Tuesday, December 30, 2014

WEIRD DOLL WEDNESDAY, PART 128

 

........on a Tuesday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, because I'm away for the next couple of days.

Little babies seem right for the last post of 2014

These are from my sister-in-law's collection. They're only about 1 1/2" long.  


Have a HAPPY NEW YEAR and I'll see you all in 2015!!!!!!



Thursday, December 25, 2014

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

WEIRD DOLL WEDNESDAY, PART 127

 

Hmm, not really a doll, but tis the season

A snowman made for me by a student who's last name is Holladay. Styrofoam balls, a button nose, wooden bead hat, hat brim is the label off a spool of thread, and dress pin arms. Merry Christmas from 2011.

It's been raining here for 3 days, somewhere around 5". Guess I should be happy it's not snowing (and it's 71!)

Merry Christmas from South Georgia, USA.

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

WEIRD DOLL WEDNESDAY, PART 126

 

Let's go to the islands! Don't know where  Treasure Bay is , but who cares?


She's holding a satin flower, which is a strange thing to hold. Don't know if it was original or added on. It's like she's saying "Come to the islands, I have a present for you"



Saturday, December 13, 2014

 RIP PECAN TREE


We had to get the old pecan tree removed  from the backyard. It was only a matter of time before part of it fell on the house.


 The Doctor looking sad about it. Not really. It's the only photo I have that the tree is in. On the left side you can see where half the tree fell down a couple of years ago. It was a beautiful spring day, with no wind and boom! Thanks goodness it missed the office next door and it was late enough in the day that nobody was parked in front.


 When we were on vacation in September, this happened. There was minor damage to a couple of the roof shingles. Did we dodge a bullet?

 Here's were the part that broke off was. The vines climbing up the tree kept the branch from falling all the way.

 You can see the snapped off part in the middle of the tree. It was nice to not come home to a 2 bedroom house! We were concerned about the part on the right falling onto the house. Third time may have been it.


 This would not have been a good thing to have poking through the roof.

So, the tree had to go. I'm not sure how old it was, but the house was built in the 1920's and it many have been there "forever".  The tree removers said that part of it was rotten and only a matter of time before the really big part fell down.


 On the bright side, the yard will be a lot sunnier now. We enjoyed having such a beautiful tree in the yard. Pecans did happen, but nothing last for ever.

Speaking of "trees", all 3 Christmas trees have been put up and I'm in a better mood. Yeah.






Wednesday, December 10, 2014

WEIRD DOLL WEDNESDAY, PART 125

 

This week we have a visitor. Or a guest doll. When I was on vacation last month, I took photos of my sister-in-laws doll collection. She doesn't have many, but some of them are strange.

 

This one, not so strange. She's made out of raffia and is pretty tiny. She's standing on the heater controller, which makes her 3 inches tall....maybe.

Speaking of vacation, I haven't been doing much since I've been back. Life is kind of boring right now.  I have pulled all the Christmas junk out and started putting it up. Perhaps that will put me in a better mood. Till next time.


Wednesday, December 3, 2014

WEIRD DOLL WEDNESDAY, PART 124

 

That was a quick week. If you did Thanksgiving, I hope it was a wonderful day.  Did you shop on Black Friday? It looks like this weeks doll is so over that.

She looks like she's brushing back her hair and saying"What ever". Not sure where she's from, maybe Turkey or Bulgaria? 


About Black Friday, I stayed home and read a second hand copy of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hollows. I don't like being told that I should go shopping as my patriotic duty to boost the income of Wal-Mart and other large corporations. I'll shut up now and wish everyone a happy holiday season, what ever holiday you celebrate.


Wednesday, November 26, 2014

WEIRD DOLL WEDNESDAY, PART 123

Finally, a doll from distance lands I can tell you about!

