Stuffed Animals and Ear Holes . . .

 

it all began

with this little bear

he is a

Steiff

 

 

for the past few weeks

I have been going through

upstairs, downstairs, attic, all around the house

sorting, keeping, tossing

 

 

I have been collecting

children's toys, stuffed animals, books

and many other collectibles for the past

many, many years

 

 

maybe it was the teacher in me

maybe it was my parents

who were caretakers of old, precious, treasured

 

 

maybe it is just me

maybe it is just time

 

the oldest 'grand' will be twenty three

the youngest just turned fifteen

 

match box cars

lincoln logs

dolls, stuffed animals and more

 

plus my children's treasures

needed some sorting out

 

 

 

 

 

when my suzie was a young girl

her uncle phelps

began a steiff animal collection for her

 

 

 

 

 

 

in suzie's bedroom she had a shelf

which ran around her room

where she kept her collectibles

dolls, stuffed animals, favorite things

 

 

it might be difficult to see

but in the ear of a steiff animal

there is a small gold, silver button

 

if you know of this collectible

this marked the authenticity of a

Steiff Stuffed Teddy Bear or Animal

 

in this ear

there is a hole

where the original button once was

 

suzie didn't like the buttons

and she removed all of them

as well as any tags or identifying labels

 

the value of something

belongs with the owner

 

these animals sat at many a tea party

they were held, loved, caressed

they were talked to

and secrets were shared

 

 

this is a teddy bear

I purchased

years after suzie received her animals

 

buttons in the ears

labels and tags in place

I can't believe I purchased

this teddy for this price

 

 

Suzie's Steiff Animals

 are the most valuable

 

 

 

always for her

and for me

 ~