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The weather continues to be miserable ....... but we did have a sunny day the week before last, so I rushed out and bagged some shadow shots (I didn't get to play last week, as I was away at Woolfest). To see if other shadow shooters have had a bit more sun than we have, pop over here
....... and take your shirt off one more time! What are we girls going to do now that Rafael Nadal is out of Wimbledon ....... the perfect manners when he is interviewed, the funny little smile, and best of all, that beautifully honed body. I was very impressed last night that he still took time to sign autographs after his defeat, when he probably wanted to just go home and be miserable!!
I realised that I forgot to show you the other cute animals from Woolfest - so I'll now rectify that!
a very fluffy bunny!
very cute alpacas
can I please have one for Christmas?
an inquisitive goat
a Bedlington terrier pup
When we were in Keswick last Saturday afternoon, we went into possibly the poshest ever Oxfam shop. I was delighted to find this little book ......
each design introduces a new stitch
Do you remember the bottle of wine with the "carry on" label? This is the cork - such good advice!
I had to abandon my walk this morning when it started to rain ...... but not before capturing a fat little lamb
two horses that were obviously not speaking
and the new stream which has now spilled over into the road
By the time I walked back home, the rain had got heavier, and these sheep were huddling together
but after breakfast things brightened up and a rainbow appeared
and things definitely got better this afternoon, when Annette served up her wonderful chocolate sponge topped with cream and strawberries
The weather has been so awful, I think I will declare next week's posts a weather free zone! Whatever the weather, I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, love Anne
Thank you to everyone who let me know that there was a problem yesterday with the comment form (otherwise I might have thought that you didn't like me anymore, and I would have sat in a corner and cried!!). Hopefully all is well - although in fiddling with things I managed to move my sidebar from the right hand to the left hand side!
I may have mentioned once or twice recently that we have had a lot of rain! The River Slitrig this morning was crashing over the rocks, but the heron was quite unconcerned
a handsome fellow
I'll just straighten a feather
have a little scratch
perfection!
It rained most of the afternoon - the birdbath was in danger of overflowing!
there were puddles on the path
then late in the afternoon, the rain went off and the sun came out! The water in the birdbath was so still you can see a reflection of some leaves in it
the lupins and poppies have been spoiled by the rain
and the honeysuckle, which has only just flowered, is looking rather sad
The light was so poor for most of the day that I was worried that I wouldn't be able to take photos of the Hope Love and Friendship stitchery (which has still to be pressed)...... but the late gleam of sun came just in time
working the bow in chain stitch means that it stands out nicely in the centre
The knitting needles that I had ordered arrived this morning, so after I had finished the ironing this afternoon, I sat down and made a start to my Sheep Carousel tea cosy
This shows the first few rounds of the corrugated rib (I have worked a few more since taking the photo). Next comes the vikkel braid, something which I haven't done before. I've read through the instructions, and I think I understand them ........
After a lot more rain (surprise, surprise!) it was a damp when I went out for my walk this morning
with a new stream appearing in the verge!
But then rain means that I get to play with taking photos of raindrops on plants!
The next three photos show how luxuriant the plants in the verge are - I just moved a little bit closer for each one
Usually when we go out, we either go for a cuppa and scone, or for lunch ......... but when we go to Duns, as we did this morning ....... we do both!
We could just have a cuppa when we go to Hugo's, but their scones are amazing! Today we had a blueberry one
which was bursting with fruit
after a stroll round the town, we headed off to Pearson's Garden Centre for lunch. I had intended to have soup, but then I saw that I could get a small portion of macaroni cheese ....... possibly my favourite garden centre lunch!
Malcolm had tomato and pesto soup, which was excellent
Back home, I finished stitching Love, Hope and Friendship, but didn't get the chance to take a proper photo before dinner, so here is a little sample
Yesterday I started sewing the stitcheries on to Life is Beautiful. I pinned the stitchery in place .....
...... with stabiliser on the back
I used Dawn Cameron-Dick's method of invisible machine applique
By the end of yesterday afternoon I had sewn fourteen stitcheries .....
........ just another eighteen to go!
