My Life's Story (of the past few months)

I have missed you all so terribly much.  It pains me to see how I've neglected you so.  But when life interferes with my budding writing career, how can I merely wave it aside?
Enough.
Let me bring you up to date.
Since I left you, I've gone through my Sherlock phase, my Firefly phase, my River Phoenix phase, my Tap Dancing phase, and I've currently reached the Leonardo Dicaprio status.
Don't worry, I do this every year.  It's what gets my through Algebra 2.  We've also added three little chicks to our flock.  Well, not chicks (anymore), more like over exuberant boosts of life.
Firstly, a Barred Rock named, what else?  Sherlock.  She's curious, wonderful, and just laid three eggs in the past 12 hours.  I'm currently looking up why.
Next in the pecking order is our Rhode Island Red, Shrink.
I didn't want to name her that, so my mom said it would be her standby title until we found something more suiting.
We didn't.
She's our bright, spritely girl with about as much pluck as you could dream of wanting in a chicken.  I love that darling.
And last, there's this Ameraucana named Mitzie.  She's afraid of the dark.  And the light.  And Sherlock.  And noises.  To escape her fears, she jumps onto my back anytime I'm around.  An adorable sweetheart; yes.  But I do way more laundry than I prefer.

We still have our old three girls too.  Tillie (7 year old Ameraucana) is brooding like crazy over the new arrivals. She feels that nobody loves her, and goes off sulking whenever she can.  Millie is a dear, as always, and MayBelle is...herself.

From the beginning of June to the start of July, I had an awful case of the flu.  And for roughly a month afterward, I was still coughing (which was reduced by eating violets and chickweed.  Yes....) and needing to sit down every five minutes to preserve my delicate state.  But, to keep me amused, I entered our library summer challenge.  There were over two hundred projects to completely, one of which was "Make a maze for your pet."  I happily did so.
Millie was a champion, making her way through the difficult task.

Then there was the other challenge.  The "make 1,000 cranes challenge."  You have no idea how much persuading it took to get my mom hooked on that one.
I wanted to do it because it was something that no other challenger in their right mind would do.  I would get up at 6:00 AM and fold cranes on my bedroom floor for four hours every. single. day.  Mumsie took pity on her poor daughter and consented to making a few.
We reached 1,000 within a week.

All in all, I won the grand prize, and I had never felt so lucky in my life.
I placed fourth on the leader board, but the real winner was drawn from a hat (out of the top 30).  On that fateful day, I was chopping onions.  I heard the phone.  I didn't move.  I continued chopping onions.  Oh how little did I know that I would soon become the owner of; "an iPad!  You won, Sydney!"
Needless to say, with those words crackling over our deranged answering machine, I stopped chopping onions and quickly picked up the phone.  The lovely librarians presented me with my treasure a week later.

And that has brought us to now.  I have procured a Zooter (a ritzy kick scooter that can be served as a dignified form a transportation) because my brother got one.  He begged me and my mother to buy our own so we could all go on a family zooting.  Dear old dad didn't buy one, but I have a feeling that won't last long.

I know this extra long post has made up for the ones I neglected to write over the summer.  Thank you for your understanding.  And do post comments! Which do you like better, River or Leo?
Syddie

Cue's Tardis

Her name is Cue, and she has a Tardis on her shirt.  

Automatically, this shoots her social life to the top.  Tardis shirts are cool.  

Especially when the Tardis is slanted.

And it's hand stitched.

Oh yes, she is very cool.
And did you happen to notice the little bow tie on her leggings?  

That was my idea.

I stumbled upon this smart brilliant plan a few mornings ago.  Please, do not misunderstand me.  

I'm not a big Doctor Who fan, but I realize that one must appear to be one.

Doctors are cool.  And so is my doll.

I find the plots from the Who episodes to be quite weak, and if it weren't for the Doctor and his many witty sayings, I would not have made a Tardis for Cue.  

No, not at all.

Besides, Doctors aren't half as interesting as consultant detectives.  

Capes are Spiffy

My darling brother tagged along with me to "The Fort" last Saturday.  He and I were there to snap some pictures of my doll, Julia (#24) and the scenery.  What a good sport.
In the end, he had more ones of me than the doll, and I had more ones of blurry bad lighting than the fort.  But it was still very fun.
Especially when it came to, The Cape.
In "The Factor's House," for as long as I've volunteered, there's been a cape hanging up in the entryway.  I initially thought it belonged to someone and kept my fingers off.  But after a year of just sitting on a hook, I swung it around my shoulders and took a spin.

Golly, that thing swished.  I want one.  

That one.

My sewing skills are lacking, however; especially when it comes to pretty lined capes.

The wallpaper in the house is tremendous, making an elegant background, too.  Not that you can really see much of it.  

And for fun, the picture he messed around with.  I like how my hair looks quite reddish, considering  it's much more of a blond without the camera.  

More to come about our adventure at "The Fort!" 

1940s Jess; Re-naming help!

I'm to summon all .2 of you reading my blog to my aid.  

I have a Jess.  She's perfect.  Gorgeous hair, lovely eyes, spectacular sense of humor, but...she begged for a new name.  She feels that this one is unsuitable for her life ahead with me.  

Unfortunately, I do have a bit of a problem when it comes to new girls.  I feel as though I simply must give them a new name, even if I like their original one, or else they aren't really mine.

Silly?  Probably.  

Tillie came over to check her out.

Still, it's a fact I can't change.  

Really, the more I look, the more I adore.  

You too?

What a surprise. 

December Baby, my Drawing

You all really know how to make me giddy.  I logged on and discovered I had two more followers!  Huzzah!  Time for a celebratory post.

