frayed at the edge

Supermarket madness

We popped in to the new Sainsbury's for a bit of shopping this morning - I didn't do my usual big shop on Monday, so we keep having to buy bits and pieces.  Amongst other things, we bought these sauces ........

 

....... not just because they looked good and could be popped in the freezer ........ but also because they were priced at 1p each!!  (We have no idea why!)

 

As it was busy, we used one of the self service checkouts, which was fine until Malcolm scanned this dvd

 

An assistant (oops, sorry, they are called colleagues - which isn't really correct, as they aren't our colleagues!) ....... anyway, she had to verify that we were over 12 years old before we could buy it!  Then we had a voucher to use, and in dealing with that she made a mistake so we didn't get our Nectar points, which meant we had to go to Customer Services to have them added.  By this time the people who had been in the queue we would have been in had long since been served and left the shop (they were probably at home eating lunch).

 

I have been making progress with the cross stitch kit

 

The heart on the left is for the scissors keeper, the heart with the squares round it is for the pin cushion, and the heart on the right is for the needlecase, and will also have squares round it.

I had popped out to the studio this afternoon to put some things away, when another UFO caught my eye

 

 

I started this quite some time ago - lots of squares knitted with wool I bought in a charity shop

 

 

I got bored sewing them together, and put them away in a basket, so this afternoon I got stuck in and sewed quite a few more

 

Once they are all sewn together, the plan is to crochet flowers to sew on the squares, and then to back it with fleece to make a very cosy throw.

 

This afternoon. I finally cut the Christmas cake, so that we could have a piece with our afternoon cuppa

 

 

Malcolm, of course, had a marzipan fruit with his piece

 

 

Inspired by all the bird feeders at the garden centre yesterday, I bought two new ones today - one for fatballs and one for peanuts.  As soon as they were hung on the bird table, we had visitors!

 

 

 

It's wonderful to see colour in the photos, after all those weeks of unremitting white!

It's almost Easter!

Now that we have thawed out a bit, it is good to get out and about again.  We decided to go to Woodside Garden Centre for lunch, as they always have wonderful soup, so first we had a quick detour to Jedburgh, to pop into the supermarket for milk and newspapers.  When we went in, we were surprised to see a small display of Cadbury's Mini Eggs, then in the next aisle, Cadbury's Creme Eggs ...... and in the next aisle, a considerably larger display of similar small Easter Eggs!!  You would think that they could at least let us finish gorging ourselves on our Christmas choccies before they tempt us with Easter eggs!!

The garden centre did not disappoint with their soups ...... I had carrot, ginger and honey

 

 

and Malcolm had spinach and potato

 

 

We sat beside the window, so that we could watch the birds on the numerous birdfeeders hanging from the trees.  These are not the best of photos, as the window was rather dirty!

 

 

 

 

 

It was quite foggy when we got back home, so I decided to have a walk up to the church to take some photos

 

looking towards the Minto Hills

 

 

this could be a scene from a horror film!

 

 

the ewes have got rather muddy since the thaw started

 

 

these Jacob's ewes will be the first to lamb next year

 

But at last, a photo with lots of green in it, hardly any snow ...... and sunshine!!

 

 

 

Two more sleeps!

The presents are under the tree

 

 

The cake is iced and decorated

 

 

The mince pies are baked

 

 

The cushions are almost finished

 

 

This beautiful orchid has flowered

 

 

So there is just one thing left to do, before I have a short break from blogging (I'll be back on Monday).  There is a very special card on the mantlepiece (and not just because it has a pillar box and a robin on it).

 

 

It is to wish all of you a very happy Christmas. 

 

 

Have a wonderful Christmas, love Anne

A deep depression over Hawick

No, I'm not talking about the weather, but the gloom in the Donald household when it started to snow again!  We are completely fed up with this weather - it hasn't been above freezing for days.  Ah well, never mind, it will soon be Christmas!

I took the big camera out to the studio this afternoon, put two chairs in front of the doors so that hopefully the birds wouldn't be so aware of the movement when I went to take photos and fly away, then ....... it started to snow yet again! 

 

 

However, eventually, the snow stopped and I saw a little flash of colour

 

 

Which turned out to be a great tit

 

 

It obligingly hopped down to have a peck in the snow for food

 

 

It was joined by a male blackbird

 

 

Then, much to my delight, some redwings appeared ....... but they were so well camouflaged by the leaf litter, it was hard to get a clear photo!