So, what else came home with me from Woolfest?
colourful curly bits for felting
Jacob's at the back, merino/silk blend at the front
lovely bits of blankets ..... stitcheries perhaps?
irresistible goodies from Oliver Twists
cute buttons
Malcolm bought this tiny kit for me when he was in Cockermouth
Yesterday I told you about chatting with Kate and Helen, but I also met several other friends. First was Tracey, whom I had met last year at Woolfest. We had already arranged to have lunch together on Saturday, but I had stopped by the stall where she was helping a friend on Friday to say hello. While we were chatting, Malcolm phoned me (!) to say that he had just bumped into Anne (owner of Stitchin' Heaven, my "boss"). She had left the lovely Mick in charge of the shop for the day, so that she could have some woolly fun. We had a cuppa and then indulged in a little bit of shopping! Then on Saturday I met Tracey as arranged ...... as well as Emily and her friend Emma. We had lunch together, then Tracey and I went off in search of a cuppa. She had lots of exciting news to tell me ..... after a great deal of "will I, won't I", she has taken the plunge and has started design crochet patterns, and already has a raft of commissions from several magazines. I also chatted to lots of stallholders and other woolly fanatics!! I had a great time and I'm already looking forward to doing it all again next year!
When I went out for my walk this morning, it was very misty.
swallows chirrupping on the phone wires
misty sheep
and misty horses
a welcome splash of colour
I've been busy sewing - I'll show you the progress tomorrow!!
It's so good to be back home with my reasonable internet connection - I've got lots to show you, so let's get started!
We got to Woolfest early, and headed off to have breakfast before the show opened. Suitably fortified, we headed straight to Kate's stall, as I had told her that I had intended to be first in the queue to buy her wonderful new design, the sheep carousel tea cosy. Malcolm wielded the camera, as Kate and I tried to smile nicely!
Not only did I get the tea cosy kit, but it came in a super cotton bag
It's a long time since I did colour work, and I haven't worked steeks or braids before, but I'm looking forward to getting started
My next purchase was this yarn bowl, which I bought from Willofibre. You sit the yarn in the bowl, feeding it through the spiral. Then when you knit, the yarn stays in the bowl and doesn't roll about all over the floor
I had said to Malcolm that I wasn't going to buy any yarn, as I am trying (!) to reduce my stash. However when I stopped at Helen's stall for a blether (Helen, second from the left, used to live here in the Borders, before she went off to the other end of the country) .......
......... I succumbed to this rather tasty skein
It was hard to capture it in a photo, but can you just see that it has a sparkle running through it
I bought one or two other things, but I'll save them for tomorrow, so that I can show you some other photos. I may have mentiooned that it rained rather a lot ...... this was the view from our cottage, looking out on to a section of flooded road. It was quite entertaining watching the different methods employed by drivers to deal with the problem - drive slowly, drive fast, through the middle, along the side
The rain might have been pouring down, the road may have been flooded - but if the verge had to be cut, it was going to be cut!!
On Saturday Malcolm went in to Cockermouth - these are some of his dramatic photos of the river in the town centre
When Malcolm picked me up on Saturday afternoon, we headed off to Keswick - where it was still raining! When we walked down to the lake, we found that the rowing boats had been pulled up on to the road ....
....... as the strip of shingle where they usually sit was under water - as were the wooden jetties - you can see the lines of poles showing where they are, usually with pleasure boats moored alongside
Usually when we are in Kewick, we get fish and chips for dinner, sitting down by the lake to eat. However this time we had to eat indoors! Haddock and chips - delicious!
But, I hear you cry, where are the stars of the show, where are the sheep
I'll be back tomorrow with more of my purchases, more cute animals ....... and I'll tell you whom I had a cuppa with, and whom I had lunch with!
Could it be because of the hazy early morning views of the Eildons, the Mintos and Ruberslaw?
or perhaps this peaceful view of the farmhouse nestled in the valley
or the lush countryside
perhaps the little unexpected flashes of colour in the verges and hedges
then there is the fun of playing peek-a-boo through the field gate with the Jacob's ewes
a mid-morning trip to a nearby garden centre for a cuppa and a scone
followed by a walk in the woods
However, I'll be away from home for a few days, as we head off tomorrow to Cumbria. We are going to Woolfest, and I am looking forward to meeting up with Emily and Tracey, and doing some serious shopping at Kate's stall. We are staying in a little holiday cottage which has wifi, so I should be back tomorrow evening with a quick post.
One last reason why I live here - I took this photo just a few yards from the house!!