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December 17, 2012

Restoring Christmas Memories

Restoring Christmas Memories
Secret Santa Blog Hop

Return to the main blog hop page and directions here.
On Thanksgiving this year, my sister brought me a very special gift, a restored Christmas toy. Patty Playpal was a three-foot tall doll who could actually stand up all on her own (if you posed her just right.) The Christmas I got her, my grandmother even made me a dress to match Patty’s. She was my companion whenever I played house. I have a picture of the two of us playing together (I'm on the right, in case you can't tell us apart).
Patty, however, had two defects related to her construction. Her head and arms were connected together by some very strong rubber bands. Because of her size, I first tried to drag her around by wrapping an arm around her neck and pulling. Her neck extended and then retracted, pinching my arm. I learned quickly to avoid doing that. Her arms also had tendency of disconnecting from the rubber band.
My sister and a friend also decided that Patty needed a haircut, and they obliged her. The first picture is obviously prior to the "trim."
When we found her in the attic after my mother passed, Patty wasn’t in good shape—slightly bald, armless, and with about forty years of neglect.
The restoration was phenomenal. Patty’s head and arms were reconnected, her face repainted with just the right amount of blush, given some new clothes, and her hair trimmed and styled (such an "in" feather cut). She’s now resplendent, as you can see here. My sister gave me more than just a restored doll. She also presented me with some restored memories of Christmas past.
 What about you? Is there a special toy or other item that brings back memories for you? Leave a comment below for a chance at a copy of REINDEER WARS or follow the directions below for even more prizes.


Secret Santa Blog Hoppers:

The hop runs from midnight Dec. 17th to midnight Dec, 19th.

You get three entries at each blog stop. One for answering a question at each blog stop, one for following each blog and another for commenting. You don't have to do it all but it gives you a better chance if you do. So even if you stop by just one blog you can win. Hope you will keep hopping though.

After you are finished hopping send Tabby (careydoucet@yahoo.com) an email and tell her which blogs you went to and what you did at each. You are not required to go to every blog to win but the more blogs you go to the better your chance of winning is. Send info all in one email.

Return to the main blog hop page and directions here.




28 comments:

Cassandra said...

For me it's huge dollhouses and those life size dolls lol
GFC: Cassandra Hicks
Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
cassandrahicks1989@yahoo.com

Rowan Worth said...

Growing up, there was a decoration that was a freestanding white reindeer with an elf riding it (plastic head, red felt suit). That always signified the start of the Christmas season when that came out of the attic and into the living room. Today, it still gets put out (now as a 'classic' decoration).

rowanworth (at) comcast.net

Liese said...

Cassandra:
I never had a dollhouse. How cool that would've been!

Rowan:
If you'd like to post a picture of your elf, check out my Virtual Holiday Party Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/VirtualOutrageousSweaterParty

Lasha said...

My Barbie Dreamhouse brings back good memories. Followed. Happy Holidays,

Lasha
mslasha at gmail dot com

Liese said...

Lasha:
I ALWAYS wanted a Barbie Dreamhouse! One Christmas I got a college campus set instead (complete with dorm room and malt shop). Interesting, now that I think about it, no classrooms!

laurie said...

My Barbie Dreamhouse brings back good memories

parisfan_ca@yahoo.com

Karen Michelle Nutt said...

My favorite doll was Baby Go Bye-Bye. She was a blonde haired baby who had a car she drove in. (battery operated.) I loved that doll. I named her Shannon and pierced her ears. lol

kmnbooks at yahoo dot com

I'm following the blog, too.

Unknown said...

i still have my wind up music box stuffed dog i got when i was a baby and it still plays
gfc kimberly
kaholgate at ymail dot com

Liese said...

Kimberly, what a great keepsake. Karen, a car-driving doll, I love it! And Laurie, I'm with you on a Barbie dreamhouse!

Anonymous said...

Jem Dolls and cabbage patch dolls.

angelheart618@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I still have my Teddy Ruxspin...I absolutely loved him as a kid.

GFC: Crissy M

morris.crissy@gmail.com

LEENA7 said...

What a precious gift,,have to wonder what you got her....it is sweet when you can still be so close and caring.We were poor which meant lots of hand me downs, so I was so thrilled when Christmas moring I got brand new coloring books and abig box of Crayola crayons. To this day I remember that morning every time I smell crayons or feel the smoothness of a new book
following you will be fun
peach_hugs@yahoo.com

Liese said...

Mydurango618, I'm too old for the cabbage patch dolls, but both my boys had them (we were very progressive parents). Chrissy, I hadn't thought of Teddy Ruxpin in years. How fun! Leena7, it's amazing how a scent can be associated with a memory, isn't it?

Liese

Unknown said...

The Cabbage Patch I received when I was ten!

Thanks for the Awesome Hop!
grapeapril75(AT)gmail.com

JanD said...

Wow, that's a huge doll. I still keep my dead wristwatch because it was a gift from my parents.
bituin76 at hotmail dot com

magic5905 said...

Mine also is barbies. I loved Barbie and the Rockers and especially the male doll named Derek. I got all of the dolls.
Thanks for the great hop.
I follow on gfc-magic5905
magic5905 at embarqmail dot com

Holly said...

Hello, thanks for the giveaway! I never got one of those, but I always wanted one.

skizzles_22_hju@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

Every Christmas my mom digs out our special blankets or stuffed animals we had as children. Mine is the ugliest thing ever, but it was all mine. It is a stuffed skunk my mom bought at a yard sale for 5 cents when I was just a little girl.

Enigmeg said...

My special Christmas memory is a gaudy sparkly ring - just glass - but I must have been 3 or 4 and have a memory of waking up early on Christmas day and my folks and I sitting in the lounge and watching it catch the light and cast sparkles on the walls. My parents marriage wasn't the happiest, so this is a very precious memory for me :)

Z said...

I have a bear that is packed away with my stuff somewhere, I used to cut it's fur because I swore it grew and one day it got burnt when I left it on the radiator and my gamma patched Teddy up for me.
GFC follower
z
Seawitchreviews at yahoo dot com

Shannon said...

I love the winter holidays and don't care if the stuff starts coming out in Sept. It's fun in July when Hallmark and Lifetime play Christmass movies :-)
I can't think of a specific item that we have that says the holidays have started. You story was wonderful. What a great sister you have!

Shadow said...

What an awesome hop!! And a fantastic giveaway! Thank you!! My dad got my sister and me a barbie house once for christmas. It was awesome! We played with it for years, destroyed it a bit and then packed it away. This was about 10+ years ago. My dad was cleaning and found the house. We cleaned and fixed it up and gave it to my dads niece. She loves it! Happy holidays to you all! Best wishes and many blessings!
GFC: shadow_kohler
shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com

Ellz said...

a snowman that sits on the stairwell. Love that little guy

gfc Elie
zenfoxflowerATyahooDOTcom

Liese said...

Wow! I've been busy at work, but have enjoyed reading everyone's holiday memories. And isn't so interesting it can be as simple as a glass ring? There's a lesson in there somewhere.

Liese

Beckey said...

Nice Pictures. Thanks for sharing the great post

Happy Holidays
BeckeyWhiteATgmailDOTcom

Following

Theresa Friel Newbury said...

Can't recall a specif toy. *pouts*

Hope you have a merry Christmas!! Enjoyed you memories/story.

I follow via GFC -brbalways and twitter @watijo3

bn100 said...

Nice memories.

No special item that brings back memories.

bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

Just this week, my great niece found the Light Brite set that I remember getting the Christmas I was 8 & my sister was 5. Wow, did that bring back memories.

drainbamaged.gyzmo at gmail.com