My little firecrackers

I kid y'all not, I can't say enuff good about vickiveesdollclothes.  When I want something cute for So Surprised Suzie, a lot of times Vicki's the one who's got it.  Case in point.

It's another little bell bottom set like the one Suzie wore during most of the spring, but instead of a headband it's got a cute hat.

Hats were kinda a thing in the nineties, when Suzie was also a thing, so this works.

But Suzie isn't my only little firecracker this year.  Hey, when do I ever have only one to show???  Here's Kyle and Jettivee in their outfits from AdollableByRita on Etsy.

Mama supplied these, of course.  She loves dressing my dolls as much as I do.  Believe y'all me, it's greatly appreciated. 

And of course, there's Terri Lee, mumpy and grumpy as always. 

There was a thunderstorm moving in when I took that picture (last week), so that may have concerned Terri Lee some.  She's not a big fan of thunderstorms, but luckily for her the storm fizzled out before it got here.

It's hot today, but the humidity isn't as high as it was last week.  No storms in the forecast as far as I know, either.  Not today, anyway. 

I plan on doing as little as possible today.  I'm not even gonna bother with fireworks, though I'd like to.  I'll explain why in a future post.

Happy Independence Day,

RagingMoon1987

Independence Day has come again!

Independence Day has dawned...somewhat dreary and threatening, actually.  Yesterday afternoon the outlook for rain today was 50%, and it's the same now.  Last night the lightning was so close that it knocked out our internet for a spell.  That said, this is is my thirty-sixth Independence Day, and I've not yet had one 100% rained out.  We DID have a small tornado one year, late in the evening after the city's festivities took place, but even that July Fourth wasn't a complete washout.  So we'll see what the weather does.  

So as usual I've got some of my dolls gussied up in holiday-appropriate garb.  Representing my soft dolls are Nathan Hunter, Lina, Morgan, and Shelley Fred. 

If any of y'all see a patriotic-like outfit for a doll like Lina's big brother Leo, let me know.  I like how Morgan and Lina coordinate, and I'd love it if Leo could join the fun too.  But Nathan Hunter is a good companion too.  That little outfit he's wearing can be for a boy or a girl Preemie, by the way; it has a headband with a box on it, but I wanted my little Preemie boy to wear it.  Shelley Fred's outfit is my favorite, because it looks like something I'd have worn as a little kid:  a bright T-shirt and loose (sometimes rolled up) jeans.

Representing hard dolls, I have Rita Cheryl, Terri Lee, and Danica. 

Terri Lee and Morgan ended up bonding over their facial expressions (both look perpetually unhappy about something).

Don't blink, you two.  Truthfully, Terri Lee is often grumpy, so it's good to see she's made a friend.  Note to Tam, Mama doesn't like Terri Lee either!

At the very last minute I got another little dress for Morgan to wear.  Nothing like ordering something two weeks ahead of time and not receiving it until the eleventh hour.

My Child often came in little dresses or suits like this.  Sometimes the skirt and collar were red, and other times they were blue, like what Morgan has on.  I'm not a brand snob by any means, and I'm glad that Morgan and some of the Magic Nursery crew can share clothes, but it's nice to have Morgan back in a dress that was made for her.  I think I know who will be accompanying me to the fireworks show tonight...if we have fireworks.  For those of y'all who will, my usual warning:  have fun and be careful.  Don't drive drunk (or at all if you have to), don't shoot each other with bottle rockets, and use lots of sunblock.

Happy Independence Day,
RagingMoon1987

Just like last year

With Independence Day finally being over, Rita Cheryl is back in her favorite Shinedown shirt and recovered from her food coma.  She decided to carry on the tradition that Amanda and Kirsten started last year, and show y'all what landed in the front yard.  She's got two species of bottle rocket, same as last year.

This first one is one of my favorite brands (when I bother with bottle rockets).  I always loved the snarling black cat; for some reason it seemed fitting to have a black cat on some of the fireworks.  This other one is not one I'm familiar with.

Night Stalker!  A very fitting name for a bottle rocket!  It also makes me think of my crazy friend who is a true crime nut.  She spent the day in a shirt that said "AMERICA:  Killin' it since 1776."  Underneath that were images of Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees, and that guy from Scream.  For the uninitiated, the "Night Stalker" moniker was attached to not one but two serial killers.  Richard Ramirez is more well-known, but before him there was Joseph DeAngelo.  I'm just as sick as my friend is, okay?  I read true crime too.  But anyway, I'm not familiar with Night Stalker rockets, but I'll take pictures anyway.

