Rain...

[susandennis]

We had some wet this morning. It wasn't a real rain but it was close enough to count since it's been so long. It felt good.

---

On most days, I am still calling Mom in the mornings on my walk from the bus to my desk. And lately she has gotten very chatty. She generally tells me the same stuff over and over again but I have gotten fairly good at pretending that I've never heard it. The calls are not really for information swapping, really more for I'm-here-for-you-and-I-love-you swapping. But, I need to find her 'off' button. Today I had to stand outside the building and wait for her to wind down so I could say goodbye.

She told me in email the other day that she didn't expect to see next Summer. She wasn't maudlin about it, just kind of matter of fact. Then the next day she was bitching that Polly got her the wrong kind of calendar for 2006. I pointed out that since she was only going to use half of it, it probably was not a show stopper. "Well, I don't want my last half of a year to be all confused." Fair enough.

---

The Mariners have been playing Kansas City for the past two days. We suck but they Really Suck. However last night we very nearly snapped their 18 game losing streak. Their last chance at winning is today. The game starts at 1 and then they move on to the next team and the Mariners go to Minnesota.

---

I ran into the woman who took all the teddy bears yesterday afternoon. She, Jean, said they went to emergency intake. When battered families seek refuse [edit later... Er, ah make that refuge doh!], they come to this intake center - generally, of course, in crisis. So my teddy bears are now being given to those kids. She said that the woman in charge just had a fit over them and how wonderful and perfect they were for this. I told her as long as I have eyes and noses, I'd keep making the bears. Jean then said that she had warned the woman that the bears were my Summer project only... Her tone of voice and face were clear with the message so I said 'ok, ok... I'll order more eyes and noses!'

So, it looks like it will be a while before I get back to afghans. I don't mind. I'm not tired of bears yet.

The funny part is that Jean and her partner, Mary, moved into the condo building minutes before I did in 1992. They are in their 70s and are now retired. Jean has always called me Sandy. I used to try and gently correct her but I gave up years ago. Yesterday she introduced me in the elevator to someone and called me Sandra. What.ever. I do very much appreciate her being a good bear broker so I shall speak ill no more (unless necessary). (cloverbee, this is the couple who used to leave muffins at Christmas every year - they stopped doing it the year after they dissed me, tho.)

These are the latest bears...

Comments

[judith.livejournal.com]

ahhhhh. Those bears! I am no lover of bears but I can make an exception for these, especially given where they are going. They really are terrific.

[susandennis]

There is something about this particular pattern. The resulting bear will make a bear lover out of anyone. They are very cuddly and seriously cute. Even I have to give each one a hug when I finish him or her. It's a really strange thing.

And thanks. I am kind of tickled about they whole end of their journey thing. That really is a nice thing to have happen.

[geordie.livejournal.com]

Show off! Rain indeed. Here we have the summer overcast. Bloody strange place, middle of summer and it's cool and dark at 9am.

Refuse? Refuge?

[geordie.livejournal.com]

Forgot to say, I'm glad the bears are going somewhere they'll probably become very important to a lot of small kids. In 50 years your bears will still have pride of place on dressers here and there around the world, the special teddy grandma got at a really bad time.

[susandennis]

Now, wouldn't that just be something? I love that idea. I actually do still have the bear that my Mom's boss gave me when I was born. His name is James (named after boss) and he's a sad looking dude now but I still have him. I love the idea that my little bears might live long and important lives.

[geordie.livejournal.com]

My friend's 20 year old daughter still has the Mothercare bear I gave her when she was 2. Now that's a gift that kept on giving. He's seen a lot of repair work, but he's still the same bear.

[glaw2424.livejournal.com]

The good 'ol NW air conditioner and sprinkler system...and at mid-week too, dbl Good. LOL

Mariners, well I wanted to see how some of the farm kids looked since going to Tacoma isn't appealing. Guess the way it is going, that's the team we will see. :)

Have a great day!

G

[susandennis]

The truth on both counts!

[jwg.livejournal.com]

Some of our people are occasionally afraid we will give them away to some young child. And occasionally we feel like doing so like last night when Burning Bright was taunting us with the fact that the Tigers were about to beat us for the second day in a row. He got his just desserts though with a tieing home run in the ninth and seven more runs in the tenth.

[susandennis]

I heard about that game this morning. Just hearing about it was exhausting!

I'd like to keep Kansas City here for a week or two. We need the wins and we could make them have to really work for that losing streak!

[bluedrum.livejournal.com]

Susan, would you be willng to share the instructions for your knitted bears? My mother is a knitter and is llking for something new to knit.
She collects bears. I'd really like to get her into something that she can share with the community. In either case, thanks.

Be well,

Mac

[susandennis]

Of course!!!

It's not actually my pattern at all. It's the Baby Bobby Bear Pattern from Blue Sky Alpacas http://www.blueskyalpacas.com/patterns/patterns/cotton/b4.html...

The only modification I use is that I do it on size 6 needles (can't remember what the pattern calls for but I think it's 8s) and I don't embroider the eyes and nose. I use store bought ones that I sew on (and if she wants to go that route, I can absolutely hook her up with my source).

They are really fun to knit. There are a couple more pictures here (http://www.susandennis.org/knitting) if you want to show her.

[susandennis]

Oh and I do NOT use the yarn that the pattern calls for either. I use a cheap acrylic that is very soft (Caron's Simply Soft - found at any discount store that carries yarn). My bears are totally machine washable!

i would hope those families were seeking "refuge" and not "refuse" ... :)

[henare.livejournal.com]

i think that, with enough of those bears and a few roombas to use for troop transport you could take over seattle.

Re: i would hope those families were seeking "refuge" and not "refuse" ... :)

[susandennis]

My kingdom for an editor! But, at least I can crack myself up.

Bear on Roomba... WATCH OUT!!!!