frayed at the edge

A special day!

 On Saturday morning, Malcolm's sister Jennifer arrived at the house, parked her car in the drive, then the three of us set off north.  Once over the Border, we stopped at The Flat Cat Gallery in Lauder for some lunch (if you are wondering about the name, a flat cat is a kind of rug).

 

I had a tuna mayo baguette (I gave Malcolm the olives, as I don't like them)

 

Malcolm had roast beef

 

and I haven't quite got Jennifer trained, as she had moved her smoked salmon baguette before I could take the photo!

 

after a further drive, we arrived at our destination Glenbervie House Hotel (sorry about the quality of the photo, but I found it on the internet - the weather was horrid, and it was a quick dash from the car indoors without stopping for photos)

 

 

inside the hotel, we found this lovely function room

 

and when we came downstairs after donning our finery, we found these two handsome men in their kilts  ........ yes, we were there for Stuart and Alison's wedding reception!

 

the happy couple, waiting to make their grand entrance

 

the evening got underway with the traditional cutting of the cake, which was done with a grand flourish

 

a decidedly untraditional cake - but if you are Scottish, you will have grown up eating Tunnock's teacakes, caramel wafers and snowballs!

 

but what is this ...... a second cake?!  One of Alison's colleagues made this magnificent creation for them

 

Stuart was somewhat nervous making his speech

 

then it was time for the First Dance

 

Malcolm really doesn't like having his photo taken, so he looks a bit serious (and he looks just like his Dad!!)

 

brotherly, and sisterly, love

 

the handsome groom and his very proud Mum

 

the beautiful bride and her very proud mother-in-law

 

knowing that you like a handsome man in a kilt, I asked this chap to pose for you

 

he then tried to steal the bride!

 

a small selection of the delicious buffet

 

a weary Malcolm, as we headed up to bed at the end of a fabulous evening 

 

we met up with Stuart and Alison, the best man Fraser and bridesmaid Lynsey, and their friends Paul and Caroline for breakfast.  Jennifer was very ladylike and had eggs benedict

 

while the rest of us tucked into a full Scottish breakfast - this is mine with scrambled eggs.  The others had poached or fried eggs.  Hiding behind the potato scones is a slice of black pudding topped with haggis - what a gourmet breakfast.  And just the thing for a certain groom and best man who may have slight hangovers!!

 

let's finish by embarrassing the happy couple ........ first Stuart, not just dancing, but also singing!

 

and Alison dancing with Stuart's stepsister Claire!

 

I'll be back on Wednesday with my first report for the 6&6 Challenge.

 

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!

More of the white stuff!

I know a lot of you in this country are fed up with snow, but these photos are for Meredithe, Ma and the Squealers, who are wilting in the heat in and around Melbourne.  This was the birdbath yesterday morning

 

with a collar of snow round the icy water

 

I think the footprints are probably from a cat, which had carefully walked along the edging between the path and the grass

 

our neighbours' monkey puzzle tree looked good with its dusting of snow

 

while we had rather a lot on the hedge

 

this is yesterday's sunrise

 

with more spectacular colours - the little dots are birds flying past in the distance

 

then this morning we had a very pink sunrise

 

with lots of fluffy clouds

 

we came up to Berwick this morning, stopping in Belford at Sunnyhills

 

where we shared an excellent cheese scone

 

when we got to the flat, there was a ship in the dock, which was sitting very low in the water.  Was it waiting to be unloaded, or had it been loaded and was waiting for high tide to leave?  We would find out later in the afternoon

 

we had a (rather chilly) walk over to town.  When I stopped to take a photo of the Victorian pillar box, I had to include the matching Porsche!

