This isn't our front yard, thank goodnes, but we have a lake out front just the same. The geese are coming back to the area and I just hope they don't think they can set down in my front yard. I told my husband that we should put some rubber duckies out to float in the in our new pond.

Well, spring has sprung! In a big way. Almost the entire state of North Dakota is under a flood warning. They are advising no travel in many counties. even parts of the interstate are closed. This year we have had record snowfall and it was bound to happen. Everyone here is great and really pull together during times like these. North Dakotans are tough people! I'm proud to be one of them.

A Face Only a Mother Could Love


I am the nursery leader at church. We have one little girl named Maddy who loves dolls. I decided to look at the local thrift store for a doll that I could clean and dress up for the nursery. I found one in great shape with long blond hair. I couldn’t wait to get started. I even found some doll pajamas in perfect condition. This was my lucky day!


I have fixed up old dolls before, and looked forward to the great satisfaction I would feel when the job was done. I proceeded to shampoo her hair and used some cleanser to clean her plastic body. This has always worked well to remove ink and other soil from a well loved doll.


Finally she was squeaky clean and practically like new. Next, I set about making pony tails and braided each one into three small braids and then two big braids. Then I twisted them into two little top knots on her head. “Looking cute,“ I thought to myself. With her new doo done I dressed her in the flowery new pj’s and tied matching blue ribbons in her hair. I tacked the pajamas closed with a few stitches so the children couldn’t remove the clothing. Presto chango! That was easy and she turned out pretty cute I must say!

I was pretty happy with the results and knew that Maddy would love this doll. Giving the doll one last inspection, I noticed one solitary eyelash on her cheek. As I went to remove it, I noticed a few more. “What the…............!!!!!” Much to my dismay her eyelashes in one eye had all fallen out, and her eye suddenly rolled back in her head. "Oh no!” I cried. “This can’t be happening.”
I checked her other eye and sure enough as soon as I touched it those eyelashes fell out too.
She looked terrible. I laid her down and both eyes rolled back into her head. She was frightening to look at. She looked like a character from a Chucky horror movie. I can’t take her to the children like this. She gives me the creeps.

What could I do? I had no choice but to perform emergency eye surgery right there on the kitchen table. Carefully prying her eyeballs forward and rolling them to an open position I glued them open!! Yes…open! Forever……open!

Now she looks bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and very, very alert, (even perky). I had diverted a catastrophe. I took her to the nursery and Maddy loved her like only a mother can!

(Note to self: use a milder cleaning agent next time.)