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!”
A frosty wonderworld…I am enjoying a frost-free morn of sunshine as I imagine your world of shimmering glamour.
Oh the dogs are going to know they are loved. Wonderful beds! I bought a quilt made of sheep’s wool since I’m allergic to feathers. I love it, but find it’s just on the heavy side. Therefore, I put it on the mattress on the spare bed that is a tad too hard for most people. My guests tell me they sleep like they’re in a nest.
That is a fantastic idea, i cannot sleep under fake fabrics, so i often put the quilts under the sheet, it is a divine way to soften a bed! For myself i sew cotton together and make blankets, i call them wuggas. c
Lovely photos, C. I’m so glad I stopped over, today! We’ve been all full of grey and entirely too much busy-ness, over here, recovering from head colds and blah, blah, blah. It is so nice to see fuzzy dogs and inquisitive chickens and life in the absence of city buses and crowded schedules. Like a breath of fresh air. Thank you!
Morning Desi. lovely to see you… c
Go TonTon go! What a clever idea. At first I just pictured you napping with a cuddly puppy under your head.
What a wonderful picture!! c
What a fabulous way to use the bags and the wool. I used to card wool with my neighbor, who had about a dozen sheep. I loved the way it made my fingers feel – and I didn’t even mind the smell!
very good for your hands gretchen, lanolin! mmm ! I am still looking for a spinning wheel to buy that will not destroy me financially.. c
When you get it – and won’t it look lovely in your home?! – be sure to keep your finger away from the spindle…we don’t want you falling asleep for 100 years! We’d miss your posts too much!
IN that first frosted picture of the lantern, what insect is hiding inside? Cicada, maybe? I love the tones in that photo.
I saw that too, I will need to open it and have a look, but it is definitely a left over from the summer – frozen in time . c
Reblogged this on theconservativehillbilly.
Thank you, your blog concept is great! c
I am coveting the new potting bench 🙂
Thank you, I knew it was right the minute i saw it even though it was sagging sadly in the back of the junk yard shed.. c
Love your new potting bench and the very clever doggie beds…lucky dogs! Our cats will only sleep on our bed even when supplied with “special” places to sleep! For some reason I didn’t get a notice of your post today…must see what’s up with that. Happy Tuesday!
Hmm, I hope we are not running into a glitch! You cats like your warm feet! or to warm your feet one or the other!! c
Got today’s so whatever it was…it’s fixed! 🙂
I like your new potting table and yes it does look like it has been there for years. What a great use for the old coffee sacks.
Tat is what i love about old furniture and things they never make other items look tatty. Old stuff just fits right in! c
Lucky, lucky dogs!!!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
Sometimes I would not mind curling up on a wooly blanky myself! c
When I read your title, I was expecting something like this one 🙂 I loved them all, you are amazing dear Cecilia… I want to fly there, your farm everyday fascinates me much more… This is great fun. All your little friends… Kisses and Blessing for them all. Thank you, my creative friend, 🙂
with my love, nia
Love the table. Well, maybe the lady had to run outside and sneeze, cause, if she’s like me…I’m allergic to Burlap…and Wool…But, then again…maybe she had her eyes on the sacks, and was irritated that you beat her to them…Or, maybe she’s just a crabby old prude? Anyway, I know the dogs certainly appreciate you just a little more than usual…I hope they aren’t allergic like me…
No No i think she liked the smell, but just had to be elsewhere immediately after,.. how can you be allergic to burlap AND wool! I do hope you are not allergic to coffee! c
What a great post C!
I don’t know why I say anything; you know I love them all. Even if it takes me until 0:21 in the night to read them and comment 🙂
Good Morning!
G
Giovanna, I am glad you comment.. then i can comment back! c
Love your creativity and resourceful but where do you find the time every day? You really do amaze me. We’ve been thinking of getting a dog recently but am worried the cats will hate us for it. My cats make do with some old pillows we don’t use anymore but your coffee sacks look far prettier than old pillows.
have you seen the shots of TonTon sleeping with cats? The cats are his mamas. Except for mary’s cat, they are all older than the dog. !
Fun and play and dogs and wool, we have old sheepskins on the floor in the kitchen and beds in every place a dog might want to lay his head and still they prefer to snuggle in with us on cold nights, hot water poodles, no shedding, regular baths, doesn’t justify it…. Terrible state of affairs, I know 🙂 I wish I had trained them to sleep in the garage, but they won the battle of the all night howling when they were puppies, anything for a quiet night. We would bounce with great enthusiasm on one of your jute beds though, and they would probably be sold for hundreds of pounds in some designer shop in London too. Sorry not to have been around much, I don’t know where I get to sometimes xx
i was thinking of you today joanna. i made a sourdough loaf (wholemealy) and it was SO tasty, i am getting better, but no swiss cheese holes! (sad face) more to learn (happy face) .. and there you are.. If the dogs love the bed.. so be it.. all good in the end.. ! c