Step on a crack...

...break your mother's back.

Hello! I know it has been Much Too Long, but it has been Crazy around here.

Grandmomma fell and broke her back two months ago, so Momma has been a wee bit overwhelmed. The Good News is Grandmomma is scheduled to come home next week!

Momma is also eyeing Grandmomma's back brace. She saw a steampunked version on Epbot in January and thought it was amazing. Little did we realize we'd get our own soon enough!

Also, a BIG Happy Birthday Tip of the Tiny Top Hat to my Big Sister who turns 13 today!

Yup, it's Friday the 13th for Us!

Very superstitious, writings on the wall,
Very superstitious, ladders bout' to fall,
Thirteen (year!) old baby, broke the lookin' glass
Seven years of bad luck, the good things in your past

When you believe in things that you don't understand,
Then you suffer,
Superstition ain't the way

 Stevie Wonder

Birthday suit

Greta Garb-oh!

Shh, I now know Queen Victoria's secret.

Under her austere widow's weeds and resting on top of her birthday suit, lurked a lively Lolo Lobster Tail Bustle!

(Yes, Momma is having way too much fun making these!)

Momma has three of these lively Lolo Lobster Tail Bustles in her Etsy shop, but hopes to add more soon.

Speaking of birthday suits, today is My birthday!

Happy birthday to Me and my doppelgänger, Addy Walker.

To celebrate, today you can receive 10 percent off in Momma's Etsy shop. Just use code BIRTHDAY2014.

But hurry, this offer expires April 10th!

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me....

Happy birthday, Caroline - Oct. 22, 1802

American Girl

Caroline and Mama make a dangerous trip across Lake Ontario to the British fort where Papa is a prisoner. When Mama isn't allowed to see Papa, it's up to Caroline to pass a secret message to him—right under the nose of a British guard! Caroline hopes desperately that Papa will be able to use the information to escape. But can she get the message to him? And even if she does, will Papa understand it? When Caroline and Mama return home, all they can do is wait . . . and hope. On Caroline's birthday, an unexpected gift lifts her heart.

Caroline loves to sew—she made this fancy dress herself! Pale blue to complement her eyes, it features sweet puffed sleeves, an empire waist, and a lacy floral print. Includes two-tone shoes with white bows to match.

Happy birth/steampunk/flag day!

Wow, what a day!

Just in case you forgot, today is birth/steampunk/flag day!

Happy Birthday, H.G. Wells!

Happy International Steampunk Day!

Happy Flag Day!

H.G. Wells, the Victorian author of science fiction pieces such as The Time Machine, was born on June 14, 1866 and so steampunk lovers around the world chose this date to celebrate everything steampunk.

Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States, which happened on that day in 1777 by resolution of the Second Continental Congress. Flag Day became a holiday on June 14, 1916 when President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation.

Honor America Days are a United States Federal Observance observed June 14 to July 4. According to 36 United States Code § 112, the 21 days from Flag Day through Independence Day is a period to honor America. On these days, there be public gatherings and activities during that period at which the people of the United States can celebrate and honor their country in an appropriate way.

Cupcake cutie pie

Pippaloo

Ooh, my aching sweet tooth.

My Big Sister wanted a cupcake cake for Sunday's birthday party, and cupcakes for her class today.

The first mention of the cupcake can be traced as far back as 1796, when a recipe notation of "a cake to be baked in small cups" was written in American Cookery by Amelia Simmons. 

The earliest documentation of the term cupcake was in "Seventy-five Receipts for Pastry, Cakes, and Sweetmeats" in 1828 in Eliza Leslie's Receipts cookbook.

Nowadays, some bakers arrange cupcakes in a pattern and frost them to create a large design, such as a rainbow. These can be called either cupcake cakes or cupcake pull-aparts. (My Big Sister likes these since she only likes the icing and she gets more this way.)

I am stuffed.

Getting to Be Ten

Happy 10th birthday to my Big Sister!

Even though I had my birthday April 9, it wasn't official until my Big Sister's birthday, too.

This, of course, reminds me of my dear friends, Betsy, Tacy, and Tib.

As explained in Maud Hart Lovelace's Betsy Tacy Go Over the Big Hill, Tib turned 10 in January, followed by Tacy in March ... but they were too polite to say anything until Betsy's April birthday.

Oh, Betsy’s ten tomorrow
and then all of us are ten!
We will all be ten tomorrow,
We will all be ladies then.

Happy, happy birthday!

The devil's food cake made me do it

Pippaloo

Did you know today, May 19, is National Devil's Food Cake Day?

It is!

Do you also remember last month how Pippaloo asked if angel food cake was my favorite and I said that devil's food cake was?

Devil's Food cake is a moist, airy, rich chocolate layer cake considered to be a counterpart to Angel Food cake. 

