New Year's

Well I am not sure if I will be able to get my New Year's Ball set up tonight in time or not. So in the meantime here are a few pix from previous balls.
In the first pic, the Doltonites are arriving at the New Year's Ball.













As you can see they are having a lot of fun dancing.











Here they are coming down the stairs to the ballroom from the dining area.

Across town there was a Rave going on for the younger crowd.






And here is a ball that was set up one other year.

Didn't Make it to 2400 but....

I did find this lovely gal at Zeller's tonight! If they would have had the redhead and brunette they would have come home with me too! Isn't she sweet? I love her face! And she has a tan too.

I just know she is gonna be very popular at Dolton Beach this summer!

Fashion Trend

These two Silkies are modelling the latest fashion trend in Dolton, and other communities. I haven't been able to do much other crocheting lately as I am busy trying to finish afghans for xmas gifts. I only do a couple of squares a day now since my fingers get all tingly and wake me up in the night. But I do manage to squeeze out the odd poncho.

Sandy is wearing a scarf with her's.

Been playing in Dolton when I can but work has taken up a lot of my time. I go in for a shift and usually have to stay an hour or two longer, because of the long line ups of people. Despite the holidays the jackpots have been really high also and we have a New Year's Eve Raffle going on, which is new. The lottery commission has a ton of money to give away. But for some reason it never comes my way :(((

Today it's gloomy but warm. We dodged yet another snow storm that stayed north of the city. We have green grass once again and if we get anymore rain will have to cut it LOL That's fine with me!

If I don't get on line again, I want to wish you all a Happy New Year!

Born/Received on Christmas Day

Here are the 3 new residents of Dolton that I opened this morning. Of course I already had the Prince and HD but that is okay as they will just expand the families that they go into.

The Mark doll is what Anita sent me from England. Back in 1987 my mother bought me this doll but he broke many years ago and died in one of my doll stories. Now I have a new one, that I will have to come up with a story for him.

One ticket won the $30 million from last friday's jackpot. I wonder if I am related to the winner? ha ha ha! Tomorrow's jackpot is $22 million. Now that would be a nice xmas gift.

Hope Santa was good to you all. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Today's Christmas Eve picture is of Mitzi hanging out in the Christmas tree. She wants to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and safe holiday season. Once again I have Christmas under my belt and it's not quite ten o'clock :) Yesterday I cooked the turkey and dressing and last night I put the ham in a slow cooker to cook overnight. So today I didn't have any cooking to do and except for fixing eggs for breakfast in the morning I won't have to cook tomorrow. I told them there is still half an uncarved turkey and better than half a ham in the refrigerator and if they ate it all before tomorrow I would give them macaroni and cheese for Christmas dinner :) I went up to church today and took down the tree, wreath and bed sheets that were being used as stage curtains. I would have like to leave them up through next Sunday except for the curtains which I would have liked to left up all the time but I was afraid they would through them away. It was sunny today but cold and I have had the kerosene heater on since about three thrity this morning. I hate to cut it out since the house takes so long to get warm---I may spend the night on the couch on "Santa watch" The kitties have been taking turns sleeping in the chair next to the tree for the past week watching for Santa. It will be Piper and Mitzi's first Christmas. Pedro can smell the "cat candy" (dried cat treats). Inky is getting a red wagon---he will share it with his siblings. I didn't have time to make a pillow for it---I may let Meg make a pillow since she is beginning to learn how to use the sewing machine. I checked Goodwill this morning when I was out at Kroger (Goodwill is just a couple streets over) I found Crepes Suzette from the Strawberry Shortcake series and she was the big one I have been looking for----I was going through the store by the toy aisle and heard this little voice calling me. Poor little thing someone had swapped her clothes for Strawberry Shortcakes clothes and pulled off her shoes. She told me a sad tale about how her shoes were taken away and she was made to walk five miles in her sock feet in the snow and she needed a home. By the time I got her home the mean people had made her walk twenty five miles in her sock feet :) Jaime brushed her hair good and she has joined our berry bunch of Rainbow Sherbert, Lemon Meringue and Strawberry Shortcake. She was so new her smell was still strong. I must admit Kroger's parking lot was crazy this afternoon. People were real rude over parking places. I saw one person trying to back out of their place and four people trying to get into her place and none of them would give her enough room to back out her car---talk about nuts. Everyone at TuMani wishes everyone a happy and safe holiday season.

Today's picture is of Jaime's kitty Mitzi sleeping on top of her TV. Today is sunny but cold especially the wind---it was real windy last night--you could hear it kiting--sounded more like March than December. We were able to get our food delivered to our middle man yesterday to go to two families that are having a hard time . One family is the man and wife , their grown son and four grandchildren. The man and wife are in their seventies and she used to work at a fabric store until the fibers contaminated her longs so bad she had to quit work. She actually needed a lung transplant but now she is in such bad shape even that wouldn't help. She was a small woman but has gained over a hundred pounds in fluid including in her lungs and none of it can be drained because her lungs would colapse--she is drowning and nothing can be done--makes me very sad. The grown son's wife ran away from home when the youngest children were eleven months old (they are now five year old twin boys) the next child is a hyperactive seven year old boy and the oldest is a girl about thirteen. The other family the dad was in the first Iraq war and was injured over there. Seems they had this hole they were ordered to blow up left over amunition and they did that and were told it was all blown up and were using the hole to burn trash. Well the trash burned for six hours and you guessed it there was still some amo in the hole and he was hit with shards of stuff. He has brain injuries and now can't remember very much. He was working at Lowe's but after his memory started going they had to cut his salary by eight hundred dollars a month. I don't know whether his wife works or not but they have a boy five, a girl seven and a boy ten. Of course the veteran's doctors have been no help getting his pension from being injured in the line of duty---but our friends that help us deliver the food have gotten him hooked up with the right people so hopefully he will get his pension started by the first part of the year.

