Sept. 3, 2002

hi everyone! I arrived here in Flintstone, Maryland, and Travel Host Linda picked me up at the post office, which is right next door, at 9:00am. I could hear my box being opened. She took me out and we, Loraly Raikes, Linda, and Ryan (the 2 year old boy she watches), and I started on our first journey. We went to the Twiggtown Homemaker's Club monthly meeting. I got to meet all the women, and they asked me all sorts of questions.They had their officer's induction ceremony, and I got my picture taken with their officers. We arrived safely home and am now relaxing a bit while Linda folds some clothes and gets supper. I do not know what we are having but it sure smells delicious.

Sept. 4, 2002

Hi everyone, well, it is Wednesday morning here at Linda's. I helped the children put some puzzles together before they went to school. Loraly Raikes, Julie Hitty, Ingeborg Hitty, along with some hanging around the house today. Hostess Linda thought I needed a little rest today. She was right.

Sept. 5, 2002

Linda and I stayed at home today and cut out dolls from muslin.

Sept.6, 2002

We cleaned out Linda's four bird cages. Her birds names are Big Bird a conure, Brownie a turtle dove, Clyde a cockatiel, and Snowball, a parakeet. She also has a dog named Miss Daisy. I love them all. The birds reminded me of the crows.

Sept. 7, 2002

It is around 9 am and Hostess Linda is busy in the kitchen laying my things out on the table. She puts Rebecca Hitty in the trunk along with me. I can feel the car moving and we start on another journey. I can hear a voice talking and they are telling a story of ME! Linda says not to be alarmed, we are not just hearing voices, she has put on what she calls an audio cassette tape in a place on the door of the car. How exciting to hear my story as we drive along, We stop and all go into the house of Eleanor, a friend of Linda's. Eleanor brings out her Hittys for us to meet. She has a cowgirl Hitty made by Judy Brown, a Hitty who has a rather fleshed colored face and a beautiful Hitty by Michael Langton We all exchange hellos and how are you, and show each other some things. While Linda and Eleanor fix hot tea and grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch. Then Linda leaves and my oh my! She has left me here!.....Linda, oh Linda! Well, it looks like Hostess Linda is gone. I look around, I am not alone. Linda's friend Eleanor is so nice and smiles at me. She says she and Linda decided to leave me here so I could go someplace special on Monday with Eleanor.I am looking around here. You would not believe it, bug Eleanor has a beautiful Christmas tree decorated with Angels in her front room. It is sooo beautiful. It has been a busy day for me and Eleanor notices me yawning, so she gathers me and her Hittys and up her stairs we go. Eleanor lays us in this pretty poster bed and we all chat into the wee hours of the morning.

Sept. 8, 2002

It is Sunday morning and we have all slept in. We get busy fixing breakfast and cleaning up a little. Eleanor says we are leaving today. We are going to Tura Alto, WV, at Alpine Lake to a home away from home for Eleanor. It's such a beautiful day for a ride. Whew! we go up this mountain. I sure hope she doesn't put a window down. I feel like I am on my head and could topple out the window. We get to the lake where her house is. It is so beautiful and the water looks so inviting, but there is such a cool breeze I would be afraid of catching a cold.

Sept. 9, 2002

Monday morning. I have been looking forward to seeing what we will be doing today. There is a nice doll house Eleanor is working on and hopes to get done before Christmas. We are in the car again and we are heading to the Maryland Mountain Doll Club meeting at member Lou's house in Oakland, Maryland. We are in Garrett County,which is the farthest county in western Maryland. Some ladies traveled far from home for the meeting and brought puppets for us to enjoy. How wonderful they were. A grand time we all had at Lou's and he served such delicious luncheon to us. Will have to watch or my clothes will be getting tight. Pictures were taken, Well, we all said goodbye and we are on the road again. Back down the mountain and to Cumberland, where Eleanor lives. Eleanor put me and Rebecca and her Hittys in the canopy bed for us to rest. She made this bed 40 years ago our of thread spools. Wow! She sure must sew a lot. She wanted to get some more made--She's done such a a beautiful job and it is so comfortable. I watch and listen as Eleanor dials the phone. I wonder who she is calling. I listen real hard. Oh my, she is talking to Linda and YES =, Linda will be up in the morning, Tuesday morning for me. Yawn...oh my, ZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Sept. 10, 2002

