Guess who had a birthday this week?
Yes, the 6″ tan teddy bear who frequents this blog turned 26 on Wednesday. Back in September 1988, he winked at me from a booth at the Fall Teddy Bear Show in Timonium, Maryland.
He promised to be good so I brought him home. Mr. Cornelius turned out to be an avid reader and a good baker but has quite the knack for mischief. You may have noticed that he loves to have his picture taken (he’s not happy unless he has at least one blog close-up every week). I must say he keeps me very busy answering all his fan mail. 🙂
Just for Poetry Friday, he selected three favorite poems from Bears∙Bears∙Bears: A Treasury of Stories, Songs and Poems About Bears compiled by Mary Pope Osborne (Parachute Press, 1990). He had fun finding just the right vintage photos to go with them.
And just to make sure you don’t go hungry, he’s whipped up a batch of Lemon-Glazed Tea Cookies from Winnie-the-Pooh’s Cookie Book. Wrap your lips around a few while you enjoy the poems. 🙂
* * *
MY TEDDY BEAR
by Marchette Chute
A teddy bear is a faithful friend.
You can pick him up at either end.
His fur is the color of breakfast toast,
And he’s always there when you need him most.
* * *
from ADVENTURES OF ISABEL
by Ogden Nash
Isabel met an enormous bear,
Isabel, Isabel, didn’t care;
The bear was hungry, the bear was ravenous,
The bear’s big mouth was cruel and cavernous.
The bear said, Isabel, glad to meet you,
How do, Isabel, now I’ll eat you!
Isabel, Isabel, didn’t worry,
Isabel didn’t scream or scurry.
She washed her hands and she straightened her hair up,
Then Isabel quietly ate the bear up.
* * *
FURRY BEAR
by A. A. Milne
If I were a bear,
And a big bear too,
I shouldn’t much care
If it froze or snew;
I shouldn’t much mind
If it snowed or friz —
I’d be all fur-lined
With a coat like his!
For I’d have fur boots and a brown fur wrap,
and brown fur knickers and a big fur cap.
I’d have a fur muffle-ruff to cover my jaws,
And brown fur mittens on my big brown paws.
With a big brown furry-down up to my head,
I’d sleep all the winter in a big fur bed.
* * *
🐻 MMMMM, COOKIES! 🐻
In case you haven’t seen this sweet little book, it contains almost 50 cookie recipes grouped into sections like “Anytime Cookies,” “Honey-Pot Cookies,” and “Holiday Cookies and Icings.”
Mr. Cornelius found Lemon-Glazed Tea Cookies under “Cookies for Company,” remarking that YOU are his favorite company. 🙂
He earnestly squeezed lemons, measured milk, beat butter and sugar, cracked an egg, even sifted flour, baking powder, and baking soda without making too much of a mess. His favorite part was applying the lemon juice/sugar glaze because he got to use a special brush.
If you like buttery cakey cookies with a fresh lemon flavor, these are for you. Mind you don’t eat too many or you’ll get stuck in the doorway when you visit Rabbit.
🔷 LEMON-GLAZED TEA COOKIES 🔷
makes 3 dozen
Cookies
- 1/3 cup milk
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1/2 cup softened butter (1 stick)
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1-3/4 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
Glaze
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
Stir 2 teaspoons of milk into lemon juice. Set aside.
Beat butter and sugar together until fluffy. Add egg, lemon juice-milk mixture, and remaining milk, and mix well.
In another bowl, sift flour, baking powder, and baking soda together, and slowly add to butter mixture. Stir in lemon zest.
Drop by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheets and bake at 350 degrees F for 10 to 12 minutes. Edges should be lightly brown.
Mix lemon juice and sugar for glaze. Allow cookies to cool, then brush with lemon-sugar glaze mixture.
~ Adapted from Winnie-the-Pooh’s Cookie Book, inspired by A.A. Milne, with decorations by Ernest H. Shepard (Dutton, 1996).