I was climbing on a little stool yesterday and it flew out from under me and I hit my hip and am very stiff and sore this morning. I don't bounce as well as I once did. We did make it out yesterday and checked out CompUsa once again. Jaime bought an external hard drive and then we checked out Office Depot and I found an external burner for fifty dollars. Seems my internal burner has burned out---it will play DVDs but won't burn them. Today we decided not to try to go to church. I feel we did quite a bit yesterday and since we had the pageant last week I didn't have anything to do. I know Donald and Hazel are going to their oldest son's for Christmas today and one of the other members is going to her middle daughters and when you take that many family members out ---it doesn't leave many anyway and since it is cold and there is not enough heat and my back hurts---I decided to stay home where I could be warm and comfortable.

We have put some packages under the tree and so far the kitties haven't opened them. Need to wash the color out of Jaime's hair so we can dig out a few more things to wrap before Meg wakes up.

Decorating the Tree - Tonight

Here's Sandra and Scarlett putting some garland around a little tree in Dolton. The sweaters were Xmas ornaments from last year that Marion sent me. I never see these anymore in the stores. Pity.

Another Xmas Pic from the Past

Here's Hans Sorensen, who immigrated here from Sweden, back in 2003. He is of course a hockey player who came to Canada to play in the PHL (like the NHL)

Three Xmas' ago he received this sweater made by Karen (B.C.) for Xmas and the trousers which were made by Carol (Alberta).

Early Xmas Gift

Well I think I am finally getting in the mood! I made some time to go and play in Dolton this afternoon. I have many knit items to give out to my residents. Here is Jean-Marc (The Waltz Ken) sporting his early xmas gift (made by Maureen). Doesn't he look dashing! Unfortunately you can't see his trousers clearly as they are navy and green plaid.

And wearing red is Milan Brioni. (Bond Ken)

Pix from the Past

The first pic is a very old scene from when Dolton only had 500 residents. As you can see if was before vehicles were invented LOL

Remember the first ever Santa Claus Parade? It sure was a big one! I just don't have the room in Dolton anymore to this big a scene. Which is why I think I don't set up my lavish scenes anymore.














What a hoot when Santa arrived in a Kubblewagon!

TuMani news

Today I was finally able to get some of the home presents wrapped---it has been completely crazy here for the past couple of weeks. Last week I worked all week trying to get ready for the Christmas pageant at church. It has been over five years since we have had the traditional pageant-----we had to start all over since three nitwits threw away all our costumes, back grounds, and would have gotten the pageant itself if I hadn't taken it. Jaime and I made new copies of the pageant along with the music ---I typed it up and made one copy and Jaime took it to work to make copies and then she used her laminating machine to seal the front and back covers and her spiral binder to poke holes in the pages and we ran the twirly plastic coils in them. One of the younger cousins and Hazel got enough costumes made for the angels, shepherds, and kings and Mary and bought a robe for Joseph to wear. I got the angel wings, crowns, and gifts made---it's amazing what you can do with empty flower pots and drink bottles and spray paint and flower gems. I also cut some sticks for the shepherds to carry. Yesterday Jaime's work had their office Christmas party--it was the first party the company had ever had---it went off well but I spent two days making candy for them. Monday I made twelve pounds of fudge to go in Christmas tins for party gifts and then spent Tuesday making construction shaped candy for part of the table food. There was some food left and we were blessed with left over "little smokies" , assorted cheese and assorted crackers as well as a half box of cheese cake bites. We are having party food for supper tonight :) I have been fighting a cold all week since getting wet last Saturday night when we went out to practice the pageant and then Sunday morning was real cold with snow flurries and we don't have enough heaters to warm the santuary at church---long story ---more details are on my Yahoo blog. I got my turkey thawing in the frigerator and plan on cooking him tomorrow night or Sunday and then put my ham in to cook on Monday. One of today's pictures is of the poor little Christmas tree at church---it is unhappy because the preacher and his wife wouldn't let us draw names so it has no presents :( The other picture is of Stacey London and Clinton Kelly of TLC's "What Not to Wear" I think we are going to have some new residents in TuMani on Christmas.

Not Impressed

Well I'm not as pleased with Ron as I was with Harry. Maybe the mistake the other day was meant to be. But it looks like Ron has a fan already, so I guess he's here too stay.

His trousers are too big on him (too long and too big at the waist). Maybe the poor guy lost weight in storage or something LOL

I hate his coat! It looks like a dressing gown!!!! Well I will just have to sew one of my gals a negligee and then they can have his coat to wear as a house coat! Now I realize his outfit is from a movie and is most likely period costume, still I don't care for it. I have never read any of the HP books or seen the movies, so I guess I am not a good judge for this. Besides, Ron is a Venetian now!

It's nuts at the malls these days. I'm so glad I am off until xmas eve. Hopefully it won't be that busy. Finally got my snow tires put on the van, now that the snow is all melting! LOL At least I am prepared for the next storm!

