ALPHABE-THURSDAY "G" is for Ginny!

It's time again for Alphabe-Thursday sponsored by Jenny at Jenny Matlock..."off on my tangent..." Head over to Jenny's blog for information on Alphabe-Thursday and a list of this week's particpants.

This week we are working on the letter "G" as in GINNY. My love afair with the Vogue GINNY Doll began in the 1950's. She's the small doll standing in the stroller next to Dennis The Menace. Actually, the GINNY in the photograph is my sister's GINNY doll. I received the same doll that Christmas only with red hair. I'm assuming the photographer just grabbed a few dolls and put them in the stroller for the photograph.


Here's my GINNY wearing the same outfit many years later. Her hair had originally been in a flip, but as a child I cut her hair. It's funny, but I can still remember the day I did it. I was sitting on my bedroom floor holding GINNY and the scissors. I knew I'd regret it, but I couldn't resist the temptation to cut. Since this picture was taken I bought a beat up 1954 GINNY on eBay for her red wig. The hair color matched her bangs perfectly, so I kept the original bangs and now this GINNY has braids.


Over the years I've bought friends for my childhood GINNY at doll shows and on eBay. I now collect vintage, modern day, and vintage reproduction GINNY dolls. One of my modern day GINNY dolls is my travel doll and GINNY Faith sometimes accompanies me on trips. I find playing with my dolls relaxing and I enjoy setting them up in scenes.

Today, GINNY Ellen was causing trouble again. (GINNY Ellen is my version of Ellen Degeneres as a child.) MaMa was up in arms over her behavior. She kept jumping on the coffee table and dancing. That's my childhood GINNY (with her braids) on the left and my travel doll GINNY Faith on the right. Of course, that's GINNY Ellen on the coffee table.


I haven't had a lot of time to play and take pictures in recent months, but here are some pictures of a trip I took a while back with GINNY Faith and some of her friends.









GINNY Faith has gotten to meet the rich and the famous. Here she is with the Naked Cowboy when he came to Houston for the 2004 Super Bowl. (I hope I don't get in trouble with Mrs. Matlock.)



And this is GINNY Faith and a friend with an Astronaut.



And since this is Texas (and GINNY Faith is a Texan) she's a big football fan. She and a friend attended a Texans game at Reliant Stadium.



She takes the game very seriously and studies diligently. Her friend studies with her.



The rest of the pictures are in no particular order. Most of these photos were taken over the last ten years. I just uploaded a sampling for your viewing enjoyment (I hope).

These are my reproduction AA twins. Actually, the boy doll on the left began life as a girl, but I cut her/his hair so I could have boy since Vogue didn't make a boy AA doll. However, this year they have come out with one for their 2010 line. I made their matching outfits.



Bobbing for apples on Halloween.



Last year I made them Peeps for Easter. It was an experiment and I was going to redo them this year a little bit larger, but real life has gotten in the way and I won't have time.





This was Easter a few years back when they dyed Easter eggs.



This was Taco night at GINNY's house.



At Christmas time we have our annual Birthday party for Jesus.



Decking the Halls!



Trying to decide what to wear for Halloween.



The first day of school. I made their dresses.



The Christmas Eve that Grandma got run over by a reindeer walking home from our house.



Doing some Christmas baking.



I bought this little Christmas room box that someone had painted at a resale shop. Every year I set up a little Christmas scene. This is GINNY with her Advent Wreath.



Relaxing.



GINNY Faith has been raising this horse for the rodeo.



This isn't a GINNY doll, but one of GINNY's friends. I do have a few vintage dolls that aren't GINNY just so everyone doesn't look too much alike. This doll is watching Winky Dink on television.



And this is a group of Texas GINNY dolls.




Yes, in my house "G" is definitely for GINNY!


UH-OH...I'm in trouble. I can't get spell check to work tonight! Excuse all errors. (I hope Mrs. Matlock doesn't deduct too many points.)


Thanks Jenny for sponsoring Alpahbe-Thursday!

