Hi everyone,
If you read the story from Dorothy in PA and the World to Charlotte a few days ago, you were probably smiling at the end. (Dorothy’s doll, Charlotte Noelle, was discussing Charlotte’s broken toe and this is how it went…)
I thought I’d show the picture Dorothy sent so you could see Charlotte Noelle and imagine her talking to Dorothy as she does.
Dear Jeanne,
Hello.
As promised, I am sending a photo of Selah. (She was the doll Dorothy had Joyce Mathews paint to look like this doll… the one I liked.)
Dorothy was disappointed because she thought she didn’t look like this doll at all.
Anyway, you can see the dolls below that belong to Dorothy.
Selah is on the left; Lila is in the center, and the mischievous Charlotte Noelle is on the right.
Dear Charlotte,
Here is a Charlotte Noelle story that might cheer you a little.
I told Charlotte Noelle that your toe was doing better and that you were following the doctor’s orders. She said that you should try ice cream. I said you certainly could not put ice cream on your toe.
She looked at me like I had lost my marbles. She said with that I know all things look, “Not on her toe, Mama. She should eat it.”
I asked, “How can eating ice cream help Auntie Charlotte’s toe?”
She replied, “It’s cold.”
I don’t know why, I didn’t just change the subject then but anyhow, I said, “yes but the cold would not be on her toe, it would be in her mouth.”
Again, I got the poor Mama doesn’t know anything look, as she countered, “Mama, the cold will travel down to her foot. It’s all connected, you know.”
I knew I didn’t have a reply for that. I stepped away just as she was saying, Mama can I have some…” I turned back, “No. Did you make up your bed?”
As she hug her head, defeated temporarily, and moved away, I headed for the kitchen to put on the tea kettle. Honestly, that girl.
Charlotte, I hope this story made you smile. Your namesake is really a little imp, but a cute one.
Then Charlotte Trayer replied to Dorothy…
Oh, Dorothy, I loved your story about Charlotte Noelle! Tell her I do like ice cream, but I don’t have any just now. I will put it on my list for next time, though, as ice cream has never made anything feel Worse, in my opinion! In the meantime, I will put an ice gel pack on my foot to help it feel better. Give her a hug from me!
Then Dorothy in PA and the World replied back to Charlotte Trayer…
Dear Charlotte, I am glad the story made you smile.
I will pass along the hug. I am reluctant to share that you will be buying ice cream, however. Charlotte Noelle will take that as a “sign” that ice cream can be used for medicinal purposes and suddenly acquire an “ailment” that requires immediate attention (laugh).
Hope you feel better in the coming week.
This next part of today’s post is from Charlotte.
Hi Jeanne,
Thought I’d send you some pictures of my special Halloween visitors, in case you need something sometime.
The first one is my oldest grandson, Eric, and his wife, Sarah, with their 2-1/2 year old son, Skyler. I could not have chosen a sweeter family to be part of mine!
Next is a picture of Eric and Skyler with me. Skyler looks a lot like his daddy!
And the last two are just Skyler and me. We talked, and we smooched, and we hugged! He is such a wonderful little boy, and quite tall. He’s already wearing size 5! (His dad is a good 6′ tall, too. I think Skyler might end up taller than Eric, though.)
Cherish those moments with your family, Charlotte! Those little ones grow up SO fast. :o)
Then I also received an email from Suemae, Susette’s Daughter-In-Law, about the service they will be having for Susette.
Hi Jeanne,
Please let us know if you are planning to join us to celebrate Susette’s life on the information below. It is going be a graveside service, we wanted include you on this memorial service.
Warm regards from the Willhite’s family,
Suemae Willhite
A Celebration of Life for Susette Ann Willhite
1941 to 2025
Saturday, November 22, 2025 at 1:30pm
Location:
Montecito Memorial Park and Mortuary
24145 Barton Rd
Loma Linda, CA 92354
(909) 825-3024
Use the Main Gate entrance on Waterman Avenue, Magnolia Lawn, Section 426, Space 3.
Take the Waterman Avenue Exit south from Interstate 10 and that
ends going into Montecito Memorial.
In lieu of Flowers, please donate to:
Doctors Without Borders
40 Rector Street
16th Floor
NY, NY, 10006
I answered and said I wouldn’t be attending… but it was tough to write those few words. California is a LONG way away!
Well, this is my news and show and tell for today!
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
You know, in many ways I think Selah Does look like your doll, Jeanne, but there are some slight differences, I think, and sometimes that’s all it takes to make the doll look quite different indeed! They’re both lovely dolls, each in her own way.
