A nice summer surprise

Áldozatunk fogadjátok,

Amit kérünk, megadjátok!

Előttetek fejet hajtunk,

Fogadjátok hódolatunk!

Literally: Take our offering,/you give what we ask for / we fear and respect you/ receive our homage (the shaman is talking to some ancient gods that were worshipped that time)

From the Hungarian rockopera King Stephen, from the Shamans song by Bródy János and Szörényi Levente

Today, the postman brought a mysterious pink little package. :)

Pink chessboard!

A good fairy, a really generous friend sent me this.

She had two of a certain dress, and gave me one of them! And she didn't only send  a dress, she put some really cute stickers and a very sweet note into the package! I can't thank you enough! Here are the stickers:

So very cute! And the dress is...

...Annas coronation dress! Off went Dollys hommemade little dress and she put on this the dress from the package. It's so beautiful and detailed! And the skirt is so nice and wide, I didn't know it was so pretty! She looks so gorgeous in it! And she looks almost like a different doll dressesd up like that, I had no idea a dress could make such a big difference. At least for me it seesms like a big difference. That dress is really magical!

I'm plotting an "evil" scheme for her - I'm going to send her on a dance date with the only Prince Charming around here. No I'm wrong, there is a Prince Eric doll, namely Charles around, so the only Prince Charming Villain. No worries, this one is a nice guy. :) The other  girls are cheering, too.
I'm so happy, thank you so much!

A ruined plan - a Dolly story

"Und dieser Traum war alles, was mir blieb in all der Zeit"

Literally: And this dream was all that was left to me all this time

from The Count of Monte Cristo by Frank Wildhorn

As you may guess I was very excited about the party and looking forward to it. I was jumping about a just little more and was just a little less careful then usually. That is the only explanation I can give.

Just the day of the dance, in the morning I was on my way down from the shelf to talk about some thing or other concerning the dancefloor to Meritre. I'm not sure what happened, perhaps my foot hit the chair or one of the drawers weren't properly closed and my foot hit and slipped on the knob? I really don't know what happened.  I hit something and landed not very elegantly on the floor with burning pain in both of my ankles.

I'm soooooo good at this. It happens. I didn't think it was very serious and hoped that it would be better in a few minutes as so many times before and I can go on. I managed to get into a somewhat upright position, too. Now standing up can be a little tricky.

Luckily the others were out and preparing things for the party in the other room or they would have made a fuss. I thought nobody saw me but I was wrong. Of all dolls the doctor was the first to come, she saw what happened and came to check if I needed help. You can count on Sorghoktani, no matter what.
I must have looked quite miserable with my ankles still hurting very badly as she guessed that this was a case for her.

"No need to talk, I saw what happened. I'll help you so you can sit down over there." she said.
You could possibly try telling your sister everything's all right (although I doubt she would have believed it) but it was impossible to say the same to the doctor.

Especially when you're hissing because of the pain while she helps you up and leads you to a pile of books where you can sit down.
She then asked me to pulled my skirt a little up so she could have a proper look.

'You have probably hurt your ankle. Both your ankles." she said after a quick look. 'I'll have to set them. Both.'
I tried to get a glimpse of my ankles myself. It looked quite bad.Ok, I mean my boots. But it still looked bad.

And on top of that, my sister appeared out of nowhere. As if she somehow knew that something has happened. She wanted to know what's going on and Sorghoktani filled her in while went on and examined my feet through the boot very carefully.

'Badly strained ankles. You need to rest.' she announced finally.
'But it will be all right until the evening, right?' I asked. I was still hopeful.
'Dancing? I doubt you'll be able to walk. I'm sorry, sis, but looks like you have to stay at home. No worries, I'll be there for you.' my sister said.
'No need to do so' I tried to convince her that there was no need to sit around me and she should go and enjoy herself.
'No, I'm staying with you. There'll be more than enough ladies there.'
We discussed the matter thoroughly once more and Sorghi took advantage of my beeing distracted to set my ankles. It did hurt but not as much as before.
'Now the other one. You go on talking.' she said.

