frayed at the edge

Taking photos

Last week I finally got round to making a new "photo box" -  as my old one was a bit tatty I threw it out recycled it when we moved.  To make a new one, I assembled a cardboard box, a craft knife and a piece of fabric with a vague pattern

 

the first step was to cut one side out of the box

 

then line the back and the bottom with the piece of fabric

 

the first thing I took a photo of in the new box - some little Indian wooden stamps for printing on fabric (which I bought in Majorca!)

 

and this is how a close up of the stamps look

 

the photo box wasn't wide enough to take a photo of the new tiles I bought on holiday, with which Malcolm is going to make a sign to hang over the door to the Attic.  But I had a leftover piece of fabric to lay them out on.  Of course I will have to add an apostrophe!

 

to finish, two random photos.  This handsome young man is very welcome to come and cook my meals for me  ........ but only if he shaves off his beard!

 

yesterday evening, I was sewing and Malcolm was watching the cricket on tv, when he suddenly jumped up and said "there's a duck in the garden".  Of course I fetched the camera, then ran from room to room as the duck had a tour round the garden, finally getting a photo of him from a kitchen window

 

 

 

 

 

 

A rather large surprise!

After indulging in the chocolate cakes on Friday afternoon, we thought perhaps we should walk the long way home through the village.  I had been told there were some emus in a field near the coffee shop ....... but I didn't expect them to be so big, and able to stick their heads over the fence in the hope of pecking us!!

 

and they weren't the only big birds about ...... this goose was not only big, he was very vocal in his disapproval of us looking over the gate at him!

 

fortunately this one was much more interested in posing prettily for the camera!

Righting a wrong

I realised that it is quite some time since we had cut creatures on the blog, so after lunch I popped out with the camera to put that right.   The ewes are getting plump - they will probably have their lambs at the start of April

 

it's a tiring life spending the day eating grass!

 

the grass is still very green for this time of year

 

I wonder if they get bored with grass?

 

these two look as if they have had a shampoo and blow dry

 

I don't think I have seen sheep before with their fleece parted in the middle like these three - and did you notice that amazingly they all faced the camera and didn't turn round and present their bottoms as they usually do!

 

I walked on up the road to have a look at the horses.  The field was very muddy

 

and this one looked extremely fed up with the cold windy weather

 

this donkey was having a good scratch against the back of the trailer

 

while this one peeped round the corner from the stable

 

we have had a visiting bird in the garden for some months that I just haven't managed to take a good photo of

 

they mostly turn out like this

 

as it bobs up and down

 

so finally, a reasonable photo!  I had wondered what sort of bird it is - it looks part blackbird and part thrush.  Then I saw a mention in a newspaper that it is a European blackbird.  It is quite a bit bigger than the pair of blackbirds that live in the front garden, but they co-exist quite peacefully, pottering about under the bird table picking up spilled seed

Today didn't quite .......

........ turned out as planned!  As Malcolm is over at the flat (I stayed home because I have my Pat Archibald workshop tomorrow), I thought I would pop up to Melrose and have a look for some presents for his Christmas stocking.  As you can see from the ice on the birdbath, it was rather cold this morning, and that caused a bit of a problem when I went out.  To cut a long story short, one of my windscreen wipers had stuck to the ice on the windscreen, the other hadn't, and they got in a tangle and one of them got rather bent out of shape (I was too busy saying naughty words to think of taking a photo!).  So instead of heading to Melrose and a potter round the shops, I had to head to Kelso and the Ford dealers, to get the wiper fixed

 

the Ford boys didn't have a spare wiper part in stock - so they took one off a brand new car on the forecourt and popped it on my car!  Exhausted by all the trauma drama inconvenience, I headed to the local garden centre for refreshments

 

I resisted the temptations of Julian's excellent fruit and veggies

 

although I did have a quick check to see if there was anything worth taking from the free firewood bins (there wasn't)

 

so having bought a half-price, out-of-date craft magazine to read, I was soon tucking in to the most wonderful bacon roll.  I'm not quite sure if this was a second breakfast or an early lunch!  Then the day took a definite turn for the better, as I was joined by Margaret, Queen of Applique, and her husband Stan (they had coffee and delicious scones).  We had a lovely long blether, then I thought  really had to get on with the day's objective!