And it’s nice to see that picture of Dorothy’s girls again. You can definitely see a glint of mischief in Charlotte Noelle’s eyes!!
Thanks for sharing Dorothy’s story and our banter back and forth. It’s such fun, having a friend to “play” with!!
Thanks, too, for sharing my pictures. It was Halloween morning that I hurt my foot, so this was an especially nice visit, and I really appreciated it. I don’t know if you can tell but Skyler was an excavator (probably what I would have called a steam shovel when I was a kid)–that’s that part sticking out on the front of his costume.
I won’t be able to attend Susette’s service, either, but thanks for posting the information.
All the talk yesterday of appliances brings to mind my own favorite story. Our house was built in 1968 and a gas dryer (I can’t remember the brand) was installed. Ron worked on gas appliances, furnaces, and gas lines for a living, and he kept that dryer running.
For 56 years. Yup….FIFTY-SIX!! One time he was working on the sparking mechanism, and he had me watch him and write down everything, just in case I needed to do something and he wasn’t here. It was easy to work on–the gas part was all accessed thru a little door on the top of the dryer! Didn’t even have to pull it out unless you had a problem with the drum! But the last time Ron worked on it, he had trouble remembering what it was he should do next. Fortunately, I had my paper with me and was able to give him some prompts, and then he knew what to do. I decided at that point that if the dryer “died” again (he did get it working that time) I would just replace my dryer.
Well, about a month or so after he died, so did the dryer. I went to our local appliance store and told them I was replacing a 56-year-old dryer, and I needed the most basic, simplest, bare-bones dryer they had, no bells and whistles for me! So he showed me two, and I chose the one with the level top. (Who puts a slanted top on a dryer?! Where are you going to stack your clean clothes?!) Maybe that’s the secret, just as for the most basic ones they have, and choose from them. We’ll see, down thru the years, if that logic works!
What a great dryer Ron kept going for so many years. Hope your new one lasts a very long time too.
Loved seeing the Halloween construction crew photos. 🙂
Thank you, Joy. Skyler is such a charming little boy, and his mommy and daddy are the best!!
Dear Charlotte, I think that Selah does look a little like Jeanne’s Natasha as well. They are my favorite Little Darling sculpt.
I agree, Dorothy. I think two or three of my seven LDs are that sculpt. It’s just such a sweet face!
Jeanne, I had read that cute banter between Dorothy and Charlotte this past weekend and thought it was so cute! Thank you for highlighting it again for those who missed it!
Charlotte, how fun to see little Skyler in his Halloween costume! The certainly do look like a happy family and Skyler certainly loves his great granny! Is that your house with those steps? How do you navigate those? Since it looks like just half a staircase, you must live in a split level house?
Jeanne, I too had to decline going to Susette’s memorial service, since how else could we get there besides fly, and what a mess the airlines are in now. I told them I would be there in spirit that day.
As far as Joy’s question of how I like my LG washer and dryer, it is working just fine, and I have no problems at all. I must say, with a front loading washer, you must dry the part around the rubber seal of the door after the last use of the day, to prevent the small amount of water going stagnant and smelling after while. Not hard at all, just use a paper towel to wipe it. That seems to be a problem with all front loading washers, no matter what the brand.
Thanks for the LG info. Our current Whirlpool washer also has that rubber gasket. Everyone I know just leaves the door open after use. Then, it dries out. But that paper towel drying is a great one too. 🙂
Joy, it works much better if you dry with a a paper towel after the last lead of wash, because behind the rubber gasket is a little pool of water at the bottom that really would take awhile to dry. Wiping it after the last load really gets the water out much better than letting it sit and dry on it’s own.
I don’t have a front loading machine but I have heard other people complain about the smell. What a simple fix for that. I’ll pass it along if I hear the problem mentioned again.
Thank you so much Linda; I’m glad you enjoyed the pictures.
Yes, that’s my house, and yes, it’s what is called a split Entry house out here, where the front door is halfway between the basement and the main floor. I always go in thru the basement these days (via the garage) because there are no railings on my outside steps, and I’m no longer as sure-footed as I was when I moved in here 51 years ago! (I remember flying down the steps with a laundry basket in my hands! Yikes! I couldn’t do that any more!) With my bum foot, I’ve learned to kind of side-step down the steps, holding onto the railing, and leading with my good foot. I face the railing as I go down, to give you an idea how I do it. Going up is easier, and done normally. But my foot was trying to flex too much if I went down normally, so this is easier on my owie!
This is off subject, but may be of use. We are told to revise our wills every 5 years, and, having outlived an executor and a beneficiary, and realizing that beneficiaries’ needs had changed, I could see that it was past time to revise.
