She was walking through her garden, when all of a sudden she walked on a soft spot in the ground, almost losing her shoe…
It wasn't a soft spot, in the way a gopher hole absorbs your foot into a vacant hole in the ground, but more like the feeling that there was something hidden under the dirt.
So, she decided to dig up the dirt with her hands, and see what it was…
She moved the dirt and started to pull a piece of fabric out of the ground.
It wasn't odd to find curious objects on her property. Last year she dug up the remnants of a greenhouse, locks and hinges +. Another time, she dug up bicycle parts, and an ornate object that she still can't identify.
There were hidden treasures found every so often…
Remnants of the lives of the curious folks, who once worked and owned this very land.
As she pulled the fabric out of the dirt, she realized it was a very old canvas money bag.
She looked down in amazement…
Then, she carefully peeked inside the bag.
There was fabric tied up in an old woven ribbon.
Her heart was thumping fast. She lived for this sort of thing.
She had so many tales of venturing into abandoned houses as a child, and roaming ghost towns. Her heart raced, in the same way it did when she entered a dark old basement in an old ghost town house, when she was 9….
She couldn't believe what she saw.
How long had it been there?
An old doll.
An old doll with secrets and stories.
She seemed to have something she wanted to say.
What could it be?
She further inspected her discovery…
An old hoop skirt…
And fabric, that literally turned to dust in some places, as she touched it.
A tattered and torn piece of paper fell to the ground…
It read:
"To whomever it might concern ~ Please care for my doll lovingly"
It was signed, Augustine.
Curious?
Little hairs on arms tingling?
The girl was speechless, and lost in a cloud of wonderment…
She sat silently, as tales raced through her mind.
She wondered where on earth this doll came from, and who, in what year, and for what reason, buried it?
Then she recalled her fortune, found in her modern day Chinese take-out fortune cookie, just the day before…
Curious objects found this girl often.
She welcomed them.
And then, under the crisp beautiful autumn afternoon sky, she baked trays and trays of succulent pumpkin muffins…
And, winged it with invented cream cheese frosting…
(cream cheese, powdered sugar and a dash of salt).
Then, she properly welcomed Augustine's doll, into her home…
Note:
Recipe used for pumpkin muffins was this one here…
Changes I made.
1) I made my own pumpkin spice with this recipe, and tripled it for the muffin mixture.
2) I used 2 cups granulated sugar, and one brown sugar (instead of 3 granulated).
3) I used "3" cups of my own pumpkin mush from my home grown pumpkins, as a sub to the 2 cups canned pumpkin ingredient. They were moist and lovely, and cooked in the same cook time, per recipe.
BTW: It took me 7 mid sized pumpkins, to make one bowl of pumpkin mush 🙂
ps: Have a super lovely little weekend!
secret treasures and pumpkin muffins- we are on the same wavelength! 😀
I can’t believe your discovery Vanessa…amazing! You deserve her for sure, tee hee 😉 The owner must’ve known you’d come along one day, because she knew how good you’d take care of her dolly. And she is beautiful (just like you 😉 The pumpkin muffins look de-lish…save me a couple…or 10 😉
Jamie 🙂
What a beautiful and mysterious discovery, Vanessa! It was meant to be. What a tale to be told about this dolly. 🙂 And yum yum yum … look at those delicious treats. I shall need to make some pumpkin delicacies pronto. Hmmm…pumpkin puree must now be removed from the freezer! xoxoxo Theresa
I was thinking you were going to open that money bag and find a big wad of cash or silver and gold coins! Or emeralds and rubies with sparkling silverware… But your doll is as equal a treasure. Have you named her?
How curious to find such a lovely creature buried beneath the earth and in such beautiful condition. Do you wonder if Augustine had you in mind when she buried her precious doll? I believe she must have known that you’d come along one day and stumble upon her. O often wonder about those who have gone before us and the stories they’d tell.
A lost memory found,
Reliving dreams abound.
Silent waving across the stream,
Garden party in autumn swings.
Hooping round,
Dancing ground.
Autumn winds opening gates,
Plump,dreamy pumpkin cakes.
Scarecrows underground,
Beautiful Autumn Crowns -surround Thee: Ms.V.
What a lovely doll <3
Vanessa, I read your story to my girls Claire and Eliza. They were spellbound and say they like it very much!! It really grabbed their imagination to think of finding a buried doll treasure! Thanks for the fun story from two girls in Thailand!
What a TREAT to stop by and find you had posted again so soon! Your story about the doll has me intrigued! *Did she REALLY find this lovely lady doll interred in her yard or is this perhaps a mysterious, magical Miss. V. tale of her own spinning?* You are such a fanciful, lovely lady, Vanessa, that I have no idea which is the correct answer (but I loved your post)!
Oh, and what are your plans for those lovely pumpkin muffin treasures? Will you freeze them for the long fall and winter ahead? Gift some to friends and neighbors? Just curious. ; )
You have a wonderful weekend, Miss wonderful V.!
i neeeeeeeeeed to know if this story is true or one of your made up fancifultwist type stories!! email me you devilish creature before i pop!
xxrosey
But or course, It is true!!! 🖤
Vanessa Valencia {A Fanciful Twist}
Miss lovely Linda, my tale is true 😉
Oh and…. the muffins were so good, Mister Lovee ate so many he went to
bed with a belly ache. Also, a friend of ours came over yesterday, as he
lives close by and I said into his answering machine, “buns right out of the
oven….” so he came over quicker than quick, and he had several warm and
delicious…and I sent him home with a heap of them. I am on my way
for a walk at 6 a.m. and thinking, I should freeze the rest and not nibble any
more :* yes yes, freezing is the what I shall do
indeed 😉
i will take a dozen if you please!!! can’t wait for the party…i have my post done and my Freebie ready for all visitors to download…but i will be away, far away in New Jersey doing a good deed and painting a women’s shelter…without blog access…so i will catch up when i return…love you
What a beautiful doll who found her way home to loving arms. And those muffins sound perfect for a magickal tea party with Augustine’s precious treasure.