Devil's food cake has a unique light and moist texture, which sets it apart from other chocolate cakes. The recipe calls for quite a bit of baking soda, and boiling water instead of milk. Both of these ingredients contribute to the fluffiness of this confection. 

Just in time for my Big Sister's birthday tomorrow!

Happy Birthday, Kid. Love, Addie

Happy 80th birthday, Carol Burnett!
 
Born in 1933, Burnett is an American actress, comedienne, singer, and writer. She is best known for her long-running TV variety show, The Carol Burnett Show, for CBS.

A true variety show, The Carol Burnett Show parodied films, television, commercials, and more. Musical numbers were also a frequent feature.

My personal favorite? The "Went With the Wind" parody of Gone With the Wind.

Classic.

 

A Tale of Two Addies

You say it's your birthday,
It's my birthday too, yeah.

They say it's your birthday,
We're gonna have a good time.

I'm glad it's your birthday,
Happy birthday to you.

Major apologies to The Beatles.

Gonna party like it's 1899

Happy birthday to me!

Yes, it's my birthday!

To celebrate, I hope you will go over to the wildly popular Doll Diaries to read my Honorary Birthday Guest Post.

Yes, you read that right! Char asked me, Steampunk Addie, to write a Guest Post for Doll Diaries!

(I told you she liked me.)

Meanwhile, Clementine and I will be Delicately Nibbling on my birthday cake, tea, and cookies, and playing Pin the Rudder on the Dirigible.

We're gonna have a good time!

One nation indivisible

Okay, here's a brief lecture for those of you who forgot WHY April 9 is significant and WHY I chose it for my birthday.

The Battle of Appomattox Court House, fought on the morning of April 9, 1865, was the final engagement of Confederate States Army General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia before it surrendered to the Union Army under Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, and one of the last battles of the American Civil War.

The signing of the surrender documents occurred in the parlor of the house owned by Wilmer McLean on the afternoon of April 9.

What a lot of people don't know is that poor McLean could not escape the Civil War. The first battle of The War (later named the First Battle of Bull Run) took place on July 18, 1861 at McLean's plantation, in Manassas, Prince William County, Va.

In the spring of 1863, McLean moved his family moved about 120 miles south to Appomattox County, Va., near a small community called Appomattox Court House.

Lee surrendered to Grant in McLean's parlor on April 9, 1865, effectively ending the Civil War. 

McLean allegedly later said, "The war began in my front yard and ended in my front parlor."

He might have been a Confederate, but I still feel sorry for him.

We're gonna have a good time

Just a reminder that:

1. Tomorrow, April 9 is My Birthday! (I certainly hope I don't have to remind you WHY April 9 is my birthday!)
2. My guest post will appear on a Wildly Popular doll blog!

I can't wait!

Can you?

Aw, shucks!

Aw, I'm blushing.

I was Quite Flattered yesterday when I was asked to write a short guest post for a Very Popular Doll Blog for my upcoming birthday.

(Which is April 9, in case you forgot.)

I, of course, agreed immediately.

So I am working feverishly on a brief history of how I came to be and a few photos to accompany it.

This is going to be AWESOME! 

Stay tuned....

All that glitters

While at American Girl Place - Los Angeles, I was curious why we spent so much time in 1812. (I tell you, that place is a giant TARDIS!)

While pondering this, my eye was caught by the pewter dishes on the table.

Shiny!
 
Caroline celebrates her 10th birthday with family and friends as they enjoy a tableful of homemade treats! Your girl can host a similar party with:

• A pretend applesauce cake
• A ceramic pitcher, painted with an image of a majestic ship
• A bouquet of faux wildflowers
• Two lacy napkins
• Three metal plates for serving
• Two each metal forks, knives, and cups that are reminiscent of actual items from her era!

I told Momma that Caroline's Party Set was just the thing for my dirigible, but she reminded me (once again) that we were on a budget.

Harumph!

Besides, she had a big purchase to make for my Big Sister.

I wonder what that could be....



  

The Queen's Treasures

I don't know how I missed these.

Could it possibly be The Queen's Treasures is a fan of steampunk time travel?

And/or me?

While perusing The Queen's Treasures website, Momma spotted these two steamy items:

Doll Steamer Trunk for American Girl Doll Accessories, Map

High quality doll accessory storage trunk with faux leather cross straps is reminiscent of old steamer trunks! The accessory storage trunk measures 6" H x 9" W x 6.5" D. The trunk features a removable top tray for organized doll accessory storage. Sturdy wood with attractive VINTAGE MAP paper design. Matching large size doll storage trunk also available. Personalize it with an engraved brass name plate for only $5.00 extra! Designed and manufactured by us, The Queen's Treasures.

