For the Upcoming Solstice, Galoob's Golden Girls

 It is almost The Solstice, Blessed Be!

 

Below are some new additions to a subcollection of some of my favorite dolls.  They are among the first action figures created with girls in mind.  They are inspired by Celtic Woman Warriors like Maeve, Cartimandua, and Boadicia.  Wild One, not in this group, even has a woad painted face.  

Look for books on the lives of Celtic women and Joy Chant's, The High Kings, and others by Lady Antonia Fraser, Nora Chadwick, Pauline Goudge, and Jean Markale.

These dolls had a Celtic hall, a doll house really, which I have.  I collected all of them, including their chariots and as many individual outfits as I could find.  I even put fresh evergreens, like little trees in their Hall, because that's where many of our  Christmas tree legends come from, when the old Celts brought in fresh evergreens during the bitter winter months.

Mothra, a nod to the Celtic shape shifters, from where our

werewolves come

Ogra, male doll

Vultura

 Wild One in her box

Bleakness of December

 Images of a dying garden . The seed bell is  a tradition I adopted after reading Tasha Tudor's Take Joy.  A month of deaths and funeral rembrances. preceded by November, an even crueler month. A time for reflection and auld lang syne .

Reminder

Memoir; Writing your Life Story: Guest Blogger Dr. David Levy, Astroline

Memoir; Writing your Life Story: Guest Blogger Dr. David Levy, Astroline:  And now, something different.  See below: Skyward for September.   Astronline.   By   David H. Levy.     Doveed, and his la...

Memoir; Writing your Life Story: Skyward December 2021 by Dr. David Levy, our guest...

Memoir; Writing your Life Story: Skyward December 2021 by Dr. David Levy, our guest...:   Skyward                                                                              The North America                                  ...

Dr. E's Doll Museum Blog: October Skyward by guest blogger, Dr. David Levy

Dr. E's Doll Museum Blog: October Skyward by guest blogger, Dr. David Levy:   Skyward for October 2021     David H. Levy   Fond memories of Carolyn Shoemaker          One clear evening during the summer...

Dr. E's Doll Museum Blog: eBay is Destroying the doll collectors market! Sa...

Dr. E's Doll Museum Blog: eBay is Destroying the doll collectors market! Sa...:  Here is the link to Rachel Hoffman's YouTube channel where she speaks out about eBay's latest move which is hurting doll collecting...

American Doll and Toy Museum: American Doll and Toy Museum is Open!!

American Doll and Toy Museum: American Doll and Toy Museum is Open!!:  Yes, it's true!  Our preview was a smash, and our regular hours for a while will be Saturdays 11-3 or by appointment. We welcome groups...

The Museum is open; click the link above.  It is now early fall, and we are looking forward to the cool weather, pumpkins, and holidays.  Each morning, I feel the chill in the air as the days grow shorter.

Mums are out, replacing late summer flowers, but my roses hang on till at least October.  We may get one pumpkin from the volunteer plants that have taken hold, but that's fine with me.  We have birds all over, sparrows, chickadees, cardinals, a woodpecker, blue jays, robins, black birds, red wing blackbirds, crows, doves, pigeons.  The occasional duck couple rests in my flower bed, and gees fly over head.  Since the factories moved or cleaned up their act along the river, the water birds are back; gulls, pelicans, herons, cranes, more ducks.  The eagles are here, and many hawks.  We have a back yard owl that hoots for us, and once in a while, visits from wild turkeys and pheasants. 

Our crows caw caw to each other, and I had a friend who used to leave pizza out for them.  

Each day, some memory is stirred for me of my family and lost friends.  I encounter them working at the museum, which is a 24/7 job, or at home, cleaning, or in the yard clipping, planting an pruning.

I see my grandpa puttering in what was his yard before my parents bought their house.  He planted violets, many varieties, peonies, roses, many bushes including lilac, snowball and mock orange.  My mother did coral bells and zinnias, a few miniature roses.  Lilies of the valley, a few tulips, hibiscus, were also there.  When they bloom, it's like a time capsule opening.

We still have woods around us, and the deer visit often.  The day after my Dad died, I saw a beautiful buck.  Maybe it was a message.  Who knows?    

Cool weather will be here soon; we are having an surge of Indian Summer, but the trees are starting to turn.  We will have a Spoon River festival this year, and tombstones of Edgar Lee Masters' characters will be set up along the river.

How quiet the nights are, but for the owl, and few buzzing insects.  When I drive somewhere early in the morning, I see the towns waking up, the lines  for coffee at coffee shops, the doors opening, front steps still being swept.  Dogs are walked, and a few cats are come home exhausted from their night meanderings.

Squirrels are very busy despite the unseasonably warm weather, and chipmunks run all over like made, tails at attention.   We name them all Alvin; they have sanctuary on our deck, sleeping into an old doll buggy.  My husband rescued one from a neighbors glue trap; "hold on Buddy," he crooned.  He got him loose with baby powder.  The little guy ran off like a little white ghost, frantic but safe.

Since them, we are chipmunk haven.  

