The Weather Outside is Frightful…

Coming into the winter months the subject around protecting your dogs from the cold is always a hot topic. Not every breed is meant to withstand cold weather. 

Now for my house dog I find that Muttlucks Fleece Lined dog boots, Paw Wax (Pawmagic and Fou-Stick Protect are the ones I have used) and a lined Canada Pooch coat work best. We get -15 and colder days often during winters. 

Now if you have an outdoor dog don’t forget to check that their water is not frozen. 

There are so many options nowadays for your furry companions. For some dogs you may find rubber soled boots work better than leather soles. 

Where I am in Northern ON I don’t need to worry about salt so much but when I did I used Muttluks and wax on all the dogs. Boots help keep salt, snow build up and ice away from the pads of the paws. It also helps keep the bitter cold from effecting their paws.

Snow and ice can increase your dogs risk of frostbite and drying out their pads leading to cracked or chapped paws. Believe me this is not a fun thing to treat in Canadian winter months. 

Now putting boots on for the first time may seem like a daunting task and they may very well hate them, but most dogs will adjust. Make it fun add treats or toys. 

I found my dogs tolerated putting on the boots once they were outside they would walk normally. They are used to lots of touching on their paws. 

It is best to wipe down your dog after every outing to get rid of any salt, dirt, water, ice and snow build up. I check my dogs paws a lot for any cuts and scrapes. 

You may hear this a lot but for indoor dogs if it is too cold for you then it is probably to cold for your pet. Keep your outings short and sweet when the temperatures fall below your dogs threshold for cold. 

When purchasing booties for your dog be sure to follow the manufacturers measurement guidelines so you get the proper size. Well fitted boots will stay in place. 

This year is the first year I will be using Mushers Secret Pet Paw Protection Wax and I am so excited. 

As your companion ages you may find you need to adjust your winter prevention methods to suit your pet. 

Disclaimer: 

The statements made in this article are purely my own opinions and from my own experiences. 

The Story Of Blue Willow

Two pigeons flying high,
Chinese vessel in the sky,
Weeping willow hanging o'er,
Bridge with three men if not four,
Chinese temple here it stands,
Seems to cover all the land,
Apple tree with apples on,
A pretty fence to end my song.

(Author unknown)
The famous Blue Willow Pattern.

The Story of Blue Willow

Almost everyone is familiar with the popular pattern depicted above. It has been produced by many companies, for many years. But what is the story behind the pattern? While leafing through an old encyclopedia, 1927 edition, came across this beautiful yet tragic “Story of the Willow Pattern Plate”. I am going to share it with you now.

A beautiful Chinese girl named Koon-Shee fell in love with her father’s secretary Chang, who was a poor man. The father of Koon-Shee wanted her to marry a rich man, and because she would not give up Chang, her father sent her away to a little house at the end of the garden.

Outside Koon-Shee’s window was a willow tree, and just beyond a fruit tree, and Koong-Shee sat all day watching it bloom. She was very lonely and unhappy until one day Chang wrote and asked her to flee with him. Chang dared not post the letter lest it should fall into the hands of Koong-Shee’s father. He found a coconut shell, fixed a sail to it, and putting his letter inside the shell, dropped it into the lake, and watched it sail across to where Koong-Shee was watching.

Koong-Shee read the letter and sent her answer back. She said she would go if her lover was brave enough to come and fetch her.

Chang went boldly up to the house and took her away. They had to cross the bridge to get out of the garden, and when they were half way across Koon-Shee’s father saw them, and hurried after them. Koon-Shee went first, followed by her servant and Chang followed carrying her jewel box, and behind them ran the father carrying a whip. But the father did not catch them, and they escaped to a little house on the other side of the lake where they lived happily for some time.

Unfortunately this story has a tragic ending. The wealthy man who wanted to marry Koong-Shee was so angry that he set fire to the pretty little house and the lovers were killed.

Now have a closer look at the famous pattern. Do you see the tragic story of Koong-Shee and Chang?

Here’s a newer version of Blue Willow by American Atelier that was recently available in our eBay store. 











We often offer both vintage and contemporary pieces in this popular pattern for sale.  Click here to browse through our eBay store.  

