Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Well, I have been away for a while. First David & I spent a long weekend at camp, May 24 to 28, with 2 of his best friends (the only female with 3 men!) I was home for 2 nights, then met my daughter in Burlington, VT. She lives in Spokane, WA, but came east for her cousin's Bridal Shower. To make the trip more affordable, Tina decided to make it a "working" vacation. She sells Pampered Chef and asked me to drive and spend time with her and help her at the shows.....So, what's a Mom to do? Of course I said YES! From Burlington, we went to Franconia, New Hampshire and did a show on Thursday, then drove 7 hours to Syracuse for a show on Friday. Saturday we drove the 2 1/2 hours to my Niece's for her Shower. I left after dropping Tina off at her rental car. I came home Saturday night, she stayed with her other cousin and did a PC party on Sunday afternoon, heading home on Monday. I returned home Saturday night, around 9 PM, because I had to be in church on Sunday, and I had a Girl Scout Picnic Sunday afternoon.

After spending 2 nights at home, Daivid & I donned our "Leather's" and headed to Lake George, NY for Americade, the largest Motorcycle Rally in the Northeast.(this is about a 3 1/2 hour ride through the Adirondack park)  I heard a number of 75,000 motorcycles! We were there from Tuesday to Friday. We entered "Little Dipper" in the Stuffed Animal Competition, he didn't win, got beat out by manufactured animals, an alligator smoking a cigar singing Don't Worry, Be Happy, a very large bear that was rescued from the center of the road (he probably measures 36 inches) and a small dog with a cast on his leg. Maybe next year Little Dipper will get some good recognition. We went on a 7 hour (that's right, 7 hours on a motorcycle!) tour of the Vermont Covered Bridges. This was a guided tour that went through 3 covered bridges and by 2 others and through some beautiful country to Killington area where we had lunch. We were in wave #2 of 4, with each wave having about 40 bikes. Our tour was #2 out of 5, each tour having about the same number of bikes, each going a different place, and each tour going off each day, Monday to Saturday! On Thursday we got a little later start, because we did some shopping, and then headed out on an un-guided tour. This is one where you get the map/directions, start on your own, meet for lunch with others, and return on your own. Since we were late starting, we followed our nose to get to the lunch spot on time,in Brandon, VT,  so did not see much of the Vermont High Gaps, but we did cross Lake Champlain on the ferry. Friday morning we spent in the vendors area. Over 200 vendors are there selling everything from a key chain to seats to tires and complete bikes (or trikes, if you prefer) All the motorcycle makers are there giving demo rides if you want to try out their bikes. If I can get rid of the pain (from Arthritis) in my left leg, I may get my own machine again!

So, we got home on Friday, temperatures during the week were from a record low of 36 degrees on Thursday morning to 92 degrees when we returned home on Friday. Only 1 day of some rain (on Tuesday, after we arrived in the area) As you will see in some of the pictures, days were cloudy, and a little cool, but, man what a ride! On Friday night, I woke up about midnight and it took me at least 5 minutes to figure out that I was at home......I think I will stay here for a little while.........................Except for the ride tonight with the local Star Touring club we joined!

Hope I didn't bore you, and enjoy the pictures!

Ellen

Hancock Fabric is good, I use their on-line store. JoAnn's also has on-line....and there was a company that I found when I was searching for something else....where did I put that?

Found it! Sy Fabric, www.syfabric.com

Ellen

Jeremy,

Now your unidentified bird is identified! This one is a Tree Swallow. The swallows are so much fun to watch. Darting in and out catching flies and bugs.............Great pictures!

pandamac

:crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:
Hilarious, and (partially) true!
Ellen

Congratulations  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :dance:  :dance:  :dance:  I can remember the feeling I had when I graduated with a 2-year degree, 30 years after graduating High School. And now I sit at home and play with Teddy Bears all day...................Completing college is a wonderful feeling.

Congrats again!  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:
pandamac

Very cute shoes. You could try Tandy Leather Company. They are out of Texas, I used to do lots of leather work and they have all kinds and types of leather from whole sides to small pieces. (or at least they used to!)
pandmac

Wonderful pictures! Your unidentified bird is a Barn Swallow. Sounds like a really nice spot to visit.

pandamac

Glad to see you in pictures Andy......there is still room on his visitation list if there is someone else who would like to host him.....just email or PM me!

