"Cabbage Patch" dolls

In 1984 when the Cabbage Patch craze hit, I grit my teeth. First, I tried to convince the girls that we could "adopt" a child in Guatemala for the same amount as the dolls. Then, I told them they could have a doll if they found one with their own name in it (that led to a real frenzy in doll departments everywhere---thank goodness they didn't have the internet then). Finally, I did the same thing my mother did to my sister and me. I got them something better than the fad doll they wanted.
Jane and I had requested "Walking Dolls" for Christmas---we didn't get what all the other kids got, but Madame Alexander Walking dolls which was quite extravagant for our family. Mom was afraid these would be our last dolls and she wanted them special (see post below for photos). Instead of buying the girls Cabbage Patch dolls, I found a woman in Hannibal, Missouri--- Dorothy Billingsly who made dolls. She had "Becky Thatcher" (for Rebecca) available and I ordered a Princess Leia from Star Wars(for Leah) and Alice in Wonderland (for Rachel). The dolls were even better than I had hoped for---I loved the little details liked the striped stockings and Leia's belt. As you can tell by comparing this to the first photo, the girls were not impressed---they immediately put them in "regular clothes".
Now that I have a granddaughter, Libby, who is getting to be the age to appreciate and love dolls, I decided to get these dolls out and give them a good scrubbing.
So, now they are ready for Libby---all fresh and clean. I'm hoping that my daughters now appreciate the extra time and effort that went into buying a doll hand-made especially for them rather than just some plastic manufactured fad. I know I, finally, appreciate Mom's extra effort in buying Jane and I our very special dolls.

Madame Alexander Dolls

The Christmas Survey yesterday certainly got my sister's attention. "Madame Alexander doll? What Madame Alexander doll?" Well, in about 1953-54, Jane and I asked for a walking doll for Christmas---I'm sure there was some faddish walking doll all of the girls wanted.
We got our beautiful walking dolls. I always thought it was a Revlon doll. After I had three daughters of my own, I became interested in Madame Alexander dolls. One night, I was laying in bed and I saw my "Walking doll" in the signature blue with pink rosebuds of Madame Alexander.
As far as I can tell, she's unmarked but a little research tells me she's either a Binnie or Winnie Walker. The blue and red outfits came with her, but my grandmother probably made the pink taffeta dress.
I asked my mother about the dolls. She replied,"We had just bought a house and I was afraid we wouldn't be able to buy you girls another nice doll." That was so like Mom, buying us what was actually better than what we wanted---she knew best. Then, I realized that I had done the same thing. More tomorrow. . .

Christmas Survey

I received this survey from a friend and it resulted in an interesting chain of
thoughts.  Come back tomorrow to see what answer stirred up my sister Jane
(AKA The Christmas Queen)

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Gift bags

2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial   

3. When do you put up the tree? As late as possible--I'm allergic
to them all!

4.  When do you take the tree down? Before Valentines Day is my
goal  

5. Do you like eggnog? Not so much

6. Favorite gift received as a child? My Madame Alexander doll.

7. Hardest person to buy for? Dave or Sons-in-law

8. Easiest person to buy for?  Myself and the grandchildren

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes---that's my primary
decoration

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Both this year.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Christmas knickknacks
from the dollar store.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Love Actually, Bridget Jones, The
Christmas Story

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? On vacation

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? of course!

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? it’s not so much the food
as being with people I love---but, I do love snowball cookies

16. Lights on the tree? sure

17. Favorite Christmas song? Stille Nacht (Silent Night)

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?  TRAVEL, but this year I'm
staying home.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? yup...dasher, dancer,
prancer, vixen, comet, cupid, donner, blitzen and of course
Rudolph – and I can add:  Blitzen means lightning and Donner means
thunder! Don't get me started on "blitz". .. 

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Not, sure---I broke  a star-
like one a few years ago and haven't replaced it.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Whenever---I
actually like the concept of Hannukah---open a few each day.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Almost
everything. The BEST part is seeing family and getting Christmas
cards from friends.

