frayed at the edge

Thoroughly spoiled!

Thank you very much for all your birthday good wishes!  I had a lovely birthday - once I got the boring household chores over with!  As usual I headed off to patch'n'chat, where I handed over my two quilts to Sandra, our lovely Linus Lady

 

the Friday cake was an extra-delicious chocolate, cream  and strawberry confection

 

and Margaret gave me a very, very special present ....... a beautiful block,which I will turn into a wallhanging.  Her work is exquisite, and I had tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat when I opened the parcel and saw what she had made for me

 

Stuart and Alison came for a visit ...... and I never gave a thought to taking photos of the wonderful birthday dinner that Malcolm made.  We started with asparagus and broccoli soup. topped with crumbled blue cheese, then we had the most wonderful rack of lamb ........ which maybe wasn't quite as good as this one which Stuart had when he and Alison dined in a Michelin-starred restaurant in New York last month!!

 

for dessert we had  Malcolm's signature bread and butter pudding, and it was all washed down with a glass or two of fizz.  On Saturday morning, we headed out to Pirn House for breakfast, which we all enjoyed, then Stuart and Alison headed off for a visit to Ikea on their way home.   

 

We came over to the flat yesterday, and I was delighted to see the little table looking so good in the hall

 

do you like the lamp?  Malcolm made it from a biscuit tin after seeing the idea in a magazine

 

this seaside-themed dish was one of Malcolm's birthday present from me

 

taking the photo of the dish reminded me that I had forgotten to show you the  present that I bought for Malcolm some weeks before his birthday ........ aren't these little boats just the cutest things!

 

 

we went for a long walk round the old walls yesterday, and although it was misty, I took lots of photos, which I shall share with you tomorrow.  To finish, two photos of a robin which stayed still as I took the first photo, then turned to face the other way and waited until I had taken the photo before it flew off!

Enjoying the weather!

Usually we go out for lunch on a Wednesday, but yesterday I had to stay at home.  I was expecting a parcel, which I was told that I would have to sign for ......... but when the parcel was delivered, I didn't need to sign, and it would have been left in the garage for me if I had gone out.  Most annoying!  So instead, we went out for lunch today.  It was a lovely day for a drive through our wonderful countryside

 

we went to Pirn House, which of course means that I had the French toast with bacon and maple syrup ...... and Malcolm decided to have it to

 

back home, I had a potter round the garden with the camera.  I don't know what has been wrong with the clematis this year.  Only one of them flowered when it normally does, and we now have two flowering which should have flowered weeks ago

 

and this one has yet to flower

 

we have had a lot of bees in the garden this summer ....... this was a big fat hairy one on the herb pot this afternoon

 

the exceptionally warm weather of the last few days has brought out great clouds of tiny flies.   We are going to have some very well-fed spiders if they eat all these little flies caught in webs all round the garden

 

the warm weather has also meant that the butterflies have been busy on the buddleiia

 

I have finished one of the two little Linus quilts - I just have a bit of the binding left to hand-stitch on the other one

 

this afternoon I made two sheepie cushion covers.  The first one was with the fun fabric I bought last week

 

the second one was with the much more sophisticated fabric which Maureen gave me

 

and I am sure that Anna will enjoy these photos of the real thing!

 

to finish ....... taking scenic photos through the windscreen doesn't always go to plan - especially when your driver whizzes round a bend, and you lose your balance and lean to the side, resulting in this!

 

 

So where was I ......

...... when I had to give up yesterday?  I had just shown you Kay's stunning quilt, and was going to show you more quilts - I used to hesitate about posting quilt photos, and there used to be signs up saying that photos were for personal use only, but I noticed there were no signs on Friday.  I guess with so many quilters showing their quilts on blogs/Twitter/Facebook/Instagram, a few photos here won't make a big difference

 

these two quilts have many of the same blocks - but look how different they are, simply because of the colour choices

 

as always, I had my naughty but nice lunch ........ macaroni cheese and chips!

