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Cool Charlotte! That's awesome! I will have to meet that lady. And we plan on going back to Salem during the Halloween festivities. We'll probably take the train again. It's just easier than fighting traffic.
Hahaha! I have a vague memory of that Bewitched episode! Haven't seen that show in years!
Lisa, I didn't meet the witch but I passed by a shop that said Salem's only local witch...that must have been her. Next time I'll go in.
Charlotte, thanks so much for the sightseeing suggestions! It all sounds wonderful to me! There's so much to do here...I'm kinda overwhelmed!
-Eliza 
Oh me and Joseph love going to old cemeteries! We're both nerdy like that. We love history. I think the artwork on old tombstones is just fascinating...like the one with a skull head sprouting angel wings.
:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:
Well said, Jodi!
Many hugs to you! :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:
-Eliza 
Oh, you'll love Florida! It's beautiful and sunny and warm. I've been in many different places on vacation in Florida. If you want a day at the beach don't go to the popular beaches. Go to one of the secluded islands. They're gorgeous. We went to a few. Amelia Island is one I remember vividly...found a ton of beautiful seashells. At the popular beaches all the seashells are picked over. Enjoy your new life in Florida!!
-Eliza
Hello everyone!
I've been busy discovering the world of Massachusetts as most of you know! Having a grand time in our new state! This continues more of our journey. A few days ago Joseph and I ventured into Salem. We took the train so as not to have to deal with traffic. Yes, people really do drive crazy in this state! There seems to be no rules on the roads here.
Salem is wonderful! And it's great to see one of the oldest towns in America looking so beautiful and well-kept since the 1600s. The architecture is gorgeous on some of those historical buildings. Plus, I just love the New England style houses along the coast. They are so cute! We walked through all of the historical downtown area of Salem. Everything there has the theme of witches and pirates! Which I loved! We went to a few of the museums and reenactments. I loved the pirate museum. I've always loved pirates and learning about the true history of them. It was awesome to hear the stories about the pirates who sailed the New England coast in the 1700s, including the infamous Blackbeard! The true stories are fascinating. And I added another pirate history book from their gift shop to my pirate collection at home!
The Salem witch trials of course is extremely fascinating. I've always been interested in that subject. A few years ago we watched the play "The Crucible" at Joseph's old college. We watched a trial reenactment in Salem and learned more history about the witch hysteria of 1692. We even visited the dungeon where those poor innocent people who had been accused of doing witchcraft were locked up. The dungeon was so creepy. Some of the cells were standing room only, where they were basically walled in and handcuffed so they couldn't move at all and they endured standing in sewer water up to their ankles and it was pitch dark at all times exept for once a day when the man with a lantern would come down with some food. I can't imagine being one of those people there. They even put a 5 year old girl in that dungeon, accused her of being a witch. The men and women who claimed their innocence back in 1692 were all tortured, put in the dungeon for months, and then hanged on Gallows Hill.
We visited lots of historical sites and took photos of historical statues. We even found an old cemetery where the judge from the witch trials still has a standing headstone. And even a more remarkable find was the headstone of a pilgrim captain from the Mayflower!
Enjoy the photos!
-Eliza
Thank you Daphne! We plan on visiting Cape Cod sometime in July. We'll try out the south side like you said. And we'll give those other beaches a second try in August. I can't believe the water is that cold! 
-Eliza
Thank you for thinking of me Marlys! Yes, I am very happy to be here in New England. I really needed a change of scenery after nearly two years in Kansas! The hills, mountains and forests here in Massachusetts remind me of my old life in Tennessee which makes me feel more at home.....and the ocean/seaside is a great bonus! And I love the history of the New England states. It's all very fascinating to me. I just love to explore! :dance:
And thanks for the compliment! 
I almost always wear braids...so my hair doesn't get in my way, especially while bent over my sewing!
hugs, :hug:
Eliza
Here are the last of the photos that I couldn't fit on the last posting.
-Eliza
Hello fellow teddy-talkers! I'm back after nearly two weeks!!
We have made it to our new life in Massachusetts! I haven't had much time to email. We've been here for a few days, but what with unpacking and exploring I just haven't gotten around to sharing our journey with you guys. The real adventure is too long to tell. So much has happened in the last two weeks. Here is a highly condensed version of events and photos too.
