Thursday, July 27, 2017

Finding Ravi

Daddy Steve:  I have a confession to make.  I give names to dolls.  I'm not talking about just my own boys; I name dolls that I bid on but ultimately fail to win.  I also name dolls that I like, but know that I don't really need.

For quite a while now Susanna Lewis had a wonderful blonde boy for adoption on her site that I named Vince.  I would regularly check to see if Vince was still around (happily, he was adopted).  And then I name those dolls that I have yet to meet; the ones that exist only in my imagination.  This was the case for Ravi.

Meet Ravi

Here's how it all started.  You're no doubt acquainted with Sasha Sari, one of the last dolls Trendon ever made.  I always felt that she was an inspired idea.  To me, the art and culture of India are very beautiful.  I thought it was a real shame that she never had a Gregor counterpart; a raven-haired little boy dressed in a traditional kurta.  I began to think that if I could find one of the early Gregors with very dark, almost black hair; he could be that boy.  

Thus, I began my search for Ravi.  Once Daddy Steve gets an idea in his head, it can be very hard to dislodge it.  Finding Ravi got to be a kind of mild obsession.  'Ravi' became more than a name; it was an adjective, a standard of measurement that applied to every doll I saw.  Some were not 'Ravi' at all, while others were only a little bit 'Ravi.'  Some were very 'Ravi,' but not quite enough.


Arrival day and unveiling

Eventually, I found the one, the real 100% Ravi.  He's from 1968, and, like Miguel, he has the nearly black hair found on some of the early dolls. His hair is thick and perfectly styled, and best of all it's non-falling.  He appears to have never been  played with, only displayed.  He has beautifully painted eyes and a very serene expression that I think suggest wisdom beyond his years.

Getting to know each other.  He has quite the personality.

Like almost all of my early boys, his wrist tag is long gone.  However, he did come with a little surprise up his sleeve (or, in this case, stuffed down his pants).  It was his original wax seal 'Made In England' tag.  Only the early imported dolls wore this tag.  Originally the Frido wrist tags were blank on the reverse, so it was necessary to provide an additional statement of origin.


Proudly made in England!

I should add that Ravi's explanation of the tag (or 'medal,' as he calls it) is a bit fanciful.  He says that while he's not completely certain (because dolls don't have the most reliable of memories), he swears it was presented to him by Her Majesty the Queen for services rendered to the Crown.  When I ask what exactly those services were, he says only that he's not at liberty to say.  Who am I to argue?

"Oooooooh!"
The boys are all suitably impressed with Ravi's medal.





Thursday, July 20, 2017

Sasha Fest 2017

Daddy Steve:  The annual U.S. Sasha Fest takes place this weekend in Washington, D.C.  We hope that everyone attending has a wonderful time!


Sasha: Enjoy the crafts!
Emile: Buy clothes and presents for your kids!
Frank: Eat lots of Sasha cookies!

Emile: I, uh,...'Sasha' cookies?
Sasha: Frank, what are you talking about?
Frank: Sasha cookies are magic cookies.  They're any flavor you want them to be: chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, peanut butter, cinnamon & sugar, ginger snap, macadamia...

Frank: Toffee fudge, M&M, cherry almond...
Emile: Frank!  That ees the silliest thing I 'ave ever 'eard.  
SashaWhere do you get these ideas?

Frank, whispering: Don't listen to them.  We know better; have fun and eat lots of Sasha cookies!


The boys of Gregoropolis will see you next year at Sasha Fest 2018 here in Minneapolis!





Friday, July 14, 2017

To Boldly Sew...

Daddy Steve: While prowling around my favorite vintage shop the other day, I picked up a remnant of Star Trek-themed fabric.  It's a rather fanciful (Daddy John says 'questionable') depiction of the original 1960s series.



Everybody at Gregoropolis enjoys the many incarnations of Star Trek, but Kaveh and Patrick are definitely the biggest fans.  They were very excited by our new find.

Patrick: Amazing!
Kaveh: This is so cool!

Patrick: Ahead, Mr. Sulu.  Warp Factor Two!
Kaveh: wwwwwwhhhmmmmMMMWWSSHHHH!

Patrick: Hey, where did you go?

Kaveh:  It's my 'cloaking device!'

Patrick loves the original series (TOS to Trekkies); his absolute favorite character is Mr. Spock.  He appreciates Spock's devotion to logic and rational thinking.  Patrick always says that if everyone were just a bit more logical, the world would be a better place.  I can't argue with that...

Patrick: Live long and prosper.

Kaveh is partial to The Next Generation (TNG).  His favorite character is the ship's counselor Deanna Troi (Daddy John calls her Counselor Cleavage).  Kaveh appreciates Troi's calming manner and her ability to help people get to the root of their problems.  He wants to be a counselor and help people when he grows up.

Kaveh: She's very wise and caring.

Just as Captains Kirk and Picard relied on the advice of their respective crews, I asked Kaveh and Patrick what we should make out of the fabric.  Blankets?  A wall hanging?  Perhaps a play-mat?  Bear in mind that it's not a big piece and Daddy Steve's sewing skills are rudimentary, at best.

Patrick: It's only logical to consider all possibilities.
Kaveh: You should examine your feelings; what do you think is best?

These two make a good crew!









Saturday, July 8, 2017

Everything In The Garden Is Growing So Fine


Daddy Steve: And my, it is growing fine indeed.


It's hard to believe that just two months ago it still looked rather barren.



The boxwood and yew have had their trim.


The petunias are blooming.


The rudbeckia was growing, until rabbits got to it.  


Even Apollo is in a more jovial and carefree mood.


Blake and Sebastian certainly think so.

Sebastian:  He definitely looks happier now.
Blake:  He just needed a little sunshine!








Tuesday, July 4, 2017

Happy 4th of July!

Pete Dakota, Stephen, BR, and all the boys at Gregoropolis 
wish you a Happy Independence Day!