Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Of Stuffed Animals, Lamps and Cats

I know my last post made it sound as if I had no romance in my soul at all. But that isn’t really true. I’m a loving sort of person, who enjoys giving gifts and also receiving them. To emphasize this point, I am going to show you what I really enjoy getting for Valentine’s Day.

Ever since my son was young, he has given me stuffed animals for VD and Birthdays. They were usually things he picked up on road trips or won out of a claw machine. Being the momma, I, of course, kept every single one of them. The tradition has carried on for over 20 years.

Since meeting HWDDD, he has joined in the practice and has been faithfully giving me cute stuffed critters for a couple of years now. They are much cheaper than Black Hills Gold Jewelry, which I never wear, and they don’t make the cats puke, like flowers do.

Behold my collection of miniature stuffed animals, not to be confused with my collection of medium or large stuffed animals.

Another thing I enjoy buying or receiving are lamps. I’m not sure when this particular affliction manifested itself; I just know that I get a lot of pleasure collecting them. The picture below is of one that my son gave me. It wasn’t expensive; you see them every day at Target, but I like it and I especially like the way it looks in the corner by my computer desk. There’s just something about the play of light and shadow in this shot that I really like.

The final obsession I seem to have is for collecting…you guessed it...cats. I think in this case, a picture is worth a thousand words.

And that my friends, is what I enjoy receiving for Valentine’s Day. I didn’t get another lamp (HWDDD says we have no more corners to put them in) nor another cat (he thinks we've met our quota), but I did receive a very nice new stuffed miniature teddy bear.

32 comments:

KC said...

You are so loved. so loved.

Anvilcloud said...

I, for one, never doubted you.

Mary said...

How many cats would you like to have? Just curious. I had three cats at once long ago and I remember wanting more.

Stuffed animals, cats, and lamps.

All of these things light you up, right?

KGMom said...

Love the all the cats on the bed shot. Right now I would settle for just one photo of my TWO cats in the same place. The older cat says--don't even think it. The younger cat says--let's play. And so the cat conversation goes.
I agree--one can never have too many cats or too many lamps.

dmmgmfm said...

KC, I am pretty fortunate, thanks.

AC, I'm glad you have faith in me.

Mary, I would like a couple more and maybe a dog or two, if the cats didn't mind. But then again, it would be hard to give them all the love and attention they deserve, so maybe I shouldn't be so greedy.

dmmgmfm said...

Kgmom, it is really cold here, with high winds and blowing snow. Mine seem to want to snuggle together a lot more right now.

Joe Jubinville said...

Our cats used to huddle under lamps even in the summer. It's never hot enough for cats.

LittlePea said...

Except for the cat collection-and that's only because we live in a small condo--we have so much in common! You have more stuffed animals than I do thoug but I have that same lamp-2 of them. yay for tarjay!

dmmgmfm said...

Joe, our thermostat wasn't working right this morning. It was -20 outside and about 55 inside. The furkids were not pleased.

Littlepea, I have two of them also! I imagine that by the time you are my age, you'll have as many stuffed animals as I do.

Anonymous said...

Very nice - I love stuffed animals, lamps and kitties, too! Glad to see you had a great day!
And by the way, I don't like to receive flowers either so I didn't think you were unromantic at all!
How did you do the borders on your photos - I like them, especially the one with your kitties.

jnuts said...

Tell me how many cats you want to add to your collection, and I'll see to it that you get them. Lord knows I have a few to spare.

Pam said...

I have only one cat but she lights up my life...she's a Siamese and very sweet.
You have almost as many stuffed animals as my granddaughter, Sarah.

I answered your presentation question on your last post.

Pam said...

I'm back. I just read your comment and question on today's post. I'm happy to have you use it for whatever you want, you felt what I was expressing and that means a lot.

dmmgmfm said...

Naturewoman, I use Adobe Elements 5.0. I am just starting to figure it out, so I was having some fun.

Jock, I would be all for that, but HWDDD thinks we are already over-catted. But thanks so much for the offer!

Pam, thank you so much. I am very excited about the banquet and presentation. Your artwork is just what I needed to put the finishing touches on it.

Unknown said...

That's quite a collection of animals, stuffed and otherwise. I really like the standing lamp: your son has excellent taste.

Blessings to you Laurie!!!!!

thailandchani said...

