Abe's VERY Busy Weekend

Hello Friends and Family!

I sure had a super fun filled weekend.  

On Saturday morning Mommy, Daddy, and I dropped Mommy's car off to get checked out...kind of like going to the Car Doctor.  Then we drove to Betsy's house way out in the country so Lucy and Ellie could get their hairs cut.  And then we drove to Lyn-Way to have lunch with Grandpa Joe, Oma, and Auntie Brooke!

Whew...

THEN we visited Auntie Brooke's classroom...

I can't wait to go to school and have my very own Treasure Box when I am bigger.  I hope Auntie Brooke will be my teacher!

 Grandpa Joe and I were having fun, but Oma wanted us to look at the camera.

 At least Auntie Brooke and Grandpa Joe are good listeners.

I was too busy looking around.

 Mommy really loved Auntie Brooke's classroom and wishes she would have had a math teacher just like Auntie Brooke.

 Grandpa Joe and I played "Turn the Fan Off and On".  I was doing my "more" sign language motions so Grandpa Joe would keep playing with me.

 Grandpa Joe looked pretty silly shaking a rattle.  I haven't done that since I was a little baby.

 Auntie Brooke's school has VERY long hallways...just perfect for walking.

 I heard Auntie Brooke and Daddy calling my name.

 I sure am a popular little guy.

Everyone wants to walk with me.  I am glad I finally got the hang of it!

Back on the Farm...

 I am so excited!  I got to play in the Front Porch Pond.

 I looked for some fish, but didn't see any.

 I was having quite a splash party and sadly had to leave to have my pants changed.

I still don't like using the word diapers.

 At least Auntie Brooke gave me some reading material while I was being cleaned up.

I LOVE Pete the Cat.  Thank you, Auntie Brooke!

 Grandpa Joe knows how much I like switches, so he taught me how to turn the kitchen light off and on.

Off...

 On...Thank you, Grandpa Joe!

I am now an expert on switches.

 It was time to say goodbye to the Farm and head back to our beautiful house in West Park!

The next day...

 Sunday was Family Planting Day.  We all met at Panini's to have lunch so we would feel strong enough to work.

 Mommy, Auntie Brooke and I drew some pictures while we waited for our food.

Don't you just love Auntie Brooke's fingernails?  

 My cousin, Elliott, FaceTimed me all the way from California!!!

Back home...

 Cassi planned out where all the plants should go.  Pat helped and so did Aunt Kate.  I love my family.

 Grandpa Joe got busy...

 Now for the actual planting!

 I have to admit, I am still learning how to go from sitting to standing without needing something to pull myself up with so I can walk.  Sometimes the only way for me to get around is to crawl.

 Aunt Kate is very pretty and funny, too!

Back inside my house...

 Pat, Cassi, and Aunt Kate had to leave and Mommy, Daddy, and Grandpa Joe got ready to plant.

Auntie Brooke was doing schoolwork, which meant Oma got to play with me.

 Oma let me play with her water bottle.

 I like my water cup much better.  It is smaller and there is a hole in the top so I can drink all by myself.  Grown-ups should use those kind of cups so they don't have to fiddle around with bottle caps each time they want a drink!

 I was trying to take a ride on my car but Oma seemed to think it was a bit too small for me.

I know, Oma...I was just joking with her!

Finally...

 Grandpa Joe got all the trimming done!

After a long day of teamwork, our front garden area is all planted.

Now we just have to wait for all the plants and bushes to grow up.

My house is looking more and more beautiful every weekend!

Today it's back to school for Mommy, Daddy, and me!

See you next time...

~Love from Abe~

A New Pond Friend

At first I thought this might be one of our original 3 Pond Frogs...but he is MUCH larger than the former inhabitants.  He is also very shy and quick to hide.  Our former trio sat out for hours and seemed to enjoy our company.

Make new friends...

Back At It

 Today is Brooke's first Teacher Work Day in her new school district.

I wish her the very best of school years.

Meanwhile...

 I am reorganizing my own creative world a bit.

I purchased some supplies for my newest project...The Windy Ridge Farm Adventures!

More on that as it develops.

I love this time of year...now more than ever!

The Circle of Life

Yesterday...My children and father

Today...My children and grandson

It goes on.

A Change of Heart and Mind

The past few days have been surprising and humbling.

I never imagined my last entry would attract any attention at all. I was greatly mistaken.  While I have thought my blog rather insignificant to the "world", the emails and private messages as well as phone calls I have received tell a different story.

Knowing that my Hittyville AND Family Adventures have truly brightened some of your lives...if only for a moment or two...has re-energized my creative spirit and inspired me to make my blog better than ever.

Hittyville was created with "sharing" in mind.  Keeping it all to myself just doesn't feel right.