 23. Favorite ornament theme or color?  Nativity or Norman Rockwell

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?  Ham

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?  Decent weather so
everyone can travel safely

Traditional Family Christmas Photo

Undoubtedly this was originally a Morgan tradition. Click here to see our different family traditions.

While I don't have a photo for EVERY year, I thought I could share some of our "Family Christmas Photos". The one above was 1974 and was taken in Kirkwood, Mo.
The following year, 1975, we were in Pittsburgh, PA hosting the Morgan family (L-R back row---Dave, Tom, Grover, Harry; middle row: Jaclyn with Rebecca, Donna, Eloise, Karen; front row: Todd, Scott and Dale)
Back in the St. Louis area---1979 (Jaclyn, Rachel, Rebecca, Dave)--Ballwin, MO.

Before you think the photo made in 1980 has a Medieval quality with me and a Mona Lisa smile, the facts are that innocent-looking child wearing green (Rachel) was trying to annoy her little sister (Leah) by poking and pinching her. Now, look at my eyes and you'll see I'm looking at Rachel suspiciously. This was the first of our "church directory" photos.


This photo in 1983 begins the "March of the Christmas Dresses". At this point, the Christmas dresses will re-appear on another sister. Both Rachel's purple jumper and Rebecca's green velvet will appear below.

But, first, a change of venue---we spent several wonderful Christmases with Dave's parents in LA. This was Universal Studios in 1984 (Rachel, Leah, Rebecca). That's Dracula with the girls---no relation!We were back home in 1985--Rachel and Rebecca decided to go with a more casual look---pre-teens, what can a parent do?
In 1986, Rachel is wearing the green, big collared dress, Leah has Rachel's hand-me-down purple jumper--- Rebecca and I are the casual ones.
In 1987, Leah is wearing the green big-collared dress, Rachel introduces a new Christmas dress with Rebecca and I going for "Turn of the Century" look.

Poor Rebecca is wearing the same dress, Leah has on Rachel's blue dress and I'm still looking "Turn of the Century" with my broach at the neck--surprise, surprise, Dave is the casual one! This photo was 1988---20 years ago!

These are a few of my favorite things. . .

OK, so now everyone thinks I'm the Grinch---OK, I hate the shopping and waiting in lines (and I do have this antenna topper), but besides family get-togethers, there are some things I enjoy.
I enjoy the outdoor lights on people's homes. (Display above is my display which took me an entire day to put up---I have NO outdoor electric outlets. It's a masterpiece of extension cords---I can't have any going across walkways---tripping hazard) I love driving around and looking at all the lights from the comfort of my car. For some reason, I don't really enjoy the big Holiday Light Displays---I think the surprise and magic is missing. To drive through a dark neighborhood and then, see the little bursts of light is wonderful.
A church Christmas Pageant is one of my favorite holiday traditions. There's nothing like the joy in a child's Christmas pageant . . .
. . .especially when "kids will be kids" and they seem to have lost their direction (worth zooming in.)

Despite the costs of printing and postage, I love getting Christmas cards. . .


Maybe, I love them too much. Buried in my Christmas decorations closet, I found an entire large box filled with OLD Christmas cards sent to us---filed by year.


And, yes, I did throw many of them out, but not before I found some wonderful gems. . .like Christmas cards from our two living grandparents in 1971---Ellice Morgan and Roy Long, and many notes from my great aunts who died many years ago. It felt like an archaeological excavation with moments of great joy and great sadness.

