frayed at the edge

Two very different days

 Before I tell you about the weekend, I thought I would share this piece of absurdity with you.  This enormous plastic envelope arrived for Malcolm on Thursday - it is actually folded in half.  That's a mini bag of M&Ms (I just used it to hide the address) - the pencil gives you the scale

 

in the envelope was a folded piece of A4 paper, and a little plastic bag containing a tiny brass nozzle.  I don't know why it couldn't have been put in a normal sized envelope - so much for cutting down on plastic waste

 

so, on to the weekend.  It rained all day on Saturday in Berwick - not showers, just constant rain.  However, you don't have to go out to take photos - I took these through the window!  Out on the river beyond the dock, dozens of seagulls were diving into the water

 

they flew round and round for quite some time - then simply flew off!

 

this little fishing boat sailed out of the dock, trailing a cloud of smoke behind it.  I think they are needing to do some serious work on the engines!

 

this swan was having a good peck at its feathers

 

stretching its neck over its back to sort them out

 

finally it straightened up, every feather back in place

 

as we weren't able to get out for a walk on Saturday, we had a detour on our way home yesterday, as it was a bright sunny morning.  We decided to go to Bamburgh, as we prefer to go there in the winter, when it isn't crowded with tourists!

 

there were lots of daffodils .......

 

...... and snowdrops growing under the trees

 

I shall have to remember to plant daffodils round our trees in the autumn

 

this camellia was smothered in buds

 

unfortunately this shop was shut, so we couldn't sample their wares

 

this is the local cricket ground 

 

I wonder if it is the only one in the country situated in front of a castle?

 

the tennis court is being refurbished - Malcolm wouldn't let me play with the machines!

 

guess which way the wind mostly blows!

 

I wonder if the cricket club would let me borrow their heavy roller, as some of our grass is a bit lumpy and bumpy, and would benefit from being rolled

 

another view of the castle

 

it was a day for looking up at chimneys ........

 

..... set against the blue sky

 

the birds looked as if they were deep in conversation

 

as we walked round the cricket ground ......

 

this little robin followed us

 

sitting prettily for his close-up

 

we popped in here for a cuppa

 

but we didn't have chops and ale

 

instead we shared a delicious piece of carrot cake

 

I have now remembered to take a photo of my Charming Bag - I'll share it with you on Wednesday!

 

Spring in the air!

There was blue sky this morning, and the sun was shining in the windows, making it seem as if spring is on its way.  In the kitchen, the sun was shining on the Christmas cactus, which has just finished flowering, and the kalanchoe, which has been flowering for weeks

 

the jug of daffodils has been brightening the kitchen all week

 

but through in the lounge, the poinsettia is looking rather sad!

 

on the kitchen windowsill, the basil and coriander are growing faster than we can use them!

 

we went up to Alnwick this morning, where the monthly Farmers' Market was on.  There weren't many stalls there today, but as always the jolly chap selling sausages had some very tasty samples for us to try

 

who knew that there were so many flavours of sausages!

 

we came home with three packets (you get a deal for buying three) ........ but they aren't for us.  They are for Malcolm's sister Jennifer, as her two sons are visiting her soon, and they have been know to tuck into a sausage or two!

 

this afternoon, I was able to pop out to the Attic for a play.  I set up the super quilter with a small sample that I made years ago, to have some more practice.  This time I decided to use my big machine.  For my first attempts, I thought it would be easier to use my small machine, but the advantage of using this one is that I don't need to use the foot pedal.  I just have to push the start button and the machine runs at the speed I have set it at.  Malcolm is hoping to fit bigger handles, to make it easier to use the machine

 

getting better, but it is hard to stitch smooth curves

 

of course when we were in Alnwick, we went for a cuppa, choosing The Olive Branch, as we know they have good sconnage

 

we were naughty, and had one of our famous two-scone lunches!  This is an excellent cheese scone, served with some cream cheese and mango chutney.  That may sound a slightly odd combination, but it was very tasty

 

a traditional fruit scone with butter and jam

 

we weren't the only ones enjoying a tasty treat ....... this starling was tucking into fat balls in the garden this morning

 

we have a very special occasion this weekend ......... do come back on Monday for lots of photos!  I hope you have a great weekend, love Anne

Over the Border

 It was bright, if a little bit chilly, on Saturday morning, so we headed up the coast and over the Border to Eyemouth

 

there was the usual assortment of small fishing boats in the harbour

 

and although boats are traditionally referred to as "she" ........

 

....... these two have boys' names

 

if boats can feel the cold, then this one must have been happy to be out of the freezing water and in the boatshed 

 

I wouldn't want to be given the job of untangling these ropes!

 

a nice jumble of old lobster pots and rusty bits

 

 I have no idea what this is for

 

there were lots of gulls about

 

after I took this photo

 

the gull turned round to face the other way, as if to say "this is my better side"!

