July 30, 2008

S'FMtY: Rag Doll

Raising a child like myself couldn't have been easy for my mother. I grew up reading the Little House on the Prairie books over and over, and watching the television show in syndication. My favorite book in the series was Little House in the Big Woods. I loved the idea of living in a small cabin secluded from neighbors. I was fascinated by the descriptions given of butter making, sewing and baking. I, being an impressionable child, wanted to do this at my house. My mother, having been raised by a woman who worked 2 and 3 jobs throughout her childhood, did not know how. I wanted my clothes hand-made, my bread baked fresh, vegetables grown in our backyard and then canned to last us throughout the winter. My mother knew how to sew on buttons and use iron-on hem tape. She had briefly gone through a baking and canning phase in the 70's, but that was before my time. Still, she did the best she could when it came to making my rag doll. I wanted a rag doll just like Laura Ingalls' doll. My mom tried, but as the picture shows, fell a tad short. I loved my doll anyway, and name her Charlotte, just like Laura had done. Charlotte still exists, packed in a box with childhood memorabilia, waiting for a future little girl to play with her. Perhaps by the time that day comes, I will be able to make Charlotte a more attractive companion, although I doubt a doll could be more loved than Charlotte.
visit We are THAT Family for more 'Fro pics and stories!

12 comments:

  1. That is so sweet. What a great memory and a photo too!

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  2. I rushed home every day after school to watch Laura! Loved it. Recently bought a vintage set of her books. My girls are enjoying them now.

    My Fro post this week is about being crowned The Toobing Queen. Laughs guaranteed. http://anapronaday.blogspot.com/2008/07/toobing-on-lake-in-texas.html

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  3. I love this post! It's so funny how the grass is always greener - especially during childhood.

    Thanks for a great post & ps - thanks for the comment!

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  4. I have a doll and picture that invokes the same feelings! How sweet.

    Thanks for sharing it!

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  5. I love your Charlotte! How sweet.

    I wanted to BE Laura Ingalls Wilder. I seriously used to traipse around the backyard with a bedspread tucked into the waistband of my pants, so it would look like a prairie skirt. I'm sure the neighbors thought I was very odd.

    Little House in the Big Woods was my favorite too, and I really loved Farmer Boy. The descriptions of all the food make my stomach growl to this day!

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  6. Wow, I really loved the Little House books, too, but I'm not sure I wanted to live like they did! I read Laura's books over and over again and still like them to this day.

    That's a cute pic of you and your Charlotte. You have to give your mom brownie points for trying!

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  7. I grew up loving Little House too! Charlotte is precious. Even better that you still have her!

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  8. I am quite the Little House fan too. I especially like the ones when Laura falls for Almonzo (sp?), their courtship, the pepper in the lemon chicken, etc... haha!

    What a sweet picture of you and your Charlotte. She looks well-loved. :)

    P.S. Thanks for stopping by my blog. I'm a little scared of the LASIK thing, but boy, it would be nice to have 20/20 vision. I can't even imagine!!!

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  9. I believe that is one of the sweetest things I have read so far. :)

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