Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Isn't it lovely to hear of happy endings.....the bear looks SO happy! Thanks for sharing these lovely pics, Bobbie
huggies
Maria

Happy Easter one and all.........I hope the Easter Bunny has visited with LOTS of chocolate.......... :dance:  :dance:
big huggies
Maria

We're definitely on the same wave-length, Sue Ann.........or both at the same level of lunacy?  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:
huggies
Maria

Me too, Sue Ann...still feeling rather bereft ..........but I conjured up  such a fun picture today...........
If bear were less solitary critters..........since they all give birth at more or less the same time , wouldn't it be cool if they had "mother and toddller groups"??????? I can almost see the Mums sitting round swapping den and birthing tales - Lily with  "all those weeks stuck with a screaming cub and only a spider for company! And of course they'd be vying with each other - "oh, MY little lad was walking at six weeks".........and then  all the "play NICELY you lot"..........
yes - I'm totally cracking up, but the idea does make me smile!     
huggies
Maria

This has to be the best photo - taken Tuesday, by Sue Mansfield of the NABC............the day Lily finally decided it was time to leave the den and venture forth with her baby, Hope. Lily looks like she is revelling  in being able to STRETCH out while wee Hope looks somewhat bemused.  Fare Well, both of  you -  really going to miss watching you on the den cam...............
huggies
Maria

Me too - feel like a lost soul today     ......I keep checking in and there it is - the empty den, and nothing but the sound of the wind. I  almost expect to see mini tumbleweed blowing folornly across.....
But we've all been on an incredible journey, right from that first glimpse of Hope's tiny paw reaching out to Lily, minutes after birth, to watching  her develop  into the cheeky, feisty little Diva she has become.
Sue Mansfield promises regular updates - and hopefully lots more piccies like the glorious one she posted on the latest update...........
and all we can do is wish Hope and Lily well............but right now, I'm STILL hoping they might pop back to the den!
big huggies
Maria

YAY!! Good for you, Julie - you'll have such a fun time......... :dance:  :dance:  :dance:  :dance:  :dance:
huggies
Maria

Aren't they just gorgeous? The little black one  (Kara) looks like she has a really mischevious streak(?)  and the little tabby is SO beautifully marked..........bet they are lots of fun!  We had a silver tabby Maine Coon -  they really are magnificent cats.........as is your stunning Wadsworth, Sue. (and Ranger looks very gorgeous too!)

huggies
Maria

Well done, Peter....to the rescue again :clap:  :clap:  :clap:
Sorry, wasn't thinking straight last night - I appear to have been struck by a nasty bug.........just what I don't need right now...........
But DO watch the film right thru Peter - it will be worth it.
And Bobbie - don't forget to watch Animal Planet on April 4th, when they will be showing the "Bearwalker of the Northwoods" - featuring Lynn Rogers and his work..........lots of shots of young Lily and her Mum, June........but keep a box of tissues handy!

huggies
Maria

hiya
I actually picked up the DVD at a flea market (GOOD bargain!) - as far as I can see it is a German film...........and it says
VPS Fim-Entertainment GmbH
Waldmeisterstrasse 72
80935 München
Gives an order number too - 4217...................tell you what - I'll have a go at googling it tomorrow and see if I can come up  with any sense........ I'm off to bed right now - feel like I'm coming down with something nasty..........just what I DON'T need
huggies (from a safe distance)
Maria
whoops the important  bit - it's called DER BÄR

Small world indeed - and what a lovely story!!!!!!!!!! thanks so much for sharing it with us....
huggies
Maria

LOVE this one, Bobbie - I have it on DVD. Yes it is rather sad in parts, but the cinematography is stunning......and you can't help but fall in love with the bears.
huggies
Maria

Ooooh...........isn't he just the cutest little lad? Congratulations all round.........
and big huggies
Maria :hug:  :hug:

Yikes - I see what you mean, Cyndee!  I've never lived in an area where much hunting goes on, apart from France. We lived for a few years just across the border from Geneva, and on the lower slopes of the Jura. I got the distinct impression that for the local hunters, it was a fun way to spend sundays - mostly hanging round chatting, smoking and eating  - NEVER saw one with anything he'd actually shot, and come to think of it, never even heard a gunshot. we were always amused by their dogs - I swear it was the only time of year they got any reasonable exercise - they all had bells on their collars, and we'd frequently see one or two dogs  who were obviously off on a jaunt of their own, and were thoroughly enjoying playing truant!
While I have no objection to people hunting for the pot, I hate the idea of hunting just for the sake of killing something - and as for just leaving the dead bodies behind, as on your sister's property - well that's just obscene. Sadly, as you say .- there are some misguided uncaring people out there..................and with all the will (and legislation)  in the world , nothing is 100% safe .
huggies
Maria