 

I might have bought one or two little things in the garden centre for Malcolm, then I walked over to the town centre ....... and was further cheered up by the blue sky and this tree (or perhaps very large shrub) covered in bright red berries

 

on the way back to the car, (having perhaps bought one or two little somethings for Malcolm) I walked through the old graveyard

 

which is beside the Abbey

 

when I uploaded my photos this afternoon, I discovered that my "Photos" software had been updated, and one of the new things on offer was a variety of filters.  I applied one called "slate" to this shot of the Abbey.  Not quite B&W, you can still see a little bit of colour in the traffic cone

 

back home, there were lots of birds in the front garden.  I was frustrated trying to take a clear photo of the nuthatch, as it was constantly on the move

 

pecking at a piece of driftwood

 

but finally it kept still long enough for a clearer shot.  I love the black band across its eyes, making it look like a cartoon villain

 

there always has to be one bird that keeps it back turned!

 

another option the upgrade offers is being able to write/draw on photos!

 

I can't believe it - but I forgot to have a cake this afternoon!!  Hopefully someone will bring some baking to the workshop tomorrow, or I might have to pop out to Greggs at lunchtime.  We keep being threatened with terrible weather, but hopefully it will stay away until I am home from the workshop ..... and until Malcolm gets home on Sunday morning!  Whatever your weather, have a wonderful weekend, love Anne

 

Leaves, leaves and more leaves!

I didn't go over to Berwick with Malcolm yesterday, as tomorrow I am teaching a workshop at Abbey Quilters.  So after lunch, I decided to pop into Hawick and go for a walk in the park, to enjoy the autumn colours.  But this first photo was taken before I got to the park!   The heron looked miserable sitting all hunched up

 

but if he had just turned to his left, he could have enjoyed this view of the river

 

in the park, everywhere was carpeted with leaves

 

there were even leaves floating down the river, under the footbridge

 

I did think about running through the leaves, kicking them up and throwing them about - but I am sure if I had an old-fashioned park keeper would have appeared and told me off!!

 

someone has had fun with a chainsaw, turning a tree stump into a magnificent fish

 

the old wooden hut that housed the tearoom and the toilet has been demolished, but they seem to be taking a long time to build the replacement

 

autumn colours are my favourites - and someone with an eye for colour has planted these trees to show off the best of the colours

 

not quite so organised, but still glorious

 

if only the keys had been left in the ignition, I could have had fun roaring through the leaves!

 

the colours of the bandstand are a nice contrast against the trees

 

if only I could paint ....... I would certainly have a go at reproducing this scene

 

where was Malcolm when I needed him to give the scale to this tree stump?!

 

in this view, can you see the little flash of pink?  That is my glove, so you can work out just how big the stump is

 

I walked out of the top of the park to visit the walled garden.  Someone had decorated the vegetable plot with some quirky scarecrows!

 

what a stunning acer!

 

this paved area is new since I last visited the garden, but the greenhouse has yet to be refurbished

 

a late raspberry - no doubt a hungry bird will eat it

 

I think this is a lily seed pod

 

this old door is obviously still in use

 

unlike this one!

 

I headed back into the park to finish my walk.  There was no one in the shelter - I think it was a bit chilly for sitting about!

 

I said I would show you what I bought on Wednesday at The Quilt Shop.  First, some excellent cotton wadding (a girl can never have too much wadding!)

 

and four fat quarters of greens - these will probably be used for stems and leaves in an applique quilt

 

knowing that I wouldn't be going out for a cuppa and cake today, I popped into one of the local supermarkets yesterday after my walk.  I found this amazing piece of cake ........ chocolate and salted caramel lumpy bumpy cake.  Perhaps not the best of names,  but it was delicious!

 

when I am busy teaching tomorrow, I will have to remember to take photos to share with you on Monday!  Have a great weekend, love Anne

A selfie!

When I was sorting through my photos for today's post, I came across this one.  I took it on holiday with my Kindle, which I was trying to set up to take photos of our meal, to email to Stuart and Alison.  I don't usually take selfies - but I rather like this one!

 

I used to have two lovely, delightful friends in Melbourne ......... Meredithe and Helen.  But when they were recently at a quilt exhibition, they not only took lots of photos of nasty little beasties cats, they then arranged them in a collage to send to me.  I have told them I may start speaking to them again in about a zillion years time!! (M & H, you know I love you, really!)

 

I hope it really is an old wife's tale that lots of berries in the autumn means we are in for a hard winter, as our rowan tree is laden .......

 

....... with pink berries, which the blackbirds love

 

the climbing rose on the front of the house is still flowering

 

and this clematis in the back garden is flowering for the second time

 

this fuchsia has been flowering for weeks and weeks!

 

after pottering round the garden with the camera, I had a stroll along the road.  There are sheep in the field across the road

 

I think this one was saying "who are you looking at" in a picking a fight sort of way!

