Bearly There and Fresh Bread...

Tummy Flowers

 

I realized yesterday morning that I had a little more left to do than I originally thought. I finished all the flowers on the bear's tummy, and then checked my pattern one more time. I was looking to see how the designer suggested attaching the legs to the body. (Remember, I've never assembled a real teddy bear before and wondered if there were some special tips. There weren't.)

The instructions for the bear aren't very detailed. I think Miss Barrett might have geared her pattern to those who've made such things prior to tackling her design, so I've mostly drawn on my garment-making skills to create this little bear.

Anyway, when I reviewed the pattern, I noticed that her design also had floral elements around the buttons that will attach the limbs to the body, so I set to add color to those areas. I finished both "shoulders", and only have the "hips" to do. That will happen today, and then I can assemble all the parts to create my finished bear.

I also mixed up a batch of bread (four loaves) when I got up yesterday, so I was taking fresh bread out of the oven by 3 pm. I went back and forth between the kitchen and the studio every thirty minutes until the bread was baked. The house smelled great!

Then, late day, Handsome went to the freezer in the basement to grab something we were going to thaw out for dinner, only to find that, although the freezer light came on when he opened the door, some of the food was starting to thaw. We were unable to locate an appliance repairman at that time, so we spent the next hour emptying the still-frozen meat into coolers, and the softer items into the freezer on our refrigerator.

We'll find a repairman first thing today and hopefully, get to the bottom of this issue. Just what I didn't want to deal with this year. The freezer is only three years old. We shouldn't be having problems with it for another ten years or so. Guess they just don't make them like they used to. sigh

I'm planning to share a finished bear tomorrow. I'm so anxious to see her put together, and Handsome thinks I should do a boy bear next.

Looking Like A Bear!...

Bear Parts Ready For Embroidery

 I went to Sit & Stitch at Primitive Gatherings yesterday. Gosh, it was great to see Kathy D and my PG girlfriends. I took my bear parts to embroider, and had so much fun.

Beginning To Embroider

By lunch time, I had front and back legs embroidered. After lunch, I completed the face and head embroidery. All I have left to do is the flowers and leaves embroideries on the tummy.

Goodness, She's Looking Sweet

So this is a photograph of my progress by the end of our play date. My Barrett Bear has a little wonky smile (which I love), eyes, and finished legs.

Front and Back Paws

 Paw details.

She Has A Face

Now she can watch me as I complete the rest of her embroidery. Once that's complete, I'll be able to assemble my first real, jointed bear. I'm pretty excited about my progress. What do you think?

I'll share more pictures tomorrow of The Gatherings at Primitive Gatherings. Kathy D completed embroidery on a lovely piece that will become a table mat (I think). I'll show that to you, plus pictures of the interior of The Gatherings building. It's really an awesome facility.

Tuesdays With Tag - The Hills Are Alive...

My Goodness, Claudette. What Funny Footprints You've Got

 

 Hi, Everybody!

No, that's not me. You know it's that stoopid cat, Claudette. This cat's been gettin' on my nerves. She harrasses me whenever I'm mindin' my Ps and Qs and tryin' to go back into the house after takin' care of my personal outside business (if you know what I mean). I swear, she trots from the barn to the porch as soon as she sees me, just so she can take a swipe at me as I come up the stairs. One of these days...to the moon, Alice!

Anyway, there's a reason her mug is front and center this week. Mom and I were gone for most of the mornin' yesterday. We went shoppin' and ran a few errands (No, she didn't bake bread like she said she was gonna). Dad stayed home with the inside girls. 

When it was time to feed the Barn Girls, Mom was lookin' down to make sure she didn't slip on some of the ice on our driveway, when she saw those footprints in the snow. What the...?!!!

The Look Like Pterodactyls!

 

Well, they sure as heck aren't Claudette or Crystals, and they weren't any of the canine variety either. Mom went and got Dad, wonderin' if he'd been playin' tricks on her. (We expect him to make crop circles any summer now, just to mess with Mom.) He said he'd been in the house all day, except to air out the girls, and he hadn't seen anythin' in the yard.

Almost As Big As Mom's Size 9s

Mom's feet aren't tiny by any means, so you can see how humungous those prints are. Pterodactyls? Velociraptors? Penguins?

Nope. We looked it up. These are turkey tracks. Thing is, Mom saw five or six of them in the north field on Sunday. They were huge! They were headin' for the habitat, so apparently, now they're makin' the rounds to all Mom's bird feeders. Dad is surprised the Girls didn't alert him that they were outside the house. Heck, they bark if they hear a mouse outside, and these are certainly bigger than that!

We'll have to watch now to see if they show up again. It could get interestin' if I'm home! That's not the only surprise, though...

A Lone Coyote In Search Of Love And Food

 

This picture was taken by Miss Shelly. Andy called us on Saturday and asked Mom if we were home. (Yup) He told Mom she'd better look out the back window of the house because there was somethin' big in our back yard. He wasn't kiddin'.

Halfway between our barn and Andy's woodlot behind our house was this guy. He was actually bouncin' on the snow like a fox after mice. Mom and Dad watched him for a while, and then Mom went outside and screamed like a banshee to scare him off. He ran like the wind, and who could blame him? She even freaked me out a little.

Mom and Dad saw him again on Sunday, so Dad went out with the dog whistle and sent him packin' again. It's that time of year, you know. Love is in the air for these guys, and they're out lookin' for the mother of their next litter. Love 'em and leave 'em.

Mom worried that he might have harmed one of the cats, as she'd seen Crystal in the same area of the yard earlier. She headed to the barn and saw Crystal, but no Claudette. She went outside and called for the terrorist, who always comes runnin' when Mom chirps for her. Nothin'.

Finally, Mom saw her peekin' out from behind the woodshed, first lookin' at Mom, and then watchin' the north field where the coyote had run. She'd apparently seen him when he was in our yard, and she wasn't takin' any chances.

Mom walked up to the woodshed, picked Claudette up and carried her back to the Compass Barn. Claudette kept an eye on the north field the whole time. Mom spoke softly to her and said she was glad her little black and white cat was bein' extra cautious, and that Claudette should tell her daughter to be careful, too. We can only scare him off when we see him, and who knows if he'd come back at night. The cats may be jerks to me, but I sure don't want anythin' to happen to them, either. I'll be watchin' from now on to keep all my girls safe.

Speakin' of which...

Happy Seventh Birthday, Bella

 

I owe Boo an apology. Her Birthday was last Wednesday, and I forgot to wish her a Happy Barkday in my last post. She turned seven. She's been a good buddy, and I've grown accustomed to her face. I'm sorry I missed tellin' her on her special day. 

Happy "Extended" Birthday, Bella.

I'll see you again in seven. 'til then... 

"Been There, Chewed That!"