frayed at the edge

It's the 15th of the month ........

......... so that means it's time for my next report on the Aunts' Quilt.  I have finished all my blocks for this month ....... the last large applique block

 

and the last two pieced blocks

 

there are too many blocks now to put on the design wall, so I took them into the house and laid them out on the floor in the back lounge.  However I had to take the photos at funny angles and rotate them, so they look slightly strange!

 

so, now for all the creativity!  First, I played about with driftwood, shells and seaglass to produce these

 

but I wasn't relly happy with them, so after some discussion with Malcolm, and a lot of playing about with all the bits, I finally produced these

 

I also made these

 

this shell picture

 

and this boat (I think I will change the sails)

 

I still have several other things to make, and in the meanwhile the studio gets ever more chaotic - I had to stand outside to take this photo!

 

and it doesn't look much better from the opposite direction!

 

 

Rush, rush, rush

Just a quick post, as it's Abbey Quilters' monthly meeting tonight - and what better subject could there be for a quick post than some sparrows, taken at various times over the last few days, in sunshine and rain

 

Mrs Blackbird turned up for  bath this afternoon

 

I have spent the day making a mess playing being creative - I'll show you what I have been up to tomorrow

Topsy turvy weather

After a few wonderful, very warm spring days, on Saturday there was such a cold wind blowing I declined to accompany Malcolm for a walk on the beach, although these swans didn't seem bothered by the wind

 

and the windy conditions hadn't deterred this little boat from a fishing trip - although I think they would have been glad to be back, as the weather worsened

 

the weather on Sunday morning was grey and wet, but the boat set off for another day at sea

 

as we drove home, the rain got heavier and turned sleety, so we were quite happy to stop at The Teviot Smokery for a cuppa and some excellent sconnage.  As usual we had half each, and that did us for lunch

fruit

 

cheese

 

by the time we got home it was snowing ......... you can just about make the snow out in this photo

 

but today, although it wasn't as warm as last week, it was warm enough to open up the summer house to have lunch in

 

and to hang the washing out to dry

 

when I was hanging out the washing, I noticed that the dark hellebore had suddenly flowered - there wasn't even a stem showing s few weeks ago when I took photos of the adjacent pale one!

 

and there was another splash of colour in one of the pots

 

as Malcolm was busy in the garage creating all things driftwoody, I offered to unwrap the olive tree for him

 

we were relieved to find that it had survived the winter and was looking healthy

 

I have to thank my friend Sandra H for the next two photos, taken on a recent holiday.  For some reason I can't get the photos to separate, to put captions under them, so I will just say that I want one of those machines, and I am intrigued by the markings on the sheep at the back

to finish, when I was doing the ironing this afternoon, I wondered if I am the only person who is tired of the on-going fashion for putting silly little straps inside sleeves?  If I roll my sleeves up, I don't want to faff about doing up the little button to hold the cuff up, when it stays up perfectly well on its own!

 

ps - if, like me, you are fed up with the election, then check out the app "Penguin Poop", and have have fun splattering your least favourite politician!!

A creative day

I'm still catching ip on the week, so this is a report on yesterday.  Work is underway to produce all sorts of goodies for the upcoming craft fair, using Malcolm's stash of dritwood (this isn't all of it!)

 

and my stash of sea glass and shells (yes, this is just some of it!)

 

Malcolm has started making mirrors 

 

he also chose these three pieces for a boat.  The hull will be attached to the base by an old knitting needle, and I will make fabric sails

 

I sorted out some string and beads, which I will combine with small pieces of driftwood (once Malcolm has drilled holes in them) to make mobiles

 

I tried out some designs, just sitting them on sheets of paper.  The successful ones will be put on canvas

seaglass fish

 

shell fish

 

driftwood tree with seaglass and shells

 

driftwood tree with button decorations

 

driftwood fish

 

I unearthed this piece of Laura Ashley fabric from my stash - I have had it for years!

 

an idea for a boat

 

I used this stamp set, which was free with a magazine, to try out making price tags

 

I couldn't find an ink pad, so I improvised with a paint stick and a roller

 

and after a bit of experimenting

 

I produced this - I used the upper case A in the middle, as there was only one lower case a in the set

 

 

it was quite at patch'n'chat this afternoon, as Annette and Cathy were away with friends on a quilting retreat, but we were well looked after by Annette's husband Norrie.  Annette had managed to make time in her hectic schedule to bake a cake for us before she left - her delicious spicy fruit cake (second pieces may have been eaten by all of us!!)