She's from Kazakstan. My brother-in-law worked there for 6 years( on and off) and his co-workers were always giving him gifts. Knowing that I love dolls, SIL gave this to me on my recent visit. She's made of felt and has an embroidered face.  She's maybe 5 inches tall. 




Tuesday, November 25, 2014

THE ART OF VACATION

 

Wandering around The Mission in San Francisco I was struck by how pretty it is. No dull gray city stuff here. The Mission is named after Mission Delores, which was founded in 1776 and is the oldest building in SF. Mission Delores in featured in the Hitchcock movie Vertigo (one of my favorite) The area was been the home to Hispanic people for forever. It's easy to get to on BART (19th and 24th street stations). Go, if you ever visit SF.


There's art everywhere.....

 This beautiful mural is on the side of a building. There's no information about the woman. She must have been well loved. RIP.

In a short ally off of 24th street are these wonderful murals.





 left side and right side


 I like how the artist painted roses on the sign post

Do you look up when walking?


 I would have missed this if I didn't.

 Glad to see the new business kept the old sign.

 The store were I got the Day of the Dead and Frida socks.

 Poetry happens , too.


The day after my birthday, I got kidnapped and taken to the Oakland Museum . It was the tail end of the annual Day of the Dead instillation. It's been happening for years.





 For the artists Father. The black screen is make out of metal.







The museum has stickers that are a pointing finger  that says "OK" which means you can touch whatever the finger is pointing at.

 or sit in. This chair is metal and is meant to depict the famous chair Bobby Seal of the Black Panthers sat in back in the early 1970's. You can see the sticker on the left

as you can see the two Child Brides sat in it. I swear we did not share notes on dressing alike.


Hope you enjoyed my vacation photos. Tomorrow is the return of Weird Doll Wednesday. 



Sunday, November 23, 2014

MORE BIRTHDAY VACATION FUN

Where did I leave off? Sunset on Wednesday. Thursday was Double Birthday Day (mine was on Friday)

 

 The Birthday Girls! 59 and 20! Rachel looks pretty good for 59.


 Three cakes are better than one, anyday of the week. Rachel's Mom thought "Something for everyone". Left to right: cheese cake, chocolate with chocolate and some more chocolate, mango mousse. The rose on top is made from mango slices. We had food, too. Italian from Genoa in Oakland. Yummy!

Friday, SIL and I went to SF (I know, twice in 3 days). She wanted me to help her shop for new clothes. Shopping AKA fun.


 Here's a bit of old San Francisco. The Palace Hotel. The roof survived the 1906 earthquake. No, we didn't have lunch here.


 Old school tobacco/wine store.

 Speaking of "old school", we ate lunch here. Sears Fine Foods, in business for 76 years.

 They have an old tile floor, and use sideboards and old stoves to store things in. And are known for these......

 Silver dollar Swedish pancakes. No this isn't turning into a food blog. Promise.

I had to take these photos. Store front in Maiden Lane



 So many old sewing machines. Around the front of the building are to more windows with top to bottom machines.

 The electric street car. I've ridden  one these a bunch of times. If you look close at the red brick building, you can see the overhead wires.

 The world famous Powell Street cable car. Which I've never ridden on. They are always full of tourist and don't seem worth the hassle of waiting to get on.

On Saturday, I got kidnapped......

 by these two. Next post I'll show you where they took me. We're having dinner at Rudies Can't Fail Cafe in beautiful downtown Oakland (it really is)

 Not drinking brew for breakfast!   I had mac & cheese and onion rings. There's a diet in my future.

Of course, I bought myself birthday presents!

 I ran out of socks, so I just had to.

 Really good 3D Madonna bought from a street vender for $1.

 Peacock shawl bought from the same vender for $6.


 Thrifted purse that looks like it was made from a place mat.

 Penguin ring, thrifted and beaded thing found in  free box.

 Book of travel essays, gift from a friend and Christmas socks from Top Shop pop-up in Nordstroms.

Next time, there's all sorts of art to show you. It's everywhere.