Craggy Moor Bears at Home

Lilly's Summer Day

2011-06-19T11:57:00.000-07:00

Lilly has asked for several days if she can go out and play.

Her Craggy cuteness finally won me over.

She asked that we take the two ribboned,

acrylic wands to dance with the breeze

and the sunlight.

Lilly giggled with the tickling ribbon,

the green grass, and the dandelion.

Make a wish!

May there be many more happy days of summer!

Special Friends

2011-04-30T18:10:00.000-07:00

Our special Easter Lilly

wanted her portrait taken this morning.She is pretty as a picture!

Lilly and Timothy have become fast friends.

They stuck around to be silly and to watch me read.

My Spring Pastel Friends

from The Craggy Moor

Easter Story

2011-04-23T06:41:00.000-07:00

Owen's Marshmallow Chick

by Kevin Henkes On Easter morning, Owen's basket was full.

In it were jelly beans and gumdrops and buttercream eggs

and a big chocolate bunny

and a little marshmallow chick.

Owen looked at the jelly beans.

"My favorite," he said.

And he ate them up.

Owen looked at the gumdrops.

"My favorite," he said.

And he ate them up.

Owen looked at the buttercream eggs.

"My favorite," he said.

And he ate them up.

Owen looked at the chocolate bunny.

"My favorite," he said.

And he ate it up.

Owen looked at the marshmallow chick.

It was the same color as his fuzzy yellow blanket.

Owen played with his chick all morning.

Owen played with his chick all afternoon.

At bedtime, Owen put the chick on his shelf with his best toys.

"My favorite," he said.

And he kissed it good-night.

Easter Lilly

2011-04-22T16:36:00.000-07:00

Lilly arrived on Wednesday,

April 20, 2011.

She quickly discovered some evidence of the season:

An Easter Basket!!!!

She smelled the chocolate,

and hopped right in...

Pretty as an Easter gift,

but I'm a little worried about my Easter bunny.

Happy Easter!!!

Lilly Lambkin

2011-04-16T08:24:00.001-07:00

It has been awhile since I've adopted a friend from the Craggy Moor, but I am expecting a new arrival early next week! I have been watching the Craggy Moor lambs for awhile now, and they grew on me. What finally did me in were the faces of two goats! Then, it was a month and a half before Easter, so I had to ask for a spring lamb.

I requested that she be internally jointed instead of button jointed, and Christy even made her 5-way jointed! She used hardwood with nickel lock nut joints.

Lilly lamb can turn her head! I requested she have the fleece pajamas I so love. They are removable, like you are shearing the sheep. How cute is that! Lilly's pajamas are front opening and have shell buttons; another Craggy first. I requested that she be weighted, and Christy used glass pebble weights, and added the extra lavender to her tummy, which I love! Lilly also has a pair of spring overalls since most of the year will be too warm for her fleece outfit. I asked that she be light tan or butterscotch and have pink inside her ears. If that was not demanding enough, I asked that she be 12 inches tall, which is several inches taller than her button jointed sheep. Christy's little girls added some extra love and innocence as they hugged her and loved her as much as Christy would allow. The Craggy Kin at my house are getting very excited! Lilly will arrive before Easter, and just in time to share the Easter chocolate!

Sherling: This is my cousin Lilly! She's a bit taller than me, 12 inches tall, and 5 way jointed. I've loved getting to know her! She's a great story teller, and she loves (loves, loves!) chocolate chip cookies. We shared a whole cookie together earlier! Then out to the quilted pasture we bounded with Mama so Lilly could have some pictures taken. I think I fell asleep in the sun at some point (baa haa) because it seemed like just a few minutes later she was nudging me and saying it was time to to back in. Lilly's going on to her home soon, but we've had so much fun-don't forget to write, cousin Lilly! We'll miss you! :0)

All photos and quote from Sherling by The Craggy Moor

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thecraggymoorstore/sets/72157620962431367/with/5622619920/

A Mouse At School

2010-11-11T05:40:00.001-08:00

Timothy decided that it was "Take Your Mouse" to work day.

After all, he didn't leave the pantry in Ohio to sit at home in NM.

He quickly learned that the day starts bright and early

at this elementary school! He explored the room,

and found Chester the Monkey in front of the M.

How are children going to learn how to write an "M"

if they can't see the letter?

Hmmm...

But Timothy joined in on the game before the children came in.

M.....Monkey, M....Mouse

Today's date is Tuesday, November 9th.

It's getting chilly!
Timothy felt a sneeze coming...
ahhh...choo!

Timothy hid in my cabinet most of the day.
He said it wasn't fair that he was getting all the attention.
Maybe the students needed some, too.
So polite!

Before he knew it, the students had gone home,
and there were 10 minutes left in the duty day.
So, he checked his photos and comments on Flickr.
Does anybody like me?
I think they do!!!

Tailoring Overalls

2010-11-09T04:57:00.001-08:00

Last night, Timothy played a little game I liked to call

Goldilocks and the 3 Overalls.

