Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

I don't really care what you name him he is just plain adorable!  Is he small like 5" or less?

anyway he will love up to his name and may he live forever!

Dilu

fOR THOSE aMERICANS WHO HAVE BATHROOMS TOO SMALL TOO ACCOMMODATE (----caps lock again) a bidet there are available, yes here in the states, yes you too can look them up on the computer, retrofit to your own toilet- and the retrofits can even heat the water!-hmmmmmmm  nice.....In your own home you could use a towel-like from a shower.....

my worst toilet experience?  Paris, yes beautiful wonderful Paris.  they had these S shaped booths on the streets and they had holes in the ground.....and they were not closed all the way to the ground- you could see peoples feet.....I had to....I had to use this booth.....but I think it really damaged my psyche.....until I became a nurse.  After 20+ years in that business.....nothing bothers me any more!

Shelli- only you would have such an ingenious story as that....and since it came from your honey-well it makes perfect sense...I couldn't stop laughing.

Maybe if we go camping we should just have extra.....?

And yes we all love Sue Ann.....and Sue Ann is not responsible for anything we say. *( thank goodness)*.....and yes the sigh was complicated.....but

But

none of us have received a call from Anyone at Intercal- well except for a week ago Johanna called, and my head hurt so bad I can not remember why she called or what she said but it was about my order....i think.....:/

So Shelli- send Sue Ann a hug and go with it-whatever is on your mind- :D

we need to laugh our assorted body parts off! :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

Dilu

how do you dry?

Well you could drip dry :D:D:D:D

I carry babywipes-  handy for spilling milk shakes down my front or whatever.....

Jane Jane Jane he is to to to to  cute.  What a whimsicle expression.

Karen you little gal looks like a little gal- really cute.

I hold my bears or gollys up and we debate the sex before they have eyes or mouth but they are stuffed and jointed.

If I can't be sure after debating with the motely crew then I drag my honey into the debate....

tonight He looked at one of the gollies and said "Oh a girl for sure, she got girl hips!"

hmmmmmInteresting observation

Dilu

I made a rather large bear about 6 months ago and the whole time I made him he was going to be Benjamin Bearfranklin-  I know where to order the tricorn hat, and have his shirt and vest cut out just not sewn yet.  Today I came across a knitted romber and sweater I made many years ago.  So I said to Ben, "maybe you are really a girl and I could get you into this"

I am here to tell you that there can too be killer teddy bears!  He was most unhappy with me.....and I think I had better finish up that sewing.  He was most emphatic that he was NOT going through an unnecessary sex change operation.!

I guess I have my work cut out for me......:(

dilu

You guys are cute and funny.  Amanda whereare you?  it will help me place Southport in my mind.

Nance-I pray all your outings continue to be blessed and profitable!

Hey I wanna see these bears tooo

What is bear paths.....is this a magazine I should subscribe too

Where how?

I'm confused

There is a silver lining that we haven't brought up....so speaking for myself;

I think most of you know I adored my dad- I was adopted at about 6-7 years old and he treated me like I was his own....I truly believe he forgot where I came from-(the cabbage patch)  He taught by example and did not have a cruel bone in his body

Never hear me say anything about my adopted mom.....hmmmmmmwell she was the exact opposite of my dad.  nuff said.  No not quite- she did teach me to sew- and that has been with me my whole life.  Thanks mom.

It has been about 5 years and I don't cry as much when I think of my dad....instead I am remembering the wonderful things he did- and the things he told me.....(Hey daddy- I still cant stand artichokes!)

I have had cats all my life.  The same year dad died my very favorite cat of my whole life died.  We got to talking about him tonight at dinner, and I remembered how funny he was, and the games we played. He was a truly wonderful happy thinking loving little guy.  I was lucky to have known him.

Yes- I had wretched surgery-3 times in 2 years.....and yes relearning how to live with this body has been trying, and yes, I exchanged one set of medical problems for another set.  And since the new set isn't life threatening it was sort of a win win. Right? :)

So- I have been incredably blessed by my faith, my father, my cats,  my honey, by being able to live and experience all the wonderful things life has to offer.

And there are so many:

you guys
music
sewing
art
love
living in a place I love, surrounded by the pine trees I love
having seen enough of the world to have a better understanding of other cultures and not be too ethnocentric
being able to LIVE
being able to LOVE

Gollygoshdarngeewillikins

But ain't it great to be alive and be doing things we love doing and that not only make us happy but also make others happy?

