Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Cubbie sightings are on the increase as she gets more adventurous! She is turning into a little DIVA isn't she - waving at the camera like that?     
It's really going to be something to behold, when her eyes open........
big huggies
Maria

Very hard to choose - but I voted. Some glorious bears there - big congrats and lotsa luck to all the TTers!
huggies
Maria :hug:  :hug:

What a lovely puppy       - it's a shame he had to go thru an operation, but sounds like it's OK now..............
happy days ahead!!
huggies
Maria
and the  "Snoopy wannabe"  :crackup:  looks gorgeous too - poor chap. getting attacked at the rescue!  Looks like they made quite a mess of him - but it's all behind him now, ad he certainly looks a happy beautiful boy.

This little cub casts a mighty big spell..........I spent two hours or more this morning watching her sleep. She seemed to have wriggled her way up Lily's flank and was nestled behind a knee (!) with her little head and front paws peeking out. With those disproportionately large paws she looked like a little mole..........    
Can't wait till she get more mobile.......I'll have to move all my sewing gear next to the computer!
huggies
Maria

Yes, Catherine  -that video is just wonderful - only a brief glimpse, but SO gorgeous    
I definitely can't get enough of this bear watching - and I still have to pinch myself when I think of us actually BEING there in August - betcha I get all emotional at first bear meeting!    Maybe I'll wander off and find an old den - and take up residence...........
huggies
Maria
Ps - CHERYL.......glad you enjoyed the video!

Absolutely agree with everything you said, Marilyn!   And the photos are stunning    & heart warming.......   Lily seems to be bringing Dr Lynn & co lots more attention - and their experiences with bears  and the knowledge they have gathered is getting passed onto a BIG, appreciative  audience -  all to the good of the bears!
It would be nice too, if the donations help them to pay off their huge debt.
big huggies
Maria

Hi Sue Ann  - I just found the link and watched "through the lens"   - utterly glorious!    
The approach of Dr. Rogers and co is SO special - they really love and respect the bears, and it's wonderful to see how the bears trust them. It was really brought home to me yesterday when I watched another video "Black bear cubs" which showed researchers approaching a den armed with a shovel and an anaesthetic syringe on a long pole..........Knock out mother bear, drag out her three terrified and loudly protesting cubs so they could weigh and measure them - then drag mum out so they could change the battery on her radio collar...............  Contrast that with Lynn's approach - mum pops her head out "Oh , it's you - hello.........meet the kids"!
It's so good that the baby is a girl - means that she will stick around in the area - then they'll have FOUR generations of the same family to study.
I was idly wondering whether , in a few weeks, Lily will be subjected to the bear equivalent of "can I go out to play?" and "is it SPRING yet?" :crackup:
Having a bear hibernating in your computer sure is FUN!
big huggies
Maria :hug:  :hug:

Same here, Marilyn - but I almost always seem to pick times when Lily and baby are fast asleep.
But they are quite magical ........it's going to be so nice when the baby starts to move about..........and I expect Lily would relish being able to stretch her legs without being screamed at!   
huggies
Maria

For those of you who like me aren't exactly GLUED to the computer screen all day long........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwV1EbvL18o
This is the best sighting of cubbie yet.........and the first time I've seen Lily's face for a while - she always has her back turned when I look in on her!
huggies
Maria

Hi Susan
of course we haven't forgotten! Looking forward to visiting you .......... :hug:  :hug:
the dates for the course are the 22nd to 25th August (Sunday to wednesday) but that will be at the Wildlife Research Institute - we'll be staying at the lodge there.....I imagine we'll come visit you afterwards (or meet up with you in Ely). So far we've decided that our best bet is to fly to Duluth and hire a car there - planned to book this week, but with a lot of snow around, Jeremy is working from home. Hopefully we'll get the flights sorted out next week or so - I'll keep you informed! It still seems such a long way off.......and I am dying to meet the bears - but on the up-side, Lily's cub will be quite big by then.
Just one thing - with all the lakes around - I imagine there will be lots of mosquitoes? Not something that Jeremy worries about - they positively LOVE me, so he never gets bitten!
huggies
Maria :hug:  :hug:  :hug:

Thanks, Katy and Cyndee - glad you like her! Must admit, I'm rather fond of this one..........
Anyone noticing that cubby's  vocalisations seem to be getting more varied - I swear he has one which could best be represented by "?".
Wonder if he is getting more aware  - I've certainly seem Lily move sometimes WITHOUT any screams of protest from junior - oh for an extra camera at the BACK of the den!
huggies
Maria

Here you go, CYNDEE  -- this one was just called "Does my Bum/butt look big in this?".........but she has sort of become Lily (no offense
to the beautiful bear!)
huggies
Maria

