§ Día de los Muertos...

Since the 1960s I have been observing the Day of the Dead. You see, I had a 'best friend' through high school that was of Mexican descent, and she taught me many things about this special time of celebrating and honoring those of family that have passed on...It's NOT Halloween as many think. [3 days from Oct 31st through November 2nd]   It is a loving tradition!! A way of respecting those that have left us behind. Tho traditionally it's a Mexican observance, lately, it has become part of many cultures throughout the world. Anyway, last year -2020- Mattel Toy Company came out with a Barbie Doll dressed in the customary costume. Our local news [and national] had segments on the doll. Barbie was beautiful! And perfect. I wanted one. I went to all the stores the next day and into the entire week afterward and all was "sold out". My last resort was online purchase...same thing: "Sold Out"!! Sunday, coming back from my morning walk [around 8 a.m.] I stopped at the HEB [Texas Grocery Chain] for lunch and the needed bottled water. Naturally, I went down the seasonal aisle to check out what decorations they had stocked for Halloween, and lo and behold, there was the 2021 [!!!] version of Día de los Muertos [day of the dead] Barbie!! Tho, it isn't as pretty as the 2020, I had to have one by god. But, they were locked up tighter than a drum. I had to find a clerk...he said "I have to unlock them, and take her to the cashier for you. There is a limit one per customer". He also told me the cashier number where I was to go to pay for it. They're NOT cheap. By the way the 2020 Barbie online this year through Amazon, eBay, etc. are from $200 to selling for over $800!! I would still like having the 2020, but not for those prices. Okay...so, I got the Barbie 2021. And then, when I got home I told Bud that Ken, the Catrin [females are Catrina], will be out in a few days. He said "you'd better get there early if you want one". I was there just after the store opened, and he was locked up where Barbie once stood! I  went through the same routine, and this time, the cashier I was directed to go to told me that they sell out fast. That day, Barbie was sold out, but I Got him.  Now I have both male and female.

The Animated Movie COCO [about Day of the Dead ...I give it 5*s]
The History of Day of the Dead
Spanish Terms associated with Day of the Dead HERE

from the history channel...
The Day of the Dead (el Día de los Muertos), is a Mexican holiday where families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives for a brief reunion that includes food, drink and celebration. A blend of Mesoamerican ritual, European religion and Spanish culture, the holiday is celebrated each year from October 31- November 2. While October 31 is Halloween, November 1 is “el Dia de los Inocentes,” or the day of the children, and All Saints Day. November 2 is All Souls Day or the Day of the Dead. According to tradition, the gates of heaven are opened at midnight on October 31 and the spirits of children can rejoin their families for 24 hours. The spirits of adults can do the same on November 2.

§ Troll in a Table...

Sunday I spent a bit of time cooking and cleaning. Erik mentioned he may come this weekend, so I want to have the house half way decent and cleaned. It's been over a year since we've seen each other, and now that we're all vaccinated, we feel safe enough to take 'the chance' to visit other than texting or talking on the phone. Anyway, I have everything dusted and will clean bathrooms when he lets us know he's on his way. It's about a 3 hour drive from Houston to here, so that will give me plenty of time. I'll prepare some meals and freeze them. And, I'm pretty sure we'll go out to our favorite restaurant while he's here. He likes the steak and quail dinner at this 'posh' establishment. Since this week, it's his birthday, why not take him to his special place. There'll be games played and a lot of personal catching up to do.

I made homemade, crust from scratch, pepperoni and black olive pizzas for Bud and me to eat for a couple of days. I'll probably round the week off with salmon loaf and maybe fajitas. That'll get us through until Erik arrives. Then, we'll go from there.  I'm sure I'll bake his favorite dessert too...which is pumpkin pie.

Sunday afternoon around midday, while I was dusting the entertainment center and moving stuff around on top, the TV was on. There was a 'breaking news' so I stopped to listen. This area just north of us by a few miles and farther up to the north from here was under tornado watch/warning. We here in town were under heavy flooding. Why not? We've had hurricanes, flooding, hail, freezing...a tornado threat would top it all off like a cherry on the fudge sundae!!

In the meantime, after I called it quits for the day, I started reading my book I got for Mother's Day, and skimmed through a new TIGER magazine by TIME [shown above]. I topped my quiet time with working on a table [html coding] for my blog to place a troll doll each time I make a new blog post. You'll see the tables and photo of the dolls at the end of each post 'til they're all shown. It's been a LONG time since I've done the coding for a table and borders, so it was hit and miss for a while 'til I got it all figured out once again. The old saying goes, if you don't use it, you lose it.  I lost it. I hope it works properly.

