frayed at the edge

Shadow Shot Sunday

We've had very mixed weather this week, but fortunately the sun was shining when we went for a walk earlier in the week.  If you scroll back to Monday's post, you can read about our hunt for the Tower House in the wood

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then, I spotted this small pond, with a wonderful ramshackle bridge over to a tiny island.  The still water provided some excellent reflections

 

 

 

 

For lots more shadow shots, pop over to Hey Harriet, where Tracy has, as ever, been working hard choosing the best of last week's shots to put in the collages (modesty forbids me from telling you that one of my shadow shots is included this week!)

Love is in the air!

The garden is full of birds sorting themselves out into couples, but the only ones I managed to capture this morning were these two pigeons, who were billing and cooing on the phone wire

 

 

Down below them in the garden, Malcolm was deep in conversation with the man who is hopefully going to install our new septic tank.  Holes were dug, water poured in and drainage time was noted

 

 

Borderland fabrics has had a sale on for the last week, so this afternoon, business was brisk as stashes were enhanced and new projects planned.  These fabrics were waiting to be restored to the shelves after the required lengths had been cut

 

 

 

As ever, there was cake to go with our mid-afternoon cuppa - a lovely light chocolate sponge

 

 

It is a week since the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and many bloggers today are either not blogging, or are observing a minute's silence, to show their support for all those affected.  This miniature fan (it is only 3 inches high) was given to me by a lovely Japanese woman whom I taught to quilt when we were living in Indonesia, so perhaps you may like to pause and admire it, while thinking of those who died, and those whose lives will never be the same again.

 

 

I hope you all have a good weekend - Malcolm's sisters are coming to visit, so no doubt we will be out and about with them.  Love Anne

Cutting the mustard

When I was in the studio on Sunday, I was watching Jamie's '30 minute meals' while I was quilting the tractor quilt.  There was one dish that he made that I thought looked quite tasty, so today I had a go at recreating it.  I assembled the ingredients (except for the chilli, which I remembered later!) - celeriac, pears, olive oil, vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper

 

 

Next, I set up the food processor with the grating attachment (I bought this processor in Jakarta, so I must have had it for 12 or 13 years!)

 

 

I only used half of the celeriac.  Using a large knife, I trimmed off the ends then cut it into slices

 

 

It was easy then to trim off all the knobbly bits, cut it into chunks and pop it into the processor

 

 

I peeled and cored the pears and added them - and that's when I remembered the chilli!  In a small jar, I put some salt and pepper, mustard, olive oil and vinegar

 

 

I popped the lid on and gave it a good shake, until the ingredients had emulsified

 

 

All that remained was to mix everything together

 

 

The verdict - I thought the dressing overwhelmed the other ingredients (and I didn't use anywhere near as much mustard as Jamie!) and I couldn't taste the pear (although Malcolm thought he could taste it).  I think if I was making it again, I would make a simple dressing with lemon juice and olive oil.

 

Things are finally starting to grow in the garden, after the long hard winter.  The flowering current is just starting to put out leaves and flowers

 

 

 

However another casualty of the weather is the winter-flowering jasmine.  At this time of year, it should be covered in flowers - but there is only this sad little one!

 

 

To end - yet something else that I want, really really want.  I don't suppose it does very many miles to the gallon, but I would be quite happy to just drive up and down our road!

 

 

 

The black sheep of the family!

Oh bliss - there are some lambs in the field across the road from the house - including these little black lambs.  (sorry it's not a better photo, but they were at the top of the field and the weather was a bit murky!)

 

 

Then, when I was going out this morning, I had to do one of those screeching to a halt things (just joking, Malcolm!) ....... because more Jacob's lambs have arrived

 

 

In contrast to all the black and white, the greenfinches were back on the peanut feeder

 

 

On the knitting front, I have finished the two cabled cushion fronts.   Now I have to admit to a major faux pas.  I had taken photos of blocking them ......... but I had a thorough sorting out of my photos - and I have deleted them!  So all I can show you is the two fronts, ready to make up

 

 

In common with forty million people wordwide, I have become addicted to playing 'Angry Birds'.  Malcolm too has succumbed- we have nearly come to blows over whose turn it is!!  If you haven't encountered the game, let me explain.  There are cheeky little green pigs, sheltering in a variety of structures

 

 

You use a catapult to fire the birds at the pigs ......

 

 

..... in the hopes of demolishing the structures and getting rid of the pigs

 

 

There are lot sof sound effects - grunting pigs and chattering birds, then the bangs and crashes as the birds hit the structures!  And the cost of all thus fun - a mere 59 pence to dowload the App - money well spent!

 

Gorgeous!

This morning, despite miserable, grey, wet and foggy weather, we headed down the A68.  This time we were going to Hexham to an antique and collectors' fair.  Why there?  Because two of my favourite stallholders were going to be there with all their wonderful goodies!

