CRAZIEST CHRISTMAS EVER

This past week has been a blur.  A week ago, we lost our power for 48 hours, due to the massive ice storm in the north east U.S. and Canada,  and although we made it through relatively comfortably,  compared to others that are still without power, many things like special Christmas baking, did not get done this year.  I considered myself lucky to get the presents wrapped and under the tree on Christmas eve lol!  We had a lovely Christmas day, spending the morning at our daughter's house, opening gifts, and Christmas dinner with everyone later in the day.   I am tired and am honestly, glad the mad rush is over for another year. 

Yesterday, we went to Kingston, to spend the day with Neil's brother, his niece and her family and one of his nephew's girlfriend and her mum.  The company was fabulous, and the meal with scrumptious and it was nice to get to know Savannah and her mum, Gwyn.

Savannah is a beautiful, intelligent, talented 16 year old, who has been dating Neil's nephew since last summer.  She is a singer/songwriter/musician who plays local venues in the area she lives, and at places like the Kitchener Blues Fest.  She will be releasing her first single in the near future.  This is a song she wrote for her boyfriend (Neil's nephew).  She also wrote the music, did the arrangement and all the background vocals and played the piano, as well - we were blown away by it.  Savannah, we wish you all the best in pursuing your dreams. I've added a few pictures of our day and you can listen to Savannah's song by clicking this link.  I hope you enjoy it.


Duke, the beagle, after being sent to bed for clearing a dish of chocolate rosebuds in the time it took Neil's niece and I to wrap one gift lol.  He wasn't the slightest bit apologetic.  Poor Duke has a hard life, as you can see.

The house looked wonderful, with all the decorations.

  Savannah and her mum, Gwyn.

Neil's other nephew, Ryan - Savannah's boyfriend was in Sault Ste. Marie, playing OHL hockey. Ryan plays OHL for Kingston.

Carl, getting ready to take Ryan back to his billets, before curfew.

 Savannah gave us a medley of her favourite songs.

WORKING HARD

I was very pleased today to have my two Judges Choice awards from the Excellence in Bear Artistry Awards, arrive this morning.  These are just beautiful trophies and I will display them with pride. The voting for the People's Choice is happening online right now, up until October 31st -  you can still vote by clicking here.  Please stop by and support your favourite artists.
Thanks for stopping by!

EXCELLENCE IN BEAR ARTISTRY AWARDS 2013

Well, I am delighted to announce that two of my bears have won 'Judges Choice' awards in the Excellence in Bear Artistry Awards, 2013 - Capt. Max Abercrombie in the Miniatures Dressed category and Jasper Wentworth in Dressed 4" - 10" category.  I am honoured to be among such amazing talent.  All Judges Choice winners receive a lovely crystal award and move on the the People's Choice competition - I am posting pictures of my two bears, below.  Voting is September 1st - October 31st and you can vote online by clicking here

Please support  your favourite artists by voting and let Susan know how much this new competition means for us.   The People's Choice winners will be announced at the Gala Dinner of the Great Yorkshire Teddy Bear Event, Sheffield, England,  on Saturday 16th November 2013.  Thanks so much, for dropping by!

Capt. Max Abercrombie

 

 Jasper Wentworth

FAMILY

Today was a really good day.  July is a month with a lot of birthdays in our family - my hubby, Neil's, is July 10th, our daughter's partner, Tim's is today, July 20th, and our ex-son-in-law, Jean-Marc's birthday is July 24th.  Neil told our grandson he would take him, Jacob, (Tim's son) and two friends for a day of paintball for his birthday - they were thrilled.  Then Tim, and Jean-Marc, and his partner's son, Brandon, wanted to join in and finally our son, Neal, is home visiting from his job in South Korea, so he didn't want to be left out (are your confused yet) LOL!  So , ALL the boys from our crazy, jumbled up family, went to paintball to celebrate all three birthdays.  They went through 4500 paint balls in 5  hours and had a blast, while Sarah, Kym (Jean-Marc's partner) and myself, relaxed and had a great visit.  The boys, finally came home to our daughter's house, exhausted and happy, ate burgers and lots of other goodies, then jumped in the pool, while all the adults relaxed with a few cold ones, before presents were given out and ice cream cake was cut.  I am grateful every day that Corson get's to enjoy the company of all his parents, natural and otherwise, and loves his "brothers".  We ARE family!

BEARS ARE ON HOLD

For those of you who stop by on occasion to visit my blog, I want to let you know I won't be posting any new bears for a while.  I had an accident and fractured my arm and my shoulder so it has to heal and then there will be physio : o(  I am hoping all goes well, now that they have identified the issues and I will be back as soon as I can.  In the mean time, I'm posting a picture of the newest acquisition to my own hug - he's doing a brilliant job of keeping me company and cheering me up :o) but he hasn't got a name yet - any suggestions?

A NEW RABBIT!

I have finally managed to finish  Sir Pembleton Rabbit.  He has taken me a very long time due to shoulder problems and tendonitis in my upper arm, from stuffing.  However, I am VERY pleased with this little fellow.

FEBRUARY BLUES

Well, February is here again and it's time for my yearly slump, *sigh*.  I have orders to fill and I am trying so hard to plug away at them but I have absolutely no ambition.

In November, when hubby retired, I pushed myself to finish several bears for an online show and it was a mistake.  It has affected my left arm and shoulder and even after 3 months, it is not completly healed.  If I try to stuff more than a couple of bear parts in an evening, I can feel the strain, so here I sit.

We have also had more snow this year than in the past few years, with more scheduled for this week. Winter seems to be dragging on and on  Oh well, the days are getting longer and soon spring will be here.   Maybe the sunshine will help  - wish me luck :o)

WHAT TO DO, WHAT TO DO!

When we were waiting for our first grandchild to be born, I went about happily collecting all sorts of things that I thought any child would have to have.  One of the things was a tea set - a girls pink tea set, made in the fashion of the old carnival glass, along with child size silverware.  Ebay was in it's  hayday and I was able to buy a lot of different items, to make up the set.  Most have the same pattern, with the punch bowl and lemonade pitcher having a different one.  I should have waited of course, because our grandchild was a boy - a VERY BUSY boy.  I did buy him a lovely porcelain Peter Rabbit tea set, which we have managed to use a few times without breaking, but pink glass was not for him, lol! 

We are in the process of de-cluttering our house - a job that has been needed for a loooong time, to rid ourselves of the things we no longer need, want or use. Today, I stumbled across the pink glass tea set, and it took me back to a time of excitement and anticipation.  I carefully unwrapped the pieces and couldn't resist setting the table with it.  Some of the pieces have slightly different shades of pink, but it really is darling and just begging for a little girl to appreciate it.  Unfortunately, there will be no little girls in our house, at least in this generation.  I do however, make teddy bears and I also have a small collection of bears, that might enjoy such a fancy tea set.  So, should I keep it or sell it and send it on its way to a new home, with just the right little girl, waiting to have tea with her dolls.  The bears would love it, I'm sure, but it's really a large set, and I have no proper place to display it.   Any helpful suggestions would be appreciated *sigh*.