But I wasn't really distracted anymore and the second ankle setting was much more painful than the first. I was amazed by her skills nevertheless.
'You were able to do it without takin off my boots. Pracically blindly. But why didn't you take them off?'
'That would have made your injury much worse. All that pulling wouldn't have done your ankle any good, no matter how careful we would have been. Better this way.'
'Thank you, Sorghi. Now getting some rest.' I stood up, thinking I'd be able to get to my usual spot with my ankles set. I was never so wrong in my life. I wasn't able to do one step and would have fallen if Sorghoktani wouldn't have caught me.

What a big fool I am, I thought. Now it hurt so much I could hardly hold back my tears.
'It's my fault, I forgot to tell you not to move.' she said.
'Well, talking about getting some rest and getting up doesn't really match.' That was my sisters opinion.And she was right as almost always.
Sorghoktani lowered me on the books once more.

'I think it would be best if you just stayed here. No standing up, no moving the legs.' she said.
'Now we need to find a way to get her somewhere nice and quiet.'
'Yes. She'll need lots of sleep to heal faster. I'll give her somethingto make her sleepy.' the doctor promised. Kiki made a surprised face. The doctor explained a moment later.
'It's very painful for poor Dolly, with the setting and all. She couldn't sleep although she needs it badly. The faster the pain is gone, the better. And even better if she isn't awake to feel that pain.'
They went and told Meritre about the misfortune that happened, while I  sat on the books waiting.

So Meritre, again, set up a resting place for me and Sorghoktani prepared the sleeping stuff. She also got a pack of paper handkerchieves to put it under my ankles. A soft yet stable support is what they need now, she claimed.
I was more concerned about the medicine, I didn't like the idea of taking sleeping pills but soon I had to realise that the doctor was right. I could only focus on my ankles, they hurt so much.

'I'm not happy about it, either but there is nothing better to be done. Drink that and you'll sleep soundly till morning. Then it'll be much better.'
'I'll stay here with you' Kiki said.
And we started again. But this time, I won with Sorghi unknowingly helping me.
'I couldn't have fun knowing you're miserable.' my sister said.
'And I couldn't sit still knowing you miss the fun because of me.' I answered of course 'Maybe I'll even sleepwalk!'
'Actually, the more dolls are around, the more noise is ther and that could wake her.'
'Ok, ok, I get it, sis. I'll go.' Kiki said.
'And you go too, Sorghoktani.'

She could hardly take back what she said about noisy nurses so she reluctanty agreed after things were arranged so everybody was satisfyed. We agreed that Flit, Sorghoktanis pet bird is going to stay with me and report every hour to the doctor.
Now I ruined my own plan since I can't go to the dance. I wouldn't want them to put it off just because of me but I'm still not happy that I have to stay behind. They are all so sweet, can you imagine, they are already planning the next one that 'll be held as soon as I'm ready to go. I have the best friends in the world.

I drank that strange liquid  that was  to make me sleepy and my head became heavy quite quickly. I remember hearing some music and laughing while beeing half asleep.
It's so typical. Why is it always me who needs tha docor? If there is a fever to catch, I always do so. If there is dollfluenza going around, I'm sure to come down with it. Even if nobody else gets it. And if there is absolutely no illness roaming among the dolls then  I find other ways to hurt myself, however careful I try to be.


Note by Sorghoktani: Dorothea fell asleep within a few minutes.

I watched her for a little while before leaving for the dance. Oh right, Flit must be sent over first.

Note by Kiki:
She most likely doesn't know but Dolly didn't only ruin her own plans. I have to think of a new plan myself. And Vester who could be called the dancing king (if Dolly is the dancing queen ;) was busy teaching dancing all the dolls. (Meritre asked him to do that, othervise he wouldn't have dreamed to do it) I have to say he wasn't as enthusiastic as he was when he had just one pupil. His mood  wasn't lifted when he accidentally overheard the girls that Dolly definitely won't came.

In fact, he couldn't be more disappointed.
I have an idea. Dolly will surely want to hear what was the party like, if something interesting happened  and so on. I'll bring her a visitor to tell her evereything ;)
No, I'm not mean. I just want them to talk a little.

A splendid plan - Kiki tells a Dolly story

"I can show you the world
Shining, shimmering splendid"

from Disney's Aladdin

"A party?" Meritre was surprised.
"With dancing and decorations and music and all."
"But you are a dozen girls and there are only two guys, how did you think it will work?"

"They'll hand out numbers to the girls." said Daphne humorously.
Dolly looked away probably so she wouldn't laugh out loud. Looking away she looked as if she was uninterested but the party was her idea in the first place.

