Good wintry morning Company Girls! We've had snow flurries this week and bitter cold temps. Not the "norm" here in NE Louisiana, but certainly adds to the Christmas spirit. Grab some coffee or hot chocolate and let's "sit a spell." (as my Grandmother use to say)
I was thinking the other day about Christmases past and I thought of my Chatty Cathy doll and the Christmas I got her as a gift. I was about 8 years old, so that makes her 50 years old.~Yikes~ We lived in a rural area of Arkansas where my Dad was pastor of a little country church. Finances were certainly not in abundance that particular Christmas. We had some neighbors up the hill that were like a second set of Grandparents to me and my brother and they likely knew that things were tight at our house. They found out what we really wanted for Christmas and they got it for us. Mine was the Chatty Cathy doll in the picture above. Talk about excited! I just could not believe that I really got her. I have managed to keep up with her all these years. She was beginning to really show her age and two years ago I sent her to a Doll Hospital out near Houston, Texas and had her reworked. The ladies that I spoke to at the shop told me that they had never seen a Chatty Cathy in such excellent condition and that if I wanted to sell her she would likely bring top dollar. Well, I certainly was not and will not be interested in selling her. I have her proudly displayed in our daughter's old bedroom and each time I look at her I have happy memories. When I am gone from my earthly life perhaps my Granddaughter will enjoy having her as a keepsake from her CiCi.
I fixed lunch for my husband's office staff yesterday, something I do each year. As I mentioned in my previous entry, I really enjoy the gals that work for him and each Christmas I make up some type of "happy" for them. I collect things throughout the year and then I enjoy seeing just how creative I can be in packaging them. I loved what I came up with this year.
I found these basket "thingys" on the clearance aisle at Wal-Mart and thought they would make the perfect container for their "happies" this year. The girls were pleased as could be and of course, that made all my efforts worth the work. Our son and SIL that are also a part of the office staff just sit back and enjoy watching the gals as their "happy baskets" will come at our family Christmas. Plus, it's just a whole lot harder to come up with "happies" for for guys than gals. ~chuckle~
The girls with CiCi |
CiCi with the "Boss Man" |
The staff came up with the cutest "gag" type gift for Hubby and I and we all had a good chuckle over it. In case you can't
read what the T-shirt says........"What happens under the mistletoe, stays under the mistletoe." They also gave us matching red and green plaid pajama pants to wear with the shirts. Cute! Cute!
It was a fun time, memories were made and hopefully they felt very appreciated.
I hope that each of you are getting into the holiday spirit and that the "hussell and bussell" (just not sure about that spelling) of the season isn't taking it's toll on you. I wish for you heavenly blessings as we draw closer to the day we celebrate our Savior's birth.
Click on the button above for more fun visiting with Company Girls. We love our Rachel!
How fun! Now how can I convince hubby to move to Louisana so we can be friends in 'real life'. =p hehe I did not know they have doll hospitals. I'd like to see how long we can keep our dolls around for.
ReplyDeleteYour Chatty Cathy doll is amazing! I think it is wonderful that you sent her to a doll hospital. What a keepsake!
ReplyDeleteWhat a generous idea of the gift of "happies" to your husband's staff ... and how creative! Blessings!
ReplyDeleteWow! How great that you still have that doll! I know the ladies in your husbands office LOVE you! And the T-shirts...love 'em, that is so funny! Hope you have a great weekend. I know it will be stress free because you are so together!
ReplyDeleteLove the gift baskets for the girls!! Seems like your place is a nice place to work!!!
ReplyDeleteStay warm its cold here too!
What a cute doll! Was the hospital you sent her to in Old Town Spring by any chance? I grew up there. :)
ReplyDeleteSo sweet! I LOVE the shirts. How precious. Your spirit just shines, Lea, and I'm so glad that we are friends!
ReplyDeleteSo that's a Chatty Cathy. I've heard of her but never laid eyes on her. How neat that you still have her. That is a great Christmas memory too.
ReplyDeletewhat a sweet thing to do for your husband's office. I love that. Thank you for being such a great example of the Proverbs 31 gal. You are you know?!
Merry Christmas Friend!
LydiaCate
I remember the Christmas that I asked Santa for a Chatty Cathy doll. I just KNEW I would get one.....but on Christmas morning, next to the plate we had left for Santa, there was a note saying that he had run out of Chatty Cathy's and had brought me a Matty Matel doll instead. Hhmmm....not quite the same, but I don't think, in the long run, that it stunted my emotional growth!
ReplyDeleteAh...I spoke about my very first Christmas dolly too..only mine was a Betsy Wetsy doll...now my daughter has it at her house....I love the t-shirts...how cute is that! Have a great wknd!
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