frayed at the edge

Sconnage!

Hooray, the weather was good on Saturday and Sunday (back to normal wind and rain today).We were able to go for a good long walk yesterday morning.  We decided to go to Abbotsford, to try out the new riverside walk, which goes past the back of the house.  The house is due to reopen soon, after a major refurbishment

 

This rhododendron was in full flower

 

but this one was still covered in buds

 

I haven't seen a heron on the rivers in Hawick recently, so it was good to see this one

 

I don't know if this is the same one, further along the river

 

these horses  have a beautiful spot to graze, on the bank of the river

 

I love ferns when they are unfurling ...... I think they look like something from a sci-fi film!

 

a higgledy piggledy fence, with a sea of wild garlic round it

 

we may complain about the rain, but we wouldn't have such a green countryside without it!

 

I think we must have missed a signpost on the last part of the walk, as we ended up going past the house

 

then it was into the Visitor Centre for a cuppa ....... and scones!

cheese

 

fruit with jam and cream

 

to finish - the warmer weather has encouraged the blossom to come out - just in time to be damaged by this morning's wind and rain

 

back tomorrow with lots of sewing.

 

 

Trees and boats

One of our favourite places on holiday is the Pine Walk in Puerto Pollensa.  I am sure if I look back through my photos from the last few holidays I will find photos of the same trees!

 

sadly, one of the trees was being cut down.  We watched fascinated as the tree surgeon simply sawed through sections and let them fall

 

this house on the Pine Walk, which we called the Elephant House, was for sale for several years, and was slowly growing more dilapidated, so we were delighted to see that it has been sold and is being restored

 

 there are all sorts of boats to take photos of

 

Malcolm had his eye on this one, which was for sale

 

given the price, I think it is more likely that we would end up with one like this!

 

Friday means cake, and this week it was Annette's beautiful chocolate sponge

 

before we went on holiday, Malcolm had ordered my new car, and it was delivered at lunchtime.  I LOVE it!!!!!!

The rest of the tale .......

Amazingly, by teatime yesterday, the new boiler was installed and running ........ oh the joy of having heating again!  Normally we would have turned the heating off for the summer by this time, but several days since we came home have been chilly - it as been the coldest spring since 1979.

 

after the workmen left, it didn't take long to restore the kitchen to its usual state

 

but we still have a rather large hole in the wall outside, as the flue had to be moved

 

while all the work was going on, I went off to the local garden centre for lunch.  I had intended to have a healthy sandwich, but when I got to the counter ....... oh no, there was delicious looking  macaroni cheese, which was whispering to me "eat me, eat me, you know you want to"

 

so, now to the donkeys!  The donkey sanctuary is just across the road from the garden centre, so after lunch I walked across to take some photos of the lovely, cute, gorgeous donkeys (can you tell I like them!)

 

it wasn't just donkeys looking cute and cuddly in the fields .....

 

there was also some wonderful scenery to admire

 

then, as I walked back to the car, I spotted some more cuties ....... Jacobs sheep

 

I'll be back tomorrow with some more holiday photos.

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Cakes and dogs

It was back into the old routine today, house work in the morning, then off to Borderland Fabrics for patch'n'chat.  But there was one difference, as I had my sewing in my new basket, which Malcolm bought for me on holiday

 

Margaret was working on one of her stunning applique quilts.  She is always reluctant to let me take a photo, but after a bit of pleading and cajoling, she allowed me to take one

 

however, I wasn't happy with the photo, as the electric lights in the room we sew in give everything a yellow look.  So I nipped through to the main part of the shop so that I could take another photo at the window - and what a difference that made!

 

but it wasn't just the sewing that looked yellow ....... Annette wasn't in the shop today, so her husband Norrie was holding the fort, aided and abetted by their fabulous Dandie Dinmont Barley.  He wags his tail constantly, as you can see from the blur!

 

of course Friday means cake, and as well as this afternoon's offerings ........

 

....... I thought you might like to see some more of the delicious cakes we had on holiday

 

whether or not you are eating cake, I hope you have a good weekend, love, Anne

A fun filled evening

Our guest speaker at Abbey Quilters last night was the delightful Margaret Boe.  I got to know Margaret years ago, when I was a member of the Quilters' Guild ...... we were both Area Reps (I was also the Sales Rep).  Back then I was also Chairman of Stirling Castle Quilters, and Margaret came along as guest speaker when Highland Quilters came down to spend a day with us. So I knew we were in for a very entertaining evening.  I had just taken this snap of Margaret as she started her talk .......

