Yesterday, I was toying with the idea of writing a post on Advent "de-cluttering," sort of a Flylady style pep talk suggesting that we banish clutter from our celebration rooms allowing for a peaceful and holy Advent. To this end, I spent the afternoon rooting out eyesores--music sheets, library books, magazines, half-finished crafts, and the rest of the hodgepodge of doodads forever convening in the room closest to the front door.
Miraculously, here is how our dining room looked yesterday afternoon. You will note the empty window seat, devoid of its customary mantis cage, orchid sticks, watercolor pads, and legos:
And here is how it looks right now:
Apparently, word of the empty space went out to all the American Girls, and they came clamoring up from the basement (laden with a suite of furniture) to find out if it was true.
*******
When I saw how the girls had so flippantly filled the newly tidied space, I had no choice but to put my foot down--how? By extending bedtime a full hour to accommodate the game! How many more times will my 12, 11, 9, and almost 7 year olds play dolls together? As far as I'm concerned, they may have not only the dining room, but the rest of the house as well. After all, there are few things more irresistibly lovely than girls with their dolls.
And speaking of lovely (you saw this coming a mile away), Dawn, the morning star of the internet, is hosting the Loveliness of Homemade Gifts today. Go there for all the beauty and practicality we have come to expect from By Sun and Candlelight.
I think the dolls add to the elegance of your already-lovely room. And your dining room is BEAUTIFUL! What colour of red paint is that?
Posted by: Beck | November 14, 2006 at 08:24 AM
Thank you so much, Beck. I do love that paint color, but I don't know the name of it--we inherited it from the previous owner. It is somewhere between a wine and a cranberry!
Thanks--I must admit the dolls look good to my eyes too!
Posted by: Alice Gunther | November 14, 2006 at 08:33 AM
I think your instincts were correct. Our houses will be clean and quiet soon enough, but four sisters playing dolls together is something to be treasured as long as you can.
Posted by: Jennifer | November 14, 2006 at 09:00 AM
Alice, what a thoughtful and loving mother you are! It is so true that our children only have a short time to play those innocent games and "make-believes" all together.
Your dining room is *gorgeous* and you have set my eyes upon my own cluttered room ... I like your idea of preparing a peaceful space for Advent. :)
And lastly, thank you so much for your sweet words and link to my blog. You are such a dear friend!
Posted by: Dawn | November 14, 2006 at 09:03 AM
Do we share the same daughters? I sometimes think that American Girl Dolls follow me around as I clean to find a fresh, new spot to relocate. LOL!
I think your instinct was perfect. Having older girls who want to play with dolls is such a blessing.
Posted by: Katherine in TX | November 14, 2006 at 09:33 AM
Thanks for that extra hour, Mom! It would have been a shame to have gone right to bed after lugging (yes lugging- there is no other word for it!) that dresser upstairs!
Posted by: Theresa | November 14, 2006 at 09:53 AM
Alice, you have such a lovely home! Will you show us more of your beautiful rooms?
Posted by: Glenn | November 14, 2006 at 11:26 AM
That's so sweet! And those dolls look so nice up there--it's not clutter. It's a tableau :)
Posted by: Barb Szyszkiewicz, sfo | November 14, 2006 at 12:07 PM
Alice -- this is priceless! And I'm with you -- after all the space is for the kids, too? And the AG dolls are celebrating Advent and living with you....
Posted by: Mary G | November 14, 2006 at 12:19 PM
My girls enjoyed seeing the picture of your girl's dolls, with only one disappointment--where are the little girls?! We enjoyed your 'sweet clean-up attempt.' But like you, we like the 'hominess' of family!
Posted by: Margaret | November 14, 2006 at 01:21 PM
Dear Alice,
We are so on the same wavelength. I have had a picture of my windowseat for so long and wanted to post on it but could never find the right words or timing to blog it.
Your dear post gave me the opener I needed. :)
http://caygibson.typepad.com/cays_cajun_cottage/2006/11/a_seat_with_a_v.html
Your hearth and heart are beautiful to see!!!
Posted by: Cay G. | November 14, 2006 at 06:16 PM
Oh, Alice, you're the best. My girls would love to come over and share in that AG doll time.
:-)
Posted by: Karen E. | November 14, 2006 at 11:58 PM