Sometimes stepping away makes one see things more clearly.

Thank you, dear Friends of Hittyville...for caring.

~I treasure each and every one of you~

My Personal Evolution Continues

I know I must sound like a broken record. I am constantly debating whether to publicly blog, join in on social media or keep my thoughts and stories in my own personal journals and scrapbooks...which I have been doing as of late.

My life and art are sacred to me.  Sharing who I am and what I think makes me vulnerable...and when I hear comments like

~I'm too busy to read your blog.

~I look at the pictures, but skim the words.

~Your family stories are interesting, your doll stories...not so much.

~Like the doll stories, not as interested in anything else.

etc....

Well, I think you understand.

My blog is not a platform to sell anything.  Many artists are trying to sell their art and I often wonder if they would blog if they were not working artists.

As I have often mentioned, I really do prefer the "scrapbooking" aspect of keeping track of my artistic adventures.  

I am not a public artist.  I started my blog for my ailing parents who have long since passed away.  My biggest fan is my dear husband, Joe, who enjoys looking at my journals and scrapbooks as much...if not more...than my blog.

So, with all that being said...I will continue to blog my Abe Adventures because I copy those and collect them in notebooks for Noah and Amy.  Amy's family likes to see those entries, which is why I need to keep my blog public.

I will also do the more lengthy Hittyville stories on my blog so I can print them off and put them in my Hittyville Stories Scrapbook.  I like the freedom of doing one or two picture stories for my scrapbook with my own writing and embellishments.

And, of course, not blogging on a regular basis allows me more time to work on other projects...and just be.

Hittyville is the heart of my creative life and blogging about it isn't enough anymore.  I want to continue to incorporate my Hittyville Friends into art projects and much more...maybe a book, poems, collages, paintings, assemblage pieces, and on and on...

I keep coming back to this place and felt I needed to explain why things may be a bit quiet here...for those few who do visit on a somewhat regular basis and I thank you for that with my whole heart.

As I grow older, I am becoming a more private person.  In the past, I have been so eager to share my thoughts...whether people wanted to hear them or not.  I am not quite as interested in the sound of my voice anymore.  I wish to express myself through my art and journaling.

This year of evolution continues to bring me inner peace and interestingly enough...focus.

~Wishing you the best of days~

Vicki of Hittyville

My Life Path

I am missing my mom and dad today.  When I miss them, I get a bit reflective about my life's journey.

Today I am envisioning my path.

 This is my Today Path.  It is beautiful and there is sunlight and also some shadows.  I can only see so far ahead and I am reminded to stop and enjoy the view that is THIS day's offering.

It is magnificent!

 This is the path I see when I look back...my Past Path.

For me, it is colorful and wonderful and yet...

I really can't see all that far and then the view gets a bit blurry.

I notice my neck is hurting a bit.

I don't think we were created to look back for long periods of time.

 My Future Path is intriguing.  The view is dark with shafts of light which I find oddly comforting.

The future is definitely not where I belong.  It will be patiently waiting for me...as always.

No need for such distractions from TODAY.

And this is where my parents come in.

I imagine every Life Path transitions.  Today, I envision the gate as the separator of Life as we know it from the Eternity my soul is certain exists and where all my departed beloveds have traveled to.

The beauty of our Creator's design is that although we may be parted physically from those we love, they are still with us in spirit.

We just need to be still and wait for the "butterfly" to land and make itself known.

I believe this is one of God's many gifts to us.

~Feeling at peace~

Hitty Jane's Journal...New Friends

~Good day to you, dear Journal~

I am having the best day ever!  Doll Mother thought I needed a "Doll's Best Friend" and gave me my very own Yorkie!

I named her Flossie...after my Bobbsey Twin Friend.

How I love my little companion already.  Doll Mother knows exactly what I need before I do!

We took a long walk together in Hittyville Park today.

 I met the MOST interesting Hittyville Friend!  Her name is Poppy Merry and she was working on her very own writing journal.  I couldn't believe it.

We must have talked for over an hour.

 I asked Poppy for some journaling advice.  John Boy Walton gave me a few pointers, but they were extremely literary in nature and I am a bit more plain-spoken.

 Both our tummies started rumbling, so Poppy and I decided to have something to eat.  Luckily, Lewis and Hitty Rose had their snack carts in the Park today.

 Poppy ordered 3 hot dogs.  I was so touched she included one for Flossie.

 I asked Hitty Rose for 2 drinks and 1 water bowl.

That Hitty Rose is the nicest Friend!

 Poppy, Flossie, and I found just the right spot for a picnic.

After another long and so very informative conversation, Poppy and I agreed to meet again...at the Merry Homestead...tomorrow.

My new Friend is going to get me started on my OWN writing journal...which will be a bit different from my blog journal.