TROLL DOLL COLLECTION My very first 1959

§ #45 Purchase....

In a recent previous post, I typed: "I was out on Amazon a few days back, and found a gem. I just had to order it." Some of you that left comments were curious. Trust me, the subject matter for this particular piece isn't popular for most, but there were features that made it "cute" and to a collector, irresistible. Even the staunch "hater" of #45 such as Bud had to agree, it was something to add to what I have.  I loved it at first sight...the mouth was the key feature.

I started my collection [tho very small] in 1959!! I saved my pennies, nickles, and dimes and my dad helped me a lot by paying me change from his pocket when I'd do a task for him. I wanted one so badly, I even cleaned stuff that even amazes me today - like washing his car for a quarter]. I was TEN years old. And no, it wasn't child labor, it was MY suggestion!!  FYI...I was never into dolls such as Barbie and all the frilly, feminine kind.  In fact, I was and still am...a tomboy.  Over the years, even after marriage [and as late as the 1990's when Erik, our son, joined the Marine Corps], I'd see one that connected to me somehow and I'd buy. I bought one back then that was 'military - camouflaged, and carrying a rifle, like the Corps!!'

I also mentioned [I think] that I'd show my collection. Well, I had the help of Bud so I could get the bin in which they're stored down from the shelving unit, and unpacked them. We actually had a bit of fun reminiscing about when and where and the reason I bought them. We giggled a lot. Those faces [and butts] are just too priceless. And the 'costuming' was more or less the 'selling point' for me years ago. I haven't purchased one for nearly 20 years, but now, I'm all ready to begin again. LOL Anyway, I have a couple of photos I'll show you now, but if you wish to see them individually, I thought I'd share one with each new post I publish. I think I probably have about a 30 something to show off.

A Table covered with Troll Dolls!


Just a quick recap, the dolls were first produced in 1959 by a gentlemen from Denmark I believe. They were first put on store shelves that very year, and I had to have one. A few I have are now considered rare and collector's items worth startling prices selling online. Now, Amazon is a good place to start.

 

history of the troll doll...read HERE

§ Ooh, ooh Ah, Rag doll ooh....

When she was just a kid her clothes were hand-me-downs
They always laughed at her when she came into town

Called her Rag Doll
Little Rag Doll
Such a pretty face
Should be dressed in lace

Ooh, ooh
Ah, Rag doll ooh, ooh
Rag doll, ooh
song lyrics here





Ever since I can remember, I've always wanted one! A 'black one' that is.  I don't know why, so don't ask...I just did.

I'd like to introduce you to Raggedy Ree!!

Long ago, I had a Raggedy Ann[i], but have no idea where she went once I married. Ree is now part of our family after taking days to construct her...dreadlocks and all.

What does Ree mean? Ree as a girls' name is of Hebrew origin, and the meaning of Ree is "to bind". [I chose this as a 'slavery' name being bound by her owner in ancestral origins - besides needing a one syllable name.  Raggedy Ree just flows off the tongue.] Ree is an alternate spelling of Rebecca (Hebrew). Biblical: Rebekah. Ree is also a form of Riva (Hebrew).

______

While at Hobby Lobby buying the material for the rag doll, I found two really awesome things...but bought neither. The peacock wind chime is still in the back of my mind tho!! Maybe I will go back 'n' get it. Lots of 'pros' with this, the colors, being a bird, the sound of the chime...but one very big 'con'....it's VERY large!! And the grapevine easter bunny with pussy willow is perfect or spring!! 

______


With all the days of inclement weather here of late, I've been reading a lot also...

...my latest open books. I can't get enough to read about Churchill these days. The man was such a crafty politician [world wide in my opinion]. I've learned so much...and all quite interesting. I highly recommend the book Darkest Hour. [and if you haven't read Lilac Girls...excellent!  The National Geographic Jan. 2018 issue has a great article on bird intelligence...if you're at all interested in nature, and/or birds, an exceptional write-up.]

§ The Good, The Bad & Not Ugly!

The Good...

Stop the World – I Want to Get Off

During rush hour, one accident on the freeway can snarl traffic to a complete standstill!! "Stop the world I want to get off". It has become a satirical response to all who are given a bad situation in life,  Eventually there's bound to be something ...going from bad to good. As I waited, and inched my way until, finally, a clearing in the traffic jam, I saw this. All can't be bad!!

