Breaking Out the Miniatures & Props

First Post of the Day

During our Saturday morning gathering in my office (a tradition I have come to love), the girls made their final decisions as to what models they wanted, several of which I said could go home to Tennessee with them.

Kate with her dearly loved Zulu and the 1997 Toys R Us black pearl unicorn foal, (heading to Tennessee), and the 1998 blue Toys R Us Pegasus (staying a little longer with me but has her name on his tag for "when the time comes.")

Susie selected the Toys R Us white pearl unicorn foal and the 1995 JCP SR Serenity Set buckskin foal "who has such a comforting eye" to go home with her while Cosmus' tag says "Susie" and will go home another day.

It makes me really happy that the girls want these pieces and that we have had some time to make memories together with them, memories that I think will have great meaning to the girls in the years to come.

And then I did something I have never done before - I pulled out my show miniatures, props, and dolls, and let them play with them. 

I did hold back Circus Girl and Little Lynn, my two Anne Field dolls, but I let the girls play with the Breyer dolls.

 

They could not believe their eyes! 

I simply sat back at my desk and let them have at it.

And did they ever!

I only had one miniature table, so Susie flipped over a horse trough and turned it into one for her doll.

I was surprised when I saw this  horse and rider pair. I knew Kate had carefully removed Tahoe from the shelf (I'd taught both girls how to do that), but I thought she'd put him back after adding her name to his tag.

I didn't realize that she'd added a rider to his back and was using him as part of her scene.

But I didn't say anything and continued to let her play with him. (And she is very careful with my model horses.) When she moved on to another model, I quietly set him aside.

The play was very creative and, Tahoe-surprise aside, I enjoyed watching the girls create and make up stories as they played.

We all took a break to grab breakfast and get ready for the day, and then we headed into the sewing room.

It was time to perform surgery on Mercy.

Stay 'tooned!

This is Our Molly (Part 2)

I am almost done wrapping up the life of a dog who held all our hearts in her sweet paws. 

Continued from yesterday.

Mama & Me

Molly warmed up to me as time went on. Especially after moving in with Lisa and Millie, we saw a change in her. She was calmer, more relaxed, and, most importantly, she began tolerating, then accepting, and finally, seeking us out for attention. 

She loved to put her head in my hand and just rest it there.

These are some of my favorite photos of her - the shy, scared girl who wanted my love and gave me hers.

When she was at our home, she liked to stay close. A far cry from running away as she used to do.

"You taking a nap, Grammy?"

"Are you writing, Grammy? Oh, and sorry that my tail knocked over your horses. I just HAVE to wag it whenever I see you, you know."

"Hey, Grammy! Need any help today in the sewing room?"

"Just checking on you. You've sure been in here a long time and I've missed you."

"As a matter of fact, yes. Yes, I do need both Pepper's and my beds to get comfy. Thanks for understanding."

"I've been lying here all morning waiting for you to finish cooking whatever is making those lovely smells of beeswax and cinnamon, and you tell me now that I can't eat them??"

"Surprise! We thought you'd never come out of the little room, so we decided to wait for you in the bedroom."

"Sleepovers at Grammy and Boompa's are just the best. Lights out, Grammy! We are all ready!"

Molly & Lisa

Four happy faces, all on their way to a sleepover at Lisa's.

Lisa always claimed that she "lost another dog" when she groomed Mama.

Millie and Molly visit Trouble, Diablo, Abby, Sultanna, and Hokey.

Mama's "circus dog" pose as we called it. She would rear up on her hind legs, sit back on her haunches, and then reach out to Lisa. Look at the love in those eyes!

No, she isn't falling over backwards. Mama was pretty "bottom heavy," if you know what I mean. LOL

As Molly got older, her circus dog pose became too difficult and she stopped doing it. I'm so glad I got photos of it.

Just Our Mama

"Singing the old Carpenters' song, Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft is NOT funny!"

"Thank you. I feel much better with the cone of shame off. After all, it was just an ear biopsy. No need for that silly thing."

"Speaking of no need for something, are you serious, Lisa??"

"If you are going to lie on the couch and read, Lisa, I will stay by your side."

"My bed is so comfy."

"I hope you always remember how much I loved you all."

We will, sweet girl. We will. And how much we loved YOU.

Mila's Gasp-Worthy Surprises of Love

Continued from yesterday...

