Back Home in Texas a Couple of Friends Are Waiting...

They are mischievous, sneaky, stubborn as Donkey, and they don't like to work!

Their names are Magic and Checkers, and they are both female.

More Movie Star Barbies!

I am inventorying and making pictures of my Barbie doll collection as we move to Germany, and the collection is extensive.  Sometimes work is so much fun!  This hobby gives me so much enjoyment, not to mention making me the favorite Nana!  In fact it makes friends of every child, or child at heart that I meet.  I love sharing my collection with children.  So perhaps I will make a friend of you too as I share my work/play!

Now who is this famous Barbie a representation of, certainly she is famous!

Do you recognize Erica Kane from the soap opera All My Children?

I own this doll in several costumes, she is lovely in all of them.

 

Perhaps you recognize her famous husband?

Frank Sinatra is of course easily recognized, and he came with a devoted fan!

I was lucky and was able to obtain two of these dolls 

representing Doris Day, and she is escorted by Mr. Rock Hudson.

This doll is a representation of the famous character Lois Lane, from the movie Superman.

Last but not least, one of a set of characters I know you will immediately recognize.  He is a beloved character from the movie The Wizard of Oz!

I can hear him singing now, If I Only Had a Brain!

Germany, You are Going to Love My Barbie Doll Collection!

I have always loved toys, especially dolls, and playing with them.  Now you might think what is an almost 63 year old woman doing playing with dolls?  As I have mentioned many times, my husband spent 30 years in the United States Army, retiring as a colonel, and works now for the State Department.  We both have a great respect and admiration for those serving in our military, and their families who sacrifice and serve as well.  Part of our ministry toward these our national heroes is to provide what we can to honor them and offer our hospitality.  One of the things that we do is offer Barbie Doll themed parties for the little girls of military families, and while we are in Frankfurt we will pack up my Barbies and other dolls and toys, and provide a room where these special children can enjoy the stress relief that "pretend" play offers to children. So here are a few selections from my "movie star" collection.  See if you can guess from the close up photos, what star the doll is honoring!

Did you guess 007?

Does she look like My Fair Lady?

I don't think this beauty is recognizable as the star she is made after...

Things are not in true proportion...

As the box shot shows, Dolly's eyes are much larger than portrayed, and they lift up at the corners.

 Of course there is no guessing here...

Well, I must get back to work, I have over two thousand Barbies to pack...

I want to share my Barbie collection with Frankfurt!

I Am Going To Miss Some Things

I started looking at photos of the time which I have live here at the ranch...

I am truly going to miss some things about life at the ranch...

One thing is tea parties!

I Grew Two Roses That Were Especially Beautiful

Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful!!!

There are just too many beautiful photos to share!

I still haven't even had time to capture the Japanese Iris which grow wild in our woods!

Very Old Song, Still Loved in Texas!

Everybody likes this song and I certainly do! 
My husband sings it to me all the time!

I Love the Beach!

I love going to the beach.  Where we live in Texas, it is about two hours to Galveston Island, and lots of beach, fishing, sailing boats, and plenty of sea gulls and sea shells.  

I wonder what the beaches will be like in Kuwait?

Washington, Do You Hear My Voice?

One of my dearest friends in this world is the widow of General Mohammad Daud Daud.  I have come through her eyes to know what an honorable and courageous man he was.  I have come to know as well the leadership which he not only exhibited every day on the job, but lived behind closed doors at home.  True character really is what you do when no one is watching.  Afghanistan lost one of her finest sons on May 28, 2011.  We are leaving Afghanistan soon, this country must have those sons and daughters supported who are willing to rise up in the same honor and devoted service to Afghanistan that my dear friend's husband lived and died in.

 Belquis and I visiting the White House

I Found an Excellent You Tube Video on Kuwait!

You will enjoy this high quality video on Kuwait!

   

It Keeps Raining and Raining Here

It makes the woods and pond so beautiful in the evening... the green of the woods is so deep.

These Little Lizards Are Everywhere at the Ranch

This is a common lizard with little sticky feet which I see eating bugs every Spring and Summer on my kitchen window.  One year at Christmas my grand-son Tristen caught one of these little fellows and he received a glass aquarium to keep him in.  He lived for about two years in the aquarium, which was quite remarkable I thought. I wonder what king of lizards I will see at my new home in Kuwait?  I think I will do some research, and I promise I will post pictures of the lizards I find in my yard when I arrive in Kuwait.  Does anyone know what kind of lizards are found in Kuwait?

The Colors are Stunning!

A Family With Ties to Kuwait Visited the Ranch

I recently made a new friend, and her daughter had a birthday recently, so we arranged for the family and friends of the daughter visit the ranch for a "Barbie Doll Birthday Party."  They came out Saturday evening, and we enjoyed good food, good company, and a fun time for the "birthday girl," Carla who turned twelve last week.

Her dad, Michael, had worked at BAE Systems where the MRAP vehicle was built and made here in Sealy, Texas.   This heavy armament vehicle was used in the conflict in Afghanistan to save many lives of our American Service Members.  Michael also lived and worked as a contracted employee in Kuwait maintaining these vehicles during the conflict in Iraq.

He spoke of how nice the country and people are, and of how he had enjoyed his time living in Kuwait.  He also tried his hand at fishing at the ranch, but the after hooking a big catfish, it broke his line and got away.  His daughter Carla and friends enjoyed petting the baby rabbits, and seeing all the animals in the petting zoo here at the ranch, but by far the favorite activity at the ranch proved to be playing with the "My Size Barbies" which all little little girls love!

 

I Keep Wondering What My New Home Will Look Like

I love my humble little home on Soldier's Heart Ranch.  We certainly don't live in splendor, or even in high style, but the things we have done to our little 2700 square feet, and the things we have arranged there please me.  I wonder often now what my new temporary home in Kuwait will look like, and I look so forward to decorating it.  The work and art of furnishing a home so that it is a comfort to those who live there as well as those who visit is something I greatly enjoy.  Here are a few pictures to share what my home in Texas is like.  I spend time day dreaming now of how I will arrange my home in Kuwait to provide comfort to guests, and invite them to stay awhile and visit.

These are just a few of the rooms of our present home, I will post more later.