Down Memory Lane

Nov. 15, 1984

CABBAGE PATCH CRAZE HERE

The Cabbage Patch Kids craze is sweeping the country just in time for the holidays — and Rappahannock County is being brushed by the phenomenon.

Cabbage Patch Kids, registered and manufactured by Coleco, are dolls that normally retail between $29 and $35 “if you can get them,” says Frances Foster Short, a former Rappahannock resident who sells Cabbage Patch Kids (when she has some to sell, that is).

The problem is few people can get them, and stores that should have the dolls have long lists of back orders instead. Thus, the reality of supply and demand — and what that does to prices — has become the rule of the day. At an auction in Page County last Sunday, with Rappahannock residents reportedly attending, four Cabbage Patch Kids sold — for $97.50 each. Higher prices have been reported, but not con rmed. According to Short, the current craze extends to other dolls, too, particularly Barbie dolls, manufactured by Mattel, with the date of manufacture and “Barbie” stamped on the doll’s rear.

How widespread is the doll-collecting craze? According to Short, even actor John Wayne was an avid collector. Dolls rank number two in collector popularity, second only to trains.

RESIDENT WANTS BETTER TV RECEPTION

Joan St. Clair, proprietor of the Black Kettle Restaurant and Motel in Little Washington, is upset over the quality of the television reception at certain times in the town and the surrounding area. She was upset enough to begin a petition to send to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requesting that someone be sent to Little Washington to determine the cause of the problems and how to solve them.

The petition, which will also be sent to Washington’s Town Council, asks that action be taken to stop radio and television interference caused by machinery, tools and/or any other equipment or sources. “We’re not against people using equipment in town, but if there are going to be rules about developments it would seem that equipment that interferes with radio and TV should be controlled,” St. Clair said.

St. Clair originally wrote to the FCC about the interference, and she received a do-it-yourself booklet telling her how to determine what kind of interference her television is experiencing. She lled out a form that was included, and someone from the FCC called her and told her to begin a petition.

Oct. 10, 2002 DESIGNER AT LILAC FARM LOVES FLOWERS

Walking into Mimi Forbes’ house, there is a presence of owers everywhere, especially lilacs: strewn in print across upholstered furniture, gracing the collection of dessert plates hung on the walls, on pillows and in frames, as artwork.

Forbes loves owers, gardens and all things decidedly feminine. New to Rappahannock since early this year as a resident, Forbes has big plans for her little yellow house. She envisions French doors leading o the kitchen to an outdoor eating area, a bedroom extension overlooking a garden, more gardens and a garden shed. Renovations, fabrics, colors and furniture are on Forbes’ mind all the time, actually, because she is an interior design consultant, owner of Lilac Farm.

Charging under one-hundred dollars an hour, Forbes’ rates are reasonable. She is articulate and enthusiastic. I could tell she has a real love for fabric and color and gets very excited about working with them.

I noted the attractive custom upholstery of a plump chair, done in green damask with a heavy bullion fringe trim and a country French style fauteuil, done in stripes, with a shirred treatment around the chair’s apron, said Donna LaPre.