These overalls were too big....

those were not the right color...

but these could be just right with a little tailoring! So, Timothy woke me before 5am.

He swears it was the time change

and our downstairs neighbor, taking a shower.

He figured as long as we were up,

we might as well fix his overalls.
The back seam was opened a little further

to allow for his tail to peak through in the right place.

The velcro closure was moved over to make

the closure in the back more narrow.

And finally, he asked to remove the Boyds tag,

which I swear should not be removed under penalty of law!

And here he is, in overalls that he will keep!

If only I could call in "lazy" and stay home to play!

Timothy Pantrymouse

2010-11-08T16:41:00.001-08:00

I went to check my Facebooks updates

one afternoon, after my afternoon nap.

There, in my Newsfeed,

was a little Pantrymouse named Timothy! He was, of course, living on the Moor.

I realized that as a one of kind, if you fall in love,

you'd better move quickly!

So, move I did.

And move he did,

because only a few days later

he became my 9th Craggy Moor resident.
He did come with the overalls,

but we checked him out from stem to stern anyway.

He said as a mouse, he didn't mind.

Clothing is optional.

He met Craggy Cousin Chelsea

before being introduced to Sam.

Sam has Boyds clothing that just might fit

and expand Timothy's wardrobe choices!

The denim overalls had a nice, narrow fit in the shoulders,

and were a good color, but the opening for his tail was a bit high.

The green velor overalls also fit well, were a suitable color,
and the tail opening was in a much better position.
Well, at least I have some choices, thought Timothy.

And Then...
What should I do next?

Sandia Mountain Field Trip

2010-10-07T14:57:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was a special day!

I was chosen to go on a field trip!

We rode on a bus on the freeway,

and up the mountain.

This rustic cabin looked like a great way to spend the day!

What? Nobody told me I was going for a hike!
We walked up the trail to our first "outdoor classroom"!

Hey, what do you guys see out there?

I see green stuff all over the pine tree!

Rosie was a our fearless leader,

so we would learn important things about nature,

and not get lost in it.

We hiked up and down, winding around....

...stopping periodically for lessons,

exploring, and noting observations.

Where are the fall colors?

Why is this forest all green?

Apparently this is an evergreen forest,

with a lot of pine trees and junipers.

Here is some more of the fuzzy green stuff.

It is lichen.

Did you know that there are more than 400 different

kinds of lichen?

It was kind of pretty when I could sit a spell.

Cactus in the mountains?

This is a desert/mountain region,

which means the cactus lives among the pine trees.

Rosie shows photos of animals taken by the camera

set up near the spring of water.

Is it almost lunch yet?

What is it?
My guess: a seed pod from a yucca plant

was eaten, and came out with the scat
(scientific name for animal poop).

Then, it broke open, and you can see the seeds.

Tree sap.

Hey, that was easy.

Hard earned mountian views!

LUNCH TIME!!!!

Santa Fe Renaissance Fair

2010-09-19T11:11:00.000-07:00

Santa Fe Renaissance Fair

September 18, 2010

Many vendor, food and game booths were set up

at El Rancho de Las Golondrinas

for the Santa Fe Renaissance Fair

on September 18-19, 2010.

Kaley, being a button jointed bunny made from wool,

enjoyed the historic and natural parts of

El Rancho de Las Golondrinas.

"Greetings!

I'm really here!"

The ox carts were used for carrying goods up the
El Camino Real between Mexico City and Santa Fe.

Entering the Courtyard

Embers in the Horno

What can we do with wool?

Spin it, sew colcha embroidery...

Inside Spinning Wheel

Gathering of Carding Combs

More Spinning

"See, I have a tail of handspun wool,

just like what you are doing!

And I am made of wool, too!"

Belly Dancers

Man From Taos

Selling Sage Bundles

and Telling Stories

Little Rabbit with the Rabbitbrush,

also known as chamiso.

Lots of Fairy Shopping

Rebekah from the Clan Tynker

Fairy Costume Contestant

Nutmeg Squirrely

2010-09-04T16:14:00.000-07:00

This is Nutmeg Squirrely.

She once lived on the Craggy Moor,

where there are plenty of happy children,

and good home cooked meals.

But, Nutmeg caught on to a secret at the Craggy Moor.

She found out that even though many friends are born

from skilled hands, most of them are destined to leave the Craggy Moor.

She wondered if she might have her own place in the world.

Then, she happened to smile just the right way

at a home that already had 7 Craggy Moor friends.

She felt this home would be a welcoming kind of place.

So, she packed her bags for New Mexico.

She arrived happy and chatty,

talking about acorns and the coming fall,

when she realized that she had left her special acorn behind.

Quickly, a replacement was found.

Nutmeg smiled a happy smile again

because she had found a home,

and been given a special comfort item to call her own.

Super Bear!

2010-08-14T06:36:00.001-07:00

It's a bird...

It's a plane...
It's Hot Air Balloon Bear!

What? Hot Air Balloon Bear?

Yeah...Hot Air Balloons get stuck in power lines.

