More Snow, Birthday Fun, and the Further Adventures of Beaker and Rocky

Snow on Bare Branches

At the end of the snowfall, we had accumulated 14.2 inches - third highest amount in recorded history for the Hampton Roads area of Virginia!

As my birthday plans were changed by the record snowfall, Jason baked "Birthday Cookies" for me. Kim layered a couple and added a candle. I was seranaded by "Happy Birthday To You" and got to make the traditional Birthday Wish! 
And for all you Rocky and Beaker fans, I thought I'd pass on some of their antics during the package wrapping before Christmas:

Beaker makes the crucial fold in the wrapping while Rocky adds words of encouragement.

Not ones to miss a good opportunity for fun, the boys gathered the scraps of wrapping paper and made a mess!

And Miss Cleo, dignified in her Zen-like elegance, can't be bothered with the boy's mischief. She simply enjoys nature's bounty!









A White Birthday!

My Front Yard

Today is my 64th Birthday! and I woke up to what became the biggest snowfall I've seen here in southern Virginia. It was a great day which went a little different than planned, but Jason and Kim were both at home so that made it just the best birthday I could have hoped for. I don't think we quite expected all this snow, but by golly, it is beautiful.

My Street

Kitty Fun - Oh Christmas Tree!!

Rocky supervises the lights testing.





Last year Rocky and Cleo were still kittens so we opted to forego a Christmas tree with lights and ornaments. I did, however, decorate with trees. I placed real little trees of all kinds throughout the house. This year, Kim and Beaker are visiting and we've decided to give it a try.

Beaker checks to see if the tree is straight.

Please be assured that these kitties were well supervised through the decorating process and not one of them has attempted to climb the tree...yet.

Rocky admires their handywork.

Beaker adjusts a string of lights to even the coverage.



Pretty Miss Cleo just relaxes in her puffy bed while the boys do all the work.







Whose woods these are I think I know...

We are fortunate to have woods on our property and they looked quite magical with yesterday's snow.

The snowfall was quite unexpected. We thought we may see "flurries" but it just kept coming!

Nature is full of wonderful gifts!

Wonderful Story

A story of two horses


Here is a thoughtful story that was forwarded to us that we wanted to share...



Just up the road from my home is a field,with two horses in it. From a distance, each looks like every other horse. But if you stop your car, or are walking by, you will notice something quite amazing. Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down,but has made a good home for him.

This alone is amazing.



If nearby and listening, you will hear the sound of a bell. Looking around for the source of the sound, you will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field. Attached to her halter is a small bell. It lets her blind friend know where she is, so he can follow her.As you stand and watch these two friends, you'll see how she is always checking on him, and that he will listen for her bell and then slowly walk to where she is, trusting that she will not lead him astray. When she returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, she stops occasionally and looks back, making sure her friend isn't too far behind to hear the bell.



Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges. He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need.



Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by the little ringing bell of those who God places in our lives. Other times we are the guide horse, helping others see. Good friends are like this .......... You don't always see them, but you know they are always there. Please listen for my bell and I'll listen for yours. "Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle"

More photos from Kim

The Iphone magic continues! Kim and a friend enjoyed a Pittsburgh Penguins Hockey game last night at the new Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh. She was fortunate enough to go down by the ice and snap this picture of the team Captain and league leading scorer - and all around great guy: Sidney Crosby. This was with one of the cameras on her new Iphone 4.

With the camera on the other side of her Iphone, she took this delightful portrait. Oh, and, that was after she got home. Beaker did not attend the game.The resolution isn't as high with that camera, but produces a fine photo nonetheless!

I'm happy to report that the Pens won that game last night putting them in the number one spot in the NHL. Kim and I are super fans of the team and we regularly text back and forth during the games. Love that new technology.

Snow for Beaker

Back home in "The Burgh" Beaker is fascinated with their snowfall this morning. I marvel at Kim's photographic and composition skills as I know how high that window is.....and she sent me the photo from her Iphone! She reports Pittsburgh may get 5 to 8 inches. Brrrrrrrrrrr!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We are well into the Beaker visit. He arrived and was a little aprehensive at first but that lasted only a very few minutes. In reviewing the photos I've taken up to now, I mostly see blurs. Beaker and his cousin Rocky are one constant motion. I did manage a few when Beaker was peering out through the bannister of my stairs.
I am so thankful for Kim to be able to visit and for all our little family to be together this Thanksgiving. Kim and Beaker will soon return to Pittsburgh and Jason will be moving to Maryland on Monday. This is a very busy time!
Blessings to everyone. I am so thankful for family and friends - those with two legs and four!

Rocky and Max

My little scruffy panda wasn't done in time for the group photo which is shown on my header so I thought he deserved a little attention. Rocky loves to help me on my work table so here he is with Max
Many thanks to Daphne Blau for her wonderful show this past weekend on http://www.teddiesworldwide.com/. She reports over 7000 folks visited during the show. There's going to be a Spring online show, so visit for information!
My three scruffy creatures are headed to new homes. I'm always a little nervous to offer something completely different, but I do love these scruffy guys!

A "Beaker" Photo

Well, isn't my grand kitty, Beaker, adorable?? Sound asleep after reading The Hockey News.

Showtime Today!!

The Online Show will begin at 9:00 a.m EST (New York Time) this morning!
I hope you will visit!!!
http://www.teddiesworldwide.com/
When you go to this website, just click on the artist whose show page you wish to visit. There will be a banner on the page for you to click to return to the main page of the show. Each artist is conducting his or her own sales so check on the individual pages for adoption directions.
Have tons of fun!!
I feel so fortunate that all three of my pieces in the online show have been adopted! Thanks everyone!

