
• Brave Emily
• Meet Julie

I also have nice little copies of:

• A Charlie Brown Christmas
• A Christmas Carol
• Horton Hears a Who
• It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
• Mother Goose in Hieroglyphics
• The Night Before Christmas
• Olivia Saves the Circus
• Peter Parley’s Book of Fables
• The Quest of the Missing Map
• Robin Hood
• The Tales of Peter Rabbit
• The Wizard of Oz
• Woodworth's Cabinet Library

Please let me know if you have any mini suggestions - or donations!

Happy birthday, Kirsten ~ June 8, 1845

Happy birthday, Kirsten!

Kirsten's excited about the changes spring is bringing to the Larsons’ farm—including a big barn and a tiny baby. But changes bring new worries and more work, too. First Kirsten is afraid for Mama’s health. Then caring for a baby seems to mean nothing but chores. Kirsten has to miss school to help at home, and she can’t help with the surprise she and her friends are planning for their teacher. Will her friends forget all about her? But Kirsten’s hard work is rewarded with a day of fun—and a special birthday surprise.

Oops! I did it again

I discovered this morning that I forgot my friend Rebecca Rubin's birthday yesterday.

Oops.

It's a good thing I can time travel. She'll never know I forgot it!

!יום הולדת שמח

Rebecca's family would likely celebrate her birthday with a mixture of Russian, Jewish and American traditions.

In Russia, birthday parties would be celebrated on or after one's birthday, not before. And never give someone birthday wishes before their birthday!

If you're Russian, you may receive a birthday pie with a birthday greeting cut into the crust instead of a cake!

Jewish boys become bar mitzvah on their 13th birthday. Jewish girls become bat mitzvah on their 12th birthday (or sometimes on their 13th birthday in Reform and Conservative Judaism). This marks the transition where they become obligated in commandments of which they were previously exempted and are counted as part of the community.

And finally, a listing of all my friends' birthdays (including mine!) so I don't forget again!

• Kaya ~ Summer, 1755
• Felicity ~ April 21, 1765
• Elizabeth ~ November 5, 1765
• Josefina ~ March 19, 1815
• Marie Grace ~ March 3, 1843
• Cécile ~ May 28, 1843
• Kirsten ~ June 8, 1845
• Addie ~ April 9, 1855
• Addy ~ April 9, 1855
• Samantha ~ May 26, 1895
• Nellie ~ October 15, 1895
• Rebecca ~ April 4, 1905
• Kit ~ May 19, 1923
• Ruthie ~ August 22, 1923
• Molly ~ April 22, 1934
• Emily ~ September 29, 1933
• Julie ~ May 1, 1966
• Ivy ~ February 28, 1966

I'm a Versatile Blogger!

Nora and Maple of The Doll Wardrobe nominated me for The Versatile Blogger Award.

The nice thing about this award? You automatically win when nominated!

So when you win you are supposed to follow these rules:

1. In a post on your blog, nominate four fellow bloggers for The Versatile Blogger Award. 
2. In the same post, add The Versatile Blogger Award. 
3. In the same post, thank the blogger who nominated you with a link back to their blog. 
4. In the same post, include seven random pieces of information about you. 
5. In the same post, include this set of rules. 
6. Inform each nominated blogger of their nomination with a comment on their blog.

Sooo...

#1.

• Just for Fun: http://justforfun2291.blogspot.com/
• Nerdvana: http://blogs.evtrib.com/nerdvana/
• Book Club Girl: http://www.bookclubgirl.com/book_club_girl/
• Kirsten's Adventure's: http://kirsten.juliestudio.com/

#2. See above.

#3. Thanks Nora and Maple, I am duly (and deservedly) honored.

#4. 

1. I was born a slave in 1855.
2. I'm now a spy and time traveler.
3. I have weakness for hats.
4. I love kick-a$$ boots, too.
5. Momma says I have champagne taste on a beer budget.
6. I loathe pink.
7. I ♥ steampunk!

#5. See above.

#6. Done!

Merry Christmas!

My little friends and I were having a pleasant chat and it occurred to me to ask them how they would wish you a Merry Christmas in their native languages.

Felicity might say "Happy Christmas!" since that would be proper in England and probably the Colonies. (Molly's friend Emily would, too.)

Josefina would say in Spanish, "¡Feliz Navidad!" 

Kirsten would say in Swedish, "God Jul!" 

Ma chère amie Cécile might say in French, "Joyeux Noël!" 

Rebecca would wish her Christian friends in Russian, "С Рождеством Христовым!"

Kanani says in Hawai'ian, "Mele Kalikimaka!"

And Merry Christmas from all the rest of us! 

How do you say "Merry Christmas!"?

St. Lucia invites you to breakfast

One nice thing about being a time traveler is that I get to experience lots of customs with my friends throughout the years. Today is Dec. 13, also known as Santa Lucia's day, so I'm off to visit my friend Kirsten Larson in Minnesota. She's Pleasant Company so I'll let her tell you her story: 

Kirsten is a brave, steadfast pioneer girl growing up on the Minnesota prairie in 1854. Her stories begin with her long, dangerous voyage with her family from Sweden to America. At first, Kirsten finds it difficult to get used to this strange new country. But as she makes friends and discovers what her new land has to offer, she learns the true meaning of home—and that love is the same in any language.

