frayed at the edge

Romance!

I have mentioned before that when we have our cuppa on a Friday morning, in the middle of doing the housework, I have proper hot chocolate, made with milk.  For Christmas, Malcolm gave me a tub of pink, bunny shaped marshmallows which I finished last week.  I mentioned in passing yesterday that I would have to get some more marshmallows, as I had become somewhat addicted to having one floating on the top of my hot chocolate.  So I was delighted when he gave me a tub of heart shaped ones for Valentine's Day

 

Malcolm has his coffee in this mug, which I gave him some years ago

 

our delicious drinks

 

what did I give Malcolm?  A little woodblock sign (it's the size of a postcard)

 

at patch'n'chat, I finished my sock monkey, so that is another kit off the list.  As soon as I got home, the naughty boy was swinging from the kitchen cupboards ......

 

........ then making himself at home in the lounge

 

we had our absolutely best most favourite cake this afternoon, the apple and sultana one

 

weather permitting, I am going to an Abbey Quilters' workshop tomorrow (it has been snowing again).  Whether you are wet or snowy in the northern hemisphere, or far too hot in the southern one, I hope you you have a good weekend, love Anne

 

Gallivanting again!

We were back in Berwick this morning ....... I can't tell you just yet why we have been there several times recently, but hopefully I will be able to tell you soon.  We got there just in time for a cuppa - this is my tea, Malcolm as usual had coffee

 

then we added to our sconnage scoffing, with this very tasty cheese and herb scone

 

this was the first time we had been in this coffee shop/restaurant, and we were very impressed with it

 

I loved this section of wall, made of padded squares of fabric ........I have so much fabric I could probably cover most of our walls like this!

 

after we had taken care of our bit of business, we braved the biting cold wind to have a walk round the town.  I remembered my own advice to look up, and spotted this on a house wall .......

 

........ then a few houses further on, the same decoration, but painted this time

 

I liked this detail above a window

 

the three bridges - from front to back, the old, narrow bridge into town, just wide enough for one lane for cars and two narrow pavements for pedestrians, then the "new" bridge, which takes most of the traffic, and at the back the railway viaduct, which carries the East Coast Main Line

 

these pigeons were wise to shelter from the wind on this ledge on the new bridge

 

I was trying to be arty, looking through the new bridge, to the viaduct beyond

 

we discovered this wonderful shop, full of beautifully painted furniture, and spent some time chatting to the delightful owner

 

as our extremities were going numb with the cold, we headed off to the garden centre for lunch.  As we fancied both soups, we got a bowl of each, then shared them!

broccoli, cauliflower and cheddar - delicious

 

lentil - almost as delicious

 

we also shared a cheese and pickle toastie - it might not win a prize for presentation, but it made up for that by being very tasty!

 

after lunch we headed over to Coldstream, as Malcolm had to take his car in to the dealers, as he had had a recall notice to have his battery replaced.  While the work was being done, we went for a stroll round the town, and came across these two young swans (I was struggling to hold the camera, with the long lens, steady in the wind, so the swans are off to the side)

 

I have taken lots of photos of this bridge - Scotland is on the left and England on the right

 

a flash of colour caught my eye - I don't know what this plant is

 

a hazy view, with the snow-topped Cheviots in the distance

 

at the end of the path above the river we found this new, very stylish, wooden shelter

 

by this time we were decidely cold againn, and glad to head back to pick up the car.  After all the food we consumed while we were out, we had a very light dinner!  But we will be having a special, romantic dinner tomorrow for Valentine's Day ....... and there may be a bottle of something bubbly to go with it!

Cute quilts alert!

My lovely friend Margaret was our guest speaker last night at Abbey Quilters' monthly meeting.  She brought along lots and lots of wonderful quilts to show us - although, strictly speaking, they are mostly quilt tops, as she hasn't yet quilted them.  All her quilts are entirely handstitched ....... I can't imagine doing all that work by hand!  You will see little bits of Margaret on the right, and little bits of our Chairman Sandra on the left, holding up the quilts.  She no longer has her first quilt, as she donated it to be raffled, so this was her second quilt

 

this is a finished quilt, which she has on her bed

 

then she discovered jelly rolls, and produced these super tops

 

then she branched out and produced these two stunning tops, which are the same pattern

 

but, of course, we know Margaret best for her fabulous applique quilts, several of which you have seen on Fridays.

