As we walked across the car park to the car after our usual Thursday morning potter round Hawick, I suggested that we walked on towards the river
we were rewarded with a pair of swans
however the seagulls looked somewhat unhappy at the lack of water
because of the extended spell of good weather, the council workers have been able to cut the grass in public areas of the town, making everywhere look very neat and tidy
I can only think that it is the hot weather which has persuaded this orchid to start flowering again.
there had only been two flowers left on it, when it suddenly put out more buds
this one also had only two flowers left, and it too has put out more buds
these two were languishinng on the windowsill in the back bedroom, as it is some time since they last flowered - but they have both put out flower spikes since I checked them last Friday, when I watered the house plants
this afternoon I layered up and pinned Country Cottages ready for quilting
I did some in-the-ditch quilting, then started quilting round the cottages
when I did the workshops with Gail Lawther, she mentioned frequently that she always uses the knee-lift on her sewing machine. This is a lever which you push with your knee (you probably guessed that) to lift the foot, instead of using the lever. This leaves both hands free to manouevre the quilt, and also makes it a bit quicker. I have rarely used mine, but thought I would have a go as there was a lot of turning back and forward quilting round the cottages
once I got into the rhythm of using it, I decided that it does indeed make it quicker and easier, and I will continue to use it. I don't have one for my other machine, as it has a feature that raises the foot slightly every time you stop stitching. It would be great if you could get a sewing machine with all the best features from every machine you have ever had ...... I've just counted up, and I have had eight machines over the years, starting with a very old Singer treadle machine which a friend of my Mum's gave me when I was a teenager!
the birds have been making good use of the bird bath. The collared dove had been having a drink
whereas the sparrows like to have a good splash