Hope you are all ready for the big day next week, as for me, I'm itching to open my gifties, which I "know" are all dolls LOL

Sweater from Karen in B.C.

Today I received this lovely sweater (and card) from my friend Karen in B.C. I think it suits Suzette very well don't you! The little red pin is holding a heart on the sweater, kinda hard to see I think in the pic.

Suzette was still in her bikini up in Lofton, shivering I bet. Now she will be nice and warm for the winter.

New Residents to Dolton & Venus

Here's Harry with the two new Dolton Residents. Now I have 5 Bonds. I am only missing George Lazenby. I'll have to check him on Thursday when I go back.

MFD is having a great sale so I also picked up Ethereal Princess. She was only $10 so how could I resist her?

Nascar Barbie (Jeff Gordon) and Shopping Daria is also going for $10. LMK if anybody wants one. Supposed to be more sales after xmas, so stay tuned! Now I am glad to be getting the extra hours at work, to pay for all my new residents. Santa Dolton is being very good to me! LOL

Dolton Beach Boys

As you saw on the Yahoo Blog, Anita sent me a crop of boys all ready for Dolton Beach. Most of them were Petra Fred dolls, except the last one which was a Pop Star Paul doll (Sindy's boyfriend) The two new boys in boxes are called Trendy Kevin. They are Ken size but
have straight arms and do not bend anywhere. As you can see from the picture on the back of the box, they come in a variety of outfits and also as brunettes. I guess the brunettes were not available, otherwise Anita would have got me one. It's very hard to get dolls where Anita lives as she lives in the country outside a small town.

Probably the size of Dolton LOL

The two girls that I have posted are Trendy Susy (brunette) and Trendy Nelly that Anita sent me a few years back. So it looks like they finally got boyfriends LOL

P.S. I haven't opened the wrapped package, which I am sure is a doll. Maybe it's the brunette! Can't wait til xmas!!! Although I did count the doll in my population cos technically I received it today.

Genevieve's Story Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4
The place was packed. Two waitresses were running back and forth with orders and trays and of food. Perhaps she had come at a bad time. But her tummy growled and so she reluctantly sat on a stool at the end of the counter.
Loud music was heard above the din of the people talking. A few teenagers got up to dance in the middle of the diner. Genevieve swung on her stool and watched them for a moment until she felt she was being watched.
She swivelled around and came face to face with Terry.
Time stood still. Oh he hadn’t changed on bit. Those dimples, and his lovely auburn hair. Still as thick as she remembered it. He wore a stained apron but other than that it was the same man.
"Gen..." he stammered. "Genevieve" he said her name louder this time.



She smiled at him. Suddenly she felt his arms around her. For he had come around the counter and picked up her frail body hugging it tightly.
"Oh Gen" he whispered. Then he gently sat her down again. Blushingly he asked what she would like to eat, like the hug and the past had never happened. But it had and....
Reluctantly she gave her order. Terry never took his eyes off her as she spoke.
She in turn felt like she was in slow motion or maybe she was dreaming. In that damn coma again. She blinked but he was gone. Genevieve shook her head. No it had happened hadn’t it?


"Well? I don’t have all day honey. What did you want to eat?"
Genevieve came out of her reverie. She had been day dreaming, that song on the juke box, it was theirs. Or had been. "Sorry, tea please and oh and a hamburger, with the works." she told the waitress who was now writing her request down on a note pad.
"Want fries with that?" came the crude question.
"Wha? Oh sure, with catsup." Genevieve told her.
"It’s on the counter honey!" the waitress told her and walked away yelling out her order.
Genevieve was stunned at this approach. She had been deep in her day dream and rudely awakened by this woman. Who was she? Genevieve hoped it was not Terry’s wife. Or maybe if it was, then Genevieve could.... No that would be wrong, Genevieve chastised herself. Terry was married and probably had children. She would not break up a marriage.
Her mind went back to the events of the day. That brilliant smile of Mr. Van Rose. ‘Hah’ she laughed to herself. He was really a shark in sheep’s clothing. ‘Did people still say those kinds of sayings?’she wondered. Well shark or no shark, an opportunity awaited her. Once she got her belly full, then she would go home and talk to her parents. Her parents, they must be worried about her. She hadn’t even seen them yet and she had been home, well in the Heights almost a month now. But there was so much to see.
The food arrived steaming hot and boy it smelled good too. Genevieve took a bite into her


