frayed at the edge

When life gives you lemons .......

....... make lemon curd!!  When I did the weekly food shop yesterday, as always I bought lots of fruit

 

 

But before I could put the new fruit in, I had to remove three slightly sorry lemons from the bottom of the bowl.  I was wondering what I could do with them, when I thought 'I'll have a go at making lemon curd'.  Not having the least idea how to make it, I turned to my favourite Delia book, and quickly assembled the ingredients

 

 

The recipe turned out to be very simple, and I had soon done the first stage, adding the grated lemon zest to the caster sugar, beating together the eggs and lemon juice and cutting the butter into pieces

 

 

It all then went into one bowl, which I put over a saucepan of barely simmering water

 

 

Then it was just a matter of stirring it until it thickened

 

 

So guess what we had for breakfast this morning ......... tasty soda bread

 

 

spread with lemon curd - delicious!

 

 

Now that I have mastered lemon curd, I will have to make some more, for one of the recipes in this excellent book, which I bought on Sunday

 

 

The book is being sold in aid of the same good cause as last year's naked man calendar.  So, the recipe using lemon curd?  I will have to invite lots of visitors to help eat it!

 

 

This morning, I took the socks out to the studio to wrap them

 

 

I added a little extra parcel for Vee, then popped them into an airmail envelope, ready to send off to Canada

 

 

When I went to the Post Office, the woman who served me told me that I would have to write my name and address on the top left hand corner on the front of the envelope (I always put it on the back).  She said that Canada is the only country who insist on this, and have been known to return items which don't comply ....... strange!!  As I left the Post Office, there was a great deal of noise ...... which was coming from this machine trundling along and holding up all the traffic

 

 

When I was out in the garden this morning, my eye was caught by a little flash of colour under one of the shrubs - which shouldn't be hanging over the front of the border like this, it was flattened by the snow which came off the neighbour's roof

 

 

It turned out to be a little polyanthus

 

 

I made a start to the first knitting project last night

 

The hole is one of the handles of the basket, and the two extensions will become the sides.  However, I won't get any work done on it tonight, as I am going out.  I will tell you all about it tomorrow ....... and I will also tell you about the special day out that we have planned!

Romance .......

........ when I did the shopping on Monday, I bought a tub of heart-shaped strawberry shortbread for Malcolm.  Although it's not quite Valentine's Day, when I made our morning cuppa, I got a bit carried away with a romantic look (the tray cloth was embroidered by my granny - probably more than seventy years ago!)

 

 

When I was heading for patch'n'chat, I had the camera ready on the front seat, in case the lambs were in the part of the field next to the road.  Unfortunately they weren't, but further down the road there was this consolation - rather handsome (if somewhat grubby) boys

 

 

I spent the afternoon working on my row quilt.  I had done a lot of work on the borders last weekend, so that I could sit and work blanket stitch this afternoon

 

the vines stitched and the flowers attached with steam-a-seam

 

 

then I added leaves

 

 

and finally I added hearts in the corner

 

While we were enjoying our afternoon cuppa, there was someone else tucking into a tasty treat

 

 

The squirrel might have been happy up his tree, but we were even happier to be tucking into one of Annette's delicious sponges

 

 

At last, we have a sighting of daffodils!  I noticed these two little green spikes as I went out this morning

 

 

In answer to those of you who asked about my iron ...... it is a steam generator iron.  The bit on the bottom is a tank of water.  There is a trigger on the iron which releases the steam - it is so powerful, that generally you only need to iron one side of a folded garment, as the steam penetrates right through, considerably reducing the time spent ironing!

 

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend - no doubt I will be sewing and knitting as usual.  I am planning to start the first of my fifty two knitting projects on Monday evening - I am looking forward to the challenge of finishing something every week!

Twice in one week!

Great excitement when the post arrived today ....... another handwritten envelope!

 

 

Inside, was a card that looked good enough to eat!  It was from Lynne, to say how much she had enjoyed our day out last week ...... and promising to post more often now she has gone home to Germany.

 

 

Having skived off yesterday afternoon, I thought I had better do the ironing today.  So I set up the ipod to listen to an American Country Music station .......

 

The song that was playing when I took the photo was by Kenny Chesney.  We first encountered him when we were living in Indonesia, and one of the satellite tv channels we had was CMT ...... the Australian Country Music TV channel.  At that time Kenny was asking 'Do you think my tractor's sexy?' - his songs have improved since then!!