 

Norrie had help looking after the shop - their very cute dog Barley.  I took several photos of him, and in every one his tail is blurred, as it wags constantly

 

we are over in Berwick already, as the forecast is much better for tomorrow than Sunday, so we will head back home on Sunday morning.  No doubt we will be on the beach tomorrow afternoon!  I hope you have a good weekend, love Anne

 

 

These are two of my favourite things ........

......... shopping and food!  First is a little hare that I bought on our recent trip to Bamburgh.  There were several to choose from, and I chose this little fellow as he was the only one with black markings on ears and feet

 

two things came back to the flat with us from our trip on Monday.  First, a rather smart perpetual calendar

 

and then a tea towel, which will be framed to go with our Australian one.  If you fancy one of these, they are available here

 

then there was more shopping yesterday with Maureen, on our fun day out in Berwick.  First is an addition to our owl collection, which Maureen bought for me as a flat-warming present.  He is now hanging in the hall ready to greet visitors

 

 

these two cards are so lovely they might end up being framed, rather than sent!

 

Maureen bought these lovely creatures - the reindeer will be off to America later in the year as Christmas presents, while the hare is for her

 

I bought a hare too, which escaped into the garden this morning for an adventure

inspecting the flower buds on the clematis

 

checking out a primrose

 

exploring the jungle

 

hoping to find a new friend in the birdhouse

 

when we were in Hawick this morning we popped into the Oxfam shop to see if we could get some old metal knitting needles for Malcolm to use for more of his dritwood creations (more of that tomorrow).  I also picked up two paperbacks

 

we had a look round a new shop, and were delighted to find this for the flat - an excellent bargain at only £3!!

 

and now for the food!  For lunch yesterday, Maureen had a tomato, cheese and chilli relish toasted ciabatta.  She asked how hot the relish was, as she doesn't like really spicy stuff, so was delighted when it came in a little cup for her to add as much as she wanted

 

I had a ham, mozzarella and pesto toasted ciabatta.  As you can see from the photos we swapped my tomato for Maureen's cucumber

 

we popped into the garden centre for a cuppa before we headed for home.   I haven't quite got Maureen trained - she had unwrapped her lemon muffin and taken a bite of it before I could take a photo - so it had to be turned round to hide the missing bit!

 

I chose a slice of gluten free chocolate cheesecake - which seemed to be a bit of a muddle of health/unhealthy eating!  It was delicious, with no hint of cheese, rather it was like a very light chocolate mousse on a thin crunchy chocolatey base

we are going to have a stall at a craft fair in Berwick in June (I'll give you all the details nearer the time).  We will be selling all sorts of driftwood/seaglass/shell creations and we thought we had better get a move on and get things made, so tomorrow I'll show you what we have been doing.

The early morning mist lingered .......

....... on Monday morning when we drove down to Seahouses, making for slightly arty photos of the dock

but the mist was quite swirly, and suddenly this coble was sitting in the sunshine

 

as we headed back up from the dock to have lunch, I paused to take a photo of this memorial

 

lunch, of course, came from the best chip shop, as recommended by The Hairy Bikers

 

haddock and chips, eaten in the fresh air by the seaside ....... it doesn't come any better than that!!  The batter was light and crispy, the fish delicious and the chips excellent - I never manage to eat a whole fish supper (as it is called no matter what time of day you eat it) but I only left a few chips!

 

then it was on to the next part of our day out - a visit to Howick Hall Gardens

 

sadly the house, home to Earl Grey, the creator of the tea of that name, is no longer lived in

 

there is a small visitor centre in the entrance to the house - but I was distracted by the knocker on the front door!

 

do you think the rabbits and hares can read this sign telling them to keep the gate shut!!

the gardens are tended by a small staff and a squad of dedicated volunteers

there is a very pretty church within the gardens

 

with a very imposing doorway

 

with intricate carvings

 

by this time we were in need of refreshment, and headed to the tearoom

 

 

where we ordered (of course) a pot of Earl Grey tea

 

and a scone with jam and clotted cream

 

on the way back to Berwick, even the little point and shoot camera shows of the magnificence of Bamburgh Castle

 

we may have acquired one or two little goodies when we were out and about, but I will show you them tomorrow, as well as telling you about the very enjoyable day out I had today with my lovely friend Maureen!!

Back to basics!

When we headed over to Berwick on Sunday morning, I left my laptop and big camera at home, and contented myselfwith the Hudl and my little point and shoot camera .......could I survive for two days without lots of time online and basic photos with limited zoom?  I was pleased to find that the answer was yes, that I am not as addicted to my technolgy as I feared!  When we arrived at the flat, there were lots of swans in the dock, and I was quite happy to take a general shot, rather than zooming in for close-ups

 

after lunch, we headed off down the coast to Cocklawburn Beach

 

the tide was out, and the sands stretched as far as the eye could see

there were also lots of interesting things closer to hand to see

 

there is always a dead crab on the beach!