The Bad...

Somebody Done Somebody Wrong

When I saw this in a drainage ditch while out walking the Wetlands, I wondered....did a child do this, or was it a parent who has out stepped their disciplinarian boundaries by showing them "I can do this to your child...You'd better behave"...what story lies behind this scene? I shudder to think. As I walked on, words to this song by BJ Thomas came to mind..."Hey, won't ya play another somebody done somebody wrong song."

...and the not ugly!

There's a Perfect World Shining in Your Eyes

All in reference to:
"The Good The Bad and the Ugly" [movie]
"Stop the World, I Want to Get Off" [movie, broadway play]
"Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" [song, by BJ Thomas]
"There's a Perfect World Shining in Your Eyes" [song, Lion King II movie]

§ Miles to Go....

Upon finishing the first book of five in the Frank Baum Collection, The Cyclone, I can honestly say the story is not at all like the 1939 movie, Wizard of Oz. Still, it's a good read. I'm glad I read it finally. Yes, it's written for children I'm sure, but in my youth I wasn't 'into' reading much. I was too busy with sports, games, school, and boy crushes to take time to read. LOL For the fact I can now say I read "The Cyclone" by Frank Baum, I am pleased with myself. Silver slippers? I like the concept of RUBIES much better.  And, to be even more honest, I like the way the story was 're-written' for cinema.  Much more of an exotic tale and fit for children and adults alike!! 

Okay, moving on...

One afternoon, while Bud was napping and trying to rid himself of his flu ailments, I took my lunch in the computer room and just dubbed around, searching, and reading articles from the news websites, and googling. I came across Cote de Pablo and what she's been doing since leaving NCIS [Ziva]. Her story of a TV mini series that will air on CBS this Spring piqued my interest. Based on truth, an historical novel of four 'warrior' women from Masada; about how they were in an ancient land of Biblical times....not only the women's stories, but the Romans, the Stronghold, the Jews.  After watching the clip provided here, I was compelled to drive to 1/2 Price Book Store the very day and see if the book by Alice Hoffman was on their shelves. It was, I bought it. And I'm reading it with zeal. So far, its language and writing is exceptional! It's difficult to put down. From Amazon Books, this synopsis:

Masada

Nearly two thousand years ago, nine hundred Jews held out for months against armies of Romans on Masada, a mountain in the Judean desert. According to the ancient historian Josephus, two women and five children survived. Based on this tragic and iconic event, Hoffman’s novel is a spellbinding tale of four extraordinarily bold, resourceful, and sensuous women, each of whom has come to Masada by a different path. ....The lives of these four complex and fiercely independent women intersect in the desperate days of the siege. All are dovekeepers, and all are also keeping secrets—about who they are, where they come from, who fathered them, and whom they love.  Alice Hoffman/The Dovekeepers

Another book I found as I was waiting in line to pay for my purchase was yet another children's book! What caught my eye was "Robert Frost". He is a favorite poet. ONE of my favorites. And the book was about my all time favorite Frost's poems: Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening". The last line, tho it's really about traveling through the woods, "I have miles to go before I sleep, miles to go before I sleep" - I interpret this as a whole 'nother thought. My thought is, through life I have many miles to travel in my time and tho I may stop and admire what is around me, I still have many more miles of life to go before my permanent sleep. Yep, that is why I love this so. Anyway, the book, as I thumbed through it had incredible art illustrations. And I kept this in my hot little hands and bought this one also!!

Children's books now-a-days are so cool!! We never had these richly illustrated books when I was growing up!! I missed out on so much. Take notice the hidden rabbits in this opened page...




The 87th annual Oscar nominations were listed this week!! I went out online and watched one movie that was nominated as best picture. It has Eddie Redmayne which I like a lot. He was in a mini-series for TV years back, Pillars of the Earth, and starred in the theatrical version of Les Miserables. Both, he did a fine job. He's now been nominated for his role, playing Steven Hawking. Suffering from Lou Gehrig's Disease, Eddie Redmayne shows a phenomenal portrayal!! I recommend this movie. Poignant, humorous, true to life. After seeing this, and coming down to earth afterwards, I find that these last few weeks, with a bout of flu...I definitely was feeling somewhat ashamed of myself. To wallow in a self pity party for having flu, when so many suffer in life and are challenged to the extreme....I now won't complain. Steven Hawking, a real person who is 72 years old at the movie's end...has lived a full life and still, having a 2 year death sentence in 1963....survives!!! The Theory of Everything and Eddie Redmayne...best picture nomination and best actor.