One of the many things in the ironing pile was this t-shirt

 

 

I bought it in 2001, when I went to Houston for the quilt festival for the first time.  I now wear it in the morning when I am exercising

 

 

Malcolm was out today, so I had lunch on my own ..... I really didn't mind, as it meant I didn't have to share the delicious salmon which was left over from last night's dinner.  I had it on a toasted bagel with some (low fat) cream cheese and coleslaw

 

 

I know my windows need cleaned, but at least the big window in the front lounge isn't quite as dirty as the garden centre windows!  The birds were busy feeding when I finally finished the ironing and went through to sit down with a well-deserved cuppa

 

 

 

Who needs clean clothes ........

........ when there is something much more exciting than the ironing to do - such as taking photos of lambs!  But first, let's start at lunchtime.  We went to the garden centre, where we enjoyed delicious leek and celery soup

 

 

While we were having lunch, we were entertained by the birds on the large feeder outside the window.  Do you remember last time we were at the garden centre the window was a bit dirty .... well unfortunately it was even dirtier today, so the photos aren't that good

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When we were leaving, I took this photo of one of the other feeders.  The bird at the top left of the feeder looks like a finch, but it is a lot bigger the others

 

 

There are some very old apple trees in the grounds of the garden centre - if you look carefully, you can see where the tree has grown round the supporting wire

 

 

When we were driving home past the field where the Jacob's sheep are, we thought we saw some lambs ...........I was shouting at Malcolm to stop, turn round, go back - but he ignored me!!  So when we got home, I put on my walking boots, got wrapped up against the cold wind, and walked up to see the lambs (just a mile, a mere stroll!).  On the way, I spotted this little snowdrop

 

 

And daffodils coming through in a neighbour's verge

 

 

OK, I've teased you enough, here are the beautiful lambs (I'm sorry I couldn't get closer!!)

 

 

 

 

 

The ewes and lambs had company in their field - the wonderful old donkey (I can't help it, every time I say 'donkey' I say it like Shrek!!)

 

Haggis, neeps and tatties

Today, Scots at home and abroad celebrate the birth of Robert Burns, whose poetry and songs are known and loved far and wide.  One of the things we do to celebrate is to eat haggis, neeps and tatties.  This may sound like a very exotic meal, but you will recognise two of the ingredients!

 

 

It is much more appetising when you see the meal on the plate!  Haggis with mashed potato (tatties) and mashed turnip (neeps).

 

 

Lots of people go to Burns' Suppers, where the haggis is brought to the table, with a piper playing the bagpipes.  The Master of Ceremonies will then address the haggis before cutting it open and pouring a dram of whisky over it.  As I don't like whisky, we don't do that bit, but Malcolm may have a nightcap later

 

 

When I was at Primary School, there was a competition run by the Burns Federation ....... we had to stand up on the stage in front of the whole school and recite a poem - and I won (of course I had an advantage because of those elocution lessons)

 

 

I have tried to find the poem that I recited, but Google has let me down!  But the first verse went something like this

 

There's a corbie sitting in yonder tree

And he's lookin' doon wi' his black, black ee

He's cryin' oot wi' a caw, caw, caw

If you shin up, you're sure tae fa'

 

Roughly translated, the crow in the tree is telling you that if you climb the tree, you will fall.

 

When the post arrived this morning, I was intrigued to receive an envelope with a hand-written address - most of my post seems to be official looking letters!  I was delighted to find it was from Sue, who was one of the winners of my giveaway.  She has sent me this wonderful card, inspired by the owl sticky tape that I used to wrap her parcel

 

 

The owl card was tucked inside this lovely card ......

 

 

....... which is especially delightful to me (and Malcolm) as it is so like our spaniel Honey, whom we still miss

 

 

But I can't show you a photo of Honey without showing you a photo of our other dog Bonnie, a tiny poodle.  This photo was taken in 1978, when she was just a few months old ...... and to paraphrase Princess Diana's famous statement - there are three of us in the photo!  Yes, Bonnie is hiding my (very small) baby bump!

 

 

ps - now that Sue has her parcel, I can show you what I sent her

 

 

It may look like snow ........

