Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Heres another Oldie. What a lovely family Shari, your picture is very nice and I think it would look lovely on members pics too/  Hugs Rita xxxxx

So Sorry Sue-Ann,
                                I would never had done that idf I,d known.   Big Hugs Ritaxx

Why did I not see you with Dick then ???

Whaaaaaaaaaa Shari and  Diane, You have both given me great hope,I,m off to search for DVD,s now . Will give you a report as to how I am getting on.  Hugs Rita xxxx

Well Done Danni,
                               I have just visited and it really is a job well done. How you get time to make bears and do this is just amazing. Hope 2006 is your year.

Hugs Rita xxxx

Hi Shari,
             Just the fact that I have never done Yoga at all ,I wondered if at 67 I was a tad too old to start, I am reasonably fit and would like to do something challenging for 2006.  Brave Hugs Rita xxx

Hi Girls,
              Weighed in and started with a healthy breakfast and lunch, I just want to wish us all Good Luck and hope to report next week that I have lost some pounds.

Diane ,your poetic Masterpiece was so funny, keep up the good work girl.

Dilu. My friend,do you think that I could do Yoga????,if so would I be better doing a class or getting a DVD??.

  Speak Soon.  Rita xxxx

Hi Jane .
                 Happy New Year to you and your Family. These are just superb. I see I am with my fellow Scot ,Sir Sean. However ,who was it I was with at the Xmas Party,I thought it was Dick Van Dyke ???. Maybe my eyesight is rubbish.    Have a great 2006 and Thanks again for all your entertainment.

Big Hugs Rita xxx

Hi Bonnie ,
                      To you and yours I wish all the nice things that can happen in 2006, but most of all Health ,because without it Wealth means not a thing.

All the very Best to all The TTers ,without you it would be a sorry place.

Hugs Rita xxxxx

Hi all,
         Diane ,I to beleive in glycerine,but What type of Ginger would you recommend ??/.
       Louise ,Inform me what is Buckly's???

  Lots of New Year Hugs    Rita xxx

  PS. Brenda ,I hope you feel better soon.  Rita x

Hi louise,
             I must admit to not writing very often , but I really am still here.  Hope you have a much better New year too.  Tell garnet to have a dram on me to-night.    Hugs Rita xxxxx

Just to Wish you all a very Good New Year in 2006. Some Scottish information for those of you who might be interested.  Hugs Rita xxx

   Here is some information for you about the New Year events.. ha ha..
now on the first footing thing in England it is lump of coal for warmth.. salt to keep food in the house- money so you never go broke in the new year.. dram of whisky  to toast
dave did first footing here last new years eve.. 

In Scotland, all the Scots' love of dancing, music, mischievous merry-making and, of course, whisky drinking, come together in the biggest party of the year - Hogmanay (New Year's Eve to the rest of us).

Consider the tremendous influence of Scottish traditions on our own New Year's Eve celebrations - what song do we all sing? Auld Lang Syne, naturally. What list do we all make on January 1? Our New Year's resolutions, a tradition invented by the Scots (yes, really). Why are guests told to BYOB? Because the Scots have a custom called "first footing" which consists of a handsome young man (we wish) being the first to cross our threshold as soon as the "bells ring" at midnight, bearing gifts of bread or meat (food for the new year), coal (warmth for the new year), and, what else? Whisky - drink for the new year and by far the most important and consistently unforgotten contribution.

History of Hogmanay in Scotland

How did it come about that the Scots celebrate New Year's so much more heartily than Christmas? During the middle ages, Scotland celebrated a merry Christmas just as cheerfully, piously and faithfully as the other Celtic countries - a wonderful combination of celebrating the "Christ's Mass" in the Catholic tradition combined with Celtic customs and traditions that are familiar to us through celebrations in England and Ireland.

For instance, the Scots decorated their homes with mistletoe and juniper, created and performed comic skits (mumming), prepared and ate special foods, and carefully selected and prepared a Yule log (a tradition the Scots still maintain and Christmas itself is still often called "Yule" in Scotland).

Unfortunately, in the late 1500s, the Scottish Reformation took a strong stand against pagan (eg, Catholic) celebrations and abolished Christmas. They abolished it for four hundred years - no kidding. Christmas was not a day off work for most Scots until almost 1960. This is not to say the Scots didn't celebrate Christmas; it was just a private, family holiday without much ado.