hamburger, oh it was still hot. She waved her hand in front of her mouth and blew out the heat as it burned her tongue. The waitress must have seen her and approached with a glass of water.
Genevieve nodded to her and quickly gulped the cool water down to cool her mouth and throat.
"Fresh off the grill honey" the waitress laughingly told her.
Genevieve nodded her thanks, promising to eat more carefully this time. The woman really wasn’t so bad, just busy, Genevieve thought. Maybe that was why she seemed gruff. Genevieve took a good look at the woman through the backdrop mirror over the menu board on the wall facing her. No she couldn’t be Terry’s wife, she was much older looking. A little haggered even. As the woman came closer Genevieve could see a few wrinkles around the mouth and on the brow of the woman. Despite her gait the woman carried a few extra unnecessary pounds on her too. No this was not Terry’s wife.
As she chewed her food Genevieve gazed around the diner. Another much slimmer woman was serving. She too was a blonde but much softer in colour. Young too. ‘Yeah she could be Terry’s wife’ Genevieve thought. She sighed as she took another bite.
Her heart sank as she ate.
When she was finished the gruff waitress came and asked if she wanted dessert.
"Oh my I just don’t have any room" Genevieve smiled rubbing her now protruding stomach.
"What you don’t want any of Terry’s pie!" the waitress teased her."He will be upset."
"Well how about I take a piece to go. I really am full." Genevieve told the waitress.
The woman just shrugged and said "suit yourself. What flavour?"
Genevieve thought for a moment. "Apple" she finally said.
"Now you really have to stay and eat it!" the waitress pouted putting her hands on her hips. "You can’t eat apple pie without ice cream!"
Genevieve was becoming exasperated with this waitress. First she was rude, then nonchalant and now she was baiting her. 'How could Terry hire such a waitress?'
"What’s up?" the younger waitress arrived with a coffee pot in her hand."Would you like a refill?" she asked Genevieve.
"No thanks I was drinking tea." Genevieve told her.
"I can make you a fresh cup." the younger waitress told Genevieve. "Be right back."
‘This was much better service’, Genevieve thought.
‘Since you are having another cup of tea, you might as well have the pie with it." the gruff waitress told Genevieve.
Genevieve just shrugged and said "okay." This woman was getting on her nerves. If she saw Terry, Genevieve would surely complain about her, and forget about receiving a tip! But then Genevieve thought maybe this woman was Terry’s mother-in-law. Yes that could be. Her age was right, if the other waitress was Terry’s wife, then...that explained it all. Genevieve smiled to herself.
"Haven’t seen you here before" the younger waitress said as she brought the fresh steaming tea to Genevieve. "Are you visiting?"
"No I’ve come home after being away for a long time." Genevieve told her. No need to explain the whole story to a stranger. Well she had already, twice in one day actually. But...
"Welcome home then. How long have you been gone?"
"10 years." Genevieve told her matter of factly.
"Oh that is a long time. Why I have a 4 year old and a 3 year old and..."
Genevieve stopped listening, the woman obviously was Terry’s wife. So he waited at least 5 years before marrying someone else.
The woman had obviously asked Genevieve a question and was waiting for an answer.
"Oh I’m sorry, what did you say?"
"Did you know Terry Honeywell when you lived here before? He’s my husband."
Genevieve felt herself blush. "Yes we did go to school together, but...."
Before Genevieve could finish her answer, the young woman called out Terry’s name.
Genevieve watched as Terry came out from the kitchen. It was for real this time. She watched his face change expression.
"Genevieve" he called out. "My goodness it’s good to see you."
He really did come around the counter and when Genevieve stood up to great him, he wrapped his arms around her and gave her a big bear hug. Hmmm he smelled good. Well of food anyway. He had bit of a paunch but otherwise was the same old Terry she had remembered. Her body did anyway, if not her brain. But her heart would never forget Terry. For Genevieve was still in love with him. How could one forget their first love?
"Vanessa" he had let her go and turned to his wife the younger waitress. "This is Genevieve Griffith!" he said excitingly. We went to school together and well we knew each other in Toronto too, before I opened the Diner."
"Nice to meet you Genevieve" Vanessa said warmly.
Genevieve smiled back at Mrs. Honeywell.
"Sit down, tell me what you are up to. When did you get back?" Terry had a multitude of questions.
The gruff waitress had brought the pie with the now melting ice cream on top of it. Genevieve caught Terry’s frown but she picked up the fork and started to eat it anyway. Oh it was good. At least the waitress was right about the pie. It was out of this world.
"Terry did you make this yourself?" Genevieve asked between mouthfuls. She couldn’t look at him.
He just grinned that boyish grin of his. "Yup"
Genevieve closed her eyes savouring the food and then licked her lips. "Boy that was good. Did that man teach you cook this good? I’ve forgotten his name, the one who’s restaurant you worked at in Toronto?" A memory had returned.
Terry looked at Genevieve for a moment before replying. Had those memories returned to him too? Or had they faded forever? Replaced by a new love!
"You remember Raymond?" Terry asked her.
Genevieve nodded. She looked at Terry now. No one else mattered, his wife, the grumpy waitress, the other patrons, just Terry.
"That was so long ago, Genevieve" Terry said softly. "Raymond has long since passed." Again Terry asked her what she was up to, trying hard to change the subject.
Genevieve realized it must be hard for him to talk about the past, well he had to live through it all, while she slept the years away. ‘Did he miss her?’ She wondered. Obviously he had gone on with his life. So she must now too.
"Well" she said brightly, "I’ve been to the Heights."
Terry raised his eyebrows and said, "yeah quite the place eh."
Genevieve said nothing but continued "and also Lofton" she paused to see if Terry would comment. When he didn’t she added, "and I met Nolee."
Terry just smiled.
"Terry is an astute businessman" Vanessa added lovingly looking at her husband. Genevieve could tell the young woman admired Terry. ‘And rightly so,’ Genevieve thought. He is a man any woman could be proud of.
"So what are you going to do now?" Terry asked her.
Genevieve related to them about the day’s events. When she finished she waited to hear what Terry had to say.
He nodded his head thinking. Then said, Yes that Sherlan is a shrewd man. I guess that’s how he owns so many malls. You were right not to sign right away Gen."
Genevieve had caught the nick name he used to call her, but said nothing. No point in making anything of it now.
"If you need backing, I will help you." Terry told her. "I have lots of capital" he added looking at Vanessa who smiled back at him.
Genevieve was sure Terry did not seek his wife’s approval for any business dealings but then maybe he was wondering if she might have questions, later perhaps about them. No Genevieve was sure Terry had not told a soul about their relationship. It ended with the accident. A punishment perhaps for their sinful ways. She was sure Terry would have eventually asked her to be his wife. Thank goodness she had not gotten pregnant.
"That would be nice of you Terry. But I have insurance money from the...accident" she continued hesitantly. "Not sure how much is left but..."
"In case you don’t" he added taking her hand in his. "I would like to see you accomplish your dream as I have mine." He smiled at her. He patted her hand and then stood up. "Well I’ve chatted long enough, I’ll lose all my customers if I don’t get back to work! It was nice seeing you Gen. Come back again, soon." He smiled warmly at her.
"Phyllis" he called out to the older waitress.
She came running to Terry. Whatever he said to her, no one heard. But when Genevieve got up to pay her bill, she was told there was no charge for the meal. Genevieve thanked her and decided she better leave her a tip anyway. It wouldn’t be much as she hadn’t liked the woman but still the service was good.
"It was nice meeting you Vanessa." she said genuinely to Terry’s wife.
"Same here Genevieve. Come back again, soon." she smiled. Genevieve felt the woman really meant it.
Genevieve walked out into the cool crisp evening. She felt good. Although her heart still belonged to Terry she did not feel bad about him being married. Vanessa seemed to be a devoted wife and Terry obviously loved her. He had moved on and so could Genevieve. She remembered Terry’s words about accomplishing your dream. Terry had fulfilled his, now it was her turn.