Let there be light!!! Since January 3rd, my area of Texas has been under a blanket of grayness. Until yesterday afternoon!!! The cloud cover that has been lingering for nearly two weeks finally broke loose and starting clearing. We actually had sun rays dancing on our carpeting. What a glorious thing!!! And maybe today we'll continue to have clear skies and sunshine!! I can only hope.  With weather like this, I just may have miles to go ...to go birding!!!

One more tidbit. Of course y'all know I love 'my' Denver Broncos. I was a bit disappointed in their playoff loss this past weekend. But, all in all, I was okay with it. If they had beat the Colts, the team would have had to play against New England Patriots. And I am positive that that game would have been disastrous for the Broncos. In other words, stink, stank, stunk!!  So, all is well by me. I still think that Peyton Manning should retire. But, what do I know? I read now that John Elway is looking for a new head coach. And Gary Kubiak [once a qb for the Broncos and head coach for the Texans] is a possible candidate? Dunno 'bout that!! There is some doubt in my mind if he is hired. Time will only tell. Anyway, while waiting for half time to close, I was searchin' online for Bronco memorabilia...check this out!!




THEY'RE DOLLS!!!

§ October decor, and Dolls with some wrinkles...Cute Little Covens...

...Collected year after year:
These are a few of my new favorite things!!












1] I LOVE Halloween
2] I collect witches each year to add to my ever-growing family
3] Tuesday Morning is where I find the best ones.
4] I Name 'em!
5] Grab my 6th Annual Halloween Treat at the top of my blog. A new one added each week in October!!

§ She says in a witchy cackle....

COME ON IN!! I bid you welcome!!! I've made you a special brew tea and will serve it up from my cauldron teapot and you'll each have a tea for one at your table....Who doesn't like cookies? These are from my new recipe! There are chocolate covered eyebal.....err, um raisins, some delectable squirrel brai....errr, um pecans, oats, and a special extract of bloo....vanilla!!! Enjoy them, fresh from my convector, while you watch my 2 minute slideshow as my treat. Follow me through the passage way and sit a spell---------

CONNECTING TO:

               Wordful Wednesday
               Ruby Tuesday 2
               [NOT SO] Wordless Wednesday
 

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HODGEPODGE



Joyce has these questions for us this week:

1. What creeps you out? So many things...but to keep this in a halloween-type mode, when there is something that has made an unexplainable sound after dark, and I cannot find the source or culprit...it really creeps me out. My imagination runs amok!!

2. What's your least favorite candy? I'm not sure if I should call it candy, maybe it's more a fudge...but I detest divinity. Hey, what did you expect from the Queen of 'Ween? I'm no where close to divine, so divinity is my answer. [By the way, the least favorite wrapped candy is 3 Musketeers!!]

3. Are you a fan of scary movies? What's the scariest movie you've ever seen? Halloween theme again...cool....yes, I am a fan of scary movies. The scariest would be part of a trilogy of terror [1975] ---the first two are just 'okay' but the last short film of the trilogy'll knock your socks off and make you want to sleep with the lights on!!! ----the third about an African tribal doll that comes to life and terrorizes a woman in her apartment...the chain falls off the doll's body and terror follows...


PS....I begged Bud to carve me the very doll ---and he did. [2nd image, beside the movie poster] My daughter, to this day, will not go in the room the wooden doll is; she's terrified of it.

4. What part of life confuses you the most?....men

5. Pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, poppy...what's your favorite seed? Well, I like poppy seeds a lot...on dinner rolls, in salad dressings, in lemon muffins...Oh, I like caraway seeds in the rye breads too. But I gotta ask --- is a nut a seed? Looking this up via google....and wikipedia: "P. vera was first cultivated in Western Asia, where it ... The fruit is a drupe, containing an elongated seed, which is the edible portion"....so, my favorite that I can never eat just one would be the P.vera....the pistachio!!!

6. Imagine your life ten years from today...what's changed? I'm ten years older. Or I may be 6 feet under...who knows what the future will change? Besides after December 21st this year, according to the Aztec -or is it the Mayan- Calender [whichever], y'know, we won't be around. [ insert wink]

7. What do you a) love the most and b) like the least about the Hodgepodge? a) Joyce's questions offer a great challenge and some deep thinking [or memory] of some sort. I LOVE being challenged. b) It's not really 'about' the meme, Hodgepodge, but more a personal least in this case ---I least like the fact that I didn't begin with Hodgepodge 'til way after its conception!!

