Teddy Bear Times Magazine Issue 275 Back Issue

It is early March as I am writing this and where I live we have just enjoyed the first consecutive few days of sunshine for what feels like months! Spring has definitely arrived, with new plants coming through the soil and birds flitting around the trees and hedgerows. March was once seen as the start of a new year, which makes a lot of sense to me. It was traditionally a time, long before central heating and electricity, when the days became warm enough to be able to open doors and windows for a while. Rugs and wall coverings could be taken outside to be shaken or beaten clean, chimneys swept and floors washed more thoroughly.
Are you a fan of Spring cleaning? These days we see it more as a reason to have a good sort out of the stuff we have gathered around us over the past 12 months, throwing away what is not repairable and recycling unwanted items via thrift/charity shops, yard sales or online stores. It can be quite therapeutic to organize clutter but personally, I always manage to tidy something away that I then need but can’t find. Honestly, I don’t know how I do it but it happens all the time!
Something we never lose sight of are our bears and critters. It doesn’t seem right to pack those away - it would be like putting our best friend in a suitcase for a few months. Un-bear-able! It is often when we might think of adding a bear or two to our hug though, as the season of bear fairs gets into full swing. I hope you will be inspired by the bears and critters inside this issue and maybe find an artist bear, vintage bruin or charity shop plushie that pulls your heart strings enough that you welcome them to your home. I would love to hear about them!