I was standing at my usual spot, a little further away, listening to this new idea.
"Why, there are three, if only you would let out Aladdin and Eric." she threw in.
"So Vester still doesn't count? But he's pretty much the only one in the group who can dance."
"Okay, let's say four. That's enough, isn't it?"
"Three girls for each one of them."

 "I won't dance so you need not count me." said Sorghoktani. " Besides, I don't have anything to wear."
"Oh, that doesn't matter, we're all going in our usual clothes." Valancy replied cheerfully.
"My leg wouldn't let me dance anyway."
"But we need our dolldoctor. What if someone twists an ankle while dancing?"
Sorghoktani smiled but said nothing.
"Hold on, I didn't say anything about agreeing to a big, noisy party, very likely messing up the whole house. Why do you want a ball anyway?"
"Because it would be something new and fun for us."
"It would be so wonderful to spend such a nice evening with everybody beeing there."
"And we won't make a mess and everything will be cleaned up." Daphne promised.

Meritre seemed to think it over. Dolly had to look away once more because Meritre made such a funny face. Then she smiled. I'm sure she thought that a party is a great opportunity for matchmaking. But Dolly can't stand if she's forced to something. Like those matchmaking schemes. I afraid I messed already too much and instead of helping, I made things worse. Maybe I should take my own advice and just... let it go?
"Well... if you can organise it, you can have your party next Saturday. You'll have all the bedrooms for yourself. And a computer or CD player or something, for music. You just go on and do whatever you want done. Let me know if you need any help."
And so we started planning and preparing. The exact place had to be chosen, seats had to be set up for those who were not dancing, the playlist had to be made and so much more. We were all very excited. We decided against decoration since it would only add to the mess and we had lots of other, more important things to attend to.
"You can't dance with that cape" Dolly told me.

"No. But I didn't plan to dance anyway."
"You should put on the new outfit that came recently."
"But of course, pink trousers are just the thing for a ball. Seriuosly, Dollly, no, I won't."
"Pah, I wasn't talking about that, you know that. Just wait till you see the dress." She danced out of the room to put on that pretty blue dress.

"Tadaaam, sis!"
I was holding the blouse and the trousers that came together with the dress.
"Very pretty, you should go to the dance wearing that."
"No, no, no, it's for you!"She looked at the clothes I was holding, almost like as if she was frozen. "You're not wearing those to the ball, are you?"

I laughed.
"No, of course not. I'm just bringing them to Hannah. She's to modell this outfit. Pink and purple are her colors."

She was looking as if she didn't really believe what I told her. I could see she was thinking hard, she was still holding up one arm like when she presented the dress. She told me everything she could think of to persuade me to take the dress.
I think I know someone who would agree with me that Dolly should wear that blue dress to the dance. ;)

Note by Dolly:
All my attempts to persuade Kiki to try any of the clothes on herself were in vain. She kept telling me that there were too many girls even without her. Well, she was actually right. And we were busy preparing and having fun. We all agreed that it was a good thing to take over ideas from other dolls we happen to meet in the great blogging world.


Note by Meritre: My dolls were busy reading the blog Likeness of life and as soon they saw that the dolls there had dances, they wanted to do the same. Because it was fun and interesting things happened during dances.

The flower hunt - a Dolly story

"Help me make the music of the night"

from A. L. Webbers The Phantom of the Opera, song: Music of the night

 Remember when Kiki said she'll tag along the first time we do something together? And her idea that we should go and visit the garden? We did it. But it was more like Kiki dragging us along than she coming along and retreating into the background. If it wouldn't be about me, I would think it funny. From an outsiders point of view it is a good idea. I'm not sure why this turned out like that but it wasn't exactly what she imagined. It wasn't bad just...  well, I best start at the beginning.
Victoria arranged the whole: She chose the day, she invited Vester, she suggested that we look for flowers outside. And so we found ourselves walking by her side, on our way to the garden on a fine spring morning. Like two obliging dogs taken for a walk on the line.

"Isn't it a perfect day?" Kiki exclaimed "And look, the first flowers this spring!" The weather was indeed perfect, not too much sun or clouds, very little wind and a pleasant temperature.
"There are other flowers around. And I've seen those daisies weeks ago through the window."
"Yes, between patches of snow, right?" she laughed and ran ahead. I coud hardly keep up with her.