 

we climbed over a ridge of rock ....... and there was even more beach!

 

while Malcolm was looking for driftwood, I found this  old piece of wood, which had a bit of fungus growing on it

 

as we walked back along the beach, the tide had turned, and a chilly mist was blowing across the sand

 

there was an icecream van in the car park, so we rounded off the afternoon with a "99"

 

the sun was still shining when this little fishing boat came into the dock

 

unlike yesterday morning!  When we got up, we couldn't see the dock at all, but by the time we had breakfast, it was just appearing out of the fog

 

however, the fog didn't stop us having  a good day out, which I'll tell you about tomorrow!

 

To finish, three sigms today that spring is here

1: a man wearing socks and sandals (there should be a law against that!)

2: a postman wearing shorts (I think it might be obligatory after the first of April)

3: best of all, several large bumble bees buzzing round the garden!

 

It may have been snowing on Tuesday .......

........ but today Malcolm cut the grass for the first time this year!  The front garden is looking very neat and tidy

 

this is the first shoot on the Russian vine.  In the summer it is a weekly job to trim it, or the house would vanish beneath its exuberant growth!

 

the leaves of the flowering current are a lovely shade of green

 

the back garden too is looking good

 

the summer house will neeed a good clean, and possibly a repaint, once the weather is better

 

the chair and beehive, which Malcolm made from pallets, will also need a good clean and possibly a repaint too (the beehive is used for storage, we don't keep bees!)

 

we popped into Homebase this morning, as Malcolm had things to buy and had a 15% off everything voucher.  I didn't plan to buy anything, but then I spotted this miniature orchid in a pot, and of course it had to come home with me

 

and to show how tiny it is, here it is with my tallest orchid

 

I also spotted these two boxes, which were half price - and you know a girl can never have too much storage!

 

 

I am having a weekend away from the computer, as it is a holiday weekend for Easter, so I will be back on Tuesday.  I hope you have a good weekend, love Anne

 

 

April showers

When RonnietheFishman was here this morning with his usual selection of delicious fish (Malcolm chose trout fillets today), he told Malcolm that were lambs in the field next to BillytheFarmers house.  We went out for lunch (more of that later) and then did the food shopping on the way home.  As we came up the hill to the house,  we had another April shower, which looked as if it was going to continue for a while.  On our return I threw the shopping into the fridge, freezer and cupboards, wrapped up against the wind and rain, grabbed the camera and headed out.  Fortunately the rain had gone off, so I just had to put up with the cold wind.  Get ready to oooh and aaaah .......

ewe and lamb #11

 

strolling off down the field together

 

but the other lamb#11 has been left behind

 

despite his bleats, his Mum ignores him!

 

this ewe seems to have her own two lambs tucked up beside her, and another two behind her

 

I walked on down to the field where I saw the lambs the other day.  The only ones in range of the camera were these two, who have already learned the first lesson of sheepdom ....... when you see someone with a camera, show them your rear!

 

back up the hill,  I watched as the dopey ewe finally managed to get herself organised to look after both of her lambs (you can just see the other one behind her)

 

I had to give this blackbird a telling-off ...... we have provided him with a posh bird bath with fresh water, and he prefers a muddy puddle!!

 

now, to return to today's lunch.  When I read Amy's blog yesterday evening, she had lovely tales of maple sugaring and maple syrup.  I left her a comment saying that it made me want pancakes, bacon and maple syrup for breakfast, but that I would be having toast and jam.  Then today we went for luch to Pirn House, where the best thing on the menu is French toast, bacon and maple syrup, so that is what I had!

 

while I was out in the cold snapping the lambs, Malcolm lit the stove in the studio for me, so it was cosy when I got back.  He also had put this coal box next to the stove ....... it had been in the summer house.  I will have to clean it!

 

I did some more prep for  Mrs B, then did some stitching on the Aunts' applique block.  You will have to wait until the 15th to see the Aunts' block, but you can see the progress on Mrs B

 

 I also pressed the baby cardi and sewed a button on it.  Now I just have to get organised to send it and the booties to the excited expectant Granny

 

to finish, a little orchid problem.  I notided that the flower stem on this one, on the window sill in the "fitness room" *, had grown sideways between two leaves

 

Malcolm suggested holding the top leaf out of the way, so I fetched a clothes peg to hold the leaf up, and turned the pot round, in the hope the stem will grow up to the light

 

* the fitness room is the posh name for the smallest bedroom, which houses our cross (elliptical) trainer and rowing machine!