frayed at the edge

Geometry

I really didn't like geometry ........ I didn't mind algebra, it made sense to study arithmetic, but geometry and trigonometry just didn't appeal.  This afternoon I wished that I had paid more attention, as I wanted to draw an elengated triangle.  I knew that I needed to use my protractor (yes, I have a protractor and a set square) but I simply couldn't remember what to do.  So as always, Malcolm came to the rescue (only after I made him a cup of coffee!).

But to start at the beginning ....... I had yet to draw the pattern for the August block for Lucie's "A is for applique" challenge.  I started with this

 

I added some flowers and birdhouses, and decided to use some coloured pens.  I know it looks as if I asked a passing 5-year old to draw it for me ....... Malcolm was warned not to laugh!

 

The triangle that Malcolm drew for me is a template for the bunting

 

I chose these pretty Tilda fabrics

 

the fabric version looks a bit better than my drawing!

 

you know I love to get post from far-flung places - and this envelope has come along way

 

so what had come all the way from China?

 

it was cool this morning, which is probably why this bee stayed still long enough for a clear photo!

 

and to finish, more carrots.  These were grown by Stuart - not bad for his first attempt!!

 

The rest of our day out

As well as the castle, there is also the Priory to visit.  As we didn't have that much time left, we didn't pay to go inside the ruins, but contented ourselves with walking round the outside

 

the Priory is next to a beautiful old church

 

Malcolm spotted this headstone in the graveyard

 

this is a list of ships which were helped by the Grace Darling lifeboat, and the numbers of lives saved (click on the photo to enlarge it)

 

on the way back to the causeway, we saw some people in the distance walking across the sands, guided by the line of poles.  If you are on foot, it is a much shorter way than walking round by the road - but I think I would rather walk the extra distance!

 

it was an excellent day out, and we are looking forward to going back to see the parts we didn't have time for.

This morning, Malcolm put the beehive out in the garden

 

he hasn't decided yet what to keep in it

 

we have had lots of bees in the garden, but they never stay still long enough for me to get them in focus ...... these are my two best efforts!

Salty!

Some of you guessed what I was making with yesterday's ingredients - it was indeed my version of the salted caramel shortbread.  But of course, being my version, it is a cheat's version!  I started with shortbread fingers (do you like the plates - a packet of them cost a whole 10p when they were sold off after last year's Jubilee celebrations!).  I put them on two plates, as I was going to top half of them with plain chocolate, and half with milk

 

I spread some caramel on each finger, then sprinkled a little salt on top

 

after chilling them in the fridge to firm up the caramel, I melted the chocolate and covered them.  They might not look very elegant, but they tasted good (we have been very restrained and only had one piece each!).  I think if I made them again, I would use a bit more salt.  I'll take this plateful tomorrow - we will have the even less elegant ones!

 

I do have a proper recipe for caramel shortbread - I wrote it in my little notebook years ago, when I still had neat handwriting!

 

I baked the cake this afternoon.  The recipe came from this book, which was published in 1977!

 

it's a very easy recipe.  Having soaked the fruit and orange zest in tea overnight, this morning I added flour and a beaten egg

 

just out of the oven, and it smells delicious.  Of course you will have to wait until tomorrow for a report on how it looks and tastes

 

while I was busy in the kitchen, Malcolm was doing more of his project.  I think you may now guess what it is

 

out in the garden, the flamingos are settling in.  Maybe we should turn the water feature on for them!

Although Garfield is a cat ........

........ I always laugh at his cartoon, and yesterday's made me laugh more than usual

 

when we were out and about today, we popped into Lochcarron for a bowl of soup for lunch.  We had hoped that their wonderful Spicy Thai chicken soup was on the menu, but it wasn't.  However the lentil soup was delicious, as was the sun-dried tomato bread

 

over the weekend, I got on with a lot of sewing, working on my two pieces that I started at the Gail Lawther workshops.  I quilted the  Mount Fuji wallhanging (don't worry about the bit of bias tape hanging off, I ironed it back in place after I finished the quilting!)