So the world spins, and the seasons turn.  We plod on day to day, grateful each day no matter what comes.  Have a save, blessed fall, and here's to Autumn and Halloween!!

American Doll and Toy Museum: Preview Opening American Doll and Toy Museum

American Doll and Toy Museum: Preview Opening American Doll and Toy Museum:   Preview Opening American Doll and Toy Museum   3059 30 th Street Rock Island , IL 61201   September 17, 2021 4 pm to 7 pm ...

A Garden of Pot Pourri

 I was thinking of Rumer Godden's An Episode of Sparrows, and the concept of "stolen" earth.   Can earth be stolen?  I suppose we could steal bags of potting soil, theoretically, though stealing anything just is not my thing. I cherish a letter Godden wrote to me when I was doing my dissertation.  Also, a letter from Tasha Tudor with her illustrations is among my most prized possessions.

We can't dig on other's property; this is trespass.  I wish my idiot neighbors knew that.  He keeps trying to claim my ravine is his, and he mows down  my papyrus and castor beans.  She keep trying to plant things I don't want, and to snoop.  Ridonculous.

My lawyer said to ignore it.  So, I do.  They can't claim adverse possession, and all the survey's taken show it's my yard.  

On to happier things.  Not a great year for flowers, but  I'm trying.  The ornamental red pepper seems to do the best.  It was only a dollar on sale.  Next, there are some colias thriving, as well as a red petunia that is doing well.  I did some fairy garden effects, not as many as usual, but here and there you can see them.

I see more bees; that's good.  Tip:  leave a spoon with sugar water near the plants.  It will attract and feed the bees.  Also, plant flowers and plants that bees love to pollinate.  Our local community college extension is offering classes on making your own compost.  I'm sure this is going around the country.

With more mask updates and another possible lock down coming, finding gardening and home projects is a good thing.  So is reading and writing and art work.  Those of us who have hobbies and collect have fared better over the last year; we things to work with at home and too look it.  Minimalist living is not for me; too much like a prison cell or hospital room.

To me, downsizing is bad.  We work all our lives for what?  To have our things taken from us, our individuality sacrificed, and we are locked in a sterile white room in some nursing home with nothing.  It is as if aging is a crime, punished by isolation and loneliness.

Sometimes, it can't be helped, but more and more people turn to private home care.  I did for my family; they stayed home with me, and kept their personality and individuality.  It's all important these days.

Thinking also of projects involving fall foliage and pumpkins.   I hate to think of winter, but October is definitely my month.

Actually May Skyward Photo later

 

Skyward

 

 

By

David H Levy

 

June, 2021

 

A long time ago, while I was writing my biography of Clyde W Tombaugh, discoverer of Pluto, I learned from him that he had discovered other objects during his long search at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona.  He found many asteroids during  his time at Lowell Observatory, at least one comet, and, surprisingly enough, one nova.  In February 1986, I visited Flagstaff in an effort to locate the nova that he found. It was a painstaking, tedious task but I loved it anyway.  Because Clyde had been so careful recording his observations from each photographic plate onto the envelopes surrounding that plate, I had only to read through all the notes from each envelope.  On one of the envelopes covering the year 1931, I saw the nova on a plate dated March 23 of that year. He remarked that must be "quite an interesting star to brighten from fainter than fifteenth magnitude in less than a day.”      

         I later found nine other observations of this star while going through old plates at the Harvard College Observatory, and then I reported them all to Brian Marsden, then director of the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams.  He said, “I will announce it, but not yet.”

         “Why not?” I asked.

         “Because you are an amateur astronomer.”

         Them’s fighting words.  But before I had a chance to use them, he said, “If you were a professional astronomer, you would never look at the field again, and that would be the end of it.  But as an amateur astronomer, you have a lovely 40 centimeter (16-inch) telescope with which you can observe the field every night.  When the star erupts again, you will catch it, and then I will announce it as a current item!”

         Six months later, on March 23, 1990, I saw the star in outburst with that telescope.  It was 59 years to the day after Clyde’s discovery, and I was thrilled to let the discoverer know of it. The observation and history were announced in a subsequent announcement card.  Since the I have seen the star in outburst over and over again, and one of those sightings was on another March 23, which by this time had assumed more than one new significance: it is also the discovery date of our most famous comet, Shoemaker-Levy 9. It is also our wedding anniversary.

          TV Corvi is now my favourite variable star.  On each clear night I check the field. Onbe time I caught the star so early in its brightening that I was able to create a movie of the event. When there is an always welcome outburst, it is fun to say hello to my old friend, and I really have a feeling that the star answers me, from the depths of space, with a cosmic “hi there!” right back.

I'll be Back

 Soon, I will be blogging again on a regular basis.  I haven't been that well, but am bouncing back.  Was gifted many flower pots; plan to do flowers, and maybe some herbs.  I'm trying to re-seed smashed pumpkins, too.

A giant oak fell at my house; thankfully, no property damage and no one hurt.  It knocked out our electrical pole, and my neighbors', who are also close friends.  We all got through it.  It wasn't expected; tree had been trimmed, and checked by at least 4 tree surgeons, including those who work for our city.  It was huge; I could have stood in its trunk.

