Day 1,149

It was a wet walk over the hill this morning.  My umbrella was up and my boots were on, but I was hardly aware of a single step on this last trek of the summer* for my head was wrapped around other thoughts - thoughts of dolls and dresses and of bonnets and bows. (Well, I did peer out from underneath my umbrella when the Great Blue Heron went squawking away from the pond, just as it always does.) I am just so ready to finish the dolls that have waited so patiently all summer long while I toiled long hours at other jobs.

 * Wait, wait, wait...  I really know that summer's last day will officially be on the 21st, but I am ending my summer right now!  I have had enough of it!    

Creating hair for these little ladies is always a challenge for me.  I put hair on...  Then take it off...  I part it down the middle....  Then on the side...  I tie it with a pretty bow...  Then paint the bow...  Until, I just give up and let it be...  I do the same thing with my own hair...   Oh, well....  It is what it is...

But, some dolls just seem to like best wearing a pretty bonnet....

And, every pretty dress just must have a pretty petticoat underneath....  And, pantaloons, too.... 

Braids in the hair are always nice...  No matter what color is the hair...

And, other dolls just seem to be born to be blonde...  And, often times, they want pretty ribbons tied around their hair....

Surely, I got kind of carried away with the pretty bow for this one. ( I later took it off.)  She is so like Bernadette Banner, don't you think?  I can just see her walking the streets of Manhattan in this lovely skirt and long tunic.  If you haven't watched Bernadette's YouTube Channel, you might enjoy her too.  I love her.  She inspires me to no end!  And, she has no grass to mow! (Not that I have anything against grass for it's pretty important for us here at Hill Top!)

This lovely dress made of walnut-dyed linen is all hand sewn.  I may never wash it for fear the beautiful color will fade.  

The bow in this doll's hair was originally blue.  I painted it at least three times and ended up with this animal skin look.  It will be hard for me not to give at least a couple of the newest dolls a painted bow in their hair.  But, I must keep in mind that once it's there, there's no taking it off.  And, it doesn't lend itself well to a hat or bonnet worn over it.  I will think about that...

The pictures along the trail were taken this rainy morning... walk # 1,149 without a miss.  I am not a traveler of faraway places and enjoy this daily walk with my devoted partner, Millie.  She's somewhere up ahead here, having herself a merry time walking in the rain.  

Take care!  And, thanks for stopping by the Hill! 

Mary

Ride the North Wind...

Migration has already begun here in the Northern Hemisphere as shorter hours of sunlight and lowering temperatures tell millions of birds to go south.  The loons, geese, ducks, and shorebirds have all heard the message and have already left the barrens of Alaska and Canada.  And, the little Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds in our woods and fields have heard it too.  It's time to go...

And, certainly yesterday was a perfect day to answer that call - to ride the north wind southward.  And, that's just what some did. There are still many here, but I haven't seen a single ruby red throat amongst them.  Those are the males which are always the first to go.  Left behind for a while longer are the females and the juveniles.

  As I watched these marvelous little birds at the feeders last evening, I couldn't help but feel a bit of melancholy creep over me, for I know some will be back next spring, and  some will not, for their journey will be long and filled with danger.   But, for those who do make it back, they will remember this place where the kind lady tends flower gardens and hangs feeders filled with delicious goodness.  I'll see you then little ones.  May your journey be a safe one.