A Grand Tale

When we became grandparents, five years ago, I began collecting soft toy critters from our local charity op shops, so that when the grandchildren were ready, the animals would be on hand.

Critters crawling everywhere (note Giraffe on left side of bottom line-up)!

Thus, any room or surface in our house can become a resting place for one or more of these critters (they do seem to roam around), and grandchildren Beren (5) and Kestrel (2) always ask for a few to play with when they come, Giraffe being a firm favourite.

Kestrel's favourite Giraffe (and favourite Dad)

However, recently their animal play escalated to monumental proportions, with every critter in sight being conscripted.

The children had dropped in for morning tea, but we quickly came to realise that although the morning tea was enjoyed,

   Morning tea,             plans and dreams,        mischief in the making

in Beren and Kestrel's eyes it was just preliminary preparation for the real business of the visit: the creation of - you guessed it - a zoo!

The lounge room was the chosen location for our zoo and initially chaos ensued. However, under the guidance of the zoo patron (moi!) it was soon decided to provide separate areas for critters needing similar conditions, e.g. desert, water loving, farm, tree climbing, etc., and soon the zoo keeper (Beren) and his helper (Kestrel) were happily finding suitable food for their charges, including grass for farm animals, gum leaves for koalas, honey for bears,  bamboo for pandas, and a lamb bone for the lion, who was especially hungry.

Let me show you our zoo animals.

Before too long we had our first visitors to the zoo, and our zoo keeper showed them around, at the same time checking that his animals were happy in their new environment.


He brought several to the zoo hospital for treatment, and I am happy to report that all recovered quickly, thanks to the care of the zoo patron, who is also a trained critter nurse.

Look what I found in the cupboard, Nana!

In the meantime, the enterprising zoo helper discovered that she could open the cupboard where the 'special' critters are kept, and proceeded to transport them to the zoo (I am grateful that the zoo staff are quite careful in their handling of all critters in their charge!).

POSTSCRIPT: 

Because the zoo was such a successful enterprise, a follow-up visit resulted in another zoo being built. This time, however, the zoo staff lost control of their animals, and an unsuspecting zoo visitor resting on a nearby park bench was totally buried beneath a zooful!

Poor unsuspecting zoo visitor buried alive

Thankfully, he was rescued, none the worse for his adventure, and seemed in no hurry to leave the zoo.

Booff - Bear on a Mission

"Come here, Booff, and sit with me," said Nana Kayzy. "I've got something very special to tell you."
Booff, very eager to have some 'special' time with Nana, climbed up onto her knee and looked up at her expectantly.

"Booff, my dear, you are a very special bear. No other bear in the whole wide world is just like you - you are one-of-a-kind - and you were created for a special purpose."

Staring wide-eyed at Nana Kayzy, Booff wondered what his 'special purpose' could be. Perhaps he might have to leave Nana's hug, and travel to far away places to discover his special purpose. He shifted uneasily on Nana's knee. He was beginning to feel a little anxious.

Nana smiled at Booff, and said reassuringly, "Now, now, there is nothing to worry about, my Booff. You know that I always have your best interests in my heart and on my mind."

Because Booff really did know that what Nana said was true, he relaxed and again looked up at Nana, waiting to hear what she would say next.

"Yesterday a very special baby boy was born into our family, Booff. This precious baby is Daniel and Naomi's firstborn, and they have named him Jasper. Now Jasper is going to need a very special bear to take care of him, and I think you are that bear. But because this is such an importance mission you have to be sure that you want to take it on. It is a lifetime mission, and will take special gifts to be able to fulfil this special purpose."

Booff was overwhelmed that Nana would think that he had the gifts needed for this great mission, and his heart leaped with joy at the thought. "Oh, Nana Kayzy, do you really think I can do it?"

"I do indeed, dear Booff," replied Nana. "You are a gentle bear, with a kind and loving heart, and these are the special gifts you will need for your mission, should you choose to accept it."

"Then I accept my mission gladly, Nana!" cried Booff.

Later that day Nana Kayzy, Grandad, and Booff headed off in their car, invited by the new parents to meet Jasper.

Booff sat watching as the introductions were made, and when it was his turn he was presented to Naomi and Dan, with an explanation by Nana Kayzy that Booff had come to join their family and to help in caring for Jasper. If bears can blush, Booff did just that as Naomi took him in her arms and welcomed him into the new little family.

Later Nana Kayzy drew him aside and quietly encouraged him with gentle words of wisdom. 

She  hugged Booff one last time and then took him over to Jasper, who was asleep in his mother's arms.

After asking permission from Jasper's Mum and Dad, Booff moved closer, to acquaint himself more intimately with this tiny person he was to care for.

Then Nana and Grandad had the joy of nursing Jasper for the first time - and O what joy it was!








Jasper even smiled at Nana, making her joy complete.

All too soon it was time to say farewell, and to leave the little family to rest. So Booff waved goodbye, already missing Nana and Grandad, but knowing his special purpose and the love of his new family filled him with a sense of destiny, hope, and even a tinge of excitement.

Bilbo and Paulie - Bike or Tardis?

Critter Cottage was abuzz, as the news broke that Bilbo and Paulie were to be adopted.

"You're going to a big family, and they already love you," said Nana Kayzy. "They told me that they can't wait to take you on their teddy bear picnics!"

"When can we go, when, when?" cried Bilbo, jumping up and down with excitement, while Paulie hung on behind him.

"When can we go?"