I may have health problems but I can truly tell you that life has never been sweeter.

I hope and pray that all of you can feel the same way about your lives.  Then it will all have been worth it and life will have been a well lived..

Huggies and Gollylove to one and all

Dilu

Oh Kim....very nice, even in the picture on the computer the softness screams 'pick me up'  Oh my goodness!

You did a fantastic job- what a wonderful bear.  I am happy for your succsess.

I found some in the CR Craft catalog.

I used to use black batting cut up into tiny pieces-but decided it was too much trouble- so My order to CR Crafts will include that...better for the gollies, don't cha know....

dilu

And Lisa tries to TOP herself with yet another hysterical post.  Darling child.....(I think.....finger up nose distorting.....how funny)

   "Perhaps they're not getting enough fiber in their diets..."

Now I have to ask-single ply or double?

Anyone remember toilet paper from the 50's and 60's?  Remember how there were different colors? 

Whatever happened to the colored stuff?

a confused wonks

Jossan:  cucumbers....I never thought of that-but they are gentle and refreshing and do wonders for under our eyes. :D

Hmmmmm  I will have to slice some up and try in ice water

I do lime and or lemon for water sometimes.

I didn't use to like water until I had the infamous, wish-I-could-have-lived-without-it surgery.  Then I fell in love with water....now I do at least two quarts a day-more in hot weather :)

The major problem with any type bowel disease, besides insidious malnutrition, is that our society tends not to understand and the victim/patient has inherent embarrassment because of the frequency, the odor, the sudden onset of diarrhea- (my particular favorite)  And it tends to cause the poor patient to start withdrawing from life. 

a healthy dose of malnutrition can also cause that.

I think that Daphne's dad is super super lucky that he has Daphne as a kid, because she is going to fight for him when he doesn't have the energy or ability to fight for himself.  Thank God.

Daphne there is something called Parenteral feeding.  Basically it is a  solution of the nutrients needed that is given through an IV or a
pic-line.  It might be something to talk to the docs about.

Oh Marie-too too cute...

Kerren- wow you are really quite the developed artist! 

Sue Ann- love your babies- very different from your bears

Daphne wow...he is adorable and I am surprised you still have him....only way would be if you hadn't ever put him up for sale

Same with the rest of the the artists....

really really got to go-there's a limit to how far I can push this pain before it is no longer controlable....

but it is so hard to leave, cuz I just know I am going to miss something beautiful or hysterical or beautifully hysterical.....

Dilu

LINDA

Oh My goodness!  What a magnificent creature!
HE IS DROP DEAD GORGEOUS-  wELCOME....i AM SO GLAD YOU came to play....caps lock got stuck on again.....sorry guys I am not really screaming at you. :D

anyway Welcome Linda.....we're a motley crew, but one thing we are not short on is HEART!  This a great place to come for support and hugs

Welcome Welcome

Dilu

Sue Ann

Did I tell you about the study done on nuns in Wisconsin?  This was great- they were studying for Alzhiemer's and learned that the nuns who read, WORKED CROSSWORD PUZZELS, etc id not develope Alzheimers to the degree that the other sisters did../.

Yaaaayyyyy  Sue Ann on the cutting edge in Psychology- keep it up!

Daphne and everyone else who has ill loved ones- You are my prayer list now. 

In answer to the carbonated water, is it natural or induced, co2 added or carbonic acid....Anything with those things in it to create bubbles is suspect and moderation might be the watchword....but there are somne naturally carbonated waters that are more gentle and easier tolerated.

Alzheimers is truly an insidious disease...heartbreaking for the patient as they realize what is happening and so devastating to the families.

The nurse in me begs for stem cell research, because there is evidence that there is a way to alter the course of this disease.....

Laws can be made to protect the unborn from exploitation, while at the same time continuing research.

We eliminated polio-why not Juvinal diabetes, Alzheimers, MS, Lou Gehrigs etc.....

I pray the time will come when we have a healing

We are what we eat.....

Daphne, you aren't alone, we will always listen to you, and there are support groups available if you were interested. 

I'm thinking they might even let you work on a bear or two....

