Barbie

Some of you know that I’ve been collecting Barbie clothes, etc for about the last month. I decided that I wanted to replace the vintage Barbie that I was unable to keep for myself a long, long time ago.

When I was seven, I got a Barbie that looked just like this Barbie (Brunette Bubble Cut Barbie) from my dad for my birthday. (Image ‘borrowed’ via google search).

As I remember, it was the only Barbie I ever had. It was special to me, because my dad was special to me, and he didn’t live with us. I loved Barbie. (I also got a slinky…hmm…might have to look for one of those too!)  When I was six, I got my first little sister. The next year, I got another little sister (Sissypoo). Almost two years later, I got another little sister, and then three years later, I got another one! Well, with four little girls behind me, I had to pass along my Barbie and all the home made clothes my mom made for her. This Barbie has always had fond memories for me, and since I enjoyed her so much, I wanted to have one just like her. (I was just informed last week, by ‘Sissypoo’ that she chewed my Barbie’s fingers off! ) I punched her….TWICE! Her comeback was, ‘Well, ‘E’ chewed off her toes!’ OMG. My Barbie was TORTURED!!!!

Anyway….I found a vintage Brunette Bubble Cut Barbie on ebay a few weeks ago, and here she is. (She was NAKED when I got her, so I put some clothes on her!) I’m happy to report that her fingers and toes are all intact! Whew! I’m keeping her away from Sissypoo!

I won a few auctions here and there, and I have accumulated some lots of clothing for her. I also got a bag of accessories, but the poor girl doesn’t have any shoes! I bought her a few pairs, and they are on the way.

One of the auctions I won included some friends. I dug the red rolling suitcase out from one of my closets, and this will be my Barbie case, until/or if/ I find something better.

Last weekend, I started looking for Barbie’s car. One year for Christmas, I got a car for Barbie. I remember that Christmas. I was about eight. My mom wrapped the gifts, but she didn’t put names on any of them. While mom was gone, at least one of my brothers, maybe both of them, would touch, pick up, shake, and maybe even on one occasion, untape, and retape a package or two to see what was in them. The package that my Barbie car came in, was like this.  It had a transparent thin plastic protective ‘window’. (Photo borrowed from Amazon.com)

My brother lightly tapped the protective window, and was just ‘sure’ he was getting a big toolbox. I can’t remember if he got one or not, but it wasn’t this package. Of course, my Austin-Healey got passed down too, so I wanted to replace it. I won that auction last weekend. I got the car yesterday. There is a crack in the windshield, but otherwise, it is in good condition. The body is made of a plastic that is soft, so there are no cracks or breaks.

Here is all the Barbie stuff I have so far. I’m now looking for, and buying Barbies that are dressed at the thrift stores, just for the clothes. Pretty soon I’ll have a bunch of naked Barbies that I wont’ know what to do with. Some of them I’ll keep, but now my heart is happy, because I have my vintage Barbie. I think I have a green case under my basement steps just like the red one, and that case may be where I will store Barbie’s car.

G’Bye! I’m off to look for a slinky!

Michelle

**Thick* Heavy* Beautiful Snow**

We’ve had SO little snow this year. I’m NOT complaining. At. All. It started raining  yesterday early in the day, then it turned to heavy, HEAVY snow. It even was melting when it was snowing for awhile, but then it stuck. We had some HEAVY HEAVY snow this morning when daylight finally came. Here is what I see as I sit at my computer and look UP and out of my window. Thick snow trapped on tree branches is so pretty.

Here’s another view out my office window into the neighborhood behind me.

Here’s some views out my front door.

Louie ran the snow blower before he went to work, which means that the city will be by to push snow from the street into the end of our driveway soon. They never can do it BEFORE we clean our driveway.

Did I show you the Barn Quilt my friend Christie gave me for Christmas? It is called Sisters of the Heart. I attached it to the house to the right of the front door. You can see it from the street. She has one on her house too. It is steel, and powder coated. It’ is 11.5” by 11.5”. I think I’m going to buy one for above the door on my shed. HERE is where she got it. These come in bigger sizes and different designs and colors. (Photo taken through glass since I was still in my pj’s.)

Have a wonderful day!

Michelle

Lunch, a Movie, Junkin’, Supper, and a Barn Quilt!

I spend a good share of the day yesterday with my Sissypoo since Louie was away on his pool playing weekend. We don’t get to spend much time together, and since it was her weekend off (YEAH!) we planned on the day.

