frayed at the edge

Sad, sad news

Malcolm's Dad passed away late last night.  Malcolm was with him at the end.  I thought I would share some photos of happier days......

 

 

 

 
 
 

Many, many thanks ....

...... to everyone for all the kind words for Malcolm - it means a lot to him to know that so many people are thinking of him.  He went down to Ashington first thing this morning and is staying overnight in the hospital with his Dad, who unfortunately is still very, very ill.  Malcolm and I had a chat last night about writing about his Dad, and we came to the conclusion that I would tell you what was happening, but I won't say much more for the moment - we just didn't want you to think that I was posting my usual nonsense regardless of the turmoil in our lives.

So ..... I didn't go with Malcolm today as I had a major appointment at the dentist!  I know, it's all been going on for months, but another two appointments and it should all be over - but then comes the real pain - the BILL.  I took the opportunity of a day in the house to get on with domestic things - doing the ironing (my least favourite job) and cooking for the freezer - I still have a big pot of bolognese simmering!! 

During the day, I had an awful thought - when I did the post about the sticky toffee cake, I had a whole packet of butter in the photo - but I didn't say how much to use!  Please don't put in the whole packet - I used about 60g.  I have now amended the post - I just had the most awful vision of people melting a whole packet of butter.....

Of course, I have still been knitting, and the first little Christmas gnome is taking shape

 

I'll finish his beard tonight, and get started on number two - I think I will do him in green!

Stuart was planning to visit baby Mia tonight, so hopefully he will phone later with a full report!!
 

Bad news

Hi everyone

Just a short note to let you know that we have spent the day visiting Malcolm's Dad in hospital.  He is very poorly indeed.

Love, Anne

A tale of three cakes!

Did you think I had forgotten the photos for the Friday Cake Fan Club?  Of course I didn't, I just thought I would keep them until today!!

lemon drizzle cake and date and walnut loaf

 

And the third cake?  Following the success of last week's no-cook chocolate brownies, I thought I would have a go at no-cook sticky toffee cake .......

I crumbled the cake into a bowl and added twelve dates, cut into quarters.  I melted the two Mars bars in a small bowl over a saucepan of hot water, then added approx 60g butter to melt and mixed it well. I added this mixture to the cake and dates and stirred it together - that took a bit of effort as it's decidedly sticky!  Next, I put it into a loaf tin lined with clingfilm, then into the fridge to chill.  Last, I cut it into squares

So .... how does it taste?  Absolutely delicious!!  As you can see, I cut it into small squares, as it is very rich.  I think it would be even more delicious with a little cream or ice cream!!

 

I should have done the ironing this afternoon ..... but instead I got organised for my next knitting project (I finished my shawl yesterday)

These little fellows are so cute - I had intended to knit them last year (possibly even the year before) so I thought I had better get a move on to make sure they are ready for this Christmas!

 

Their little hats are so cute!  I've been saving up yarn - odd balls from the bargain basket!

I'm spoiled for choice for their beards - maybe I'll just have to knit lots of them to use all the different colours ......
 
 

 

 

 

 

Shadow Shot Sunday

 

 

OK, so these are reflections (although I'm sure there are shadows in there somewhere, but I just liked them so much ..... and we haven't had much sun recently!!)

 

Oh my, what is this - have the Martians landed, is it War of the Worlds?  Scroll down to Wednesday's post to find out what it is a reflection of!!

 

The still water of the canal is perfect for reflections!!

 

 

pretty painted canal boats

 

 

Every week, the wonderful Tracy organises Shadow Shot Sunday ..... do visit her at   Hey Harriet to see the collage of the best of last week's shadows, and click on the link for this week's paticipants.   
  

 
 

 

 

 

 

Colour in the sky

Yesterday morning there was a wonderful rainbow in front of the house.  Unfortunately, I couldn't get far enough back to get all of it in one photo!  (I suppose I could have climbed the fence into the field behind the house and run up the hill .....)

the left hand side

the right hand side

the centre!

 

This afternoon, there was a dramatic sunset .....

...... but this isn't it, this is the reflection of the sunset on the clouds in the east .....

....... this is the sunset!!

 
 
 
 
 

Weekword

 

 

Pop over to Alexandra's blog to see the links to this week's participants. 

 

Have a lovely weekend, love, Anne
 

Cute baby quilt warning!!

Get ready to say awww - the baby quilt is finished!!