 

after lunch, this little quilt caught my eye

 

how little is it?   My little finger provides the scale

 

of course, there weren't just quilts, there were traders!  I may have bought one or two little things .......

fun fabrics for some new cushions

 

this spotty fabric is for the outer border for the Aunts' Quilt (with a piece of the background fabric of the blocks)

 

I had looked at this earlier in the day, then went back to buy it in the afternoon, as I really liked it!

 

I stocked up on machine needles

 

and who could resist bargain threads!

 

so, on to Saturday, when I headed to Borderland Fabrics to do a workshop with Debbie Renton.  I knew we were going to make a panda wallhanging, so I was surprised that the requirements list only called for a piece of brightly coloured background fabric, and a piece of black fabric.  However, all was soon revealed

all set up ready to start

 

the white is a freezer paper template, with the black fabric fitted into it

 

the template removed

 

the wrong side, showing the black pieces stitched in place

 

it was time to stop for lunch, which was included in the price of the class.  There was a choice of sweet potato soup, or red pepper and tomato soup.  I chose the sweet potato

 

there was also a very tasty selection of sandwiches

 

after lunch, I started quilting my panda block

 

then we had another break, this time for a cuppa and cake!

 

by the end of the afternoon, my panda was finished

 

to finish ........ Debbie has given me permission to share this photo of her stunning quilt "Free Spirit".  She had been thinking of making the quilt, when sadly her horse died.  She went home and started work on it that night ........

 

 

 

 

Day trippers!

This morning we set off bright and early, and soon crossed the Border

 

we kept seeing little flashes of autumn colours in the trees

 

Malcolm was slightly cross when this slow moving beastie pulled out in front of him ....... fortunately we didn't have to crawl along for too long before it turned off

 

there are no photos from our first destination. We were calling in at friends of Rachel (who hopefully by now is a Lovely Grandmother, as the Lovely daughter-in-law has been in labour for some time), who had very kindly brought several packages for Malcolm back to Northumberland after a recent visit to Rachel.  I haven't yet taken photos, but the packages contain lots of wonderful stuff for stained glass making - Rachel had been having a clear out, and having decided that she wouldn't make more stained glass, she offered all her supplies to Malcolm, who was delighted to accept.  With everything safely stowed in the car  (with very careful handling of the box full of sheets of glass!) we headed to Corbridge.  We had our lunch here

 

we both had one of the day's specials welsh rarebit.  It was so good I am going to have to make it for lunch one day soon!

 

strolling round the town, we couldn't decide who (or which) was older, the tractor or the driver

 

not only were these meringues enormous, but they had delicious fillings such as lemon curd.  I absolutely deny that Malcolm had to drag me away, before I bought the entire stock!!

 

a proper, old fashioned, greengrocer

 

this shop had lovely things, both inside

 

and outside

 

of course we can't visit Corbridge without a browse round our favourite shop ...... but for once I didn't buy anything - there was so many lovely things to chose from I couldn't make up my mind!

 

we could have spent a large amount of money in this new shop, including buying one of these wonderful shepherd's huts (but again Malcolm may have dragged me away as I got out my credit card!!!!!)

 

I think I have mentioned in the past that post boxes in Scotland don't have EIIR on them, as we have only had one Queen Elizabeth (the current one),unlike England, which has had two.  But the main point of interest in this post box for us is the fact that it was made in Falkirk, where we lived in the 90s (before we went to Indonesia)

 

when I saw this sign, I wondered if it was the Methodist or the chapel who was primitive!

 

back at the car park, there was a lovely display of sunflowers

 

on the way home there was more frustration, stuck behind large vehicles

 

so we had to pop in for a delicious cheese scone to recover!

 

whenever we pass this cafe, with its very large sign, I want to open a cafe a hundred yards along the road with a larger sign saying "oh no you're not!" 

 

as we began the long climb up to the border, the mist came down from the hills

 

but cleared in time to capture the moment we crossed back into Scotland!

 

just look at the rich, red, newly ploughed earth!

