frayed at the edge

Keeping an eye on the time

We popped over to Berwick this morning, as we thought our dining furniture might be delivered - there was a bit of confusion, and finally we found out it won't arrive until next week.  Never mind, the sun was shining and we had a lovely day.  We took over some more bits and pieces, including this fun clock, which I got from here

 

once we had sorted out and put away the various bits and bobs, we headed out for lunch.  We went back to Cafe Crema, where we shared a bacon roll and a roll and sausage - delicious

 

we had a potter round the shops, popping into Serendipity, where we were delighted to see my lovely friend Caroline, who is one of the crafters involved in the shop.  She handed us a little parcel with a housewarming present

when we said how much we loved them, she introduced us to the woman who was standing behind the counter with her, saying that Catriona had made them, and had only just brought them into the shop this morning.  Malcolm had already given me some of Catriona's buttons and a brooch for Christmas, so it was good to meet her.  Thank you Caroline for the super gift - we have plans to frame them.

After we had finished our shopping, Malcolm suggested that we went for a little stroll along the old walls.  I guess the seagulls think these high buildings are better than cliffs

 

can you spot the three seagulls in this photo?

 

what a wonderful place to play golf (not that I ever would, I can't hit the ball)

 

as we walked on,  there was the lighthouse ....... I shall have to get Malcolm to do a drawing for me to turn into a quilt!

 

back at the flat, it was time to check on the swans ........ but where were they, there weren't any in sight.  Then two appeared at the entrance to the dock ........ and suddenly dozens of them appeared from the corner of the dock that we can't see

 

Malcolm pointed out these two unusual lorries on the other side of the dock

 

to finish, one last seagull ....... they love perching anywhere high - this one is on top of a floodlight

An early start!I

Determined to take a nice selection of photos for you, I made an early start, catching this young robin in the bath just after 7am

 

I water the house plants every second Friday, and was delighted this morning to find another orchid has flowered.  It is just a teeny, tiny one, but the markings are striking

 

the lilies in the hall are going over and will soon head for the compost bin (please note that I managed to avoid getting my reflection in the mirror!)

 

 

the horses in the field across the road were having a leisurely morning

 

at patch'n'chat this afternoon, Margaret was working on another of her fabulous applique quilts (click on the photos to enlarge them to see the wonderful details of her embroidery)

 

Annette wasn't in the shop today, so we were worried that we wouldn't get our usual Friday cake ....... but all was well, as this wonderful raspberry and cream meringue roulade had been purchased from Border Meringues, whose shop is only a few minutes walk from Borderland Fabrics

 

back home, we had tacos for dinner ......... I liked the colours of the platter of accompaniments

 

 

at this point, I saved what I had written so far, as I had just taken some more photos, and wanted to include them  We started with a little bird having a bath after breakfast , and now we have a large one having a bath after dinner!

the forecast isn't too good for the weekend, but I am sure that won't stop us from having a visit to our lovely new holiday home.  I hope you have a good weekend, love Anne

 

What kind of doughnuts?!

I spotted these when we were shopping on Saturday ........ they turned out to be quite tasty!!

 

we had a couple with a cuppa as we started to get organised in the flat.  Of course, with all the sport that it on at the moment, some things take priority!

 

another priority ........

 

it didn't take long to go from a jumble in the kitchen

 

to neat and tidy ........

 

.......... despite frequent looking out the window to monitor swan movements

 

yesterday morninng we went over to the Waterwheel Cafe.  We parked and went for a walk along to the cauld to see the archimedes screw

 

 

We were amazed to see that there are major earthworks in progress

 

which of course meant major machinery

 

however as we walked on along the river, peace and calm was restored

 

we saw several trees like this, infested with strange looking webs

 

it won't be long until the thistles turn purple

 

the insects were busy

 

the river was very low ......

 

which meant there was no overspill to turn the old waterwheel

 

then, of course, it was time for a spot of sconnage for lunch

tasty cheese

delicious treacle

 

I'll be back tomorrow with a sewing update, but to finish ........ I wonder if this duck knows he isn't a swan!

 

 

Blog fodder

I remarked to Malcolm last night that we hadn't visited any old churches recently.  Then this morning I mentioned that I needed to take photos for the blog today ........ so a short time later, there we were at an old church, with lots of opportunities to stock up on blog fodder!!  I didn't notice at the time that we were reflected on the sign

 

there was a squad of men cutting the grass when we arrived, so the air was full of the wonderful scent of newly-mown grass as we walked round the church

 

a lot of the old headstones are very worn .........

