Discovering Bears

Over the years, I have made a number of fully jointed mohair teddy bears. I have made over 30 bears ranging in size from four inches to 24 inches in every color and every style of fur. They are not play bears because they have glass eyes and metal and wooden joint hardware. Ken made me a bookcase, pictured above, where I display part of the bears while others are stored in containers on the second floor. I rotate the display bears and sometimes decorate the bookcase for holidays and seasons.

Rudy has never bothered the bears even thought I always displayed the bears on every shelf, even the one right on the floor. When I got Emme, I was not as confident that she would leave the bears alone. They look a lot like some of her lovies and I was not sure she would understand the difference between hers and mine. So I moved all the bears up to the higher shelves and put plants or other items on the bottom shelf. Recently, I moved furniture in the family room and put a chair right next to the bear book case. Last night, I found Emme up on the seat of the chair investigating the bears on the upper shelves. I told her to "Leave it" and she did. I hope she forgets all about the bears.