 

a detail of the sky and the top of the mountain

 

and the foot of the mountain

 

I then got out my mini iron

 

to iron on the rest of the bias tape

 

all that's left to do now is trim the outer edge to match the shape of the inner border, then back and bind the wallhanging

 

then it was on to the vineyard piece.  I did some of the machine quilting

 

I then added more of the bias tape

 

all that was left was the four strips round the border.  I looked at the amount of tape I had left, and thought that I might not have enough.  I measured it, and found I only had enough for three sides!!  I sent an emergency email to Maureen, as we had shared a reel of the tape when we were at the workshop.  Back came the answer that she had a piece left that might just be long enough, plus a couple of smaller pieces - if I have to have a join I can put a button over it!

 

Yesterday I got out this box

 

which contains the latest project for Anne - Nice people, Nice Things

 

it is a double-sided quilt,  but I am doing it as two quilts, as there isn't anywhere to hang it in the shop that would show off both sides.  One side has stitcheries of little pictures, the other side has stitcheries of sayings.  The pattern comes with iron on transfers, so I sorted out the fabric and transfers into two bundles

 

there are six stitcheries on each transfer, and after a great deal of ironing-on, I had eighteen pieces of fabric, ready to be layered up with thin bamboo wadding

 

I wound the embroidery threads on to plastic bobbins, and decided to use my cute sheepie tin to keep them in

 

I forgot to include this photo yesterday - Malcolm had kept it for me on Friday, when it was in his newspaper (we read different papers!).  Perhaps I could offer to do another review of all the wonderful scones they didn't mention?

 

I made a start to my cake today, as the mixed fruit, orange zest and brown suger has to soak overnight in tea ( I used Earl Grey)

 

I also made something with these ingredients - I'll tell you what tomorrow

 

while I was busy in the kitchen, Malcolm was starting a new project in the garage ...... can you guess what it is?

Take two!

Fingers and toes firmly crossed that it all goes to plan tonight!  So what vanished yesterday?  On Sunday we went to the Philiphaugh Estate, for a walk by the river.  The waterwheel isn't working at the moment ......

 

........ because major work is being done beside the river

 

I want one of these

 

in a few weeks' time these little berries will be big, fat, luscious brambles

 

we have had many walks here, but this was the first time we have taken this path, along the edge of the run-off from the waterwheel

 

we thought at first that the concrete edge was just on one side, but a bit further on we realised that it was on both sides.  The other bank had been hidden by the vegetation

 

after an enjoyable walk, we popped in to the Waterwheel Cafe, to enjoy some serious sconnage (I'm delighted to see my word (a combination of scone and tonnage) appearing elsewhere.  Should I contact the OED to tell them I invented  it?

fruit scone

 

cheese scone

 

we stopped in Selkirk at the Studio on the Green, but we weren't there for a dance class.  The Nomads Tent (I think there should be an apostrophe in Nomads) were there with a selectin of goodies from their shop.  We had seen them several times before at Chesters House and we had always bought a little something.  And it was no different on Sunday.  Some of the goodies were displayed in the beautiful garden, and I was delighted to be given permission to take some photos

 

so what did I buy?  First, there was an addition to my collection of shopping bags

 

and then there were these very cute flamingos

 

we have lots of birds in the garden - both real and ornamental- and the flamingos have settled in with these wonderful birds which I bought in Indonesia, way back in the late 90s

 

I'll be back tomorrow with a big sewing update, but to finish tonight ........ do you remember some weeks ago I mentioned that the cherry tree had very little bossom?  Well, on Sunday I took a photo of this year's crop of cherries

yes, one cherry!!

 

ps - Susan has asked about buying a Country Cottages pattern.   If you would like a copy, send me an email (there is a link at the top of the sidebar) with your name and address.  I will send you a Paypal bill (you don't need to have a Paypal account to pay it).  The price : in the UK, £10 incl p&p, elsewhere £12, incle p&p.

Another accidental purchase!

When Ruth and Annie were reorganising the fabric yesterday at Stitchin' Heaven, they also sorted out some bolts of fabric that have been in the shop for some time, and just haven't sold.  Anne has decided to have a permanent "sale" section at the back of the shop - all the fabric on these shelves are now £6 a metre.  So if you are going to be in the area, call in and bag yourself some bargain fabric!  While they were sorting out the sale pile, there was one fabric whichh caught my eye, and when Malcolm came back for me, he picked the same one!   Somehow, two other fabrics jumped off the shelf and went to the counter with me

 

so which was the fabric we both picked?  The apple one

 

the fabrics came home in my sewing box, which had taken the patterns and kits to the shop (do you like it, Meredithe?)

