Pumpkins, Pumpkins

I love Autumn and Halloween. For the past two weeks I have been crocheting pumpkins out of left over yarn.

Maudlynne helped me arrange them into a cute Fall display. I think they turned out well.

What is your favorite part of Halloween. 

International Take Your Teddy Bear to Work or School Day

Today is International Take Your Teddy Bear to Work or School Day!

Since school is closed today in my town in honor of Yom Kippur, I decided to share one of my teddy bears with all of you instead.

My first teddy bear was a large pink and white teddy bear filled with sawdust. The kind that may have been a carnival prize. It was a gift to me when I was born. It was way too big to play with much, over two feet, so I didn't get too attached to it.

My second teddy bear was Pot Belly Bear by Daekor. I had first seen this bear at a local store when I was 8 years old. I was obsessed with it. Every time I walked through the toy section I would stop in front of him and memorize everything about him and read the tag and packaging over and over. Luckily my mother had noticed my not so subtle behavior and he was my Christmas present this year.

Over the years (about 40 of them), he was much loved, hugged, and squished by me (and tortured by my younger brother), until I re-stuffed him as well as I could and restitched his worn and torn spots when I was in my early 20s. At that point, due to his fragile state, I retired him from cuddle duty. Instead of comforting me through the night, he became the elder statesman of the other stuffed animals.

Over the years, other Teddy Bears have entered my home and collection, but none of them hold my heart as much as Pot Belly Bear does.

Do you have a special Teddy Bear?

Jakks Pacific Toddler Batgirl

Another doll I purchased from Toys R Us when it was closing is Jakks Pacific's DC Superhero Girls Toddler Batgirl.

15 inches of super heroic adorableness with curls.

Barbara Gordon/Batgirl/Oracle is one of my favorite characters that came from the pages of Batman comics. And seeing her in this form just makes me go "Squeeeeee!" She is too cute.

Her helmet/mask/faceplate has an elastic band to hold it in place, but the factory also put in four, very hard to remove plastic pieces. After much grumbling and light scratching of the vinyl, I finally got them out.

A downside of Batgirl not being removed from her box until now, is that he black tutu had stuck to her pants in the back. I had to gently separate them.

Her hair is matted, from her captivity, but I am sure I can fluff it up.

She is just a smidge shorter than My Friend Mikey who said he would gladly play Bruce Wayne for her.

With 5 points of articulation, she feels like a very sturdy play doll and she can stand on her own, which is always a bonus.

I guess today could be called a superhero Saturday.