Aijo's Dolls (updated 12 Jan. 2025, p. 14)

[davidd]

Ohhh... a Pinky Street Christmas scene! I love it!

The village looks wonderfully cozy! I particularly like the angle featuring the semi-silhouette of the chair lift!

And... how cool is it that your Holiday Village features a chair lift!

[Aijo]

As I've gotten more "seasoned" and busy, I've been trying to take a photo a week! Unfortunately, I went all out today with a photoshoot with my newest dollie, and so now I'm feeling it right now. But, here's a little photo dump, including one of my boys who doesn't like the camera as much.


Audrae 074 by Melissa B. Perry, on Flickr

Onyx, the Mysterious


Onyx 013 by Melissa B. Perry, on Flickr


Onyx 014 by Melissa B. Perry, on Flickr

Tarryn

Tarryn 100 by Melissa B. Perry, on Flickr

Gianna

Gia 037 by Melissa B. Perry, on Flickr

And a "new" member of the family. She's been here since 2021, but I just got around to customizing her.... Arden!

Arden 002 by Melissa B. Perry, on Flickr


Arden 001 by Melissa B. Perry, on Flickr

Bonus with Mother and Daughter

Mother & Daughter by Melissa B. Perry, on Flickr

[davidd]

Gianna is squee-worthy gorgeousness!

Lovely lighting in all the images.

[fishy]

Oh they're so cute. <3

[Aijo]

This is late, but thank you both!!

[Aijo]

So I moved from California all the way to Mississippi! The previous owners of our new home maintained a very ex.pansive garden with a lot of beautiful scenery. My entire front and backyard looks like a idyllic park with brick paths, gazebos, and peaceful lake in the neighbor's yard. With all that beautiful scenery of course comes scary bugs. But, that's not the point, because I found out the owner used to grow spider lilies, which inspired this lovely shoot for autumn with Shion. 

[davidd]

Congratulations on the Big Move... and on finding a place with marvelous gardens... and spider lilies!

I had spider lilies in the yard when I lived... in the place I foolishly moved away from nine years ago. Nine years ago this week, in fact... but that's a topic for another discussion.

I've driven different routes through Mississippi several times over the last three years, going back and forth between Utah and Florida, and I've always been intrigued by Mississippi. The parts I've seen have been extremely scenic, with lots of green everywhere; more semi-tropical in the south, and more temperate grassland and forest further north. I've been sufficiently interested to look at home prices online once in a while; and there seem to be places where there are nice houses for reasonable prices.

I also read recently -- I can't believe this is actually true -- that Mississippi is one of the few states in the US in which the population is actually declining, with more people moving out than moving in. That sounds good to me. I am so ready to escape from people!

The pictures suggest that you are adapting well to your new surroundings. If you feel the inclination, I would love to learn more about the adjustment process and what it's like learning to fit in there in Mississippi after coming from the West Coast (where I have spent most of my life -- although not in California).

Have you started saying "y'all" yet? (And no, I'm not making fun of the accents. I thought it was really nice how in some areas of the southern states people say "y'all" just as part of conversation; it's not exaggerated like in movies of TV shows, it's just a part of the local speech patterns, and usually conveys a tone of friendliness.)

[Aijo]

Congratulations on the Big Move... and on finding a place with marvelous gardens... and spider lilies!

I had spider lilies in the yard when I lived... in the place I foolishly moved away from nine years ago. Nine years ago this week, in fact... but that's a topic for another discussion.

I've driven different routes through Mississippi several times over the last three years, going back and forth between Utah and Florida, and I've always been intrigued by Mississippi. The parts I've seen have been extremely scenic, with lots of green everywhere; more semi-tropical in the south, and more temperate grassland and forest further north. I've been sufficiently interested to look at home prices online once in a while; and there seem to be places where there are nice houses for reasonable prices.

I also read recently -- I can't believe this is actually true -- that Mississippi is one of the few states in the US in which the population is actually declining, with more people moving out than moving in. That sounds good to me. I am so ready to escape from people!

The pictures suggest that you are adapting well to your new surroundings. If you feel the inclination, I would love to learn more about the adjustment process and what it's like learning to fit in there in Mississippi after coming from the West Coast (where I have spent most of my life -- although not in California).

Have you started saying "y'all" yet? (And no, I'm not making fun of the accents. I thought it was really nice how in some areas of the southern states people say "y'all" just as part of conversation; it's not exaggerated like in movies of TV shows, it's just a part of the local speech patterns, and usually conveys a tone of friendliness.)

