frayed at the edge

Shadow Shot Sunday

We have had so much sunshine this week, it was hard to decide which shadow shots to share with you and all the other shadow addicts who congregate at Shadow Shot Sunday 2 to show off their latest captures.  The ruins of Etal Castle (see Thursday's post) were the frontrunners, until this handsome chap appeared in our front garden.  Pheasants are known for being somewhat stupid birds, and he walked up and down and around the garden, trying to get back out, until it eventually dawned on him to jump up on to the fence!

 

 

 

 

Ghastlie joy!

I was delighted to receive an envelope from abroad this morning ......

 

........ as I knew it contained a piece of the latest Ghastlies fabric, which I had ordered from Thimbleanna

 

I took this general view of it out in the garden, meaning to take close-ups later ..... and I forgot!

 

The post had arrived when I was in the shower, and in all the excitement of taking photos, I forgot that I had to dry my hair

 

What would I do without my hairdryer and my big round bristle brush!!

 

Did you notice my necklace - Malcolm gave it to me for Christmas.  The various stones represent the chakras.  He bought it here - although he bought it in their shop at Kirkharle, rather than online.

A few more photos from our day out on Wednesday ......

Heatherslaw Light Railway

 

we saw the little train puffing along the track at Etal

 

I want one of these!!

 

I resisted buying this!

 

We had a different Friday cake - a clootie dumpling loaf.  It was delicious - rich and fruity

 

After our spell of glorious weather, the forecast for the weekend isn't very good, but whatever the weather, I hope you all have a good weekend!  Love Anne

So, after lunch we ......

....... went to the beautiful village of Etal.  As soon as we got out of the car, we stopped to gaze in amazement at the very thick slates on the roofs

 

We had only walked a few more yards, when we saw that there were also thatched roofs

 

 

 

A short walk brought us to Etal Castle, the ruins of which looked dramatic in the sun

 

Next, a stroll along the river.  I was delighted when this butterfly settled on the path right in front of me!

 

There is a ford across the river here - you can just see the line of it in the middle of the photo

 

After our enjoyable time in Etal, we headed off to see The Standing Stones at Duddo.  To get to the stones, there is a long walk through fields where the oilseed rape is just starting to flower

 

For a while we lost sight of the stones, as we had to detour round the edge of a field - but suddenly they appeared on the skyline

 

It's a long uphill walk, so it's amazing to think that the stones were somehow carried there all those years ago

 

 

In the distance, the Cheviots were hazy

 

On the way home, we stopped in Cornhill and Malcolm popped in to the village shop to buy ice creams.    I almost squealed with delight (sad, I know!) when this beauty parked right in front of the car!  (the funny line across the photo is the reflection of the dashboard  on the windscreen)

 

This afternoon I was standing in the kitchen eating a nectarine when I glanced out of the front door.  The nectarine was promptly abandoned in favour of the camera, as we had a wonderful visitor in the garden - a very handsome male pheasant

 

There are still lots of photos left from our day out - so there may just be another installment tomorrow (and some of them are being kept for future Shadow Shot Sundays!)

 

122 photos!

We have had a marvellous day out - and yes, I did take 122 photos!  But don't worry, I'm not going to share all of them with you today!

Our first stop was at Flodden, scene of a great battle between the Scots and the English, which you can read about here, here and here.  In the bright sunshine, there was no sense of the dreadful happenings of that day, when so many Scots died

 

From the monument, there are wonderful views, including the small village of Branxton, round which the battle was fought

 

This isn't a very good photo, as the car was bouncing about on the bumpy road, but if you look carefully at the curved roof on the porch of the house on the left, you will see that it is covered in grass!

 

Our next stop was the village of Ford, where we had a browse round the Horseshoe Gallery

 

I wonder if anyone will build a house to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, as this was built to celebrate Queen Victoria's

 

The church looked lovely in the spring sunshine, surrounded by a carpet of daffodils

 

This gargoyle was keeping an eye on me!

 

Having taken some photos, I used these stone steps to climb over the wall .......

 

........ rather than open the rather grand gate (I had entered the churchyard by a small gate)

 

I had to wait until this rather large tractor went past before I could cross the road to rejoin Malcolm, who had gone to investigate a possible place for lunch

 

We had hoped to have our lunch here , but unfortunately the couple who own the coffee shop were unable to be there today. However a man who was working in the antiques building let us have a peek

 

The coffee shop looked lovely, and we will certainly go back.   We headed off to Heatherslaw Mill

 

where we enjoyed a delicious lunch.  We both decided to have a stottie (a large roll) ...... I had Coronation chicken

 

and Malcolm had corn beef and onion

 

The visitor centre was proudly flying the Northumberland flag

 

After a busy morning, we had an even busier afternoon - I'll tell you about it tomorrow!

 

 

Bumblebee

Despite several attempts, this was the best I could do to capture a big fat bumblebee which was buzzing about the garden this afternoon

 

Over the last two severe winters, we lost two rosemary plants, but as you can see, this one is flourishing.  It looks a bit of a funny colour - it's because that part of the garden was in deep shadow

 

The lupin was also in the shade ......