I worked with my sister, who is my POA. When we were done, the will needed to be notarized and witnessed. No executive or beneficiary can be a witness, but fortunately a friend was being visited by his son, and they agreed to be witnesses. My sister called 2 banks I deal with, and both had notaries, one by appointment, one on a walk-in basis.
But when we got to the walk-in one, we were told that banks can’t notarize wills because it could happen that one or two employees might then have enough information to access your account. The notary told us that someone at UPS could notarize a will.
They, in fact, can, but are not set up with a private room and table and chairs, so the process was a bit disorderly and around Christmas would have been impossible.
The message here is to investigate before you go so as not to waste your time and the time of your witnesses.
My witnesses then took me to lunch to celebrate and relax. That was much appreciated.
One more thing — take 2 copies of your will. When something is important, people get nervous, and knowing you have a backup in case of errors reduces tension. Also — proofread at least twice, attentively, all the way to the end before you print final copies. If you do make a small error and find it too late, it can be ignored, but triple check names and amounts.
Sorry it didn’t go smoothly, but glad you have it done. Here, we have a trust rather than a will which avoids probate. Everything transfers to the one designated and there are no fees, except for death certificates etc. Worked well with both sets of our parents as well. Thanks for the reminder as we probably should review the trust. 🙂
This is a stopgap. We’ll move to a trust for the reasons you mentioned, but wanted things in order in case of emergency and before we spend a lot of time with a lawyer. Lawyers are expensive.
Sometimes they have special deals to get in new trust business. And to review your trust. Of course if you change anything, there goes the price. 🙂 Or, you can do a trust yourself. The good thing, once you have one, you can change it at any time if you so desire. 🙂
Thank you for the advice, Marilyn. When Ron and I had our wills done some years back, the lawyer had a notary right there, and also people to witness (I don’t recall if it was employees at his office, but I imagine so). He has since retired, and of course Ron has died, so I suppose I should think about redoing it, although it does cover the eventualities for both of us, so I’m still covered. Still, good to review, at least. And they did give us two–one the original will and one a copy, to be kept in two different places.
All of these dolls are beautiful! I want to hug them. Charlotte Noelle is quite thoughtful and brilliant really!
I did enjoy reading this discussion between Charlotte and Dorothy.
Jeanne, I wish I had a magic wand that we could all be together and play.
I have been so busy, I have ignored Felicity and Elizabeth, my AG dolls, upstairs.
Oh and then there is poor 😬 Sashka (a glitter girl) laying naked on the floor😱 snuggling with my adorable Precious Moments baby doll – https://www.etsy.com/listing/1788432126/vintage-1992-precious-moments-baby-doll. My little Precious moments babydoll is about 8 inches tall and so cute and bendable. So all 4 dolls need more of my attention.
Today it is cold outside and I am going to stay in and sew and prepare for our furniture delivery on Friday!!! AND have all dollys dressed and enjoying happy things like coloring pictures with some tiny crayons.
So besides Friday with the movers, Thursday the day I usually go to my “craft and chat” in our new neighborhood, I am taking my little cutie pie cornish rex kitty girl Princess to the Cardiologist in Leesburg Virginia for an examination and probably an echocardiogram. That should be fun.
Linda, I am pleased you are happy with your front loader washer dryer.
We chose a Maytag top loader for both washer and dryer, they were so expensive, but I like top load. I won’t complain but the top load is pretty deep and I am fortunate to have very long arms, but I did have one instance that I thought I was going to fall right into the washer trying to get the last sock out of that drum.
I have all Samsung appliances in this new house. I could have chosen other or upgraded appliances I guess but I just went with the standard options. The appliances are operating just fine.
Charlotte, I wish you another good day of healing. Thank you for sharing these photos from Halloween. What a precious family, Eric, Sarah and Skylar🥰
Well, it is Tuesday! I hope all of you have sunshine today and not too unpleasant fresh air. Here it is going to be very windy.
Jeanne, thank you for sharing the service information. That entire family is certainly in my daily prayers.
Love, Rosemary
I have a top loading washing machine too and don’t have long arms. I consider trying to get the clothes out of the washer as a form of stretching exercise.
I too, have a top loading washer and I also have short arms! in fact, I think I must be shrinking since first having this machine in 2019, because it is getting even harder to reach into the bottom of the tub! It is exercise for sure….but I am thinking I may need to use my “grabber” tool in the future. Whatever it takes to get the job done!