 

that is only a small sample of the many, many quilts that Margaret brought to show us!  After her talk, I was able to take photos of these wonderful gingerbread houses

 

we always have a cuppa at the end of the meeting, and we usually just have a biscuit ........ but last night we had a wonderful treat!  Val brought in some of her delicious baking ........ but I was very good and only had a scone

 

as well as being our Chairman, Sandra is also our very hard working Linus Lady.  This is part of a letter she has written, letting everyone know how many quilts and knitted blankets she was given last year.  While it is wonderful that so many people make quilts and blankets for such a wonderful charity, it is sad that so many children are in need of them

 

on Saturday I finished the crazy batik quilt.  I used the method of bringing the backing fabric over to the front to form the binding

 

I made a start to quilting the country cottages quilt

 

I also quilted flowers on the 9-patch cornerstones

 

and I made another batch of squares for the quilt for Quilts for Comfort

 

Yesterday's post today!

After all the excitement of lambs and donkeys yesterday, it's back on track today.  On Sunday morning, we headed up to Newtown St Boswells to go for a walk.  We haven't been on some of our favourite woodland walks this winter as it has been so wet, instead we have been sticking to walks on pavements and roads.  When we got out of the car, this goose had a loud honk at us!

 

although it was chilly, the sun was shining, and the newy ploughed fields added rich colours to the scenery

 

the last time we walked this route was in the autumn, when the leaves were still on the trees.  The views were somewhat different, seen through the bare trees

 

I do love a good old higgledy piggledy gate (or two)

 

of course  there has to be an arty seedhead photo

 

we were going to walk as far as the tree ........

 

........ but the stone path ended, and we didn't fancy squelching through the mud

 

the sky ahead was blue

 

but when we turned to head back to the car, there was an ominous dark cloud

 

we hadn't gone far when it started to rain, and by  the time we got back to the car we were wet and cold!  However we headed to the Old Melrose Tearooms, where we had a very welcome cuppa, and shared a delicious toasted teacake

 

we got up this morning to find that it was snowing

 

of course I didn't go out into the cold to take the photos - oh the joy of a large window!

I'll be back tomorrow with a sewing update, and hopefully some photos from Abbey Quilters' meeting.

 

ps - did you spot little JD the tractor sitting on the books on the left of the coffee table, gazing out at the snow?!

LAMBS!!!!!!

I went for a walk after lunch today, to check if any Jacob's lambs had arrived.  I negotiated the muddy track to the field gate, and found only very pregnant ewes

 

I could see some ewes in the next field, but knew there should be more of them, so I walked on round to where the field borders the road to see if the others were there.  As I approached the field gate, I could hear lambs bleating!!  There was one ewe with two lambs - but they were about to vanish over the hill to the other end of the field.  Although they are probably just a few days old, they have already learned to present their bottoms to the camera!

 

as well as the lambs, there was also the excitement of seeing the donkeys for the first time in quite a few weeks

 

there are lots of snowdrops in the verges

 

I wasn't going to take a photo of my favourite view on the way down the hill .......... but then I saw the sheep!  My favourite view with added sheep - wonderful!!

 

but the peace and quiet was shattered by this jet, flying very low

 

today's post should have been about our walk yesterday morning, but of course the lambs and donkeys took priority!  But don't worry, I'll do today's intended post tomorrow.  So, to finish, I wasn't tempted to ask for a shot driving this tractor, when I saw what was in the trailer!

 

A farmer's life for me ........

......... if I can have a big machine like this to play with use.  (I didn't go out in the cold to take the photos - I used the big lens, and snapped the machine from the warmth of the lounge!)

