Hi everyone,
Now that’s a strange title, isn’t it? You’ll see in a minute… but first I wanted to share how heartbreaking and tragic and vulnerable so many of you were in what you shared about your families. I can’t imagine what some of you have endured and are still in the thick of things even today. I’m so sorry and my heart breaks for you.
I’m glad the comments ended on some wonderful thoughts from Dorothy about what she did… going out with friends for tea and then sharing stories and memories of their mothers. I would LOVE to have done that with my sisters… We have lots of stories we share about my mom and they never seem to get old no matter how many times we tell them.
Okay, today… tomatoes and tea cups… what in the world?
Well, my hubby’s hands are featured in the “tomatoes” portion of this post… he didn’t want to be in the pictures at all, but I thought it would be okay just to show his hands. He has been working a little at a time trying to get his garden ready to plant what he wanted in it.
This year he said he only wanted to plant tomatoes and Japanese cucumbers… (or maybe it was English cucumbers… I can’t remember!)
He likes to plant them in 55 gallon drums he cut in half so they are off the ground and much easier to tend to. This is what they look like… back by the hens.
He has his own concoction of potting soil and mulch and lime for each drum.
He planted his tomatoes on the west side and the cucumbers on the east side… he’ll add the fence grids once the cucumbers get a little bigger… You can see them in that first picture.
So this is what they looked like after he had the plants planted…the hens were curious…
We usually have tomatoes by July, so we’ll see…
Okay… now the tea cups part… actually it’s just ONE tea cup…
The other day I was in Goodwill again and they had some pretty little tea cups and dishes on display for Mother’s Day. I saw this one and thought it was awfully sweet… and then I had this thought… “That looks like it would fit Ten Pings head.” I guess I can’t ever look at dishes and cups without thinking of my dolls.
Well, it was only $1.34 and I thought if it didn’t sit on her head right, I could return it.
I came home and “tried it on Ten Ping’s head” and thought it would work…
You go by the inside measurements, not the outside… unless you need it to be bigger… and then you put your hat braid on the “outside” of the cup, and see how that works.
Well, by looking at the tea cup sitting on Ten Ping’s head, I was pretty sure it would be fine… for a bucket hat like I recently made for the Little Darlings…
…and then decorated for Emmie…
Here is another look at the tea cup on Ten Ping’s head.
So I added some saran wrap to the inside of the cup and started pressing some air clay in the inside portion of the cup… all the way up to the brim…
I’ve had it in the tea cup for a few days and just took it out tonight… it’s still a little soft on the top of the hat mold, so I’ll let it get some air and dry out on a table…
When it dries completely, I’ll sand down those little heart impression where the clay poked through.
When it’s all dry, I’ll see if my vision for a hat like this will work for Ten Ping. I might have to make her a dress for tea, since the idea came from a tea cup!
We shall see…
See you all tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
First of all, a belated happy birthday to Anne!
Rosemary, I replied to your comment in yesterday’s blog.
George’s garden is coming along! Soon you’ll be showing us pictures of the luscious, ripe produce, Jeanne!
That is quite an ornate teacup; I’m glad you were able to use it to make a hat form for TenPing! Now we wait to see what color straw you’ll use for the first hat off this form! Maybe something that will go with one of the pairs of shoes you made recently???
I’m happy to see that George is doing so well, and has started his veggie garden again, Jeanne! Those pots make it much easier than planting in the ground, since it is so wet and hard to plant just anything here! I still have not gotten all my annuals planted, due to the soggy soil! We certainly will be waiting to see just how well they come along!
That teacup is just darling! It looks like the saucer is attached to the cup! Is it small enough to place on a doll table for a picture of a tea party? Maybe more for the 18 inchers?
What a darling hat that will be, and I can’t wait to see how you decorate it and what you will sew for it (dress)!
I always check the previous day’s blog in the morning, since I go to bed on the early side, and miss the last few comments a lot of the time, so I am up to date on everything. I too, am so sorry to hear about the trials and tribulations of some of our sofa sisters regarding strained relationships with their families. I hope and pray that you all find peace and somehow get back together if only several times a year or just communicating more.
The tea cup reminded me of my nephew Justin. Someone gave my mom a piece of pierced Lenox china, a vase, I think, for a small bunch of artificial flowers. Little Justin thought it was irritating. “Of what use is it?” he kept saying, since the piercing meant it couldn’t hold water. When we made Christmas stockings for my 7 nephews, he said the same. Of what use was a single felt stocking that didn’t fit? This teacup obviously can’t hold tea, but you have found a use for it.
When Justin was 6 months old, he and his family visited me on the East Coast, and we went to Washington, to the National Archives, and saw the Declaration of Independence. I explained it to Justin, who was looking intelligent and interested, so the guard told him about the container for the document, which, in case of an attack, would take the Declaration deep underground for safety. I have always been convinced that this was the event that inspired Justin’s career choice — he’s now a respected engineer. figuring out how to make useful things, like safer roads.