Hi Cyndee
I really don't  know anything about the hunting laws in the USA other than what I learn about the bears - and in Minnesota it's only (ONLY?) 6 weeks starting in September. However, Lily is denned on Private land, which should help protect her -  as much as anything can. I agree .- the thought of anything harming little Hope is too awful to even contemplate.
But oh I got cross this morning, reading some of the facebook posts.........demands for a camera near the den so they can keep watching the bears, and even the idea of getting a camera on Lily's collar ! Seems like they are getting their priorities wrong.........it's all about the bears  -  and not us, however much we love them
. Ok - I'm off the soap box now(!) - lots to do before I allow myself another peek into the den!
huggies
Maria

It was rather traumatic, wasn't it? I can't help feeling that Lily is getting a little fed up with being hassled - yesterday, she wasn't too happy with the microphone episode........the way she threw up a WALL of bedding across the den entrance after Lynn had left - almost like she was slamming the door - and it wasn't the first time she'd done that.
after the dog started barking I kept telling myself - as long as they are both OK...........that's ALL that matters. They ARE going to leave the den - and it's the right thing for them. We have been privileged to observe a part of their lives, but we'll just have to let go, and cherish the memories.
Incidentally, Sue posted that the dog owner has promised to keep his dog(?s) penned for a few weeks
Oh lord, it's going to be a LONG day - I went to bed far too late, and slept really badly...........

huggies
Maria

Did you all catch the action yesterday? Lynn Rogers trying to retrieve Lily's collar from the den, after she skilfully removed it?  If you missed it, Lynn visited the Lilypad in the morning, and Lily flatly refused to come out (!) - when he went back later in the afternoon, she emerged, but left Hope SITTING on the collar.........a CONSPIRACY! This was yesterday evening, our time, and I was trying to watch TV. keep up with the live tennis scores (on-line) from Indian Wells AND watch the Den cam........now there's multi-tasking!
huggies
Maria

I've been somewhat obsessed for the last  couple of months (to put it mildly) with Lily the Black bear, the Den cam, and little Hope (Lily's cub)...........against my better judgement, joined Facebook to keep up with all the goings on at the den.......NOTHING at all against Facebook    , but I just don't have the time to spare, to really get "into" it!.
So - profound apologies to anyone who tried to contact me thru FB....... I regard you all as dear friends, and hope no-one felt snubbed.
Lily and cubbie should leave the den in the next few weeks, and I can get my life back - and MAKE bears(!).........but I wouldn't have missed the Den Cam experiences for the world.
BIG huggies
Maria :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:

Utterly enchanting, Melisa - thanks so much for sharing! Oh how I envy people who have such amazing wildlife sharing their gardens........all we have at the moment is an UN-NEUTERED male tabby cat who keeps trying to follow our (neutered) female kitty indoors - you can imagine the consequences! If he isn't trying to get in . he is parading around outside, yowling...........
huggies
Maria

My pleasure, Jane! Sarah is a great girl :clap:  :clap:  :clap: ..........hope she has a good day at the mile!
Big huggies
Maria :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:

Bobbie - you've just been a bit unlucky in your viewing times! Some days it seems that all you ever see is a pile of softly breathing fur - but little Hope has been much more active recently......... if you check on the link to video clips, there's heaps more to see! All the "best bits" have been and are being   collated into "highlights" by one of the Facebook members.....well worth a look!
Plus, Dr.Rogers/Sue Mansfield daily notes are full of info........
and yes - that bear child has a good pair of lungs on her - and she seems very fond of the sound of her own voice!
huggies
Maria

You and me BOTH, Tammy - every time Lily leaves the den I'm holding my breath (sort of) till she gets back. But it seems she doesn't go very far  - just as well, with Hope yelling her head off - bet you can hear that noise for quite some distance!
Unfortunately for the bears I'm SUPPOSED to be sewing, I find Lily and Hope endlessly fascinating......watching Hope slowly become more aware of her surroundings - I certainly noticed her reactions to any strange noises over the past few days............and her efforts to walk are priceless. Sometimes she just cheerfully falls over, but then you see her really concentrating hard - and most times still falling over           I really hope so much that she grows into a big strong bear, and lives a LONG and happy life.
We are all going to suffer withdrawal symptoms when they finally leave the den, aren't we?
big huggies
Maria
ps - your "capture" piccies are really LOVELY!

Thanks for taking time to check this out Shane.......now I can understand where the artist is coming from, but I still don't really like the bears. I just hope we don't see a rush of copy-cats....

huggies
Maria :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:

Had a great time yesterday, visiting the Teddybaer Welt show in Wiesbaden.......... wore my Lily t-shirt and spread the word to various friends - including Karin de Lorenzo......can't wait to see what new black bears she comes up with!
My, it's getting busy in the Lily pad, isn't it??? Lots more activity (? the warmer weather bringing thoughts of Spring) - and lovely to see Hope so often.
I read today that the NABC are thinking of producing a DVD compilation of footage from the den cam -   a LOVELY idea, and a permanent souvenir of our months with Lily and wee Hope.
huggies
Maria

Definitely with you there, Peter........grotesque just about covers it, I think! And quite sad really, to cut open bears and turn them inside out - NOT art  in my opinion...............
huggies
Maria