 

there was a heron at the edge of the water

 

and lots of ducks

 

I remembered my own advice to look up, and spotted this weather vane

 

and a gull in a more familiar pose, with its tail facing me!

 

we just missed this boat being launched

 

I thought they were absolutely mad to be heading out to sea when it was so cold - I assume they must have had survival suits on under their jackets

 

we were a bit chilled by the end of our walk, so headed to this coffee shop

 

as we knew there would be a blazing fire to warm us

 

while we enjoyed our cuppa and a delicious cheese scone

 

back at the flat, there was a great squabble of pigeons fighting over some grain, which was probably spilled from a lorry which loaded the ship on Friday

 

while this swan swam serenely past

 

the light was just starting to fade as this heron landed on the edge of the dock

 

it stood there on one leg for a while

 

before striding over ........

 

....... to peck at the free food

 

yesterday afternoon, I knew it was snowing while I was busy in my Attic

 

but I wasn't prepared for the scene that greeted me when I came downstairs and opened the door!

Back in the old routine!

 Yesterday I took down and packed away all the Christmas decorations, and now all that is left is the Christmas cactus

 

and the poinsettia - amazingly I have managed not to kill this one, and so far it has only lost one leaf!

 

while I was packing away the decorations, Malcolm was busy putting up this curtain over the front door.  Oh dear, I can hear you say, but how will the door open with the curtain in the way?

 

a little bit of magic - the curtain rail is attached to a bracket at one end, and can you just see the arm that pushes the rail forward as the door is opened?  I had vaguely remembered seeing such curtain rails, and eventually tracked one down online

 

I got very excited when I was out in the garden this morning - this tiny shoot is a snowdrop, the first of the bulbs we planted in the autumn!

 

this blackbird is slightly hazy, as I took the photo through the kitchen window

 

when we were watching University Challenge last night, three of the questions involved naming Russian cities marked on a map.  To help, the cities' names were shown in the Cyrillic alphabet.  Malcolm was exceedingly surprised (and impressed) when I told him the answers.  He had forgotten that I studied Russian at school

 

after a search this afternoon, I found my Russian dictionary, which was a school prize

 

I used to be able to read and write Cyrillic script!

 

some very good advice after the Christmas overindulgence! 

 

I may have stepped away from the chocolate, but this week we have indulged in two delicious cheese scones

 

but of course as usual we had half each, so not too naughty!

 

the forecast for the weekend isn't too bad, so hopefully we will get out for a walk, after being somewhat lazy for the last two weeks.  And of course I hope to spend some time in my Attic, playing with fabric!  Have a good weekend, love Anne

 

A little bit chilly!

 Although we didn't have any snow over the weekend, it was decidedly chilly ........ just the weather to stay indoors and be busy.  I finished the baby quilt - it was a reasonably quick and easy make, as it is simply a printed panel

 

quilted with my favourite big lazy loopy meander

 

and backed with a soft and cuddly pink fleece, with unicorns

 

yesterday morning we headed over to Amble for a (chilly) walk.  If you need evidence of how cold it was, this is ice in the harbour!

 

this eider duck was swimming at a great rate of knots ........

 

...... to catch up with its friends

 

there was a great swarm of gulls round this boat, but as they were in constant motion they are just a blur in the photo

 

whereas this one posed beautifully for a photo!

 

this fishing boat looked all shiny and new at the front

 

but somewhat more rough and ready at the working end

 

Malcolm occasionally talks about buying a boat .....

 

....... his budget might just about run to one of these two!

 

of course we went for a cuppa (we needed to thaw out!)

 

it's a while since we had one of our famous two-scone lunches .... so we indulged in a delicious fruit scone with jam and cream

 

and a tasty cheese scone, which had been heated on the grill - and as we have half each, we don't feel too naughty!

 

back home, I retired to my Attic to get on with some Christmas projects.  You can't see the sewing yet, as it one of my 17 UFOs, but I can show you my little plaster cherubs, which were looking a bit sad

 

I popped them into a cardboard box to spray them - they look a funny colour here, but they did dry to a deep gold (OK, I admit I forgot to take a photo of them when they had dried)

 

next up was a polystyrene wreath and some soft brushed cotton fabrics from my stash

 

I ripped the fabric into strips, to give a rustic look

 

and tied them round the wreath

 

I found these cinnamon sticks in my stash of decorating bits and bobs

 

and put pins through the raffia binding, and then pushed them into the polystyrene

 

so far, so good ........

 

........ but even better with some little lights added

 

I saw this idea on Pinterest, but I didn't pin it, and I can't find it again to credit the original creator.  It was simple to create - the original on Pinterest was on a mirrored plate, but as I don't have one of those I used a wooden platter.  Take three different-sized wine glasses and fill them with little baubles.  Turn them upside down and place on your base, and stand a candle on top of each glass

 

and to finish, the big reveal of the Christmas tree!  I took this photo this afternoon ......