So interesting about Justin, Marilyn. I can see how his interest could bring him to become and engineer. Thank you for sharing,
Jeanne, I love that tea cup and can think of more that one use for it. I certainly looks as if it will be perfect for making hats, but I would also thing of a way to grow some small flowers in it. You would have to line it with something to put the dirt and flowers in, but it is so lovely, it needs to be used.
Looking forward to the hat/hats.
Also looking forward to George’s garden!
Good morning. It is pouring rain here!
TenPing looks so cute., but her expression with the glass on her head, she looks as if (squinting eye rolling) she was busy playing happily and summoned to come over for a fitting.
This hat is a cutie! I love the fit.
hubby’s garden is incredibly wonderful with those raised containers. Such a brilliant idea.
and keeps the bunnies out. I love all of then hens gathered together too
Thank you all so much for sharing your family weirdness. My family as I was growing up was not like this. We valued each other. I am sure your families were the same. As an olden RN, I will not go into the psychological roots of this behavior. Suffice to say, men most often learn from their mothers. eh-hem!
We are fortunate to have love appreciation and support from friends.
It is best to continue serving God, being kind and having good fun with friends.
Again, thank you all for your kind responses, every now and then it is good to”spill it” and share. Kind of like Grief shared is grief halved…. or something.
Jeanne, that tea cup is adorable. One day when you are done with it, you could fill it with goodies and give to a friend.
I hope all of you have a productive day, sort of… I am feeling a tiny bit peppy.
I’m getting a real kick out of Jeanne’s hat molds. This one has got to be the topper. 🙂 Little Ten with that china cup balanced on her head is so funny.
Thanks so much for sharing George’s tomato crop to be. I really enjoy seeing his soil mixing and the plants all ready to grow. Unfortunately, our meager tomatoes are still in their pots, but we have hopes that planting will happen maybe today. 🙂
Saturday, was rather a disaster around here. Got up and found that we had only lukewarm water in the shower. Not fun. Thought it was a problem with the mixer valve. But, it wasn’t. The water heater had gone out and was flashing codes. So, we looked them up and found out it was some failure. Called a reputable plumbing place recommended and other person talked to a very nice person. She looked up the problem codes and told other person that besides not being able to come out until Monday, that that part had been hard to find lately. Might taker longer than until Monday. She also said that they had been having lots of calls on our model. Interesting. Then, we added up the costs. $199. just to come out when we already knew about the code problem. Then, the hourly repair rate. Part costing a couple of hundred if they can get it, etc. So, even though our water heater was only seven years old, we decided to just go and buy a new one. It was a good brand too, Rheem, but nothing lasts like it used to anymore. Of course, I was working on potato salad for Mother’s Day. Other person took off for Home Depot to pick up a new water heater that would fit in our small closet location, and I kept on the potato salad. Pause… Potato salad was about done when other person arrived back water heater in tow. Managed to get the salad in the refrigerator and start in cleaning up without any hot water. Then, I couldn’t see other person by the truck so went down to help with pulling the new heater out of the truck. Other person was next door with the dolly. Not one of ours cute ones, but the kind that you move with. Ha ha. Anyway, the tires were flat and our inflator wasn’t powerful enough so fortunately, our neighbor with his compressor was inflating the flat tires. When done, he asked if he could help haul it up to the front door. Remember those thirteen steps? Although, we usually haul heavy stuff across the lawn to the patio and up only a couple of steps, his help was greatly appreciated by me. Anyway, very heavy 127 pound water heater was finally up the steps and onto the porch. Thanks Michael. Then, the second problem, draining the old water heater hit a snag. It wouldn’t drain. We had the hose connected through the dining room, out the slider, off the deck, and down to the lawn in the backyard so the water would at least not go to waste. More Googling. Finally, other person disconnected the line that usually doesn’t need to be and it started draining. Airlock. It was about two o’clock by then, and we were both tired already. While it drained, I made a couple of sandwiches, and we sat down for the first time all day. All that moving stuff out of the way and finding tools, up and down the steps from the garage, etc. Finally, the tank was empty, so with the help of the dolly, we managed to get the tank out onto the deck where it remained as we were too tired to try to move it down the front steps. The install of the new tank was a piece of cake pretty much. Except for the gas leak which was quickly turned off and connection retaped. Job done. But, then, all the clean up began. I think we finished up about seven. Not fun, but the thought of no hot water gave us energy I guess. We figured that having a new one installed not until Monday, would have cost around $2500.00 or more, so our $700. new tank was a deal. So glad that is done. Now, we need a trip to the dump to get rid of the old tank, the old toilet from our last fix it job, and probably an old bbq at the other house. I’ll tell you, that hot shower on Mother’s Day felt so good. 🙂
Dear Joy, good for you! It’s not a dolly caper but I liked it just as much. You are so inventive. I would have been running around saying, “oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.” (laugh)
Hmmm, and speaking of dollies, now you have “saved” money you can use to buy more (smile).
Happy May!
Now, that is a fabulous thought. If only, Ruby Red was selling anything right now. Maybe soon though. 🙂
My Goodness, dear Joy, you are the other person are the hardest workers I know! Y’all are amazing. I hope this water heater lasts for a LOOONNNG time.
