“I know,” said Rosie – “let’s make the newfies some scrummy dog treats! “
The ingredients were assembled
After weighing and measuring, Rosie began to stir the ingredients together …..
Assisted by Daisy, who was keen to check that everything was properly combined …
(note: this would not normally be allowed, but we were making doggie treats!)
Daisy thought a taste test was needed, and seized her chance when our backs were turned ….
But luckily was spotted in the nick of time!
Does that look like a guilty expression to you?
”Are they ready yet? They don’t have to be cooked – I’d eat them anyway!!”
At last they were done and I was assured by both Newfies that they tasted delicious.
Find the recipes for Daisy’s Delights and Ben’s Biscuits in this month’s issue of the Bustle & Sew Magazine – out on Thursday 30 May.
This week has been a sitting-down-and-stitching sort of week as I have been temporarily incapacitated. That is to say my left knee has been temporarily incapacitated, due to Daisy’s inexpert charging around. Coming at me from behind, and travelling at full speed, instead of swerving to the left to avoid me, she instead swerved to the right – straight into the back of my left knee. 5 1/2 stone (about 77 lbs) of dog going at full speed into your knee hurts – and she has partially torn a tendon. (Mine, not hers!) Ouch! But, as my mum used to say, “every cloud has a silver lining” and for me the silver lining has been the opportunity to sit around resting my knee and indulge in some totally guilt-free stitching.
Putting my blackwork butterfly to one side again for a while, I have been working on a vintage-inspired embroidered mirror frame for the June issue of the Bustle & Sew Magazine. In the course of the last week it has gone from this ….
To finished! I wasn’t sure how easy it would be to assemble the mirror, but in fact, with some PVA glue and a nice sharp pair of scissors it proved to be remarkably easy ….
I’m really pleased with how it turned out. The stitching is easy too as it’s just satin stitch, with a little back stitch for the stems that twine between the candy-coloured roses. And, mentioning roses – you may remember from a recent post that Rosie has already reserved this little looking glass (I love this old-fashioned term for mirror) – though it has turned out to be so pretty I am very tempted to keep it for myself!
And finally … you may have noticed a new tab at the top of this page “Instagram” – we now have a Bustle & Sew Instagram feed on the site. New photos of dogs, Devon and sewing are added nearly every day, so if you are a “pictures” sort of person and would like to keep even more up-to-date with happenings here at Bustle & Sew, then please do bookmark our Instagram page – or follow us on Instagram – our handle is bustleandsew.
Today was the first fete of the season – at Aune Valley near Loddiswell. But this was to be no ordinary fete, oh no. Aune Valley is a local farm shop, so the emphasis was on local produce – beautifully displayed in a marquee festooned with bunting and balloons ……
We arrived early, so I was able to take these photos – just half an hour later and the marquee was packed. I am very fond of our local fruit juices – and rather like fruit scones too!
I love a savoury cream tea – soured cream and chilli jam from the South Devon Chilli Farm, whilst Rosie was very taken with the idea of presenting cup cakes in icecream wafer cones ..
But the most exciting part of the day was yet to come …..
Here to judge the children’s cake competition – and open the new Farm Shop cafe was the very famous …..
…. star of the Great British Bake Off – MARY BERRY!!! Her space was reserved ….
So while we awaited her arrival we sat on a sunny slope overlooking the valley and nibbled on some handmade fudge
And then Mary arrived. She was so pleasant and friendly, stopping to talk to lots of people and sign copies of her books too.
Looking just as lovely as she does on TV. Altogether a very exciting afternoon!
You may think from the title of this post that I am talking about Daisy – and her love of stealing my footwear! She doesn’t damage it – just lies quietly and sucks on the laces – which are then of course all soggy and horrible when I retrieve my boots or plimsolls from her determined grasp. But in fact I am talking about the snaffler-in-chief – my daughter Rosie! She and her boyfriend Dan are here for the Bank Holiday weekend and, as always Rosie has been having a good rummage through my cupboard! I wouldn’t let her snaffle my Great British picnic blanket (pattern in June issue of Bustle & Sew Magazine) – I have visions of myself using it on sunny summer afternoons …
And anyway, she already has the patchwork one I made for her last month! She did however manage to acquire another June issue project – my Naughty Kitten wip pouch …
Arguing very persuasively that it would be absolutely perfect for carrying her crochet around with her …..
I had envisaged carrying my embroidery around in it, but she’s right, it will work well for crochet too. I’ll simply have to make myself another! Then Rosie noticed my current work in progress ….
Some candy pink satin stitch roses destined to form the border for a small mirror – another pattern for the June issue of the Bustle & Sew Magazine . She has reserved the finished article, assuring me that it will be perfect to sit on the chest of drawers in her bedroom. I think next time she comes I will have to hide all my stitching from her!!
The snaffler-in-chief and me!!