* * *
The lovely and talented Amy Ludwig VanDerwater is hosting the Roundup at The Poem Farm. Take her some tea and cookies and enjoy the full menu of poetic goodness being served up in the blogosphere this week. Do keep an eye out, in case a little bear winks at you. 😉
* * *
This post is also being linked to Beth Fish Read’s Weekend Cooking, where all are invited to share their food-related posts (recipes, book reviews, photos, musings, etc.). Bon Appetit!
—————————————-
Copyright © 2014 Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup. All rights reserved.
Happy Birthday, Cornelius! The girl dancing with her bear and the poem that follows it — what a perfect match-up! 🙂 (I own that cookbook, btw.)
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That little cookbook is a gem. Cornelius thanks you for the b-day wishes :).
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Happy Birthday Mr. Cornelius!!
What a wonderful blog!!
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Thank you, Anita! Cornelius sends a bear hug your way.
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Lovely post! Happy Birthday to Mr. Cornelius!
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Thank you, Jill!
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Happy birthday, sweet Cornelius! And Jama, honestly, you are an unbelievable spirit of joy. Have you ever thought about putting these Cornelius photos together into a book? I want to reach in here and squeeze you both. Happy Poetry Friday…thank you for the cookies!
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Thanks for the kind words, Amy. Cornelius, of course, likes the idea of having his own book. More reason to keep practicing our photography skills. 🙂
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Mmmm. Bear-y nice.
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You are beary beautiful :).
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Happy Birthday Mr. Cornelius. Lovely poems, especially the Ogden Nash, nashurally. And Oooh that BIG BEAR little girl photo works so well with it.
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She doesn’t look afraid at all, does she? A brave girl, nashurally. 🙂
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Happy Birthday Mr. Cornelius, and thanks for sharing such unbearably delightful poems!
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Thank you, Ms. Silverman. I like you.
Yours,
Cornelius
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Happy Birthday! You are a very photogenic bear! I refuse to choose among the poems. I love them all. Okay, I confess I love Isabel especially. I give a picture book version of that poem to everyone!
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Thanks for saying I’m photogenic, Ms. Steinglass :). Not to brag, but I think so too.
I must look for the PB version of the Isabel poem!
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Cornelius, the poems you chose made me very happy! I love the photo of the real Christopher Robin, and the Lemon Tea Cookies sound so yummy, I’ll have to make some real soon! Happy, happy, birthday!
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Thank you. You are beary wonderful!
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What a lovely, lemony birthday for Cornelius. Happy Birthday to you, Cornelius. I really enjoyed the poems and the pictures. Thanks!
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Glad you liked my post, Ms. H. Thanks for coming to the party :).
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Oh, I don’t think Cornelius could get any cuter! His selection of poems were perfect – I adore the twist ol’ Isabel pulled on the bear. Ogden Nash is one of my most favoritest poets. Happy Birthday, Cornelius! You don’t look a day over brand new! = )
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*blushes* I’m well past brand new, but remain 6 years old in my heart.
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Happy birthday, Mr. Cornelius! One of our favorite bear books is a version of “The Teddy Bear’s Picnic” that came with a cassette (my kids are nearly grown!) of Jerry Garcia singing the song.
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Yes, I’ve seen that one :).
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Happy Birthday, Mr. Cornelius! I just love that Isabel poem.
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Good ol’ Isabel. Fearless, and such a good appetite. 😀
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:0)
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Happy Birthday, Mr. Cornelius! You are oso fabulous! (A very poor attempt at a bilingual pun of sorts)
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And you are oso beautiful! I’m good at flattery (feel free to send me cookies, cakes and pies any time).
Your friend,
C
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Thanks, Jama.
Happy Birthday, Mr. Cornelious Bear
I hope all of your friends are there
to wish you a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY
and to thank you for the cookies
you’re giving away. YUM!
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Thank you, Ms. Joy! I’m happy to share my cookies with you today. 🙂
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Happy Returns of the Day, Cornelius! It doesn’t get any better than celebrating with Winnie-the-Pooh lemon cookies & Marchette Chute words. Jama, so glad you went to that Teddy Bear Show! Thanks for a sumptuous celebration!
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I used to go every year — it was a nice chance to meet all kinds of cool teddy bear artists. It was tough making decisions on what to purchase, though.
