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!