It was cold yesterday. The frost hung on the trees all day. No wind. The world stayed frozen white with a cover of cloud like a stainless steel lid. 
On these still cold sepia days, it is hard not to succumb to malaise. The weather sits there like a big lump. So I went out to make the dogs their new pillows and yes this is an outside job. Which immediately raises the spirits.
I found these jute bags in a store the other day, they were practically giving them away! I was thrilled. I had swooped across to the pile. Exclaimed’ Oh, look John’, then felt them and counted them and smelt them and said to the wide eyed woman next to me .’ They smell like coffee, how delightful. You smell ‘ I said to the lady. Not taking her eyes off me she obediently aimed her nose at the old coffee sack I was holding out to her, hauled in a hesitant sniff, nodded and scuttled off.
And they were as cheap as they should be. What a find. I piled them into Johns cart (he has to push the trolley when we go shopping, and I don’t care to) and off I trotted again.
“You are not in Guatamala now, Doctor Ropata” Sorry, someone had to say it and that Shortland Street (NZ hospital soap opera) line has never sunk below my subconscious.
Oh, before we make the duvets and mattresses for the dogs look. Can you see anything new in the picture. Did you notice my new wobbly potting table from the junk yard! See I knew that John could fix its leg back on! And it looks like it has been there for years. 
Anyway yesterday after a very long wait the dogs finally got their wooly mattresses.
The wool from the last shearing (last spring!) has been sitting waiting for almost a year now, but I could not decide what to make the pillows with. Mama has wool that is too short and coarse for spinning so it is used to make duvets, and pillows and mattresses for the animals! Another example of the nothing wasted sustainable lifestyle. In the absence of old wool sacks the coffee bags are perfect!
So I stuffed the wool into the jute bag. Then slid another one over it from the open side so it is closed. Like a pillow case. Voila!
Something big, soft and warm to lie upon is a popular item in a dogs life. Poor old TonTon was told to lie Down and Stay for this next photo, then The Big Dog decided HE wanted the new pillow and usually Ton would be out of his bad tempered way in a shot. But he had been told to Stay Down. You can imagine his dilemma. 
I have no idea what this morning will bring. It is still just at freezing point. They are forecasting snow flurries so I had better get my eggs into their boxes and after feeding and checking all my animals I will visit my old people early.
Oh there is my coffee! Thank you darling!
Good morning.
c
The Kitchen's Garden 
76 responses to “How to Make Puppy Pillows for your Pooch!”
Burlap bags! We used to get them from the feed store (one of my favorite places). They make great critter beds as they breath yet stay warm and dry. You are so clever – you didn’t even have to sew them. We used to also use them to dry off animals. So glad you grabbed them.
Morning Mouse, there are so many uses for these bags, I might go back and grab some more! have a great day c
Look, no stitches! What a satisfying project, brought to completion. I too, love to use every last bit of everything. Is it the Kiwi upbringing? or maybe from parents who went through the Depression. Great post, and I hope those animals appreciate you.
The shot of the chickens and the grey table is pretty much perfect – nice one.
Hi Cecilia. Lovely read. Fabulous photos. You do have a fantastic eye. From a previous post – I am voting Post cards! Let me know if you ever get any made up.
Regards Florence x
Some puppies are pretty plushly equipped! What fantastic pillows for them. We used the short wool from Gramps’s sheep for quilt batting too. Not only unbeatable for warmth but having that cozy warm, clean wool smell. Coffee sacks would be ideal in the same way: tough wearing but smelling heavenly (and I’d even bet TonTon will associate the smell of coffee with his beloved People). I’d be tempted to upholster a big, squashy super-casual chair with such good looking tough fabric!
The shot of Thing test-driving the coffee sacks for sit-ability would be *perfect* postcard material, in my opinion. Isn’t it sweet and thoughtful of your beasties to safety- and function-check all of your goods before approval for use? The chooks clearly approve of the fit of that new table in their hangout as well.
Next life, I’m a dog in this farm and I’ll nap on a coffee pillow…
TonTon is so well behaved! I love, and could so picture, how the described the shop lady ‘scuttling’ away after the obedient sniff! That’s the kind of thing I do, I’m glad other people do too because I’m always being told that I’m the only one! Love the lamp photo too. 🙂
nope you certainly are not the only one, not on these pages anyway! c
Poor Mama, getting such a bad rep as that ;-). Her wool is perfectly fine for spinning, isn’t coarse at all and is plenty long enough. Maybe today. But first I have to clean the kitchen as we have company coming in this weekend. Uh oh…