Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Aleta is the master!   As usual -  :clap:    Hey Aleta, what's the portrait over the mantle?  Close-up, please.

YES!  They seem so much more magical in a child-like way!  I guess I just love them all - the elegant fancy decorations as well as the whimsical.  I have so many Krinkles on my tree with their silly shoes and they have nothing to do with retro - ha.  Isn't it all fun?!

I think the tree is just lovely and now THOSE are great lights!

The funny part is, I'm the one wanting colored lights  :crackup:   I guess I want to relive my youth.

Here you go.  You can see the snow coming out the top a little. 

Oooooooooooooooh, a snow machine is a must for those of us living in tropical climes!  Its a little machine that makes snow (tiny white pellets) shoot out the top of the tree and it cascades down like real snow.  Gets all over the branches and is quite enchanting.  It even has the soft sound that icy snow makes.  We just love it.  I'll try and get a photo that actually shows, but it's hard.  The tree sits in a big container where the little  motor and the snow is. Then the motor blows the snow through a tube all the way up and out the top, where it snows back down to the bottom.  A lot catches on the branches, so it gives the appearance of a snow-covered tree.  An absolute mess to take down, but I guess no more than cleaning up needles - ha.

Yes!  You can now buy those huge, primary colored ones we had in the 50's.  I was soooooooo tempted, but I stuck with the white.  Now I kinda wish I had gone color.  I'm going to go after Christmas and maybe stock up on some for next year.  I think it was Target and Lowe's where we saw them.  Both GE and Philips is now making them.  I'm like you - I've had white now for about 20 years and I was looking for a change.  The bigger white ones are very, very nice and I'm pleased.  I have a snow machine on the tree as well, although it's hard to see it snowing in still photos - ha.  I hope you can see the lights in this photo.

Here's a very fun doggie video.  If we could all act like this and have this much fun, huh?

http://www.maniacworld.com/dog-having-a … -snow.html

Our favorite movie, too.  When we switched to dvd from vhs, it was the first movie we bought!  I guess we kids from the 50's can just relate.  I must warn you - if you buy your husbands this lamp, set the rules beforehand or they'll want it displayed year 'round!  Yeah, I don't THINK so  :crackup:

Oh, you can just send him to my house if he's too bad - ha.  I'll take him.  What a doll!

You're  most welcome, Brenda.  I've trained a LOT of dogs and have trained friend's and family dogs as well as my own.  They all bring their puppies to me - ha!  Good tip for both mouthing and jumping that might work.  Dogs want attention.  If they can associate something they're doing that STOPS the attention, that usually corrects the behavior.  The best way to try and curb bad behavior (and everyone, including guests must be in on this one) is to turn your back and ignore the pup.  She jumps, you don't say a word but turn your back on her.  When she's down, you can face her again and praise her.  But, the second she jumps (or mouths, especially!) turn your back.  If you're sitting and she jumps or mouths, you'll have to play jack-in-the-box and stand up and turn your back on her.  Walk away if you have to.  They HATE to be ignored and LOVE to be included.  This is a ploy their mamma's will use on them when they're being a pest.  It's a good start anyway.  Praise and treats always, always work better than corrective measure.  In other words, praise and treat good behavior rather than punish bad behavior.  They don't think like human babies, so punishing almost never works.  Unless you punish in dog language (like stopping the play and ignoring).

By the way, would LOVE to see a picture of this pup.  It's one of my very favorite breeds.  Not one I'm willing to take on myself - haha.  I need the little portable guys with my lifestyle.  We travel a lot and have no back yard at all!  Our back yard is Tampa Bay - ha.

Hugs,
Cathy

Hi Brenda,

I re-read your post and see you have a puppy there.  Oh how wonderful!  I'm sure he'll settle down as he gets a bit older as well.  If you do a bit of research, you can find a world of help with your particular breed.  A very good site is

http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:-ve … cd=1&gl=us

They mention that these dogs are emotionally high maintenance, thrive on attention and can't stand to be left alone.  There are some great tips there.  Good luck.  I'll bet he's a beauty!

Oh good heaven's not you, too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   :crackup:

Hi everyone,

I'll just post of photo of my husband's favorite and only contribution to our decor.  And no, I won't keep it up all year.  It goes right back into the box marked "Frageeelie" and packed away.  :crackup:   Itr has a place of honor and welcomes everyone in the foyer.    Hope everyone has their own wonderful Christmas Story this year!

