A cold wet spring day.

Nanea and her new friend (nameless so far) are just finishing a pretty puzzle of a Hawaiian scene.

It was bought for only $1.25 at Dollar Tree and was really fun to make. (my new hobby at the moment)

We've had an extremely cold and wet spring.

My flower garden loves the rain, but I can't work in the garden when it's wet. In between the torrential downpours I scurry out and weed a bit. I did get some perennials planted last week and I nearly ruined my right knee. It doesn't like to kneel on the ground anymore!

I'll have to get Nanea to do it for me...

By Loretta Houben

1960's fashions!

Here I am in 1965!

Yes, I grew up in the 60's and 70's and it now feels rather like the "dark ages"! Do you see my parent's PINK PHONE in the background? It's a landline phone too! And we ourselves still have one of those. I like to be connected to a wall.

I loved the suit above; it was very comfortable. I thought I'd re-create some 1960 fashions for my 18" AG dolls.

 I found a copy of this pattern in my extensive files.

It matches exactly! I have a different pattern for the pleated skirt which I will use, but this jacket is perfect.

Now I need to find blue fabric. Stay tuned!

By Loretta Houben

Jenna, my Maplelea doll which I won in 2009!

Do you like to enter contests? I sure do!

In November of 2009 I entered a contest at Urban Moms (no longer in existence). I submitted a paragraph of why I enjoyed being a Canadian. A few weeks later, Jen, the author of the site, emailed and said I'd been one of five winners! I had my choice of a Maplelea Canadian doll!

I picked Jenna, because she has red hair and green eyes and is from Nova Scotia. She has an Anne of Green Gables outfit which I plan to purchase really soon.

Jenna arrived on December 16, 2009.

She came in a lovely box and has a cute journal.

Here is a comparison of 3 18" dolls;

Samantha, an American Girl doll; Jenna; and Elsie Dinsmore, a Life of Faith doll.

Here is the lovely Maplelea box.

I traded my Jenna to Sarah Jean when I got interested in Bleuette dolls in 2010. Now I wish I had kept Jenna!

By Loretta Houben

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter to you all!

I did take a picture of Alika and Nanea but forgot to post it here until today.

It's always a very busy time here as Robert and I were married on April 3rd a long time ago, and then his birthday is April 4th! Usually Easter lands along with all that celebration, so it does get busy.

This year Robert had gall bladder surgery on March 14, then our dear little JRT died suddenly on Mar 17.

It was a hard week.

Playing with dolls and dressing them up really does help. I hope everyone had a lovely Easter day.

By Loretta Houben