People fall out of dangling gondolas!

Don't you watch the news during Balloon Fiesta?

They need someone to save them!
Besides, my cape has hot air balloons on it.

Maybe that will help me fly to rescue them!

How about fighting for truth and justice...

and some home cooking every now and then?

Okay. That could work.

Mushroom Afternoon

2010-08-06T15:44:00.000-07:00

July 25, 2010 Gray clouds in the sky,

humidity in the air...
and giant mushrooms growing the grass!

Do you hear the rain?

Do you see the rain?

Do you feel the rain?

Time to go in!!!

Craggy Moor Family Portrait

2010-07-20T07:43:00.001-07:00

Top Row:

Ellie, Chelsea, Garen

Bottom Row:

Mabel, Timby, Kaley, Robert Hay

(Seven? Did I do that?)

Kaley Meadowhare Arrives

2010-07-20T07:07:00.000-07:00

My name is Kaley Meadowhare,

and I arrived in New Mexico from Ohio

in lickety-split time!

This is my bedroom.

Doesn't it look like a rose garden?

I'm so happy!
I wasn't expecting my own bed and bedroom!

I even made a new friend.
Her name is Mikayla!

This is a cozy, friendly place!

Craggy Moor Bitty Bunnies

2010-07-17T06:47:00.001-07:00

Heidi, Jimmy and Lindsey Heidi lives on the Craggy Moor.

Jimmy is going to Australia,

to be a companion for a Blythe.

Lindsey, of course, is coming here

to be a companion for Mikayla

and possibly myself.

Lindsey is about 4 1/2 inches

while the other two are closer to 4 inches.

Cute portrait!

Can't wait to see more Craggy Moor mini friends!

Lindsey Meadowhare

2010-07-17T06:24:00.000-07:00

Christy over at the Craggy Moor

was busy with Bitty Bunnies

for her daughters' doll house.A friend then requested a Bitty Bunny

for her Blythe.

At 4 inches, a Bitty Bunny would be just the thing!

Once I found out she made at least one
for Someone Else,
I had to ask.
Mikayla would love a Bitty Bunny!
They have a Lati Doll House
and Bitty Bunny could live with them!

So now this darling Bitty Bunny
in smokey pink overalls
is on her way to live with us.

She may turn into another "imaginary friend"

since they seem to talk more than her stuffed animals,

or be some kind of tag-along buddy.

Or maybe Lindsay Meadowhare

will tag-along with me!

Teddy Bear Tumbles

2010-07-16T12:34:00.000-07:00

June 30, 2010

Slideshow/video of this photo series:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/traveldollcompanion/4749936582/in/set-72157623096398133/

Timby Westingbear

2010-05-15T11:28:00.001-07:00

Timby Westingbear must have hopped the speedy express on Thurday,

because he arrived before noon on Saturday!

Timby is 9 inches of angora softness, lavender scent,

and huggable tummy!

Timby

2010-05-14T15:33:00.001-07:00

I admit it...

I clicked the "Buy It" button

when I saw little Timby.

He is made from:

"soft charcoal black angora cashmere blend sweater"

and is

"weighted and scented with a touch of dry lavender

to make him feel "real" and smell comforting when held and hugged."

But it really was that wistful look out the window
and his "fits in your hand" size that sold me.
What a face!!!!

Photos are property of The Cragggy Moor

since Timby is still in transit to New Mexico.

Quotes also a part of his original description,

so stop by

www.thecraggymoor.com

and see if you can resist the characters that come from the Moor!

I bet you can't!

My Craggy Clan

2010-04-26T17:50:00.001-07:00

This is my Craggy Moor Clan as of today. Mabel was my first Craggy Moor companion,

and still the matriarch of the clan.

She found Chelsea Fieldmouse to be her companion.

Mabel is a great talker, and Chelsea is a great listener!

Garen was a custom order,

based on several previous Craggy bears I had seen.

He is the constant kindergartner

who loves to laugh and tumble around.

His little sister is Ellie.

Ellie prefers dressing up in finery

and attending tea parties to rolling in the grass.

Today my Earth Day (April 22) order
hopped out of his box and into my heart.
Robert Hay Rabbit is sweet and squishy
and is a bit of a hippie.

I love the feel of velvet and wool and suede,
and having companions like nothing manufactured.
They all have the sweet aroma of lavender
and are full of personality!

Robert Rabbit

2010-04-22T16:39:00.000-07:00

Resistance is futile...

photos by www.thecraggymoor.com

Come visit our friends at the Craggy Moor;
you might just find a new friend for yourself!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/thecraggymoorstore

Garen's Wild Ride

2010-04-10T13:29:00.000-07:00

Why are you putting the sled away?

I want to go fast down the hill!!! Oh? Runners are only for snow?

What is that up there with wheels on it?

Can I use it?

It looks like it is just my size!

How do I get this thing up the hill?

Weeeee!!!!
I love riding down hill!

Here I come!

Oops!

I guess my arms aren't long enough to reach the handle

when I ride inside of it!

