frayed at the edge

Borderlands

I got up at 6.30 this morning, put on my walking shoes (and some clothes!) and headed out into a glorious summer morning.  It's almost three years since we moved to the Borders, and in answer to the question - why did we move here ....

 

Looking over to the Eildons

 

The Minto Hills in the early morning sunshine

 

The morning rush hour!

 

The sweet smell of honeysuckle and the hum of bees

 

This afternoon, of course, it was off to Borderland fabrics for the weekly patch'n'chat.  Do you remember way back I was working on Malcolm's chicken quilt?  Well, I thought I ought to make an effort to get it finished, before the plump chickens turn into stringy old hens!

 

Just a few of the blocks

 

Eggs for us, a worm for the chickens, or would you prefer

 

Annette's strawberry pavlova!

 

Wouldn't it be nice to have a job where you could lie down?  Cathy, Annette's right hand woman, seems to think that she has one!

 

But as she re-upholstered the chaise longue with some of her wonderful patchwork, I guess she deserves to occasionally put her feet up!

 

Have a good weekend, love, Anne

Swallowtails

This week, I decided to have a change from working out to my dvd, and instead go out for early morning walks.  This morning, several swallows were sitting on the phone wire in front of the house, but as soon as I focused the camera on them, they flew off!

On Tuesday, I forgot to take the camera, so when I came across this poor little dead newt, I carefully lifted him with a tissue and brought him back home.  Here he is beside a 2p and two tiny conkers, knocked off the tree by torrential rain

 

I've never seen a newt up close, and I was delighted to find he had an orange tummy

 

You have seen a photo of the postbox at the bottom of our road, but there is also one in the other direction, although this one doesn't have royal initials

 

However later on in the morning, we passed this pillar box in Hawick - oh the excitement, my first ER one

 

Then even more excitement, when Malcolm spotted the manufacturer's name at the bottom

 

McDowall Steven & Co Ltd, London and Falkirk - so why the excitement - we used to live in Falkirk, indeed Stuart still lives there, so it was just one of little coincidences! ( Malcolm pretended he wasn't with me, when I knelt down to take the photo!)

 

And now to return to not just swallows, but swallowtails!  Yes - it's finished, although I didn't cast it off last night, as it was a fancy cast off, and again I was immersed in Torchwood (what do you mean I was just hoping John Barrowman would get his kit off again!!)  However, I sat after lunch today and cast off.  It is quite a small shawl (more of a scarf) although it will grow a bit when I block it

 

and why swallowtails - here is a detail of the edge that I pinned out

 

As well as the swallowtail shape, you can also see some of the nupps ( the little clusters of stitches).  I didn't always enjoy knitting this (nupps are a pain!), but I'm delighted how it has turned out, and it will look lovely with my good navy winter coat!

Where does the time go?

Now that we are 'pensioners' (Malcolm having taken early retiremment almost four years ago), you would think that we would have lots of time to devote to our hobbies - but somehow the days go by and things don't get done!  I have picked up my swallowtail shawl again, and  having finished the next section of the pattern, yesterday I moved the lifeline, ready to start on the second last section

 

I did make a start last night, but then 'Torchwood' came on - are you watching it?  We are absolutely glued to it, so the knitting had to be put down, so that I could concentrate on the plot - and I had to pay close attention when John Barrowman was naked!!  Of course it was required by the plot that he had no clothes on ... oh cares if it was part of the plot, he just looks good scuddy bare naked!!!

 

Something that I have been finding time for is continuing to listen to my hypnotherapy cd.  I really enjoy the first part, experiencing deep relaxation (ok, sometimes I fall asleep!).  However I find part two to be a bit hippy and New Age for me.  It is all about aligning my chakras - now I've never heard anyone say this word, but I assumed it would be pronounced with a hard 'ch', but he keeps saying it with a soft 'sh', which annoys me!  Anyway, each chakra has its own colour and you have to picture them in turn.  There was something about the colours and the order they are in which seemed familiar, and when I realised what it was, it inspired this page in my journal

  

As you can see, I was at the back of the queue when drawing skills were being given out, and I haven't progressed since I was about five!  That reminds me of a (sort of) poem about physical attributes being given out by God - the two bits I remember are ...

When he said noses, I thought he said roses  And asked for a large red one

 

When he said chins, I thought he said gins  And asked for a double

 

Oh dear, that's enough nonsense - I think I need my dinner!!

 

ps - remember you can click on the photos to enlarge them, if you can't quite read the journal page!

