Our poor pups have been neglected a little over the summer. We’ve been so busy that even standard tasks such as washing their dog beds have taken a back seat. They are not complaining though as all three of them would rather have a walk, game of tug, a tummy tickle or a snuggle than a clean and fresh smelling dog bed. However, the kitchen in particular is smelling more “dog” than normal, so something had to change!
Our challenge this year has been that pups #2 and #3 are suckers and chewers. The previous dog beds, which were made from old duvets and with removable covers, were destroyed last winter. Due to continued sucking and chewing, by the pups not me, replacement beds were cheap and cheerful so not to waste money on something that might only last a year. This means no removeable covers. Which causes a problem.
In previous years the duvets were taken, in the height of summer, to the big industrial machine in town. One huge wash which was distributed about the garden to dry in nanoseconds in temperatures of 38c. The removable covers were changed on a very regular basis throughout the year which meant the kitchen remained fresh smelling. If we didn’t have time to wash AND dry the covers in one day it didn’t matter. Whole exercise took about 90 minutes once a year. One year we didn’t do the BIG wash during the summer and had wet, yet clear, dog beds strewn around the kitchen for days one chilly December. The experience convinced us “NEVER AGAIN”. So we made sure we had three sets for each dog: one on the bed, one in the wash, one in the cupboard. In other words, standard B&B best practice rules! We got to this stage because of the nightmare of middle of winter washdays when the wet dog beds were draped around the kitchen for days.
The replacements we bought in the spring were different. No removeable covers and each one too big to go into the washing machine at home. Meaning we needed to visit the industrial machine in town every 10 to 14 days and somehow shoehorn the 90-minute task into our already overstretch workload. Sorry pups: not going to happen.
Fortunately, I have a solution. A quick rummage through a couple of boxes destined for a local charity shop proved fruitful: several clean, and un-holey duvet covers. Having managed to get myself ahead on writing “The Canbace Diaries”, preparing my content for my forthcoming “More To Life” webinar (you can register here) and having created all my content for World Childless Week I discovered I had a few minutes to spare at the end of my working day.
Pins were located, material cut and sewing machine removed from its protective box. In the time it took Andrew to cook our evening meal last Friday I had almost completed one cover each for the boys. Saturday night saw those finished and a cover for Cattier 50% done. More pining and preparation during the F1 qualifying: I can’t pin and concentrate on the actual race. By the time this blog is published I will have made two covers each for three dog beds. Not bad for someone so pushed for time.
Guess what that means? When we go shopping on Tuesday the dirty beds will be taken with us and put through the industrial machine, so they can dry during the day. Then the dogs will get the chance to christen the first set of new covers. With a second set in the cupboard I’ll have more than enough time to make the third set without feeling pressurised by a tight deadline.
Problem solved, and all is right with the world.
The only tinge of regret is that the only “dressmaking” I have time for is making dog bed covers! You see I started learning dressmaking when I was five. One of my earliest memories is helping my mum make a giant pain of bloomers. The gigantic knickers were worn by my sister and her best friend in a fancy dress competition. I made my first pair of tailored trousers when I was 13: all my classmates were making T-shirts or aprons involving four seams and some hemming! Yes, this girl guide could have completed all the tasks to gain her Sewing Badge standing on her head with her eyes closed. By the time I was 26 I was ready to really challenge myself. Time to make the first of several full-length evening dresses. How the “mighty” have fallen.
When searching for my beautiful perspective I realised this. Making dog beds is keeping the basic skills alive. One of these days I will have time to do some REAL dressmaking again. Now that really will be reconnecting with something that I used to enjoy!
In CANBACE friendship!
If anything I have written resonates I’d love to hear from you in the comments. I appreciate that this can be a difficult subject to speak openly about. If you don’t want me to publish your comment on the website please let me know. I will keep your words private.
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