frayed at the edge

All my bags are packed ....

Oh dear, sorry about that - but I just couldn't resist it for today's title!  As you may have gathered by now, we are going on holiday tomorrow.  We are going away for the same two weeks as last year, to the same destination - Majorca, the same resort - Pollensa ..... and, we are even staying in the same villa!  We enjoyed ourselves so much last year, that when we saw that the villa was available again this year, we just couldn't resist it .....

 

The villa is in the countryside near the old town of Pollensa, where you can have a great time pottering round the narrow streets, with their eclectic mix of shops....

 

 

As well as Pollensa, just a few miles away is the newer Puerto Pollensa, which is more 'touristy' (but no clubs, no lager louts!)  And there are also stunning views ....

 

Some days the hardest decision is which coffee to have .....

 

Even on holiday that handsome man turns up in my photos!  These are just a few of last year's 'holiday snaps' - obviously this year I will be much more aware of 'photo opportunities' (if I can stir from my lounger, where I will be relaxing, reading books and listening to music!)  I hope you will come back in two weeks time to read of this year's adventures in Majorca!

Two more sleeps!

I may have mentioned once (or twice) (or several times) that we are going on holiday on Saturday.  So if you are looking for me over the next two weeks, you'll find me here ... 

  

..... I'll tell you more tomorrow!

Life on my kitchen windowsill

It has been a really miserable day here.  There has been a heavy mist, which at times has turned into drizzle - and it has been cold!  So obviously I needed something for today's post which would cheer us all up.  I was standing looking out of the kitchen window at the miserable weather, when I realised the answer was right in front of me - my lovely orchids!  (you will notice I haven't taken photos of them in situ, but rather on top of the bookcase in the lounge, so that there was a plain wall behind them)

 

This is my newest orchid, which I just bought a few weeks ago.  It is just so lovely, I couldn't resist it (and it was a special offer!)

 

The markings on the flowers are wonderful - I think it would make a lovely embroidery.

 

These last two flowers have been hanging on for weeks - again the markings are lovely.

 

This pale pink one has been in flower for a couple of months, but is starting to fade - you can see the bottom flower is getting ready to fall off!

 

Just starting to flower, this one is a strong pink.

 

But as you can see, the markings on this one aren't as strong.

 

Isn't this one superb - and with a butterfly just landed on it! ...... oh all right, the orchid is real, but the flower spike is silk - it just adds a bit of interest until the orchid flowers again!

I hope my orchids have provided a little bright spot for you in this grey day!

More technology!

After my success with dealing with my Ipod shuffle yesterday, I decided to go for broke on the technology front!  I had read and reread the instructions for putting a link to flickr on the side bar .... it's really strange, you know what the words mean individually, but when you read them together, your brain freezes and you might as well be reading a foreign language!!  So I told myself - you're a big girl, you're (reasonably) intelligent, how hard can it be?  Then I remembered the advice I give people when teaching them patchwork - don't read the instructions from start to finish, you'll only become totally bewildered - just start with the first step and when you've done that move on to the second step ... and so on.  Well ... it worked, and I now am the proud possessor of a link to my photos on flickr!!

And here is a little tease that might make you want to  see more ....

Isn't technology wonderful (sometimes)!

We're starting to get organised for our holiday, so this afternoon I decided to put new music on my Ipod shuffle - Malcolm usually does such things for me, but he was busy in the garden, so I had to tackle it myself!  I really don't understand all things technological and it just amazes me that I could transfer all these cds to my tiny little shuffle ....

 

I did a lot of stitching on 'Sunset' over the weekend.  I have now quilted all the sand and have made a start on the sea.  I posted off the entry form this morning, so I have to finish it now!

 

I have done some more of the shawl - this stage is straightforward, as it is a six row repeat.  Hopefully the next stage will go as well.

 

I think perhaps one or two of the holes aren't quite in the right place, but as long as there isn't a glaring error, I'm not going to worry about it!

Unplanned!

I hadn't intended to do a post today, but we had such a wonderful walk in the bright sunshine this morning, that I thought I would share it with you.

We went to Harestanes which is just off the A68 at Ancrum near Jedburgh.  There are several walks, a visitor centre ..... and the Crafts Courtyard Designers.

But first, the walk

 

Who is this handsome man who keeps appearing in my photos!

 

The path we followed is part of St Cuthbert's Way, which goes from Melrose to Lindisfarne - at 100km, just a little too far for a Sunday morning stroll.

 

These ferns are bursting with life ....

 

.... but this amazing old tree hasn't stirred yet.

  

Malcolm spotted this little bit of fallen branch encrusted with lichen - the shadows show how sunny it was!

 

You can see Mr Duck at the top of the photo - but did you spot Mrs Duck towards the bottom?

 

If only you could smell this photo of wild garlic!

 

The first bluebells - my Dad used to play 'The Bluebells of Scotland' on the violin - our dog used to howl along with him - and the dog was more tuneful!!