........ but it is very heavy frost - this was the front garden this morning

 

 

and of course the cold weather means lots of visitors to the bird feeders

 

 

 

 

I remembered finally to take a photo of the sock progress!  Julie's socks are still the same, waiting for the kitchener stitch on the second sock.  I finished Rachel's second sock last night - except for the kitchener stitch, and I have finished the first of Vee's socks.  I think I could now knit this sock pattern in my sleep!

 

 

As always, I spent the afternoon at Borderland Fabrics.  Cathy has been working on a design for a small wallhanging, which will form the basis for a workshop.  She has used my favourite sorts of fabrics and colours - perhaps I will have to sign up for the workshop?

 

 

Ruth was working on her Grandmother's Flower Garden, which is made with hexagons.  She is very organised, and has her prepared hexagons arranged by colour in a storage box, ready to sew

 

 

 the hexagons will make more flowers like these ones

 

 

There were two parcels delivered to the shop during the afternoon - which were opened to reveal ..... beautiful fabrics

 

 

 

Now to the best bit of the Friday post - cake!  Annette was a bit under the weather, having caught a very nasty cold from her grandchildren, so she hadn't baked for us.  But she knew there would be a riot if we didn't have cake, so she had bought not one, but two lovely cakes

 

rich fruit

 

 

raspberry and white chocolate

 

I've just seen the weather forecast for next week on television - very cold, but not quite as cold as in December ....... I think I will just stay in bed and pull the comforter over my head until the spring!!

I hope you all have a good weekend, love Anne

Twice the fun!

When we go up to Falkirk to visit Stuart, I always pop into the newsagents, as they have an excellent selection of sewing and knitting magazines.  This visit, I got 'Fabric Trends' ...... an excellent buy, as you get not one

 

but two magazines

 

so twice the fun from one purchase!

 

I had looked at this Debbie Bliss book .........

 

....... several times, then when I finally decided to buy it, the bookshop I went to no longer had a copy!  So when I saw it on Wednesday, of course I bought it!  As you can see, it has 52 projects, all of which can be done in a week (in some cases considerably less than a week!).  I am considering working my way through the book, just as a little challenge to myself.  Of course Debbie recommends that you use her yarns, but I think I will use it as a stash-busting opportunity!

 

Of course it's Friday and that means cake - today was the wonderful apple and sultana one

 

 

Ok, I won't keep you waiting any longer!!  Malcolm has randomly generated numbers for me, and I am delighted to announce that the winner is ........ Vee.  Second is Sue (who doesn't have a blog - yet!) and third is Caroline.  So Vee will either get socks or a wallhanging (although I think she may just choose the socks!) and Sue and Caroline will receive a little surprise.  I will be in touch with you to get your addresses.

 

This week has just flown by, and it's time to say .... have a wonderful weekend, love Anne

Almost there!

I'm getting quite excited about my big day tomorrow.  I can't believe that I've been doing this for two years and have done so many posts!  I am sure when I started Malcolm thought it would be a nine-day wonder and that either no-one would read it, or that I would get fed up with it and give up.  I think that's why he wasn't bothered about having a pseudonym ...... he never thought he would become famous all round the world!  Over the two years, I have made so many friends, mostly online, but some I have met in 'real' life, including the furthest flung one Lee, whom I met in September 2009 when we were on holiday in Sydney!

There was great excitement this morning when the post arrived - well, who wouldn't get excited about receiving a parcel in a purple envelope!

 

 

And it only got better when I opened the parcel - three gorgeous balls of sock yarn (oh dear, do I need to get out more if the highlight of my day is sock wool?!)

 

 

I had to buy the wool online, as my local shop doesn't stock Opal wool - I got it here.  I don't know why the labels are in French, but I think it adds to the name of each colourway

 

arlequin

 

 

dompteur

 

 

trapeziste

 

There was a little extra something in the parcel as well - a cotton bag to keep my knitting in

 

 

If you look at the ball bands on the wool, you will see the pattern that each one knits up in, so if you win the giveaway and choose socks, you now have an idea what they will look like - you can pick which yarn you want.  Remember you still have another week to leave lots of comments to give you lots of chances in the draw!!

 

It's the first Friday of the New Year, which meant we had the first cake of the year at patch'n'chat this afternoon.  It was one of Annette's wonderfully light sponges, this time filled with apricot jam

 

 

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend - it looks like we will be having another cold one!

