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Let Me Introduce Myself

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My exposure to cancer began many years ago. At the young age of 8, I experienced the "c" word for the first time when my maternal grandmother passed away from metastatic breast cancer. My 35 year old mother, concerned she too may have this dreadful disease, sought out a doctor for her first mammogram and pap smear. Sadly, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer. I remember having a distant aunt come to care for me and my younger brother while mom recovered from her hysterectomy. Thankfully, it was caught early and if it had not been for the death of my grandmother, I would have lost my mother too. One of my greatest joys at that time was playing with Ideal's Petite Princess Fantasy Dollhouse Furniture and I immersed myself into this "Fantasy World" whenever I could. My love for Petite Princess would remain with me into adulthood.  Fast forward a half a century, I am now the author of The Complete Reference Guide to Ideal's 1964 and 1965 Petite Prin
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Introducing Kleines Neuschwanstein

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This Medieval Castle was given to me 10 years ago by the daughter of Architect William Bentley. Named Kleines Neuschwanstein after the famous Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany, Mr. Bentley's award winning Castle was created to the 3/4" scale of Ideal's 1964 Petite Princess Dollhouse Furniture. I was blessed with this gift in 2009 after I was contacted on my website at  www.petiteprincess.com . My Castle was featured "as is" in the "Princess Linda's Collection" section of our 2009 1st Edition Book: The Complete Reference Guide to Ideal's 1964 & 1965 Petite Princess and Princess Patti Dollhouse Furniture. Unfortunately, due to "life events" ( i.e. laid off as a Kindergarten Teacher on Catalina Island and acquiring breast cancer to mention the biggies), I was unable to restore it. Sadly, it sat unattended in a dusty storage dungeon on the Island until it was recently recovered and brought home. Please join me in
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Recovering My Medieval Castle

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Just two days before arriving at Healing Odyssey,  a women's retreat for cancer survivors  https://healingodyssey.net , I excitedly retrieved my Medieval Castle from the  Catalina Island barge. The poor thing had been held captive in a dusty Island storage dungeon for the past 10 years just waiting to be rescued. I eagerly awaited its restoration.
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Journaling Kleines Neuschwanstein

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We were introduced to journaling during our retreat, which is right up my alley as the author of the Complete Reference Guide to Ideal’s 1964 & 1965 Petite Princess and Princess Patti Dollhouse Furniture that can be seen at  www.petiteprincessbooks.com . I had definite plans to photograph my Castle's progress for our upcoming 2nd Edition, but didn't consider journaling how I "feel" while working on it. At least, not until I left that retreat! As suggested by Healing Odyssey: “Use your journals to express your feelings. You may not feel comfortable verbalizing them. It can be less threatening, but therapeutic, to write your feelings down. Journaling cleans our emotional palette!” Thus began my emotional journey in the "Restoration of Kleines Neuschwanstein!"
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This Castle Is Huge!

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Here is Kleines Neushwanstein in its current state, patiently waiting its restoration. This exquisite Medieval Castle was constructed almost entirely of a special Masonite-faced 1/2" plywood.The stone facing was cast in a wooden mold, fifty stones at a time, from polyester plastic. It weighs over one hundred pounds and is very large, with its actual overall size at 27" x 50", and the top of the turret rises 43" above the base.
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What Will I Do With It?

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Alas! My Castle returns home, recovered after 10 years abiding in a dusty storage dungeon on Catalina Island. Now, what will I do with it? I think this majestic Castle deserves a restoration beyond its original condition, to the amazingly fabulous appearance it deserves! I will begin with the exterior…. Following a thorough cleaning, I began to sand away the “surface blemishes” of tiny specks of glue, residue, and left over dirt. I liken it to life’s “little irritations” that I need to no longer concern myself with as they don’t really matter in the “real” course of life. Amidst the exterior walls are droplets of glue and staples initially holding straggling vines of ivy. As my Castle will not have a forboding appearance, there is no longer a need for them.
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A Front Door Barrier

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Screwed onto the front entrance is a sheet of plastic preventing anyone from entering through the front door. It was promptly removed and I discovered the discolored plastic had obscured my ability to see its elegant lion head doorknocker. I wondered why a well known architect would place a plastic sheet here? It appeared to serve no purpose other than prevent its inhabitants entrance.
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