Rebuilding the Diner (Cafe?) Part Two

One of these bottles was never even opened.  I also got 30 brushes because they were only a dollar.  They've been adopted, along with the partial bottle, by The Boy.  He has use for them. The unopened bottle will be returned to the store. 

   

Everything gathered in the doll corner, ready for me.  Clearly visible is the failed attempt to use nail polish as chair paint.  I took the faux marble off the shelving unit and decided to paint it, as well.  

First coat done.  Still need to do the underside.  I have no disposable dishes, so I used a tea jar lid to hold rinse water and part of doll packaging as a palette.  It ain't pretty, but it works.  

Second coat.  Got the underside this time.  The daycare's playground is there because I was using it to provide a slant and keep the paint pooled in a corner.  I wasn't painting it.  Mariko and Whitney are glad to see progress.  They like their paychecks!  

While all that was drying, I planted colorful daisies on the exterior.  Each of these is a separate sticker and some had to be cut to approximate the shape of the indent.

But at least now, the planters aren't barren.  Midna better appreciate this.

Final coat.  Brush strokes are visible, but Midna likes the rustic look.  The front of the unit and chair backs look a tad bland.  Possible embellishments to come. 

Midna loves the bright daisies and the idea of patio seating.  Don't worry, Midna, I've already picked out the backdrop for when we do the photo stories.  

Menus!  

And surprise! A busser's cart!

"I'm gonna have to hire more people!"

Rebuilding The Diner (Cafe?) Part One

Midna's fussing at me to get her diner up and running, already!  The people of Barbieville and greater Doll County are craving some of her good home cooking!  Since I have more time and creativity than money, I finally dove into the crafting supplies and did a little work on it. 

The supplies.  A second-hand roll of adhesive shelf liner that I originally intended to make be the flowers in the planters.  S'Mores design duct tape, Super Glue, Plastic wine glasses, and dead CDs.  

I made faux marble table tops out of the CDs.  

Tabletops being affixed to the wine glasses.  These will be pedestal-type tables.

 I covered the front of the white shelving unit, seen here behind Claudia.  The liner didn't want to adhere very well, especially where it curved around the edges, so there's a really large S'Mores design along the back edge.  Midna hopes it will make people want dessert!  

The large wall art, seen above Candy's head, was turned into a notice board with the faux marble. Will Midna use it to tell customers the day's specials or will she let people post notices there?    

Flip the building around and now we have sidewalk seating!  Sunburst Diner seems to be turning into Sunburst Cafe!  

The pink chairs are bothering me.  Teal blue and faux marble are the new color scheme. The Boy offered me the use of their shed - that's where he repaints his Nerf guns - so painting them isn't totally out of the question.  

Okay, I fibbed.  The outdoor planters are pink and there's pink on the menus.  These are bits of the background packaging from, I think, the babies.  Something small like that.  I just cut an already existing fold to size. 

  

I tried to cover the chairs using denim from my sewing box, but didn't have enough fabric for a skirt around the legs.  But I did figure out a pattern and my closets are due for a purge. Maybe I'll find a beat up old shirt I can use.   If not, there's always the thrift stores and clearance racks. 

Or maybe I'll loosen the purse strings a bit and buy a small can of spray paint.

Road Trip

Saturday morning, before the grandparents head to the airport, most of the moving team gathers in the Pike kitchen to plan their route.

Tanner:  Looks like a pretty straight shot. 

Lee: That's a toll road.  

Frodo: We're gonna need lots of restroom stops since Nakoma is with us.  Women have to powder their noses a lot.

McG: What an incredibly misogynistic thing to say, young man.

Frodo: What?  Oh, no, ma'am!  I got nothing but respect for women.  (Looks to the twins.) Help me. 

Tanner: No way, man.  (laughing) You're getting McG Roasted!  

Finnick (laughing): You opened that big mouth in front of the wrong lady.  

Nakoma: Frodo gets racist stuff said to him because he's black and he makes fun instead of getting mad. I guess it's a defense mechanism.  But he's cool.  Doesn't mean a word of it. 

McG: It's wiser than a fistfight.  Take a lesson from your friend, Tanner. 

Frodo: Now who's getting McG roasted?

Four arrives as Finnick programs the GPS.

Esmeralda:  I expect regular updates like when you're on the road with Bapo.  

Frodo: C'mon, man!  Kiss your mommy goodbye already!  