Basically, we traveled through the rest of Kansas, through Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, stopped in Canada, then the rest of the way through New York, and through Massachusetts to the Boston area. We now live in Burlington which is north of Boston. The trip was very exhausting and took 4 days with a little break in the middle to enjoy Niagara Falls in Canada. The scenery really started to get beautiful through New York State with the big forested foothills and mountains, then going into Massachusetts we felt like we were home when we crossed through the Appalachian mountains (just like our old life in Tennessee). Everything was so beautiful.
Our apartment in Burlington took a while to find. We are very happy with it because it has forest, making it secluded from the city, and our patio faces the woods.
We visited Boston a couple times by taking the train and subways with Joseph's family and had such fun exploring. There is no end of things to do there. Shops and restaurants everywhere, historical sites, great parks, street performers entertaining us. The beautiful harbor! We took the ferry through Boston Harbor and went on an adventure to one of the islands where an old Civil War fort resides. It was fascinating with dark secret passageways and curved staircases like in a castle. We learned that riding the ferry means wearing a jacket because the wind from the ocean water is soooo cold even in mid summer! It was great to see lighthouses in the distance.The weather has been great here. When we first got here it was cool days with slight rain, then warm days, and now hot days for the ocean.
Yesterday we went exploring the coast. Went up north to the Cape Ann area to Gloucester and had fun on Good Harbor Beach. We found out something fast...there is a huge difference between the beaches in Florida and the beaches in New England. The water is FREEZING! Even on a 90 degree day! The locals swim in it but we found we couldn't tolerate the temperature, only ever being exposed to Florida ocean temperatures. At Florida it only takes our bodies about 5 minutes to get used to the cold ocean water. But here we were in the ocean for 30 minutes, paddling around and our legs and feet went painfully numb and we had to get out. Our body temperatures could never drop down to match the ocean's temperature. We did notice that even most of the locals don't seem to get their upper bodies wet by going out too far in the waves. Only some did. Don't know how they could put their head under that ice water!
Well, we've been doing a lot of exploring within our town and the surrounding towns. Today we found a great park with forest trails and took our collie exploring. Tomorrow we're going to take the train to one of the northern coastal towns for exploring. Don't know yet which town would be good for that. That's what the Internet's for! Eventually we want to take a ferry to Cape Cod. And also go on one of those ferry rides that have whale-watching. That would be awesome.
Enjoy the photos! The first ones are in Canada at Niagara Falls! And yes, it was unbelievably gorgeous and a real treat to capture rainbows in the pictures! The next photos are of me and Joseph at Good Harbor Beach yesterday with Great Misery Island in the distance and houses along the coast. And sorry, no photos yet of Boston....as we forgot our camera both days we went there! Luckily, Joseph's mom took some so I can post a few later on when I get them from her.
hugs,
Eliza P.S. Not all the photos could fit. Go to the next posting in General Topics to see the rest of the journey to Massachusetts photos.
Thanks everyone!
We're about to shut down the computer.
I'll be back in a week or so!
Ta-ta for now!
Eliza 
Yes! We are finally moving to the Boston area! At some point on Sunday, which is tomorrow, we will pack up this computer as one of our last things to pack. Then Monday morning we're leaving. We will get into Boston on Thursday. Then I'm sure it will be maybe a couple more days before we get the computer set up again. So don't know when I'll be back on TT. I'll miss seeing the creations and postings.
I am so excited!! Massachusetts here I come!!!!! :dance:
Goodbye for awhile!
-Eliza
Aw, that's sad, Chloe. Yeah, we must be the same when it comes to animals. I was sad to watch the big turtle in our creek die a few days ago. I had known it when it was alive. The turtle wasn't my pet or anything, but I enjoyed seeing him on a daily basis while taking my dog out to play. And there he was dead and picked at by the crows...just like that.
As for my betta Magellan he was my birthday present in January. And I was determined to keep him healthy enough to last the full two years the pet store claims they will live. Well, he only managed half a year. And I was very good at keeping his tank clean and keeping him happy and healthy.
My sister had a success story with her betta. He lived for 4 years!
-Eliza
Dropsy! That's exactly what Magellan had. I looked up his disease when he was suffering. Oh my God, it was the most excruciating thing I've seen. And he suffered for two full days before passing, and I felt so helpless that there was nothing I could do to ease his pain. 
Glad you understand about the fish, Chloe. The poor little sweethearts.
-Eliza
Yay! Hooray for Gypsy and her recovery!! Such good news! I'm happy it turned out so well.