 

........ when she changed her jacket!  The one she put on was one that she had made as part of her City and Guilds course.  She said that she called it her "standing" jacket - why?  Because all the layers of fabric and the quilting meant that if she sat down, the jacket would be pushed up round her ears, so she could only wear it when she was standing!  I managed to take this photo later in the evening

 

As well as chatting about her sewing and telling us jokes, Margaret then had us singing two children's songs (The Wheels on the Bus and Michael Finnegan).  Obviously we were a bit puzzled as to the connection between quilting and singing, so she explained that for those who are frightened at the thought of free motion quilting, the answer is to sing these songs as you sew, as your quilting will have a good, even rhythm!  She had brought along lots of her work to show us, including this wonderful hat

 

after the talk, I was able to take some photos of Margaret's fabulous work

 

but Margaret wasn't the only one with wonderful sewing to show off.  Sheila is one of our new members, having only recently taken up quilting.  She made this stunning quilt top at a workshop taught by Caroline, another member of the group (I missed it, as it was the day we went on holiday!)

 

we had to over to Coldstream this morning, as Malcolm's car had to go in for its first service (it's hard to believe he has had it for almost a year!).  We dropped the car off and picked up a courtesy car, and off we went ...... and that's when the day went downhill.  First of all, it started to rain ..... and rain ..... and really rain!  We were going to have lunch here, but when we went in, there was nobody serving.  I noticed a bell on the counter, and having rung it, a man appeared.  He explained that the owners had decided to go off to Edinburgh on business matters for the day, as the weather was so bad, and he was "minding the shop".  The most he could offer us was a cup of tea ....... we had intended to have lunch there just about a year ago, but on that occasion, the owner had just fallen and broken her arm and had gone off to hospital.  Perhaps if we go next year it will be third time lucky!!  So we went here instead (the same as we did last year!).  We were entertained by a little boy called Harry, who was perhaps 3 or 4 years old.  He very politely asked for an icecream - vanilla please, no flake, thank you.  But he was so excited when he got it, catastrophe, he dropped it!  However, the waitress rushed to get him another one, before the tears started.  Then he saw his parents' coffee being poured from two pots - 0ne of coffee and one of hot milk, and decided that he too wanted coffee.  His Mum and Dad said that he couldn't have coffee while eating ice cream ..... but then he saw the waitress pouring coffee for another customer, and very politely called "lady, lady, pour coffee for me".  Realising that his parents didn't want him to have any, she replied that the coffee was finished, so he told her to go to the shop to buy more!!   It was hard not to laugh, as we tucked into coronation chicken sandwiches (me)

 

and cheese, pickle and onion toasty (Malcolm)

 

delicious!!

 

Freezing!

We got back home at teatime on Saturday ..... and we have been shivering since then!  Yesterday I was threatening to get the next plane to Majorca, to go back to this

 

and perhaps have some cake

 

and an icecream

 

I have over 6oo photos to sort through, so that is just a little taste of our holiday.  Back home, the garden is still lagging behind.  The snakehead fritillaries have finally flowered

 

This clematis is in a sheltered spot

 

you know that I have been very quite good keeping to my resolution to buy fewer magazines, but it is entirely Malcolm's fault that I came home with these, as he kept pointing them out to me when we were in the newsagents buying newspapers!

 

after indulging in cakes and icecreams (and the occasional glass of wine!), it was back on the straight and narrow for dinner tonight (this is Malcolm's salad, I don't like tomato)

 

I'll be back tomorrow with the sewing that I did on holiday, and some stunning photos of the Caves of Drach.

 

The big night out

On Friday, we headed to north to Stuart and Alison's and after getting dressed up, Stuart ran us through to The Edinburgh School of Food and Wine, for an evening of eating French food, and drinking French Wine.  Stuart and Alison had given us a gift voucher for a food and wine evening for our birthdays last year, and we had decided to wait until the spring to book our places.  The evening was co-hosted by Great Grog, and we were greeted by a rather handsome young man from the wine merchants.  This is the menu and wine list

 

I don't have a photo of the canapes, as we had them when we were standing chatting with the other diners (there were fourteen of us) in the entrance hall, so first we have the scallop St Jacques

 

then the delicious coq au vin.  This was such a generous helping that I couldn't finish mine, and even Malcolm, who would normally have eaten my leftovers, couldn't find room for any more!

 

next was cheese, with oatcakes and pear chutney (I was slightly critical of the chutney, which was more like stewed pear)

 

then ....... the most amazing tarte au citron.  There was silence as we ate it, apart from occasional little sighs of pleasure!

 

before each course, young James the wine merchant described the wines, and we had to hold the glass up to the light to check the clarity, swirl the wine round the glass then sniff the bouquet ...... then finally we got to taste it!  At the end of the meal he quite happily agreed to have his photo taken, but then went all shy!