 

to finish - when we got home, there was one of those annoying cards from the postman.  But fortunately it told us where he had hidden the parcel in the front garden, so we wouldn't have to trail into Hawick tomorrow to pick it up

 

so what was in the parcel ........ just a little taste of heaven!  We love these Australian biscuits, so I was delighted to track down an Australian shop in London which sells them online.  But as the postage was almost as much as the biscuits, this is a very special treat!  The big question is - will I hide them away and eat them all myself, or will I share them with Malcolm and Stuart, who really likes them too??!

 

 

A busy day sewing

On Saturday morning, Malcolm headed off to Berwick, and I loaded up the car with my sewing stuff and headed for Kelso.  I had already made the two quilt tops, and had layered them ready for quilting (I'll tell you about making them tomorrow), so it didn't take long to get the machine set up, ready to quilt the first one

 

by lunchtime the first one was done - yes, I used my favourite big loopy meander!

 

then I quilted the second one in the afternoon

 

they both look like this on the back ..... cosy, cuddly deep pink fleece

 

I demanded insisted asked nicely ........ but Yvonne wouldn't give me her seaside themed quilt.  Wouldn't it just look wonderful in the flat!

 

Lorraine had another of her stunning hexagon quilts

 

Tricia was working on a fun quilt for Linus

 

you can see the blocks have owls on them ....... but did you see that the sashing has pussycats?

 

Sandra was adding borders to the quilt which will be raffled at next year's Exhibition ....... you are only allowed a sneak peek!

 

of course you know that we can't spent a day sewing without sustenance!  Having had a piece of Rineke's delicious Canadian apple cake

 

it would have been rude not to have a piece of Tricia's equally delicious cinnamon and pecan cake

 

to finish ..... when I was doing the food shopping his morning, I could see the supermarket's security guard casting a beady eye in my direction, as I rooted about in the bottom of my bag.  But I wan't trying to hide something I had acquired illegally, I was looking for my camera, so that I could share this with you.  Yes, it's still slightly more than three months to Christmas, but they had Christmas cakes, mince pies and puddings for sale ........ ridiculous!!

 

Orchid update

When I first bought an orchid, it was relatively expensive, and it was a long time before I bought another one.  However, these days you can buy one for the price of a magazine, and as I haven't been buying many magazines recently, I have treated myself to three new orchids (which together cost less than the first one I bought!)

 

I also recently acquired a new tin for my collection - it was marked down to half-price because the biscuits in it were approaching their sell-by date!

 

we are having a sewing day at Abbey Quilters tomorrow ........ I shall be doing something with these delicious fabrics

 

our Friday cake was delicious - a light apple sponge

 

the forecast is good for tomorrow, which is just typical as I shall be indoors all day!  However Malcolm is going over to the flat, so no doubt he will be on the beach.  I hope you have a good weekend, love Anne

 

A weird combination!

It has been a poor summer for butterflies in the garden (although a very good one for bees).  These are all the photos I have in my butterfly folder this year!

 

the birds are reappearing in the front garden and making good use of the bird bath

 

we went out for lunch today, and Malcolm had a baguette with brie, bacon and tomato

 

but now for the weird combination - I had lentil soup and bread ........ and salad!!  Remember we recently were given a side salad with a scone, which we thought odd ...... but salad with soup - NO!!!!

It rained so much on Saturday ......

....... that Malcolm considered setting up an ark-building company!  But then on Sunday we got up to a beautiful morning, so off we went to the beach

 

there have been some very high, and then equally low tides recently, and the sand has shifted a lot.  The wooden groynes have almost disappeared in places

 

I hoped that all the shifting sand would mean that there would be lots of seaglass, and I had only gone a few yards before I had picked up several pieces

 

recently I have seen lots of pictures in craft shops, at craft fairs and on Pinterest, made with small pieces of seaglass and little pebbles like these.  I shall have to have a play!

 

perhaps I could add in a feather?