Only YOU, the Fanciful One, wanders about a field in espadrilles! You are just so magical, it delights me to no end. What a great shot of the sun beaming at the doll’s mouth. Again, only you and your magical eyes. Ooooo pumpkins. My little Officer Bill has had a bad belly and we have been mixing pumpkin into her puppy food. She eats anything, which explains her current malady. Happy baking, oh Magical One.
**blows kisses** Deb
That is so cool! I wonder where Augustine is today. 🙂
Such a magical story and discovery ..I love the way you have documented the discovery… “Augustine” was meant to be with you…
Hugs
Roslind
The doll is incredible! Fairies must have left her just for you! She is precious.
So it took 7 medium sized pumpkins to make your mush…wow! And your pumpkin muffins look so yummy! I love pumpkin bread and tea together. (The recipe from C&H brown sugar box, a vintage recipe is what I use).
Thank you for sharing the recipes, I can almost smell your pumpkin muffins!
hugs,
Miss Tersa
Godness she’s gorgeous. She was ment for you I’m sure. /Therese
What a beautiful story. And she is a beautiful doll.
hello again –
something very strange happened.
I went to return some books to the library today and saw a poster with a doll which was so similar to this one!! I was on my way to another town and didn’t have my camera with me but I think I’ll have to check again next week and take a pic just to see if she really was as similar as I thought.
I love this! Now I will wonder about Augustine and where she is now…why she buried her lovely doll…what was going on in her life, etc.
The muffins look & sound delish! Pumpkin puree is difficult to find right now so you are fortunate to have grown your own and had them turn out so beautifully. 🙂 Thanks for sharing the recipe.
xo
Pat
P.S. I am still drooling over my cards! You are so talented.
How absolutely magical! I can’t think of a better home for the doll, she will certainly be loved and be happy.
I have been following you for a while now, and I must say, I wish my little world was half as beautiful and dreamy as yours! I am working on mine slowly, and you are a huge inspiration. Thank-you for sharing and being so beautiful.
That is the most beautiful doll and such a wonderful story.
~elaine~
Lovely! And those muffins look so yum yum yummy! You should sell them in your Etsy shop as I would certainly buy them all (no really, you wouldn’t even have to send them far). Also, I love the floraly look of the heart this time!
Oh my, What an amazing story of finding lost treasures is the best. We should all be so lucky to have found treasures like this. It would be so wonderful to sit and hear the stories that she could tell.
The sweets look so magically delicious.
What a most fortunate and enchanting find. I have always loved the adventurous treasure hunt, or treasure stumble(when like you did just stumble over something wonderful hidden for just the right moment and person).
This is such a beautiful doll and I am sure you and her will have wonderful stories to tell in the future.
Thank you for sharing this lovely piece of your enchanted world with us.
Spells and Wishes,
wendy from Wonderland
oh wow, how wonderful to find this treasure… it conjures up all sorts of stories. I know that this new member of the family will be a treasured one. You are blessed Vanessa……. Ciao
Ooooh the doll is so beautiful! I hope one day Miranda and I find one together, too. We just know she’s out there, waiting for us to take her home and make her a part of our family!
Oh! most curious (and lovely) indeed! I do adore her tattered frock and crinoline! How magical! And PUMPKIN MUFFINS!! (And here I am with pumpkin mush to use, as well!) Thanks bunches for sharing, Miss Twist!
have a spookiful new week!
She is perfectly lovely!! And so lovingly detailed – real hoops in her hoop skirt, and an authentic hairstyle for the period 😉 Even the dress and slippers seem(in the pictures)to be made of real silk and lace. Happy sigh 🙂
I wonder who Augustine is?
Serendipity. Love it 🙂
Barbara
Hey sis, I am going to steal those shoes from you and stuff my Cinderella-step-sister sized foot in them… cute doll.
What a beautiful doll, Vanessa, and aren’t you the perfect person to find her! She looks in very good condition. I wonder what caused Augustine to have to bury her for safety.
BTW, I have a post from today where I mentioned your Halloween post cards. Just thought you’d like to know you’ve been mentioned {I know that I do}. : )
At least THIS time there was something good in the gopher hole!!!! PRETTY.
Those look scrumptious. Do you prefer fresh to canned for muffins? I’m on the fence. I like the fresh because, hey—it’s fresh. On the other hand, the canned version seems a tiny bit more concentrated.
I just made a bunch of mini pumpkin bread loaves. I put in pecans and dark chocolate chips in half of them. Yeah, real BREADlike, but it’s what I wanted.
Oh, and I loved the name Augustine.
Beautiful doll. I love pumpkin muffins, too, though the recipe I use (from a friend) has chocolate chips instead of raisins. It sounds odd together, but it really works, mmmm… My mother bought a can of pumpkin just the other day and asked me to make some for her work. 🙂 I add walnuts to mine, too – yum!
I’m so freaking out about the upcoming party – I’m not ready!! Yikes!
Ohhh…what yummy goodies you have at your fantastic party today. Oh yeah! I must mingle more with your guests, but try to avoid the witch! Oooogles!! 🙂
Check out Harrington Manor Ball today.
Hello Vanessa!
WOW, your party is rock’n!! I fear I am much more subdued when it come to throwing a party. However, one must never outshine the host!! I do so love your dolls, they are magical …
When you have a moment, do stop http://tatteredgold.blogspot.com for the continuum of your party!! ~ Party on, my friend!