 

Stuart came back for us, and on Saturday morning we had recovered enough from eating all that food to enjoy the breakfast which he cooked for us.  On the way home, we decided to stop in South Queensferry, to have a stroll in the sunshine.  I'm sure that I don't have to tell you that this is the Forth Bridge

 

although the sun was shining, the views over the river were hazy.  This is Inchcolm Island, framed by the bridge

 

the tide was out!

 

I love the pirate flag (and the plastic seagull!)

 

blue sky and old chimneys - a great combination

 

when I saw the stretch limmo, I thought Malcolm had arranged a treat for me ..... sadly it drove on by!

 

I have lots more photos from South Queensferry, which I will keep for another day, as I also have photos from yesterday.  We weren't able to go for our Sunday morning walk, as it was raining, so instead we headed here for a cuppa.  The sconnage was of the highest quality ........

fruit, with jam and cream

 

cheese, with butter

 

out in the grounds of the visitor centre, a new children's play area has been built (we were very tempted to have a go!)

 

perhaps Malcolm could make me a wooden cart and horse?!

 

Warning ...... very cute content!

Suddenly there are lambs everywhere, including in three of the fields across from the house, so of course I have been busy taking photos

 

it wasn't just the ewes and lambs who were enjoying the sunshine ....... the donkeys were out in the field too

 

we went for a walk along the river in Jedburgh yesterday morning.  This rider was trying to get her horse to go into the water ......

 

...... but the horse wouldn't co-operate.  Maybe it had heard that you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink?!

 

this flowering currant is much further on than ours

 

I love the colours of this duck

 

I know you will find it very hard to believe, but I have never been in this shop!!

 

I wonder if anyone would notice if I appeared with a stepladder and acquired this sign?

 

we didn't have a two scone lunch, for the simple reason that the scones were enormous!  This cheese scone was very, very delicious

 

we had a stop on the way home for me to take photos of these black sheep

 

we weren't the only ones tucking into a tasty treat yesterday.  We gave Stuart and Alison a gift voucher for afternoon tea at their local garden centre, for one of their Christmas presents.  Stuart sent me this photo, with a simple caption "yummy"

Spectacular quilts .....

...... but they aren't mine!  Kay calls in to Borderland Fabric on the first Friday of the month with the quilts which she has longarm quilted.  First out of the bag was Kath's quilt, which is much brighter than it looks in the photo

 

next was Elizabeth's stunning quilt, which is entirely hand-pieced

 

the next two wallhangings were made by a man (!), Ray

 

at first glance, the second one looks like the first one, but if you look at the flying geese border, you will see that the colours are reversed

 

this detail shows Kay's wonderful quilting

 

Doreen's quilt is fresh and bright

 

Jan had brought a stunning blue and white quilt top in to have a chat with Kay about having it quilted, and to ask if the wadding she has would be suitable

 

Sandra had brought in this gorgeous quilt which she is making for her daughter.  She still has the outer borders to add - we are looking forward to seeing it when she finishes it

 

then, of course, we had the highlight of the day ...... cake!  This week we had a new one, a very, very delicious banana cake (although poor Maureen doesn't like banana cake and had to make do with a shortbread biscuit!)

 

over the weekend, I will be finishing my preparatons for my big night at Tuesday's meeting of Abbey Quilters, and making a start to the new version of my Country Cottages wallhanging.  I hope you have a good weekend, love Anne

 

 

 

Two walks!

Although the weather continues to be cold, it has been dry and reasonably bright, so we not only went for a walk yesterday morning, we also went for one this afternoon.  Yesterday we headed to Harestanes.  We hadn't been there for a walk for some time, as when we had the wet spell of weather we knew that the paths would have been very muddy ...... and the Visitor Centre closes over the winter, so we would have had to go elsewhere for our post-walk cuppa!

very large bits of old trees

 

a new bridge under construction

 

I wonder what this trap is for

 

another new bridge

 

perhaps Malcolm could build a log store for the owner of this magnificent log pile!

 

we had a cuppa and a scone - but it was just a run-of-the-mill scone, not worthy of a photo!  Being retired, Bank Holidays are really just like any other day for us, but we decided to have an afternoon off from our usual Monday routine, and headed into Hawick for a walk in the park

a hint of blue sky!

 

a tree caught on the bridge after the last floods

 

 

the rear end of a tree creeper!

 

the memorial bust of the late, great Bill McLaren

 

crocus

 

primrose

 

I don't know what these are!

 

we popped in to the museum in the park ......

 

........ as there were three new exhibitions that we hadn't yet seen, on old postcards, street photography and 75 years of photos from the Hawick camera club.  I couldn't take photos of the exhibitions, but I was able to take a photo of the old classroom - I sat at desks like these when I was at primary school and my teachers had similar tall desks!

 

we went to the Mill for a cuppa - but as this is one of my Fast Diet days, sadly there was no scone!

 

I'll  be back tomorrow with a sewing update .....  here is another sneak peek of my new project