ALPHABE-THURSDAY - "F" is for Fear

It's time again for Alphabe-Thursday hosted by Jenny over at Jenny Matlock..."off on my tangent." For a list of participants head over to her blog. This week we are doing the letter "F."

I wasn't sure what word I'd use for the letter "F" until I picked up the dog from the dog groomer and brought her home this afternoon. For some strange reason our cat Zoom has a terrible FEAR of the dog when she first comes home from the groomer. It's as if she no longer recognizes her. Her tail will go up and she'll arch her back. Then she stalks the dog from a distance.



She even hid behind the vacuum of all things!



She slowly works her way closer to the dog.



All the cats are a little curious, but Zoom is full of FEAR.



(The last two pictures are kind of dark because the sun was shining in the window. Click on pictures to enlarge.)

One time the dog didn't even see Zoom when she came happily running into the room. Zoom was startled and attacked the dog in FEAR. It was like one of those cartoon fights between the dog and the cat. The two of them went rolling across the floor. Now I try and watch for a while so that doesn't happen again. They're actually very good friends and normally have a good time playing together. Within a few hours things will be back to normal.

According to Dictionary.com the definition for FEAR is a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.

Here are some FEAR quotes that I like:

Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.
John F. Kennedy

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.
Nelson Mandela

In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure.
Bill Cosby

We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot.
Eleanor Roosevelt

When even one American - who has done nothing wrong - is forced by fear to shut his mind and close his mouth - then all Americans are in peril.
Harry S. Truman

I have learned over the years that when one's mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.
Rosa Parks

I do not fear computers. I fear the lack of them.
Isaac Asimov

And here are some well known words on FEAR by Franklin D. Roosevelt:




NOTE: On Friday it will be five weeks since our feral cat MaMa ran off in FEAR when we had workmen in the backyard. She had been with us for nine years, but was not tame and had a FEAR of most people. I still miss her very much. It sounds strange, but I was just as close to her as I am to my indoor cats. We've put fliers on 100 doors in the surrounding area, posted signs, and continue to check with animal control every few days. I've had a couple of calls and learned of a few feral cat colonies nearby. I continue to search for her and I'm not about to give up. It makes me very sad.

SECOND TIME AROUND TUESDAY-Old Confirmation Certificate

It's time again for Second Time Around Tuesday hosted by Diane at A Picture Is Worth 1,000 Worlds.

This week I'm showing my great aunt's confirmation certificate from 1907. I have it framed under glass and tried to photograph it without too much glare. This certificate is from Zion Lutheran Church in Westwood, New Jersey which was founded by German immigrants. My great grandfather Wilhelm Volz was one of the founding members. That is why this certificate is in German.

When my great aunt died her family came from out of town and I guess after they kept what they wanted they had a sale and sold the rest. Some years later my mother was out for a walk and stopped to talk to a lady a few blocks away. During the conversation my mother mentioned that she was related to the Volz family. The lady said, "Wait, I have something you can have." She went inside and brought out my mother's, aunt's confirmation certificate. It was in an old frame (not the one I currently have it in) and the price was still on it...$1.00. The lady said she had no idea why she bought it and it had just been sitting around.

At that time I was dabbling in genealogy, so my mother sent it to me. I reframed it and it now hangs on a wall in my den. My great aunt's name was Lina Katherina Volz, but we all called her Taunty. I think Taunty might be aunt in German.

When I walk through garage sales, resale shops, antique malls, etc., I'm always surprised and saddened by the things I see. Things like old photographs, certificates, etc., that no one apparently wanted. I'm grateful to that lady that Taunty's confirmation certificate is getting a "second chance around" on the wall of my den.




Click on picture to enlarge.

PINK SATURDAY TIME!

It's time again for PINK SATURDAY hosted by Beverly at How Sweet The Sound. For a list of this week's participants and information on how you can participate be sure and head over to Beverly's blog.

My great aunt was Margaret Morris who performed in Florenz Ziegfeld's Ziegfeld Follies and Ziegfeld's Midnight Frolic. The Frolic was a show that began at midnight and was performed upstairs in the theater and to a smaller audience.