Scruffy, Floppy, and Fun!

"Old Friends" - Thomas and Barnaby

The online show at http://www.teddiesworldwide.com/ is almost here! Please check out the web site for show times in your local plus a fabulous preview page. My new header shows two of my pieces for the show. They are brand new for me and my first adventure into the scruffy bear world. I took the two pictured here to a lunch date with a couple of friends and approved the new design. I shall have one other piece in the online show so I hope you'll drop by the show this weekend. These two were also in my current ad for Teddy Bear Review. They are 9 inches tall, made from scruffy, sparse mohair which I've tea dyed and ruffed up a bit. Now here's the way it will work: You must go to the site listed above and then click on the artist whose work you want to see. Everyone participating will have show banners on the top and bottom of the page and you can click on the banners at any time to take you back to the main show page - then you can choose another artist to visit! There are 75 artists, so you should have a fun time clicking around!! Each person will have adoption procedures for you to follow. How much fun is that!!! Be sure to go now to see the previews. Wow are there some fabulous bears!!!!!!!!!

There and Back Again

The Hunt Valley Show was spectacular as ususal! The table settings were very creative and the bears and other creatures were grand. I'm thrilled to pass along that my little ones were all adopted by the end of the first hour of the show. I'd like to share some photos with you of happy collectors, happy artists, and happy bears!

One of my favorites at the show by Daphne Blau. Daphne is promoting the online show at Teddies Worldwide next Saturday. Do join us at http://www.teddiesworldwide.com/

Jared Monore of Jare Hares and Bears. Wisit him and his delightful creations at http://www.jarehares.com/

Found amongst her wonderful bears, birds, etc. is Cindy Malchoff of My Apple Tree....AND one of my roommates for the weekend. Cindy is the TBAI Chairman and does a fabulous job of organizing that show each year. You can contact her at http://www.tbai.org/  Her website is http://www.myappletree.com/

Wanda Carson  of Carson Creations and Sue Van Natten of Bearlooms. Two sweet, sweet ladies I am proud to call my friends.
You can reach them here:
Wanda:http://www.carsoncreations.net/
Sue:  bearlooms@frontiernet.net



Brilliant artists Virginia Jasmer and Tami Eveslage. I've been fortunate enough to see and enjoy Virginia's work for many years and Tami and I shared a very special evening a few years ago when we were each honored with a TOBY public's choice award. We happened to be sitting at the same table and thought the evening was indeed maghttp://www.insidemystudio.blogspot.com/ical. You can find Virginia at

 http://www.jazzbears.com/ and Tami at http://www.insidemystudio.blogspot.com/

The Bear Scout, Felicia Hymer, gathers some of the best bears ever. I've been so fortunate to know Felicia for a few years and love being able to see her at shows from time to time. You can get in touch with Felicia at: http://thebearscout.com/

Artist Daphne Blau and collector and Veterinarian (and good friend) Andrea Shinn. Daphne's web site is http://www.backroadbears.com/



Susan McKay of Bears of the Abbey. Susan, her husband Mark and Alex and Janet Wilson were the promoters for the show and all wore snow men and ladies costumes! Susan's web site is:
http://www.bearsoftheabbey.com/



So sweet bears by Wanda Carson.

Sue Van Natten of Bearlooms. Her bears are delightful.  I hope you will see them in person. One of her bears won the Best in Show at the TOBY awards not long ago.



Darlene Allen, my good friend (and roommate for the show) creates the magnificent Raspberry Bears. Please visit her Blog at http://www.raspberrybears.com/ I first met Darlene at TBAI and so look forward to visiting at the shows. She's lucky enough to live in my home state of Florida. I think of that when I'm freezing in the winter. Her wonderful smile makes me feel warmer immediately!!



Dear Friend and Collector Jamie enjoying her new little "ely."

The costumes were amazing. Here's Margaret Jackson and her husband . Margaret's web site is: http://www.pinneybears.com/

and of course there has to be!

Lucky me! I was just across the isle from award winning Maggie Spackman! I had some time to chat with her and see her fabulous "Minikins." Please visit her website at:
http://www.maggiesminikins.com/
I hope I will see Maggie again soon! What a delight she is and her artistry with her miniature marvels is unequaled.
I took other photos but am not sure if I asked the permission of those in the photos to put them on my Blog. I'm pretty sure all the above said "OK!"
My special thanks to the McKays and the Wilsons for putting on a fabulous show and allowing me to be a part of it. I'm already looking forward to next year! For information on next year's show or other shows produced by Teddy Bears on Vacation just visit here:
http://www.teddybearsonvacation.com/Index.html





Tree Houses for Hunt Valley

The "tree houses" for my little woodland friends are just about done. They were closely inspected by the kitties when I brought them home from the art center. The first photos show them as they look after being fired twice in the kiln. I used three different values for the trees themselves and Rocky inspected my pallet. With his extra digit, I expect him to put that paw right in the paint any time! The final touch was putting the spots on the mushrooms. I am lighting them with tiny battery operated tea lights so that they don't have to be near an electrical outlet. The only thing missing in the final photos are the branches of holly that I'll put in the top. I don't want to cut those until I am just ready to leave for the show. I'll take some photos of the table with the little friends playing among the houses, building snow bears and bunnies and riding on a sleigh.

Beaker kitty update!

My little Grand Kitty is growing by leaps and bounds! Kim reports he's full of energy and likes the normal kitty things - especially bugs - which you can see in some of these photos. I can't wait to see him when they come to visit at Thanksgiving!