Jane's Downtown Christmas Memories

[My sister Jane writes:] I really think the magic of our annual trip downtown to look at the Christmas windows is why I love Hallmark Ornaments and why I have to have all my Christmas decorations up by Thanksgiving. Most of my ornaments are motion and I become that little girl again in downtown St. Louis. Going down there Thanksgiving evening is truly one of my favorite memories. The Christmas windows were so magical. The stores were not open so we had another trip down town to see Santa. When we walk through the department store doors into the beauty and splendor of enormous wreaths and holly everywhere. Wow! I often wonder if Dad took the job at Famous (later when we were older) so he could be part of making the magic for others. Even though we heard him complain about the window designers, I think he loved turning Northland Famous into a fairyland. Jaci, your recollection is very close to mine. I remember when we saw Santa there were long lines, but later either Stix or Famous had a whole floor devoted to a Christmas fairyland that we walked through to get to Santa. It was so neat! I remember the anticipation of going up the elevators with the sliding cage doors and the elevator attendants in white gloves announcing the floors. Sometimes it took a few times before he got the elevator level to the floor. We stepped off the elevator into the most splendid spectacle. The Christmas magic was everywhere on the way to Santa. It seems to me there was also a show with puppets and magicians. Everything to make it magical. Incidentally, I Ioved that Navy Blue Velvet hat with pearls across it. [see below] I love the lunch in the tearoom! It was one of my favorite memories because we got to be all grown up. We always got the John White burger. Even today I will use Cheez Whiz and fried onions to mimic this burger. I was the terror of the Scruggs-Vandervorts nursery and remember a dark green color with wired screened windows. I screamed the entire time Mom was gone. It had to be hours. To me it was the dungeon of terror. I really don't remember you having to stay there. [the photo above is the American Legion Christmas Party, 1950] I also remember the American Legion Christmas party. It was on a second floor over a bar??? It had a wooden floor. Santa came and we got a stocking with a tangerine and hard candy which I didn't really like except for the candy cane. I think we got a wrapped gift. I remember Grandpa Long being there. [R-L: Steve with band-aid on head :), LeRoy Long partially obscured by Roy Long in Legion hat feeding Jane ; Vennie Wicker with Hampton Adams behind and to her right] [Jane is almost obscured by the woman in the hat; I am on the right with plaid jumper and "banana" curls; Cousin Steve is right behind me with a bandaid on his head---have I ever mentioned EVERY family gathering resulted in someone being injured?] e-mailed 12-15-08 by Jane Provost [comments by me] For my brother's Christmas memories click here.

Santa Photos and Shopping Downtown

I didn't realize until this year that not everyone had Santa photos made as part of the Christmas ritual. My husband lived in a small town in West Virginia where they didn't even have much of a department store, much less a department store Santa with photos! My daughter just wrote about her son's experience with Santa (Click Here)---here are my photos and memories of Christmas at the department stores in St. Louis.

Every Thanksgiving evening, we went downtown to look at the store windows---they were always magical to see. The stores weren't open, but the sidewalks were crowded with people oohing and aahing over the mechanical displays in the windows. There was always a display of Santa's workshop with little elves whirring around making toys. There was usually a display of animals playing in the winter---rabbits ice skating, racoons sailing down a hill in a bobsled. But, our favorite was always the train display in the Famous-Barr window. It was huge with dozens of trains going in all different directions through a miniaturized town and country-side. Going downtown Thanksgiving evening was like icing on the cake---the lights, the magical windows, the decorations, the music---Dad or Grandpa carrying me so I could see in the windows.
Those displays heralded the beginning of the Christmas season. Every year, we got dressed up and went downtown "Christmas shopping." My first memory was the PANIC that set in with so many giant adults towering over me. Inevitably I'd follow the wrong black coat through the maze and would wind up bellowing, "MOOOOOM!" With so many grownups packed together, the only thing I could see were shoes and the floor---the first floor near the doors was white ceramic tile with black streaks from people walking in with wet, dirty shoes.
After a little shopping, it was time for photos with Santa Claus---he was usually enthroned in the toy department. But, we had to wait in line for HOURS with nothing to do, but whine. (Later, when my kids were little, they had multiple Santas and mechanical displays to look at while waiting in a huge room that looked like a fairy land) After we sat on his lap, we'd get a candy cane and a toy or coloring book. Then, we'd go to lunch---in the tearoom when we got older! But, again, there was a wait. . . But, lunch in the tearoom was the BEST part of the whole shopping day---when we were younger, we ate in the "lunchroom" which wasn't much fun. We had to "camp out" behind someone at the counter so we could have a seat when they got up.
My final memory was a baby-sitting service one of the department stores offered---it was an old, large supply room with windows up by the high ceiling that we couldn't look out of. The room was filled with screaming kids. I hated it! I can hardly wait for my sister to read this blog so I can get her view of all of this. As you can tell, I'm not a big fan of Christmas shopping, she, on the other hand, lives and breathes Christmas. (Actually, in the photos above, you can see skepticism in my eyes and adoration and wonder in hers)

Christmas Newsletter 2008

As I was writing my annual newsletter this year, it occurred to me that with blogs, this may be a passing trend. Then after I spent $150 on printing and postage, I realized, this may be my last mass-produced newsletter. I'll probably continue to send them to relatives who aren't very computer savvy, but. . .