 

a little further on, the donkeys were out in their field

 

I was surprised they didn't have their coats on, as they seem to wear them for most of the year

 

three of them stood nicely for the photos

 

but this one just would not turn round!

 

the horse sharing their field just has such a superior air - look at me, I am sleek and handsome, unlike those shaggy donkeys!

 

after spending the summer out in the hedgerows, the sparrows are back in the garden

 

I didn't mind this one turning its back, as it means you can see the striking patterns on his feathers

 

these three were deep in conversation

 

while this one ignored them

 

for every successful bird photo ........

 

........ there are a lot like this

 

and like this, where the camera has focused  on the metal bird, instead of the robin (yes, I am blaming the camera, not my photography skills!) (according to my spell check, both focused and focussed are acceptable spellings, but neither looks right)

 

it's Friday, so that means cake!  This afternoon, we shared a slice of banana bread, which was delicious

 

we are visiting Stuart and Alison this weekend, going out for a belated dinner to celebrate our Anniversary ....... I even have a new dress to wear!  I hope you have a good weekend, love Anne

Two new projects

I had to pop down into Hawick this morning for some shopping, then when I got back, the sun was shining and I decided to take a walk along the road to see if the donkeys were out in the field.  I heard a tractor approaching, and was glad when it turned off, as its load didn't look too safe!

 

the donkeys unobligingly were in a corner of the field, so bits of fence were in the way

 

this little one must have been very hot with its shaggy coat

 

I don't know if this was a display of affection or chastisement!

 

this horse is often in this pen on its own - I know some horses mustn't eat rich grass, so perhaps that is why

 

in the field across the road, this horse was looking magnificent

 

these sparrows are slightly blurred, as they flew over so fast

 

back home, there were dozens of swallows on the neighbours' roofs

 

it was hard to count them

 

as they constantly took off and landed

 

but I think there were over 40 of them - I think they have raised three broods this year

 

the first of the new projects mentioned in today's title is Malcolm's

 

he has set up a work station in the summer house to work on some stained glass angels

 

he found some glass beads in his stash to use for their heads

 

he sat at our rather tatty table on the deck to put the copper foil round the edges

 

a good afternoon's progress

 

now for my new project - I had pieced this square years ago for a contest, but never finished it (I can't even remember now what I was going to do with it!)

 

I put it on the design wall, and cut a piece of stitch and tear

 

on which I drew some vague pencil lines

 

I then summoned my artist in residence (aka Malcolm) to turn my lines into a tree

 

I got out my embellisher (I had to give it a bit of a clean, as I haven't used it for a while!)

 

and some roving, which is a warmer brown than it looks in this photo

 

a start made to needle felting the roving on to the stitch and tear

 

gradually building up the tree - and even getting arty and adding a knot in the wood

 

after finishing the tree ........

 

........ the last stage was the scary bit - cutting the tree out, even although I knew the edges wouldn't fray.  Next I will use fmq to stitch it to the background - but that will have to wait for another day!

 

All the fun of the fair!

Before we set off on our journey to the Seaside Festival, we have to go back to Friday night, when a perfect rainbow appeared over Berwick

 

I hope someone found a pot of gold in the town, at the end of the rainbow

 

so, now to Saturday.  We walked along to the Festival, browsing through the "car boot" stalls on the first stretch of the promenade, then decided to share a bowl of chips, sitting in the sunshine, for lunch

 

there were all sorts of fairground rides for the children

 

and for their weary parents, there was a coffee stall

 

a hog roast stall - yes, they had a whole roast pig!

 

it was hard to resist the delicious smell from the freshly cooked donuts

 

this trailer had been granted a special licence for the weekend, to sell alcohol on the promenade, and for the customers to walk along the promenade with their drinks (served in plastic tumblers)

 

I had to drag my sweet tooth away from the sweetie stall

 

and in case you were hungry again by the time you got to the end of the promenade you could stop for a burger (I only realised afterwards that I hadn't taken a photo of the ice cream van at the start of the prom!)

 

we missed the Punch and Judy show, and Malcolm declined my offer to pay for him to have his face painted!  I then declined to join the little girls who were singing their hearts out to "Let it go", the annoying song from Frozen

 

in the final marquee, there was a delightful Scottish lady who, as well as selling jewellery, had two owls.  For £5 you could have a photo taken with an owl on your arm, but I preferred to pop some money in the donation tin and take photos of the owls on their perches

 

as the owl turned its head away ........

