PHILANTHE

This is Philanthe. Her name means: "Flower Loving". Which is a good doll's name. I wanted to do something a little simpler clothing wise, than what I was sewing on. Eithne's new dress is going rather slow, and I was getting bored. So, I pulled out this doll, and decided to make a dress or two for her. They are just two piece pattern's, a bodice and skirt. No lining. No intricate seams. Very simple.

I carved this doll 33 years ago. She has a wood head, arms and legs. Like a porcelain doll and on a cloth body. She is 7 1/2 inches tall. Just a nice size to sew for. And an excellent 'Travel Doll'. But, this doll was based on the so-called: 'Queen Anne' dolls from the 17Th century. I carved about a dozen or so sets, back in 1976, for the 200Th Anniversary Bi-centennial. You know what? That time was barely noticed. Nothing much was done about it. Crying shame too.

The political climate at that time was ridiculus.

I sold serveral of the dolls. But, typically, after doing six or so, I got bored. I still have about six sets of doll parts in a box to be finished. Tried them on eBay. No interest.

Philanthe has her own shaker style box for her belongings. Another way to make her more authentic. All of her clothes are and will be, hand sewn. That is much more authentic for the era she represents.

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She is signed and dated on back shoulder plate.

DOG SHOW

I have been watching the dog shows on TV. I miss having a dog. I've always had a dog of some sort. But, when we lost our last little guy in 1995. We decided , no more. Too painful. And then even though where we were renting, pets were OK. When we had to move, no guarantees. However, turns out we were able to qualify to buy. By then, our health became a care. We just no longer have the energy to be able to properly care for a small fur companion. We can barely care for ourselves.
When I was a child and used to spend a lot of time at my Grandma's. When i learned to read, she pulled out some books she had kept, that my dad and siblings had read as kids. I was delighted. One of the stories w3as about a little girl and companion standard poodle that cared and protected the little girl. Sounded like a poodles were the greatest dogs in the world. Well, I decided then and there, that when i was grown up, i would have one of those. At that time I think standard poodles were the only size. but, it came to me, that perhaps, by the time I could have one. Maybe the dogs would have been bred down. Yes, well worth the wait. When I was young, I was nothing, if not patient.
As the years went by, I was sort of able to follow stories about poodles. Then in a movie, one of the female characters had a tiny poodle!!! Yes!! Of course the poor little dog in the movie was always dyed to match whatever the actress was wearing. Goodness. In reality, several poodles were used for each scene and color.
But, I had to wait until I was able to make my own money.
I was finally able to buy my poodle when I was 23. I couldn't wait and ended up using part of my college expense allowance, I got every month from my Dad, when I came down here to attend University. Yes, I was a little nutsy about it. But, the little one was well worth it.
I looked up dogs, breeders, kennels in the phone book. My poodle was a female black toy-miniature. And I named her: Pepper. She was the delight of my life for ten years. She died of cancer. The vet said if I had had her spayed. She would have been healthier. I used that vet for haLF OF pEPPER'S LIFE. wHY DIDN;T HE SAY SOMETHING SOONER??!!
I will continue the story later.

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Here are two photos of her. The top is her first Christmas. The second is how she loved to spend the hot summer days.

MY TIME, IS NOT YOURS TO WASTE

One of the things that really annoys me, is that Doctors seem to believe that patients have nothing better to do, than waste time waiting for the medical provider to get to them. Every time I have to go to a new person, I have to train them. They soon learn, that I do not wait. I will give them half an hour. Then I reschedule, and I'm gone. Inconvenient for them!!? What do they think it is for me? people are too passive, too docile and lack self confidence.
Although, if someone comes on and in dire straights, let me know. Just do not leave me hanging. I will make my own decision about what to do. The reception help get very discommoded on that. It is so inconvenient for them!!? Hello?
The medical have an overweaning sense of themselves. In their own minds, they are gods. Such hubris.
My time is valuable to me. It is not my fault I have to go see about whatever. I have tons of better ways way to spend my time, rather than getting sick or need a tooth fixed.
The opthomalogist I just went to. He was so brisk and impatient. I wanted to deck him.
Then tuesday. They told us one time. Then said the appt. was for later. We said ok, reschedule. We'll come back. ----"But'-----
I have another appt. Friday morning. Very, very in convenient for me.
So, don't be pushed around. You do have rights you know. And, most of all, get someone who can go with you a doctor's appt. That puts them the help in their place. Don't let them bully you.

DREAM HOUSE

When I was a kid at home. We used to drive to Oregon to visit my Mother's sister and family. It was a three hour drive. My brother and I used to pass the time counting potato cellars. Whoever spotted the most-won.

But, what kept me alert, was to be able to catch sight of what to me, was pure fantasy. Because set back about an acre from the hiway, was this big white 2-story early 20th. century house. But, to me what I waited for, was the matching playhouse in the front of the house. A miniature version of the great house. What a lucky child she must be. To have her own playhouse. It gave me the wishes. Of course, never happened. One thing, was so as not to spoil me. And second- to teach me, one doesn't get everything they want.

Daddy did make a sort of playhouse finally. It had, a plain board floor, four plain board walls and a roof the had tarpaper on so as not to leak. Just a shanty cabin.

I don't know how long I had it. Two friends and I tried to play there with our dolls. But, finally my brother and couple of other boys took it over, and no girls allowed came up. So, ok. fine. Mom finally declared the thing to be an eyesore and made Daddy take the little cabin down.

So much for a playhouse.

A desire for a playhouse has never left me. Even now, at this age, I wish I could have had one. None of the houses we owned had yard that would have had a place for a small house.

A place of one's own.

This is a house That I could like. It's from a book I found on the internet

SOMETHING OF BEAUTY

'Thing of beauty is a joy forever". To quote Keats.
I love dolls. Always have. Dolls are ART. I started my collection with three of my childhood dolls. My Mom was a little disturbed by that. She was afraid I might be be a little 'backward' as they referred to it back then. I was eventually able to relieve her concern in that regard.
I love lovely things. I had very little of beauty in my life growing up where I did. Evreything was dust and dirt and smoke. All we wore except when we went to town, were denims and shirts.
So, dolls were the only things I saw with lovely clothes. Oh, yes, and in the movies. As for art. Occasionally in magazines.
Collecting dolls does not mean I am a shallow person. Contrary. To be interested in and to study dolls, is to study the history of humanity. And I belong to the national organization: UFDC.
The United Federation Of Doll Clubs.
I have collected since I was 13. My collection is mutable. Almost collectors are like that.

ILLUSIONS

Crystal prism dreams,
All shattered,
into rainbow colors.
Splintered against
the windows.
How life can
shade and change,
all feathered,
fanned out in
overlapping ombre hues.
Oh, Dream,
Oh, life,
and which is real?
Perhaps both?
Or neither-----
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ORIG. Poem-by-CGZ
Copyright-January-2009

FOGGY NIGHT

You know, I like the fog. As long as I don't have to drive in it. The fog makes everything seem more intimate. Everything appears surreal and otherworldly. As if other beings could slip through fron an elsewhere and make aquaintance with beings of this world.

Here is a night shot from our patio. I did do some light and color adjustment. But you can see how the light does reflect in the heavy fog.