So, here may be our last newsletter:

Morgan – Long Family Update 2008

Holiday Greetings to Family and Friends!


Dave and Jaclyn Morgan are both retired now, and traveling frequently. Recently: Rome and a Mediterranean cruise, Dallas, and Kansas City (often). Jaclyn’s love of teaching keeps her substituting frequently. She also has two blogs which keep her busy: http://jaclynmrgn.blogspot.com/ and a family history blog: http://longmorgan.blogspot.com/



Tom and Donna Morgan are still in the Westborough, MA area, with their three kids (Meredith, Glen and Dale) also in the Northeast. Tom still works in the info technology field at EMC. Harry Morgan and Karen Morgan are still working in the Jacksonville, IL area, with their two sons also in Illinois. Their grandson Christopher Todd Morgan has a new baby brother, Noah Erik Morgan.



This summer we went with Jaclyn’s brother Jim Long, and wife Deb, on a 10-day trip to Rome followed by a cruise to Athens, Crete, Ephesus, and Sicily. We had a great time!
Lynn (Provost) and husband John Hrisco reside in the Ft. Worth area where Lynn recently graduated from Embry-Riddle University. Jane (Long) and Richard Robison live in the Dallas area. Doug and Christi Provost now live in Tuscon, AZ.
Jason and Rebecca (Morgan) Lewis are in Parkville, Mo (KC area) where Jason has his own homebuilding business, in which Rebecca assists. Early in 2008, they completed the adoption of Roman Daniel Lewis, from Russia. He’s two now, and a real live wire! http://jasonandrebeccalewis.blogspot.com/



Kyle and Rachel (Morgan) Twenter live in Kansas City, MO where Kyle is a pilot for Southwest Airlines. Rachel has a website with her art and creations: createbyRET.blogspot.com Brett is 7, Davis is 4, and Libby the blue-eyed redhead is 20 months. The family’s website is: http://twenterfamily.blogspot.com/

(Roman, Brett, Davis and Libby—Kansas City, November 2008)


Todd and Leah (Morgan) Warren live in the St. Louis area, in a remodeled 100-yr-old 3-story house in Maplewood. Their son is Elijah James Warren (below, with Grandpa Dave) now 17 months old. Their website is: http://web.me.com/leahwarren/Site/Blog/Blog.html

Sadly, early this year Louise Long (aka Mom, Gigi) passed away. She is greatly missed by her children, grand- and great-grand-children. What can you say about an 87 year old woman who went to Glamour Shots and sent this Christmas card last year?
Finally, our sympathies to the families and friends of Jaclyn’s relatives who passed away this year: mother, Louise Long; uncle, Bob Delaney; cousins Bob and Ginny Guinther.



Dave’s family lost his uncle Garner Morgan in December and his aunt Janice Morgan in early 2008.


Happy Holidays to You All!

Mom's Baskets

When Mother and Dad moved to Warren County 30 years ago, they began attending Shiloh Methodist Church, a small country church which suited them perfectly. They loved that church with its Fall Festival where they made apple butter and members sold crafts. At one of the festivals, Mom met Wilfred Schultz, a basketmaker from Foristell, Missouri. The baskets below, purchased 25-30 years ago are made of white oak and hackberry.
The frames are made of oak and the body is formed from woven hackberry. Schultz cut the wood himself.
Later, Mom purchased two stools---the smaller one was mine, but Mom kept the larger one in her bathroom.
Someone must have talked to Mr. Schultz because his newer baskets are "signed."

I just love these baskets---they have so much character. They are one of the many things Mom and I had in common.