Still Embarking

Whew!  After almost two years I all of a sudden decided to start this blog up again.  I won't even begin today to tell you what all has happened in these two short years.
I do know this that my life has totally been upended - not in a bad way - but upended all the same.
Maybe I can use my blog to find my way back again.  I don't know what "back" is anymore but I do know that I am lost.
I think if I could be content with a life that just lets things happen each day then I would be fine.  But I can't.  Life is too short.  I still want to do something - it's just that I don't know what that is yet.
I had a good thing going with my dolls and then slowly it twirled away from me. 
When I see pictures of dolls I love I get the burning in my heart to create again.  So it hasn't left me completely.  I just have to find a way to return to that place where I can create.
But first....
As most of you know we have moved.  I gave up my nice beautiful large messy studio.  It was drowning me anyways.  The more space I have the more messier I become.  The more stuff I collect.  More to trip over.  More to have to deal with and store.  The more guilt when I don't use it up.
I wish I could just buy supplies.  I love buying supplies.
But I had a place to go to everyday.  I had a reason to get up early and get started with something.  That's what kept me going.
Now I live in Buffalo - a town I went to high school in.  It feels like home.  But so far away from all of my conveniences that I depended on.  Well...we still have Cub, Target, etc.  What more do I need?
And...it has a market here for arts and crafts.  Maybe not the high end stuff but more the upscale garage sale stuff. 
It has a lake, bike trails and lots of friends nearby!
I have a nice beautiful house to live in.
The problem is that it is a rental.  Can't put too many holes in the walls and there is not a good place to make a mess - except in the basement.  I don't have ventilation, lighting, access to a sink and all that good stuff. 
There is a reason for everything and there is a plan for me.  I just don't know what it is yet.  Hopefully by the end of the year it will be apparent!
So stay tuned......

Embarking.

So....we arrive in St. Cloud to the turn-of-the century Amtrak trail station. We have so much luggage (don't know why and don't ask) and it is soooo cold out. After a wait in the station the train pulls up and we all lug out there. We wait. And wait. And wait.
One party gets led to their car only to have on of them schlep on the ice while we all gasp. I look at the elderly waiting with their walkers and tentative steps. Wonder who will be next.
The station guy starts spreading salt while we wait some more. I go back inside since I freeze in no time flat.
Now remember this is at 12:45 am. Not exactly the best time to be out in the cold.
The train pulls a little further up the track. A few more people embark. Raino motions me to come out. I run out and we wait, and wait and wait.
The train needs to pull up again. We are told to proceed along the icy trail again. The door opens and we are told to go to the left. Now we had reserved seats but no seat numbers assigned.
We need to get our heavy luggage up the steps and into cubbies that are already full. We peek inside the car and walk around in the dark amidst sleeping people to look for empty seats. We find two empty seats together and two more single ones.
So I have to wake up one lady who jumps up like I was some scary ghost. Ashley gets to climb over her while I go sit with another kind lady who moves over for me.
Okay, train has already started moving a long time ago and we have our assorted luggage stowed - now its time to sleep. Right.
A few stops down the track two more seats empty out. Ash and Hannah grab them and we are good to go again.
Now to find comfortable postions when they weren't to be found. I did see Little Falls, Staples, Detroit Lakes and Fargo and Grand Forks. So pretty at night. JK
More later.....

Amtrak to Montana

Our suit cases are packed once again. This time another one of our little families gets the honor of our presence for a few days. We had mini Christmases with some of our families here. The food cooler is waiting, granola bars and power drinks tucked into place in their tote, the Nook and Ipod's ready to go, what are we waiting for?
12:40 am. Of all hours. Geesh. Waaaayy past our bedtime.
Off we will trudge into the dark night with our pillows and blankies, to make the hour drive to wait out in the cold for our Amtrak to Montana.
After finding some seats we will have to settle down to....sleep?? We'll see about that.
Should be a fun adventure! We don't quite know yet what to expect but will hope for the best!
WoooooHooooo!
Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

"I will make sure their wings don't fall off".

I am babysitting Laura's little cherubs for a few days while she welcomes her new baby boy into this world.
Since her kids are early birds (like me...!) I got up extra early to get some angels made. Avery was the first one up - 6 am. So by now, 6:55 she is bored and waiting for the time to go see her baby brother.
She already read "Children Like Me" and studied the globe to figure out where they all live. She looked through my Nutcracker book (she always finds things for me to make in there). She examined the dolls in my studio and declared that they are so "beautiful"!
So now she wanted my Bosu ball from my bedroom closet. I told her she would have to get it by herself - thinking she will go back to her books. No - she said she will drag it.
So off she went and got as far as the bedroom door. She came and asked me very politely that if I would carry it to the living room for her she would watch my angels to make sure their wings didn't fall off.
Stay tuned..it will be an interesting three days!

New Sleeping Babies

Here's a few new orders I finished! Whew! These take a while - lots of fussy stuff. But they are all covered with German glass glitter - love the stuff! These are variations of my star and moon babies. Oh, yes and a pea pod baby. Shhhhhh.....