 

 

 

I have mentioned before that I like to light a scented candle in the kitchen.  Usually I buy supermarket own-brand ones, but my treat at Christmas is to buy one of these

 

Other than the Christmas cake and some mince pies, I don't bake at Christmas, but this candle is filling the house with the most wonderful aroma of vanilla - if only I could blog the smell!!

 

We finally had some of our purple potatoes!!  Malcolm cooked wonderful salmon for dinner (the 'fish man' calls at the house every Wednesday morning with fresh fish).  He made some purple mashed potato to go with it  - the potatoes stayed purple and looked a bit weird, but they tasted like ...... ordinary potatoes!

 

 

I had already started to write this post, when I remembered that I hadn't taken this last photo - and in my rush to take it I think I must have moved the camera, so it is slightly blurred!  I wanted to show you my wonderful crochet snowflake from Lynne, which I have added to the centre of the mitten bunting

 

I think I will have to work on my crochet skills, as snowflake bunting would look lovely for next Christmas!

Festive fare

No more snow, but very cold and icy.  The birds as ever were flocking to the feeders this morning.  I saw this little one on the ground, but I couldn't decide what it was

 

The markings on the wings look like a sparrow's, but the bird was probably only two thirds the size of a sparrow .......

 

 

....... and face on to the camera it looks different

 

 

Whatever it was, it was very entertaining, bobbing about under the bird table.

 

Today was our Christmas lunch at patch'n'chat.  Unfortunately, several of the ladies weren't there, either because of the weather or illness.  As usual, Annette (on the left, the owner of the shop and baker of the wonderful cakes) and Cathy (quilter extrodinaire and Annette's right hand woman) dressed up for the occasion

 

 

We all took a contribution for the lunch, so we sat down to a rather tasty spread

 

 

It's just my thick jacket that's making me look fat, not all the food I've just consumed!!

 

 

I'm going to have a busy weekend, finishing off the Christmas present sewing.  I hope you all have a good weekend, love Anne

Fruity!

I remembered before dinner that I had forgotten again to take photos of the petit fours, so I nipped through to the kitchen to put that right. They will look lovely on the Christmas cake .....

 

 

....... Lorraine pays so much attention to detail (and Malcolm assures me that they taste good too!)

 

 

I put the Christmas tree up yesterday afternoon.  It was only when I looked at the photos on the laptop that I realised that I have cut the head off the fairy on top of the tree!!

 

 

The Gnome brothers and sisters love having more Christmas things on their chairs (click on the photo to enlarge it)

 

 

I also put another two wallhangings on the hall doors.  I bought these as kits the first time I went to Houston - they were the first of many things that I bought!

 

 

 

I have been working on my mini mittens.  I have now now completed eight - the next step will be to crochet a string to put them on

 

 

I received an email from a friend this morning, seeking Malcolm's advice on levelling her new shower on her old, uneven floor.  As Malcolm is both practical and a (retired) engineer, he has not only come up with a solution, but has also drawn a little diagram for me to email

 

 

There is a tv programme called 'Challenge Tommy', where builder Tommy Walsh solves viewers problems ....... perhaps I could get Malcolm a similar job!!

Purple potatoes!

The Christmas Fair finally went ahead on Saturday.  We did fairly well, but not as well as we hoped.  It certainly wasn't as busy as the last two years.  We got there early, to give us plenty of time to set up our stall - we were sharing with my friend Lorraine - two tables between the three of us.

 

all our lovely goodies

 

 

Malcolm's super woodwork

 

 

some of my things ......

 

 

..... the rest of them

 

 

Lorraine with her yummy wares

 

 

yes - it's me!!

 

Oh dear, I've just realised that I haven't taken a photo of the fabulous marzipan petit fours that I got from Lorraine for our Christmas cake.  I don't like marzipan, so I only put icing on the cake then decorate with the petit fours, so that Malcolm can still have some marzipan.  However, I do have a food related photo - these wonderful potatoes that I bought when I did my usual Monday morning shopping

 

I have never had them before - of course there will be a full report with photos when I cook them!  When I was in town this morning, I was heading for the footbridge to cross the river over to the supermarket, when I saw .....

