The Spring Toy Show, and What I Bought There, and What's Up With Ken

    I haven't been around for a while. I think the last time you heard from me our car had died. We were without a car for a while, and then some people we've known for a long time offered us a van for a really great price. They got a lot of things fixed on it, using their own money, because they knew we really needed a car and were low on funds. It was a nice van, and had cool stuff like heated seats, and a CD and cassette player, and even a DVD player and tv for the back seats! I doubted we would ever use that, since we don't often have anybody in our back seat these days. It was still kind of cool to have though. We might have taken a trip at some point, and pulled over to enjoy a little TV while we ate lunch or something. I say 'might have', because three weeks into having the van, on the way to a doll show in fact, it became hard to break on the highway, in the rain no less, and the weird noises the van had been making: clunks, pops, etc., and the weird things it had been doing: juddering when reaching 55, listing to the left, having super tight steering, became worse. Before we reached our destination the van was feeling very scary. We did actually get to the doll show. It was a Saturday afternoon, so we weren't sure how we were going to get home. I actually took Ken into the venue where the show was being held, while my sister checked around for somewhere that might be open and able to take us on such short notice, and so close to closing time. When I came back out to park the van, she had found somewhere. I went back in to get Ken, and reloaded Ken and wheelchair back in the van  We carefully drove to Midas. The manager was going to take the van for a test drive, but ran back in saying, "I was going to take it for a test drive, but noooo! I'm going to run it in here and check it out." So he did, and was back in seconds. The subframe had broken. He said he was surprised we even made it into Midas. He said it would take at least $2000 to even start fixing what was wrong with it. With the miles on the vehicle and all the other things he said would probably come up next, the only thing that made sense was junking the van. Midas Man also said he couldn't see how anybody could have been under there working on the van recently and not seen that this was about to happen. 

  So once again, after three weeks, we were without a vehicle again. And by the time we got everything straightened out and a van rented  to get home before the car rental place closed for the day, it was too late to bother going to the doll show. There was less than an hour of the show left, and it costs $10 to get in now anyway.

  Last week Ken went in for a heart catheterization to have stents put in. He'd been in the week before, when they went in through his wrist. They decided he had more to do than they wanted to do through the wrist, so he had to come back. I was very scared, but he did fine. We were supposed to go home after it was finished, but they ended up keeping him a couple of nights so they could flush his kidneys out with IV fluids. Turns out, the contrast dye they use for the procedure can damage the kidneys, and Ken already has kidney damage from his diabetes. They did one side of his heart, but he was starting to have to move because his back and leg were hurting from laying on his back so long, so they had to stop. Now he has to go back in a couple of weeks to have the other side done. I'll be terrified again. If any of you want to do a few prayers, or send some positive vibes or thoughts Ken's way, it would all be appreciated.

  But before all that happened Ken and I went to the toy show with my sister. It's the Xenia, Ohio toy show, and it supposedly one of the biggest in the county. It may or may not be, but it sure is huge. It's held at a fairground, and it encompasses many buildings. We have always gone to every single building...except this time. It was supposed to be very cold, but turned out to not be too bad. But I have been having a lot of hip and back pain the last few months, and my sister recently had surgery to correct her botched double mastectomy, so she was tired, and not feeling her best. Only Ken was doing fine, although he was getting wheeled around. I could have done better from a wheelchair too. So we called it quits a bit  early. There were lots of dolls, as has become usual with this show. For once I didn't buy anything from the dealer I bought the Saucy Walker and lookalike from at the last show. I did buy a couple of things though, which I'll show you in a minute.

  First I'll show you a few interesting things I spotted. 

  I'm not sure if I have shown this same doll in a previous post. She looks familiar, and I know I photographed some of the same dealer's dolls before. This is a Lisa doll by Takara.    

There was this boxed set of Cousins dolls at another dealer.

  The Cousins were baby sitters to go with the Quints dolls by Tyco. (Why weren't there 5 of them? Somebody got off easy, watching only one kid.) I am familiar with the Quints dolls, but I never heard of the Cousins before. I knew they had to be connected with the Quints though, from the look of the packaging. Apparently they were supposed to be teenagers. There were several sets. Their gimmick was that when they stood close together their outfits formed a picture. How weird.

  I also saw something I've never seen, even in ads.

Can you spot which thing it is? It's Casper, in a box! I always wanted my cousin's Casper doll, and I finally got one as an adult. I've never seen his box though.

  Another thing I saw that I had never seen was this Liddle Kiddles Talking Townhouse.

I've had the Kiddle Klubhouse before, but I don't think I'd even heard of the Talking Townhouse. Apparently it had a pullstring talk feature. If this house was in good shape, $30 was a good price for it.

 

 There was also a dealer with Monster High dolls, including the giant sized 17" ones.

  I also saw this Strawberry Shortcake house.