To add on to the comments, we have a front loading washer and dryer that are on top of special drawers. It raises the height just enough that is very easy to reach inside and pull out the laundry and toss it into the dryer. And it also provides storage for soap, bleach, whatever. We have Whirlpool.
Joy, one time when I was shopping for a washer, a friend said she’d like to see some of the sales staff try to sell me one of those raised washers!! At 4’6″, I would not have a chance of reaching anything inside a washer like that! 😂
Thank you, Rosemary. Yes, they are a precious family!
The washer Ron had here in the house when I married him, I could reach the bottom of the tub just fine, and I’m quite short. However, every washer we’ve had since then (I think this is #3 or maybe even #4), I can’t, so I have a small stool in front of the washer, and stand on it to get the clothes out of the dryer. You do what you have to do….
Jeanne, If my sons still lived in CA and WA I might have used going to Susette’s service as a reason to visit my sons. They have moved far away from there, now, one in PA and one in Long Island. I really miss Susette.
Charlotte, your photos of you and your little family are so sweet. Thank you and Jeanne for sharing!
I will be busy trying to sell my Kish Riley doll clothes today. I have so many of these tiny clothes I will be trying to sell groups of 4 at very small prices. I don’t want to throw them at Good Will. We have some of Peyton’s family later this week and my sons and a family Oyster roast here next week so busy, busy. Also our church bazar this weekend. Lord, help me get through it all, please.
Also it was in the twenties last night and all my plants on the back porch are covered in rain coats and towels. It will be in the 30’s tonight.
Y’all stay warm!
Where are you selling your Riley clothes?
Sorry, Barbara, I just saw this. I have sold all of them on FB. Would you like me to let you know when I am selling other Kish dolls and clothes?
Please let me know when you are selling other clothes. My Kish Riley is new and she only has the ballet outfit she came in. She has plenty of shoes I found on Deb’s Adorables but no clothes to go with them and she’s near the bottom on my sewing projects list.
Dear Sissy, well I think that since you have family in PA, you and Barbara will have to meet up and plan a road trip to the Keystone State! (smile)
Sounds like a plan as long as we don’t have to fly.
Dear Barbara, I agree, no flying. And when you two arrive we will drive all around the state, starting with Bethlehem!
Oh and I just realized, you will have to stop and pick up Joy and Jeanne along the way so she can visit their family and family roots here in PA. Yeaaa!
Thank you so much, Sissy. I’m glad you enjoyed my pictures.
Praying for energy and stamina for you to get thru your busy days ahead!!
I throughly enjoyed reading the story between Charlotte Noelle and Dorothy! So funny and cute. And the pictures of Dorothy’s girls was nice to see. It’s great when anyone shares their love of their favorite dolls with pictures and stories.
Charlotte, it was great seeing your family pictures – and you, snuggling with your great grandson was precious!
Thank you Jeanne for sharing Dorothy’s story again and Charlotte’s pictures.
Today, I’m having my ablation- I’ll be out of commission for a bit. But it’ll make life easier! I’m grateful for modern health technology!
Jeanne, is your sister and husband already come to visit?
A salute to all our veterans. 🇺🇸
Hi Paula,
I will be praying for you and your ablation… praying for peace for you and your hubby and wisdom and skill for your doctor.
I hope this makes a huge difference in your day to day activities.
Cindy and Tom will be coming in Friday evening… I can’t wait to see them.
Love you, Jeanne
Prayers for your ablation, Paula and wishes for a fast recover.
Praying for a successful procedure for you and that it makes your life easier in the future.
Very late today, but I’m hoping that the surgery went well and that your heartbeat rhythm is back to normal. Thinking of you and family.
Thank you so much, Paula; I’m glad you enjoyed the pictures, and Dorothy’s and my back-and-forth about the ice cream! Sometimes we get a little carried away! But it sure is fun!
I’m praying for you as you recover from your ablation, that it is successful, and for quick recovery.
Loved the dolly conversations with Dorothy’s doll and Charlotte. I think little one has the right idea about ice cream solving everything. 🙂
It is too bad that all of us can’t attend the service for Susette, but I will certainly be thinking of her even though I can’t be there in person. She was one of a kind.
Yesterday, we went to HD to take a look at their appliances. Big sale there. Now, we’re kind of digesting all of the information we’ve gained and trying to figure out all of the additional fees involved. We may just have them delivered and install them ourselves since it is so simple, but no decisions yet. And then, there is new flooring. The kitchen opens out to the dining room and the living room. We have a mix of floors now that I would like to change to all the same. This also causes lots of different levels and the problem of where to move everything while working. I’m talking a huge armoire in the dining room and several other large pieces filled with glassware and china. It wouldn’t be bad if we only had to do the kitchen, but moving the other stuff is a huge tangle. We’re thinking of engineered hardwood throughout. Other person is old school and wants vinyl in the kitchen. Ugh. So another battle to be fought. But, we’ll see how it goes.