"As soon as I can get you ready," Nana Kayzy answered. "Off you go, and have one last turn on the swing seat while I find a box to fit you both."

Bilbo and Paulie were not impressed at the thought of being cooped up in a box, so while they were swinging, they hit on a plan.

"A box doesn't sound good - we need a plan"

"Aha! I've got it!"

When Nana Kayzy went looking for the boys, they were not to be found on the swing seat, but searching outside, she found them - on the bike, and heading towards the gate. "And where do you think you're going?" she called.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"We're riding to our new home"

"We're going to ride the bike to our new home!" squeaked Paulie. "We don't want to go in a box."

Nana Kayzy laughed, picked them up, bike and all, and brought them back into the cottage, where Sandi and Scruff were already sitting up at the table. "We're going to have a farewell celebration party!" they cried.

Farewell Celebration Party

Bilbo and Paulie decided on orange cordial and lollies for their celebration, because "We need a BIG drink and lots of carbs to get us ready for our BIG trip," they explained. (Nana Kayzy told herself that she'd better be a little more careful in explaining nutrition to the bears in future.)

"We need a BIG drink and lots of carbs"

"What do you think, Paulie?"

"OK, Nana Kayzy - we'll go in the Tardis"

After their celebration, the boys were shown THE BOX, which Nana Kayzy quickly explained was just like a Tardis, and would transport them to their new home much more quickly than riding a bike all the way.

Bilbo and Paulie could see the sense in this, and after checking it out thoroughly, agreed to this method of transport.

"Watch your step, Bilbo - that first one's tricky."

"It's pretty comfortable."

When last seen, their little faces were full of anticipation of the exciting adventure ahead, and they gave solemn promises to write as soon as they arrived at their destination.

"We'll write as soon as we get there."

Nana Kayzy closed the box, and the intrepid time travellers were off, and . . . the Tardis disappeared from sight!

"Farewell, intrepid time travellers!"

                                                                                                                      

WELCOME TO NEW FRIENDS!

• A warm welcome to Robyn Kaye and Gabriele Joy, of GJOYful Bears - a lovely site to visit.
• Welcome also to a good friend who has just joined us here on the blog - Annette Henderson, of Dreamweaver Bears (see pic on my last post). Annette was an encouragement and inspiration to me in my early days of bearmaking - thank you, Annette.

Bunbury break-out!

"They're very quiet in there," said Dad.
"Oh, I'm sure they're working hard on their school work," said Mum. "I saw Mackenzie Stuart hard at work when I checked awhile ago, and he is a good influence on the younger ones."

"Nevertheless I think I'll just check on them," Dad responded.
 One look into their room told the tale. School books were lying neglected on the desk, and not a bear or bunny was in sight.
"I wonder where those rascals have got to!" called Dad, and headed out into the garden.

Peekaboo!

Sure enough, there they were - out in the sunshine and enjoying the beautiful autumn weather. Dad didn't have the heart to herd them back inside to their school work. Instead he just took some pictures, and joined the fun!

I can see you!

Look at me, Dad - I can fly!

 Me, too!

Swinging is even more fun with a friend!

Hey, watch out, Peta - be careful you don't fall!

I am invincible - I can even stand up on the swing!

Ah, but can you do this? Look, Dad, no hands!

I could if I wanted to, but I'm having a rest right now.

Enough of all this exercise - I'm sleepy!

Welcome to our new friend Elena, from Serbia -
so glad you've joined in the fun!

Bearen's big adventure

Dear Nana Kayzy,

This is your Bearen writing to you.

I have been on a big adventure, and 'cause you made me and you love me, I know you're interested in everything I do, so I want to tell you all about it.

Well, first Granny Wellby drove us to Adelaide airport, with Bruce as her navigator. (Bruce decided not to come with us to Melbourne. He said Granny Wellby would need his company while we were away.)

Then I hid in Mum's hand luggage - I didn't want to be cooped up in a suitcase with Mum's clothes, and miss all the fun.

 Soon we got on the plane and WHOOSH - before we knew it we were flying - WHEE! I saw lots of things out of the window for awhile,



but then we were too high to see the ground - above the clouds!

When we got to Melbourne, Mum and Dad took me to a big hotel, and I could see the big city out of our window.

We did lots of exciting things in Melbourne, but one of the best was eating at a big restaurant - all that food, and such a little tummy (Bruce would have been able to fit more in, I'm sure).

I had such a great time, and so when we got home to Bunbury Cottage, everyone gathered around to hear about my BIG ADVENTURE, and my story was so exciting they said it was just like being there!

Big hugs to you, dear Nana,
from me, Bearen xxxx

BUNBURY BEARS HUG BUNNY!

Well, the news has spread like wildfire in the Hills -  there's a bunny in the bear hug at Bunbury Cottage! The bears awoke last Saturday morning to find a bunny in their midst. Peta Rabbit had joined their little family.

The bears welcomed Peta Rabbit with beary enthusiasm,

hugging the little bunny with long floppy ears and sharing their breakfast of toast and honey with her.

After breakfast they showed Peta the garden, the boys climbing trees and doing other funny things to make her laugh.

Bruce decided to take a little nap halfway through the morning - playing is quite tiring, really!

Later that day Kirsty, their mum, stumbled upon this little trio in the garden . . . Peta Rabbit and Jemima, already best of friends, were chatting over afternoon tea and sugared almonds, while a rather sleepy Winkie was doing his best to stay awake.

Maybe we'll hear more of this little family and their adventures, because good news spreads fast in the Adelaide Hills, you know.