It's true there have been lots of animal deaths been posted on this board lately. Makes me so sad. My beloved blue beta fish Magellan died a couple weeks ago. I didn't post it cause I figured no one would care that my fish died...it's not like a cat or dog. But it really upset me. Magellan suffered terribly his last few days. He had caught a bad disease. He was supposed to make the move with us to Massachusetts in a few days. We gave him a little funeral at our favorite park and put wildflowers on his grave. He was buried in a tiny matchbox. No, I don't believe in flushing my family members down the toilet.
He was a very animated little fellow. Everytime I looked at him he would do a happy dance for me. Magellan had a lot of personality for a little fish, and he was so beautiful.
-Eliza
My miniatures are usually 3 & 1/2 inches to 4 inches. And I think that's a pretty good size to aim for when making a mini. I have done even smaller...less than 3 inches...very difficult though!
I used to make 5 inch bears when starting out...and I consider them minis but I prefer them to be smaller. A true mini is probably 4 inches and under...but it can be a wee bit bigger than that. Hope that helps you. Love your bear! 
-Eliza
Thank you Laura!
I don't often do commissions, but my brother-in-law really wanted a little red bear...so I created...Buppo! I had to hand-dye him twice to achieve that rich red color. He turned out quite charming. I'll have to do another red bear soon for ebay collectors.
-Eliza
Yay! Plug has been saved!! Hooray! Let's have a Plug Parade! :dance:
Seriously, he's very cute....never was an ugly bear and I'm so glad he got to live and be adopted out.
-Eliza
Ugg.....so sorry to hear this. I have had my own share of troubles in the last couple weeks with someone I thought to be a good customer....receiving no payment from her and having all my emails ignored. And then I find out she had done the same thing a month before to another ebay seller. What the hell? I just don't understand why she bids if she can't pay...and then how hard is it to just respond to an email and let the seller know you're sorry you bid when you don't have the money. (Sorry I had to vent here... 
)
About the credit card dilemma...I've always feared something like that so I've never accepted credit card payments....only Paypal because I trust its safety. And Paypal has let me know when there are problems with a person's payment so I know not to mail the bear to them until the problem is resolved.
-Eliza
Yeah, I just found out about that negative feedback too.
First off, there is no phone number listed on ebay or paypal for her...just her address.
About the negative feedback.... I just found out about it a few hours ago. It said that she didn't pay for the item. Then I saw that that was a whole month before she bid on my elephant....so after she didn't pay for that she decided to bid on something from me. I contacted that seller who gave negative feedback and he told me that she initially responded to the first email but then never responded again and never paid. He said she ignored 5 different emails. Then....she bids on my elephant a month later......and she hasn't responded to the invoice and 3 separate emails from me so far. Very strange. So apparently she's done this before without explanation.
Strange since she's always been a good paying collector who regularly buys from me. But now knowing that she never responded to that other person and then a month later does the same to me really makes me question what's going on here. I was thinking something was seriously wrong with her, but now I think she's probably still using the internet and just ignoring my emails.
If she's just ignoring me that irritates me cause I'd much rather her just say she's sorry she bid on the item and can't pay...and I'd be fine with that. Not knowing and letting time pass has been a pain and is much worse.
Anyway, so I've emailed her one last time and said I'm giving her one more day and then I'm going to offer the elephant to the other bidder.
I just hope I don't end up with any negative feedback about this whole thing.
-Eliza
Omigosh Jodi! I know what you mean. I see some bad mothers all the time shouting at and belittling their children right there in public. It makes me so sad. And I see tons of parents not caring to hold their toddler's hand while crossing a busy parking lot...and I've seen lots of close calls with cars about to hit the straying child. How irresponsible can you be!?
It is strange that the women who don't want children seem to be the ones who end up with kids. I have to say that my mother did not deserve to have my older sister and I. She was a very cruel abusive mother and she let us know that she never wanted us. I'm nothing like her. I so long to be a mother and I know I'll be a great one. I have so much love to give...and here I am giving it to baby squirrels I find in the yard!
I hope everyone who longs for the love of a child has their need met in some way. Here's hugs for you all. :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:
-Eliza
That is so funny! :crackup:
And Karen, you're one lovely lady!
Eventually, I will have to post my photo too. Don't have a recent one and most of the time when I look at photos of me I'll say, "That don't look like me at all!" I guess I see myself differently than the camera does!
-Eliza
