Meet Our Dolls

Meet Our Dolls
Click image to Meet Our Dolls! Contact us at: thesavagedollblog@gmail.com

Saturday, December 24, 2016

Merry Christmas Kirsten


Back at our home Papa handed me an envelope.  It had a postmark from Sacramento and a note forwarding the letter on to Santa Barbara.  It had a Pony Express Stamp!

 It was from Isabelle! 
 Papa said her letter had arrived in Sacramento a week after we had left there.  He didn't know why it took so long to reach us. Luckily Papa had left a forwarding address at the Sacramento Post Office.

Dear Kirsten,
        I hope you and your Ma and Pa made it safe to Sacramento. I was happy to get your letter.  I hung your drawing in my room. I have thought about you a lot.  I hope you and Else had fun in the wagon train.  Did you see any Indians?  I asked my teacher what happens on a wagon train.  He said I should write an essay about it. I got a A!  My whole class was interested to hear about your trip. Do I have your permission to share your letters with them?
        I was happy to get to be your penpal.  Pa will take me to the post office and I will put the stamp on this letter myself.  I was hoping to see a pony express rider, but the postman said they are only out further West.  
        Ma said maybe I should draw you another picture of our house. I never told you before but I have a dog, his name is Ben. Ben is real smart! He can shake hands and he likes to go with me and my brother to the creek.  We have a rope swing and sometimes in summer we fish and swim. Oh, my brother is named Thomas after my Pa, but we call him Tommy.  He mostly says I'm a dumb girl and pulls my hair.

That's all for now, your good friend,

Isabelle

PS- God bless you and Ma said I shouldn't have writ that about Tommy

I so enjoyed getting Isabelle's letter and drawing. Isabelle was a good drawer. Mama helped me draw the last picture I sent, but I was determined to practice and draw a picture of our house on my own!  I decided to write to Chenoa and Isabelle that same day.

I wrote both my letters and started my drawing.  Mama still helped me a little, but I mostly did it all myself.  Mama suggested I add the mountains in the background.  My drawings were not as good as Isabelle's, but Mama reminded me that everyone was good at different things, so all the work would get done.  What would happen if everyone was only good at ONE thing, who would cook and build and farm? I never thought about it that way.

I told both Chenoa and Isabelle all about our wagon West and about our new home and how I met my new friend Josefina. I told them how we didn't get snow here, but sometimes we saw it on the mountains far off.  Papa was going to the mercantile store in Santa Inez and he said if Mama and I put on our bonnets he would take us both with him and I could mail my letters!

Papa drove us to town and after he got the nails and wire he needed, he bought Mama and me a pastry! I got to mail my letters and then it was time to go home again.  Mama reminded me that tomorrow was Christmas Eve and we still had some preparations to complete.

I helped Mama make everything clean and tidy for Christmas.

I also helped Mama make some more tree decorations.

Soon enough it was Christmas Eve and Mama made a bowl of rice pudding for Tomte. Tomte is a little Gnome who brings gifts to children, a sort of Danish Santa Claus.  Though I'm much too old to believe in anything like that.

When all was ready, Mama tucked me and Else up in our bed. 
I knew I would never get to sleep.

 Hmmm, snif..

Mmm, mmm.

 As soon as I woke Christmas morning 
I jumped out of bed and ran downstairs.

It looked like Papa must have eaten some pudding!
Oh and left me 2 oranges and a chocolate bar!

Then I saw her! A beautiful china doll! 

 Mama and Papa came out of their room yawning and smiled.
What will you name your new doll Kirsten?
I think I'll call her Anna.

 Here is another package for you dear.
Ohhh!

Mama! Papa! a new dress! and new boots! 
Mama, this dress is what you have been making!

 Go try it on, I want to be sure it all fits you.
Yes Mama.

 Look Mama, it all fits perfect and look how pretty my boots are.

 Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Book 2 Chapter 2 - Kirsten's surprise



It was December 13th, not long after we moved into our new home.

I remember that morning because Mama, Papa and I were
celebrating St. Lucia Day, when we heard a knock at our door.