I can put it back up on it's wheels.

Can I do that again?

That was fun!

Good Friday

2010-04-02T04:44:00.001-07:00

Today is Good Friday!

The local public school system also calls it "Vernal Holiday",

which is a fancy way of saying my person

doesn't have to go to work because it is spring holiday. Yesterday, the winds were blowing too hard

for smaller friends to come out and play,

but I got to climb the tree that was just starting to bloom

two weeks ago.

Peek a Boo!

See the blue sky and white cherry blossoms in full bloom!

I bet there are more signs of spring now

then when I looked on the first day of spring

two weeks ago.

The First Day of Spring

2010-03-20T12:47:00.000-07:00

I looked at my Build a Bear calendar

and noticed that today is the first day of spring! It started out with some snow in the early morning hours,

that quickly melted into the grass before noon.

The cherry tree is growing buds! Soon there will be white flowers!

Rolling down a green grass hill...

Happy First Day of Spring
to my Craggy Moor kin, and friends near and far!

Ellie Arrives

2010-03-03T11:11:00.001-08:00

A new box from The Craggy Moor! It looks like Garen's Little Sister Has Arrived!

Peek a Boo!
Hello, Ellie!

Meet Ellie Bearsley

Sibling Wool Bears

Ellie and Garen

Spring and Winter?

What season is it?

My Craggy Moor Hug

Sweet Friendship Award

2010-02-28T12:14:00.001-08:00

Jen awarded us a delightful Blog Award

called Sweet Friendship!

http://baybearyscottage.blogspot.com/

Here are the award rules:

Rule #1 - Copy image to your blog (check).
Rule #2 - List 10 things that make you happy and try to do one today!
1. Using the exercises from The Avatar Course

to create what I prefer to experience and be in service to others:

(www.theavatarcourse.com)

2. Talking to friends.

3. Talking to strangers.

4. Photographing my favorite doll and bear companions.

5. Sharing photos online through blogs, Flickr, Picasa, groups, etc.

6. Writing emails, blog entries, etc.

7.Staying in touch with my Blackberry.

8. Hugging my favorite plushies.

9. Going to local recreational and historical sites.

10. Making a difference in the lives of others.

Rule #3 - Tag 10 bloggers who brighten your day.

1. The Craggy Moor

http://thecraggymoor.com/craggyblog/

2. Teddy Bear and Friends

http://teddybearandhisfriends.blogspot.com/

3. Beary My Heart

http://bearymyheart.blogspot.com/

4. Baybeary Cottage

http://baybearyscottage.blogspot.com/

5. Children of Atorox

http://childrenofatorox.blogspot.com/

6. Jen's Companion Doll

http://jenscompaniondoll.blogspot.com/

Ellie Bearsley

2010-02-28T12:01:00.001-08:00

I have been up to mischief again,

and invited another Craggy Moor resident

to come join our Craggy Moor hug in New Mexico.

Ellie is Garen's very little sister, at only 9 inches!

She is still in transit, but hope she will be here soon!

http://thecraggymoor.com/craggyblog/2010/02/16/sweet-and-friendly-ellie-bearsley/

Winter Wear Part II

2010-01-23T08:42:00.001-08:00

The weather report said it was going to snow,

so my person quickly made a hat and mittens for me,

and finished my knit scarf.

I was very excited to see flakes falling from the sky!

I waited for it to accumulate on the ground,

but then it stopped snowing

and the flakes on the ground started to disappear.

Oh no!

I grabbed my sled and headed for the biggest patch

of thin snow over the grass.

And got to slide a few feet...

right into the wet grass.

See, the snow was only in patches on the ground,

with mostly patches of grass that had gotten a little wet.

But, I borrowed a shirt and boots from a Boyds bear,
and my person finished my hat, mittens, and scarf.

I love the snowflake pattern!

Winter Wear Part I

2010-01-22T16:09:00.000-08:00

It is looking a lot like winter!

After a day of rain in the city

and snow in the mountains to the east my person returned home to find that the baby sweater

she had ordered arrived in the mail.
The baby sweater was cut to a hat shape
and sewn on the sewing machine.
She added the pom pom she made last weekend
to the tip of the hat,
and now I have my own winter hat!
I wonder if she can make the sleeves into matching mittens!

A Bear at School

2010-01-20T15:38:00.001-08:00

A third grade student saw my picture

and asked if I would come to school to meet him. So, today, I got up early and went to elementary school.

The third grade boy said,

" I thought he would be bigger."

However, he made up for the comment later

when he asked for the name of the webite

and my person showed the students more Craggy Moor photos.

My person had to go to a math training after lunch,

so I had to get busy right away.

"How many pizzas will you need to buy

if 24 hungry bears are coming to your party,

and you want to give them each 3 slices?"

" How many hundreds blocks do you need

to make a thousands cube?"
The third grade boy said "4",

and showed how to make a cube shape

out of four squares (as the outside faces).

Close, but no honey..

Before we left early, my person did "show and tell"

where she showed me and told more about me.