My pleasure, TAMMY! Lily was definitely in the top category of "Too good not to share"! 
The whole thing has been such an experience for everyone, not least the bear researchers, I think. A prime example of the "wonders of Mother Nature" - I know it happens every day, non-stop, but it's still awesome to see a first-time mother  who KNOWS exactly what to do and does it perfectly. 
CYNDEE - I have another black bear which actually didn't have a name, but of course is now "Lily" - methinks it's time for a new avatar.....  I'll ask himself to find the pic tonight so I can post it.
big huggies
Maria

Happy Australia Day to all the Aussies.........have a great day! :dance: :dance:  :dance:
big huggies
Maria

Yes, Marilyn - I feel LUCKY - and mightily relieved that we booked straight away! I feel it is going to be an immense privilege to meet the bears, under such expert supervision......and we are going to learn such a lot. And Jeremy s going to have a field day (or few) taking photos.....      roll on, August!
huggies
Maria :hug:  :hug:

They are SO cute       - thanks so much for sharing the photos!
huggies
Maria :hug:  :hug:

Good grief!!!!!!!!! The weather patterns are really going mad these days. Just stay, safe and warm. Alison....and be happy your mohair survived the flooding!
huggies
Maria (looking out at MORE snow!)

Big congats Peter, you famous bear collector!!!!   Now - how about coming to the Teddybar Total in April?????????? You'd have TWO (long) days to browse around some fabulous bears!
huggies
Maria :hug:  :hug:  :hug:

He is  so gorgeous! Huge congrats to you, Grandma and to the proud parents :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:
And I love his name!
Have LOTs of fun
huggies
Maria :hug:  :hug:

Don't worry - you'll probably be sick of the sight of black bears by the time you've seen all the pics we plan to take!
Seeing wild bears is something I've dreamed of for years  - but watching Lyn Rogers made me realise that this is THE one.......not just seeing furry blobs in the distance, or from a viewing platform or tundra buggy.....but getting close enough to observe them doing bear things, and just ignoring us..  You can check out what happens on the field studies on www.bearstudy.org - there's even a short video taken by a course participant.
huggies
Maria

Sorry, SUE ANN.......I'd dragged myself off to bed! The natural colour would be fine.......and THANK YOU.
You're right - it's wonderful that so many thousands of people have been absolutely captivated by Lily - the live feed was even hosted online by a couple of HUNTING groups - hopefully a few gun-toting trophy hunters will realise that bears are much more interesting ALIVE.
And LINDA - if you Google Lily Black bear, you'll find a video of the birth.......the link was on Facebook, but I can't seem to find it now.
The video is well worth a look, if only to see that wonderful moment when a tiny paw reaches out towards Lily's face!
Can't wait to really see junior, but it will be while yet...... and I'm really beginning to cross off the days...... after viewing the "Bearwalker of the Northwoods" last October, we booked the very next day to join one of the Bear Center's Black Bear Field Study groups...........so come late August, we will actually get to meet Lily and her cub! It is going to be such an adventure.... :dance:  :dance:

huggies
Maria

Sue  Ann - you're a star........thank you so much.......
It's the Held captive by Lily - seems to come in just natural, which is fine, and I guess I'll go for large size - I like baggy Ts!
No panic tho.....it's a bit on the cold side for t-shirts (more snow forecast tomorrow)
I'll email you with the details
big huggies
Maria :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:
ps - seems weird NOT to be glued to the computer screen full time (!) tho I keep going back just to listen to the baby    

T SHIRTS!!!!!!!
Hi Lily watchers.........the T shirts are now online  - www.bear.org............................
and time for a quick grovel.........they won't/can't send international, so if one/any of you is going to buy one, could you get one for me too?
PRETTY PLEASE????????? I'll pay straight away by Paypal.
I quite like the "Captured by Lily" - if anyone asks   - glued to a computer for DAYS!!!!!!?????????? I reckon that qualifies, doesn't it?
huggies
Maria

Hi Daphne
yes, it's all on the Bear Center website - more or less daily updates...........but Lily was certainly throwing herself around this morning! As you say , she is settled now - maybe she just had tummy ache from eating the afterbirth?!
Cubby seems happy and in good voice........just a shame that he/she won't have a brother or sister to play with. It's going to be so nice when the cub gets bigger and mobile - I foresee lots more hours spent in front of the computer, but for now it's time to stretch out somewhere more comfortable!
huggies
Maria

I've been up an hour or so......and it's back to being square eyed again......looks like another cub on the way.
LOVELY to hear the cub - that rhythmic "purring" sound is happy cub, suckling......and you can hear Lily making lovely reassuring grunts and clucks (when she isn't being distracted by labour pains, poor girl)..........
hope number 2 doesn't take quite so long to arrive
huggies
Maria