I know it's unusual but Otto & the chickens are often to be seen walking round the meadows together, We trained Otto early on to leave them alone, necessary because dogs would normally  see the chickens as a food item. He couldn't understand at first, but he now sees them as family and will happily accompany them on a bit of a stroll, and I love to see it. I just have to remember to shut the chickens up if we have a different dog visiting. 
​We've been fruit picking again - plums and blackcurrants, I like  to get the picking done before there are too many wasps about. More jars for the jam shed! It's a good job I have friends who like a pot of home made.
​I have put a goodly number of new items into the 'reduced to clear' section of the website, including Murano Glass pendants, Semi-Precious stone pendants and hand-crafted necklaces. I need to make room for new items - so you'll find some significant reductions. 

Dick and I are often to be seen wandering our local area with Otto. We are usually dressed as yokels wearing old clothes and straw hats, we like to give the village a bit of extra "character". We had a great walk through St Nicholas this week, and (as is often the case) I stopped to take some photos. I gave Dick my hat to hold while I was busy & we then carried on with the walk. It was some minutes before I realised that I had no hat, luckily Dick was wearing two. I wonder if anyone else noticed. We must be getting quite a name for ourselves, and poor Otto must be permanently embarrassed!
​I had a phone call on Tuesday morning from a lady desperately needing two matching sterling silver pendants featuring horses, she needed them for Saturday! I immediately got on the case, did some research and found them for her, ordered them in and she collected them this morning. How's that for service!!
​I have been very busy making and buying this week, there are several new rings on the website, along with new pendants etc. 

Many of our friends and neighbours will know that we had our local Flower and Produce Show last Saturday. We both had several entries, but the main competition as far as I was concerned was in the baking section - Dick entered the "Men only" shortbread competition and I entered the flapjack category. Well, Dick got 1st for the shortbread and I got 2nd for flapjack - whatever would my Mother have said!! He has tried very hard not to gloat......
​When I was on my way through the dining room on the way to bed last night I was assailed by what I thought was a butterfly, it was really pretty & quite a good size. We had a good look, and of course I took a photo (I know I take too many!) After some research it turns 0ut that it was a Magpie Moth, just lovely. 
​I have been very busy with jewellery this week, there are lots of new magnetic bracelets on the website along with many other items.
​If you're looking for somewhere to go on Saturday why not come along to Hattens Nursery in Metfield, they are holding their open day & will have lots of stalls (including www.maryslittlegems.com), along with a bar and entertainment. It's open from 12 until 8. Hope to see you there.

I'm just back from a very happy morning with my friend Karen. We occasionally (not often enough) meet up for a hobby day. In the past we've done wet felting, needle felting, painting etc. but today it was a new one - Gelli Printing, I loved it! It's not a hobby for those who like to keep clean though, it could be a few days before all the acrylic paint comes off my hands. We were quite impressed with our results, we made several greetings cards which we were quite proud of. I think I can feel an early Christmas list coming on. I know I'm lucky being able to use my main hobby as my job, but it's really good to have a change.
​Our Otto went for his first visit to a Dog Groomers this week, and I swear he looks thinner. He had never been before, but apparently was well behaved.
​Dick and I will be having a busy day tomorrow preparing for the local Flower and Produce show in the village hall on Saturday, I have already made the jam, but will be making cakes & flapjacks too & Dick is entering several of the veg classes. I will be at Halesworth Produce Market on Saturday morning, so Dick will be taking the entries in for judging. I hope he doesn't eat any of the entries on the way!