 

....... and this one this morning before it was quite light

 

 

Jumping up and down .......

......... and squealing with excitement!!  We were walking over the old bridge into Berwick this morning, when Malcolm spotted this little bird on a buttress.  We were so excited, as it is the first time that we have seen a kingfisher in real life rather than in a photo or on tv!

 

you would normally expect to see kingfishers sitting on a branch overhanging a river, so I don't know why it had chosen to sit on the bridge.  As we crept closer to get a better look, it flew off - but landed on the next buttress, which gave us a better view of the colour on its side

 

so, after all that excitement, let's have a bit of sewing!  When I was at The Quilt Shop on Wednesday, I was working on my Christmas Whimsy wallhanging.  Having added the prairie points and the binding, I auditioned little bits of bling to add to the blocks

 

as I knew I wouldn't have time to sew the bits on

 

I took a photo of each block

 

to remind me what to put where

 

it was good fun

 

going somewhat over the top

 

with the bling - and I still have more to add!

 

it's Friday, so of course that means a little foodie treat!  This is the Potting Shed

 

which is part of the Treehouse in Alnwick Gardens

 

where on Sunday we shared an excellent fruit scone with jam and clotted cream

 

then this morning we shared a tasty cheese and sun dried tomato scone in Café Crema

 

but just feast your eyes on the last two photos - and that's all I got to do, I didn't get to tuck into these delights!  We popped along to Nelson's in the village yesterday for a bite of lunch, and we were entertained by two of the ladies who work there setting up and taking photos for their website

 

so of course I asked if I could take photos too.  I also volunteered to pose eating the chocolate cake, but sadly they said no!

 

whether or not chocolate cake features on your menu, I hope you have a great weekend, love Anne

It may still be November .......

......... but it is all go for Christmas in the quilting world!  On Saturday we had the second part of the Christmas Whimsy workshop with Lucie.  This shows my blocks all cut to size and my sashings cut

 

here, we have Christine on the left and Karen on the right, with their interpretations of the pattern

 

then a little while later, Karen had added her outer border

 

this is Heather with her version - it's always amazing at workshops to see the variety of colours that people pick

 

at home on Sunday, I assembled my top ...... using a somewhat different layout from Lucie's original design

 

then yesterday, I quilted in the ditch round the blocks

 

next, I will trim the quilt and add prairie points before doing the binding.  Then the fun will start, adding lots of bling

 

at The Quilt Shop today, it was a busy Wednesday session.  Sonia had brought in her finished snowman cushion cover to show me - she is quite rightly delighted with it.

 

Hollie is going to turn this cute tractor block into a little wallhanging for her gorgeous little boy Gideon (although I did say she should have put yellow centres in the wheels, so it would look like my favourite John Deere tractors!)

 

Avril was finishing off this delightful crochet reindeer

 

I did try to keep it after I took the photos!

 

I took these last two photos on Saturday morning.  They aren't very clear as I was hiding behind the curtain, which was reflected on the window

 

as I tried to slowly move to get a better shot, you can see the sparrowhawk looking right at me!  It promptly picked up the carcass and flew off.  All that is left is a sad little pile of feathers.

Worth getting up for!

I know some of my friends think I am mad getting up early, but if I had stayed in my bed this morning ........

 

....... I would have missed this wonderful sunrise

 

in the end, Storm Brian didn't reach us, so yesterday morning we headed over to Amble for a walk

 

we have never been there when the tide is out - it was strange seeing an waterless harbour

 

I think this was once a pier

 

I felt slightly seasick taking this photo - as I looked through the viewfinder, focussing on the gull, the water was  rushing past in the background

 

one of the cormorants obligingly assumed the classic pose with outstretched wings for the photo

 

not quite as impressive as the Berwick lighthouse!

 

we were concerned to see all these men in hi-viz scrambling over the rocks, but fortunately it turned out to be a Coastguard training exercise

 

you can rent these little beach huts

 

a quick pause for a couple of arty photos ....... first some rust

 

then a large, strange piece of machinery

 

this piece of landscaping has recently been weeded and tidied

 

but this stretch is still neglected

 

heading for a cuppa after our walk, we were a bit bemused by all these pigeons on the roof.  We came to the conclusion that there can't be any loft insulation in the building, so the roof is warm for them to sit on

 

we had to avoid men with long ladders, who were stringing Christmas lights across the street

 

I remembered my own advice to look up, to find unusual things for photos

 

inconsiderate motorists, parking right in front of the tea rooms and spoiling my photo!

 

just for a change, we shared a toasted teacake - delicious!