More rain heading this way soon. So glad we have the upper deck all finished and painted. At least one thing is completed. 🙂
Starting Sunday or early Monday we will be getting the Pacific storms that you’re evidently preparing for. There is a series of three of them and we should be getting them all. We really do need the rain. We are experiencing severe drought in our area and west of us is in extreme drought. That’s not good with so much prairie and pastureland around here.
Oh, I’m sure that the incoming storm will leave plenty for you. It is coming in tonight and rain expected in the morning. Sorry about the drought but hope this storm will help.
Oh no. They changed the weather forecast for this weekend. We won’t be getting the first storm. So that means no rain for another week and the temps will stay in the 80s. We are supposed to get the second one and maybe the third. I’ll believe it when it happens.
Dear Joy, I love your name for Charlotte Noelle, “little one.” I am have to give her a “middle name” little impish one (laugh).
testing
Hi Laura,
I see you gave in and used the zealous name for now… I’m not sure what is going on. I will look in my Mailchimp and see if I see anything strange.
Hi again Laura,
I updated your information and hope it goes through. It didn’t say you had been unsubscribed… so maybe it was just some kind of glitch!
Blessings, Jeanne
Dorothy you share your home with some beautiful young ladies. I could have picked out Charlotte Noelle in a minute. She has those impish looks. I can see Selah and Lila rolling their eyes over some of the things Charlotte Noelle does and says. But what they’re probably really thinking is, I’d never have the nerve to say or do that. Or maybe why didn’t I think of that. Dolls do definitely have different personalities. My RRFF minis certainly do. Brianna (mini Bella) is a bit precocious, Stevie Pilar (mini Sara) is dainty and aims to please, the twins (mini Hanna) Jamie Renee and Jodie Michelle are the imps. In short double trouble. I couldn’t switch their personalities if I tried. They are who they are and it’s none of my doing. They are all adorable and special in their own ways.
Charlotte, your pictures with your family are so precious. Just make sure Skyler grows up understanding that every piece of heavy equipment is not a bulldozer. My poor hubby, who has run heavy equipment his whole adult life, has apoplexy every time the news media talks about a bulldozer being stolen when in reality it’s a loader or backhoe.
Very cold this morning and it’s sticking around in the house. Very pleasant outside as it has warmed up and the high should be 76 but I’m still wearing a light jacket inside. Didn’t even bother turning on the heat because it starts warming up tomorrow and stays in the 80s until Sunday.
Dear Barbara, I realized, just recently, that not everyone interacts with her dolls in the same way. I think I have always given my dolls names and personalities. I know that not everyone does that. But in the end, I think that doll play leads the joy we receive from our dolls however we go about connecting with them.
You mean my dolls aren’t real??!! I shan’t be telling them that. My car even has a name and a personality. I have no inanimate objects in my life. David’s truck even has a name.
Dear Barbara, I am with you in that. I tend to name things also. Strangely enough my current car doesn’t have a name but all of my other ones did. Hmmm.
Thank you so much, Barbara; I’m glad you enjoyed the pictures. I’m sure Eric is educating Skyler on the various pieces of heavy equipment, as he works in construction. (He does fireproofing in those skyscrapers while they are being built.)
I used to have a book that had pictures of various pieces of heavy equipment; my younger grandsons just loved looking at the pictures. I gave it to my great-nephew a couple of years ago, and he loved it! I need to find another one so I can give it to Skyler now.
Lots of cold weather today, but here it’s only a little cool, but there are more leaves on the ground than I ever recall seeing.
I have a LG washer/dryer combination. Using the dryer dries out the machine. It’s not ideal — the dryer takes forever and “dry” clothes are quite damp, but it’s the only thing that fit.
I was going to suggest a “grabber” for all of you who need longer arms. They are easy to use and not expensive.
Hi Marilyn,
My hubby LOVES grabbers… we have 3 in the house and one in the garage. I think he could pick up a dime with his! :o)
Dear Jeanne and Sofa Sisters, thanks so much for your lovely words about my (or rather Charlotte Noelle’s) conversations with Auntie Charlotte.
I am always happy that I can contribute to the “chat” on the sofa by sharing something that I write because, as you know, I am challenged when it comes to sewing, cooking, crafting, gardening, and other useful and productive talents (smile).