 

then back again, the lady explained to some children that owls have an extra two bones in their necks, which enable them to turn their heads 340 degrees.  They need to be able to turn their heads so much because, unlike us, who can look to the side, they can only look forward

 

I have only seen owls like this one in books, so it was a delight to see it on its perch

 

and as you can see, this child was fascinated by it

 

on our way back along the prom, I offered to buy Malcom a beer, which he immediately said yes to, and as I don't like beer, I had wine.  Cheers!!

Birds and a book

 I took some of these bird photos some weeks ago, but somehow they never made it into a post!  We start with a finch sitting on top of the bird table

 

then we have starlings sitting on a telegraph pole and phone wires

 

and flying off after being attacked by some swallows!

 

a wagtail on the birdbath

 

 helpfully turning its head the other way for a second photo

 

but wagtails are rarely still, both wagging their tails, and bobbing their heads up and down, so most photos turn out blurred like this one

 

a scruffy blue tit sitting on the bin store.  I think it was probably not long out of the nest, and still had some of its juvenile feathers

another day, another group of starlings

 

and yet another day, with some blue sky, and starlings!

 

a thrush, looking slightly misty

 

after blackbirds have been in the bird bath ........

 

........ they like to sit in the sun, spreading their wings and fluffing up their feathers

 

this little blue tit was pecking at the peanut feeder this afternoon

 

again it is a scruffy one, probably from the second or third brood of the summer - it has been a very good year for the garden birds

 

I was sitting inserting the photos into the post when this sparrow appeared, so I had to quickly snap him and load the photos on to the laptop, to be included

 

a good splash

 

a very thorough bath

 

aaaah - that's better

 

and now for the book in today's title.  Last week Kelly recommended this book, so I had a look to see if it was available for the Kindle.  Well it was, but it was a silly price.  But of course Amazon give you other choices, and I was able to buy a 2nd hand paperback for 1p, plus £2.80 p&p!

 

the book arrived this morning

 

and I was surprised to see that the return address was jut up the road in Galashiels (I admit that I hadn't read all the vendor details when I bought the book)

 

this may be a local company, but I have never heard of it.  So of course I googled it, and found that it is a very interesting concern, buying excess stock of books from charity shops, as well as accepting donations of books, and selling them to raise money for community projects.  They also employ people who struggle to find work.  The next time I have a clear out of books, I shall donate them to this worthy cause.

Fetching in Marigolds!

Malcolm caught me this morning having a bit of a clean and tidy in the kitchen!  (my apron says "a balanced life - a glass of wine in each hand")

 

so I thought I would have a bit of a tidy on the blog as well, and catch up with some photos lingering in the unpublished folder, starting with these photos of a sunset earlier in the week

 

I always think of skies like these as "Old Testament" skies

 

that you see in old paintings with the hand of God reaching down to man, or angels and  saints in heaven

 

the camera was still on the sunset setting when I took this photo the next morning, but it turned out ok ........ a rather dishevelled finch sitting on the bird table

 

it's always exciting when post arrives from abroad

 

and even more exciting when (almost) naked men are involved!!

 

oh my, what a dilemma, ogle the men, or appreciate the lovely quilts!

 

but unless you buy your own copy, you will have to wait until next year, when I will show you each month's photo in turn

 

as we walked along the path to the front door this afternoon, I paused to take some photos.  The climbing rose has a touch of pink on the outside of the buds

 

but once the bud opens, the rose is creamy white

 

my bargain supermarket fuchsias are flowering well

 

surviving the heavy rain showers

 

a few weeks ago, I noticed this little self-seeded tree growing in the back garden, so Malcolm dug it up and put it in a pot - it has grown about six inches since then

 

this afternoon, we popped over to Border Meringues in Jedburgh for a cuppa and cake.  I love the eclectic collection of china for my tea

 

Malcolm had a date crispie

 

and I had a piece of meringue roulade - I thought it might be slightly less calorific than lemon meringue pie!!

 

I was grumbling away to myself this morning ....... time wasted dealing with the problem with the phone......... the beautiful silver bangles that Malcolm was going to give me for our Pearl Wedding Anniversary next month were sold out......... my gorgeous new car, which should have been delivered this morning, won't now be delivered until Monday ..........

then I though of all the families mourning the loss of their loved ones in Nice ....... and my grumbles really didn't matter anymore.  I hope there is a pit in the deepest darkest horrors of Hell for this murdering terrorist, and all those like him, who want to destroy our way of life.......

 

But the best thing to do, in the face of these horrors, is to live our lives to the full, so I will wish you all the best of weekends, love Anne