Tuesday Treasures

I come from a very small family.  My Mum was an orphan, and I have no relatives on her side.  So I grew up with just one Granny and Grandpa.

This is my gorgeous Granny

 

and this is my handsome Grandpa

 

I don't know exactly when they got married, but I know they were married for some years before they had children.   My Dad was born in 1919, so that makes this last remaining plate from their wedding china very old indeed

 

The pattern is almost worn off on the rim, but it had a Greek key design on the gold bits.  They had two girls and a boy, but sadly one of the girls died in childhood, leaving my Dad and my Aunt Anne, seen here with my Grandpa - who by then had lost quite a lot of his hair!

 

Talking of hair, this photo has a lot to answer for - my Mum decided that I should have a fringe like my Aunt's - unfortunately she cut it with the kitchen scissors and by the time she got it straight, it was about half an inch long!!

My Mum and Dad were married in 1946

 

and I don't think they had wedding china, but when I was little, they bought this lovely teaset for 'best'

 

They too produced two girls and a boy and here we are all together, except for Dad, who took the photo!

 

I'm the cute little shy one on the left!!  So when I grew up, did I too buy a favourite teaset?  I did indeed - mine is a Susie Cooper design for Wedgwood called Keystone.  I don't use it very often - only for the most special of visitors!

 

One of the teaplates was broken a long time ago, so taking the photo yesterday prompted me to have a search online for a replacement.  I discovered that I could buy a plate for £10 (with another £5 for p&p)  I sat and looked at it there in my ' basket', but in the end, I decided that not only was that a lot of money for one plate, but also that it would always be a replacement, not part of the history of my teaset......

 

Shadows

I've taken photos for years - but just the usual holiday/family occasions snaps.  However, since starting my blog, I have had to think much more about the photos - for example, looking at the background, so the subject doesn't have a tree growing out of their head!  Three blogs that I have been particularly inspired by are Helen's, Kate's  and Sarah's.  I particularly like Sarah's 'Shadow Shot Sunday' - I now see shadows in a whole new light!  Yesterday, when the rain finally stopped, the sun came out and there were wonderful shadows everywhere - here are some of them

 

The glazing bars of the French doors on the lounge floor

 

Steamer chair on the deck

 

Cherry tree leaves on the drive

 

Back garden gate on the studio wall

 

Pergola on the grass

 

Scaffolding from the new house next door

 

Harebells on the deck

 

It's just as well I took these photos yesterday, as it has been a rather miserable day here.  After a morning of drizzle, we had thunderstorms this afternoon and there was a downpour while we were eating dinner - not a shadow in sight!

 

 

 

What could be better than......

going out for a cuppa on a summer Sunday morning!  Unfortunately, the weather didn't co-operate, and we had to sit in the car until the rain went off

 

We went to the Main Street Trading Company in St Boswells

 

As I believe in recycling, this is a photo from our last visit!

This afternoon we settled down to watch the tennis

 

I was finishing the hand-sewing on Stuart's cushions, and as the tennis went on ... and on...

 

I didn't just finish this one (do you like the fabric - it was a 25p remnant!) ....

 

I finished all four!  And still the tennis went on ......

Malcolm was busy cooking a leg of lamb for dinner - this is when is came out of the oven to be basted.  It has a coating of finely chopped rosemary (we have a big pot in the garden)

 

and still the tennis went on .... and then the lamb came out the oven to rest

 

and - all together now - the tennis went on ...... and we sat down to a wonderful Sunday dinner (I'm embarrassed to show this photo, it looks such an enormous plateful (and yes, I do love gravy!!)

 

so dinner was eaten, with a nice glass of wine

 

and yes, still the tennis went on - never mind the players, I was exhausted!  Malcolm lit a scented candle while I washed the saucepans

 

and we went through to the lounge to watch  --- yes, the tennis.  I had just transferred today's photos to my laptop and was about to start writing today's post, when ..... at last!!  In all the excitement of the afternoon, it's just amazing that Federer's wife didn't go into labour with their first child - that would have made for an interesting birth certificate - place of birth? - Centre Court, Wimbledon!

 

Journals (sort of!)

