I've often thought it would make an interesting photo having all my little children following him somewhere, like through the woods or up a hill. But it was just too daunting a task to even consider taking that many dolls out on location.
Then this week with all the plants cut down in the upper garden, I wondered if I might be able to pull it off in my own backyard. So I took the Pied Piper out of the display case and stood him in the middle of a bunch of BIDs, some in Fantasy/Medieval costumes and some in modern clothes. Which suited him better? Jan suggested the Fantasy/Medieval ones. It was a fairy tale after all. But I only have the eight Royal children, and an additional eight more suitable costumes. That wouldn't make much of a crowd. On the other hand I had 30 children in contemporary clothes. So contemporary it would be.
I set up some benches with baskets of million bells along the rock wall in places where the wall would be visible, sprinkled small locust leaves over the dirt, and poked in some pruned branches for extra 'trees'. Then it was time to take all the dolls out and position them.
I had a dozen wire 'poke-in-the-ground' doll stands, which I used for the six KIDs, the boys, and the small dolls that would be up front. All the rest were supported with chopsticks up their skirts. Altogether there were 15 BIDs, 6 KIDs, 8 KW Tinies, and baby Sena. There could have been 8 more dolls (the royal children) but I was too lazy to change them into contemporary clothes.