 

there was an interesting parcel for me in the post this morning, with a small padded envelope inside a bigger padded envelope

 

so what needed so much packaging?  These lovely scissors - every participant in my patchwork classes will get a pair

 

having finished the tin of Christmas biscuits, I got this tin out of the cupboard.  I bought it after Christmas, when it had been much reduced in price

 

I put the biscuits in Malcolm's biscuit barrel - I don't eat a lot of biscuits, whereas he enjoys one with his morning cup of coffee

 

you can see that is the fruit bowl to the right of the biscuit barrel, but what is that to the left?  It is my egg cupboard

 

at patch'n'chat this afternoon, Katy finished another block for her log cabin wallhanging

 

Margaret has started another wonderful applique quilt.  She will be the guest speaker at Abbey Quilters monthly meeting on Tuesday, and we are looking forward to seeing lots of her stunning quilts

 

we had a real treat for our Friday cake - Annette's truly wonderful chocolate sponge

 

I will be busy over the weekend making more of the stage-by-stage samples for my patchwork classes.  Whatever you are doing, I hope you have a good weekend, love Anne

 

 

Running out of gas

As today is a fast day, I decided to make this delicious soup

 

I chopped up enough vegetables to make double the quantity in the recipe, so that I could freeze some for future meals

 

I used my cute little cup to measure out the bouillon powder

 

I started sweating the vegetables, but as I washed up the chopping board and knives, I realised that the vegetables weren't cooking.  Oh dear, the bottled gas had run out!  Of course we have a spare bottle, so I went out and had a look, as Malcolm did show me how to switch from one bottle to the other.  However that was quite some time ago, and I wasn't sure what to do.  As I didn't want to blow up the house, I took the sensible option, and transferred the soup to the slow cooker!

 

I spent the afternoon at the hairdressers, and I was so hungry when I got home, that I forgot to take a photo of the soup before I ate it.  So here is some, ready for the freezer (180 is the amount of calories in a portion)

 

it took me several attempts to snap this coal tit - every time I got it in focus, it flew off!

 

it took three attempts to capture this blackbird, pecking at the crumbs from the fatballs.  First he moved, then he turned his back, then finally he stood still long enough

 

but the robin posed nicely on top of the stone owl

 

two silly things to finish with,  First, everytime I receive a communication from this shop in Edinburgh, I want to add an apostrophe ........ but should it be the Nomad's Tent, or the Nomads' Tent?

 

and second, these silly signs in this shop window made us laugh when we passed it this morning

 

Another grey day

Oh dear, everytime we have a glimpse of blue sky and sunshine, we hope that it will last for more than a day ......... but after the bright end to yesterday afternoon, this morning it was back to grey skies (and later in the day it rained again).  Even the birds were reluctant to be out and about this morning, but eventually they appeared on the feeders and the hawthorn tree

 

this sparrow preferred to sit on top of Mr Owl and watch the others squabbling on the feeders

 

we had lunch today in the Rhymer's Fayre deli in Melrose (I can't find a link for it).  Malcolm had a cheese and pickle toastie (the photo looks very dark, but the table was dark brown and Malcolm was wearing a dark brown jumper!)

 

I had delicious cheese savoury sandwiches

 

after lunch we drove on up the road to Galashiels, and after a bit of a detour because of roadworks, we eventually found the Borders College campus.  I popped in to see Tracey in HR, and she helped me complete the reams of paperwork.  She also took a photocoy of my passport, to prove that I am me, and not someone pretending to be me!  (Note to self, remember to renew your passport soon!)

 

and now for yesterday's sewing.  I decided to quilt the scrappy batik quilt using a hoop.  The first stage was to pass the outer ring under the needle

 

and then lay the ring flat

 

the quilt was then passed under the needle and the area to be quilted first centred over the ring

 

I passed the inner ring under the needle and pushed it into the outer ring - this is the opposite way to how hand-embroidery is put in the hoop

 

before I started sewing I brought the bobbin thread up to the top, so that I didn't stitch all over it on the back of the quilt

 

with the needle down ready to sew, I held the threads to the back of the needle, out of the way.  Once I had worked several stitches on the spot to secure the threads, I cut the tails off

 

I stitched a meandering design, with big loops ........