 

these little birds are well camouflaged when they are poking about at the water's edge

 

until you spot their red legs

 

it was very clear, and we could see Bamburgh Castle in the distance

 

I would love to know why this house has two wind-speed meters on its chimney stack

 

do you remember this house, which I christened the "money pit"?  I tried to persuade Malcolm to buy it, so I could turn it into a quilting retreat, but sadly someone else bought it, and has been slowly refurbishing it

 

then there was the "very big money pit", where work has finally started to turn it into apartments

 

and now there is this old building for sale - but the drawback to this one is that there is hardly a straight line or a right angle, as it has subsided over the years!  So I don't think Malcolm will buy this one for me either, which is a disappointment, as it would be wonderful to have you all come to visit (although perhaps not all at the same time!)

 

back at the flat, there was suddenly a flurry of activity in the dock

 

with the swans escaping out into the river

 

before the pilot boat shepherded the ship out of the dock

 

we are just watching the weather forecast on tv, and it is to be dry and bright tomorrow, so we hope to get out and about. If you have weather like ours, wrap and well and stay warm, and if you are melting in the heat in Melbourne, stay cool and drink lots!!  Love, Anne

Another Sunday, another beach

 Yesterday morning we went for a slightly chilly walk on the beach at Alnmouth.  Although it was two degrees, the wind made it feel much colder.  However this little dog was happy running about the beach

 

we had only been on the beach for a few minutes when I made my first find, a big piece of seaglass

 

what's that, you want to see my blue nails?  Slightly embarrassing, as the polish is s bit chipped

 

the winter storms have exposed these concrete blocks, leaving a foot of sand covered in grass on top of them

 

further along the beach, someone has been having fun - a bit bigger than the stone stacks that I sometimes build on the beach!

 

Malcolm spotted this tiny piece of china (by that time I had put my gloves on, as my hands were so cold!)

 

this photo makes it look as if the beach was deserted

 

but zooming out shows that there were lots of people about - mainly dog walkers

 

of course I had to stop to take photos of the weathered groynes ........

 

........ with their lovely bits of rusty metal

 

the cold weather wasn't deterring the golfers, who were queueing up to play

 

it must have been even colder up on top of the cliff

 

the first piece of litter that we picked up - by the end of our walk we had filled a carrier bag

 

but we left this buoy behind - it was full of sand and wasn't going anywhere

 

as we walked back to the car, I noticed these bottles sitting in front of an old garden door.  Is it a work of art ......... or littering and vandalism!

 

we went to the Old School Gallery for a cuppa

 

where fortunately they let Malcolm in the door, despite it being the Entrance for Girls

 

it was only when I was looking at this photo on my laptop that I noticed that the name is spelled wrongly in the website address!

 

we had a very welcome cuppa to warm us up, and shared a delicious slice of lime polenta cake

 

another of Stuart's friends has become a Dad - which of course means I am making a quilt!  Come back on Wednesday to see it.

 

A tale of three scones

 If you are being good and eating healthily, you might want to scroll down past the next four photos, and not torment yourself with so much delicious sconnage!  I got to eat all of this first scone, as I was on my own shopping in Alnwick on Monday, and popped in for a cuppa

 

then we shared this one yesterday, on our way up to Kelso (I was going to the hairdresser to have my gorgeous blondeness restored!)  I do like places that give us two plates when we are sharing

 

and isn't the vintage china lovely

 

after my hairdressing appointment, we went to Berwick, where we shared this really tasty cheese and red onion scone - and it was still warm from the oven!

 

this is my hairdresser Melissa's dog Jake

 

she was a bit worried about him, as he hasn't been eating well ....... he was looking very sorry for himself

 

this lorry was parked on the dockside this morning

 

you can see from the map (found on the internet) that it is a long way from home - 318 miles to be exact

 

 

unlike our last visit, when it was very windy, the sea was calm, as you can see from the reflection of the pilot boat

 

when we got home this afternoon, I nipped out to The Attic for a quick play on the Super Quilter.  My leaves might be random shapes, but my control of the speed and movement of the machine is getting better ......

 

........ although the leaf on the right started out on its top edge as a holly leaf, then went a bit awry on the bottom edge!