I've shared one of her pictures once before on PINK SATURDAY and this week I have a picture from the 1920 Midnight Frolic. This picture was colorized and you can see the PINK flowering plants that were part of the set. Margaret is the second from the left wearing the lavender costume. Jane (Ziegfeldgrrl) at Historical Ziegfeld restored this photo for me. She is a wealth of information on The Ziegfeld Follies.

(Click on photo to enlarge.)



And this is what is written on the back of the photo. I'm assuming this is Aunt Margaret's handwriting.



Aunt Margaret was an active member of the Ziegfeld Club that was started in 1936 by Billie Burke (Mrs. Florenz Ziegfeld). The club is still in existence today, but it is believed that only one Ziegfeld girl is still alive.

Last week I visited Homemaking In High Heels. Stop by and visit her entertaining blog.

Hope you're feeling better Beverly!

Alphabe-Thursday...the letter E is for EMERGENCY

Welcome to Alphabe-Thursday sponsored by Jenny over at "Jenny Matlcok...off on my tangent."

Today we're working on the letter E and I thought this week's assignment was too hard! I even had to get out the dictionary and study hard for this one. I finally came up with EMERGENCY in the ELEMENTARY School classroom.

It seems that last week at the class Valentine's Day party little Ginny Ellen had too much candy and cookies to eat and the school nurse had to be called for the EMERGENCY situation that arose. Poor Ginny Ellen was embarrassed about getting sick in front of all the other children. Next year she'll be a lot more careful.



(Click on picture to enlarge.)

For a list of this week's participants and for information on Alphabe-Thursday head over to Jenny's blog.

Gone To Vancouver...

Oh dear, not much time for blogging this week. Instead I'm spending time in Vancouver via television. I've always enjoyed the Winter Olympics.

I remember my ice skating days. I never let go of the wall that encircled the rink. I'd slowly go around once and then I'd be ready to leave. So, I really admire the ice skaters with their triple toe loops, quads, and all the other amazing stuff they do.

Gotta go. The commercial is over and I'm headed back to Vancouver.

PINK SATURDAY

SCROLL DOWN FOR PINK SATURDAY POST

I posted it on Friday. Thanks!

Updates on the latest happenings...

REID

Reid had his doctor's appointment at MD Anderson last Friday and on Saturday he had another chemo treatment. He's now slightly more than half way through. YEA!

I am so grateful that he's in remission, but the treatments continue to be difficult for him. It's difficult to see him so sick every other week. And he's very tired. I think everyone that goes through chemo complains about the constant fatigue.

He'll be scanned again after the next chemo so they can be sure the mass continues to shrink. Yes, he's in remission even though he still has a mass. That's what makes Hodgkin's Lymphoma a unique cancer. Only approximately 1% of the mass was cancer and that is believed to be gone now.

He'll finish up with the chemo in May and then radiation will follow. I have no idea how long that will take.

His walking has greatly improved and all he needs is a cane now. There's been a lot of progress since the tumor in his spinal canal was removed. YEA!

MAMA

Our feral cat MaMa has been missing for three weeks today. Earlier this week I passed out fliers to everyone on our street, and today I visited animal control again in hopes she had been picked up. She is afraid of people, so she's likely hiding somewhere and I still have hope that she'll return. She's lived with us for nine years.

DAD

In a little while I'm going over to see Dad at the nursing home. I saw him on Monday and he seemed alert and ate well. He just doesn't have much to say any more. Dad was always so talkative, but Alzheimer's has robbed him of that too.

Last night they called and said he had fallen out of bed. He sleeps in a low bed that is only around 18 inches off the floor. They were confident that he was OK, but had ordered X-rays anyway. Because he's a fall risk and a restless sleeper he has a low bed in hopes that he won't get hurt if something like this happens.

PINK SATURDAY Class Valentine's Day Party

It's time again for another PINK Saturday hosted by Beverly at How Sweet The Sound. Head over to Beverly's blog for information on how you can participate in PINK Saturday and for a list of this week's participants.