Love the stuffed critter collection. Mine is rather prodigious, too. For a hard-hearted pragmatist like me, it's rather amazing but I'm crazy about the dang things. :)


Peace,

~chani

dmmgmfm said...

Nick, my son does have good taste. He's a very thoughtful gift-giver.

Chani, thank you for sharing that. I have always loved stuffed animals, the softer the better. I was out shopping yesterday and almost came home with a huge, really soft, stuffed caterpillar. There was only one left though, so I decided not to buy it. I didn't want to deprive a small child of such a fine gift.

Anonymous said...

I can see shelves along all the walls someday holding your collection. Way to go! Glad your day was great.

Carol said...

Your collection of stuffed things is lovely. I agree with you about the lamp - I have a couple of lamps I made from leadlight. If I can work out how to get pictures from the camera into my computer I will show you. I am envious of the cats. I love cats but made the choice not to have another when my old cat,Eric, died a few years ago. Here in the bush where I live it is way too harmful to have cats. I have two families of quails which roam the gardens around the house - too tempting for cats.

Incidentally, I was gifted two beanie babies and a Mountie teddy bear that I have no use for. I was going to donate them to an op shop, but if you would like them I would love to send them to you. They are too precious to throw away and I'd really be happy to know that they went to someone who loves them. Let me know.

Carol

dmmgmfm said...

Bonita, thank you. I have many, many more at my dad's house. I can never get rid of them, they are too precious.

Carol, that is so sweet. I would absolutely love to have your items if you are certain you don't want to keep them. I would treasure them for as long as I live.

I completely understand if you decide to keep them, so please don't feel you have to send them just because you've made the offer.

Thank you so much for thinking of me!! I tried to email this and my address to you, but it didn't go through. So if you decide to send them, let me know and I'll send you my address.

Ur-spo said...

it is soo nice to see you and read you again
i want to thank you for all the comments and support as of late; they helped.
I hope you are using all those lamps, cats, and stuffies to KEEP WARM.
Send some cold my way; I am sick sick sick of heat.

dmmgmfm said...

Ur-spo, you have no idea how relieved I was to see your post today. I am glad that you are feeling better.

This morning I would have been glad to send all of our cold weather your direction. It was -15 and probably -30 with wind chill. Typical of Montana weather, it is probably 40 above right now.

I hope it cools down some for you there and that you continue to get well! You were missed!

Carol said...

Yes, Laurie, I would love to give them to you. Send me your address!

WithinWithout said...

Those cats would look kinda nice stuffed and so arranged on your bed, wouldn't they?

JUST KIDDING! Meow. Purr.

So, you mean the cats would have first say on whether you got a dog or two? Dogdom forever, I say.

Those stuffed animals...how many do you figger you've got?

dmmgmfm said...

WW, I'm going to ignore your stuffed cat comment because I know in your heart of hearts, you covet my cats.

And of course my cats have final say over whether we get a dog or not. We're outnumbered...

As for the stuffed critters, between the ones at my dad's and the ones here, probably a hundred or more. I have always loved stuffies.

Cuppa said...

So many nice things to "brighten" your day.

Assorted animals look comfy under the lamp and on the bed. Do they ever switch places?

dmmgmfm said...

Cuppa, I think they do at night while I'm sleeping. :-)

Cathy said...

Dang! That comment from Cuppa is so cute - wish I'd thought of it. I've still got my son's 35 year old teddy bear - what is it about stuffed critters that captures our hearts?

LauraHinNJ said...

Cute stuffies! I tend to have favorites, but just for a while until a new one comes along.

dmmgmfm said...

Kathy, it was a great comment, wasn't it? I have two bears that my mom had when she was little. They have moveable joints and hand stitched eyes. They are really neat.

Laura, I love them all, but am especially fond of the really soft ones.

Dave said...

Your son's gifts reminded me of my Mother's Christmas tradition. Each year until she died, I got a "toy." It started when I was a kid. Then the "toy" wasn't really a toy. I got those. The toy was a stocking stuffer, a puzzle or a little cardboard and plastic game where you had to put a BB into a hole in the cardboard.

As an adult I got the requisite shirt, sweater, etc. But I also got a stocking filled with walnuts, an orange, some chocolate, a few candy canes and my toy. Hate walnuts, but loved my toys.

dmmgmfm said...

Dave, she sounds like a wonderful woman.