It is Tuesday afternoon--oh my I have really overslept. I can hear voices downstairs--Linda! Linda, I'm up here, I am waiting on you, I yell. I hope she can hear me. She comes over and gets me and Rebecca and we all hug and she says she hopes I had a god time and hopes I am ready to go back to Flintstone with her, we say a special thanks to Eleanor and we are on our way again. We stop at the fire hall for Linda to vote. I am wearing my red-white-and-blue dress just for the occasion. We rest for the evening.

Sept. 11, 2002 Wednesday morning and time for the children Linda watches to come. I watch as they make special little books about September 11, 2001. We all go across the street into Linda's church and ring the bells for all. It brought back memories of when I was in church and had fallen to the floor, The children were sad and Linda said God had sent so many angels to help and no matter what He is in control. We all hugged and went back to Linda's and the three children got on the bus to go to school. Linda is working on a couple of Raggedy Dolls and oh my, no Linda! The dolls are going in the oven! She says it is okay they will come out beautiful. I see that I am not the only doll who has interesting things happen to them. Will close--this has made me so sleepy!

Sept. 12 2002

Randolph, Linda's husband, has cut our of wood (he used a saw) 13 Raggety shelf sitters. Linda has painted all of them. I am stranding in a row with them. They are wooden, just like me. Wow!

Sept. 13, 2002

Can you believe it is Friday already. We were up at 6:00 AM this morning. I guess I gave Linda a scare this morning. I made some--or I might say helped Linda--make potato candy this morning. She was going to take my picture but I had powered sugar all over me and I looked like a ghost (hehe). Talk about jumping into one's work! Linda has been working on some crafts for a fall festival at the end of the month. She asked if I thought I could glue the hair on Raggettys for her. I just love to help. Well, have decided to pull over a chair and rest for awhile. It will not be too long and I will be traveling again.

Sept. 14, 2002

We are going to Randolph's family reunion today. We made some lasagna, iced tea, and put in some of the potato candy into a bowl, packed the car, and off we go. Everyone was so happy to see us, hugs were given and then we ate. I ate so much I was sure glad my dresses were not too snug! Well, Kathy, a friend of Linda's, and Linda got into her car and off we go down to LaVale Maryland to the Lavale Methodist Church. The Maryland Mountains Doll Club was having a doll appraisal fair. Dolls from 1800 to 2000 were there. I looked around and there was Hitty! I had my picture taken with her and other dolls too. Betty Anne Twigg appraised Kathy's doll and Shirly Beechy did Linda's. We took a few cookies and went back to the reunion. What a busy day.

Sept 15, 2002

We went to a skating party for a friend's (Timmy) 8th birthday party. So much fun!

Sept. 16, 2002

Monday morning as always is busy, we cleaned out the bird cages. Big Bird, Linda's conure, gave me a going away gift, a beautiful eather from him. A new pen to write my adventures with--how sweet--I can always remember him. At least I wasn't afraid of him like I was the crows. He is inside looking out at me. (hehe) Linda has put on my traveling clothes. I am so excited. Linda says she knows Elizabeth is waiting anxiously for me--so Elizabeth, bright and early in the morning I will be heading your way. I have had a great time here in Flintstone but can hardly wait for more adventures. Linda had Randolph take a picture of us. I will miss her, she looks like she has tears in her eyes. So until I arrive at Elizabeth's, Ta-Ta everyone!

Love, Hitty Alice, Climbing into the trunk. Bye Linda, Randolph,. Miss Daisy, Big Bird, Brownie, Clyde, and Snowball!

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