Genevieve's Story Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3
Genevieve almost ran back to the coffee shop.
"Nolee, Nolee" she called out as she entered the shop. Nolee looked up from serving her customer.
"I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to go off without paying you for the coffee and donuts!" Genevieve pulled out some change from her trouser pockets.
"It’s on me!" Nolee told her, pushing the outstretched hand back that held the coins. "Besides I enjoyed meeting you. How did the tour go with Mr. Van Rose? I thought he had an interest in you."
"Really?" Genevieve laughed at that comment. "He really just wanted me to rent a store!"
"Oh?"
"Yeah there’s a beauty salon in the mall with no one to run it." Genevieve told the confused looking Nolee.
Nolee beckoned Genevieve to sit once more at the counter with her. But Genevieve declined saying, "thanks but I better home to Dolton! I have a plan with what to do with the rest of my life!" she laughed.
"Are you going to run the salon?" Nolee asked her.
"Sure hope so. But I wasn’t gonna let on that I would. That Sherlan tried to make me sign papers. I want to see my parents first. And a lawyer!" Genevieve smiled. "How far is it to Dolton from here?" she added.
Nolee told her there was a bus from the Heights to Dolton Proper. Bob Stanley drives the bus. He lives just down the road. It runs every couple of hours.
Genevieve just shook her head in amazement. The whole world had changed around her while she slept. There was so much to catch up on. And people too. Yes one person in particular she wanted to see. She hadn’t told Nolee the whole truth as to why she was so late coming home that fateful night, but then why should she have? It was her secret and his...
"Well I better get going then. See you soon, maybe on Monday." Genevieve winked at Nolee as she left the mall.
Outside the sun was shining brilliantly. It was a new beginning. She breathed deep and headed down the street.
‘Two houses down’ she repeated to herself what Nolee told her where the bus driver lived. Well that street was crowded with people and....oh a yard or a street sale! My goodness and it covered the whole street. People and children and dogs were everywhere. Genevieve walked slowly looking at the items. She forgot her rush to get home to Dolton, when she saw it.
It was huge, standing behind the cashier, a lovely looking woman with long red hair. She reminded Genevieve of Yvonne back in Tu Mani. The resemblance was uncanny.





Genevieve made her way to look at the hulking piece of furniture.





"How much?" Genevieve asked the cashier.
The lady shrugged and said, "make me an offer!" Then she turned to serve a paying customer.
Genevieve lifted the purple covering. Underneath was a white vanity type of table. A large oval mirror was still intact and little stool fit under it all. ‘Why it would be a perfect styling station for her store! Hold on Genevieve’ her mind was spinning. ‘Fate, it had to be fate, this happening, this meeting. Why, had she gone straight to Dolton, this would never had happened! Yes yes it was meant to be.’
"So have you decided?"
Genevieve turned to the red headed lady who spoke. ‘My goodness this woman even had an accent like Yvonne’s!’
"I’m sorry but you look like someone I know" Genevieve told her. "But she lives in the states. Anyway yes I am interested in this. How about $100.?"
The woman just looked at Genevieve in surprise.
"Not enough?" Genevieve asked her, apprehensibly.
"No I was thinking more around $25. I would have let it go for $10. Just to get it out of my storage shed!" The lady exclaimed.
Genevieve was embarrassed, she had let her exuberance overtake her common sense. "Okay I will give you $25. for it then. But I have just one dilema..."
The woman waited.
"How can I get it home?"
The lady laughed. She leaned and looked behind Genevieve and called, "Gary! Bob! I need your help here!"




