Kenneth the Koala Leaves Home

Those who follow my blog will remember the tale of Kenneth the Koala (told in 3 parts).

 

Since then Kenneth has delighted many of his (and my) friends with his antics.

I knew sooner or later Kenneth would leave home, as happens with most children, but as his mother I hoped it would be later rather than sooner, because I loved seeing his happy face around the place.

A few days ago my friend Fay phoned me to ask if I could make her a koala. I knew it would be some time before I could do this, and Kenneth, hearing the conversation, pricked up his already big ears and cried "Pick me, pick me!" Kenneth, my big and brave Koala, was well and truly ready to leave home.

So, the next day Kenneth and I visited Fay, who of course fell in love with Kenneth straight away and had to have him, so the adoption took place.

It was with a little sadness that I released my Kenneth into the care of one of my oldest and dearest friends, but I knew they belonged together, and this made me glad.


Kenneth of course, with the exuberance of youth, immediately began exploring his new home, and in the garden some blue ducks greeted him and made him welcome.










Fay then took him inside her home to meet her family of bears. It was delightful to greet quite a few of my critters again, including Zachary (in red striped T-shirt), my first original design, Sing Song, my first panda, and little Oliver (tartan bow).

Then Webster (the biggest bear I've made) called out to be introduced, and Kenneth immediately made himself at home on Webster's lap! Sitting comfortably there, Kenneth smiled up at me and said, "Thank you for bringing me here, Nana - I love you - see you soon!" So I left him in good hands (paws), and went off with Fay for a coffee and a catch-up.

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Although I miss Kenneth he is very happy and having lots of fun with his new family, and there will be plenty of opportunity for hugs when I call in for coffee with Fay. As a matter of fact, I feel like a coffee right now - see you next time.

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.

A Tale of Two Teddies

Teddy bears have a way of endearing themselves to almost everyone, including me. Whether the bears are mass produced or handmade, ancient or modern, they still tug at the heartstrings, don't they? My fascination for creating teddy bears and other critters is just as strong as when I began several years ago, but I haven't been as interested in the old ones, the bears of former days - except, that is, for two particular ancient bears of my acquaintance. What follows is the tale of these two teddies.

 

TALE ONE: PINKY

Pinky was my childhood companion, and continues with me to this day. She was given to me when I was two years old and recovering from a serious illness. I am sure her devotion aided my recovery and development from the day she became mine. And Pinky's care of children didn't stop with me. She also brought up my sister and three brothers, passing from one to the other through the years, and her appearance tells the story.

My Pinky

Pinky has been loved so well that her pink fur is all but gone (only few pink tufts can be seen around her neck and leg joints). She has large patch on her chest, sewn on by my mother, who worried that Pinky's innards were about to escape. The fabric having given way around her joints, one arm and her head are secured by my mother's stitching also.
       Her original amethyst coloured eyes were lost and substituted with buttons at some point, but awhile ago I found some suitable new eyes, so Pinky can see again, and keeps my hug of bears under her watchful eye. Her nose and mouth were mostly worn away by many childhood kisses planted on her muzzle through the years, but a delicate operation was performed, and now Pinky's gentle personality can be seen again.

A noble bear indeed!

I discovered a few years ago that Pinky is a Barton Waugh bear, manufactured in Australia in the late 1940s, but her ancestry is not important. My Pinky, faithful friend and lifetime companion, is a noble example of what teddy bears are about in this world - loving, comforting, and giving more to their owners than can be expressed in words, being good examples of what we human beings are created for too.

TALE TWO: PERCY

The first time I saw Percy was late last year, at a nearby market fair.  As I walked into the hall where the market was held, Percy greeted me. There he sat, in a basket among a bunch of other elderly bears - all of whom had seen better days. Percy smiled up at me and my heart melted. I should have taken a picture of him there, amid his sad companions, to remind me of the momentous meeting, but time was short and I needed to set up my own table, so I just smiled back at him and moved on.

Smile, everyone!

Having sorted out my table and settled the critters (who often need encouragement when they are on show), Percy seemed to call out to me, so I introduced myself to the lady on the table next to mine (where Percy was) and asked her about him.
       She didn't know anything about Percy's ancestry, so with permission I removed him from the basket and posed him on my neighbour's table. I then took a picture of him, and sent it with an SMS to my friend Claire, who knows about old bears.

Percy - could you resist him?

Claire couldn't pinpoint Percy's heritage either, but his charm had its effect on her also, so together we came to the conclusion that first Percy must be rescued - we could talk about his past (and future) later. So I made an offer for him, the offer was accepted and Percy came home with me, where he immediately made himself an indispensable member of the Carney household and hug.