Esmeralda: Would you like a goodbye kiss, Frodo?  (throws him a kiss before leaving)

They drive through the night.  Nakoma and Frodo nap in the back during Tanner's turn at the wheel.

Tanner: How're thing going with you and Tris?  She allowed to date yet? 

Four: Technically, yes, since she's eighteen now.  But she still lives under their roof.  We're good, though.  She might go along this summer when I apprentice with Bapo.

Tanner: How's Bapo feel about that?  

Four: As long as she's willing to help with work and follow the rules, she's welcome. The hard part is convincing the Priors a Gypsy camp isn't really a rolling orgy. 

They arrive at Lee and McG's early the next morning and are set to work.

Lee: I made a reservation for you at a RV park about halfway home.  Driving through the night isn't going to be feasible with both The Tank and a rental truck.  Even with five drivers.

Tanner: Bringing the horse trailer was a good idea.  I'm glad we saved you a little money on the size of your rental.  

Frodo: I'm just glad I don't have to drive The Tank.  I could kiss you.

Lee: Please don't. 

McG: Are you sure you can drive this vehicle, Nakoma?

Finnick (teasing): What an incredibly misogynistic thing to say, Grandma.  

Nakoma: The Tank is actually easier to handle than the park's tram.  Granted, I don't drive the tram at highway speeds.  At least not with people in it. 

McG: The park's tram?  (remembers) Oh, yes, your family owns the amusement park. I look forward to seeing that.

Finnick: You'll never believe how much this dignified matriarch loves roller coasters, Nakoma.  She's like a whole different person once that first hill climb begins.

Nakoma: You'll love the Windigo - that's the new one going up.  Maybe I can get Pocahontas to let you be a First Rider.

They stop for the night, as instructed, after a fast food meal (they are teenagers, after all).

Tanner: Did you guys know Whitney gets harassed all the time?  

Nakoma: She says it doesn't bother her, but I can tell it does.  She even has a thing for a certain party but won't ask him out because of it.

Frodo: Oh, it is me?  Because she should totally ask me out.  

Tanner: You got a thing for Whitney? 

Frodo: Not if you do.  

Wow! I did it!

Today, I got my usual three o'clock call while I was at the grocery store.   The Boy said "I stopped on the walk home from school to steal a drink.  You have a box on your welcome mat."  "Yeah, that's Dumbledore.  Toss him on the desk."

He was in the freezer.  Poor guy.

First order of business, Muggle clothes.

I was very pleasantly surprised by the hair.  Nice and thick!  (I'd heard differently.)

Now, about that beard....  I originally intended him for a head swap, plain and simple, because of the beard. Why, oh, why?  Not only is it hard plastic, it's attached to his face all weird.  If you take it off, he looks like the kid who got fused with a gas mask on Dr Who.  "Are you my mummy?"

Rebuilding his entire lower face, which has been done, is beyond my ability and inclination, but I've seen where some have trimmed his beard and it looked pretty good.  So... I braced myself for the coming disaster and tried that.

Well.  Here he is.  Not bad, if I do say so myself.  

And now I've got that Bellamy Brothers song in my head.  

"He's an old hippie and he don't know what to do..."  

Thank God It's Friday

Coming home from school.

Tanner: I wonder why the 'rents beat us home.    

Finnick: All I know is that Dad said the girls didn't need to ride the bus because they already picked up the little ones.  

Nikki: I hope nobody burned down the store or city hall. They still haven't caught the arsonist.

Finnick: Raven said they're pretty sure that was personal against her mom and Midna.

Tanner: Like Clara has no personal issues against the mayor?  Everyone knows it was her.

Taylor: Oh, no.  I remember the last time we came home to a scene like this. 

Lee: I promise it's good news this time.  Well, we think it's good news. 

Fred: They moving here!  Gonna live in the spooky house!

McG: Your grandfather has finally talked me into semi-retirement.  I've registered here in Doll County as a substitute teacher and we've bought a small home here in town.

Pike: Knowing you, it's a handyman's special. 

Lee: Of course.  Fred tells me it's even thought to be haunted.  

Pike (to the kids): Tanner and Finnick are taking the RV and helping with the move.  Your grandparents will fly, of course, but you're young and healthy enough to handle the road trip. It's a three day weekend and you should only have to miss one day of school.

Tanner: Better ask your girlfriend for permission.  There's a dance this weekend.