Here's hoping for violets.  There are more organic cooking shows out there than ever; our favorites are those by Jacques Pepin.  Iowa Ingredient is great for vegetarian ideas.  Lots of shows on organic gardening and farming.  Lots on using spices.

Recycling and upcycling with our nonprofit museum. American Doll and Toy Museum.  We soldier on.

Hope all of you are well; thank you to my followers.

Healthy alternative, yogurt

 If you're tired of oatmeal, try whole milk yogurt, plain or vanilla, with a teaspoon fruit jam .  Sprinkle with oat bran and your favorite dry cereal or nuts.

Original tip 29: Radios

 29. The radio is still a great option, so are cassette players for those of us who still have them, so are records and turntables. Vinyl records can be valuable collectibles, but they are still affordable in various types of conditions. Or, if you play an instrument, get it out and dust it off. Pay attention to the composers, to how things are composed, see what different types of genres and music the composer has written, for what instrument. These are vocations in themselves, and interest nearly everyone. Take a survey and ask friends family, students, etc., what types of music they like, and you will find we are all amateur experts in certain types of music. Sharing that knowledge is one of they joys of everyday living.

I still love listening to the radio, to all kinds of things.  When I had Sirius, I was in heaven, and even got on via an email the Early Morning Live Show on the Martha Stewart channel.

Listening to the news on the way home from work was a great way to unwind.  I used to listen to old radio shows when I worked on miniatures and crafts at my kitchen table.  I could concentrate, but had something fun to listen to.  The classical station saved me during law school.

When my mentor Dr. Tweet was alive, I was privileged to be on his radio show, Scribble, with Senator Don Wooten, the other host. I d id Art Talks with my friend, the late Bruce Carter, read poems, and was a radio guest on the Sean Moncrieff show.  I would gladly do my own radio show.  I love it because I find TV can be distracting.  It demands that you look, when I'd rather listen.

I have a dear friend in his 90s who loves his VCR and videos, and also loves records and music.  He is a talented artist and singer who even sang with Sinatra and who knew many stars through his father, an actor and lawyer to many stars.

When my cousin died last week, I listened to two of her 45s.  She was a budding star when she was young, and sang with a band. It was a comfort to hear her beautiful voice and remember the times she took our her guitar and sang live for me.  I have my old cassettes, and a cassette player at home, and my records and CDs.  

I still play the piano, take lessons, and do music theory.  It relaxes me and grounds me; it is structure that I can count on, and supports everything I do. 

Memories, not!

 A couple hours ago, I had a really great thought for a blog post.  Then it went away.  Too many distractions, I guess.  TVs, cats, people getting up and heading out, worries about the weather, endless snow.  We're all snow blind around here; it creeps into our minds like cotton, swathing and smothering everything.  I've bought tea with tumeric for my every churning stomach, and another so I can sleep at night.

Here's part of my lost thought; don't give up on anything.  If you are on a diet and slip up, start over and keep at it a little at  a time.  If you want to journal every day, but can't, do it when you can.  Same with writing.  If you didn't get all your holiday cards out, send someone you love a note now.  It's ok to put away projects and go back to them, even years later.  My knitting is like that; I love to knit, though I'm not great at it.  But, it helps me to think and relaxes me.  Trouble is my kitty is a yarn freak; she will dig out hidden projects in the middle of night just to unravel them.  She falls asleep after a while, and I find her sleeping on the couch, yarn next to her, knitting needles or crochet hook next to yarn.

Stephen King has said in YouTube lectures that there are ideas you store away because their time comes later.  I'm finding that true with my doll museum.  Dolls and objects that needed finishing or repair are coming out and having their day.  Exhibits I'd had planned are getting organized while  others still wait.  Doll houses that have sat empty are being furnished and doll populated.

I also believe in just taking deep breaths, and getting through each day.  I say two prayers every day; in the morning, "Thank you, Lord, for this day."  At night, "Now I lay me down to sleep . . ."  These, along with crossing myself, are my daily devotions.  When my friends and I meet once a week for breakfast, we say a prayer before we eat, "Bless us O Lord . . ."

My other tip with art and other projects is, don't worry if it isn't perfect.  Life is too short.  I love perfect needlework, but mine is not always so. The process is soothing and at the same time, invigorating.  Believe me, I've designed enough of my own to know this.  I always look for kits, yarn, floss, needlework canvases, weaving supplies for simple looms; I know the day will come when I will use them.

Old doll house being furnished

St. Pat's decor

My nod to an 18th c doll house

My talented, beautiful cousin; we lost her last week

Two precious babies snoozing

Current landscape, but the trees stand tall

It's hard in this frigid weather not to be sad and morbid, especially after the deaths we've suffered this  year.  Yet, I think of what my Uncle Jim used to say to me in bad times, "do your best."  I have done my best, even if others we've had to deal with have not.

See each day as a new canvas as a chance to start over.   Find something each day you enjoy and do it.  I surround myself with my books; I don't have one I haven't used, read for pleasure, studied, or will use in future projects.  

Spring will come, with its flowers and plants.  We'll see green soon, and the world will come alive.  This is a good thing.