 

this surfer was trudging up the beach - I guess the surf wasn't to his liking

 

we walked right to the end of the beach, then came up the steps and walked back along the promenade, stopping at the cafe ......

 

for a cuppa and a shared bowl of delicious chips

 

the good weather had brought out lots of people ...... with lots of dogs!

 

while I was taking this photo of an enormous rosehip .....

 

....... Malcolm was sitting enjoying the view

 

you can just make out Bamburgh and Lindisfarne on the horizon

 

as we walked back through the car park, we decided we wouldn't want to spend a holiday in this big beastie - you would probably spend half the day trying to find somewhere to park it

 

I've shown you various catering vans at local events ...... this is their base

 

as we walked along towards the dock, we saw one of the little fishing boats

 

which seemed to be having problems, as it was going round in circles!

 

I was tempted to "acquire" three different metal objects on our walk ....... a wonderful old gate

 

......... a piece old scrap metal, which would probably sell for a fortune in a trendy art gallery

 

....... and this lovely rusty gate post and lock

 

back at the dock, there was more temptation ........ two transporters full of brand new Minis (they aren't two-tone, the white is protective covering)

 

I shall be back tomorrow to tell you about a very special little boy, and to show you the quilt that I have made for him.

Special gifts

When Anna came to visit, she brought some lovely gifts for me.  First, this delicious bundle of Riley Blake fabrics

 

then there was a super pouch with a see-through front for keeping a small project in

 

it is made with fun map-of-New-York fabric

 

and what was inside the little spotty bag that you can see in the pouch ....... these little goodies!  Thank you again, Anna, for such delightful gifts!

 

then, last Wednesday, a large box arrived, which upon opening revealed these two smaller boxes

 

oh my, two boxes of deliciousness from the (world-) famous Betty's.  So who had sent this cornucopia of comestibles?  The delightful Liz, to say thank you for making the baby quilt.  Those of you who read her blog will know that she is now the proud Granny of a bouncing baby boy.  In the smaller box were four of these beauties, known as Fat Rascals

 

then in the bigger box there were : a box of teabags, a jar of strawberry conserve, a tea loaf ..... and four scones.  Being such kind and generous friends, we gave Anna two of the scones (spread with homemade lemon curd) to sustain her on her train journey  to London on Friday!  Thank you again, Liz, for such a wonderful foodie gift!

 

the next "gift", I bought for myself ......... one of those accidental little purchases.  I know, I know, another notebook, but just too cute to resist (and its purchase raises funds for the RNLI, so buying it was a good thing!!)

 

it's Friday, so that means cake!  Today we had cupcakes which Annette had baked using a new recipe - they were light and delicious, but I was very good and resisted eating a second one

 

we will be heading over to Berwick in the morning, and weather permitting, will of course be walking on the beach.  I hope you have a good weekend, love Anne

Friday again!!

The days just seem to be whizzing past at the moment ....... but I don't mind, as it bring me closer to meeting a very special bloggy friend - but I'm not going to tell you yet who it is!!  After all the sewing photos that we have had through the week, today I shall share with you the other photos that didn't yet make it into the blog!   First we have a pale sunset

 

then a much more colourful sunset

 

out in the garden, the bottle brush has flowered

 

the clematis which was the first to flower in the spring has decided to flower again

 

Malcolm repainted the planter that he made some years ago, and I bought some new plants for it

 

if you don't like snails, scroll quickly past the next photo!

 

the other morning, there were so many starlings on the phone wires that I couldn't fit them all in one photo!

 

as I was taking photos of the starlings, a flock of swallows flew past in the distance

 

we had our favourite Friday cake, the delicious apple and sultana one

 

to finish, I have a very special treat for you!  The lovely Margaret recently entrusted me with some of her spectacular quilt tops, as I had offered to take photos of them for her.  All her quilts are entirely hand sewn and embellished ...... hour and hours of work.  She has given me permission to share some of them with you .......

 

there is a bit of a mixed forecast for the weekend, but perhaps we will manage to have a walk on the beach.  I hope you have a good weekend, love Anne