What Does it Feel like to turn the Big 5-0?

No different than any other day................................LOL! Honestly, it didn't hurt at all hitting that milestone. I woke up on that special day to this sign stuck on my front porch for everyone to see, since I live right on the Main St. of town. My hubby had a gifted artistic co-worker of his make this sign in honor of my special birthday(Thanks Troy!). Thank goodness that it was hard to read by the car passerbys....lol But when I left for work, I looked back towards the house and the little 3-5 year old preschoolers were out on their walk with their teachers and I saw one of the teachers pointing up towards my porch! Hahaha! See, I had tied an inflatable Sponge Bob up along the side of the sign so that hubby would know that yes indeed, I had spied the infamous BD sign..........lol I wonder how many of the little ones noticed the "Girl Gone Wild at 50" sign beside Sponge Bob and if they had any questions about what those things were hanging out of those holes??????????????? One thing about 50........Depends can be your friend!!! *giggle*

Now, I have to show you the most special of gifts that I received form me dear friend Joyce Stahl of Enchanted Productions. Joycee knows how crazy I am about pumpkins and even more crazy about the white (Lumina) ones. I knew that she was working on a doll that was going to be wearing the special "dream dress". One that had came to her in her dreams.

So when she came down to the shoppe with a special birthday lunch for me, I knew she was bringing the doll wearing the special dream dress which I thought I would be listing on eBay this weekend. I was so excited to see what this doll with the special dress was going to look like! One of my favorite parts of listing Joyce's dolls on eBay for her is taking their pictures and when I saw her, I was already thinking how amazing she was going to look standing in front of my vintage ceiling tin tile that I had just given a makeover!

After Oohing and Aahing and drooling all over her...................Joyce said, "Read her name tag!" I turned over the tag and this is what it said, "Happy Birthday Nana...Because you're so special!" Love, JoycEE. "Elizabeth Ann 2009" Elizabeth is my middle name and Ann is JoycEE's. All I could do, as soon as I started reading that tag, was sob like a baby. I had no idea that this special doll was going to be mine...........=o)

Then JoycEE started to tell me what every little piece and scrap of material, trim and buttons meant and where they came from. Each and every one had a special meaning. Some of the materials were the same materials that were used on dolls that had special meaning and or marked special occasions. Some of the vintage buttons I had given to her, some came from vintage jewelry that was purchased during trips that we had taken together on the hunt for treasures to be used on her magical dollies. The vintage seam binding came from Antiques by the Bay which was one of our amazing day trips during our trip to California for PFATT Fest 2008. So many memories................and all stitched by hand with love to create this amazing dream dress and doll. =o)

I can't even begin to tell you how touched I was to be the recipient of such a heart felt gift. There were many tears shed and a whole lot of hugging going on! =o)

Elizabeth Ann holds in her hand the sweetest little heart shaped pumpkin which signifies the love for Halloween that both JoycEE and I share and also our membership in the EHAG eBay group.

JoycEE even whittled her little pumpkin head stem! I know how many hours she has put into creating this precious little gift and I will always think of her and all those special times that we have shared together when I look at ELizabeth Ann!

Thank you JoycEE!!! You helped make my "half way to a century" birthday the most special one ever and one that I will never ever forget!

Hugs,