Hi there. I hope you have all survived the latest Lockdown, and you have managed to catch up with some of those projects that have been on the back burner. For those of you in Auckland – hang on in there! It has been great to see some of the pictures that you have sent through of finished projects! Please send me your pictures and I will put them on the Annie’s Facebook page.

This week (Wednesday) we move into Click and Collect and Mail Order Mode, so I thought I would explain how this is going to work.

You will need to order through the website, email, phone or text explaining exactly what you need. (Please note phone numbers below).

I will put the orders together and either post out, deliver (Ashburton township only) or you will be able to collect the parcels or machines from the back of the shop by arrangement. Payment can be made through the website or by credit card over the phone.

You will not be able to turn up to the shop and choose what you want at this stage I am sorry, as we are not able to have the customer interaction. However I am happy to try and help wherever I can.

We have had a couple of international parcels arrive in, including a couple of beautiful new cross stitch patterns. Check these out on the website.

This little pincushion should also make you smile. Tiny Tim is a kit and at just $12.50 it has all the fabric you need, the eyes and the template plastic, you just need to add the stuffing.

My husband is also a very happy man as I have had time to bake...the tins and the freezer are full of goodies. There has also been time to try a couple of new recipes including these muesli bars which seem to hold together really well. Of course you can alter the ingredients around to suit whatever you have in the pantry, and it works well if you double the quantities. This recipe is based on one from “Dish” my favourite New Zealand cooking magazine.

Granola Bars

• ½ c quick cook oats
• ½ c coconut
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1 1/4 c roasted nuts
• ½ c dates
• ½ c raisins
• ¼ c crystallised ginger
• 1/3 c tahini (sesame paste)
• ¼ c peanut butter
• 90 g melted butter
• 1/3 c honey
• 1 tbsp water

Preheat the oven to 160 C. Combine the dry ingredients, chopped fruit and nuts in a large bowl.

Place the butters, honey, tahini and water in a small saucepan and warm until melted and mixed together. Pour into the dry ingredients and mix well.

Turn the mixture into a prepared tin pressing down well. Bake for about 40 minutes or until golden.

Happy stitching

Rachel

Annie’s Country Quilt Store

03 3076 277

027 800 55 44