That was an advertising phrase that was used around here, as a way to promote this area as a good place to observe the latest solar eclipse. Here in the Cleveland, Ohio area, we did indeed get a 100 percent totality view of the eclipse, and there were people from various other states who converged here in Cleveland. Mr. BTEG got the best shots of the eclipse. I did get a few shots of the area around us, taken with my phone camera (but not looking directly at the sun.) :) The pictures make it look hazy and cloudy, but it was really a beautifully clear day. It was quite an unusual day for NE Ohi ..read more

This Color & Create doll was one of the ones that I received for Christmas. The idea behind this wave was that the doll owner can customize the outfit and hair with the included washable markers, wash the color out, and make a new design. In practice, I've heard that the marker doesn't complete wash out of the hair. There were three dolls in this wave, with three different skin tones and eye colors. In keeping with the plain white of their attire and hair, the dolls don't have any makeup on. A lot of people liked this aesthetic. I do as well. Her hands are also plain, with no long nails or ..read more

I admit that I was very blessed this year. In addition to other things, I got six Rainbow High dolls for Christmas. Goodness knows between them and the dolls I received all the way back in July, I should have plenty of material for blogging, so that's a goal for the new year. My photography table is in its final place, even if everything else isn't, yet. I really want to re-join the doll world!  I pray that 2024 is a better year for everyone in the doll blogging community who struggled in 2023 ..read more

But it is related to sewing, and I know some of you sew for your dolls. Also, finding something like this blew me away and I have to share. We had an older neighbor across the street from us who had to go into a home, and now some young male relative, grandson or great-nephew or something, is living there, with a couple of his friends. They're fine neighbors, not noisy or anything, and they're taking good care of the older neighbor's little dog she had to leave. But today, they put this out on the lawn for bulk trash pick-up. They.Were.Going.To.Put.That.In.The.Trash. Of course, you can figu ..read more

This is something that I picked up at a garage sale this week. It's missing a few doors and windows, but replacement pieces are generally available, and it was a good price. I did not entirely realize how huge it is until I got it into my car, which fortunately has good cargo space in the back. Nothing is really going to happen with it until next year, as I want to spray paint it, and the weather has gotten too cold to do any painting outside, but I'm thrilled to have it. I always wanted the Barbie Dream House when I was a girl, but I never got it. It may sound funny, but coming down the step ..read more

Today in the United States, it's the Labor Day holiday, and Mr. BTEG and the Dancer are doing some serious laboring today. As I write this, most of the Dancer's furniture is being unloaded at her new apartment! Pretty soon, Mr. BTEG and I will have a truly empty nest, which means we're going to be doing a lot of re-arranging and moving things around. In the meantime, posting might be a little light (not that it hasn't been for a while anyway.) Things have been pretty crowded and stressful here, but it's going to be great to spread out and have space to do things that I have wanted to for a lon ..read more

This year I took Mingmei along with me. She posed with this creature guarding the entrance to the zoo, which traditionally is said to protect Chinese buildings. It's called a fu dog, among many other names. I also took a picture of the entrance by night. Mingmei and I took turns in an oversized Adirondack chair. Mingmei liked this lantern, because she looked like another doll. She also wanted to pose with a blue flower, and a row of stars, suns and moons. The large display in the lagoon this year was a dragon boat.   Of course, we saw some animals. Here is a snow leopard, a sw ..read more

    Technically, these aren't birthday gifts, since I bought them all myself. However, it was serendipitous that the Pullip doll arrived today. I would have preferred her to arrive earlier, since I pre-ordered her in March, but shipping has been an issue with Pullips for a while now. Avery and Natasha were on sale for good prices during Amazon Prime days. Natasha has been on my wishlist, but I only bought Avery for all the extra clothes and accessories. Once I sell Avery, I should make most of the money back that I spent on the set. I have a lot of new doll reviews to do now, and ma ..read more

This doll was my Mother's Day gift from the Dancer. I don't have many pictures of her. The lighting was weird, and honestly I'm not quite feeling this doll. She needs a lip repaint (I hate lips lined in a different color from the lip color.) She also has some body stains from her black top, and a pink stain on her leg, which is a little more of a mystery. I like her eyes, and I like her hair, so maybe with new lips and re-dressed, she will really grow on me. She stands quite well in those boots on a regular surface. On the cardboard this room box is made out of, it was a bit more of a chore ..read more

Here is the third doll in my Rainbow/Shadow High collection. She's Nicole Steel, and she's cute as a button. Her eyes are the most luminous of any Rainbow High doll that I've seen, and her curls are super adorable. This is Nicole's jacket from her first outfit. Since the Rainbow High students are Sparkle, the Shadow High students are Anti Sparkle. Fortunately, they seem to be moving past that theme with newer dolls. It was getting pretty boring. She has a motif on the left sleeve of her jacket. The cat is related to a band that is made of up three other Shadow High students. It looks ..read more