The Black Hole

Every year about this time, I have ahead of me a project. Every year I dread it more. Is it because I’m getting older and it is harder to move about… underneath the house?

The hole is located behind a beautiful lace curtain that hangs over a doorway in the teddy bear room.

Behind the curtain is a “mess” of teddy bears, supplies and just “stuff” that belongs in a closet.

So, I begin to haul all of the “stuff” into the teddy bear room… to reveal the “hatch” that opens up to the black hole.

After going this far, I can’t turn back. So I open up the hatch and gingerly place my trusty step stool into the cold black area where the magic of Christmas resides… hidden away in blue bins.

Into the dark hole I go…. grasping for the string that hangs from the hole’s ceiling that will allow me to turn on the light.

OK, I’ve gotten this far. Now I need to drag each bin to the hole and ease it up into the closet. Good thing hubby was home so he could help drag the bins into the living room. (He gets the easy job).

So, bin after bin eases up into the teddy bear room. From there into the living room. And in a couple of hours it turns into this….

…. and that is what gives me the courage, year after year, to enter into the black hole that contains the magic of Christmas!

Hugs from Vicki and the Bears!

Cubby and Badger’s Arrival in Germany

Note: So many bears leave our little nest here in Alaska and I never hear from them again. I am happy to report that my good friend, Bine, in Germany has graciously agreed to share some pictures and teddy bear adventures of a couple of bears she has adopted from our home here in Alaska. This is their story, in her words!

Cubby is the first Alaskan wild, brown/green bear who came to the Odenwald in Germany. He looked a bit confused and lonely, and during the night he was uttering deep groans, so his new Mum decided to adopt a new bear from Alaska for companionship.

After weeks of impatient waiting, a small parcel from Alaska arrived. When the postman rang the bell, Cubby got up from the sofa like a flash of lightening and curiously examined the parcel…

….. and found Badger, a little black fellow with a soft glossy fur and broad stampy paws.

Cubby tried to pursuade Badger to come out of the parcel, but Badger felt still a  bit dizzy from the long flight across the Arctic Ocean and Northern Greenland, plus the additional long stay in the customs office in Hamburg. He decided to stay in bed.

Finally Badger came out. They took a sniff of each other and then became friends!

Since then they stick together all day!

Thank you, Bine, for sharing this story with us. As I was typing your words, I couldn’t help but smile and feel little goosebumps and a lump in my throat. Not only did they find each other, but they helped us to find each other, too. Thank you for your friendship!

Many Hugs, Vicki & Bine

How my cat finally got me trained….

I have a cat. Oops, I need to turn that around, now that I have been properly trained. My cat has a human. It is me.

For a while, I thought I was the boss. And weirdly enough, I and “my” cat were both rather frustrated.

For example. I thought I was in charge of feeding time. I decided that we would have a bowl of dry food available at all times, and at 2:00 in the afternoon the “cat” would be provided with a treat of canned cat food.

But the cat decided that the “treat” at 2:00 was going to be called “my main meal” and she was going to have it when she wanted it, not at the specified 2:00 “treat time.”

Here is how it would work. I would be sitting here in the teddy bear room, working. The cat would come into the room and sit by my chair, looking at me. No meow, no scratching, no nothing… just “the look.” I would ignore her to the best of my ability, maybe give her a little pet, remind her that it was not 2:00 yet and go about my business. I knew what she wanted, but it was not 2:00 yet, and we must adhere to the schedule.

Months went by. Day by day… same thing… I would just hold out. If I got off my chair she would follow me wherever I went, rubbing against my leg, and staring at me. This also created a bit of a frustration factor, as I wanted her to stop trying to have her way.

One day I just thought, “this is ridiculous. I’ll just let her decide when it is time for the treat and end this.”

So, here is how it goes.

She comes into the teddy bear room and looks up at me.

I get up from my chair and follow her.

Through the living room.

Into the dining area….

Stopping for a bit of a chin rub.

Circling around a leg as I’m getting the treat prepared.

Patiently waiting by the “feeding area.”

And finally it arrives!

Yummy!!!

And back to where it all started, happy and contented little kitty.

It took a while, but I finally got it. The cat wins, because the cat never gave up on me. She had faith I would finally learn, and she was persistent in her training. The result: A peaceful existence for human and cat. How come it took me so long?

My Alaskan Garden

That first day of Spring seems like it was only yesterday, and here I am 5 months later just getting around to another blog post.
Oh, I have a good, actually a great excuse. We have had more sunshine here in Juneau than in any other summer I can remember.

I  moved here in 1967. Since that time we’ve had a few memorable summers. But none like this one. You see, we live in what is called “rain country” here in Southeast Alaska.
Needless to say, I have been a busy little bee. From that first snowy day dragging my pail of dirt and begonias to the greenhouse, to the middle of September, canning tomatoes grown in my greenhouse and actually setting out sunflower heads to dry out in the “sun.”




I am read to get back into full time teddy bear gear again, which means doing a little catching up here on the blog.

Thanks for the visit. Now I’m going to go find out what you have been up to!
Hugs, Vicki

First Day of Spring!

I am so excited for Spring! It seems like winters in Alaska are so dark and last so long;  I look forward to brighter days to come, the promise of new life, and little green things coming out of the ground.

The temperature says it is 19 degrees F, and trust me, it feels like that.

But yesterday I bought some seeds and a heat mat.

And last Sunday I cleaned out the greenhouse..

….. hooked up the TV (I’m a NBA basketball nut and the playoffs start next month… don’t want to miss any of the action).

And today, I’m going to turn on the heat and get those seeds in their pots.

I love growing sunflowers here in rain country. Last year they did fantastic, even though our sunny days were somewhat limited.

I’m excited to get started, so here’s wishing you all a very happy First Day of Spring!

Hugs from Vicki and the Bears

Honey Nut Hare

Introducing my most recent creation, little Honey Nut Hare.

She is made from vintage recycled light brown mink.

She is 5 inches tall and has handmade polymer clay bunny paw pads!

She is available in my Etsy shop!

Thanks for the visit!

A Few Weeks Ago….

I received a box in the mail.

Contents:

Two beautiful fur coats. One was shaved black mink and the other I believe is Persian Lamb.

The coats were given to me by my friend Robin’s cousin, Janet. Just because she knew I made bears and was working with recycled fur and wanted to make a donation.

So, in turn, I returned the favor by sending her a little donation…. created as a result of her kindness.

I didn’t name him… except to call him Janet’s bear. She received him on Valentine’s Day!

We meet wonderful people in our world of teddy bears.

I just wanted to thank you again, Janet, for the wonderful gift. I can’t wait to see who else emerges from the pile of fur.

Hugs, Vicki and the bears!

You Just Never Know….

… what will be the next thing to come out of my studio. Seriously.

I mean some of them are cute….I mean C-U-T-E!

… some of them are kinda mean…

.. and some of them are just itty-bitty things.

Some of them wear dresses ….

.. and some wear winter coats…

.. and some wear nothing at all, except their fur, of course.

Some of them are kind of silly….

… and some are just plain BAD…

Some look like people…

… and have pretty serious jobs.

And some look like … well ….

…. other animals, perhaps.

I was thinking today about this thing I call “my job.”

A job that is so much fun I feel guilty doing it..

A job that turns my world, makes my days go lightening fast and hopefully brings a smile and some goodness to those who cross my path.

How did I get so lucky.

I am blessed for sure.

Thanks for the visit! Vicki and the Bears