Ellen

Well, I took my pictures today, hopefully I can get them all on here. It is a little hard taking pictures of the miniature animals since they are in a case with a mirror in back. One of the favorite sayings on my trivets is:
"It begins when you sink in his arms, and ends with your arms in the sink!" and
"Kissing don't last, cooking do"

Ellen

Such interesting collections! I collect stuffed animals of every kind, always have and always will.....I collect Bone China miniature animals or glass ones, difficult to find now, but find them every once in a while on eBay. I started collecting these when I was about 3rd grade. Ir emember taking my bunnies to school for show and tell and one of the boys in my class broke one! So mad, and still remember it, don't remember the boy! I also have a collection of cast iron trivets and I collect Sugars, you know, the ones in the packs on the table in the restaurant. I will try to get pictures later and post them.

Keep showing us your collections!
Ellen

:hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:
:pray:  :pray:  :pray:  :pray:  :pray:  :pray:  :pray:  :pray:  :pray:  :pray:  :pray:  :pray:  :pray:  :pray:  :pray:
Hugs and prayers from me and my hubby Daphne!
pandamac

Wow! never seen these.....maybe I should start my hubby collecting these, his nickname is DUCK! :dance:  :crackup:
Ellen

Glad to have you back and that things are going so well!  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:
pandamac

Since there seems to be so much happening in the way of illnesses out there, I thought I would share this note from the American Red Cross:

If you think someone may be having a STROKE, ask them to do 3 things:

Think FAST......FACE, ARMS, SPEECH, TIME
                      ask the person to smile, note if there is drooping on one side of the face.
                      ask the person to raise both arms, note any weekness on one side or the other.
                      ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, note any difficulty
          Take note of the time if the person has difficulty with any of the above, call the ambulance give them as much information as possible, and the time symptoms started.

Hugs and blessings to all................... :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :pray:  :pray:  :pray:
Ellen

:pray:  :pray:  :pray:  :pray:  :pray:  :pray:  :pray:  :pray:  :pray:  :pray:  :pray:  :pray:  :pray:  :pray:
:hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:
Prayers and hugs coming to you......God Bless
Ellen

:pray:  :pray:  :pray:  :pray:  :pray:  :pray:  :pray:  :pray:  :pray:  :pray:  :pray:
:hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:
Lots and lots of prayers and hugs coming to you and your family........
Ellen

Thanks...........glad everyone thinks they are cute!   
Ellen

These 2 Adelie Penguins are all dressed in their finery waiting for the Minister to join them together in matrimony. They each stand 6 1/2 inches tall......Mr. sports a felt bow tie and felt hat, Mrs. looks lovely in her lace train. They are made from black and white synthetic fur with orange felt beaks and feet, white felt eyes.

is SPRING!!!! :dance:  :dance:  :dance:        :crackup: Flowers are blooming, birds are singing, and I am smiling!

Spring has finally Sprung here in Northern New York. I compalined about it a few weeks ago still being cold, so thought I would celebrate that it is finally SPRING!!!! David took his motorcycle out on Thursday afternoon. Saturday afternoon we went for a ride, and Saturday I took my van out and washed it by hand (specifically so David could put the logo on the side)

I AM SOOOO HAPPY THAT IT IS WARMER AND SUNNY!!!!  but, I better take advantage of it today, tomorrow's forecast is for cooler and cloudy, and possibly rainy for the rest of the week.

Ellen

:crackup:  :crackup:  :photo:

Sounds really smelly......my hubby one day, switched my glass of white wine with vinegar.....What a taste! and smell!     

Ellen

My Girl Scout troop got this message a while ago and we sent in 25 cards (not bad for only 3 girls!)
Ellen

Thanks Robyn for asking Andy be sent to your son. The interest gained from that one stop is fantastic! I am so glad he got his picture in the paper and that the teenage boys all have such a wonderful interest in him.......all so amazing!

pandamac

I wish I had packed myself up instead of Andy!!!!!

:hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  Don't know what to say, but here's some hugs from me to you....... :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:
Ellen

If there is anyone else out there in the US or Canada that would like a visit from Andy, please either PM or email me and I will add you to his list. I do have Ginger and Margaret on the list (I met them in Timonium, MD at the bear show) His 'normal' stay with someone is about 2 weeks, although he has had much longer stays, which is fine..........He would love to travel more!  :dance:  :dance:  :hug:

Ellen