According to Holy Women, Holy Men: Lucy, or Lucia, was martyred at Syracuse, in Sicily, during Diocletian’s reign of terror of 303-304, among the most dramatic of the persecutions of early Christians. Her tomb can still be found in the catacombs at Syracuse. She was venerated soon after her death and her cult spread quickly throughout the church. She is among the saints and martyrs named in the Roman Canon of the Mass. Most of the details of Lucy’s life are obscure. In the tradition she is remembered for the purity of her life and the gentleness of her spirit. Because her name means “light,” she is sometimes thought of as the patron saint of those who suffer from diseases of the eyes. 

In popular piety, Lucy is perhaps most revered because her feast day, Dec. 13, was for many centuries the shortest day of the year. (The reform of the calendar by Pope Gregory VIII (1582) would shift the shortest day to December 21/22, depending upon the year.) It was on Lucy’s day that the light began gradually to return and the days to lengthen. This was particularly powerful in northern Europe where the days of winter were quite short. In Scandinavian countries, particularly Sweden, Lucy’s day has long been a festival of light that is kept as both an ecclesiastical commemoration and a domestic observance. 

In the domestic celebration of Lucia-fest, a young girl in the family dresses in pure white (a symbol of Lucy’s faith, purity, and martyrdom) and wears a crown of lighted candles upon her head (a sign that on Lucy’s day the light is returning) and serves her family special foods prepared especially for the day. In praise of her service, the young girl is called Lucy for the day.

Loving God, who for the salvation of all didst give Jesus
Christ as light to a world in darkness: Illumine us, with thy
daughter Lucy, with the light of Christ, that by the merits
of his passion we may be led to eternal life; through the
same Jesus Christ, who with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth
and reigneth, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

I do my little turn on the catwalk

Today was the Big Day for the American Girl Fashion Show AZ and I am exhausted.

As previously mentioned, I was NOT selected as an "official" model, but Momma and I had our hands full anyway with my Big Sister and her two cousins, as well as Felicity, Kirsten and Nellie.

But first I must say that Big Sister's godsister did a fantastic job modeling the Everyday Play Outfit for Girls. Well done!

During the intermission I hopped up on the catwalk to show the others how to properly model.

Felicity developed stage fright and kept swooning, requiring a helping hand.

Kirsten did well but kept standing too close to Felicity who had a bad habit of collapsing into her arms - and taking them both down in the process.

Nellie had a real knack for it as well as a definite sense of style, but I shall have to talk firmly to her since I have discovered she was not wearing her unmentionables! 

(Hey, wait a minute. I just realized All Three Dolls have been archived! I read Banned Books and hang out with Archived Dolls. What does that say about me?) 

I'll have more in a day or two but I need to help Momma with the chores before bed. Let's just say I discovered ma chère amie Cécile's Deep Dark Secret ... and have photos to prove it!

I'm a model you know what I mean
And I do my little turn on the catwalk
Yeah on the catwalk on the catwalk yeah
I do my little turn on the catwalk

Right Said Fred

Bring out yer dead

First Samantha, then Kirsten, followed by Felicity. Who is next? No one knows but some are fearful with the introduction of a Yellow Fever epidemic in 1853 New Orleans....

The Dead Collector: Bring out yer dead. 

(American Girl® puts a body on the cart.)

AG: Here's one. 

The Dead Collector: That'll be a half-dime.

Addy Walker™: I'm not dead.

The Dead Collector: What? 

AG: Nothing. There's your half-dime. 

Addy®: I'm not dead. 

The Dead Collector: 'Ere, she says she's not dead. 

AG: Yes she is. 

Addy®: I'm not. 

The Dead Collector: She isn't. 

AG: Well, she will be soon, she's very ill. 

Addy®: I'm getting better. 

AG: No you're not, you'll be stone dead in a moment. 

The Dead Collector: Well, I can't take her like that. It's against regulations. 

Addy®: I don't want to go on the cart.

AG: Oh, don't be such a baby. 

The Dead Collector: I can't take her.

Addy®: I feel fine.

AG: Oh, do me a favor.

The Dead Collector: I can't.

AG: Well, can you hang around for a couple of months? She won't be long.

The Dead Collector: I promised I'd be at the McIntire's®.

AG: Well, when's your next round?

The Dead Collector: Next year.

Addy®: I think I'll go for a walk.  

AG: You're not fooling anyone, you know. Isn't there anything you could do?

Addy®: I feel happy. I feel happy.

(The Dead Collector looks around furtively, then archives Addy® with a whack of his club.)

AG: Ah, thank you very much.

The Dead Collector: Not at all. See you next year.

AG: Right. 

With major apologies to American Girl, Addy, and 1975's Monty Python and the Holy Grail.