  I didn't take many pictures this time. It was dark in the buildings, and most of the stuff wasn't displayed in a way that made it easy to get good pictures of. And I was in pain that day and just not feeling it. As I said though, I did buy something. It was near the end of our stay at the show. What did I get? 

  

  I spotted some Barbie and Skipper dolls at one table. Most of the dolls weren't in great shape. One of them was my favourite Skipper, the Mod Era, red haired, eyelash Skipper. I have a few of these Skippers, but  one has a reddish face and is missing most of her lashes, and one is paled out a bit.  One is nearly perfect but for a piece chopped out of her bangs. This girl has thin hair, and her lashes are there, but short. But you know what? I can fix that. Her face colour is pretty good.

She was marked $35. I asked the dealer what the least she would take was. She said $25! There was another Skipper I considered, a sausage curl. She was marked $25.While I was on a roll, I asked the dealer what she would take for both. She said $40, so I said okay. 

Her head is great, including her lashes.

 Unfortunately, her feet and ankles aren't in very good shape. 

 I can always switch her head to another sausage curl body that has a bad head. I probably have one.

  I might try to sell the sausage curl girl, or at least her head. 

I really can't afford to spend that kind of money any more. I hadn't bought a Skipper for myself in a long time. (I did buy a 'Sample', or Test Market Skipper at a show, but she was to sell. I have to pay for going to shows somehow. They are quite a drive, and the doll shows cost $8 to $10 each to get into, and the toy show costs $5.And now Ken has to go with me, because I can't leave him on his own, so it costs twice as much.)

  I also missed the other Spring doll show because Ken had only just come home from the hospital and had to take it easy for a week or so. So the next doll shows are this Fall. We'll see what happens then. 

  

Doll-A- Day 2023 #280: Dark Brunette Skipper

   I discovered today that I have been misnumbering my posts for the last ten days or so! It happens every time I do a year of daily dolls. At some point I mess the number up and continue on with the wrong numbers! At least I caught it this time before it had gone on for months! I am still ten days behind for the year, and I do still intend to catch up. But we're coming into what is always a busy time of the year for me anyway, writing Christmas cards, wrapping presents, making presents, etc., and this year we'll also be back at the house trying to get things straightened around. So we'll be extra busy. We should be getting the windows back in soon, and the house rewired, and then we'll be there, trying to get the house back in order, scrubbing soot off the walls, washing up all the bedding and clothes that got smoked, scrubbing down my ENTIRE LIFE that was blackened by smoke, and ripping up the carpet on the landing and stairs. I have a brand new carpet standing in a corner in my bedroom, that was going to go in the living room, but it may be too blackened now to put down. We'll have to see. I might also have to strip my wallpaper. That's another thing we'll have to see about. If I have to do that, I don't know what I'll do. I hate to just paint the walls. I wanted a bedroom with rose wallpaper ever since I was a kid, when my sister had a bedroom with rose wallpaper. (I also coveted her four poster bed and matching chest, and I have those now too. The bedroom of my dreams, up in smoke, so to speak.) Wallpaper is way too expensive for me now. I don't think I could afford to wallpaper  a bedroom any more. Anyway, we'll see.

  Hey! Good news though! You might remember I've been having trouble with my shoulders for months. My right one wasn't nearly as bad as the left one, and has been okay for quite a while now. The left one was still terrible, but slightly better. But I woke up Monday morning and it was BETTER! I thought it had been popping back into the socket before, but was easy to pop back out again, and very sore. I think it must have not been popping back in all the way, and/or that maybe there was a nerve pinched or something. This time it's really in, and only slightly sore in the muscle where I have been using it weirdly because normally hurt. There doesn't seem to be a pinched nerve or whatever any more either. Everything must have gone back into place, I don't know what I did. It's been good for a couple of days now, although I am being a bit easy on it to make sure it doesn't pop out again. I am trying to exercise it though, to make sure it doesn't stiffen up again.

  Today's doll is the last one I got at the recent doll shows. She's a bend leg Skipper.

 I hadn't bought a Skipper for quite a while. I  was trying to be good, because I figured I had enough Skippers. Well, I do. But this one has very dark brunette hair...is that black?

  She needs her eyebrows touched up, but I've done that before. But this hair colour is pretty rare, and I only have one Skipper with this colour.

  I got her for only $7, because she has a few pin marks in her ankles, and what seems to be some hair missing. I don't think it's hair loss though. I think she just needs her part rewoven. I have done that before, but I hate it. It's really aggravating.

  I'll do it though. I'll show her to you again when I do.

  That's the doll for today. See you again tomorrow.