 

The end of the walk, with the Harestanes buildings in the background. 

In the shop area of the visitor centre, I spotted some of Uncle Roy's products - they are a real taste of Scotland.  I love their Moffat Meadows salt, but haven't yet tried their chocolate mustard!!

We then had lunch - delicious broccoli soup, which was served with crusty bread - and a little bowl of grated cheese to sprinkle on top of the soup - yummy.

Lastly, it was into the courtyard to visit the little craft shops, my favourite of which is the most wonderful handbag shop - the handbags are absolutely gorgeous, and I was very fortunate when Malcolm gave me one the Christmas before last - do click on the link, then drop heavy hints to husbands/partners for future presents!  

 

 

Plan B

After lunch, I went out to the studio to do some work on 'Sunset', taking with me a cuppa, which I put on one of my coasters from the Time for Tea swap.

 

The plan for today was to use these ....

 

..... to make the 'foam' where the waves break on the sand.

I started by stitching small circles on to the wash-a-way paper .....

 

I then rinsed the paper away ..... but found that a sticky residue clung to the thread.

I tried stitching another piece with bigger, looser circles, hoping that would let the paer wash away fully, but found that the thread didn't hold its shape - here are the two attempts

 

one sticky mess and one straggly mess - I definitely need a Plan B!!

One thing I did manage to do successfully, was to fill in the entry form, as I will need to post it before we go on holiday next Saturday

 

and then I decorated this 'tree' for Easter - it looks very pretty with the sun streaming in through the French doors

 

Like a bat out of hell .....

..... what, what, what do you mean that's the wrong Meatloaf?  Oh, you meant that meatloaf!  Ok then, here it is.

First, assemble the ingredients.

 

Mince, sausagemeat, stale bread, an onion, two eggs and chilli sauce.

 

Blitz the bread into breadcrumbs and put in a large bowl.

 

Blitz the onion and add it to the bowl.

 

Add a dollop of chilli sauce and salt and pepper, then the two eggs (beaten) and mix everything well.  Now comes the fun bit - add the mince and sausagemeat, then using your hands, combine all the ingredients.

 

Put the mixture in a heatproof bowl, cover with greaseproof paper and tie with string - use some extra string to make a handle - it makes it much easier to lift the bowl in and out of the steamer.

 

Steam for one and a half to two hours - remember to check now than then that there is still wated in the steamer.

  

  Allow the meatloaf to cool a bit, then turn it out onto a plate (you might have to run a knife round the bowl to loosen the meatloaf).

  You can eat the meatloaf hot, in which case cut thick slices - it is lovely served with onion gravy and mashed potatoes.  But we like to put it in the fridge overnight, then cut thin slices.  We ate it with cauliflower and broccoli, with a 'healthy' cheese sauce made by heating some half fat creme fraiche with grated cheddar stirred in.

 

It's also very nice served with salad and a good fruity chutney.  Don't worry, we didn't eat it all - half of it is in the freezer for another day!

 

I hope you all have a lovely holiday weekend - don't eat too many Easter eggs!  Love, Anne

Night and day

Last night, it was off down that road to Chesters again - this time for this month's Rural meeting.  We were going to learn about painting on glass.  I really wasn't to sure about this - I just can't draw or paint - no matter how many times I am told everyone can draw if they just try!!  However, I paid close attention as Sheila explained how to do it ....

 

Now please don't laugh too much when I show you my painted glass!

 

Oh go on then, it deserves to be laughed at.  This is actually one of the things I doodle - a little pansy.  Sometimes when people see my sewing, they say ' oh, I haven't the patience to do that' ..... well, I discovered I don't have the patience for painting on glass - tracing the design, sticking it inside the glass, then painting it - my doodle was enough for me!

 

Today, Malcolm and I headed up to Edinburgh, to visit the newly opened Hobbycraft store.  There is an amazing amount of stuff - but I have to agree with my friend Tricia, who thought that although there are supplies for lots of crafts, it tends to be the basics, rather than specialist supplies - which I guess we will still have to get online.  Malcolm got some art supplies, but this is all I bought ...

 

However, I made up for it when we went to Borders!

 

Did you notice that both these books were written by a Debbie - do you think if I change my name to Debbie I will miraculously become a fabulous knitter?!

From the beginning

Yesterday, I took some photos of my first quilts, as I realised I only had 'real' photos of them, so I thought I would share them with you.

This is a sampler quilt, which a lot of people start with - and for some unknown reason, a lot of people use pink and green!

 

It's hard to believe I made this quilt in 1993!  It's a far travelled quilt, having gone to Indonesia with us.  It's the one I snuggle under when I'm ill.

 

This log cabin quilt is my second one.  It's made from curtain fabrics (I got sample books free from a curtain shop!).  It just goes on and on - it has been in the washing machine countless times!

 

I made this for my Mum's birthday in 1994.  Sadly she only lived another eighteen months, which makes it all the more special.

 

It's only made with poly cotton sheeting, but I loved the colours then and I still love them now.