First, there was Julie, with all sorts of fabric loveliness

 

 

And then there was Helen, who sells everything that is gorgeous

 

 

As the weather had cleared, we went for a walk round Hexham.  The most imposing building is the Abbey - this is just a small part of it

 

 

This is one of several very old gravestones that we saw

 

 

When we passed the Old Gaol ..........

 

 

........ I asked Malcolm to pose in the stocks while I threw rotten veggies at him.  For some reason he said no!

 

 

I'm glad I remembered my own advice to look up - otherwise I might have missed this .......

 

 

and this ........

 

 

Somewhat lower down were these delicate little flowers

 

 

We came home a different way, round little back roads we hadn't used before.  At one point Malcolm had to consult the map, which gave me the chance to snap theses bright clumps of aubretia

 

 

Unfortunately the weather suddenly got worse - it was really miserable for quite a few miles

 

 

What did you say - oh, did I buy anything?  Although there were all sorts of wonderful things on the many stalls, I just couldn't decide what to buy ....... and in the end all I bought was this gorgeous lavender bag from Helen!

 

 

To end, a little bit of good news.  When Stuart phoned last night for our weekly chat, I asked him if he had heard from his friend Will, who lives and works in Japan.  Thankfully, Will is safe and unharmed and has been able to let his family and friends know what is happening through Facebook!  He is a professional photographer, and was asked if he could take photos of the nuclear reactors.  He declined the request (as any sensible person would do), joking with his friends that he said he couldn't go, as his radiation suit was in the wash!

Things old and new

To start, I have something fairly old - an Edwardian post box.  This is the first Edwardian one that I have found - I'm glad that we crossed the road for a closer look when we were out for a walk yesterday!

 

 

I think if the paint were to be cleaned off, this would look like the one on the left of the photo in the link.

 

 

Next, something considerably older!  We went for a walk after lunch today, heading up the bridle path.  We have on occasion looked for the remains of a tower house, which we know is somewhere in the woods.  I have tried to find out about the house, and this link has a very informative piece - especially the bit about the army using it for demolition practice!  Today, we wandered down a different path, and there, suddenly, through the trees, we spotted the house

 

 

Later additions to the house have mostly gone, but this date stone shows when it was first built

 

 

It must have been an imposing sight before it fell into ruin

 

 

We were surprised that the house hasn't been fenced off - or at least had warning notices posted.  This section of stonework looked ready to fall

 

 

As we walked round, a flash of colour caught my eye.  This must have been a floor in the Victorian part of the house

 

 

Now for something considerably newer - the tractor quilt!  At the weekend, I finished quilting the centre panel

 

 

a detail of the front .......

 

 

....... and the back

 

 

It's Monday, so time for the latest knitting news.  The egg bunny cosies turned out as cute as they looked in the book

 

 

This week's project is a bead necklace, so that won't take long to do!  The pattern is for nine beads, but the only packet I could get in my local craft supply shop contains eight - maybe I could put something else in the middle!

 

 

 

 

 

Shadow Shot Sunday

Not the best of weeks for shadow hunting, so today's selection comes from the archives!  I took these recently in my studio, when the sun was shining through the Velux

 

not a space ship, but my camera tripod!

 

 

this piece is called 'Bonnie Baskets'

 

 

this is 'Autumn'

 

 

small embroideries

 

 

a lovely clear shadow of the lace

 

 

a wooden ornament

 

Now that I have done my post, I'm popping over to Hey Harriet.  Why don't you join me - click on Mr Linky to see who is is playing this weekend.  I hope there are lots of photos with blue sky and sunshine ..... this is what greeted me when I looked out the window when I got up this morning!

 



 

I'll tell you what I want ......

....... what I really, really want (with apologies to the Spice Girls!).  I spotted our neighbour Billy the farmer driving this wonderful machine across the field this morning (yes, that's snow on the hills in the background) - I want one!

 

 

But what I really, really don't want is one of these ........

 

....... why?  Because it's the tanker for emptying the septic tank!  Fortunately the tank is on the far side of our neighbours' garden (we share the tank with the neighbours on either side of us), so at least I didn't have to see the proceedings!  We have a lot of bother with the drains, and Malcolm is the only one who sorts it out.  He is so fed up with it, that we are looking into having our own separate system installed.  In August we celebrate our Silver Wedding, so won't that be a really romantic present - a nice new septic tank!!

Last Friday, I told you about Alison finishing her late Mum's quilts.  This week, she had another one with her.  One of the last projects that Agnes had been working on involved making dozens of tiny log cabin squares.  This is the stunning quilt which Alison has made with them

 

 

Each square measures four inches, and Agnes had stitched most of them by hand

 

 

Annette didn't have time to bake a cake for us this week, but fortunately there is a wonderful cake-making business near the shop, so she popped in there to buy not one, but two tasty cakes for our afternoon cuppa

 

a wonderful rich gingerbread

 

 

a lovely moist raspberry and white chocolate cake

 

Earlier in the week, we had colourful  visitors to the bird feeder

 

 

 

I was sorting out some of my (many) photos yesterday, whe I realised that I hadn't shown you these two.  As you approach this building, you wonder why the pipe goes through the window

 

 

But when you draw level, you see that it is several inches away from the glass (although why it's there at all is a mystery!)