 

we have had quite a lot of rain, and the raindrops on the hosta caught my eye as I headed back into the house after a short session in the studio

 

I haven't taken many B&W photos recently, but inspired by Annie, after taking the photo of the hosta, I set the camera to B&W.  First, I took two photos of the climbing rose on the pergola

 

the roses are pink, as is this osteospermum

 

this might look like something from a sci-fi film, but it is a hosta flower, which is just starting to open

 

this is my favourite.  I think this leaf on the grape vine looks metallic

 

and that's it - a poor day for taking photographs!  I shall try to do better tomorrow!

Rush, rush, rush

I emailed Anne last night to check if it was ok to go down to see her next Wednesday, as I usually go on the first Wednesday of the month.  She replied that next week didn't suit, and could I go this Wednesday instead.  So today I have been running about finishing Country Cottages and printing the patterns.  I wanted to add some beads, so looked out these three tubs

 

there are all sorts of beads

 

they added nice finishing touches as flowers and doorknobs

 

and here it is, the finished quilt!

 

while I was sewing on the beads, I had the printer chugging away, printing the patterns

 

but then there was a slight hiccup - when I started printing the photos to go on the front of the patterns, the colour cartridge ran out

 

fortunately I had a new one, and by the end of the afternoon, the patterns were in their bags, ready to go south tomorrow

 

Susan asked me where in the garden my studio is, so I took these photos this morning.  For the first photo I am standing just inside the gate from the front of the house into the back garden, with the studio at the back of the garden beyond the summerhouse

 

I'm now standing where Stuart was lounging in the hammock (sorry about the washing line in the photo!)

 

the back part of the studio is one of the original farm buildings - it was the milking parlour

 

this is the view out the back

 

a funny story ...... a while ago a friend had asked me about the outer wooden storm doors.  I went out to take photos, closing them as they looked better that way.  Oops - you can't open the storm doors from the outside ..... and you can't undo the bolts on the gate from this side - so I had to climb over the gate.  I am very glad that no-one saw me!

I don't believe it!

How many fans of One Foot in the Grave had Victor Meldrew's voice in their heads when they read today's heading?!  So what is it that I don't believe?  TOOTHACHE!!!!!  It started at lunchtime on Saturday and got worse over the weekend, so this morning I phoned the dental centre at 8.30 to get an emergency appointment.  Fortunately there was one available at 1.15.  The dentist poked at the tooth (ouch!) and declared that there was a big hole under the filling right down under the gum (double, if not triple ouch!)  So why didn't he see it when I was there last Tuesday?  I didn't ask, as I just wanted him to fix it. Sounding like a villain from a Bond movie, he declared that "ze longterm prognosis for ze tooth eez not good" - he is Polish and his name would earn lots of points at Scrabble!  He drilled it so much I thought he was going to end up in Australia!  He has put a dressing in, and I have to go back at the start of September for more treatment.

But the toothache didn't stop me having fun with our visitors.  Saturday afternoon was hot and sunny, but we were worried when there was a brief heavy shower just when Malcolm was ready to light the pizza oven.  Fortunately the rain cleared and the sun shone again.  I forgot to take a photo of the starter, but you can admire my lovely serving platter

 

after the difficulties with the big pizza, I made small ones, topped with passata, mozzarella, salami, chorizo, proscuttio and onion

 

I need to work on producing neat circles

 

Stuart managed to snap me with a mouthfull!

 

the Youngsters brought the pudding - I wonder what's in the box

 

on my - just look at these delights!

 

Stuart has dared me to include these photos!!

 

it didn't take long to finish the doughnuts - they were delicious!!

 

they also brought a box of plain doughnuts - certain people ate one for an early breakfast ....... all I'll say is that Malcolm and I didn't have one

 

we went out for breakfast in Melrose, but unfortunately it was raining heavily so we didn't get to walk round the town.  After waving goodbye to the visitors, Malcolm and I headed to "The Whole Lot", a quirky shop that is part gifts, part antiques, part junk.  I spotted this wonderful fabric, which will make sumptuous curtains for the dining room

 

we were relaxing in the back lounge, reading the Sunday papers, when it started to rain ......

