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When we were on holiday, Malcolm couldn't understand why I took a photo of this sign
There were two reasons -
1: I'm surprised that the 'Toon Army' hasn't told the locals how to spell 'Geordie' (if you don't understand that, leave me a comment and I'll send you the explanation!!)
2: This is not my idea of a torrent !!
Oh dear, I don't blame you for groaning, those were terrible 'jokes'!!
..... beside the seaside - but unfortunately, when we took Malcolm's Dad to Newbiggin this afternoon, the weather wasn't very good, so we weren't able to sit outside for a cuppa, as we did last time. However, that didn't stop me from having ice cream with my cup of tea!
I love the red and white cup and saucer and the matching tablecloth. After the cuppa, I had a quick visit to the local wool shop - a good old fashioned one with great piles of wool everywhere. You won't be surprised when I tell you that I bought some balls from the bargain basket!
I was intrigued by these two plaques, which were side by side on the side wall of a house - I will have to find out more about them (and find the rest of them!)
When we took Malcolm's Dad back to the Home, the sun had come out, and with it, two of the doves in the Home's dovecote
Before we headed for home, we had one last stop, in the Sue Ryder charity shop in Ashington. As soon as I saw this remnant, it was in my hand and I was heading to the counter to pay!! There is about two yards (or do I have to say metres) of it, and it is just the right colours for the dining room - yet something else for the to-do list!!!!
I have mentioned (just once or twice!) that I don't like heights and stairs, so when, on holiday, I was confronted with these ....
and even more of these .....
I did the sensible thing and sat at the bottom in the sun reading the paper, and sent Malcolm up the stairs, armed with the camera.
At the top is the Church of Calvari
and these stunning views
Of course, having climbed all the way to the top, Malcolm then had to come all the way back down!
However, he was rewarded when he tucked into this for dinner ....
.... the meat was tender and succulent - and the chips were pretty good too!
What did I have - I succumbed to a rather posh burger .....
I love how they put a little bit salad on the plate, as if that makes it healthy!!
As promised, a progress report on 'Sunset'. I have been stitching and stitching and stitching and .... well, you get the picture!
The greenery, the sand and the sea have all been quilted and I am now doing the sky on the right hand side.
This is a detail of where the sea meets the sky. I have mentioned before that I am quilting this with BIG stitches - so I took the next photo to show you the difference between my usual stitch size, and the length of stitches on Sunset
By now you must be saying - she keeps calling this Sunset over the Bay, but we can't see any sunset ..... well, here it is .....
I bought this piece of fabric originally because I was thinking of a coral reef, but then I looked at it again and thought 'sunset' ... and that was the starting point for the whole design (someone did say it could equally be sunrise -- and I said, it's my design, it's sunset!!!)
When the rest of the sky and the sunset panel have been quilted, I'll then square up the design and add an outer border to bring it up to the required size.
When I came out of the studio after taking these photos, the sun was shining on the clematis on the pergola, so I thought I would take a photo - but as the flowers are on the top, I had to stand on a garden chair to take the photo (remember I said I don't like heights - well standing on a chair is a height as far as I'm concerned - the things I do for this blog!!)
We were crossing the bridge over the River Teviot in town this morning, when we spotted a heron. Of course I whipped out the camera, but just as I went to take the photo, the heron moved and hid behind a clump of long grass. He eventually moved back into view, and I was able to take this photo
He then turned to face us, so we had to wait until he decided to turn (almost) sideways on
We then walked on to the path along the river, hoping to get a better view from above. I had just got the pesky bird in focus when .... he flew off! However I did manage to snatch this photo before he flew under the bridge
I am off now to do some serious stitching on 'Sunset' as the deadline is looming!! I have decided (more or less) how I am going to finish the piece. I'll post some photos tomorrow.
As usual for Friday, it was off down the road to Borderland Fabrics. There was the usual amount of sewing done, but today I just took photos of the important stuff - yes ... the food and drink
The tea definitely tastes better when poured from a pot with such a smart cosy!
Annette excelled herself today with this wonderful sponge - and as she had forgotten her whisk .... she whisked the cream with a fork!
The teacosy was knitted by Anne, who has been having an exciting time, as she now has an on-line shop. Do have a look - there are all sorts of lovely kits for quilts, bags, dolls - lots of super things. Anne will be adding more kits, so if you don't see something this time, do go back for another look. I particularly like the Japanese quilt, which I saw when Anne made her sample one - the colours are lovely.
It's a wet and miserable evening here, but never mind ... it's the weekend - have a good one, love, Anne
I have been decidedly unproductive on the knitting/sewing front while this toothache/infected gum thing has been going on (back at the dentist yesterday, another course of antibiotics!), so I thought today I would show you some of Malcolm's woodwork in the garden.