I was reading Sarah's blog, and in her post 'bits and pieces', she shows several amazing pages from her journal.  This made me think about my two 'journals'.  First I have this beatiful notebook, which was made by my very talented friend Alison for my birthday

 

This is my 'blog book' where I have lists of web/blog addresses for links - this was my page for last week's Woolfest

 

and I also have lists of (hopefully) interesting websites that I have seen in magazines

 

My other book is for my knitting notes - this was my first (and so far only) attempt to knit a cover for a notebook.  The yarn I used (can't remember what it was!!) was too soft, and I had to use some double sided tape to hold the cover in place

 

So, inspired by Sarah's journal, I have done this page on my wips.  I tried to channel my inner artist, but I think she must have been away watching the tennis!  Perhaps I should have cheated and got Malcolm to draw the pictures (I must remember to show you one of his pictures sometime).   Maybe next time I should use coloured pencils (or get a four-year old to do it for me).  So please, don't laugh too much .......

What's the recipe today?

Do you remember Jimmy Young on Radio 2, when he would ask ''what's the recipe today?' (or am I showing my age?!)  I said I would tell you what I cooked for dinner when I was having my lazy day on Tuesday - so first of all the ingredients

 

Two lovely plump turkey steaks, an onion, a sweet orange pepper, a small (but very juicy) orange, olive oil and Uncle Roy's Moffat Meadows seasoning salt and Scotch Bonnet chilli salt.

I put a good glug of olive oil in the bowl and added the juice from the orange, along with some Moffat Meadows salt (it's wonderful, with dried wild flowers in it) and just a little of the chilli salt (it's hot!!)  Next I sliced the onion and pepper with the mandolin (very scary, it is so sharp)

 

I put the onion and pepper over the turkey, then poured the oil/orange mixture over

 

I covered the dish with foil, then popped it in the fridge to marinate

(I have to pause here, as Andy Murray has just saved a match point .... but in the time it took me to type that, Andy Roddick won - my poor nerves are shredded!!)

as I was saying, I left it to marinate, then once I knew Malcolm was on his way home, I put the dish in the oven, still covered with the foil for the first part of cooking - when I uncovered it, I drizzled some honey over it (yum yum)  I served it with some baby baked potatoes with garlic and herb butter (ok I confess, I bought them ready prepared!)  So here is dinner

 

I'm sorry the photo is slightly out of focus - of course I didn't discover that until I saw it on the computer after dinner - when it was too late to take another one!  The turkey was tender, the onions were soft and succulent, the peppers sweet, but with the bite of the chilli salt to stop it being too sweet.  A successful dinner!

My brain has melted!

It has been so hot today, that my poor brain can't cope with writing a big long post, so I will just show this photo I took this morning in Melrose.  After much searching, I have finally found a postbox from the reign of Queen Victoria.  She reigned from June 1837 until January 1901, so this is definitely a little bit of history

 

Lazy day!

I wasn't very well on Monday  (a bit of a nasty attack of neuralgia) and was up most of the night, so yesterday I didn't go with Malcolm to visit his Dad.  I didn't quite have a duvet day, but I did have an extremely lazy day!  As soon as Malcolm set off, I went for a lovely long soak in the bath

 

As you can see, it's a lovely big bath, but as I'm not very tall, I have a bit of a problem - my feet don't reach the end, so the first few baths resulted each time in my either floating or sliding down to the far end.  Much to my embarrassment, I had to solve the problem by sitting on a mat, as if I was a small child!!

 

Of course, no pampering session would be complete without my favourite Sanctuary Spa toiletries 

and now I have an even greater choice, since my lovely sister-in-law, Jennifer, recently gave me this gorgeous set of body butters

 

My favourite one is Zibu, on the left - I just wish I could let you smell them, mmmmm, just wonderful!

Next on the being good to me schedule was a mug of hot chocolate and a piece of cherry cake (don't be silly, of course I didn't bake it!)

 

The hot chocolate was an Options one - Turkish Delight.  If you liked Fry's Turkish Delight as a child, you will like this, as it's just like drinking a melted one!

Next was a spot of relaxation, listening to my hypnotherapy cd, wearing my lavender-scented mask

 

I have to admit, that sometimes I relax so much while listening that I fall asleep!

Before I knew it, it was time for lunch, and there was only one thing to have - this is what my Mum always gave me when I was poorly as a child, and I still love it

 

As Malcolm wasn't there, I could indulge in a bad habit - reading at the table - and as it was a lazy day, of course it had to be chick lit!

 

During the afternoon, I was entertained by mummy wagtail (or it might have been daddy) feeding a little one right in front of the lounge window.  They are so funny to watch, with their tails bobbing up and down

 

However, I wasn't entirely lazy, and had dinner ready when Malcolm got home .... I'll show you what we had another day!