 

I think I mentioned before that Stuart and Alison gave us walking shoes for our birthdays.  Manly ones for Malcolm ......

 

and girly pink soles for me.  It must be getting colder ........ note the hand knitted socks!

 

I'll be back on Wednesday with a report on Malcolm's wine rack!

Swans galore!

 When we arrived at the flat last Thursday, there were lots of swans in the dock, and as the gate was open (it is normally only open at the weekend), I sneaked in to take some photos

 

there were also quite a few geese amongst the swans

 

although this duck was content to sit on the edge of the dock

 

but the swans peace and quite was about to be well and truly disturbed, as this VERY large ship came into the dock

 

at first they headed to the far end

 

but then decided they would head out into the river ...... their upright posture shows that they were travelling at speed to escape!

 

the ship was so big that it needed help from the pilot boat to berth

 

and in no time at all, the lorries were rolling in to take away the cargo

 

after all that excitement, we headed out for a walk to town.  As we crossed the old bridge, there was a great flapping noise, and half a dozen swans flew over us

 

work has ground to a halt on the money pit.  It actually looks more shabby now - I hope that they will eventually clean the stonework so that the repairs are less obvious

 

a pause for an arty photo, with rusty barbed wire

 

and of course there has to be a view of the lighthouse!

 

I'm sorry, but I think this man looks ridiculous, with his pretend kilt, half-mast socks and the pony tail.  As we walked along behind him, I said to Malcolm that I would have to take a photo of "kiltie kiltie cauld bum" ........ it turned out that Malcolm hadn't heard this expression before.  Well, Scotsmen traditionally don't wear anything under their kilts, so of course they have a cauld (cold) bum!!  I suppose I could have offered to knit him a proper pair of kilt socks.........

 

walking back across town, I spotted this gate with thick overhanging ivy

 

a new gallery has opened just along the road from the flat - it might not look anything much from this photo, but it is a listed building, so they are limited as to what they can do with the outside

 

but the stylish door leads into ........

 

........ a cornucopia of arty delights.  If you are going to be in Berwick, email me and I will give you directions to the gallery

 

I took this photo of the salmon fishermen  at 10o'clock on Thursday night

 

then I took this one on Friday morning, as we walked over the old bridge in search of a cuppa and cake (more of that later!)

 

after lunch we went for a walk on the beach, but it started to rain!  So we got back in the car and drove up the coast to St Abbs, where we went for a walk round the harbour

 

I am always tempted to acquire a lobster pot to put in the garden

 

one of a row of fish hooks on a boat ready to go out to sea

 

but this gull didn't need to go fishing - he had found something tasty to eat in this box on another fishing boat

 

almost back at the flat, Malcolm spotted this view of the fishing boats, seen through an arch of the old bridge.  He dropped me off to take the photo ........ leaving me to walk the rest of the way!!

 

but then that meant I also took this photo - perhaps one of the most photographed views of the old bridge and the town

 

and so back to the cuppa and cakes.  Malcolm chose this delicious cheese and leek scone

 

while I indulged in a slice of gooey chocolate cake!

 

do you remember some weeks ago Anne made this cute sheepie for me?

 

of course that meant that I wanted to send her something in return, and knowing that she collects cruets sets, this pair of cuties was just the perfect present!

 

and do you also remember the happy mail from Kelly, which included the fun piece of John Deere fabric

 

Kelly had recently managed to open an old family trunk, which she knew contained some old family quilts,  However she was disappointed that the Sunbonnet Sue quilt that she remembered from years ago wasn't there, so what better thing to send her than a little Sunbonnet Sue cushion

 

I'll be back on Friday with my end of the month report on 17UFOs in 2017 ........ and I have lots to report this month!!

 

Garden visitors

I have no idea what this strange looking bird is, which appeared in the garden the other day.  All the photos of it were taken through the window, so aren't as clear as I would like

 

it had a funny bald head, which was blue

 

it reappeared this morning, and had a thorough splash in the bird bath

 

it seemed to be given me nasty looks!!

 

these big boys appeared on Sunday morning

 

there were half a dozen of them, strutting about as if they owned the place!

 

these pigeons were on the roof of the house across the road

 

this one had managed to find a gap in the wires that are supposed to stop birds perching!

 

this cute little bunny appeared on Friday morning

 

and as the grass was needing cut

 

there were lots of tasty treats

 

but I had to chase it away when it started to eat my bedding plants, instead of a tasty buttercup or two!

 

it was back on Saturday morning for another good munch

 

and it had obviously heard about turning its back to the camera!  The grass has now been cut, and it hasn't been back !

 

fortunately this chap didn't land in the garden, but flew overhead!

 

I promised there would still be cake, and again this is one from Majorca.  The lovely crisp pastry had a thin coating of chocolate, then some custard filling, and on top of that shredded pineapple and desiccated coconut .......... delicious!