Doll Trunk & Bed for "18 dolls and American Girl, Vintage Map

Our EXCLUSIVE doll storage trunk design offers amazing functionality to store 18 inch dolls like American Girl, Battat, Madame Alexander dolls and more. Our VINTAGE MAP "suitcase" opens and flips on its side to create the most unique and useful 18 inch doll storage trunk on the market. Outside features a sturdy wooden trunk with old-fashioned styling covered in our VINTAGE MAP design. Flip it on its side and open to reveal ample storage for an 18 inch doll, doll clothing, doll accessories and even a flip-down Murphy bed. 2 hanging rods included if you choose to use the trunk for hanging clothing on both sides. Coordinating 3 pc bedding set included PLUS 4 hangers too! Check out our matching steamer trunk offering extra accessory storage. Trunk measures 19" H x 13" W x 8.25" D (closed). Bed measures 18.25" L x 9.25" W. Personalized Brass Name Plate offered for an additional $5.00. Designed and manufactured by us, The Queen's Treasures.

I hope somebody gets me at least one of these for my birthday on April 9!

Let them steam cake

Lucid Junkie Designs

Happy birthday to me!

Look what Momma ordered for me from Lucid Junkie Designs.

Miniature steampunk inspired cake for Barbie, Monster High, or dolls of similar size. Three layer cake made from polymer clay, real watch parts, and other mix media. Cake measures just over three inches which includes the topper. Item is not recommended for children due to small parts. All pieces are attached to the cake and not removable.

Yum!

(Just a subtle reminder that my birthday is April 9!)

Happy birthday, Ivy ~ Feb. 28, 1966

Happy birthday, Ivy!

Ivy was born on Feb. 28, 1966 which means she's a Fire Horse.

The Fire Horse is animated and sociable. She has a wild side that leads her to a life on the edge. Fire Horses are generally either incredibly lucky or ridiculously unlucky. They love the excitement of action and the change it brings. The Fire element makes them passionate about their feelings and they always take a stand in a situation. Fire Horses are never on the fence about anything and have definitive opinions about the world. Their tempers can be overbearing.

For she's a a jolly good fellow

Today is Momma's birthday and she is eagerly awaiting Imperium Park's Apothecary Case from Grandmomma. (My Big Sister got her Robecca Steam!)

A must-have set in the city of New Britain! This set features a pleather case with a golden flocking interior and an antique golden clasp, and four glass apothecary bottles.

According to the photo it contains Thistle, Red Vine, Spikewort, and Dark Ichor.

I know that medieval writers thought Thistle could return hair to bald heads and in the early modern period it was believed to be a remedy for headaches, plague, canker sores, vertigo, and jaundice.

Red Vine leaves are sold in the United Kingdom as a dietary supplement for the maintenance of healthy leg-vein circulation, in particular to avoid tired, heavy and aching legs that result from long periods of standing or sitting.

But what the heck are Spikewort and Dark Ichor for?

A day to remember

Joyeux anniversaire ma chère amie, Cécile!

While enjoying your holiday weekend (and Cécile's birthday) please remember those who have died for your freedom.

Memorial day has its origins in Decoration Day, which began during the Civil War among Freedmen (freed slaves) and other Black American families, as a celebration of both black and white Union soldiers who fought for liberation and justice. Together with teachers and missionaries, Blacks in Charleston organized a May Day ceremony on May 1, 1865, which was covered by the New York Tribune and other national papers.

During the war, Union soldiers who were prisoners of war had been held at the Charleston Race Course; at least 257 Union prisoners died there and were hastily buried in unmarked graves.

The sheer number of dead soldiers, both Union and Confederate, who perished in the civil war meant that burial and memorialization would take on new cultural significance. Particularly under the leadership of women during the war, an increasingly formal practice of decorating graves had already taken shape. 

The freedmen had cleaned up and landscaped the burial ground, building an enclosure and an arch labeled, "Martyrs of the Race Course." Nearly 10,000 people, mostly freedmen, gathered on May 1 to commemorate the dead. Involved were 3,000 schoolchildren newly enrolled in freedmen's schools, mutual aid societies, Union troops, and black ministers and white northern missionaries. Most brought flowers to lay on the burial field.

In 1865, the federal government began a program of creating national military cemeteries for the Union dead; Decoration Day was soon expanded (and de-politicized) from its origins in Black America to the broader Memorial Day tradition more well-known today.

Sew fine

It's good to be me.

Especially when so many talented seamstresses are sewing for me.

First of all, Cher at Sew Fun Doll Clothes heard my plea and created this stunning coat to fit my Pleasant body.

And now Mama Lisa at Darling Dolly created more Black Unmentionables for me!

I can't wait to get them, but first I have to help my Big Sister celebrate her 9th birthday today.

Whee!!!