All across the land little bears are tucked up in bed dreaming of a magical sleigh being pulled through a star filled sky by nine handsome reindeer while  hoping with all their hearts that the driver of the sleigh will pause long enough to leave a treat or two on his way past. ​

Beatrice loves to go for walks in the Argyll countryside and especially in the autumn months when the colours of the bracken and deer grass explode with bright colours. 
On many of these walks Beatrice ( because of her size ) sees many more of the flora on the ground and is the perfect mushroom hunter to accompany Liz. 
So many of our wonderful mushrooms can dye amazing colours and Liz teaches Beatrice what she knows about the mushrooms around Dalmally’s beautiful woodlands. 
Identification is so important as many of our delightful mushrooms can make a bear and a human tummy ill.
​ Make sure you wash your hands well Beatrice but enjoy learning about the plant treasures in the Scottish Highlands.

Whispers of "me next," and  " I want to see please " were the noises in the Bear Room today.
The Bears don't often get mail but todays post was one to remember.
A postcard all the way from Tokyo in Japan.
Halfway round the Bears world.
Beatrice was a little tearful when she realised that Tokyo Bears paw had touched the card to post it in the letter box in Japan at the Paralympic Games.
Smart little Bertie asked why it said 2020 on the front when this year was 2021. 
Thank you Rosemary for remembering your furry supporters who just adore you and Werona your horse. They are all so proud of you and all the Irish team.

The Book Cover Bear room is a very noisy place to be this morning.
Lots of our little bears are rushing around in a state of high excitement as the special day they have all been waiting for has finally arrived and in just a few hours time they will be watching the Irish Para Equestrian Team compete in the Olympics !  ​

The bears have been preparing for today for most of the week with everyone lending a paw and doing whatever they could to make sure this big day will be a wonderful celebration. ​

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This sweet little bear has come to stay in the Bear Room in the hope that while she patiently waits to find a new home she can make some special friends....... she is obviously a clever little bear as what better way is there to make new friends than to turn up with a plate of freshly baked chocolate cakes ! ​

Beatrice bear has been helping Liz in the garden on these sunny summer days.
She has her own little berry bag and collects all the berries she can reach.
She enjoys helping and dreams of the lovely pies and cakes and juice Liz will make for all the bears to eat.
When some berries stain her dress she is excited about the colour and would like them to stay on her dress but Liz explains about berries being “fugitive “ dyes.
Beatrice didn’t know that word and asks lots of questions so she could explain to the other bears how berry dye washes out and preparation of the fabric with a “mordant” is very important to make the colour light and wash fast.
To answer the many questions Beatrice asked, Liz decides to dye a favourite dress worn by her.
They use Cochineal Beatles and grind them up to a powder and add water, the dress is soaked in Alum and then cooked in the Cochineal.
Some indigo sprinkles were added to create the squished berry design.
Beatrice stirred carefully until the dress was ready to be rinsed and dried.
She was brimming with excitement when she modelled it in the bear room and explained the new words she had learned as they ate blackcurrant muffins.
One new bear in particular was captivated and asked Beatrice many questions about the dyeing.
Ohhh I wonder if that new bear keeps their fascination with natural dyeing.

Beatrice’s new words
Fugitive dye - disappears after washing with soap, not light or colourfast
Mordant - A mordant or dye fixative is a substance used to bind colour to fabrics
Mordant red 19