Finnick: She'd kick my butt if I didn't go.  Have you met Nakoma? 

McG: If she has a strong back and parental permission, she can come along.  The same applies to any of your friends of driving age.

*******

Later, McG finds Tanner alone in the kitchen. 

McG: Why are you brooding?

Tanner: I'm not brooding.

McG: I've been married to Lee for nearly fifty years.  I know brooding when I see it.  

Tanner (chuckles): Okay, you got me.  My friend Whitney...  well, she had Wilma when she was Nikki's age. I don't know how it happened - you know, if she was a victim or if she was just wild then - but she isn't a slut.  Guys at school... you get the idea.

McG: I can guarantee you that a girl Nikki's age who has a baby has likely been victimized.  Only by a lack of education, perhaps, but that's not the issue.  Your classmates believe she's promiscuous and that bothers you.  Why? 

Tanner: Even if she was, she don't deserve to be treated that way.  They just...    

He's interrupted by Stacie bursting into the room and hugging McG.  

Stacie: I'm so happy you're coming to live here!  

*******

At The Overlook that evening, Pocahontas is surprised to find Esmeralda and Marcus.  

Esmeralda: We're just cleaning up.  

Pocahontas: The Potter/Granger wedding.  I'd forgotten all about it.

Esmeralda (chuckling):  Do you always forget about events at your own venue?  

Pocahontas: More often than I'd care to admit.  (laughs) You don't have to stick around and do my employee's jobs.

Marcus: I told her that's why the old hippie was here, but she doesn't listen.  The woman is stubborn as an ox. 

Esmeralda: That old hippie has his hands full with the mess in the kitchen.  

Pocahontas: Well, I would have been planning to help him if I remembered there was a wedding here today.  I won't stop you if you insist on staying.  You can tell me about the wedding while we work.

Pocahontas has managed to convince the Eatons to go by the time the support group arrives.  

Pocahontas: Did everyone have a nice Valentine's Day?  I got flowers from a secret admirer. 

Ben: Don't look at me.  No offense, but you aren't my type.  

Pocahontas:  None taken.  You aren't my type, either.

Becky: I'm glad the middle school doesn't do the class exchanges.  It was crazy enough trying to get Ron and Ginny settled without that.  By the way, Ben, your sister has been so much help to Ginny.

Ben: Claudia said she's a firecracker.  That's a compliment. 

Becky: The only problem Ron's had is some boy named Malfoy.  He keeps asking if he can punch the kid in the nose.  

Nova: If that boy's any relation to the Malfoy on the college board of directors, he probably needs a punch in the nose.  That man treats us like dirt.  I'd use a different word, but I'm trying to be polite.   

Pocahontas: Why would he treat the students like dirt?  

Nova: I'm not a student.  I'm a janitor. 

Pocahontas: Oh, I'm sorry.  I just assumed. 

Nova: Didn't Mariko tell you I'd joined this group?  

Pocahontas: Nakoma's friend?  You're the aunt who scrubs toilets?   

Wrestler Lady Review

The sole of my shoe fell off.  I'd also just gotten my truck back from the family mechanics and had cabin fever.  Funny how just knowing you can't gallivant around makes you want to.  Anyway, I went to my local Wal-Mart for shoes and (of course) had to check my thrift stores and clearance shelves. 

I've seen the wrestler ladies on other doll blogs and videos, but never in person.  I knew they were quality toys, but I'm honestly gobsmacked by this gal.  She's got some heft to her and her joints are a little stiff.  She must be made of thicker plastic than most.  

I mean seriously, look at that arm!  She's downright Amazonian.  More like an "action figure" than a "doll", to be blunt.  Not that I'm complaining.  I'm all about the girl power.

Her feet seem to be in much more realistic proportion than most dolls. Her big toe is actually apart from the others.  I wondered if she could share shoes with McG.

Hers are a little loose on McG.  McG's were too narrow for her.  But since shoes are rarely worn around here, I don't think it will be a problem.

I noticed a resemblance, but that might just be the arched eyebrows.  I've decided she's the Auntie who keeps trying to turn Pike's kids into dinosaur scientists.  Undecided, though, about keeping her name Eva Marie...  

UPDATE:  I've decided to call her Morgan.  A strong unisex name with connections to magic.  (Because of who her mommy is.)   I'll be deleting the comments with suggestions, but please don't take that wrong!  I love having some feedback!