News on the Tiger and Memory Cat Fronts

Hello once more Everyone!
Here's this week's bulletin from your Friend, Cy Bear - with good news on the escaping dog front (eventually).  She led the searchers a merry dance, but was finally persuaded into a trap set by the terrific team on Thursday morning this week.  She was nearly persuaded earlier in the week, but was scared away from the area she had chosen to "settle" by the early morning Waste Bin Collectors on Tuesday morning. In the end, she moved her area of operations - not too far away - and found some friendly dogs to play with on a small-holding located in a countrified bit of  Kirkby in Ashfield.  Here is Molly - on the run - but nearby where she found some friends to play with shortly after this was taken.

11+ days on the run beginning to take its toll

Clare - who was on site as much as possible compatible with getting her young son back to school after the Covid19 Lockdown, as well as it being the start of a new school year - watched how Molly (the dog's name) began to relax her guard (shortly after this photo above was taken), and was then guided by her doggy friends (and owner) towards what WILL BE a much safer existence than she has had so far in her life.  Arriving back at just after midnight on Wednesday/Thursday morning she's been largely sleeping off nearly 12 days on the run. 

Now begins the long job of getting her settled into the family - at her pace, not ours.

Meanwhile, life on the Coldham Cuddlies front has been moving forward steadily.  The latest Tiger Who Lost His Stripes order will hopefully be ready for posting tomorrow/Tuesday. 

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/650644825

 Isobel wants to send it tomorrow (Monday), but may not be able to do so because the Cavity Wall Insulation applied to all the buildings at Old Chapel Close recently needs to be inspected by those in charge of such things.  They're due to be calling in on Isobel between mid-day and 1500 hours.  She's hoping the Tiger will be finished by bedtime tonight - so she can post it tomorrow morning, while returning some unwanted goods - ordered recently from some people called Amazon.com.  (I don't know them from Adam, of course, being a Beaver Lamb Bear - but they do seem to be around a lot hereabouts these days!).  She's discovered she can hand the goods in at one of the Supermarkets where she gets her shopping done, and is going to try the system for herself in the morning - or as soon as she can afterwards.
Now an update on the Smith Memory Cat Project I mentioned a few weeks ago - in our post on 16th August, 2020. 

This one needs a Nose/Mouth Job, as well as his Tail being attached

Work on the Smith Memory Cat Project has moved ahead steadily.  Two are now nearly fully complete:  and the rest are in pieces. These now need to be assembled, stuffed and put in place.  Cat No.1 has had her ears changed, but now needs to have her tail added in the appropriate spot on the back of her skirt.  She now has dark blue sash around her middle (not yet stitched in placed), and will have a white collar (suitably embroidered with some of the colours her outfit is made with).

Waiting for her Tail and a Collar around her neck

The Snoopy Dog patch was carefully extracted from the shirt it was originally sewn on, and has been successfully added to the "shirt" made for Cat No. 2 (see below).  That Cat - a gentleman Cat this time -  also now has a Coat - lined with the Smith Family's "Lucky Ducky" fabric that came with the two original shirts.  This was also used to provide the decoration round Cat No. 1's green skirt.  There is still some sewing needed to neaten seams, and add buttons/button holes before that bit of clothing is complete, but we are getting there. (Ms VS has seen where we've got to - and is happy with what is coming along).  

Still requires the addition of buttons/holes and a head/neck and tail before he's complete

We'll be back again, hopefully, next week - possibly with the Smith Memory Cat Project down to it's last few pieces.  It's taken a bit longer than Isobel intended, but she didn't want to waste too much of the fabric by doing things too quickly.  There is a lot less material for her to play with on this project than she normally has to hand when making the usual Coldham Cuddlies toys!
See you all again soon
Your Friend,
Cy Bear.

Hello there Everyone from Your Friend, Cy Bear
Today's blog is going to be a shorter one than normal - really a "holding" one.  Because a lot of things have happened, but results are "on hold" waiting for their final outcomes.
The main thing is not strictly a Coldham Cuddlies matter, but an "Isobel's Family" matter - in which she has been doing as much as she can.  A rescue dog - called Molly - who arrived at daughter Clare's home last week-end, bolted on Tuesday, and has been on the run ever since.  There's a group of professionals on the case, but Isobel has been tasked with looking out for the missing dog here at Old Chapel Close - if she should evade the team closing in on her - because she did spend time in the gardens where Isobel and I live, and she may recognise some of it were she to come back.  However, Isobel's  main role has been to supply the items needed to lay a scent trail in the hope that the animal will follow it back to Clare's home up the road and (three doors away from our flat).  The ingredients are a mix of tinned Sardines in Oil and Hot Dog Sausages (Frankfurters) - apparently irisistible in such circumstances.  She's not far from home - but is a determined (but very frightened)  escapologist.  Fingers crossed that she's caught soon, and life can return to somewhat more normal.  Can't think why the "runner" seems to prefer being loose, rather than inside in a warm home:  the weather this week while she's been out has been simply awful - and it's turned a lot colder too.
We're still waiting for an answer from Etsy.com as to what happens now in the case of our Black Squirrel Order:  with over 66 million shops online, and many complaints/questions to answer, understandably it will take some time.  The Support Desk has acknowledged Isobel's approach, however, so we are "in the system"!

Crab Apple Butter ready for the Store Cupboard.  These were the larger jam jars used. 

Before I finish, though, there has been a successful outcome on the Crab Apple Butter story! 8 jars (of varying sizes) were made with the fruit picked for Isobel a couple of weeks ago, and she's already tasted from the bits that didn't fit into a bottle that could be sealed - for keeping! (Definitely acceptable apparently!)  One, smaller - in case it wasn't really what the person liked - jar was reserved for the young gardener who picked the fruit from the tree for Isobel.  He appeared to be pleasantly surprised to get it, even though he'd been told he would!  The Gardening Team visit Old Chapel Close every two weeks between March and October, so we'll find out how the Butter went down next time they are here!
That's it Folks.  I'll be back again next week - just wonder what will happen next?  Hopefully, the Wanderer will have safely returned by then.
Stay Safe Everyone!  
Your FriendCy Bear.