I shook everyone's paw

so they could feel what wool and suede feels like.

I went around again and the students got to feel my muscles

(circular disc in the joints).

She told them about sewing with patterns,

and how the different pieces had to be sewn together.

And about how a long time ago, all toys were handmade and homemade

like we are still made at The Craggy Moor.
Maybe next,

the students will be able to make their own

two sided toy or animal with felt.

Garen Arrives

2010-01-19T15:07:00.001-08:00

Mabel and Chelsea: He's here!

Our brother bear is here!Mabel: Hey, there brother bear!

Come out and play with us!

Mabel: This is Garen,

and today is his birthday!

Our Craggy Moor Family:
Chelsea, Garen and Mabel

Garen: Wow! It is so great to be home!

Is it just me, or is Mabel a little chatty?

Corrales

2010-01-17T12:08:00.000-08:00

Today after lunch, we mostly went errand running,

but we took a blogger-tunity

to take a side trip to Corrales. This is a historic house in Corrales called Casa San Ysidro.

It is now owned by the Albuquerque Museum.

You can sign up for one of their designated tour times

if you want to see the historic furnishings,

but they don't let you take pictures inside

the historically preserved rooms with museum quality collectibles.

How much fun is that for a blogging bear?

Also, no tours are offered in December or January.

You see the dust on my nose?

The first time I tried to sit on this sign,

I fell into the dirt below.

This is why everyone in our Craggy Moor Family
must be brown!
New Mexico is very dusty.

In fact, even the buildings are made of dirt!

How do people keep clean with so much dirt?

This is an outside window.
See how thick the walls are?

And they are made of dirt!

Oh, excuse me.
ADOBE,
which has straw and clay in it.
But I really don't see how it is any different
than building with dirt clods.

So I suppose it is remarkable
that the houses and churches
are so beautiful
when they are really just big dirt clods.

I was checking out places for a
Craggy Moor in New Mexico
family photo
we will take when Garen arrives.

Since we don't have a pretty ocean or bay
like our San Diego cousins,
and the Rio Grande is no more than wet mud this time of year,
I was thinking that a dirt clod...I mean historic adobe structure
might make a nice backdrop to say,
"Hello, we are in New Mexico!"

Do you think any of these places will make a good family picture?

Please excuse Mabel's sarcastic attitude today.
She had to sit in the car longer than she expected
during the "errands" part of this adventure.

http://www.cabq.gov/museum/history/casainfo.html

More Craggy Moor Photos of Garen

2010-01-16T06:19:00.001-08:00

Here are more Craggy Moor photos of Garen

before he hopped into his box for travel on Saturday.

He has reversible overalls,

with blue corduroy on one side,

and blue/green tartan on the other,

which Christy claims are the

best overalls to come out of the Moor yet!

He also received sweet hugs by the resident
6 year old
and watched "Little House on the Prairie" on TV.
I have seen pictures of Christy's home cooking,
and I'm sure there has to be more to his full tummy
than polyfil.

Garen is 13 inches tall,

made from caramel colored wool,

has suede paws,

has extra weight added to stuffing

along with a hint of lavender!

Garen was a commissioned request

after seeing Kinder, Christiana, and Sandy,

who all have a similar look to them.

He was named after a sweet little kindergarten boy

I once knew in a child care I worked at.

The real Garen is at least in his mid 20's by now,

but I remember a small, simple picture of house

he drew for me, which I kept for a very a long time.

In French, Garen means "guardian".

Garen Bearington Robert

2010-01-15T15:06:00.000-08:00

When we met Kinder,

he was even more irresistible in person

So we made a special request

for a brown, wool bear like Kinder.

Introducing Garen,

who we hope to see soon!

Photo Property of

www.thecraggymoor.com

A Mouse in Santa Fe

2010-01-03T10:43:00.000-08:00

Last Monday, Mabel was in by the bay in San Diego.

I could have gone,

but I decided to sit at home and wait for Santa Claus

while the family was away. When the opportunity came up on Saturday

to go to Santa Fe,

Mabel put on her poncho,

but then let me go instead.

Our first stop was Canyon Road.

Canyon Road is a very old, historic

narrow road in Santa Fe.

It used to be a residential street,

but now it is lined with galleries in historic buildings.

I found this charming Victorian porch

with a snow covered garden and icicles.

The wicker furniture on the porch
remembered summer days of reading,
and napping and chatting;
memories now asleep in the winter.

The sign on the white picket fence
said that visitors were welcome,
so we entered through the front gate.

Although there are some private apartments
within the building, it was a historic house.

I found more icicles dripping off trees
in the shady side of the building.
We could go no further due to the private resisdences,
but the icicles and peeling paint were secret delights!

Better than the expensive art in the art galleries!

We walked down the main hall
back towards the garden we had first seen.

We will have to return in the spring or summer!

We continued walking up Canyon Road,
looking at buildings and art sculptures...

...and signs of residential life.

We drove a short distance in the car to

the San Miguel Mission Church.