And Dorothy beat me to it, Joy. Yes, the money you saved can be put toward more dolls. I certainly think you deserve one. ((Hugs))
Kind of late, but thanks so much Laura. 🙂
Loving the teacup. Immediately thought of the pink heart tulle from Rebecca. Pink roses, hearts, tea dress. Maybe as a prop for fashion friends or AG girls.i think as an overlay on a sleeveless dress some pearls?
. It’s dreary here today and I’m having a hard time getting motivated today. Have a great day all.
Dear Jeanne, I love how creatively your mind works, turning teacups into hats. It’s like in Cinderella where the pumpkin gets turned into a coach.
You have definitely created a “full service” doll atelier. You can “equip” a doll literally from head to toes!
The only thing left, of course, is for you to begin making doll houses (smile).
Happy May!
I have created a full day of projects but there is so much to read today. First it is good to see George planning his summer garden. A homegrown tomato is worth the work. July seems a long time away though. Ah Ten Ping again. She always tugs at my heart and the tea cup seems just for right for a hat mold.
Rosemary, sorry to send you the rainy day; we were drenched all day yesterday now it is your turn. The sun has returned but it is just heating all that damp earth. Well I do have a degree in psychology but it is not helping me understand all of the family dysfunction. My sister is not allowed any contact with her grandchildren and for no good reason. My children, now in their 40’s, have good marriages but have consciously decided to not have children. I was feeling very sorry for myself until I read all of your stories. I do know that saying that grief shared is grief halved, so true.
Thank you Joy for giving us knowledge about the tepid water in the older home we bought. The mixer valve! We have to run the water in the shower for 30 minutes before it is warm.
Back to my project – spring cleaning the doll/guest room. It was not supposed to take all day!
Don’t want to steer you wrong, but the first thing to do is to check the shower head. I just finished cleaning the one here and it was full of crud like the other faucets etc. in the house. Soaked it in vinegar and cleaned all the little holes with a needle and put it back on and the shower should be perfect now with warm and and a nice spray from the clean shower head. Run the water first without the head to get out anything else that may have built up. If not that, then it gets more complicated. Glad you don’t have a water heater problem. 🙂
Great plan! I saw a reel on Instagram showing how to make that happen. 🚿
I love the adorable tea cup but wouldn’t have given a thought to using it as a hat mold. I guess my mind doesn’t head in that direction. But I’ve bought some straw and one hat hold for a bonnet for the smaller dolls so maybe in the future I’ll begin to think that way. At the price of the molds it’s a good trend to get into.
Thanks for sharing George’s veggie garden. Wishing y’all great success. Nothing like fresh veggies. David and Sean have been working on their crops for a couple months now. They have some planted outside and some tomatoes and peppers (both Jalapeno and Nadapeno) growing hydroponically inside David’s shop. They also have a ton of basil growing outside. Our cherry tomatoes are already in abundance and our other tomatoes (several types) should be coming in within a week or so. Our cucumbers also. The idea of growing some inside is to avoid the ebb and flow of the weather since we lost so much during Beryl last year and also to allow them to grow longer since the hotter it gets outside the more it’s hard to keep things producing. It also limits the bug problem and the problem with the birds pecking holes in the tomatoes and knocking them to the ground before we can pick them.
Regarding my comment of yesterday, it’s true what they say about attitude being everything. I went back and re-read my missive regarding my life trials and said good grief is that really my life. Now I know why I’ve always considered my maternal grandparents my sanity. What I wrote is only half the story and my grandparents seemed a bastion of sanity to me while I was growing up in a crazy home. They went through so many things in their life among them having three children in the miliary at one time (thankfully they all came home), living through the Depression and losing their oldest daughter at 13 during the same time from septicemia she got from infected tonsils. It was only a year later penicillin was discovered and the infection could have been cured early on. They were people of faith and always had a positive outlook. I take after them. I’m a person of strong faith and through it all I stay positive. But I did have to laugh when I was finished reading. In the telling it seems almost comical. Like I’m writing a novel a la Erma Bombeck. I can’t help pondering why anyone would want to create so much drama in other people’s lives. but I seem to attract these types of people in mine. The really comical part of it is I try to avoid them every way I can. In truth Stephanie and her family have been such people and I avoided them for years. Now she ends up being my daughter-in-law. I think the Lord is trying to teach me something, I only wish I knew what it is exactly. I’m terrible at hints.
Well, I think we both need a long bubble bath and time to decompress. Oh, I forgot. The bathtub here has a clogged drain. Another project. 🙂
Oh, my, what heartbreaking stories Rosemary, Sissy, Anne, Joy, and Barbara. My heart goes out to each of you.
I’m sure George is looking forward to his tomatoes. We are looking forward to getting ours int he ground as well.
What a beautiful teacup. Even if it had not fit her head I wouldn’t have returned it. I think it would be lovely with a real or faux tealight inside.
Thank you, Laura. Yes, I am sorry for the loss of contact from my first granddaughters, but my sons and their wives are very caring, and my young, 13 year old granddaughter does face time me 3 or 4 times a month. I do most of the talking but at least she calls. My sons do visit a couple of times a year to help around the house and have some “Mama cooking”.