Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Well this is a subject I could talk about endlessly.  I too have been an animal lover (fanatic) all my life.  I learned early in life that the animals accepted me as is.  They didn't look at the outside appearance but at the heart.  Therefore, most of my companions were four legged.  Today I live on 6 acres in Ohio with my husband, daughter and a small zoo.  Most of the animals that we have are rescues.  The list includes 3 large dogs, a yorkie (she was about 4 yrs. when I took her and she had never lived outside of a small cage), cats galore (living in the country, cats just show up for a meal), chickens, ducks, rabbits (one, Marcie, only has 3 legs) and horses.  My most dramatic rescue was of a draft horse, Captain.  I used to drive by this pasture several times weekly and would see this pitiful horse standing in the corner.  One day I met the owner and asked about the horse.  He told me to just take him.  I did.  Captain was probably 2 weeks from death.  He was extremely thin.  He had a deep cut on the hind leg that was full of maggots.  His shoulder had an infected wound.  This wound was so bad that he had a huge hump on his shoulder that was nothing but infection.  It took about 6 months for this to heal with me treating it 3 times daily.  Today Captain is a ton of baby.  I'm including before and after pictures of Captain (this does not look like the same horse, but it is).  Needless to say, animals are a huge part of my life.

I did my avatar myself using a combination of Photo Impression and American Greetings.  Once I got what I was satisfied with, I then printed and scanned my image to save in my picture file to then be downloaded to Photobucket.  I know this is the long way around, but it was all I knew.  It really wasn't hard (I do have a daughter who can answer questions for me), if I can do it anyone can.  I know very little when it comes to computers.  I was born in the BC era (before computers).

A message for all you mamas,

Take the time to enjoy your children now.  One day you will turn around and those babies will be all grown up.  It seems like just last week my son was just a little guy and today he's a married man.  Of course I can now look forward to grandchildren to spoil.

Shelli,

I just want to tell you that your main career choice, stay at home mother, is a wonderful choice.  I too stayed home to raise my children (they are now 24 and 21 years old) and I don't regret one minute of it.  Our income was cut almost in half when I quit work, but how do you put a price on those little ones.  We learned how to squeeze a penny until Abe cried uncle.   I'm not downing working mothers, I realize many have no choice.  I am just so thankful that I was able to make a choice.

I had several stuffed animals as a child.  My teddy bears did not survive.  My mom said that every teddy bear that I had was loved to death.  I guess back then they just tossed them away when they became worn.  What a shame.  I do remember a little lion that I had and I still have a big donkey that I got when I went to Cedar Point (an amusement park) with my aunt.  My most cherished though is my dad's old Petz bear.

Millie

Hello all,

I was greatly inspired to make teddy bears by the old (75 years) Petz bear that belonged to my dad.  I remember as a child how I would beg my mom to let me play with Dad's bear.  She would take it down and let me hold it a minute then he went back on the shelf.  Before my mom died, she told my sister that I was to get the bear so he now sits on my shelf.  A few years ago there was a crash between my love for animals (both real and stuffed) and my love to create.  My first teddy bear was born from this.  I am now happily addicted.  I must say that I am glad to hear that I am not the only one who goes to bed thinking of ideas for bears.

Millie