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?