 

........ you can just make out the date on this one

 

the bottom half of this one tells a sad tale (click on the photo to enlarge it)

 

this funny little one is so worn, it's hard to tell what is the front and what is the back

 

we saw several dates over doors as we walked round

 

there were several doors like this, halfway up the building ........

 

......... whereas this little window was at ground level, where you would expect the doors to be!

 

another unintended reflection!

 

Malcolm spotted this rusty old wheelbarrow, resting against a gnarly old tree

 

click on the photo to enlarge it, so that you can read the inscription on the bell

 

we decided that the sundial was telling us that it was time for lunch!

 

we headed to Pirn House Interiors ......... Malcolm had a roast beef, tomato and horseradish sandwich

 

and I had French toast, bacon and maple syrup.  But no sharing today, as I don't like tomato and horseradish!!  (but I did give Malcolm a taste)

 

to finish, one last little headstone, which has an angel holding a skull and thigh bone!

 

 

A special weekend

Saturday morning saw us on the road bright and early, heading for Larbert to spend some time with Stuart and Alison.  Of course a journey of any length needs a stop for fortification, so we called into the Mayshade Garden Centre for a cuppa.  We may also have shared one of their delicious taster plates

 

in the afternoon, we headed to The Helix, which lies between Falkirk and Grangemouth.  You can read about it here and here.  We had a very pleasant walk round the first part of the development, pausing to admire this swan

 

it was hard to take photos of this water feature without having children getting gloriously wet in the frame, as they ran back and forward through the jets of water

 

 

I was fascinated with the ever-changing coloured lights shining through the water ........

 

but had to drag myself away to continue our walk.  It's hard to believe that until recently this was post-industrial wasteland

 

having walked round the first part of the development, we made our way to see the main purpose of our visit, passing the swan again, who had found a friend

 

then, there they were, dominating the skyline ....... the Kelpies

 

for once I didn't need Malcolm in a photo to give the scale, as there were large crowds walking round the magnificent sculptures

 

I didn't realise until I looked at the photos later, that the little girl looked as if she was about to be eaten!

 

I took quite a lot of photos ....... here are just a few

 

For dinner on Saturday, Stuart had booked a table at The Tea House.  As it was a lovely evening, we walked there, which took about 50 minutes.  I liked the tiny carafes that our wine was served in

 

the food was delicious, but I only took photos of my dishes.  I started with salt and pepper ribs

 

followed by salt and chilli seabass - very, very delicious!

 

the portions were very generous, and none of us had room for dessert ........ not even lemon meringue pie could tempt us!  When the bill was brought, there were sweeties with it.  The others promptly ate theirs, but I brought mine home to take a photo of it!

 

Sunday morning was glorious and we had breakfast out on the deck - that's a year since Malcolm and Stuart built it.  Then we headed for home ....... with a detour to Ikea.  Yes, we had meatballs for lunch, and yes, we bought tealights!

In one of those strange little coincidences in life, I spotted this in the paper this morning .......

 

I did do some sewing last night, and hopefully will get more done tomorrow, so that I will have a sewing update for you!

A trip around the .......

........ there is a patchwork block called "trip around the world" (which the students will be doing next week).  I can't take you on world tour, but I can take you on a trip around the garden!  

The peony is a beautiful deep, deep red

 

a pretty shrub that I can't remember the name of!

 

these flowers smell slightly of garlic

 

a bud on the climbinng rose

 

another stunning clematis (that's my hand holding the flower up, which shows how big it is)

 

this little clematis just goes on and on flowering

 

the "alien" clematis flowers look somewhat more normal now!

 

the climbing rose on the back wall has been swamped by ivy, and has one lonely flower

        

 

this is a miniature rose, which we have had for years.  It was in a pot in our last garden, and is now planted out in a border

 

now that we have enjoyed the garden, let's pop into the kitchen, to see how the orchids are doing.  This first one might look a bit shabby, but it has been flowering since last December!

 

the orchids did very well last summer, and it looks as if they might even do better this year

 

this is the best orchid I have ever had - but I can't claim any credit for it, as my orchids have to thrive on neglect!

 

I have one last delight to share with you ........ the Friday cake.  A most delicious apple cake - there was some discussion as the whether we would prefer custard or ice cream with it!