Two men slowly approached.
"This young lady has just bought this, ah vanity and she needs it to be delivered."
The men looked at each other.
"Ah Yvonne I have a sore knee" Bob stammered. "And besides I have to get my bus."
"Your Bob Stanley!" Genevieve said.
"Why yes, why?" He answered her.
"I need to take the bus to Dolton." she replied.
"Oh no, we can’t take that to Dolton!" Bob told her. "Besides you have to catch the bus in the Heights."
"I don’t want to take it to Dolton!" Genevieve told him rather sternly. "And why do I have to walk to the Heights when you are here and have to drive there anyway?"
Bob had to admit the woman made sense and both he and Gary were relieved they didn’t have to take the vanity to Dolton.
"Okay you can get on the bus here. I leave shortly. So where do you want the vanity to go?"
Genevieve had half a mind to tell the men to take it to the mall. But she thought better of it.
"You could store it in my garage overnight if you wish?" A woman’s southern drawl came from behind them.
‘Another Texan!’ Genevieve thought. ‘Have they taken over?’
Genevieve turned to see a lovely raven haired woman standing beside her.
"Hi I’m Marion Nixon. This is my place and you can store the vanity in my garage if you like. As long as it’s not for too long."
"Thank you, thank you so much. No it will just be until Monday. Are you from Texas too?" Genevieve blurted out.
Marion laughed "yes I am. My neighours too are, the Stanleys. You met Bob and over there" she pointed, "is his wife Diane. We came for the summer and well we just stayed! We love it here. I just opened a flower shop in the Lofton Mall."
"Really" Genevieve said. "I hope to open the beauty salon. That is what I want the vanity for."
"Oh my that will be great. I need to get my hair coiffed every 3 weeks, so I will definately be pleased to see you open the salon. I’ll get my husband to help Gary move the vanity for you."
"Thank you" Genevieve genuinely said. "I promise to pick it up on Monday. It was nice to meet you all. But I really have to get home now!" Genevieve paid the redheaded woman the $25. And took her receipt. By the time she had walked the end of the block she could see the town bus waiting for her.




But Genevieve saw Bob Stanley standing by the bus so she knew it was the right bus. Genevieve wondered where Dolton Beach was, maybe it just went to Brennan’s Ranch. There was a beach there of course, as Genevieve had often swam there as a child. She remembered Ken Brennan’s father, who always had the Dominion Day picnics at the ranch. The whole town would come for the festivities. Genevieve wondered if that tradition was still held in Dolton. Would Mr. Brennan even be alive?
After paying her fare, she sat across from Bob and then asked, "Do you stop at the Brennan Ranch?"
"Nope" he said as he pulled the doors closed and proceeded to navigate down the hill. Bob was used to the hill into Dolton but this one from Lofton was much steeper. He did not relish driving it in the winter time. But with the beach closed for the rest of the year he was glad of the work.
Genevieve did not talk to Bob as he drove down the steep road. She was still very nervous in vehicles and rightly so. She held the rail in front of her tightly and even closed her eyes until she felt the bus come to a stop. Reluctantly she opened her eyes. They were in the Heights, well on the outskirts. A couple of residents she didn’t recognize were waiting at the bus stop.
"Hey Martin, another weekend in the Heights eh!"
Martin and a tall blonde woman with a little girl clamoured up into the bus.
"Yep, Rue and I came to visit my cousin John and of course go shopping at the new mall." he winked. "Gonna have to work overtime this week at the post office to pay for it all!" he said showing Bob all the bags they were carrying.
Bob just nodded. Soon he hoped they would be coming to his wife’s new store and hopefully buying lots of goodies there. The bank had come through for them. Of course the money from the sale of their cottage (to Max) had helped. Plus they had collateral in their new house and Bob has this job. So Diane went full steam ahead ordering her stock for the new store. Bob hoped it would be a success. Diane knew her product well. He just hoped there were lots of....
"Pardon?" that woman was asking him questions again.
"How long have you lived here? In Lofton I mean?" Genevieve asked him.
They were on a straight stretch of road and there was no traffic so Bob was able to turn to answer the woman.
"Lofton, almost a year now. Dolton Beach, two years and Dolton Proper, well we only spent one winter there."
It was more than Genevieve expected to hear. But there was that Dolton Beach name again.
"Okay so where is this Dolton Beach?" she asked the driver.
"Remember where we stopped at the Heights?" Bob asked her without taking his eyes off the road this time.
"Yeah" Genevieve replied.
"Well if you went in the opposite direction that is Dolton Beach. It’s on the other side of the Brennan River."
‘Oh so it was at the Ranch’ Genevieve thought, trying to remember the landscape.
"And if you go this way" Bob pointed.
Genevieve looked out towards the highway. In the distance she could see a huge blue building, a gas station she recalled, then nodded.
"That’s Highway #2, it goes to the beach also. But you have to turn off the highway to get there. It’s the only way to drive there."
‘Highway #2' Genevieve thought, ‘where she had her accident.’ Shivers went down her spine. She gripped the railing once again for they had approached another steep decline. Not as bad as the one from Lofton. Ah yes, this was the road into Dolton, she actually remembered it now. But wait what was this? A huge structure loomed in front of them.
"That’s the new Dolton Mall," Bob told her. "Won’t be finished for another year or so. Biggest in Ontario."
There was no chance to ask anymore questions. The smell of food hit her. Suddenly she felt hungry. The bus slowed then turned into a tunnel like building. It’s name said Dolton Depot. Another bus was already inside unloading passengers. Bob swung the bus round the loop and waited til the bus came to a complete stop.
"This is it!" he said to Genevieve.
She stood up and thanked Bob then alit from the bus. Oh my she was hungry. It must be suppertime at least. Genevieve checked her watch. 5:30! She knew her parents would not be expecting her home yet, so she trudged up the steep hill to Terry’s Diner.
Genevieve stopped outside the building and took a deep breath. Would Terry be inside? How would he react in seeing her. Nolee had told her that Terry owned the Diner and that yes he was married. Genevieve wondered if she knew Terry’s wife. She took one more deep breath and walked in.