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Jama,only you can cook up such a delightful blog celebration! Congratulations to Mr. Cornelius and to both of you on a long friendship. My bear Bruno is now 67. I’ll read him these delicious bear poems -maybe not Ogden Nash’s!
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67? Wow! Bruno must be very special and well loved. 🙂
I was happy to meet Mr. Cornelius as well as many other bears mostly in the 80’s. I didn’t have a teddy bear as a child, but they seemed to have found me in adulthood.
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Oh, Happy Birthday to the bear with the beary best taste, ever. In poems and cookies and people to live with!
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Thank you, Miss Robyn! Hope your shoulder is feeling better.
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The stars danced the day you were born, Mr. Cornelius. I think those lemon cookies would be worth getting stuck in Rabbit’s doorway. xoxo
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What a nice thing to say! Thank you so much!
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Happy birthday, Cornelius! I do adore A.A. Milne, so thank you for sharing the poem.
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Glad you liked the poem, Debbie. Pooh and I are old friends.
Yours,
Cornelius
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Happy birthday to Mr. Cornelius! I’m always happy to see his bright face. And how did he know that lemon is one of my very favorite flavors? I’m sure that he’s packing up those cookies to send to me.
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Absolutely right! The cookies will arrive at your house shortly. 🙂
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Happy Birthday Mr. C! It’s the big 2″-6″ 😉 Keep up with all the mischi… ER… I mean: Keep up with all the good work! And stay OUT of mischief! *dang it, that Rattigan lady was within ear-shot!* 😉
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Mischief is my middle name (and it’s probably yours, too). I promise to stay out of mischief if you promise to stop eating cookies. 😀
Your partner in crime,
Mr. Cornelius
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Happy Birthday, Mr. Cornelius!! I admire your taste in both poems and cookies. Hope you didn’t get a tummy ache from eating too many of those lemony ones that look to be about half your size!
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No tummy aches, Ms. Violet. I know how to pace myself. Thanks for liking the poems I shared.
Your friend,
Cornelius
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♫♪♫♪♫♪ Happy Birthday, Mr. C! ♪♫♪♫♪♫
Yummy to the poems and the cookies! I’ll have some of both, thank you 🙂
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Ooh-la-la! Love those musical notes! Thanks for the musical wishes, Penny. Extra cookies for you!
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I love this! What a fun post and what an interesting cookbook. I’ve pinned the book to buy and the cookies to try because they look delicious. These and the book look like they’d be perfect for a tea party. Happy birthday Mr. Cornelius!
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Thanks, Katherine! It’s definitely a cute little cookbook — it has more recipes than you would think for its small size.
Mr. Cornelius sends hugs :).
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I must get out my bedraggled Crunchy Bunchy and give him a hug! Cheers
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What a cute name! Hug Crunchy Bunchy for us :).
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I’d love to send you a very special birthday present Mr. Cornelius. Do you know how to wrap a hug?
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Ooh! What a great hug, Ms. Cathy! Perhaps I should send you some chocolate cupcakes. 🙂
love,
cornelius
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Oh my goodness these pictures are absolutely adorable! And I love that you’ve included some of the older photos in with your own. Plus lemon. Mouthwatering!!
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Thanks for visiting, Trish! Glad you liked the pictures :).
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Oh Mr. Cornelius, forgive me for arriving so late to your party! You picked out some wonderful photos and poems. I especially liked that first photo since it looks like the little girl and her bear friend are dancing together. But it was the Milne poem that was most special to me. When my husband and I were on our honeymoon, we stayed at a farmhouse B&B in the Orkney isles, north of Scotland. The owners of that B&B had a daughter who memorized that poem for school and recited it for us with the most delightful Scottish accent! I’ll never forget it… and I’ll try not to forget your birthday next year either. ❤
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Oh, Ms. Michelle! What a wonderful story about the little girl reciting the Milne poem! What a beautiful place for a honeymoon, too :). No need to ask for forgiveness. We bears believe in unconditional love and forever friendship. I’m so glad you are my friend. 🙂
love
cornelius
xoxo
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