The church was established in 1610.

It was ruined in the Pueblo Revolt of 1680,

but rebuilt in 1712.

Although it is still a place of reverence,

it is also a place for tourist to learn about the history

of the church.

Up front, there are windows on the floor

showing the top steps of an early dirt stairway

and excavation of the earlier structure.

Shhhh..

I'm reflecting.

The original bell was cast in Spain in 1356.

The silver charms along the wood frame

are milagros, or tokens for miracles.

The bell, confessional, old photos and paintings,

and window covered portions of old adobe

educate visitors toward the back of the church.
There sure is a lot of history in this little church!

After we visited the church,

we walked through the Inn and Spa at Loretto.

What a scenic place!

The architecture is meant to remind people

of the Pueblos, which have boxes built on top of each other

and next to each other.

The electric bags (farolitos) still line the roof

like Southwestern Christmas lights on a building.

The Loretto Chapel

is another early Santa Fe church,

built in the mid 1800's by a group of nuns.

This is the church with the famous spiral staircase.

We did not go inside this church.

It was too busy for good pictures.

This gothic style church is now attached

through a side room to the hallways of the Inn and Spa at Loretto.

The sisters of Loretto were the first in Santa Fe to educate girls.

Their dormitory/residence used to neighbor the church.

http://www.lorettochapel.com/history.html

Santa Fe is known as "The City Different"

but the full name for the city really is

"Our City of Holy Faith".

Today, I got to see just a few historic sites and churches

that make Santa Fe a spiritual center

as well as an art and tourist destination.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/traveldollcompanion/sets/72157623124960224/

One is Never Enough....

2009-12-31T11:48:00.000-08:00

These are my Cousins Kinder, Lily the Mouse, and Betsy.

We had a great time meeting in San Diego!

I thought Kinder was wonderful

so I asked my person if we could adopt one just like him!

Pretty soon, we will have

1) 1 button jointed bear (Mabel)

2) 1 button jointed mouse (Chelsea)

3) 1 cotter pin jointed bear (Garen)

And Our Family Photo Will Be Uniquely Similar To This One!

My Craggy Moor Cousins

2009-12-29T16:00:00.001-08:00

On December 29, 2009

I had a chance to meet with some Craggy Moor Cousins

living in San Diego.

These are very special cousins

because my person saw Cousin Betsy in San Diego,

and then found me waiting for her at the Craggy Moor.

Here We Are:
Mabel, Betsy, Lily, and Kinder

at our first meeting and group photo.

We met in San Diego at a place called Seaport Village.

Seaport village is an outdoor shopping area

with different "village style" buildings for each shop.
Seaport Village is by the bay,

with an inland cove where ships dock.

We took a walk around Embarcadero Park

to see the ocean and city scapes.

This shop is in the style of a California mission,

but all of the shops are uniquely designed for an eclectic feel.

We posed with the bay and a wharf style restaurant

along the bayside sidewalk.

My San Diego Cousins:

Kinder, Lily and Betsy

The Craggy Moor Reunion

Aren't we cute?

Our people stopped and had lunch.

They talked and talked and talked!

People can be so chatty!

I must have nodded off

because soon it was time to say "good bye"

to our new San Diego friends and cousins.

I love the Coronado Bay Bridge!

What great views!

My person and I meandered through the "village"

back out to the front to meet our ride.

I can't believe I'm in San Diego!

I found a blue pond by a restaurant.

And some pretty flowers in a planter behind an old brick wall.

Flowers!

On December 28th!

Imagine that!

On the way out,

I found a pressed penny machine,

and got a pressed penny souvenir.

My person said that was all that was going to fit our bag

for the trip home!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T12:42:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas!!! Is the camera on?

Hey! Flash in my eyes....
Is this better?
We wish you a Merry Christmas....

...and a tasty one, too!

(is this house edible?)

Pretty Christmas colors and bright candies!

Done the American way...

from a kit.

NO BAKING required.

Read all directions carefully before assembly.

Make sure resident 5 year olds and trolls

do not eat the building materials.

I got a brand new doll for Christmas!

She was on top of my person's

very nicely wrapped package.

Did you have a jolly dolly holiday?

And a beary nice Christmas?

Merry Christmas!

Fun in the Sun

2009-12-25T09:03:00.000-08:00

December 23, 2009 I'm visiting this place called Sun Diego

cause there is so much sun in the sky

and the plants are always green!

I found a pretty flower out in the yard!

Is it a hi-bis-cus
Saying "hello" to me?
It sure is pink and tropcial looking!

And then I layed back on the brick
to soak in the warmth of the sun.
And that is called getting a "tan".

My person said I was quite brown and well done
enough as it was, and I didn't need to be more "tan".
So I put my poncho back on.

The juniper bush and everything around was still green, too.
I met a sea gull guarding the greenery.

And saw a spider web from the base the sea gull

perched on, to a nearby bush.

You can't see this in New Mexico,

and especially not in December!