Yes, it's definitely very beautiful I have to say. I live in the northern part where there are forests and farmland. It reminds me a bit of my travels through northern California and the Sequoias. But, it's very picturesque. The homes are very reasonably. You get a lot of land for a low price! I don't mind the country life, but I am missing all of my favorite local spots from California. My bonus mom was shocked to learn I'm the type of person to travel just to eat a specific restaurant.

I think the biggest adjustment for me is the overall friendliness of people. The clerks will ask you how you're doing, make some small chat, tell you to have a blessed day. In California, people tend to not always look like they're having a good day or are never in the mood to talk. I am usually quiet, so I don't do chit chat well. Even my new church...everyone is so friendly and involved. I got quite overwhelmed by it!

I've succeeded in maintaining my California accent! I'd like to keep it because it makes me stand out, but I have a cousin who came from another state to live in Mississippi, and she ended up with a complete Southern country accent. But, I haven't been around a lot of people much to hear the "y'all" used in everyday speech.

[Aijo]

Snow came to Mississippi, and this is my first time taking pictures in the snow. I actually haven't played in snow since 1999, so it was definitely a new ex.perience for me again! I decided to do some shots with Shion in a purple kimono this time and with a miniature koto I purchased for her a while back. The koto pictures were taken in our snow-covered gazebo, where my cat Mikan decided to come up and surprise me. He likes to investigate everything, and everything I touch, he needs to touch as well. Needless to say the photoshoot was over, the moment I touched the doll to perhaps do a quick readjustment. But, it was okay because I was on lunch, so I had to get back to work anyway! Falling snow is from an overlay I found.

[Alliecat]

How did I miss all your previous photos here?! So many nice portraits. The mini and mother/daughter pix are sweet.
Congrats on your new home. I bet it is indeed a change. Slower pace? This Canadian says y'all now and then
I wish I lived in a place where snow was a novelty! Heard y'all were getting a blast of winter down there. Stay safe on the roads!
It's great to see you back. Hope you'll stick around

[davidd]

Snow in the Deep South! That’s…I was going to say “horrific” but I’m sure it was a fun change from the norm, and I imagine it didn’t last long. You must have really hustled to set up these pics.

Is snow in northern Mississippi a rarity, or merely somewhat uncommon?

The photos turned out really cute and sweet, even though your time was cut short by your “helper.”

So kitty liked the snow too, it sounds like!

[Alliecat]

I think we need to see the kitty

[Aijo]

How did I miss all your previous photos here?!  So many nice portraits.  The mini and mother/daughter pix are sweet.
Congrats on your new home.  I bet it is indeed a change.  Slower pace?  This Canadian says y'all now and then 
I wish I lived in a place where snow was a novelty!  Heard y'all were getting a blast of winter down there.  Stay safe on the roads!
It's great to see you back.  Hope you'll stick around 

Thank you so much! I snuck them in a while ago! It's definitely a much slower pace compared to California. I'm missing having access to Chipotle and Chick-fil-A! Having to drive an hour to get it is a treat! I think it does snow quite a bit in Mississippi. In the central valley of California, though, snow is a novelty. I work from home, so I don't get out much!

Snow in the Deep South! That’s…I was going to say “horrific” but I’m sure it was a fun change from the norm, and I imagine it didn’t last long. You must have really hustled to set up these pics.

Is snow in northern Mississippi a rarity, or merely somewhat uncommon?

The photos turned out really cute and sweet, even though your time was cut short by your “helper.”

So kitty liked the snow too, it sounds like!

We got about a few inches, so it definitely stayed for about a while. Our ground yard is still very white, but the fields around us have melted some. Snow in northern Mississippi is normal, but in Central California, where I'm from, it was 1-in-50 year occurrence! 

Thank you so much! I was able to get some more pictures today, but it was also cut short by my little helper again and a stray German Shepherd, so I had to high-tail it back into the house. I'll get pictures of him someday. He moves around quite a bit, so I'm not able to snap a good photo on my DSLR.

[Aijo]

Still plenty of snow on the ground yesterday. Little friends Iolite and Audrae stepped outside to play! Audrae tucked herself away in a little wagon with a basket full of goodies and a warm blanket.  

I thought I was safe for a while, but then my little helper, Mikan, decided to come and investigate again! I moved over to the front of my house, and he cheerfully followed. It was a bit of a task to keep him from rubbing all over my dolls and props, but we got it done. Unfortunately, my photoshoot was cut short by an unwanted visitor--a stray German shepherd!   So, I had to hurry inside.

Iolite

[davidd]

The snowfall looks quite picturesque, and it's fun to see you making the most of the opportunity!

Your little dollies look adorable! Even the Dals look less grumpy than Dals usually look!