 

There was some feverish sewing after dinner last night, so that it would be ready for Stuart to give to Emma (along with the shawl) when he goes to see baby Mia next week.  He had some photos to show me - she is absolutely gorgeous, with a fantastic head of dark hair!  Watching while I stitched was Stuart's amazing fish, Charlie - he posed beautifully when he saw the camera!

 

Today I shopped...... but not quite until I dropped!!  Of course before indulging in a serious bout of Christmas shopping, you need the have a decent breakfast, which can mean only one thing - a trip to Aromas for possibly the best bacon roll in the world..  You can see a photo of the last one I had (and read about my last trip to Falkirk) here ( you'll have to read almost to the end of the post before you see the bacon roll - but it's worth it!!) 

After a successful bout of retail therapy, I headed off for lunch at yet another garden centre (delicious cream of broccoli and sweet potato soup), stopping along the way in the town of Bo'ness to take this photo of two very famous bridges

 

You can just make out the Forth Road Bridge (to the left of the lamppost), with the Rail Bridge behind it.  Next time I go up to see Stuart, I will have to make sure I have time to go along to South Queensferry for better photos.

To finish, I have some photos which I took yesterday when I was at the Falkirk Wheel.  Outside the Visitor Centre, there were some large lumps of rock ...... but then I looked more closely ......

I was going to say which one is my favourite - but I can't decide!!
 
 
 
  

A wheelie good time!

This morning I drove up the A7 to Falkirk, and I have a very serious complaint to make about the people who build roads ..... don't they ever look at the scenery and think - oh look at that view, it is so wonderful, people will want to stop to take photos, we had better put in a lay-by!!  So there are no wonderful photos of the beautiful hills wreathed in the remnants of the early morning fog!

After lunch (carrot and orange soup at the local garden centre),  I had a quick tour round Falkirk to take some photos for tonight's post.  First stop was the site of the former Carron Iron Works, where the only thing left is the clock tower

 

In the bottom of the tower there is a small display - with cannons and carronades.  The sign is a bit dilapidated, but you can still read it

I mentioned the carronade in the post about Carlisle Castle, and now I can show you what it looks like

 

The next photo is of a falling down remnant of the  local .... oh dear, what expression is the correct one now .... mental institution (if we were being polite we would call it the asylum, otherwise it was the loony bin!)  I thought it would suit the atmosphere of the place to take the photo in black and white

This next photo, although in colour, still shows how spooky the place looks - I somehow don't think it could have been conducive to recovering from mental illness!!

not bats in the belfry - just pigeons!!

 

My next stop was at the Falkirk Wheel, the only rotating boat lift in the world, which lifts the boats from a lower canal up to a higher canal (and vice versa)

I got quite excited, as there was a boat in the wheel and I thought it was about to turn and I would have wonderful action shots to show you ...... but it had broken down!!  So you will have to use your imagination (or look at the link, to see how it works!)

You can see the boat in the lower section - the whole thing then turns and the boat ends up in the top section, where it can then sail into the other canal.  No, I have never been on the boat trip - you know I don't like heights and water!!  Still, I did go into the visitor centre and have a nice pot of tea!!

 

To finish, a photo of the Ochil hills, bathed in afternoon sunshine

 

Tomorrow, I will be indulging in a bit of Christmas shopping, then there might be a spot of lunch in yet another garden centre, before I head off back down the road for home.

ps - the chilli was very good, if just a little bit hot!!
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  

Tuesday Treasures

Hip hip hooray - Tuesday Treasures is back after a longer than planned holiday!!  Today's treasures are little things that we brought home from Indonesia........

 

These little wooden figures are only two inches high.  They are beatifully painted and haven't lost any of their colour in the nine years we have been back home

 

This vase is only a little bit taller than the figures, but the detail is amazing, with raised flowers and the delightful butterfly

 

Normally this little lady has a glass cover over her, as she is silver and would tarnish out in the air.  It was very hard to take clear photos of her.  Here she is facing you, but when she is turned round, you can see she is carrying a basket of dishes on her back (clicking on the photos should enlarge them if you want a closer look!)

 

This little man and his becak (bicycle taxi) are also silver, and like the lady usually lives under glass.  He is very fine and delicate and you can see the bottom of his stand is covered in batik fabric, which brings us to the last treasure

 

This is a cap (pronounced chap) a metal stamp used to put the wax outline on fabric.   It is very heavy - by the end of a day stamping fabric, the workers must be exhausted!  It is lovely to have these reminders of the years we spent in Indonesia - as I said when I started Tuesday Treasures, these aren't things of great monetary value, just little things which enrich our lives.