frayed at the edge

Admitting defeat!

It was a lovely morning, as we set off south to Newcastle.  We had a quick stop in Belsay for a cuppa (you know I can't be away from a teapot for too long!)  I was very glad we stopped, because it gave me an opportunity to take photos of more lambs!

 

 

 

 

You probably noticed that the ewes have both black and white lambs.  The first time I saw this when we moved here, I asked a sheep farming friend why the ewe had different lambs.  Her answer was straight to the point - she said 'the ewe was obviously a hussy, and the lambs have different fathers'!

 

When we got to Rachel's, we had a cuppa, with a piece of the most wonderful lemon drizzle cake, then we left Malcolm to wrestle with the dishwasher, while we took the dogs for a walk.  We walked under the amazing Armstrong Bridge

 

 

Then Flossie posed in front of the new footbridge (it was rusty from installation, as a design feature!)

 

 

We passed the pet cemetery (which made me think of the very scary Stephen King book)

 

 

Spring is far more evident there - the blossom is already out on these trees ........

 

 

....... and the rhododendron is flowering

 

 

However Flossie wasn't in the least interested in such things, much preferring to run in and out of the river with a big stick (sorry the photo is blurred, but it's the only 'action' shot that I managed to take of her!)

 

 

In case you're wonderfing where Tosca is, she only went with us on the first part of the walk, as her little old lady legs aren't up to running round the park, so we popped her back home to supervise Malcolm.

When we eventually returned, Flossie was suitably wet and muddy, and had to be hosed off before being allowed back in the house.  Malcolm, meantime, had dismantled large amounts of the dishwasher.....

 

 

........ but despite his best efforts, he was unable to find what was wrong.  (don't worry, he did put it all back togehter again!)  Rachel then fed us a lovely lunch, with more of her wonderful homemade bread, and sent us on our way laden with lemon dizzle cake, ginger biscuits and homemade red gooseberry jam.

On the way home, we were stuck for a while behind this .......

 

 

........ fortunately he eventually turned into a farm.  Then later, this rather large timber lorry pulled out of a side road in front of us

 

 

As you can see from this next photo, the driver wasn't content with just his own side of the road!

 

 

We weren't looking forward to being stuck behind him on the long uphill climb from Bonchester Bridge, when, oh joy, he turned off!

Rachel and I now have to co-ordinate our diaries, so that she can come up to visit us!

 

 

 

 

Scrumptious!

Recently, I had hoped to win some wool in a giveaway by Pip.  The prize was a hank of any sock wool from her wonderful shop.  When I didn't win, I sobbed and sobbed (for about three days!!) ....... then I did the sensible thing and bought the one I had hoped to win!  So when the postman rang the doorbell this morning and handed me one of Pip's trademark purple envelopes ........

 

 

......... I knew that it contained something truly scrumptious!

 

 

It is 45% silk and 55% superwash merino.  I wanted something special to knit a pair of socks from the book which Rachel gave me recently

 

 

I have chosen this pair - although I don't think I will get them started before next week

 

 

We have had some heavy rain, so when I was in Hawick this morning, I wasn't surprised to see how full the rivers were.  This is the Slitrig, looking down to where it joins the Teviot

 

 

This is the Teviot, with the Slitrig coming in from the right - you can see the rough water where the two rivers meet

 

 

Just before I came in from the studio yesterday, I remembered that I had yet to take a photo of the knitted blanket for Project Linus.  I popped it on my work table to take the photo, so it's perhaps not the best of photos!

 

 

Tomorrow, we are heading for Newcastle again, for Malcolm to have another go at fixing Rachel's dishwasher (we should have gone last Thursday, but Rachel's Lovely Son came for an unexpected visit, which of course took precedence over such a mundane matter as the dishwasher).  While Malcolm wrestles with the dishwasher, Rachel and I will take Flossie and Tosca for a long walk - the sun is supposed to shine, so hopefully I will have lots of photos to share with you!

 

A new project

Ok, ok, I know I'm not supposed to start another project before I have finished some of the UFOs, but ....... I have a wonderful set of patterns that I bought years ago in Houston, and recently they have been calling to me.  So I got them out, and started geting organised.  I recently saw this idea on Janet's blog, and filed the idea away for future use, not realising that I would use it quite so soon!

 

 

I took a photo of each of the patterns, then made them into the mosaic, to have a vague idea of what the finished quilt might look like.  Of course it won't have the wording on it.  I have decided to do it in batik fabrics, in shades of purple and green.  So at the weekend, I pulled these fabrics from my stash

 

all sorts of purples

 

 

greens, and a little brown

 

My favourite way of doing applique is with freezer paper, so I have made a start to tracing and cutting out the pieces

 

 

I have decided to use the same fabric for the bias stems in all the blocks, so I have made a start to making the many inches that I will need - using my favourite little gadget

 

This is a very long term project, but one that I will enjoy immensely.  I love doing applique, but for some reason haven't done much recently.