He made the birdbox last year and we were delighted when we got back from holiday to find it in use. We have seen a pair of bluetits flying in and out - I will try to get a photo - but they are just so quick!
The box hedge plants were moved here from another part of the garden. Malcolm is slowly trimming them into shape.
The middle of this feeder is a peanut feeder that we were given as a houswarming present - but the birds wouldn't use it as there was nowhere for them to land. Now, however, it is in constant use.
A smart cover for the gas bottles for our cooker.
Not one .....
not two .....
but three alpine planters. Why three? Because they sit on ugly drain covers! They sit on little feet, so that the garden trolley will slide in underneath if they need to be moved to allow access to the drains.
And the great thing about these wonderful objects? They were all made from wood in Malcolm's stash (yes, even men have stashes) - leftover pieces from other projects, so they cost virtually nothing.
Now, this last picture comes with a warning for its high 'cuteness' factor - all together now - aaaah, aren't they just such lovely fluffy little cygnets ...
We saw the swans on the River Tweed in Kelso this afternoon, basking in the sunshine.
I had a browse round our local Oxfam shop this morning, where the first thing I spotted was this hank of wool - when I saw the label on it, I realised that it was a good few years old, so of course I had to buy it!
Older knitters of course will remember Patons and Baldwins - and when did you last see ounces on a label. I will have to find an old pattern to knit.
The second thing I bought was this old embroidery book
which the owner signed and dated - obviously a proud possession
I like the author's dedication
and the first pages - do modern books have frontispieces?
Although I have done some embroidery, it's not a subject I know a lot about. Given the age of this book, I was amazed when I Googled 'Mary Thomas' at the great list that came up - mostly bookshops still selling her books - so maybe my Oxfam purchase is a little treasure!
...... then he marched me down again!
It was a lovely morning on Sunday, so when Malcolm suggested a walk in the park in Hawick, I was happy to agree. We stopped at Morrisons for the Sunday papers, then walked over to the park. Of course I had my camera with me and we hadn't gone far before the first photo op appeared - this wonderful tree, bursting into leaf
Followed soon after by this beautiful azalea - the flowers are much darker before they open
There is a small cafe in the park, so we stopped for a cuppa and sat in the sun reading the papers. We then walked on through the park and out on to the road to walk back in to town. We passed this small 'Hawick Horse' (more of that later)
Malocolm then suggested that we walk up to the 'Mote', as it would be a good place for photos. Now, Hawick is a hilly town and this must be one of the longest, steepest hills - my poor little legs were complaining long before we got to the top!! However, when we got there, it was worth the effort. This next photo explains about the 'mote'
I got Malcolm to stand in front of it, to provide the scale
Perhaps an enemy attacking the mote might have used this
I then further abused my poor legs and climbed what seemed like a million steps to the top of the mote to take a photo of the view to the High Street. The building which looks as if it should be in France is the Town Hall
Then I had to face coming down the steep steps (I might have mentioned I don't like heights ... well, I don't like stairs either!)
After walking all the way back down the hill, we then strolled along the High Street, where I took another photo of the Town Hall - it's a lovely building.
I said I would tell you more about the Hawick Horse. It commemorates a skirmish when the youths of Hawick routed an English army at Hornshole and captured the Bishop of Hexham's flag in 1514 (we Scots have a long memory when it comes to battles with the English!) This is the original Hawick Horse, which stands in the High Street
If you have to give someone directions, you start by saying - well, you know where the Horse is ...
I hope you've enjoyed seeing some of the sights of Hawick!
Despite the better weather, I was full of doom and gloom this morning. In recent weeks I have been suffering from a sore mouth, which I initially blamed on tmd (a pain in the jaw) which I have suffered from on and off for some time now. However, the pain was getting worse, so I went to the dentist on Friday. He diagnosed a gum infection and gave me antibiotics. However, things went decidedly downhill over the weekend and I hardly slept last night, finally giving up tossing and turning and getting up at 4.30! So it was off back to the dentist this morning. I saw a different one this time, and while agreeing with the original diagnosis, she also said that I had a tooth which was a major contributor to my misery. To cut a long story short, I've had the tooth out!! Now that the numbness has worn off, I still have some pain, but hopefully that will go by the time I finish the antibiotics.
However, there was a ray of sunshine in my day, when the postman delivered this enormous envelope!
Ooooh - the excitement as I opened the envelope to find ..... another envelope!
However, this was soon opened to reveal these gorgeous goodies, sent by Meg.
Meg had told me she was sending me the Keepsake Quilter newsletter, so it was a lovely surprise to find the magazines as well. And of course the card, which is just the bees knees (oh, sorry, couldn't resist that one!) Thank you very much Meg - you certainly brightened a very miserable day!
We went for a walk in Hawick yesterday and I took lots of photos (of course) but I just didn't feel up to doing a post about it yesterday, so I'll do it tomorrow!!