Josefina!  Come in and have a sweet roll.
Oh how beautiful you look Kirsten! 
Thank you. Sit down Josefina, Mama just made tea. 

Thank you.  Did your Mama tell you why I am here?
No why are you here? 

Consuela and your Mama decided you can stay with me 
while your parents go to Santa Barbara. 

Truly!? Let us go now!
Kirsten dear, you must get dressed first and pack some things.

Mama helped me dress and pack my things in a bundle.
I would stay with Josefina for 10 days while Mama and Papa were on their trip to Santa Barbara.
Josefina wanted to go by the Santa Inez Mission so I could meet her uncle Joseph. As we walked, Josefina told me about her father and Uncle.

Josefina's Uncle Joseph was parish priest at the Mission.  He and Josefina's father were brothers. Domingo and Joseph Fernandez. When the younger became a priest and left for the California Missions, his older brother left Spain and followed his younger brother looking for adventure.  He took his young wife and baby daughter, Josefina. 

Uncle Joseph! Uncle Joseph! This is Kirsten who I told you about.
Must you shout Josefina? (smiles kindly)
Sorry Uncle.

Very pleased to finally meet you Kirsten.  I will say a prayer for your parents safe travel. 
Here Josefina, give these to your mother.
Yes, Padre.
And say a prayer while you are there.
Yes, Padre.
And go quietly please?  
Josefina's Uncle smiled at us and sent us on our way.

Josefina led me first into the sanctuary. 
(whispers) Here Kirsten put this on your head.
(whispers) Josefina, why did you call your uncle Padre?
Well, because he is my uncle and my Priest, you see?
Oh, I see.
This way to see Madre.

Oh Josefina, I am sorry. 
It is all right Kirsten.  I was a very small child when she died.
Come, let's go home.

Hola Padre!!  Hola Senor Dominguez. Padre Here is Kirsten!
Hello Kirsten, mi casa es su casa.
(That means you are very welcome, whispered Josefina)
Thank you Sir.
Take Kirsten to Consuela Josefina.
Si Padre.

This way Kirsten. Senor Dominguez is Papa's foreman.
Consuela is his wife, she takes care of me and the house.
Josefina!  Your home is so beautiful!
Thank you Kirsten.

Hola Ninas,
Hola Consuela, here is Kirsten.
Hola Kirsten, go take Kirsten's things to your 
room Josefina and come back for sweet tamales.

Josefina, your room is so pretty!
Thank you.

That is my Madre.  I think she is beautiful.
Oh, Josefina, she is very beautiful.

Consuela, this sweet tamale is delicious.
Gracias Kirsten.

 This is my doll Rosa.
Hello Rosa, This is Else. Else fell out of a train once!
Tell us what happened Kirsten!
Mama, Papa and I were getting on the train and...

click here
Else's adventure 

 Can you really play that guitar Josefina?
Yes, listen.
(Josefina sings)

 I love your shells Josefina.

Here you take one.  Papa brings them from the Ocean for me.
Maybe Papa will take us to the ocean some time?
Thank you, I would love that Josefina!

Josefina and I had a lot of fun that week.
Soon Mama and Papa returned from Santa Barbara and we went home.
I was happy to see them, I had missed them.

Even though Josefina and I had fun together, I was looking forward to some of Mama's ebelskivers.
 When I looked back into the wagon there were many mysterious boxes and bundles.
When I asked what they were, Mama just smiled and gave me a squeeze.

I missed you Kirsten.
I missed you too Mama.

Monday, December 19, 2016

It's beginning to feel like Christmas!

 I love sitting near the tree.
Me too!



Presents are starting to appear under the tree!

 Wow Molly the whole house smells like gingerbread.

 Thanks Martin, I really like baking.
 So when can we eat some?
As soon as they cool Martin!

This gingerbread house is a recent find.  

Beth and Elle got an early present this year too.
The dresser that was in their room became part of Kirsten's cabin, 
so they got to use this plastic bin dresser for a bit.

BUT! I recently found this dresser.
 It's perfect for their room!

 They also got a new trinket box.

 And these new pretty plates for everyone to enjoy!