Meet the Triplets

Well as expected I went back to WM and picked up the Pink Ribbon Barbie. Since she is the same doll as the Healing Hearts Barbie and similar to the 2007 Barbie, who btw has a ponytail, (which I am a sucker for LOL), I decided to make them triplets. They have Italian names because their grandfather (on their mother's side) is Italian (Romero). As you can see these gorgeous gals quickly found partners!
Here, Antoinette (red) has caught the eye of Drew Silkstone!



And Antonina has caught Chance's eye.
Watch out Joy!









And lastly Antonia has found a dancing partner for the New Year's Ball.












As expected these gals have attracted the men of Dolton Heights (and Silkendale) rather quickly. I am sure they will have a great social life here.
I posted a poll on the Yahoo blog about these gals, please vote and let me know what you think of them.

Getting Acquainted - Part 2

We left off with Carson yelling for help to get him out of his prison. Each one took a corner to try and lift off the lid.




I'll help said Drew, who himself was just released from his box.



But try as they might, together they just could not lift the heavy lid.














Meanwhile waiting in the wings.....
was Superman who knew someday he would be needed. He practiced flexing his muscles by bending steel.

From afar he could see the trouble the Silkstones were having.

Note: he has a opening in the back of his head where you can look and see through his eyes.




Here let me help, Superman says as he comes to the rescue.








With one hand Superman lifts the lid and......






















Stay tuned for part 3

Getting Acquainted - Part 1

Here's a mini story that I dreamed up last night. Included is the two new silkstone guys that I bought at the toy show last month. They have now been named.


Are we related? Sandy meets her look alike. Her name is Patsy. They are distant cousins.
Patsy: I like your outfit. I'm so tired of sleeping. Can we go somewhere?
Sandy: You are in luck, Patsy. The Dolton Heights Clothing Store is having a big sale!
Patsy: Yippee! Let's go.

Can I come too? A male voice pops up. I am so cold in these....um shorts!
The girls giggle.
Of course they chorus.
Sandy: What's your name anyway?
Lee: I'm Lee
Sandy: Well pleased to meet you Lee. Come on let's go shopping!
Patsy: What's that noise?
LET ME OUT OF HERE!!!!







Stay tuned for Part 2

I'm getting Closer!!!

Two towns got new residents today. We have a toy store at the mall where I work and they often get older dolls there. Today I got two silkies! If anyone is looking for a silkstone Ken, they have them for $30 (including tax) Pix tomorrow.
Of course I went back to Walmart and picked up the pink version of Barbie, Pink Ribbon Barbie. I just couldn't resist as they are only $10 and there were tons of them!
I also bought another Highland Fling and a superman doll. Although he is not a Ken but an AF kinda like Max Steele. We'll see how he turns out when I release him from his box, later tonight.
Like I said on the Yahoo blog there will be pix tomorrow.

Genevieve's Story - Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2
They pushed and shoved and soon spilled into the huge Mall. Genevieve had never seen anything like it! There were all sorts of stores, clothing, footwear, a floral shop, even a lottery booth. And hmmmm she smelled food too.
She made her way to a coffee shop. Genevieve had often drank tea while in Tu Mani but the coffee aroma beckoned her. There were donuts too. Every flavour you could possibly want. And croissants and.... Oh my she couldn’t decide.
A young gal with very long ebon hair greeted her.
"Too much to chose from eh!"
Genevieve nodded. "I’ve never seen so much food in my life! Well for a very long time anyway. Oh I mean I’ve eaten before, good meals at the picnics and parties I went to in Tu Mani, but never here."
"We are fairly new up here." came the young woman’s reply. "Terry just opened this location."
"Terry? Not Terry Honeywell!" Genevieve gasped.
"Yes that’s him. He owns this place. Actually he hired me. Well a few years ago. I used to manage the coffee shop in Dolton." she replied.
"A coffee shop in Dolton!" Genevieve exclaimed rather surprisedly.
"You aren’t from Dolton then, are you?" the younger girl asked.
"Oh yes I am but..." Genevieve faltered. Should she tell this stranger about her past? She seemed so genuine.
"Come let’s sit down and enjoy our coffees and some refreshments. It’s not busy right now, so I have some time. My name is Nolee by the way. I moved here from Toronto, after Terry hired me."

"How did you meet?" Genevieve asked after they were seated at the counter.
"The Home Show a couple of years back. It was at the Dolton arena." Nolee told her.