Hugs,
Cathy

Hi Brenda,

My second passion is bears.  Dogs however, are truly my first passion and I've spent years reading and watching and attending shows and generally enjoying them as a hobby.  I thought about showing and breeding, and decided to simply own and enjoy and leave that to the pros.  I have a bit of knowledge I've be happy to share with you concerning Dakota.  There is a super-duper easy fix for his problem (unless he's a rat dog - is he?) and all it takes is dedication on your part.  No pain, no shocks, no expensive fences.  Just your time.  Dakota is digging because he is bored and frustrated and has pent-up energy.  He needs 2 things.  First and most importanly, he needs exercise.  By that, I mean he needs a power walk for at leat 30 minutes twice a day.  On a leash with no sniffing around.  Just walking with you in control.  He has way too much energy and is frustrated trying to spend it, so he digs.  Secondly, he really should be in the house with his people most of the time.  You and your family is Dakota's family.  Imagine having to stay outside by yourself all day with no one to "talk" to or interract with.  Same yard, day after day, all alone.  Dogs are pack animals and must be with people.  Many, many people make the mistake of just buying another dog to keep him company because they work full time and don't have the time to be with their dogs.  Huge mistake.  Now, all you have it 2 dogs that are bored and want to be inside with you.  They can help each other get into trouble as you will now have 2 little knotheads thinking up things to spend their energy on.  If you work, no big deal.  Just be sure and walk him out in the morning and when you come home again.  Crate training is a blessing and I've had 6 crate trained, litter box trained and very well behaved little ones.  I always keep the little tiny mops and currently my Baylee is a whopping 6 pounds.  However, she gets her power walk every single morning before breakfast.  If she has more energy, I'll roller blade with her in the afternoon and work those little legs.  She just loves it!   So, save your money on the fence.  Dakota is bored and fully of energy.  Good luck!  Here are a few pics of my little one.  An angel she isn't, so don't let the face fool you.  If she WAS an angel, I wouldn't NEED to walk her - haha.  She gets her leash for us when she's ready.
Hugs,
Cathy

Brenda, I never knew such a thing existed!  I went through the agony (ok, a bit of exaggeration) of new lights this year.  I've always had the mini whites and was getting a bit tired of them.  But, I didn't know if I was bold enough to go for the colors.  I finally compromised by buying larger whites.  I like them better but and still wondering about the new retro big 50's lights they're selling once again.  I think next year I may do a tree like that.  But, you got the best of all worlds!  I love it.  Good husband, pat on the back.

Dear Roxanne,

Whew.  I'm so happy to read you didn't go for this 'deal'.  This particular scam has been around for a while in many forms.  But, it's all the same thing.  What they want to do is get you excited about making more money than just your item.   They will offer a "commission" or a "reward" for your help.  Then they'll send payment with instructions to take the price of your item as well as the extra they promised to pay for your effort and then send along the balance to a third party.  Guess what?  It's in the form of a money order and by the time you've cashed it and mailed their portion, it's too late to find out that the money order is a fake.  It usually takes the bank about a week to get it back.  The bank then reverses the entire charge back on you and you're out your bear as well as the addition money you sent.  Horrible, huh?  You did good!!! :clap:   Always go with your instinct.  They are preying on our soft natures  :hug:
Hugs,
Cathy

Hi Tami,

I have to agree with the folks who are telling you to concentrate on just one or two outlets for your bears.   It's the old adage you can't be all things to all people.  To do a website, auctions, commissions, shops and shows - well!  You'd need to be 5 people  :crackup:   I will tell you that it's a sacrifice.  When you make your decision and select the avenues that suit you best and make you happiest, there will be some disappointments so you'll have to be prepared to deal with that.  For instance, if you chose to eliminate shops they won't be happy and you may hinder your chances for selection in some of the annual competitions.  Which makes sense and is fair.  They want to promote the artists that they carry.  If you eliminate custom orders, you'll disappoint some collectors.  But, that's a biggie for a lot of artists.  They don't like the pressure and restriction of creativity custom orders put on them.  And the list goes on and one.  But, my best advice is pick your top favorites and concentrate on those.  And be firm in your convictions.  Funny story about too much on a plate.  Years ago a very famous artist who shall remain unknown had a lovely website.  I was new then and so much enjoyed visiting different sites and drawing inspiration for such wonderful talent.  My bears were so hideous, some never saw the light of day  :redface:   Well, one day I was again visiting this website and at the bottom was a link.  It promised to take me to the 100 top best teddy bear sites.  Oh boy!  I clicked on and UH OH!  It had been purchased and converted to a [INVALID] site featuring large nude men who called themselves 'Your Teddy Bear"  EEEEEK!   Now we all know that this is NOT a link that would be appropriate to a teddy bear site especailly since children love to see the our teddy bears.  I wrote right away to this lovely lady to alert her to the problem.  2 MONTHS later, the link was still active.  She was so busy with shops and shows and orders, that her website fell by the wayside.  She was never aware this had happened and had not checked her website emails in all that time.  Not a good thing.  So, I hope this will be your most memorable example of what can happen if we try to do too many things!   :crackup:   It was very funny (except for the little children part)

Hugs,
Cathy Lynn Forcino

Rats.  And here I thought I found my own good use for them - tee hee.  Anybody need any?  C'mon!  Surely someone?  I could fit a bunch in a flat rate box for around 8 bucks and you too could be as clever as Aleta ;-))

Wait - looks like I might have an interested clever one........................................

[size=12]Sooooooooo, you clever one you!  Those are pretty neat.  I have bags of large discs I won't use.  Do you want them?  You could decorate an entire tree!!!

Hugs,
Cathy

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