Merry and Bright

2009-12-19T14:59:00.000-08:00

Here we are, getting ready for Christmas! I got new lemon yellow bows for my ears

to match my festive knit poncho!

Chelsea was sad when she arrived

because she realized that she had left her scarf behind!

It was quickly sent in the mail,

and now there is a smile on her face, too!

We hope all our new and old friends

have a bright and Merry Christmas!

Christmas Tree

2009-11-28T15:32:00.001-08:00

Thanksgiving has passed,

and it is time for Christmas decorations. Mabel watched me set up

the 18 inch Christmas tree.

She was fascinated by the tin bears

and tiny birds.

I set out a new candle,
and removed the ribbon from around it.
Mabel loved the ceramic tree,
and proclaimed it her holiday necklace.

Christmas is going to be a lot of fun!

Craggy Moor Friends

2009-11-25T11:04:00.000-08:00

Mabel and Chelsea at the Craggy Moor

How could I resist these faces?

Sometimes you just see someone across the room,

or across the internet,

and you know he/she is the right one for you!

Photos Property of the Craggy Moor

http://www.thecraggymoor.com/

Is someone calling to you?

Chelsea Fieldmouse

2009-11-24T15:50:00.001-08:00

Shhh....

I was sitting by the computer all by myself,

waiting for my new photo slideshow to upload on Flickr.

Then, there appeared a picture under "contacts"

of a cute little mouse!

She has a hat like I do, and she is brown,

which is a good color to be in New Mexico.

I knew right away that she would be my special friend!

When the cat was away... the bear adopted a friendly mouse!

But maybe she will be so small and quiet

that this will be overlooked!

After all, you can't have

"The Night Before Christmas"

without a mouse!

Love in a Hug

2009-11-21T09:28:00.001-08:00

Another bear arrived,

and Mabel is no longer the most recent bear

in my household. I played with, dressed,

and photographed the new bear.

And then Mabel asserted that she is special, too.

Yes, Mabel, you have not been forgotten.

She requested a photography session

to prove to her friends that she is not being left behind.

Mabel still captures my attention

for her humor and her uniqueness.

Handmade with love is special.

She smells lightly of lavender,

and I love her velvet and suede.

She feels different than plush bears,

different than manufactured bears.

She is a smaller size,

and still far more likely to be taken outside.

I look forward to making her more bows

and seasonal ponchos and shawls.

I love to hold her and touch her,

and laugh with her smile.

Does the arrival of a new bear

mean forgetting the ones you're with?

Hug of Bears: a group of teddy bears.

Have you loved your hug today?

Cover Girl

2009-11-14T15:30:00.000-08:00

Mabel loves to see her photos transformed at
www.bighugelabs.com!
You can make your photos into
mosaics, photobooth style photos,
trading cards, magazine covers, create photo frames,
and many other fun effects!
You can upload your own photos from your hard drive,
or link your Flickr account to Big Huge Labs.
You can save your creations to your hard drive,
and play with your photos for free!

Fall Leaves

2009-11-14T11:05:00.001-08:00

Yesterday, two 2nd graders on the playground
were overheard to have asked their teacher if it was still fall,
or if it was winter yet.
The wise answer was that it is "late fall".

Today's forecast is gray with a chance of rain,
and snow in the mountains.
Slightly chilly, not quite freezing in the city.

There are still fall colors to be found,
but many of them are turning ocre or brown.

This takes us to the BIG TREES.

It is apparently time for them to lose their leaves.

November is the "messy" month around here.

The grass is covered with leaves almost as thick as a snowfall

(which is about an inch or two).

And here I am in my poncho, playing in the leaves!

Hey, someone has to do it!

Late Fall Portrait

This is Gobble,
Our Thanksgiving Turkey

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

A Warm Fall Day

2009-11-01T12:46:00.001-08:00

Halloween is last night's memory,

and it is now time to move on with fall!

The sun came out bright and warm on November 1st.

Do you see my teddy bear shadow? Warm Fall Colors and Textures

I found a warm, secluded area with lots of trees!
Lots of trees meant leaves on the ground!
The rock was warm from the sun, and cozy to sit on.

Who needs a shawl when the sun has come out

golden and warm?

Remembering the Sun

for the cold nights to come.

Snow Before Halloween

2009-10-29T13:33:00.000-07:00

I thought you said when New Mexico looked like this,

we would go to the ocean and eat fish tacos.

Pumpkins on a Cold and Lazy Day

2009-10-27T12:00:00.001-07:00

Today is an "inclement" weather day in New Mexico.

That is what happens when the sun is not shining so brightly,

and there might be a few grayish clouds,

and maybe the temperature is a bit too cold;

like less than 60*F.

So today we read books and talked about pumpkins. I found this little pumpkin out on the balcony.

And the book on a little table.

Okay, technically, it was a doll sized trunk.

The book is called

Pumpkins

It has a lot of photographs, so there is no "author".

It was published in 2000 by Metrobooks

and Friedman/Fairfax Publishers.

TMI

Too Much Information

So back to looking at the book.

