Well, between being busy and a bit under the weather I haven’t had much time to report on what has being going on but things are a bit more settled now.  I’m pleased to report that there is a beautiful hot water bottle cover in the offing along with some dolls clothes in progress.  The true beauty of the hot water bottle of course is that come winter it will have a nice warm bottle in it that I will need to test.  Odd really as it was inspired by the onset of autumn.  There has also been some alpaca fleece washing – sounds hopeful too.  

Autumn is on its way.  The leaves are starting to change and will soon be a glorious blaze of colour.  Aunty Biscuit loves this time of year as its all colours and doing things with produce.  I’ve been reviewing my selection of dog coats. Mum says I don’t need any new ones this year but I’m not convinced.  I have however permitted her to take some of my older blankets to the local dog rescue centre.

After all the vinegar trials and tribulations I am thrilled to announce that the shallots are pickling.  As I expected there was a slight mishap in that Aunty Biscuit couldn’t easily get the top off the bottle and when she did finally manage spilt some on herself.  I did think we could write a poem about it all and call it the lady of shallot but apparently that title has been used albeit about a different topic.  Talking about different topics my paw print is going on a jug, along with Harriers and the collies.  The very nice people from the pottery painting place came and put some paint on my paw (it tickled slightly) and took an impression.  Its special paint that is non-toxic, washes out etc.  This is a good job as I then transferred the paint onto Aunty Biscuit’s trousers and the floor whilst supervising the rest of proceedings.

Finally the pickling vinegar has been procured along with some extra just in case.  Apparently it is a slightly stronger than ordinary vinegar and can be ready spiced.  Aunty Biscuit sometimes adds dried chilllies and mustard seeds for a hotter onion.  Wine vinegar, both red and white has also been obtained ready for chutney time so its all looking hopeful.  I’m wondering if you can pickle a chicken……

There is lavender dangling all over the place at Aunty Biscuits.  It has been harvested and is now being dried in bunches which will take several weeks.  I suspect Mums will be also harvested imminently and our house will be similarly attired.  The humans love this stage as the houses smell subtly of lavender.  Once it is dried the messy and time consuming bit needs doing which is removing the seeds from the stalks but it’s worth it apparently.  The lavender can then be used in a variety of things and I’m sure it will be.

How difficult should it be for a human to acquire some pickling vinegar?  Aunty Biscuit has forgotten to pick it up twice, and now that she finally remembered one convenient supermarket had sold out and the other one doesn’t seem to stock it.  Hopefully when she is passing the next one she’ll remember.  In my opinion she should maybe just buy a jar of pickled onions instead but apparently its shallots that she is pickling (same difference to me as I’m not allowed either).  I hope we don’t have the same palaver when it comes to chutney making time.

Harrier is trying to be as inconspicuous as possible.  We were wormed last week which involved eating some cheese with a tablet hidden in it (they think we don’t know….), which was hardly arduous but this week is claw clipping week which he hates.  It has been delayed slightly because it usually requires Aunty Biscuits assistance as he wriggles and squirms but she has been in Scotland for a few days.   She is back now so I guess my evening entertainment is sorted for the appointed day.

Great news!!! It turns out that my portion controlled serving of fresh chicken is slightly more than the estimated portion.  Between the watch on my feeding and hovering intake and a glossy coat from some oil thing I’m looking particularly fab at the moment.  The effect was slightly spoiled the other morning when I got stuck in a privet hedge yet again, but a quick brush sorted that out.

Do you remember me reporting on the rhubarb and gooseberry conserve making?  Well it has now been tested on Granny Biscuit who said it tasted very good although being a conserve it had a soft set.  This news brought about another tirade from Aunty Biscuit on the evils of gooseberries and how much better strawberries and plums are.  The redcurrant jelly is also very nice and made with an acceptable fruit.  I think Mum should make something with a Kiwi fruit just to wind her up.  On a sad gooseberry note though, Mum has been rooting three cuttings from the bush only to find a caterpillar has eaten the leaves off one.  We are not sure whether Aunty Biscuit paid the caterpillar to commit this heinous act but it has been evicted and exiled as punishment

Aunty Biscuit was telling Mum about an article she’d been reading in one of the Sunday supplements.  Apparently somebody young and famous whose name I didn’t quite catch has been snapped wearing a cupcake pattern hat and its going to be THE trendy thing this winter.  Whilst it is not a style that would suit Aunty Biscuit or Mum, nor would it be big enough for a dog bed, it has one element sure to cause excitement in the household.  No, its not a frog, its that the ”cherry” on the top of the cake is a pompom!