Genevieve could not hide her surprise. "I have been away a long time" she started. "And I haven’t seen Dolton since I came back. Well..." she started to cry. "I’ve missed so much!"
"There there," the young girl stood up and put her arm around Genevieve’s shoulder. "You can tell me. That is if you want to."
Genevieve sniffled a bit and then started her story.
"I never finished high school as I always wanted to be a hairdresser. I had dreams of opening my own beauty salon in Dolton, since they didn’t have one. Oh I bet they do now, don’t they?" she was almost afraid to ask.
Nolee nodded in the affirmative.
Genevieve hung her head. "I was afraid of that!"
"But we don’t have one in this mall!" Nolee told her brightly.
Genevieve looked around. Sure enough she hadn’t seen one. Or smelled one. As salons often smelled, mostly from the perms they did on the women’s hair.
"So, why didn’t you?" Nolee asked softly.
Genevieve returned telling her story. "As I said, I quit high school after grade 10. I went to beauty school in Toronto. I would ride the Colonial Coach every day. Oh it was a long ride but I enjoyed it.
It was winter time," she paused. "Close to Christmas I believe, yes that is why I missed my bus. I had been Christmas shopping downtown. There weren’t anymore buses home so I foolishly decided to hitch hike."
Nolee gasped, for she knew the highway well from Toronto to Dolton having ridden the bus many times herself before moving to town. "It must have been very dangerous!" she said cautiously.
"Not really" Genevieve shrugged. "Most of the young men were away at war (WWII) and those that were left behind were older or married men!" she laughed. "But this night, a woman picked me up." She was a nurse, I think." Genevieve shook her head trying to remember the details.
"It was snowing lightly, so pretty. But the roads were slippy and well, we went off the road, into the ditch. I don’t remember much else after that. Lots of bright lights, I suppose they were flashlights and car lights. I was taken to the hospital in Oakville but it was just a community hospital back then. Later I was transferred to Toronto. I guess the shock and all the time it took to get me to a proper facility affected my injuries. I went into a coma or so I was told. I woke up about a year ago, now. I was so shocked to see my parents with gray hair." Genevieve shook her head with those memories.
"And the other lady, the driver?" Nolee was almost afraid to ask.
Genevieve gave Nolee a blank stare, as if trying to remember or maybe forget.
"I’m not sure," she faltered. "But I think she died." Genevieve softly said.
The two girls sat for a bit each deep within their own thoughts.
"Ahem"
They jumped at the sound of the man behind them.
"Oh Mr. Van Rose" Nolee quickly jumped out of her seat. "I was, well it wasn’t busy and...oh" she turned to Genevieve who also had stood up. "This is Sherlan Van Rose, the mall manager."
Nolee introduced the two to each other.


Genevieve smiled sweetly at the handsome man. "Your accent....ah are you American?"
His broad grin lit up the room. "Yes" he accentuated his southern drawl. "From Texas Ma’am. Pleased to make your acquaintance."
Genevieve played along with his good humoured approach. "And what brings you here?"
"I own a string of malls across Texas and the states. I decided to branch out into Canada. This is my third mall. I also own the newly built mall in Dolton and...."
"Dolton!" Genevieve gasped. "That’s my home town! Oh my they have a mall there now! Where is it?"
Sherlan could not hide his surprise as this woman’s remark. ‘If Dolton was her home town, why then did not know about it’s mall?’ Instead he replied, "Well it is still under construction. It’s much larger than this one. It’s on Highway 2, behind the Drive - In and between the Textile Mill."
Genevieve was stunned once again to hear of these new places in Dolton. Suddenly she felt anxious to get home and see all what she was missing.
"May I show you around?" Sherlan suddenly asked Genevieve.
"Of course" she followed him through the mall.
"And what do you do for a living? Or are you married, perhaps?" Sherlan stopped as he asked the question.
"Oh no, I’m not." Genevieve replied. "Married that is. And I am a qualified hair dresser. That is if my license is still valid."
Sherlan looked at her quizzically.
Genevieve blushed. "I should explain. You see I was in a car accident over 10 years ago and have been in a coma up til this year. I have been away at a rehabilitation centre, where I learned to walk again. I have only just returned home now. That is why, you see, that I am not up to date on all the changes in my home town. Actually," she laughed. "I haven’t even stepped foot in Dolton yet!"
Sherlan had to laugh at that last statement. For such a sad event to occur in this young woman’s life and still she was not in the least bit depressed over her past. A thought suddenly occurred to him.
"Hairdresser hmmm. Come with me."
Genevieve followed Sherlan to a store that was covered over in brown paper. It had not been opened for this occasion. He stepped in and flicked on the lights. There before her stood a small but well equipped salon. All ready for the opening.
Genevieve looked at Sherlan. ‘What was he trying to tell her?’ she wondered.
"This was built, but we didn’t have anyone qualified to run it. So I think fate has intervened here."
Genevieve looked around the room. It was all there, as she had hoped or dreamed in her youth to have her own salon. She couldn’t believe it. Maybe she was back in that coma and dreaming. Could it be?
"What do think?"










"Are you asking me to work here?" she managed to squeak out the words.
"Well if you have a license, it could be yours. We can set up a rental agreement and...."
Genevieve’s mind was spinning fast. ‘Money, she needed money’ she thought. ‘Insurance, yes there was insurance money from the accident. But how much would be left?’ she wondered.
"I have insurance money...not sure how much but..."
"Oh I’m sure the Dolton Bank would help you out there." Sherlan continued to encourage her. It would be good to have this place opened. There was only one other store not open yet but he was sure it would be soon too. It was all working out according to plan. Another successful mall under his belt, then he could get out of this small town and back to city life.
"Come let’s go and get those papers signed." He urged Genevieve.
"Well as much as I would love to do this," she said cautiously. This was happening just too fast. Genevieve may have been asleep for 10 years but she was no fool. "I should get home and see if I can afford this first. I will let you know." She held out her hand to shake.
Reluctantly Sherlan returned the handshake and watched as the young woman quickly strode away. ‘Almost, he almost had her.’ he thought. He sighed as he flicked off the light switch and locked up the door.