Doll -A-DAy 2019 #286: My Vacation Find,Bend Leg Skipper

  Well the weather certainly has turned! It was in the 40's,and about 50 yesterday. At the moment it's 66 degrees, but it's freezing in the house! It supposedly got down in the 30's last night. I finally had to shut the bedroom window, no matter how sorry I felt for Ken, who is always hot. I also slept with socks on. I was cold!
  Ivy is on a trip to Canada right now. She called and talked to us during her all night layover in North Carolina. Why in the world would you have to fly from Indiana to North Carolina to fly to New York, to fly to Canada?!
  First I have to apologize for the poor quality of today's photos. It was late before I knew it and I was losing light. I had to take my photos quickly,unable to see clearly to focus because it was darker than I thought. I was also talking to Lori on the phone at the same time! I had her on speaker phone, but I still had to stay close to it.I was also not wanting to spend too much time taking pictures because I wanted to talk to Lori. So.
   Today's doll is the last of my finds from vacation. I found her on our last day of vacation,at an antique/junk store in the middle of nowhere. I hadn't had  many chances to stop at antique stores on the trip, and we were one day away from home. This place popped up out of the countryside. When I walked in the door there was a basket just inside,next to the door. It was full of dolls. Some were 70's and 80's Skippers. There was a Chris,which was in such bad shape that I left her behind. There was the Tutti and the Cricket I already showed you. There was also this girl.
 ***UPDATE*** I forgot to include her 'before' photos. Here she is 'as found'.

 

  She's a bend leg Skipper.

Bend leg Skipper came out in 1965. The first version was what is called a 'tan skinned' doll. It always looks more like gray skin to me.

The pink skinned version, which is what this girl is,came out the following year,and continued in 1967.
 

This girl needs some eyebrow work.

Her lips are faded to what is referred to as 'butter lips'. It's not uncommon.

Something else that's common with the bend leg Skipper dolls is that their bangs tend to  stand on end.

 This Skipper's bangs aren't too bad comparatively.

She's wearing the coat to the 1970-71 Skipper fashion Pink Princess.

  That's the doll for today. See you tomorrow for another doll.

Doll-A-Day 2019 #76: Sausage Curl Skipper

  I'm baaa-aaaack!  Happy St. Patrick's Day! Lori and I got back from Georgia last night. We looked at a few houses, and Lori thinks she might have found one.
  We left Wednesday afternoon. Tammy World was raring to go.

"Who said you were even going?" Tammy: "Me!"

  We went pretty far down in Georgia. It was very warm Thursday. We looked at some houses where tons of flowers were in bloom. When I left home the temperatures were not nearly as warm. My poor daffodils aren't even up all the way, but they have buds. This is why Lori wants to move south. She's sick of the cold. Of course, today it snowed here again!
   I was hopping happy when I spotted some Shoney's restaurants! I thought they were hard to find these days, but they were everywhere down there. I hadn't been to a Shoney's in years, since the last time we took a vacation in the south. Ivy, who will be 20 this year was probably about 3 the last time. Shoney's do a great breakfast buffet, with the fluffiest scrambled eggs and a really good,(although probably artificial) cheese sauce. I got a buffet breakfast to go on Friday. I couldn't eat it all at once, but it lasted me all day.

It's hard to tell, but there are pancakes, biscuit, mixed mystery fruit, spiced apples. fried potatoes, grits, and cinnamon bread sticks. Bit heavy on the starches.

By Friday though, it was really windy and starting to get cold, even in Georgia.

Lori's dog Dante' wasn't enjoying the wind.

There was sand!

    It was chilly, and the strong winds made it even colder. It was drizzly too.

Peanuts and pecans, two of Georgia's biggest crops...

...and swamps, another one.

These little flowers were blooming in a cotton field belonging to one of the properties Lori looked at.

Lori travels with her dogs, including this one, a nine week old sheltie she has only had a week.

It got so cold that I went back to a long sleeved shirt on Saturday.

And Tammy World changed to a sweater.

  The south is literally covered with Kudzu, and it's honestly kind of creepy looking.

  We headed home Friday night, but were still in Georgia when we set back off on Saturday morning.

It was chilly, but the skies in Tennessee were blue on Saturday.

A little farther North, Kentucky was also sunny and cold. I ended up putting my winter coat on.

The trees were blooming in Kentucky

It looked sunny and warm as Lori let the new sheltie potty again. It was sunny, but not warm!

  When I got home I found that while I was gone Ken had caught up on the laundry, cleaned up his stove messes, refilled my prescriptions, and restocked my deodorant. When he got home he surprised me with a belated birthday cake he made for me. It's the kind I make for him, and it takes ages to make, so he had spent a while on that and then gone to work that day. What a sweet guy!
  Tomorrow we'll look at my birthday present doll, what Emma brought me for my birthday from her recent trip to London, and what I bought on my trip.
  Today is a brief post looking at this doll.

She's a Sausage Curl Skipper.

Sausage Curl dolls were produced in 1969 and 1970.

They have rooted eyelashes, twist waists, and click bend knees.

This girl is wearing a rare coat, from the 1969 Sears gift set Bright 'N Breezy. and a shirt, from the Sears exclusive fashion set, Young Ideas, which was sold from 1970 to 1973. The Bright 'N Breezy set came with a blonde Sausage Curl doll.

This 1969 Sears ad is confusing me.

  See you tomorrow!