Actually, I'm thinking with your bears they might want to buy a bear or two! :)

Too everyone here who is suffering in silence, and who has a loved one suffering, I am terribly sorrry and wish I could help.  The only thing I can offer are my prayers, and unless someone is uncomfortable wioth that I will understand, otherwise I am praying for all of you from now on.

dilu

forgive the spelling.....you know what is coming back....time to go find medications.....

hugs

LISA 

As an American in Paris, Rome, Stuttgart, Waldorf am Haslach, Montreaux, Geneva....( you get the point)

I laughed so hard at your   "-when I went to France, a friend (supposed friend) tried to convince me that the bidet in my hotel room was a miniature drinking fountain.    I told her...I'm blond, not stupid!!!"

Thank you dear heart!  Thank you Thank you Thank you.....

RE: Bidets
It isn't just France, my dears, it is all of western civilized Europe.(Actually I don't know about Emgland, and they are in many ways more civilized....

In Rome the one in our apartment was marble- la-di-da.  Of course that was the cheapest material they had available-but for a little California girl it seemed quite nice.

Our floors were marble too---necessary, as the heat was very similar to California and it was wonderful to lie around reading on cold marble floors.

The bidet helped to make up for the scratchy TP we had in boarding school. :rolleyes::mad::rolleyes:

While in college in Hawaii in the 70's there was a dock strike.  Now, understand that everything came in on ships from the mainland.  The first thing to dissappear from the shelves was TP.

One of my 3 roomates worked at the Royal Hawiann Hotel and they had TP flown in- so she would go around to all the bathrooms and take the nearly used up rolls.

Am I proud of this?  No- basically she was stealing from the hotel.  And I was endulging in stolen riches.  However, at the time, I was completely amoral when it came to TP.

I hope to make up for the wicked wicked child I was by doing good in my old age.....Any of you gals overseas want TP?

Ever since then I keep it by the case ( thank you Costco) and my honey finds this absolutely hysterical- until Mr. There-Is-No-Such-Thing-As-A-Handtowel discovered he could do the same with paper towels.

I kind of lost how we went from murderous Teds to TP and Bidets.....but when in Rome.....

Hmmmm

When on the net?.....

Lisa, just read your post to the same MR. from above and he laughed.  Mr. Understatement who barely cracks a smile laughed.

Congratulations....You def. win the best-laugh-of -the -week award

thank you
dilu

Daphne is so so so so right!  and remember every drug we put in our body has to be metabolized, broken down and excreted.

Daphne I am so sorry for your father- and yes you are not crazy- sometimes they can't find the answers.  I am betting that some of his side effects are secondary to his IBS and inability to eat real food.  Check his finger nails, if the are ridged like little lines grooved in them from nail bed to tip- its nutritional.

I can understand the level of frustration you and your fAMILY are experiencing watching some one you love failing health wise.  Is he able to drink any nutrition drinks, ensure, slim fast whatever?  The IBS might be irritated- sugar can cause it to act up, however if they have medicated him for the IBS irritation he might be able to handel it.....typically they use anticholinergics for IBS-  the names might be levsin, lebvid, elavil something along this line.  I have been reading that some gastroenterologists are having better results with muscle relaxants- flexeril-  it works on the smooth muscle tissue in the intestines and doesn't seem to have the severity or frequency of the problems that the anticholinergics do.  I feel so sorry- not just for your dad, who is truly suffering, but for the whole family.

Can I keep your family in my prayers- that somewhere someone will have the right way to go and he gets turned around and starts doing better.

Nanc is right, you know, about the soda drinks, carbonic acid is rough on your tumtum and aspartame has been known to cause headaches.

(no I don't drink soda-too hard on the tumtum-which I have very little of, and try to take very good care of-

Well- lets sum this up for the past few days-  prayers fo Daphnes dad, Haleys mom and Nance's tumtum-  but you gotta love prilosec!

Jossan you silly wollikins- I "do" all day long  I just get to do what I want- garden, fuss over my honey-golly making- internet research for people looking for help a problem-many of the folks in my area do not do computer.  i am sorry you don't like the taste of water....could it be the water?  Prior to owning this property where the water is great we had to put our water through A purifier- it made the water more palatable.

i am a staunch believer in women learning how to say NO!!!!!!!!

Too often we try to do for everyone else and do not take care of ourselves.....so ladies, do for yourselves and pray for the loved ones who are suffering.....

Dilu

Maybe the forum is haunting you and wanting you to post more?