I can't wait to share the news with Doll Mother!

~I loved my Friday Adventure~

Guide To Happiness

 I happened upon this gem of a book last night and after skimming through a few pages, knew it had to be front and center in my library!

I have always loved the Little Golden Books and this one best of all...

 And that I do...often!

Since I have become a stay-at-home artist, bird-watching has become one of my daily activities.

I wonder how many seeds of positive living were planted by reading the Little Golden Books as a child...

Hitty Jane Is On Facebook

I cannot keep up with Hitty Jane and all her Adventures...So I suggested she share her Doll Life and Journal entries with our Family and Friends on Facebook.

My Doll Daughter took my advice and now has her very own Facebook page.

If you are on Facebook, just type in Hitty Jane and you will find her.

This little Doll is something else!

Hitty Jane's Journal...Friendship Pond

~ Hello Dear Journal~

I spent a very peaceful time at Friendship Pond's Waterfall this evening and imagined what it would be like to be a Mermaid.

 I was happily surprised to see John Boy with his new girlfriend, Liesl Von Trapp.  I wondered if John Boy might give me some tips on journaling since he is a writer himself.

He invited me to the Walton's Homestead tomorrow for a lesson.

Liesl is very pretty, by the way...and nice, too!

Lewis and Hitty Rose insisted I go on a boat ride with them and I loved it!  I had never been on a boat before and I think I would like to have one of my own.

I must ask Doll Mother.

~It was the best of Evening Adventures~

Hitty Jane's New Homestead and a Surprising Admission

 Hitty Jane spent an afternoon at the Hittyville Crafters Homestead with Beatrix Potter, Tasha Tudor, and Grandma Moses.

She absolutely LOVES these artistic ladies and from what I understand, they love her right back!

 Hitty Jane couldn't stop talking about the homestead and how it looked like an Enchanted Fairy House.

 Hitty Jane also carried on about the pond and animals that were part of the charming homestead property.

It suddenly became very clear to me what I should do.

Later...

 Hitty Jane and I traveled to Hobby Lobby and thank goodness, they had the very same homestead available and we happily brought it home to the farm.

Hitty Jane was beside herself with joy and must have thanked me 100 times!

 We both decided that all the walls and ceilings should be white to brighten up the rooms.

 Hitty Jane and I discussed where we should put the homestead.

Hitty Jane was quite adamant she wanted to be close to me and Joe, Brooke, and our Animal Friends.

My little Doll loves Hittyville and all the Hittyville Friends, but steadfastly remains my Doll "Daughter".

 I suggested the Library where there is lots of light and a perfect space that can be landscaped for Hitty Jane's homestead.

And then...

 Hitty Jane had been bursting to tell me some VERY BIG news and felt this was just the right time.

Last night, Hitty Jane discovered she is a Book Traveler!

 Dolls don't need as much sleep as Humans.  After I went to sleep, Hitty Jane opened a book I am reading and the next thing she knew, she was not only inside the book, but part of the story as well.

Hitty Jane spent the entire night with Anna who lives in the Pre-World War I era and had the most wonderful adventures.

I was a bit stunned, but thrilled to know Hitty Jane had discovered her "Gift".

Every Doll and Human has one!

 The Library would be the PERFECT place for Hitty Jane to spend her evenings.

 We have hundreds of books and are always adding to our collection.

 I have never seen ANYONE so excited in all my years!

 I think there will be enough Book Adventures to last Hitty Jane a LONG time!

 Yep...lots of books!

And...

 It may take a few days before her homestead is ready, but our bedroom will provide Hitty Jane with many adventures to choose from until then.

I think Hitty Jane will be joining the Bobbsey Twins tonight for a trip to a Ranch.

We need to find her a cowgirl hat!

And people wonder what I find so fascinating about Dolls...

Hitty Jane's Journal...Socrates and Paris

 Yesterday I introduced myself to Socrates, a Greek Tortoise who is one of Doll Mother's beloved Animal Friends.

Socrates was rather shy at first, but warmed up to me during our walk around Pixie Cottage.  I was really surprised by how fast my Tortoise Friend moved.  It was all I could do to keep up with him.

Socrates and I agreed to meet as often as we can on sunny days for walks around the farm.

Later...

 Every month, Doll Mother receives an illustrated letter from an artist who lives in Paris.  I was given the honor of opening August's correspondence.

 How so very interesting!  Marianne was the symbol of liberty during the French Revolution.  A woman was a selected as a break from the oppressive all-king monarcy.

Marianne appears on French postage stamps and each president chooses a new Marianne design for a stamp representing his/her term in office.

I think it would be fun to put Hittyville Friends on stamps.  Maybe Doll Mother could suggest this to the Post Mistress of Hittyville!

~Everyday is an adventure in learning~