Overall my Fourth of July was...average.  I got some lovely pictures of the sunset, and then Mama and I had the bright idea to go out by the air base and watch the fireworks.  Oh my Lordy, y'all wouldn't believe...yeah, y'all probably WOULD believe the idiots we saw.  This one idgit galoot kept pulling out in traffic while trying to get his van straight (with children in tow, no less), and when it was time to leave he just cut a bunch of people off and got in line.  Another fuddy-duddy decided to leave by driving up the wrong side of the road, and he dern near had a head-on with someone.  The fireworks themselves were mediocre, nowhere near as nice as the ones last year.  Still, it was worth it to be with my mother; I didn't get to be with her on the Fourth last year.  Despite the ominous forecast, it didn't rain a drop here in Malden.  A few places in Arkansas got hail, but we stayed dry.

Nothin' left to look forward to now, not until...Labor Day, is it???  Whew, that's a long way off!

Love and fireworks,
RagingMoon1987

Flying solo

The forecast claimed that it would be cooler, but lo and behold it's still "balls soup hot," as my sister would put it.  So Mama and I are camping at Uncle Man-Child's place again.  As always, I have Rita Cheryl with me, but this time she's flying solo.  River Song and Aimee promised to watch Emily.  Freed from her responsibilities, Rita Cheryl is chillaxing.

Independence Day dinner consisted of baked potatoes and meat patties for the humans, and pizza and watermelon lemonade for Rita Cheryl.  I have my doubts about combining watermelon with lemonade, but Rita Cheryl is clearly enjoying it.

At the moment the house is surrounded by firecrackers and bottle rockets, but I have my doubts about the city firework show tonight.  Tonight's forecast calls for thunderstorms. 

I've lived through three decades of July 4ths, and not once can I remember it being bad enuff to cancel fireworks altogether.  Granted, we did have a small tornado one year, and it hit the airbase where the fireworks are usually held.  But thank God, the tornado hit well after the evening's events took place.  Some minor damage was done, but no one got hurt.  Hopefully tonight will go off without a hitch.

Happy Independence Day, 

RagingMoon1987 

Of dolls and bottle rockets

Behold!  Two species of bottle rocket have landed in my yard.

Kirsten is holding the smaller variety that my family always bought...I think the side of it said Moon Blasters or something like that.  Amanda has a larger variety called a Wild Goose, which I know nothing about.  I loathe bottle rockets, by the way; they're all noise and no show, and if something goes wrong then they're pretty dangerous...but then again, aren't all fireworks dangerous in the wrong hands?  Anyway, when I was sixteen Daddy loaded a bottle jam-packed with these damn things...and the bottle tipped over.  Pointing at us.  The resulting conversation went something like this:

<bottle falls over>
ME (casually):  Uh-oh...
SISTER (loudly):  RUN!!!!!!

And run we all did!  I ended up dodging behind a tree, but not before one of the rockets almost took my ear off.  No one was hurt, and no serious damage was done, but that killed any affection my family had for bottle rockets.  My mom didn't like any fireworks that flew anyway, because in her words, "They always come after me!!!"  Of course they didn't ALWAYS come after her, but we all know how unpredictable fireworks can be.  

I could fill a whole post full of Fourth of July memories, but then we'd be here all day and part of the night.  I'll just say that it was a special time of year for my family, and I really miss those days.  To the rest of y'all, be safe and have fun!  Drink beer, eat watermelon, shoot off bottle rockets, and keep your pets safe.

Happy Independence Day every day,
RagingMoon1987 

Happy Independence Day, every day!

"Sriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit...POP!"  I never have understood the allure of bottle rockets.  This Independence Day looks to be a little more festive than the last, since fewer heads are exploding over the coronavirus crap.  For my family the holiday hasn't been the same since Daddy died, but we manage.  It does mean a day off from work if the holiday falls on any day but Sunday, but today just happens to be Sunday.  So what did I decide to do?  Putter around with my dolls, of course!  Zoe, Camille, and Kyle all got their red, white, and blue on for the occasion.  

I would've liked to have taken them outside, but the weather has been extremely contrary lately.  Hence my trio is inside, perched on a shoebox instead.  I'm not really certain what else to say, except that all three of the outfits (and Zoe's shoes) were gifts, and as usual I have my mother to thank for them.  She likes to joke "If I can't have grandchildren, I'll have grand-dolls!"  I need to think of something to do for her in return.

That's all for today.  I'm gonna pull the covers over my head and debate whether or not to go see fireworks tonight.  I like fireworks...but I also like my bed!

Happy Fourth,
RagingMoon1987