 

I won't be sewing over the weekend, as we are doing something special - I'll tell you all about it on Monday.  I hope you all have a great weekend, love Anne

 

Living on a grand scale

This morning we headed over to Kelso, as we had a BOGOF voucher for entry to Floors Castle.  But first we fortified ourselves with an early lunch.  I had lentil soup

 

and Malcolm had cauliflower soup

 

you probably noticed that we also had a scone with the soup -  delicious!  When our cuppas arrived, there was an extra little treat - a tiny meringue

 

then it was on to Floors, which is the largest inhabited castle in Scotland.  Photography isn't allowed inside the castle, so if you get the chance, do visit to see the grandeur, spendour and opulence ...... and that's just in the very small portion that the public gets to see.  The castle is very grand

 

much too big to get in a single photo

 

I took quite a lot of photos of the roof!

 

wouldn't it be nice to live in a house (ok, castle) with a view like this from the drawing/sitting room window

 

we had a pleasant (if hot!) stroll round the grounds.  This bird was too far away for me to see what it was, but looking at the photo, I think it is a thrush

 

perhaps I should seek help for my tractor fixation!

 

this parterre garden was created for the Millenium.  The design incorporates the initials of the Duke and Duchess, but there wasn't a convenient stepladder for me to stand on, to look down on the design to show that

 

you aren't allowed to walk on the grass to have a closer look, but we could see one of the "M"s, which signify the Millenium

 

I still have lots of photos to share with you, which I will save for tomorrow, and will finish with photos I took yesterday evening.  First Mr Blackbird had a good splash in the birdbath ........

 

then Mrs Blackbird tried to splash even more!

 

A day at the seaside

We popped over to Berwick this morning, as we had to lodge our funds for the purchase of our holiday home with our solicitor, ready for the completion of the purchase on the 27th.  Having done that, we headed for a new cafe .......

....... and sampled a cheese scone - it passed our rigorous inspection with flying colours!

 

the service was very good, and we were given an extra plate for our shared scone - we'll definitely go back there!

 

when we were walking across the old bridge, we spotted this man in the water.  He didn't seem to be trying to progress against the current, but rather he was holding his position

 

I had just taken this photo of the heron .......

 

........ when it took off

 

I was delighted when it landed much closer, then posed prettily

 

as it was a lovely day, we decided to go to Eyemouth for lunch.  It was very enjoyable sharing a fish supper ......

 

sitting in the sun, looking out to sea

 

I'll tell you about the rest of our trip tomorrow, and I'll also have the usual sewing update.

 

After the mutant sheep .......

........ we now have the alien clematis.  The buds appeared as normal

 

but then I think a little spaceship must have landed and fed the buds with a super strength growing compound, as they grew

 

and grew

 

and grew some more

 

before finally opening into this beautiful flower

 

last year the flowers were ordinary white ones, so I don't know why it has flowered like this.  I also don't know if the outer layer is a leaf or a petal.  Perhaps one of my lovely readers is a clematis expert who can enlighten me!

 

at patch'n'chat this afternoon, there were some new books for us to drool over, and this one came home with me

 

it's only two weeks until we get the keys to our holiday home, so I might even manage to make one of the delightful projects in the book before then

 

and to end, of course, we have the Friday cake.  This week we had Annette's light-as-air chocolate sponge, topped with cream and strawberries ......... delicious!

 

I have lots of sewing planned for the weekend, and Malcolm will be working in the garden and watching the Test Match  (cricket) ........ he may even watch some of the World Cup (football).  I hope you have a good weekend, love Anne

 

Quincentenial celebrations

This weekend saw the end of this year's Hawick Common Riding.  It was a special one this year, as it is the 500th anniversary of the capture of the English Flag

 

to mark this special anniversary, another statue has been unveiled on the High Street (I took the photos this morning when there was no-one around)

 

on Saturday morning, we joined a very large crowd on the High Street, as dozens and dozens of horses and riders went past

 

and bringing up the rear, a very important vehicle!

 

if I were to have a horse, it would be one of these cuties, rather than the real thing!

 

yesterday morning we went for a walk at Harestanes.  It was enjoyable walking in the dappled shade, then in  patches of sunlight

this wonderful rhododendron was reflected on the pond

 

a glimpse of a lovely house through the trees

 

and as always I looked up

 

we popped into the visitor centre

and treated ourselves to one of our famous two-scone lunches, a delicious cheese scone for main course, and a fruit one for pudding (for new readers, we share the scones, we don't eat two each!)

 

I'll be back tomorrow with a sewing update, but to finish ................. we had a very heavy shower this afternoon, which caused the birdbath to overflow