This week we were supposed to combine Valentine's Day with PINK Saturday, so I decided to dress my Vogue Ginny Dolls in PINK for the class Valentine's Day Party. Since all my dolls are Ginny Dolls their first name is automatically Ginny and then I give them various middle names. (Click on pictures to enlarge.)

A PINK VALENTINE'S DAY PARTY

Sister has been having a lot of trouble with Ginny Ellen lately and asked MaMa to come to school for a parent teacher conference. Whenever Sister turns her head GinnyEllen fools around. She's definitely the class clown. One of her favorite things to do is dance on Sister's desk. Poor MaMa was shocked.


"Ginny Ellen, please behave yourself."

"Today is the class Valentine's Day Party and PINK Saturday."

"You even wore PINK flowers in your lapel."


"Don't behave like this in front of the other children."

"Look at how nicely the other children sit."

"They're all wearing PINK."

"They're enjoying the Valentine's Day Party treats."

"They've already exchanged Valentine's Day cards."

Happy Pink Saturday!

Be sure and visit Kerrie's Blog at Two Happy. You'll enjoy your visit and her daughter was a good sport last Saturday!

Get Well Beverly!!!

Alphabe-Thursday "D" is for DURGIN

Today I'm participating in Alphabe-Thursday sponsored by Jenny Matlock...off on my tangent.

This week we're doing the letter "D" as in DURGIN. This one was easy for me because I'm a DURGIN and I thought I'd share some pictures of the DURGIN Homestead which was located in Westwood, New Jersey.

This is the DURGIN Homestead circa 1950. If you look closely you'll see my sister Carol Sue DURGIN and me Betty DURGIN standing in front of the picture window.

Now for a tour of the inside. This is the kitchen and I'm on the left and Carol Sue DURGIN is on the right. (See that thing on the back burner of the stove? I see them all the time in antique stores. Can someone tell me what it's for? For some reason I think it's to keep dinner rolls warm, but I don't know where I got that idea from.)

And this is the fireplace in the living room of the DURGIN HOMESTEAD. The ballerina is me all dressed for the DANCE recital. The outfit was bright pink with a turquoise flower. We were a talented group and sang "Let's All Sing Like The Birdies Sing" while we DANCED. I can't remember what I had for breakfast this morning, but I can remember the color of the outfit and the words to the song.

This picture shows the living room of the DURGIN HOMESTEAD with our brand new TV in the background and the DINING room. That's Carol Sue DURGIN, my mother Carolyn E. "Betty" DURGIN, and me.

This is our bedroom. My sister and I shared this room in the DURGIN HOMESTEAD. That's me in bed sick as usual. I know I must have been sick because I can see the vaporizer on the table. There are also DOLLS on the shelf above my bed. I believe some are Nancy Ann Storybook DOLLS. They were for show and we were never allowed to play with them.

This is the DURGIN family in the living room of the DURGIN HOMESTEAD circa 1957. I know it was March because my mother had decorated for St. Patrick's Day. I can see a little bit of the Erin Go Bragh banner behind me. I'm holding our cat Lucky DURGIN. I look at this picture and think YIKES! Did we really look like that???

And after Lucky came TIMMY DURGIN. This was the nicest cat. He never objected to posing for my pictures. Sadly, I didn't have him very long. He was hit by a car in front of the house. I was devastated. To this day I remember Timmy.

We weren't the only DURGINS around. Some of you might have heard of DURGIN PARK in Boston, MA. I have on tape one of my grandfather's sisters saying we were related to this DURGIN, but it's never been documented. This restaurant is known for its Yankee cooking and sassy waitresses. I've never been, but it's on my list of places to go someday.

They're know for their DURGIN PARK Indian Pudding. For the Recipe click on the DURGIN PARK link and then click on Recipes.

And then while doing DURGIN research I was pleased to find a place where I could live out my final days. Would you believe there's a DURGIN PINES nursing home? It's in Maine so I'd have to move from Texas, but I love watching snow fall and I could sit in a rocking chair near a window and be perfectly content for hours.

Are any of you DURGINS? Do you know any DURGINS? I'd love to know.

Thanks Jenny for hosting Alphabe-Thursday.