 

....... all over the centre section (it shows up better on the back)

 

then I stitched a meandering sort of flower round the border - this shows it wandering round a corner

 

to finish - I have added another lovely tin to my collection.  This one contained biscuits - we ate the last ones yesterday

 

 

A warm welcome!

As soon as you arrive at my studio, you know you are welcome ......

 

the frogs welcome you

 

the cow welcomes you

 

and of course I welcome you too

 

OK, I won't tease you any more, and will tell you my VERY exciting news .........I've got a job!!  Well, I've sort of got a job, with the grand title of community classes lecturer.  Do you remember some weeks ago I was working on a Top Secret Project?  It all started with a conversation with my friend Maureen.  She had been going to classes at the Borders College in Jedburgh, and had got to know Tracey, who runs the campus.  When Tracey found out that Maureen quilted, she asked her if she would like to teach patchwork and quilting.  Maureen said no, but said that she would ask me if I would be interested.  I went along and had a chat with Tracey, and after a bit of thought came up with "Get Set for Patchwork" - four classes where the students would make a needle case, pincushion, scissor holder and bag to put everything in.   Along the way they would learn the basic skills of patchwork and quilting.  I then had an interview (that was a shock, having a proper, formal job interview) and yesterday I had to fill in reams of paperwork.  There is just one last hurdle - the class has been advertised, and five people have signed up ....... but the minimum number for the class to go ahead is six!  However if that last person doesn't sign up before March 6th, when the classes are scheduled to start, all is not lost, as the college are keen for the classes to go ahead, and will re-advertise them for a future date.  But before you get too impressed with the thought of my teaching at the college, perhaps I should show you this photo

 

the Jedburgh campus is actually just a very small building, with, I think, two classrooms!  I went to the new Hawick campus for my interview - it is a fabulous building, where proper full-time students go, and tomorrow I will be popping in to the main Galashiels campus to hand in the reams of paperwork to HR.  Hopefully, if the classes are successful, I will get to teach more. 

I have made a start to the Blue Peter stage by stage and "here's one I made earlier" samples.  I'll just show you a selection

 

after all the soggy, grey days, it was wonderful to see this beautiful blue sky, when I came out of the studio at 4pm after a busy day quilting another little quilt for Linus!  (I'll show it to you tomorrow)

 

Not the best way .......

......... to spend Monday morning, with not one, but TWO visits to the dentist!  Last week one of my fillings fell out, and I had intended to phone the dentist this morning to make an appointment, but then over the weekend I had toothache in another tooth.  So this morning I phoned and asked for an emergency appointment.  I had to wait until they had received all the calls for an appointment and decided who could have one.  Fortunately I got a return call to say I could go in at 10.15.  I didn't see my usual dentist (the one with the name that would score well at Scrabble), but instead saw a delightful lady dentist who poked, prodded, tapped ...... and eventually said that there was no sign of decay, and that she thought the tooth was sore because of pressure from the clasp on my partial denture, and that also the gum was inflamed.  She gave me some advice, and said to go back to see her on Friday, and as I hadn't used up all the appointment time, she had a look at the tooth the filling fell out of.  She said that the "hygienist dental therapist" could put in a new filling, so I went off to the reception desk to ask for an appointent with her ....... there was a cancellatiion, so I could have an appointment at 11.50!  So I went to Sainsbury's, whizzed round and did the food shopping, drank a cupppa in record time, and went back to the dentist.  The hygienist dental therapist turned out to be a girl who looked about twelve!  She made a very good job of the filling, which turned out to be a marathon job as there was a lot of decay to be drilled away ....... better than some dentists I have endured in the past!  She explained that she can't diagnose dental problems, but can carry out quite a lot of treatments, freeing up the dentists to see more patients.

 

So after that tale of woe, lets have some photos of our walk in Jedburgh yesterday morning, when the rain stayed off just long enough!

 

as we headed back to the car to go for our cuppa, it suddenly clouded over, and started to rain, and by the time we had eaten this magnificent cheese scone it was raining so hard we had to make a dash for the car!

 

I'll be back tomorrow with some sewing ......... and some VERY exciting news!  To finish - don't worry that Jedburgh has been invaded by giant toadstools - this is a garden ornament!