 

a little sneak peak of my new project for this month's 6&6 challenge

 

the forecast for Sunday isn't too bad, so hopefully we will get out for a walk.  I hope you have a good weekend, love Anne

 

 

Oh I do like to be ......

...... beside Newbiggin-by-the sea!  As it was a clear bright (and somewhat chilly) morning yesterday, we headed over to Newbiggin for a walk along the seafront.  I wasn't worried by this notice, as there was no way I was going anywhere near the freezing cold sea!

 

we missed seeing the lifeboat being launched from the trailer behind the tractor

 

but we saw it out at sea bouncing over the waves

 

then later we saw it reversing on to the trailer

 

and being towed back up the beach

 

finishing with a tricky manoeuvre to reverse ........

 

up to the lifeboat station

 

this groyne shouldn't end up buried under the sand, as it is part of the landscaping, and isn't on the beach

 

this may look like a bare wall

 

but a closer look .......

 

...... shows plant growing between the bricks

 

a quick pause for an arty photo

 

from the far end of the seafront, we had a good view of the church on the point

 

then I took this photo as we walked back to the car

 

I suggested this boat would be a good "fixer-upper" project for Malcolm, but he declined to buy it! 

 

so I suggested that he could offer to repair these doors, as they are definitely in need of some tlc

 

we were going to go to this café for a cuppa, as it brings back memories for Malcolm of childhood visits and ice cream treats.  But as it was closed ......

 

...... we headed instead to the Maritime Centre

 

where we had some excellent sconnage for lunch

 

what an excellent idea, encouraging people to help keep the beach clean (I think people who drop litter on the beach should be thrown into the freezing sea as punishment - that would make them think twice before doing it again!)

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 fun snowman!

 I had bought a bottle of pomegranate juice to use in cooking a lamb dish, and when the bottle was empty, I thought it would make a good snowman.  So I raided the store cupboard for some salt to fill the bottle

 

definitely looking like a snowman

 

I used a large polystyrene ball for his head,  glued on buttons and pompoms, then found an oddment of wire-edged ribbon for his scarf.  The bottle top made a good hat

 

when Malcolm saw him he went off and cut two twigs for his arms - a quick, easy and fun make!

 

we came up to Berwick yesterday, and after lunch we walked over to town, pausing to watch this little redshank poking about at the river's edge

 

and this swan which had found something tasty at the base of a wall

 

we were surprised to see ice floating down the river

 

this lump was just about big enough to support a polar bear!

 

this little wagtail wasn't bothered by all the pedestrians walking past, although he wouldn't turn round and face the camera

 

then just when I got him in focus again, he hopped off!

 

we walked over to town in the early evening for some pub grub, and on the way back I took some photos of the Christmas lights

 

as I had the big camera with me, the results are a bit better than my previous efforts

 

the golden blur on top of the bridge is a train - the long exposure has created a strange effect

 

for this one I balanced the camera on the bridge parapet,  so that there isn't so much camera shake

 

this morning we popped along to the local garden centre for a cuppa, and were delighted to find that the donkeys were visiting again

 

the dark one at the back wouldn't look up from tucking into a tasty meal of hay

 

you may remember that my Christmas cactus recently had to go to the compost heap, so I was pleased to find this glittery replacement, in a decorative metal pot

 

I have two wonderful scones to share with you today - we had this one yesterday when we stopped for a cuppa on our way up to Berwick

 

and we had this one in the garden centre this morning.  They were both delicious, both made with a good, strong, sharp cheese

 

I am going to take a short break, but I will be back on Friday the 29th, with my last report of the 17 UFOs challenge.  So, to finish .......Malcolm took all the magnetic  Scrabble letters off the cooker splashback this afternoon when he was doing a bit of "Christmas cleaning", so when I helped put them back .........

 

I assembled a message for you!

 

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas, and that Santa is good to you (I have to report there isn't yet an alpaca shaped parcel under the tree!!).

 

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