First off, we went to one Goodwill and I found a few things. I found a wire file basket to put my copy paper in, for under my printer. Last week, I found the black Printer Stand (Gosh, I love Google so I can correctly name my items! ) It works well so I can have my paper handy on my desk. Before, I had to keep going to my file cabinet drawer when I needed paper. I close up my printer when I am not using it.

I also found another Cross to hang on one of my  walls. I don’t know why I am drawn to Crosses, but I am.

Next, we went to Red Robin (YUMMMMM!)

I had the Crispy Chicken Tender Salad. My favorite!

Next, we went next door to the Showcase Cinema 53 theater to see Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. The jury is still out on how many thumbs I would give it.

I love Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock both, but this wasn’t the lighthearted movie they usually play in. I don’t know how to rate, or sum it up. HERE is something I found that kind of says how I felt about it. I wouldn’t say I ‘didn’t like it’, but I really felt bad for the boy, and as the author of the review said, ‘At times, he was a bit annoying’. I might also add, that my movie viewing partner didn’t see much of the movie, as she kept dozing off. I had to keep poking her because she was snoring. A couple times, the four ladies that were sitting ahead of us turned around to see who was snoozing and making noise.

After the movie, I met up with the woman who painted a 2’ by 2’ Barn Quilt for me. She is from Guttenberg, Iowa, but she was in the Quad Cities for a birthday celebration. She brought it with her, and I was able to get it. She told me she actually has a few of the 1’ by 1’ barn quilts in a store in our own downtown. Who knew? I’m thinking this will go on the front of my garage.

We did some more junkin’ after that. I found a few Barbie type dolls. I was looking for Barbie clothes, and I guess buying the whole doll is cheaper than finding clothes on their own. (I’ll have to post about my newfound Barbie obsession soon). I call the doll on the left ‘Anorexic Barbie’, as she basically has ‘sticks’ for arms and legs compared to the other dolls. I found the ‘bag’ they are standing it too.

I was thrilled to find a piece of pretty fabric, and even more thrilled when I found out it was nice quilt shop quality fabric. There is 3 yards here, and I paid $1.38 for it.

It is called Chelsea Gardens, by Ro Gregg for Northcott Fabrics and called Quest for a Cure. The above photo shows a truer color to the fabric.

I also found this fabric. I’m not sure what it used to be, or if it was just quilted fabric, but I bought two pieces of this pink quilted fabric. In it’s current state, they are quilted pillow cases, probably meant to be pillow shams. The checkout girls thought it looked like Vera Bradley fabric. Probably not, but I like pink, and quilted fabric, so both pieces came home with me. Who knows what it will be in it’s next life.

I also found this. I don’t have a clue what it is, but I know what it will be used for. Do you?

I also found the small bird in this next photo, and the apple. Both were the same price. They are Isabel Bloom pieces, made in the Quad Cities.  Most of my other ‘Blooms’ came via junkin’ too.

Sissypoo and I were out late enough that the thrift stores closed, and there were no more stops , so we went to Village Inn for supper. We both had their ‘Three For’, or whatever it is called. A cup of soup, half a sandwich and a piece of pie for supper. I dropped her off at home and headed North. It was a good day!

Louie’s team is doing good in the tournaments and they play another match at 8:30 this morning. Not sure when he will get home.

Hmmmm…what shall Michelle do today? The sun is shining and it is beautiful outside!

Have a wonderful, blessed Sunday!

Michelle

Mmmm…Mmmm…Caramel Corn!

First, I got out my vintage (1980) Presto PopCornNow, and my Orville Redenbacher popcorn…

I popped 4 quarts (or there-about) popcorn (and the smoke detector only went off twice!) and I poured it in a brown paper grocery sack, after I carefully sifted most of the old maids out….

(Did you know that corn syrup turns solid if you leave it in the cupboard for a few years, or maybe a decade? What’s up with that?!!!)

Here is the caramel mixture after cooking in the microwave…

…and here it is doing it’s volcano impersonation when I added the baking soda.

I poured it over the popcorn (and I added some slivered almonds to the popcorn), and shook the bag to cover the popcorn.

Microwave on high for 70 seconds…shake….

…flip bag over and microwave on high for another 70 seconds.

Shake again, tear open bag, and let dry. I did not let it dry. I like my caramel corn STICKY.

Mmmmmm…guess what’s for supper?

I used THIS RECIPE, but it’s the same recipe as I used (from a friend) the last time I made caramel corn (probably 10 years ago).

Have a great evening! I’m doing my part to make sure my dentist has cavities to fill the next time I go visit!

Be blessed!

Michelle