 

....  unlike the pot of herbs, which are growing well already, having survived the winter

 

Also basking in the late afternoon sun was the Linus quilt, which I had just finished

 

You know I like getting parcels, so you can imagine my delight when not one, not two .... ok, five boxes were delivered yesterday

 

Lots of lovely jam jars and bottles - and spotty labels to match!

 

I had taken this photo of the celeriac I was about to peel and chop to make mash to have with last night's dinner - then I forgot to take a photo when I dished up, to show how something so strange looking ends up being something very tasty!

Sun, sun, sun!

The weather continues to be glorious, with beautiful blue skies .....which made our Sunday morning walk even more enjoyable.  We had planned to spend some time at the Reivers Festival in the park- but we didn't check what time the activities started, and we got there too early!  However, several of the participants were busy organising their stalls and practising their swordplay, so I was able to take some photos

 

 

 

 

There were more signs of spring in the park

blossom

 

primrose

 

wood anenome

 

I've been busy with the Linus quilt.  I finished the quilting and stitched the binding on, adding little bits of the chicken fabric to break up the black

 

 

Now I have to to stitch the binding on the back ....... and stitch in dozens of ends!

 

When we were shopping on Saturday, I found this storage box - a bargain at £2.50. It is just the thing to keep my hexagons in - much better than the pink storage box

 

I also had a bit of an experiment with some strips.  I have seen various versions of this technique on blogs and Youtube clips - though usually done with jelly rolls.  The first stage is to join all the strips together, using diagonal seams

 

You then take the two ends and sew a very long seam

 

There was then a slight hiccup, as I has twisted the strip - oops

 

Once I had cut the strip in half, I finished stitching it and pressed the seam.  Then I put the two ends together and stitched a not quite so long seam

 

And again

 

Eventually I ended up with this.  I was using up scrap strips which I had been given and I had several strips of some of the fabrics .....  of course they ended up together, so if I use the method again, I will use all different fabrics

 

I have some pretty floral fabrics which I'll use for borders ....... yes, it will be another quilt for Linus!

Shadow Shot Sunday

Last week we had a sweet ewe and her lamb, this week we have horses!  To see more shadows from around the world, visit Shadow Shot Sunday 2

 

 

What did you say?  You want more cute lambs?  OK!!

Little sparrow, little sparrow*

I love to see you on the feeders

 

I enjoy seeing you using the birdbath

 

I don't mind when your friends, big and small, call in to visit you

 

I'll even wait patiently to take photos when you and your entire family sit in the hawthorn tree and ignore me

 

But please, little sparrow, will you not make such a din outside the bedroom window at 5.30am and wake me up!!

 

I was still stitching away on the latest Baltimore block this afternoon at patch'n'chat ....... this block has an awful lot of pieces!

 

This afternoon's cake was the wonderful chocolate sponge that just floats off the plate and melts in the mouth

 

Taking bird photos requires a lot of patience - for every usable photo, there are several like these!!

 

I hope you all have a good weekend, love Anne

 

*Do all you Dolly Parton fans now have the song playing in your heads!!??

 

 

My favourite season

I love spring ........ I like summer, I don't mind autumn, I dislike winter - but I really do love spring!!  Today has been glorious, with blue skies and sunshine, the birds singing, the lambs frolicking - bliss!!  We went out for a walk after lunch, and we hadn't gone far before I had to take off my jacket, it was so warm.  This ewe was a bit hot and bothered - no doubt she will feel better when her lamb(s) arrive(s)

 

The blossom is coming out

 

The catkins are abundant

 

The first dandelion of the year!

 

A carpet of tiny violets

 

The Minto Hills look hazy in the distance

 

The spring ploughing and planting is well under way

 

Looking down to the stretch of road where I frequently meet large lorries!

 

I stood well to the side as this horse passed us on the bridle path!

 

As we came up the hill to the house, Malcolm walked on home as I stopped to take some photos of the lambs

 

You know I quite often finish with a quirky photo, and today I had a choice of two ........

a rusty knot in fencing wire

 

a double yolk in the duck egg I was about to poach for lunch

 

Gretel makes ......

........ if you don't normally buy Mollie Makes

 

do look out for next month's issue, as the wonderful, multi-talented Gretel will be showing us how to needlefelt

 

I am still working every evening on the stitcheries I am making for Anne's quilt

love is the music of your heart

 

love is a happy revelation

 

do everything with love

 

love notes are portable hugs

 

love and joy are united as one

 

This afternoon I went to meet up with Lorraine for a knit and natter ....... which of course meant cake!!  Today's was a very, very delicious orange and rhubarb cake

 

My knitting hadn't been out of the bag since the last knit'n'natter, but I did do a bit more this afternoon - I have now done the two feet and one and a half legs of the doll

 

To finish, another little sign of spring from the garden ...... this time it's the ornamental quince, which has started to flower