Love Anne

Strange time

I woke up through the night and looked over at the alarm clock (it's on top of the chest of drawers on the other side of the room).  Four eighty seven, I thought, as I turned over to go back to sleep.  Then my brain obviously woke up a bit more than my eyes and I thought, that's a strange time.  This started a rather weird train of thought ...... recently we watched the film Local Hero, which has a wonderful scene, where two elderly gents are standing at the side of the village hall, each clutching a dram, during a ceilidh.  They are discussing how much money they will get when the oil company purchases the village.  One says to the other 'Strange times, strange times', as they shuffle in time to the music.  Thinking of the film then lead to a little lusting after one of the actors Denis Lawson ( he may not be very tall, but as we say 'guid things come in sma bulk').  Now for two things you may not know about Denis - first he was in Star Wars, and second, his nephew is Ewan McGregor, who was in later Star Wars films.  Then, as I frequently do when I wake up and the time is some time after four, I sang (to myself) a quick chorus of It's Four in the Morning.  (The time, of course, was four thirty seven!)

 

Right, that's enough blethering, time for a photo!  Every year when I pack up the Christmas things, I always find something that I've missed.  This year I was determined that wouldn't happen.  I double checked, and when Malcolm came home I got him to have a look round - everything was packed away.  Then when we were having breakfast this morning, Malcolm pointed to the bowl in the centre of the table ......

 

Yes, I had forgotten the pine cones and (plastic) mistletoe!  The autumn squash actually stay in the bowl all year round, as I love the colours.  The paler one at the front has been in the bowl since 2009!

 

Although we had some snow yesterday, it didn't stop us from heading out this morning ...... I was desperate for a change of scene.  Since the end of of November the furthest I have been is Kelso - which is only a thirty minute drive away!  We took a run over to Duns, and after a quick stop to buy the newspapers, we headed for .....

 

 

........ where we had a cuppa, and shared the most wonderful cheese scone - possibly the best one we've ever had (and we've had a few!)

 

 

We had a browse round our favourite gift shop, although we managed to be good and not buy anything - although I was very tempted by some angels made with wire and ribbon

 

 

Duns had a lot more snow in December than we did, and there are still great piles of it.  This one is about six feet high!

 

 

On the way home, for once there was a lay-by to stop in when there was a photo opportunity!  It was a bit of a grey day, but in the far, far distance, the sun was shining on the snow on the Cheviots

 

 

When I was getting ready to go to knit'n'natter yesterday, there was just a slight problem - I didn't have anything on the needles!  So I looked out some plain sock wool, and while nattering the afternoon away, I made a start on one of my standard socks - I've knitted these so often, I only need the pattern when I get to the heel

 

 

Of course if you win the giveaway and choose the socks, they won't be plain, boring ones like this one, but jazzy ones in a colourway of your choice.  All you have to do is leave a comment by Friday the 14th, and you will be in the draw.

A wise old owl told me .......

........ that owls are very fashionable just now, and we had a bit of an owl theme with Christmas presents.  As well as my headphone owl, Malcolm also gave me .......

 

 

this exceedingly cute denim owl, which opens to reveal ........

 

....... a miniature manicure set

 

Should you win the giveaway for my blogiversary (remember to leave a comment to have a chance of winning), your parcel may be sealed with this sticky tape

 

 

But I will only be using tiny bits, to make it last, as I like it so much

 

 

But I wasn't the only one receiving owl related gifts.  I saw this fabric in Borderland Fabrics and decided to buy a metre, planning to make something for Malcolm. 

 

 

I had just paid for it, when Cathy produced this fabric ....... and I bought half a metre of it!

 

I ran out of time to make anything with the fabric, so Malcolm was a bit puzzled to open a parcel with two pieces of fabric in it!  We haven't yet decided what to make - perhaps some things for the kitchen ...... which leads me neatly to my next photo!

We had porridge for breakfast this morning - served up in our new bowls.  Malcolm had honey with his, and I had a (large) spoonful of my homemade apple jelly ....... a wonderful way to start the day!

 

 

But to return to the owl theme to end ....... I went to Kelso today for knit'n'natter, going early so that I could have lunch in the garden centre beforehand.  The Christmas decorations were all half price, so I bought two - and yes, owls have even crept into Christmas!

 

 

ps - it's snowing again!!