8. Insert your own random thought here. There was an online poll just yesterday about this question: "Do you think that Romney and Obama should suspend their campaigning in the aftermath of the hurricane Sandy?" I voted "no" and then got a chance to see the results which floored me a bit. I wasn't surprised with the outcome since it's so near and dear to so many...but what floored me was the margin of yay and nay... 61% said they should while 39% said no, they shouldn't...that the two should continue to campaign. Now, don't get me wrong here!! I'm not a cold-hearted bitty who thinks of only herself!! I feel for all the lives lost, and the damage and tragedy of what they all endured. But my way of thinking is "life goes on". I've dealt with tragedies, loss of life, house damages, etc. I feel the country still needs to see this campaign through to the end....to keep our country going....not as if to forget, but to work on improving our status, to continue and work on our country. I don't think, in my terms, it would be disrespectful at all. We need to pull together, which over the last 12 years since the Bush/Cheney and Obama/Biden 'reigns', there is such a lacking in a government FOR the PEOPLE!!! 'nough said.

CONNECTING TO:

          Wednesday Hodgepodge

§ Can U Guess?

Take a look, before reading my post, can you figure out who this is?

[all in jest] 'Tis a sad day to report that this beautiful gal is all washed up!! After over 5 decades of giving us pleasure and entertainment and friendship over the years, her eyes haunted us amongst the refuse found on Whitecap Beach this week along the Texas Coast!!! B. Millicent Roberts, from Willows, Wisconsin was born to Ms. Ruth H in 1959.  The beloved one came to a broken end; her perfect model-like beauty was dragged and tortured, she finally succumbed and vanquished in the turmoil of currents.

With her allure, and our attraction to the celebrity of her long time standing in cultural America, she blossomed with a popular following; dedicated were we that we all dreamed of having an hour-glass figure and milk and honey complexion just like she retained and possessed over the years. At the beginning of her career, she became a teen-aged model. And throughout her ambitious and lustrous life, she held as many as 125 different jobs. With over 70 fashion designers producing her famous gowns and every-day clothes; using 105 million yards of fabric to date. Tho weighing in at only 7.25 ounces, and at the time of her demise this week, reaching a height of a mere 11.5 inches tall, she was a giant to most!!!

Close relatives are her parents, Ruth and Elliot H...co-founders of Ma-tell™ Creashuns.  Being a breast cancer victim herself, Ruth also was the inventor of "Nearlee Me" a natural looking and feeling prosthesis for women who needed her invention after having mastectomies.  B. Millicent's longtime boyfriend, K. Sean Carson mourns her life in their dreamhouse they've shared since 1961...

[original photo before it was cropped for macro monday]

CONNECTING TO:

Boyfriend

Ruth and Elliot H

Ms.B

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MONDAY MORSELS

First off, I wrote the above 'storyline' for fun...and for that, I am not going to apologize or post anything in regards to it being offensive, if it bothers you that I tried to make it humorous, that's your personal problem. [names have been abbreviated to protect those who may still be 'alive'] So...in continuing with this 'story'....I just gotta share this conversation today with you who read the eulogy I created in jest above after I saw this on the beach and photographed it. Okay, are you ready?

Me: "Bud? You have to proof read this article for me if you will".

Bud sitting down at the computer desk: "It's not scrolling!!"

Me: "Use the scroll bar on the right side".  [thinking to myself "He needs a book computers for dummies"]

silence as he reads and scrolls at the same time [thinking to myself "What a concept!  Being able to do two things at once"]....

When he's done and re-enters the living room, he looks to me and asks:

"So, who died?"

OMG!!!!!!!!!

...[thinking to myself  "Are you serious?"]

...after I stumbled back a bit and showed a sign of true disbelief for the fact he couldn't figure out who I was writing about, he started to grin....those dimples in his cheeks told me he was pulling my leg all the while. He said:
"GOTCHA".

I walked away mumbling "Turd".


_ _ _

PS...you'd be surprised what kind of junk is found on the beaches. I won't even get into it but let's just say, sometimes, it's items that are found in bedroom waste baskets and drawers. LOL Okay, 'nough said. But I did want to answer the question DJan asked in her comment yesterday on my goggles shadow shot [also found on the beach] ---No, I didn't arrange it, the photo is just as I found it. I wouldn't touch that stinking seaweed if they paid me!!!! :o) Even when I go hunting for shells and drift seeds, I'm wearing latex gloves.