Australia Day Party 2005

Polly was preparing to party hard at our annual Australia Day Party. 

In a kangaroo costume I made for my Aussie husband she sat overlooking the party with cans and bottles of Foster's and a stuffed joey in her pouch.

Amazingly several people had been at the party for hours before being startled to realize they were standing right underneath her.

Shrimps on the Barbies, one of our Aussie Day Party Traditions:

Polly want a ... Cookie?

Polly at our 2004 Holiday Cookie Exchange Party with just a few of the participants.  (Clockwise from lower left; Natalie, Lori K., Polly M. and me)

While we were enjoying a buffet, eggnog and spiced wine Polly spent most of the time outside on the porch hoping to catch the attention of Santa Claus with the enticement of Chocolate Chip cookies but mostly she distracted the snowplow operators!

Politics and Polly

Polly is pretty quiet about her political views and makes no assumptions about the affiliation of others. 

She does however believe strongly in exercising your right to vote.  Sadly she cannot vote nor run for office.  Dolls will not be granted that solemn right until all doll unite and argue their case in the high courts of the land which, judging by the distinctive lack of motivation that is intrinsic to a doll's nature I don't see happening any time soon.  In the meantime, don't you be a dummy.  Vote!

Polly's First Halloween

Halloween 2004 - I LOVE Halloween!  Polly was a huge hit as she greeted the Trick-or-Treaters on our porch which can only be reached by crossing a wooden bridge. 

I set Polly up in a witch costume on the dark porch in front of the door without any candy.  Trick-or-treaters would have to walk across the dark bridge and reach past Polly to ring the doorbell . Approaching the porch a motion-sensitive shrieking was triggered startling the already nervous visitors.

Those kids earned their candy at our house!

Very small children were really nervous about approaching and often sent their parents to ring the bell while they waited halfway across the bridge poised to run.  Even the parents looked a little anxious about getting that close.  (Maybe they saw the Child's Play movies) 

The big kids were the most fun though.  It became a test of bravado to the boys running in packs trying to get their last year of free candy.  You could see them holding their breath as they attempted to bravely swagger across the bridge in front of their friends and then just about jump out their skin when they got close enough to set off the shrieking!

At least one Trick-or-Treater refused to cross the bridge saying "Hey!  I don't need candy THAT bad!"

I of course was standing just inside the door giggling and snickering silently.  The really jumpy kids would elect one of their number to get the doorbell then the rest would hold out their bags at arms reach but never take their wide, unblinking eyes off of Polly... just in case!

Happy 1st Birthday Polly!

September 2004: 

After a big night celebrating birthdays (Polly's 1st) at the annual artists retreat in Colorado I woke to find Polly wearing a rather satisfied expression.  She sat clutching her empty bottle of tequila, an apple balanced on her head, a roll of Smarties between her fingers like a cigarette and a second place ribbon. 

Clearly she had a little help with the tequila!  Likely culprits? Belcher, Shriver, Kato, Macaw, Mojito Mama...  I just wonder who won 1st Place and for what!

Patriotic Polly and the kind stranger

Labor Day 2004 - Polly gets patriotic sitting on our porch.  A few days later I spotted a kindly gentleman get out of his car, stood on the sidewalk and started chatting to Polly.  Eventually he walked up the bridge chatting away to Polly the whole time. 

He had seen her sitting outside for several days and figured she was probably a lonely widow since a broken sprinkler system gives our "lawn" and do use the term loosely if not sarcastically, the distinction of being the most neglected in the neighborhood. 

He stopped by to offer to come mow the lawn for no charge.  It was a little embarrassing because indeed our "lawn" but if I could have gotten away with it I probably would have put my hand up her back and made her nod and saying, "Why thank you kind sir, yes, that would be lovely". 

But I ws a little embarrassed for him.  I mean he'd spent 5 minutes talking to a doll!  And what if he was really hitting on her?

Polly is Family

My mother-in-law came over for a visit and really took to Polly.  We talked about bringing her to Australia the next time we visit but decided it might be hard to explain why I'm traveling with a head in my suitcase!

My mother-in-law has a collage in her home with photos of family.  One day I noticed there were more photos of Polly on the board than her own granddaughter!