There were three gasp-worthy moments as I discovered all of Mila's sweet expressions of love and support.

This lockable cabinet is full of all my Freeman-Leidys and a whole lot of other fragile and vintage models.  Usually I keep it locked and the key put on top of the cabinet.

But the key is iffy, and it can be a struggle to get it placed in just the right spot to open the cabinet. So, sometimes I just leave the key inserted in the lock after locking it. Easy peasy for me the next time I want to open that door.

The gasp I let out when I spied that piece of hot pink notepaper inside the cabinet could probably be heard throughout my neighborhood. 

Mila had slid a note behind a ballerina and under the hoof of one of the Metlox Drafters I got from the sale of Karen Grimm's collection. 

Carefully I removed the ballerina and then slid the note out from underneath the drafter's hoof.

Another note from "the horses." And thankfully everything looked fine. I checked the Freeman Leidys and then glanced down the shelves to be sure that all was okay.

And let out another gasp.

Oh, gosh, another note, folded and tucked into the front legs of my DeBrekht Circus Pony. (The three legged Animal Artistry model was broken by me, not Mila, and is awaiting repair.)

You don't see these very often. They are made in Santa Ana, California

and mine is #0006/1500 and was produced in 2003.  This is the only DeBrekht piece I have ever seen.

I set him on the top shelf for a photo and then retrieved his note.

A compliment from "the horses!" 

But the final gasp was probably the biggest of all.

The note on the outside of the minis cabinet looked pretty harmless and innocuous. But I could also see a bright pink note on the second shelf.

Oh gosh, there are so many fragile, old, and tippy pieces in that cabinet. Almost all Hagen Renakers, with a sizable amount of them from Nancy Falzone's personal collection.

Deep breath, Lynn. Deep breath.

After all, she's been holding pieces from your collection for years. She knows how to be careful.

The folded note was on top of the oldest HR minis in the case - complete families of the earliest HR minis, all from Nancy.

Carefully I retrieved the note and opened it. And then I started to laugh. And then I got teary. Mila's sweetness at its finest, coupled with a healthy dose of tact. (That girl is growing up!)

Grammy, 

In the far, far future when you join Heavenly Father, can I take care of your miniature figures cabinet that this note is in. And maybe some other horses... Put this note under the couch on the main floor when you have your answer and it will wait for me until my next visit. 💜

Love, Mila

P.S. Look on the back side

So, basically another "when you are dead, Grammy" request from Mila to have my collection, only now she is phrasing it more gently and tactfully. 

Oh, my heart. That girl. Of course, she can have the mini figures cabinet. I will let her know that some pieces are already spoken for, but that she is welcome to have all that are not. (And hopefully, it will be in the far, far future!)

The back side of the note that I need to fill out and tuck under the couch in the living room.

What a thoughtful thing to do for me; I loved finding all the notes and reading them, although were I not already totally grey, I think I would have added some more grey hair from the location of the last couple of notes!

But Mila was not only thoughtful, she was very careful as well. 

My minis are going to be in good hands in that far, far future. And that makes me very, very happy.

Thanks, Mila. I love you. xo

"We Owe Our Equestrian People for Our Circuses"

My favorite living history friend is Carol Jarboe. 

A retired English teacher from Kentucky, we share not only a love of history, but of teaching, horses, and more.

She has several historical personas that she appears as, but her most beloved by the crowds is Maggie, an indentured Irish woman with a sharp wit and tongue. 

Sometimes she is so believable that people offer to help her. A man once drew her aside, said he was a dentist, and offered to fix her teeth. He was quite surprised when she shared that she actually had all her teeth and was wearing a retainer that made it look as though they were in bad shape!

Proof! Carol, me, Carol's husband John, and Lisa at last year's Feast set-up.

Carol is doing research for a new presentation on how 18th century folks entertained themselves when their work was done. And she told me a remarkable story, one that is equestrian related, about how the circus came to the United States. 

You know me, a horsey girl all the way (plus one who collects circus horses), so I asked if I could record what she had to say. Carol was agreeable but said she was still doing some fact checking on a name or two. She will let me know if she got one wrong.

Here's what she shared:

Pretty interesting, isn't it? I had never thought about the angle of the horse's body as a rider jumped on and how important the size of the ring was to facilitate that.

Carol is planning on doing this new presentation at this year's Feast. I hope I can get away for it and hear what she has to say.