Pumpkins grow on farms.
They like to hang out together.
They don't like to be by themselves.
They get lonely that way.

They are magnetically attracted to straw bales
and scarecrows.
They really cannot help themselves.

You would think their favorite color is orange,
but it isn't.
Pumpkins like the red in fall leaves
and barns.

They don't like being blanketed by snow.
What?
This picture was taken in Santa Fe?
What do you mean it snows in New Mexico?!!!

I thought I signed up to move to a WARM climate!

Oh, okay.
Maybe when it looks like this in New Mexico,
we can go to the ocean and eat fish tacos.
Fish tacos?!!!!
Who makes tacos out of fish?!!!
http://www.rubios.com/

Mabel Gets a Slice of Culture in Old Town

2009-10-26T13:38:00.001-07:00

Mabel popped out of her box from Ohio,

and was ready to discover what life in New Mexico

would hold for one small, brown bear. Mabel went to the Albuquerque destination

for tourists looking for souvenirs, Mexican food,

history, and a slice of New Mexican culture.

San Felipe de Neri church was founded in 1706
as a center for establishing the growing community
as a legally recognized Spanish town,
and as community that could draw new residents from afar.

Mabel discovered agave and prickly pear cactus

growing in front of San Felipe de Neri.

Once she looked beyond the church,

Mabel saw the plaza.

Spanish communities were built around a square plaza.

A gazebo is used for entertainment in the plaza.

Mabel wandered around the shops surrounding the square.

Wow! Chile Ristras!

Little chiles were strung together like a wall hanging!

A place called the Covered Wagon had real wagon wheels outside!

An art gallery had a bigger than life sized katchina out front!

What is in this shop?

Mexican sombreros in doll and bear size!

Restored cannons are a part of the history of Albuquerque.

Where is the sign that tells the story?!!!

As Mabel crossed the street, she saw a tourist

who had to wait in the car. Hmmm...

More ristras and bright blue...

The Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday

celebrated in early November.

Skulls and skeletons make fun of life and death

as way of accepting that death is a part of life.

Departed loved ones are remembered with reverence.

Art is meant to reflect humor, not to be scary or gruesome.

Toy Store in a Little Plaza Nook

Mabel found some fall fun for a little bear.

Mabel Arrives!

2009-10-26T11:23:00.001-07:00

I ordered Mabel late on Friday.

She was shipped first thing Saturday morning,

and now, here she is on Monday before noon! I checked our mailroom

about the time the mail carrier has been arriving.

He drove right up just as I passed him in my car,

so around I swooped, and announced

"I have a package. It was tracked as being delivered today."

He checked the box with the packages, and out came my box from Ohio!

I finished running my errands,

as Mabel waited and waited in her box.

Once at home, out she popped!

She immediately wanted to greet her family in Ohio

to let them know she arrived safely!

And posed for a few photos to show her new friends

that she is in her new home and ready for fall!

Bear With Me

2009-10-24T07:35:00.000-07:00

Mabel was shipped today from Ohio.

I'm sure she is quite snuggly,

and excited about coming to New Mexico.

This is another photo by Christy,

since I will have to wait a few more days for Mabel

to arrive in New Mexico.

I'm glad she will still have some time to enjoy fall.

It isn't too late for photos with pumpkins and fallen leaves.

Shall I crochet her a shawl for the weather that is cooling down?

Does she want girly things,

like ribbons on black elatic to wrap around her ears?

Will she collect hats? Or bees on buttons and beads?

Do I need to find a honey pot?

Or will she be sweet enough without it?

Introducing Mabel Bearingsley

2009-10-23T14:39:00.000-07:00

This is Mabel Bearingsley.

As far as I can tell, her birthday is September 17, 2009.

These photos are by Christy, Mabel's maker,

and The Craggy Moor business owner,

along with her supportive husband, Rob.

This is Christy's Blog about Mabel in the days before I knew about her:

http://thecraggymoor.com/craggyblog/2009/09/17/mabel-bearington-is-a-very-sweet-bear/

Browsing Flickr photos,

I came across photos of her cousin, Betsy, who is now happily residing in San Diego.

http://teddybearandhisfriends.blogspot.com/2009/10/from-ohio-to-san-diego.html

I followed the links like a trail, and found Mabel sitting so joyfully on Etsy.

Her brown color was perfect for a companion bear

living in New Mexico, with dust and adobe.

She doesn't seem like she'd mind sitting on an adobe wall for a photograph.

Her name reminded me of Mabel Dodge Luhan,

who was the wealthy, eccentric patron of the arts

in Taos, NM from her arrival around 1919 until her death in 1964.

http://www.mabeldodgeluhan.com/

So here is another Mabel, coming home to New Mexico.

http://thecraggymoor.com/craggyblog/2009/10/23/mabel-blog/

The Craggy Moor website

http://www.thecraggymoor.com/

The Craggy Moor Etsy Store

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6911170

On the Moor: The Craggy Moor Blog

http://thecraggymoor.com/craggyblog/