 

 

We've just seen the forecast for tomorrow - more snow!!  I hope your weather is better and that you have a good weekend.  Love Anne

Grand living

When I visited Callendar House two weeks ago, it wasn't just to take photos of the beautiful building. 

 

 

 Back in 1996/97, the quilting group that I was a member of at the time, Greenpark Quilters, made a wallhanging for the house, to celebrate the life and times of William Forbes, one of the owners.  Unfortunately, I didn't see the wallhanging when it was first hung in the house, as I had moved to Indonesia!  Some years ago, we eventually got round to going to see it, taking Malcolm's Dad with us.  When I said that I had made the central panel of the wallhanging, he kept saying 'you never did that'!  I had to show him my photos to convince him that I had.  So today I looked out the photos (yes, real photos) so that I can share them with you.  I'm sorry the quality of some of the photos isn't very good, but the originals were very glossy prints and it was difficult to take clear photos of them (one day I'll master my scanner!)

I started with this drawing

 

 

I used it to make this working drawing

 

 

Of course, way back then, I didn't know that one day I would have a blog, so I didn't take lots of photos, which means we have to skip a few stages.  This is the basic block that I produced

 

 

I added some shrubs at the sides and an outer border

 

 

 

And this is how the final block looked

 

 

This (not very clear) detail shows you the stitching on the windows ........ and Malcolm's contribution - he painted in the shadows on either side of the tower with fabric paint

 

 

Once the quilt was assembled, it was hand quilted, with all the group members taking turns - this is Grace working on it

 

 

We were all delighted with how the quilt turned out, and others obviously agreed with us, as we won an award at the Scottish Quilt Championships

 

 

So, to return to my visit to the house ....... did I get to see the wallhanging again and take more photos - NO!!  It has been taken down and is in storage, as they have revamped the museum amd it didn't fit in with the new exhibits.  However I did take lots of photos - including two of scenes in the grounds of the house that featured in the wallhanging.  First is the old bridge

 

 

 

and second, the entrance to the icehouse

 

 

 

Inside the house, there is a portrait of William Forbes

 

 

 

To end, in contrast to the very old house, here is something very new ...... a tiny rabbit which Malcolm spotted hiding under the hedge in the front garden this afternoon

 

 

However it wasn't long until it hopped out and started eating my oriental poppy!

 

 

However, the little thing was just so cute, I didn't grudge it a little nibble (as long as it doesn't come back with a horde of brothers and sisters!)

 

Almost a change of plan!

We got up this morning to discover it was snowing!  This was the view from the kitchen at 7am - no, it's not a blurred photo, that's heavy snow!

 

 

We were worried we would have to change our plans for the day, but an hour later, this was the view from the front doorstep

 

 

As we headed down the A68 towards the Border, there was more and more snow lying - until it was at its deepest as we crossed into England

 

 

Our first stop was at Jennifer's, to give her a stool that Malcolm had made for her

 

 

Jennifer had given Malcolm the piece of needlework, which had been done by her mother-in-law, and asked him to make a stool - she was delighted with the result!

 

 

There was a rather unusual sight in Jennifer's back garden - a female pheasant (unfortunately the male was nowhere to be seen, as he is much more colourful!)

 

 

Next on the agenda was ........ lunch!  We went to the Milkhope Centre, where we enjoyed some rather tasty sandwiches

 

 

But we were under strict instructions not to eat too much, as next we went to visit Rachel, who had promised us a feast of baking!  First we had the most delicious cheese scones, hot from the oven

 

 

You know that Malcolm and I usually share a scone when we are out, but these were so delicious, we disgraced ourselves and ate two each (as did Jennifer!!).  Then we somehow found room for a slice of this wonderful, delicious, gorgeous (you get the idea) mocha cake (yum, yum, yum)

 

 

But of course there then followed the quid pro quo ........ those of you who regularly read Rachel's blog will know the tale of woe about her dishwasher.  Although she had sourced and fitted a new circuit board herself, it still wasn't working.  Malcolm delved into the innards, and promptly produced a large piece of glass (from a broken wineglass) that the repairman hadn't noticed.  We all held our breath as he pressed the start button ...... drat, it still wasn't working!  Unfortunately, to do any further investigation required a specialist tool, which Rachel didn't have, so we will pop down again sometime soon (Malcolm hates to be defeated!)

My part of the baking/skills swap is much easier ....... to knit a cushion cover to sit on a chair with this cushion, which was made by Rachel's Mum

 

 

It is now 7pm, and we are still so full of cake and scones that we haven't had any dinner!  However, Rachel gave Malcolm the last two scones, which he will have later for supper.  She also gave Jennifer and me a large slice each of the mocha cake - I might share mine with Malcolm with our afternoon cuppa tomorrow ........ although I could be like Nigella and get up in the middle of the night and guzzle it (except I don't have the required red satin dressing gown to do that!)