 

..... a heron!  Usually they have their heads tucked in, but this one had his (or her) neck stretched right out

 

 

Last week I had ordered some cards from my lovely bloggy friend Gretel.  Our post has been all to pot because of the weather, so they finally arrived this morning.  They are pictures of the fabulous, fantastic needle felted animals that Gretel makes

 

 

Gretel also included a present for me in the parcel -  a set of beautiful cards which show off her other talent as an illustrator

 

Thank you very much Gretel, for such a lovely gift!

 

Malcolm was supposed to be getting woodworking tools for his birthday and Christmas, but he couldn't make up his mind what he wanted.  However we recently saw a demonstration of woodturning and he decided he would like a lathe.  After some online research, he finally chose which one he would like and I ordered it last week.  It was delivered today, but for the moment is still in the box

 

everyone will get a table leg for Christmas next year!!

 

Surveying the damage!

The drip, drip, drip has continued unabated since yesterday, which on the whole is a good thing, but one consequence of the thaw has been a deluge of snow and ice sliding off the roof at the back of the house.  Unfortunately, the cable for Sky tv, running from the satellite dish to the box in the back lounge, had become embedded in the ice, with this consequence ..... the cable has been pulled off the wall (but fortunately the signal is still reaching the tv!)

 

 

In this photo, you can see one of the lengths of ice which came out of the gutters - this one is about two feet long - it is just as well we weren't going in or out of the back door when it came down

 

 

I actually drove today - the first time for about two and a half weeks!  Our road is finally clear, so I was able to go to patch'n'chat ..... I missed the last two because of the snow.  I looked out a neglected Christmas project

 

 

I had already stuck all the pieces in place with Bondaweb, so today I started the blanket stitch round the edges

 

 

Cathy was busy working on the centre of a cushion - this would make a lovely romantic present for Valentine's Day!

 

 

Annette spoiled us today, with not only jam, but also cream in the sponge!  It was delicious - her sponges are so light and full of flavour - I should ask her for lessons!!

 

 

I didn't start knitting until quite late last night, so I only finished a red and white mitten, and started a white and red one

 

 

We are just about organised for the Christmas fair tomorrow - we will get there about an hour before the start, to give us plenty of time to set up our table.  As usual, tomorrow will be Shadow Shot Sunday, but I will take lots of photos to show you on Monday.  The weather may have warmed up, but I don't think I'll be taking off my thermal vest just yet!!  Stay warm (or cool if you are sweltering in the southern hemisphere) and have a good weekend, love Anne

 

 

Beauty and the beast

Yesterday, we went out to the garden centre for a cuppa.  The main roads were clear, and the snow looked lovely

 

 

 

 

 

But when we were in Hawick this morning, we saw the other side of all the snow we have had

 

 

 

 

The snow is slowly being clear by bulldozers and large lorries ..... and this is where it is ending up - in a very large, dirty mountain

 

 

Although the main roads are clear, our road is still a bit nasty to negotiate in places

 

 

On a brighter note, I have baked the Christmas cake .......

 

 

...... and Alison's cushion is finished

 

 

 

And a bit of good news to end with - the Christmas Fair is on this Saturday ....... weather permitting!!

Calamity!

This photo was taken from a funny angle ...... but that's because it was taken through the window - I haven't been out of the house all day.  During the night, a huge amount of snow came down off the neighbours' roof

 

 

and flattened several shrubs which had just recovered after the same thing happened to them last year

 

 

But to compensate, there was a lovely sky at the front of the house, with the clouds tinged with pink - a reflection of the sunrise

 

 

I thought I ought to make a start to my Christmas cake, so I got out my recipe, which I have used for years ......

 

 

The first thing to do was weigh out the fruit

 

 

then add an ingredient that isn't in the recipe - I always soak the fruit in several glugs of .....

 

 

The birds are still enjoying the food we put out every morning

 

 

Although the weather has caused a lot of disruption, the views round about us are beautiful, as you can see from these photos I took yesterday

 

 

 

 

We have icicles hanging from the roof ..... and also from the climbing rose in the front garden

 

 

The horses are still enjoying the snow, although they now have their coats on

 

 

This was the state of my car when Malcolm started to clear it before we went out yesterday

 

 

And to end ....... this snow obviously got a bit tired and had to sit down for a rest!!

 

 

If you have weather like ours, stay safe and warm.  If you have good weather .... can I come and stay with you!!  Have a good weekend, love Anne