Monochrome Monday - Grandmother [3/11/17 - 28/09/2005]!

Today Mother is sad and when she is sad, we in the Hug are sad too!
I did not have the pleasure of knowing Grandmother but those members that did like Barney, say she loved bears & stuffies.
This is her final photograph, she has Andy-Pandy with her who is a hand puppet bear she adopted from a Toy Bazaar and her pet pouch Tatty who went to the human bridge with her...
Hugs,

True Colours Thursday - NAVY!

Now, Mother confessed to struggling with this weeks colour, but not me, as I have a tale of hoped for seduction via this to relate...When Mother was young, a long time ago, even by my standards, Grandmothers very favourite perfume was 'Evening in Paris'.
Created in 1929 by Bourjois; by the Nineteen Fifties it had become "The Most Famous Fragrance in the World."
It came in a dark blue bottle with a dream of sophistication, romance & escapism, and Mother has inherited several of these small iconic bottles in their original packaging and full too.
The scent is too sweet for her now, but she told Merry and I, that the slightest whiff still conjures up special childhood memories like a good-night kiss.
Now, upon hearing this, dear Merry doused herself in it.
You see she is rather smitten with Master Stormy in his NAVY & White ribbon..Wearing her best silk NAVY neckerchief, she is keen to share a kiss with him.
I do worry, her feelings may not be reciprocated!
As despite her best efforts todate, he seems only inclined to cuddling...Guess only time will tell, whether the 'Evening in Paris' magic still works!
Hugs,

True Colours Thursday - MAROON!

I was pondering this colour, only thinking of my collar being MAROON... When, ever helpful Miss Merry, sporting for the occasion her MAROON spotted neck-chief...Pointed out, I should introduce Chester, in his MAROON snow flaked Winter's scarf, especially as she suspects, we may be distantly related, as we do share a certain facial characteristic...

Excuse me!

What do you think???

Is she right???

Do we share a heritage???

Could Chester be a cousin of sorts???

He is certainly a cosy cuddlesome Gent, if, Acrylic furred!

Grandmother procured him for Mother, Christmas...

He was her last personally selected gift to her.

And, he did hail from an establishment called 'Past Times'.

So, I will respect his pedigree - it maybe, remotely similar to mine!

Hugs,
x

True Colours Thursday - RUST!

Thankfully Mother, before she went away on holiday, helped me with this weeks colour - it was suggested by Aunt BJ, so had to play!

Now, I have several RUSTY bears in the Hug.

But, am choosing to introduce the original member - Toby...

He, of course, was not Mothers first Teddy Bear.

They are sadly, long LOST!

When Grandmother moved, to live with her in Dreamingspires, much to their great joint dismay, the removal company misplaced two packing cases whilst holding them in storage for a few days - one contained much loved & worn, childhood friends Big Ted, Little Ted & Fluffy.

There was tears @ bedtime, as a house without bears is not a home!

Toby arrived shortly afterwards, a gift from Grandmother.

And, was so named, because his birth label said 'Toyland - Made in Israel'.

This is because, @ the time, the only Jewish person that Mother had knowingly encountered, was the fictional character Toby in Lynne Reid Banks 1960's novel "The L-Shaped Room", which she had recently read.

We still have the well thumbed paperback in our Library...

Hugs,

True Colours Thursday - BEIGE & Grandmother!

Now, I know many may have struggled with this weeks colour.

But, not me!

Do not mean to brag.

BEIGE is an odd shade.

But, it is surely, Hug member Barney's colouration...

He was Grandmother's special 'rescue' bear.

She & Mother had gone away to Leamington Spa, to a rather grand sounding 'Christmas House Party' @ the Manor Hotel.

Apparently, it simply meant, the hotel's chef took the strain of preparing the holiday feast, leaving them to relax!

Grandmother, particularly liked Leamington, having fond memories of this Warwickshire town, from her time stationed there during World War II.

She had been assigned as live-in cook to Officers, who had requisitioned a large private house on The Parade.

And, despite a few wild japes, she earned her Sargent's strips there.

Anyway, back to Barney's tale - on Christmas Eve, walking the said Parade, they, Mother and Grandmother looked in @ the St Barnardos charity shop.

A certain boy was sitting lonesome on an otherwise empty shelf.

Grandmother, a bear softy - I am sure I would have liked her, immediately took pity on him.

She could not bare the thought of him spending Christmas there, alone in the cold and dark.

So, he was 'saved' from this fate and joined the festivities.

Okay, not BEIGE, well, apart fom her walking stick maybe!

But, this is Grandmother, that Christmas in the snowy Jefferson Gardens...

She looks very sprightly here in 1998.

It was before her fall, that broke her hip.

And, the evil Cancer that took her life.

Hugs,
x

True Colours Thursday - BLUE!

With Mothers love of BLUE, it will come as no surprise, that I was rather spoilt for choice as to who, to introduce from the Household Hug today for Mothers meme, there being three possible contenders!
After conferring with Merry, I finally settled on the rather shy, Master BLUEberry, wearing his BLUE floral cravat...He's a young bear of quality, being a Steiff!
Here's the proof, the tell-tale button in his ear...He arrived the year, that Grandmother was diagnosed as terminally ill, she spent Mother's birthday in Sobel House Hospice, after an emergency admission, when the nasty Cancer in her tummy erupted!
Mother, who had always, hankered after a Steiff Bear, purchased him for herself on Grandmothers behalf, as she too loved Stuffies & Teddies .
His name comes, not from the fact that he is so BLUE!
But, because, on the day of her actual birthday, Mother took in both BLUEberry Cheesecakes & BLUEberry Muffins for all the hospice residents & staff to enjoy.
I understand that Grandmother, did came home to stay & on her brighter days use to talk to him.
Here's the two of us, in the getting to know you hug...

Saint Valentine's Day!

Being a traditional type of bear, I do not go for brash modern, Valentines Greetings Cards; I much prefer the old fashioned romantic ones.
Grandmother, it seems favoured them too, as Mother recently found this one...And, just read the sentiment expressed inside...Now, unfortunately for me, it is too late, to send it by snail mail.
So, using this new fangled technology, I am 'posting' it here - think I have got the lingo correct - for a certain Miss Rosie Bear, who resides with 'Aunt' Miss Peach>(^;^)<.
She is quite a genteel, retiring lady, and we have yet to be formally introduced, but when Mother was not looking, I could not resist from stealing a peak at her photograph.
It was love @ first glance...Am hiding my blushes here!
It would be wonderful if she felt the same way, when we eventually meet in bearson.
Yes, quickly moving on - I also, want to wish all my new found friends a Happy Valentine's Day!
Love and hugs,
xxx

Postscript...
Still my beating heart!
Please do look what I have just recieved, from my dear Miss Rosie...She even graciouasly, agreed to pose with the card before 'virtual' dispatch...Am quite overcome with emotion!