Today was Christmas again in Lloyd. Whatever it is that I have done to deserve the friendship of Linda Sue is beyond me but her ability to know exactly what I would like and love and cherish and need amazes me. One of her orphans is now living in Florida! And she came with her own nurse. According to Linda Sue, this orphan, Tilly, was the one who, upon hearing about Florida and alligators raised her hand to volunteer to travel to such an exotic land. And so now here she is, with her own chicken! She has an appendix scar which Nurse has been tending to for her. I checked and the incision site looks absolutely perfect. Nurse knows what she is doing. And the Mexican beauty was tired of the dark and cold days of the Pacific Northwest so she decided to come along too.
I had the realization today that finally, at the age of 68, I have made a friend I can play dolls with. This is truly a fine thing. I always say that inside of us we have every age of ourselves we've ever been and this new development in my life pleases and tickles the five or six or seven-year old Mary so much. The 68 year old me is charmed.
And grateful.
Just so very grateful.
I introduced Tilly and Nurse to Dorothy Anne and Lucy.
No. This is NOT a collection.
It is a family.
And won't it be handy to have a nurse about to help with any and all problems the babies and their older siblings and cousins might encounter? I think Tilly looks absolutely thrilled to be here. She must truly have an adventuresome soul.
The lovely senorita is now nestled between two other darlings that Linda Sue sent me awhile back who sit on my vanity. She looks a little stunned but that's probably due to the Southern sun coming streaming in the window.
It has been a good day. I woke up feeling normal for the first time in a week. Truly normal. I made up a loaf of sourdough with starter that I'd fed yesterday and set it to rise and went for a walk. It wasn't a very long walk. I'm having a bothersome pain in my right hip and leg. Perhaps sciatica? Whatever, it is causing me to limp like, well- an old lady with a messed up hip and leg. I dip and I roll. I had thought that perhaps I could walk it out, walk it off, but no. Apparently not. So I've been hobbling about for the rest of the day and when Mr. Moon got home from town and his workout, he had a terrible pain in his back, probably related to a fall he took a few years ago which flares up at times and we commiserated and laughed at our old-people foibles although I think we could have probably both cried if given the slightest encouragement.
Here are some flowers I took pictures of on my walk.
Confederate rose. Is there a more girly flower on earth?
Abelia. One of my favorites. A lovely, old-fashioned shrub with the most delicate of blooms.
A sturdy line of hurricane lilies in the yard of a long-since deserted house, now on the verge of needing far more than restoration.
Bidens Alba, also known as Devil's needle, Shepherd's needle, Beggertick, and Butterfly needle among other things. In theory, this is a fantastic native plant. It grows under any conditions, is great for pollenaters and is beloved by butterflies and bees. It has vast medicinal properties. HOWEVER, it produces a "needle" that has tiny hooks on it which will catch on anything. One plant can produce up to a thousand of these horribly bothersome things. There is no one in the south who has not spent hours of their life trying to pick those needles out of socks, pants, skirts, and off of shoe laces. I do want them in my yard but I respect them and am happy to see them growing by the sides of the road which those above were.
Here is one more picture of a treasure that Linda Sue sent.
That is a vintage clothespin holder and I have hung it above my washing machine. I cannot tell you how much I love it.
Pragmatic Woman Art.
If that's not already a thing, it should be.
Love...Ms. Moon
Tilly looks so excited at her new adventure. Dorothy Anne looks a tad bemused at the newcomers. How fortunate to have a nurse.
ReplyDeleteLinda Sue is a very special person.
Your flower photos are just gorgeous. Especially the confederate rose. Is it an actual member of the rose family?
I am so glad you're feeling better. You need to be well to look after your growing family.
Linda Sue is MOST special. Truly.
DeleteThe confederate rose is yet another member of the hibiscus family. No rose about it, really.
Surprises really do make a day, don't they?
ReplyDeleteYes. Indeed they can.
Deletewow! Bless Linda Sue for gracing you with Tilly and Nurse! Love the nurse doll! What a beautiful gift..... and that confederate rose is such a beauty. I trust they come in various colors but this pale pink is stunning. Never seen one here in Calif........doubt they would grow here. Glad you felt well today.....hope Lily and all others doing well too.......aside from *our* aches and pains......that we commiserate about here too!
ReplyDeleteSusan M
Nurse is a beauty, isn't she?
DeleteYes, confederate roses do come in other colors. I do not know what their range is when it comes to growing them.
Your doll family is most impressive. Your house is a fun place to live.