 

I have also finished the other 'four fat quarters' quilt top.  Now, I will have to get some fleece for the back and get them quilted

 

 

I had some more fun at the weekend, taking close up photos in the garden

 

a rather bedraggled clump of grape hyacinths

 

 

flowering currant

 

 

I don't know what this is, but I love the vibrant colour

 

 

rainwater on alchemilla mollis

 

When one of the hellebores flowered some weeks ago, there was no sign of the other one - for some reason it doesn't keep its old leaves over the winter ...... then, suddenly, up it popped and flowered within a few days

 

A busy weekend

There was great excitement on Saturday when the post arrived, bringing a very special book

 

 

So why was I getting so excited about a children's book, I hear you ask?  Because the author is my lovely bloggy friend Gretel.  Would you like a little peek inside?

 

Oh dear, Mrs Mouse has burned the cake .........

 

 

........just as her friend Kitty Blue was due to arrive for tea

 

 

but the day is saved, as Kitty has brought a wonderful cake to share!

 

It's a charming book, but it is even more special when you look closely ....... Gretel needle-felted Mrs Mouse, Kitty, the cakes and lots of other bits and pieces.  And if that wasn't enough, she also did the illustrations - she is just so talented.  Of course I bought my copy from Amazon (it's the dreaded 'one click'!) ..... and I've got my name down to be told when the next book is available.  (The photos are used with Gretel's permission).

 

Yesterday was Mothers' Day.  Stuart wasn't able to visit, as he had another engagement (Alison's nephew's 1st birthday party, complete with bouncy castle - I couldn't compete with that!!).  But he sent me my present - gorgeous Kath Kidston gardening gloves (much too pretty to wear in the garden!)

 

 

I also got a card - I would like to think that he sent it because I look just like the slim, elegant lady on the front (apart from the cigarette!) ...... but no, it's because it's the cheekiest card he could find!

 

 

At first glance, the wrapping paper has cupcakes on it ..... but on a second look, the cupcakes are made from fabric and knitting!

 

 

In Stuart's absence, Malcolm took me out for breakfast - but I am much too embarrassed to show you a photo of the rather large breakfast that I ate!  We went to Selkirk, and I took some photos from the car - it's funny you don't realise how bumpy the road is until you are trying to focus the camera!

 

 

 

 

I was busy in the studio on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons, but I'll tell you all about that tomorrow.  To finish, of course, it's the update on the knitting project.  As the belt was just a little bit small for me (I knew I wouldn't wear it, so I just made it the size given in the pattern), I had to call on my lovely mannequin to model it

 

 

It ties at the back with a bow - very pretty

 

 

This week it's a needle case.  I found the perfect piece of fabric for the lining in the scrap basket!

 

Shadow Shot Sunday

I've been out and about with the camera again, and had a lot of fun capturing all sorts of shadows made by the bare trees.  It won't be long until the trees are in leaf again, and the shadows will be quite different!

 

yes, that's Malcolm getting in the shot as usual!

 

 

skinny trees

 

 

tall trees

 

 

shadows falling across the snowdrops

 

 

strong shadows across the path

 

To see more shadows and join in the fun, head over to Hey Harriet, where Tracy, as always, has been working hard to make her wonderful collages of the best of last week's shadows.

A special quilt

This afternoon, Katy brought in the quilt she is making for her husband's birthday - a very special quilt.  She printed photos of his magnificent Highland cattle on to fabric, then made them up into the centre panel of the quilt.  A friend embroidered the wording for her.  (Highland cattle are kept in folds, not herds)

 

 

Then Margaret, who isn't a regular patch'n'chatter, called in for a little while.  She does the most wonderful quilts, all by hand.  This is her latest one - work came to a halt as we all ooohed and aaahed!

 

 

There is so much beautiful stitching, it was hard to pick a detail to show you, but I settled on this very cute little fellow

 

 

Since I got my big camera, I have struggled with  taking close ups, whether using the intelligent auto or macro settings.  Then when I was out for a walk recently, I took a very good close up ..... then realised that I had the camera on the 'wrong' setting.  Since then I have been taking all sorts of photos .......

 

a tiny feather caught in the mud

 

 

a hawthorn leaf (and thorns)

 

 

a dried weed in the verge

 

 

a helebore flower

 

But now, the most important photo of the post - yes, it's the Friday cake ...... a delicious chocolate sponge

 

 

Our weather was supposed to improve this afternoon - but it is rather cloudy and windy this evening.  Hopefully it will improve for the weekend.  Whatever the weather, I hope you all have a good weekend.  Love Anne