A warm welcome from the bears!

The junior bears settled down before the fire to listen to Albert Abernethy read them a story. It was called 'The Night Before Christmas'. They especially liked the bit about 'not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse' because we have a new little mouse come to live with us. You can just see him peeping in the picture above.

I'm afraid that Diesel and Binks the panda found some Drambuie under the stairs and dared each other to lick the cork. They decided it tasted like cough medicine but rather liked the warm feeling it gave them. Fortunately, it also made them sleepy and they nodded off before they could drink too much.

Over at the sideboard a little spread of goodies had been laid on and the bears posed for their pictures before the whole thing got out of hand and some bears, who shall remain nameless, threw the little snowballs at each other.

I see the little mouse has got in on the picture!

Mouse!

(If you would like to knit a mouse of your own here is the link to the free pattern from Fuzzy Mitten )

Tree!

Oh Dear, Binks! Stay off the Drambuie next year!

Don't forget to go over to the Christmas Tea Party going on over at Ginger's Bearbits Blog.

There will be links to other parties too!

Merry Crimble everyone!

Pa grew this tree from a seed he got from a pinecone he found in Cyprus a few years back. He's always doing that. Finding seeds and planting them in pots to see if they will grow and they often do!

The bears have decorated the tree ready for their party this weekend. They are looking after their tree well and making sure it is watered and kept in the vestibule, where it is nice and cool.

Gorgeous Giveaway!

Imagine sharing Christmas with this little sweetiepie. Such a generous Giveaway for Christmas by Ginger at Bearbits! Click on the link to be taken there. Good luck to everyone who enters!

On Remembrance Sunday

Our old soldiers came from The Royal Hospital, Chelsea - a very Special Place

(clickable link).

The Bear in the Box

Yesterday we went to the Lake District to see the Autumn colour and as usual ended up in Hawkshead at Sixpenny Bears, which is a bear adoption centre.

A very special bear lives there. If you click on the picture above, you will be able to read his story. Sorry the picture isn't better, but it is taken through the shop window.

A lovely little girl bear

Is being given away by Wendy Chamberlain of Essential Bears, in honour of her birthday. Here is the link. Wendy and her sister Megan have recently come to live in England and they make the most wonderful weenie bears and needlework of all kinds. Inspirational!

http://wendy-essentialbears.blogspot.com/

Good luck everyone!

Ma's bin knittin'

When we were on holiday in Cromer we visited the Lifeboat Museum and learned about Ganseys (which is the name for the jumpers traditionally worn by fishermen and lifeboatmen in olden days. If you click on the word you'll see an old picture of some).

The Ganseys were knitted by mothers, wives and sweethearts for their men and had traditional patterns incorporated into them. Ma was fascinated and wanted to make one for Potterum (seeing as he came from Norfolk). It has some traditional patterns on it (cables and streak of lightning).

She also knitted a scarf for Ted. He's very proud of his 'Prefect' badge from 1966.

The bears are feeling the chill now that Autumn is here and like to wrap up warm!