ReplyDeleteIt sure can be a fun place. Especially for children.
DeleteThe nurse looks quite taken by Lucy ... she is giving her quite the side eye!
ReplyDeleteIf your hip and leg thing isn't better in a day or two, get it checked out ... sciatica is no fun! Look up exercises to do for it!
That confederate rose is stunning!
Thanks. I'm feeling better today with the hip. I think it's just being old that's getting me. But yes, Glen sent me a little video with exercises.
DeleteThe Mexican maiden is , as you might guess, fluent in Spanish, Tilly started learning from her just before they went off to Florida- the usual Orphan language is not as fancy as Spanish! She thought that Dorothy Anne would learn quickly.
ReplyDeleteI can not believe that rose! It looks like a fantasy! Wouldn't you love a dress like that!
Also, thank you for playing!!! I so appreciate that because , well, you know...skills for the "home".
DeleteDorothy Anne is such a mystery that for all I know, she may already speak Spanish! Tilly is bright as a penny, isn't she?
DeleteI always call the confederate rose the prom queen of the flowers. I would love a dress like that!
I'm glad we are polishing our skills and interests for the home. Indeed I am.
I haven't seen a clothespin holder like that for decades! most people I know have plastic ones, little baskets like mine. I'm so glad Tilly is now living with you and has brought her own chicken! and of course you need the nurse to help take care of the family. The Senorita looks surprised to feel such warm sunshine again, at last. I'm glad you are feeling more like yourself again.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've ever seen a clothespin holder nearly as dear and artfully made as that one. It is just so beautiful.
DeleteI need to take all of the dollies out to get some sunshine one of these days.
Linda Sue is fabulous, and I love that she is sending you exactly what you need. Every time you post a photo of a Confederate Rose, I am so wowed by their papery petals, and the color!
ReplyDeleteI would not be surprised if they wouldn't grow in your area, Elizabeth. Maybe it's too dry there. They make a very nice shrub or tree.
DeleteLinda Sue sounds like a wonderful friend to you. I hope you enjoy that doll family!
ReplyDeleteThank you, e!
DeleteWhile I wouldn't collect dolls, that clothespin holder is just lovely! THAT I would happily use in my home!
ReplyDeleteNo, no collection! I swear!
DeleteSo it's a group, not a collection! Right. Lovely anyway. I'm glad you're enjoy it playing. Making up for lost time.
ReplyDeleteYes- a group. A family group. Sigh.
DeletePlaying is lovely, isn't it?
It's great that you and Linda Sue can commune about your shared love of dolls and quirky things. That clothespin holder is a work of art! Someone put some effort into that.
ReplyDeleteWe used to call Bidens alba "Spanish needles," though maybe that's too colonialist for our current times. :)
Yes. Spanish needles. We called them that too. You know what I'm talking about with the pesky little stickers.
DeleteSomeone really did put their heart into that clothespin bag.
Your dolls are cracking me up! Looks like now is the time. And I love your flower pictures. HEre in Nevada there are beautiful plants (but not many).
ReplyDeleteDesert plants can be the most impressive!
DeleteWhat treasures! I agree it’s a family, not a collection. That clothespin holder is very much like one my mother had. Spanish needle is one of the plants I curse on my yard. I’m constantly yanking that and Virginia creeper, which seems to grow three feet a day down here. At least it’s easier to pul up than the long carrot rooted weeds. It’s a never ending battle but I’m afraid the entire house will be overtaken by nature if I stop trying. Sometimes I picture that in my mind , I’m easily amused.
ReplyDeleteXoxo
Barbara
I hear you, Barbara. If it wasn't for the invasives in this yard, there wouldn't be much growing. It is a constant battle, isn't it?
DeleteOne of Tilly's cousins lives with me....her name is Wren. :)
ReplyDeleteI love all of your dolls! And Practical Woman Art is the perfect way to describe that clothespin holder.
Tilly sends her love to Wren. They are a joyous group, aren't they?
DeleteYour doll family (not collection) is growing:) They are sweet regardless what you call them. And that confederate rose, wow!
ReplyDeleteThree of my little redheads are up on the high shelf with my "Day of the Dead" people, discussing the extra care needs of the Queen's Soul, making sure it will be properly made comfortable.
ReplyDeleteMy confederate roses are putting on buds but not even close to blooming yet! And I might have to find some abelia.
ReplyDeleteThe one in the middle kinda looks "baked", although I have never been! I enjoy your stories of your lovely family.. I am 72, so you are still just a girl! Must be nice.
ReplyDelete