Dilu

Well, why can't the bears come awake at night- the gollys do, you know that Jane- and they are always into mischief....and I am sure the talk the bears into all sorts of things.

Funny story

When we lived in Germany chocolate was awfully easy to get- especially since we lived 10 minutes from the Ritter Sport factory and could buy seconds for nothing.;  (the good ol' days when the dollar was strong)

Anyway I got up one morning and found a bar of the rittersport that had been opened and half eaten and then taped and taped and taped and taped.

"Matt-how come you ate half the chocolate?"

"I didn't." says he.

"well who taped it back closed again?"

Well he had Vanilla bear and chocolate bear, he carried them around everywhere.

He looks at chocolate bear and said "bad chocolate bear- you should have just finished the chocolate."

(He was 2.  It did get more interesting from there-precossiousness is only adorable in other peoples kids. 

I did a camel once----I had this idea for a nativity set....and decided the camel would be the hardest.....He wasn't- he was the easiest  :P

Also knit, crochete, quilt,eat, chocolate.  yep this about covers the major staples of life.

Dilu

PS  Congrats on joining I am glad you came to play and look forward to hearing more from you and seeing your bears

Dilu

I do ocassionally make bears.....Meet Lily....

Mandie is kind of sulky-she loves baseball but her favorite team always looses.

Whose her favortie team?

You're kidding, right?

The Chicago Cubs of course~!

Boy are you a silly wollikins!

Hugs

Dilu

I make a five piece head for my bigger gollies

for the gollies the two front pieces with the nose...(gotta love those noses)

then onto each side front I stitch a side side-this is out of the mohair and probably hits about where the ears would be, were I not lazy

Then I have another gusset of mohair- I find the head is about the same roundness as a baseball-The gusset doesn't go all the way to the nose, it starts about where the hair line would begin on a reall gollyperson.

It comes out with the same roundness feeling as a baseball-  just not quite as hard, that's pretty round.

Now if I am making a really big head and I want it to fit better to the neck allotment area, I take small darts at the back of the head....say about where those wonderful muscles are that go from the shoulders up onto the occipital part of the head where we all get so tense and tight. ;)

It is working so well with the gollies- I am very very pleased- and I can make the head as big or small as I like

The flexi ruler Shelli was talking about is really not expensive and can be used for not just designing bears or gollies, but also for clothing...
I find it invaluable-it was worth ev ery penney and they aren't expensive.
They can be had at Walmart, any quilting or sewing store and I think Edinburgh has them.

We also used it in our round house to get the grade right on the outside walls in the kitchen when we wanted to put in new linoleum!  Like I said- invaluable  :)

Dilu

Millie- what a practical idea!
Thanks
Dilu

Too cool you talanted amazing clever gals!  And we get to say we new you when :lol:

i think it is truly great that you are in the mag,. and I am really happy to subscribe too :)

can hardly wait till it gets here!

Dilu

stan is a little over 12"  I had to make him fit the garden tools I had found. :lol:

I keep big tupperware container full of weird stuff like this to use with them

dilu- still eating icecream..if it drips on the keyboard will Dell still fix it under warranty.  hmmmm

Hayley- has your mom had her hormonal balances checked, especially estrogen and progesterone

Also thyroid

A lot of women suffer these headaches during or after menopause

i have an aunt who just sleeps the afternoon away in a drug haze becuse of her headaches.

In the 1800's women used to drink their 'patent elixers' which were opium and alcohol.......those poor gals.....but it was all they had, and they didn't know any better.  And the doctor's thought it was safe.

Kinda makes me glad to be here in the 21st century.
 
Hayley  I am terribly sorry for your mom- it has to be hard- but I am really glad you still have here.....53 is awfully young

Here's my caveat of the day:

If you have a chronic probelm

research the internet

take notes and ask questions

remember medicine is really just educated guessing and some docs and nurses are more educated than others-  but you the patient have to be just as educated to be safe and have succsess

and remember not everything on the internet is true- I always look for several sources that substantiate what I already know and what makes sense  and then I take it to my doctor

Together we create a game plan

Also- the best time to go to your doctor is first appointment in the am or last appointment in pm they are more likely to have more time to spend with you

write down your questions-

A good Doc will appreciate your questions and not feel threatened.

okay

have a great night-  i just got hand3ed an ice cream cone- gotta go.....

dillylu