Yes, well, I've been drawing lately.  

When I was 4, I discovered colored pencils, and the wonder of how precise they were compared to crayons.  Then I graduated to a No 2. Pencil when I turned 8, learning that when you color in pictures, the masterpiece loses some of it's classic style.  

Now, I use my finger.  Smudging is really quite useful, and fingers are the best way to go.  

I finished this drawing yesterday evening.  My Grammie is showing my aunt and uncle their baby sister  for the first time; 1950s.

This was more of a challenge than I had originally considered.  Drawing random people is easy; drawing faces you know like the back of your hand is not.  Still, it turned out well.  I especially loved sketching their coats and hats.  The styles back then were so perfect, and I love the fabric of my Grammie's coat.  

I need a coat, and a hood, just like that.

Re-Enacting at The Fort

                         Tomorrow I'll be venturing out into the 1850s.  Sound fun?  Yeah, it is.

Lately I've gotten into historical re-enactment at "The Fort." 

Tomorrow I'll be giving a tour of the kitchen while in character.  It should be quite entertaining for everyone watching...  

 But really, there's nothing else is like it.  I learn so much about life from back then.  

  And I'm lucky enough to be a part of it.  To be a part of the people there with me.  

Colds are Pathetic

When you get sick, colds are the most pathetic.
They like to sneak up behind you, weasel their way into all your plans, then make an evil laugh and pull you just low enough to feel miserable, but not quite low enough for people to feel sorry for you.
What an annoying little bug.
Still, am I going to let this get me down?  Yes.
At least I was planning to.  Until I heard my father walking up the stairs, being the chicken delivery man.
I'm holding Millie, and I feel quite content.  Funny how moods can change like that.

If you're under the weather, I hope you have a chicken to hug.  They make things better.

Not a Bug or a Game

Hello to my wonderful and loyal readers.  I have good news for you all.  A new addition has been made to my dolly family.  Actually, the doll itself is old and so is the wig.  But the combination is new and quite brilliant.

My lovely Mumsie presented me with a package a few days ago.  Quickly ripping it open, I came upon a Nellie wig from an ebay seller, in mint condition.  Overjoyed and eager, I immediately tore off the unglued, heinous ripoff wig on my bald Kit and slipped on this new, glorious halo of bobbed red hair.

My original name of choice was Ginger, to be called Ginny for short.  But then, two fantastic people came up with two separate suggestions.  Tennyson, and Cricket.  It took me a bit to decide, but I landed on the bug.  Cricket is an awesome name with a curious quality.  

Cricket told me she would love to travel the world and that she has a very obnoxious older sister.  Okay, not obnoxious, perfect, wich is just as bad.  

She likes bright colors and wild animals.  Boots, their rescued cat, being the exception.  The two had an unfortunate run-in.  You'll have to ask one or the other about it sometime, though I'm sure you'll get a slightly different story depending on which one you talk to.

She faithfully writes in her diary and has mentioned she may share some entries if you promise not to tell what you've read to Ramey (her sister).

I think Cricket is a very interesting little girl.  

But I don't know her very well...

 yet.  

The Perfect Setting

It being my birthday tomorrow, I decided to treat myself to some doll fun this afternoon.  With our neighbors playing groovy music to the sound of their hammer strikes (they're constructing something), I knew it was the perfect setting.
Oh, and don't be fooled by the dolls' appearance   They were pretending it was spring when I snatched them out and made them stand on the driveway in 30º weather.

                                 Aren't they cute?  Yes, that's what they want you to think.                                                           I'm still having a problem with naming Saige.  I'm deciding between Andie, London, Ramey, and perhaps, Blizzard.

Oh, and notice my beautiful braids?  They're cool.  They have four parts.

                     
                             
                                  Cozi thought she looked pretty spiffy in her homemade shirt.

                    

This hat Saige's wearing was a pain to make.  My mother had bought me the original one from an unknown seller.  I wanted more.  I was sure it would be a breeze to replicate.  My version turned out well...if you don't look too closely.

And MayBelle wanted to grace you with her presence once again.

 

Frosty Dolls

I honestly thought venturing outside with two dolls during the frosty morning would be a good, fun activity.  How could I know that Saige and Cozi (Caroline) had been scheming?  My fingertips nearly froze off as I tried to get their footing stable.  Saige kept sneering and cackling, and Cozi smiled sweetly.  I'd get one posed and the other would fall into her.  On purpose.

                  Their long, pioneer dresses aided the fun as I couldn't see what their feet were up to. 

^ She did this to her hair.  I didn't touch it.

Still, it was enjoyable once we were back in the house.  I do like my pictures. 

Saige's Debut

To avoid the stampede of hyper girls and frazzled parents, my mom and I journeyed to American Girl Place today instead of on the first.  Saige was there in all her glory and splendor.  Yes, and so was her beach ball large balloon.  Quite frankly, I was impressed by the thing, and would have taken it home if it were not for the lack of space in my closet sized bedroom.

The idea of suspending it from my ceiling and devising a pulley-system really appeals to me.  

I hunted through box after box of New Mexican beauties to find just the right one, because, you know, they are all so different.

Most of her collection turned me off when it came to style, but seeing the paint set made me gleeful.  Oh AG, how you do torture me with plastic easels and miniature brushes where you to can Paint the Sky.  Unfortunately, they were out of stock.  

I'll be taking more photos tomorrow if the weather says so, and hopefully will get some up of my Saige.  Her name will not stay, though her personality might.  I'm a softy for artists who have grandmas with chickens.