"Look! There are leaves over here, there will be some tulips soon! Let's check for buds!"

But neither the tulips nor the narcissus a few steps away from the tulips had any buds.

And I have to add, Vester actually seemed to be bored.

Looking for springflowers wasn't what he would have chosen to do, I guess.
"Hm." was all Kiki could say.
"I remember up there, next to the shed there were some narcissus, too. Maybe we can find some there?" I offered.
"Oh, yes!"
She went ahead, wanting to leave the two of us alone but Vester obidiently followed her, more than ever like a dog on the line.

I felt a bit sorry for him but at the same time I really like spring flowers. And he had an unexhaustible source of patience. (I know that since he put up with my extremly untalented self and taught me to dance.)
"Look, a little sun!" I screamed when I spotted a small yellow flover. "It looks a little like the one in my hair."

Kiki came back to look at it.
"Another early flower! Meritre says there are hundreds of these along the street." she remarked. "But we are not going there and look for them!" she added as soon as she noticed my enthusiasm for those kind of flowers.

"They are really lovely."
"They sure are but we can't jaunter about the whole town. Look, these violets are just as lovely. And there are so many of them! Not here but over there."

I nodded. Sure, violets were pretty.

Plus they have a nice smell.

"And see, there is something yellow there. It is the first blossoming narcissus. Or daffodil. Or whatever they are called."
"Flowers."
We laughed.
"So beautiful!"

We completely forgot about Vester for a while, from that point it was more like a sister garden tour. We hd a lot of fun finding many different springflowers, here they are:

We call that one simply 'cluster of grapes', it looks a lot like one. Lots of violets and daisys too.

Some other additions by Meritre, she was kind enough to make a picture of the little suns she was talking about.

Lots of little suns... or stars

More 'clusters of grape'

A little further, behind the house we found a reddish tulip already blooming.

"It's even redder than your hair."
"Redder then Margarets, too?"
"Even redder than Mireben Meridas hair!"
"But not as red as Susanne Ariels hair."
"Maybe we should have brought them with us, too."
That made my sister remember that we actually did take someone with us. And that we haven't seen him for quite a while. We simply forgot about him. We ran back to the daffodils where we had last seen him but he wasn't there anymore.

Gone!

Looking around didn't give us a clue where he might be and calling him would have been.. let's say, not the wisest thing. The people around were not deaf, even if they couldn't see what's going on in the garden.
"If we could look around from above..." Kiki said thoughtfully.
"Of course! I'll climb a tree."
Victoria  decided to stay on the ground. She didn't want to rip her delicate cape.
"You go and look around, I'll wait right here." she encouraged me.
So I climbed the closest tree. I found a nice spot and sat down to look around.

It took less than a moment to find the lost  member of the little group. He had climbed the very same tree I did.
"So there you are we thought you're lost." I exclaimed.
"Just looked around a bit. Kept an eye on you two as well."
 I didn't need to turn around to see that from the tree he could watch what we were doing without us noticing it. And no wonder we didn't see him when we were looking for him on the ground.
"You were nowhere to be seen so we got worried."

"I'm sorry. Supposed you were hunting for more flowers. Thought to join you two on your way back."
"Oh, that's fine now. Come!" and I just hopped down from the tree. Perhaps I should add that the tree in question was a quite young cherry tree and we were not very high up. And I jump down from Meritres desk every single day. It is part of my adventurer skill set, so to say.:)
Kiki cast a disapproving look at me, she always thinks I'll break a limb or something. But she didn't say anything. For one thing, she's already told me a dozen times that I shouldn't do it, second, she didn't think scolding me in front of others the right thing.
Vester came down from the tree, too and landed just next to the flowers.

 "Let's just enjoy the sun for a bit."
We formed a triangle laying in the grass.Sunshine, bees, butterflies... I think I even dozed off.

 No more words were spoken untill it was time to go back in.

Note by Kiki: It didn't turn out the way I wanted. I should have checked what outdoor activities he likes but the thing is he's never been outside in the garden before. (Unlike Dolly, who even camped out there with Barbara) I wonder what they said to each other up on the tree. It doesn't look like anything significant was said but still. I wish I could help these two. With so many machmakers this should be easy but it just doesn't work out they way it was planned.