	


	











	

		
Greg Norman, Golfer
	


	
			

				
			


		
	

		
With the Canadian Open being held at Oakville’s Glen Abbey Golf Course this year yet again, I thought I would take the opportunity to show off this wonderful print.


nicklaus


Greg Norman, Limited Edition print by William Van Zandt, 1987. Number 73/349. Matted and framed. Measures 15″ x 18″.  Available at gypsywindcollectibles 





	


	





	

		
Rare Noma Effanbee Talking Doll With Phonograph
	


	
			

				
			


		
	

		
IMG_4041After winning this lovely old doll at an auction recently I decided to do some research and found that she is quite rare.


Introduced in December 1950, she was produced until 1953 at a time when Effanbee was owned by Noma.  This model was quite expensive at the time, $24.00, or the equivalent of a weeks pay for an average family.


She measures 28″ tall and has a hard plastic head with molded hair.  They were also produced with synthetic hair.  Arms and legs are vinyl and have become darker and discolored over time.  Her cloth body holds a pink plastic box which houses a tiny phonograph with metal needle and plays a 3 1/2″, 78rpm record with about 47 seconds of speech.  She sings and talks.  Most dolls found do not have operational phonographs, but to our delight when we replaced the 2 “D” size batteries she began to sing London Bridge.  She does stutter a bit here and there, but with a good cleaning you never know – we will leave detailed cleaning to the new owners


Clothing is not original, but I did manage to find photos online of her original pink dress and bonnet, as well as her original box.


We are going to give her a quick cleaning and will be available for sale soon.


If you would like to see and hear her sing click on the link to visit Gypsy Wind Collectibles and click on videos. 







	


	





	

		
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN – WINNIE-THE-POOH
	


	
			

				
			


		
	

		
While on our yearly vacation through North-Western Ontario we decided to stop for the night in the small town of White River, which is located at the junction of Highways 17 and 631, mid-way between Sault St. Marie and Thunder Bay.  We had stopped there before and I was always intrigued by the twenty-five foot Winnie-the-Pooh statue on the south side of the Trans-Canada Highway.   Our previous visits had always been rushed, but this time I decided to investigate.  We have several Winnie-the-Pooh collectors who visit Gypsy Wind Collectibles, Antiques & Vintage in Mississauga and I wanted some great photos to bring back.


Twenty-five foot statue in White River, Ontario, Canada


I visited the White River Heritage Museum which is located in the old railway station just behind the statue, and found that besides the railway and artifact displays, it houses the “Lisa Yee Winnie-the-Pooh Collection”.  This is the largest collection of Pooh items that I have seen.  I picked up a brochure and found that White River, therefore Canada, had quite an influence on the creation of Winnie-the-Pooh.  Here is the story as found on the museum’s brochure –


“On August 24, 1914, a tiny female Canadian Black bear-cub was brought by a local trapper, to the Canadian Pacific Railway Train Station in White River, Ontario…On this eventful day a troop train bound for Val Cartier, Quebec stopped at the C.P.R. station.  A young officer, Lieutenant Harry Colebourn, a Canadian Army veterinarian attached to the 34th Fort Garry Horse Regiment from Winnipeg, Manitoba was one of the soldiers who got off the train at the CPR Station Platform.  He noticed the very young bear cub and purchased it from the trapper for $20.00.


Lieutenant Harry Colebourn…named the tiny black bear-cub “Winnipeg” after his hometown, and later shortened her name to “Winnie”.  The bear cub became the mascot of the 34th Fort Garry Horse Regiment and accompanied them overseas to England.  When Captain Colebourn received orders to go to the front lines in France he left “Winnie” in the care of the London Zoo.


While at the London Zoo “Winnie”, who was an exceptional and gentle bear, became the feature attraction, captivating  many, especially Christopher Robin Milne, son of the author A.A. Milne.  Inspired by this charming bear and his son’s fascination, A.A. Milne wrote the stories of “Winnie-the-Pooh”.”


When I returned to the motel where we were spending the night I found the owner had her own collection of Winnie-the-Pooh memorabilia and she graciously allowed me to take some photos.




White River holds Winnie’s Hometown Festival every year on the third weekend of August…looking forward to the parade and fireworks!