The weather will soon be frightful—and the slip'ry roads despiteful. So rather than have a scare—hibernate (through it all) like a bear.
With the big snow coming, people around here are planning their weekend hibernations. Larders are being filled, salt is being stashed, and tall boots are being pulled out of storage. Perhaps we are imitating those classic hibernators, the bears.
In the Summer and Autumn, bears gorge themselves in preparation for the annual winter hibernation (more accurately called a "torpor"—a state which alternates between deep sleep and a groggy haze, in which they may move around within their dens). Bears need to fatten-up to endure a long period during which they may not eat at all. The length of such hibernation is entirely dependent upon the region's winter food supply. Where winter food is scarce, the bears hibernate longer. Where winter food is available, they may not hibernate at all. The bears create their dens in caves, rocky crags, or in the hollow of a fallen tree—improved by digging and lining with leaves and moss (for insulation). Pregnant females give birth during the hibernation period, nursing and caring for their babies while enclosed in their dens. Bear cubs may spend the next winter (or two) in their mother's den (who gives birth every 2-4 years, depending upon the species). Otherwise, bears mostly hibernate alone.
Shown above, a Danish Modernist stoneware bear by Knud Kyhn for Royal Copenhagen. It is dated 1967. Its playful, seated posture gives it a touch of (naturalistic) whimsy. And the whitish glazing is unlike the most common Sung Glaze used by Knud Kyhn for his animal sculptures. Click on the photo above to learn more about this handsome bear.
Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
To arrange a visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only), please call 917-446-4248.