 

....... and rain

 

the garden had benefitted from the rain - Malcolm's bargain olive tree is thriving

 

and is now flowering

 

to finish - Stuart couldn't resist trying out the hammock on Saturday afternoon

What's that wet stuff ......

..... falling out of the sky?  I think I know what it's called, give me a minute, I remember ...... it's RAIN!!

 

yesterday afternoon was spent in the kitchen cooking.  I started with a large batch of beef curry, which will be frozen in portions for "fast days" (I've now lost almost a stone!!)  I started by slicing and dicing red onions, green and yellow peppers and celery, which I then cooked gently in a non-stick saucepan, using no oil

 

as I have to work out all the calories in the curry, these little frozen portions make it a lot easier

 

while the veggies were cooking, I prepped the salad for last night's dinner - we had fresh herb omelettes

 

I added the beef in batches to brown it

 

the next stage was to add the spices and seasonings

 

after mixing it well, I let it cook for a few minutes, to cook out the rawness of the spices, then added the final ingredient

 

I then left the curry to simmer for a couple of hours until the meat was tender.  Once it had cooled I divided into five lots of two portions and popped them in the freezer - curry definitely tastes better after it has been in the freezer!

 

next I made some rhubarb and strawberry jam.  Haing washed the fruit (250g of each), I sliced it up and put it in a large glass bowl - you don't have to add any more liquid, the little bit water from washing the fruit is enough

 

I zapped it for five minutes in the microwave, then stirred in 500g of jam sugar

 

I zapped it a bit more in the microwave until setting point was reached, then put it into jars.  Next I reached for my go-to book for basic recipes - Delia never lets me down

 

I don't make lemon curd often enough to remember the quantities

 

it's very easy to make - and all that stirring is good for the arms!

 

four jars of jam and (almost) two of lemon curd waiting for labels

 

Malcolm has, as ever, been busy in the garden.  This is the start of his latest project ......

 

and this is it finished

 

the plan is to grow a climber on it, to screen the hose and the garage from view when we are sitting on the deck

 

you must have sent me lots of positive vibes, as all I needed done at the dentist was a scale and polish!  I'll tell you about what I did after the dentist tomorrow, and I'll also have a sewing update.

Fluttering by

There was a butterfly in the garden yesterday, so I ran and fetched the camera, ran back to the garden, switched the camera on ....... and it flew away!  So when I saw another one this afternoon, I didn't rush to get the camera, but amazingly it stayed and posed prettily!

 

yesterday, we went to Jedburgh fo a walk along the river.  As always, as soon as I got out of the car, I took a photo of the Abbey

 

as I have mentioned, the rivers are very low, so this duck was standing on the riverbed!

 

this one had found a deeper place to swim

 

I keep waiting for this tree stump to lose its hold on the cliff

 

there will a great deal of noise and a large splash if it does come down, as it is at the top of the cliff!

 

the still water meant there was a clear reflection of the bridge

 

as we walked back into town, we passed my favourite shop - although I would have to be very, very good to get this for Christmas

 

we had been in this little coffee shop/bookshop several times, and were sorry to see recently that it had closed.  But it has just reopened with new owners.......

 

......so of course we had to check it out!  The banana bread was delicious, as was the scone.  The jam was proper home made strawberry, and the cream was clotted - a very good first impression!

 

on the way home we called in at the Teviot Smokery, as they were havinng one of their 25% off everything weekends.  This tin of biscuits was already half-price, but we still got the extra money off

 

I was pointing out this salted caramel shortbread to Malcolm, when an elderly lady who was walking past gave me a very stern look and said "NO"!  I said I wouldn't eat anything else for a week ....... but she didn't believe me!  At the moment it is in the fridge, waiting to be cut into bite size pieces

 

you know that we love all things owl ........

 

...... this might be a little bit cheesey, but it looks very cute on the mantlepiece!

 

the lavender has turned a deep purple in the sunshine - gorgeous!

 

please think of me tomorrow morning - I am going to the dentist!