We still don't know where or when Percy was born, but we know he has lived life to the full till now, and he continues to endears himself all who make his acquaintance and to make me smile.

 

EPILOGUE: TWO TEDDIES ARE BETTER THAN ONE

Although Pinky has been quite happy all these years without a close teddy friend, when she and Percy met I knew they belonged together.

My best friend

Although you can live a fulfilling, productive and happy life alone, if someone comes along who understands you, empathises with sufferings experienced, remembers and laughs about things from a common past, enjoys common interests and is simply your friend, an empty space within is filled with love and peace. I have experienced this with my darling husband, Martin, whose love and companionship brings constant joy and peace to my life,
and also with a number of close friends and family - I am a blessed woman!

In a teddy bear way, I felt that when Pinky and Percy came together something similar happened. Just look at this picture and I am certain that you will agree.

Do you remember having lots of fur, dear? Ah yes, those were the days!

What can a Koala find to eat around here?

Keiffe (pronounced Keef) had just been 'born'. That is, Nana Kayzy put the final touches to the young koala, gave him a squishy hug, and said, "Well, little man, you're ready to face the big wide world."

While she was making Keiffe, Nana taught him many things about 'the big wide world'. She told him that 'out there' a little koala could have wonderful adventures. In Keiffe's impressionable young mind, the biggest adventure seemed to be climbing trees.  Nana had said that koalas spend most of their time living in trees, only coming down to the ground when they need to move from one tree to another, because they are always looking for the best leaves to eat. "Mmmm, leaves must be good," thought Keiffe, as Nana Kayzy sewed his tiny mouth to his chubby face. He couldn't wait to taste those yummy leaves!

Nana Kayzy, having finished Keiffe, wandered outside to enjoy the wintry sunshine, leaving Keiffe near the open door.

"Let me see," said Keiffe, "Nana told me that koalas climb trees, and live in them! But there are so many trees out there - which are the ones with the best leaves for me to eat?"

The sunshine beckoned him, and birds seemed to be calling to him also, so Keiffe responded. He moved out into the sunshine and headed for a promising tree, far distant from the house.
 
Climbing it was easy, and the tree's shiny leaves and pretty flowers looked good, so . . .

 "Yuk! These couldn't be the right leaves," exclaimed Keiffe, and he quickly climbed down from the offending tree and returned to his search for the 'right' tree.

Not far away he spied another tree, this one with lovely orange, yellow and red leaves. "Ooh, they look so good, they must be the right leaves!" Keiffe cried, and his little legs carried him as quickly as they could to the beautiful tree.

He shinned up its trunk and found a nice branch. "Now for a feast," he said, and reaching for a beautiful orange leaf he took a bite. How disappointing! Maybe the yellow and red leaves are better? No. All the leaves were dry and tasteless. Again Keiffe climbed down from the tree, rather discouraged that his first adventure was not turning out to be much fun.

However, determined to find the right leaves, he persevered, going from tree to tree around the garden, but each time he was disappointed, and what's more, getting very hungry!

The sunshine was starting to fade, just like Keiffe's enthusiasm for adventure. He decided to head back towards the house. As he drew near, he spied a rather small tree right near the back door. He hadn't noticed it before, but he supposed it was worth a try.

Keiffe slowly climbed the tree and found a comfortable fork to sit in. Its leaves, although not very impressive looking, had a yummy smell, and when Keiffe took a bite he was in koala heaven.

"Wow, these leaves taste so good!" he shouted - so loudly that Nana Kayzy, who had been looking for him,  heard his cry and came running.

"What are you doing up there, little man?"

"All day I've been everywhere looking for good leaves to eat, and they all tasted yucky, but these are great! What are they, Nana?"

Nana laughed, and lifted the little koala into her arms, along with some of the yummy leaves he couldn't stop eating. "You funny little fellow! These are gum leaves, and this tree is a gum tree. This is what all koalas love to eat! Why didn't you ask me to help you find the right tree? I would have shown you straight away."

"I wanted to do it myself," said Keiffe, snuggling up to Nana Kayzy. It was getting pretty cold now the sun was going down.

"Ah, well, you've certainly had a big adventure today, and you're home now - that's all that matters,"   and Nana Kayzy took the little koala into the cosy house and sat him in front of a lovely warm fire.

As he happily shared the events of his day with the bears gathered around the fire, he even offered to share his gum leaves with them. The bears were polite but unenthusiastic, preferring the toast and honey provided by Nana Kayzy instead.