But this went very much against Scots nature. The Scots like to party. They like to have fun. So in the early 1600s, they changed the date of New Year's from March 25 to January 1 and began celebrating Hogmanay.

As the original midwinter celebrations were based on the fire rituals of pagan times (the Yule log is an example), and as many Scots remained Catholic, especially in the Highlands, the resourceful Scots simply transferred the bulk of their Christmas celebrations to New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

Throughout Scotland today, Hogmanay is a two-day holiday (no work on January 1 or 2) filled with all kinds of festivals, parties, bonfires and, now, fireworks. Edinburgh's Hogmanay Festival lasts for days and includes one of the most spectacular fireworks displays in the world. In many parts of Scotland, a midnight mass is still celebrated on New Year's Eve.

And just like us, they sing Auld Lang Syne and often wake up with a major hangover the next morning.

Auld Lang Syne
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And days of auld lang syne?

Chorus
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne.

We twa hae run about the braes
And pu'd the gowans fine
But we've wander'd mony a weary foot
Sin' auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidl't in the burn
Frae morning sun till dine
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin' auld lang syne.

And surely ye'll be your pint stoup
And surely I'll be mine
And we'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne.

Eileen that one is so beautiful ,no wonder you fell in love with them. How about a Robert Burns one ,I'll keep my eyes open for you.  Have a Great New Year .. Rita xxxx

ps,Going to Helensburgh next week on the 5th ..

Eileen how fabulous they look. My Islay Grandfather had them down each side of his fireplace at home and he cleaned them himself,he lived to be 99 too.  If I see any nice ones I'll be in touch.   Hugs Rita xxx

Hi Dilu,
              It is indeed steamed in a cloth, and its much more moist than fruit bread. Most scots love it fried too.  Hugs Rita xxx

Carolyn Its haggis next month. 25th January is Robert Burns ,our great national poets Birthday. It is celebrated with Haggis, Neeps ( Turnip ) and Champed Tatties (Potatoes ) There is usually a wee Dram ( Whisky ) to wash it all down.  Warm Hugs Rita xxxx

Hi Jenn,
             Good old Mom ,I,m sure you will be up and running in no time at all. Look forward to the Jenny Bean tale too amongst lots of Teds.  Hugs Rita xxx

Hi girls , Its cooked in a big cloth, and its full of goodies ,Raisins,Sultanas apples carrots and lots of Spices,treacle and syrup too. Its my husband that makes them ,mostly for Birthdays and Christmas ,New Year and so on. They are very rich ,but delicious.   Hugs Rita xxx

ps. A Cloot is a very Scottish word meaning Cloth.

Well girls ,for those of you who were curious as to what Clootie Dumpling was ,here is the first pictures. They don't last long in our house ,and they are around 13-14"across.  The smell of it cooking is to die for, this one was cooking away for 3 hours.  Hugs Ritaxxx

ps. Sorry I cannot let you taste it.

Send me your banner nancy and I will get it on my Links page. ASAP.  Rita xxxx

Hi Nancy,
                What a Showcase for your wonderful talents to be shown to the world, I was in wonderland just admiring the whole caboodle, It is absolutely stunning. Good Luck in the coming year.  Big Hugs Rita xxxxxxxx

Well Done Glenys,Your bears have all got the sweetest faces, I think they are wonderful. Here to a great 2006 for you and your bears.  Big Hugs Rita xxxxx

Hi All, very interesting topic. We in Scotland leave them up till 6th of January as that is twelfth night ,and you will have good luck all year if you leave them up till then.The twelve days of Christmas finishes on the 6th of January.  I miss them when I put them away.  Hope you all have a Great New Year. Cheers  Rita xxxxxx

Hi Everyone,
                       What a great Idea for a new start in a New Year. Count me in too ,I will try my very utmost to lose weight along with you all.Since retiring I have gained a stone in weight ,I am small framed too , and it does add to all other medical conditions.  All the Best for a Great 2006 Folks.   Hugs Rita xxxx

Hi Irene, What can I say that has not already been said. Your Bears and Dolls are just beautiful and I hope this is just the start for you.  Have a great Xmas and an even better 2006.

    Cheers Rita xxxx

Hi Jane, You have every right to be a proud Mum. Congratulations to Sarah and to you for all the support you gave her , I,m sure she will go on to even better things in the Future.  Well Done to you both.  Hugs Rita xxxxxxx