frayed at the edge

Making amends!

After yesterday's meagre crop of photos, I thought I ought to try harder today ...... and ended up taking 108!!  Of course a lot of them went into the recycle bin, but here is a selection of the better ones.

 

 

the just-after dawn chorus

 

 

never too old to cuddle mum

 

 

I think this mare is in foal

 

 

I had to consult my birdbook - this is a serin

 

 

I'm coming to get you .... our everlasting sweetpea reaching out for a dead clematis

 

 

a sparrow fledgling

 

 

a female sparrow

 

 

a male sparrow

 

 

I managed to pick this cherry before the birds ate it!

 

 

a swallow showing off its forked tail

 

 

this would be a good address for me!

 

To finish, some beautuful red roses in a neighbour's garden

 

 

 

Please don't breathe on me!

 Recently, I read of a very good recipe on my friend Lee's blog ...... chicken cooked with forty cloves of garlic ...... which Lee had found here.  We decided to make it on Saturday for dinner with Stuart and Alison.  Not only did it sound delicious, but it could also be done in the slow cooker - ideal when you have visitors and don't want to spend hours in the kitchen.  I counted out the forty cloves of garlic ......

 

 

....... and picked the fresh herbs from the pot in the garden - getting soaked in the process in the heavy rain

 

 

While I was doing that, Malcolm browned the chicken ......

 

 

....... then we added the other ingredients and left it to cook

 

 

The result - delicious chicken, with a surprisingly mild garlic flavour.  We served it with dauphinois potatoes and broccoli (sorry, I forgot to take a photo of the complete meal!)

 

 

Stuart and Alison headed off mid-morning yesterday, as they wanted to call in at Ikea on the way home (it was the last day of the summer sale!).  We went out to get the Sunday papers, then went for a cuppa at the Woodside Garden Centre.  We were able to get a table by the window, so that we could watch the birds on the feeders (the window was a bit dirty, so the photos aren't as good as I would have liked)

 

 

 

 

The weather over the weekend was miserable, but it didn't stop the bees balm finally flowering!

 

 

 

 

There's lots of colour in the next photo too - this morning's fruit shopping, freshly washed

 

 

To finish, the knitting update.  I have finished the first quarter of the shawl, and have made good progress on the second one

 

The way to a man's heart ......

....... is definitely through his stomach - so why not look after his heart with a delicious, but healthy salad!

 

This was quick and easy to make - lettuce and rocket (from my friend Lizzi's allotment), chives (from the garden), basil (from the pot on the windowsill), a clementine (from the fruit bowl) and strawberries (from the fridge).  I also made a quick dressing with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and chilli flavoured salt.

 

I have been impatiently waiting for the bees' balm to flower in the back garden.  Today I ran out of patience and took these photos - perhaps in a few days it will be fully in flower

 

 

 

We didn't have any birds using the nesting box this year .....

 

 

But some new tenants have moved in ..... wasps!  Well, at least it means they have stopped trying to invade the summerhouse!

 

 

Although the nesting box wasn't used, we have lots of little sparrow nests under the eaves at the front of the house - here are some of this year's crop

 

 

When I went into Hawick this morning, I took the camera and big lens, hoping to find the heron on the river.  I looked round all the places we usually see him but he was nowhere to be seen

 

 

The only bird I saw on the water was this seagull

 

 

In the studio this afternoon, I lightly pressed the Linus blanket.  I made the pattern up as I went along - 20 rows of garter stitch, then every row for the first half was k50, p40, k10.  Then for the second half, k10, p40, k50, then finishing with 10 rows garter stitch.

 

 

I also prepped the second piece of the wreath.  It didn't take so long to do this one ...... and amazingly it just about matches the first one!

 

Puzzled!

I was a little bit puzzled when the post arrived this morning, and I saw this on the back of an envelope from The Red Cross

 

 

I couldn't see what The Red Cross had to do with the Changi Quilt, which was made by women detained in Changi Prison during the Second World War, but on reading the enclosed leaflet, it all became clear (click on the photo to enlarge it)

 

 

The leaflet opened out to show the quilt in full

 

 

Two of the blocks caught my eye

 

 

 

The Red Cross are using images taken from the quilt as part of this month's fundraising ........ also in the envelope was a set of stationery - and of course a form and envelope for me to send a donation

 

 

Before I went for my walk this morning, I took these photos of the ongoing work ......

 

the treatment unit concreted into the big hole

 

 

the trench for the pipework from the house to the treatment unit

 

 

bits of pipework

 

 

I can't park in my usual place because of the work

 

......... but when I came home from knit'n'natter - a complete transformation!

 

the ground restored round the treatment unit

 

 

the garden cleared and the hedge replanted

 

 

the trench from Malcolm's shower room to the unit, backfilled and ready for new tarmac

 

But the best thing ......... I can use my bathroom again!!

 

 

 

 

Dear Santa .......

........ I have been a very, very good girl, so please can I have one of these for Christmas?

 

 

The workmen had to bring in the digger today, as they needed to dig a hole big enough for this

 

 

Before they left for the day, they made good use of the hole as overnight storage for the spare digger buckets

 

 

While they were busy working, we went for a walk up the bridle path ...... we were delighted to come across this foal

 

 

The flies are very bad this year, and this poor horse was being tormented by them - if you click on the photo to enlarge it you will see them clustered round its eye and on its mane

 

 

Fortunately we weren't bothered with flies when we were out for a walk by the river yesterday morning

 

 

We were a bit surprised to see this lily growing on the river bank ..........

 

 

........ and even more suprised to see the remains of a motorbike in the river!

 

 

I spent quite a lot of time in the studio on both Saturday and Sunday..  I have a growing pile of things which are part done, so I thought I would make a determined effort to get them finished.  First off the pile was the third of the four chicken wallhangings (the first two are finished).  I layered it, ready to quilt

 

 

Next were the two knitted fronts for cushions, which I finished some time ago.  I got out one of my many sample curtains and took it apart.  I hemmed the two pieces for the back of the cushion and put them on the cutting board, overlapping them so that they formed a square

 

 

then put the knitted panel, backed with cutain lining, on top and pinned all the layers together

 

 

The last stage was to add binding.  One of the cushions is finished, and I just have a little bit of stitching to finish on the second one

 

 

I also finished to cushion which was last week's knitting project.  When I knitted the stripes on the back, I thought it looked a bit boring

 

 

so when I did the front, I knitted the stripes in garter stitch, rather than stocking stitch, to add some texture

 

 

I found some buttons in my stash

 

 

The finished cushion

 

 

I am taking a break from the project for a few weeks, as I want to concentrate on knitting the baby shawl to put into the Southdean show next month, and I also want to spend more time on my Baltimore blocks ........ I'll give you progress report tomorrow!

 

 

 

 

I can see clearly now!

Yes - at last I have my new glasses ....... but more of that later!  Instead, I'll start at the beginning of the day, with some photos from my morning walk

 

another of the scary triffid-like plants

 

 

a slightly ruffled blackbird

 

 

a tranquil early morning scene

 

Back home, I had my breakfast, showered and got dressed up, as I was heading south to meet Rachel for lunch.  I left early to get away from the mayhem in the garden, so I thought I would stop at the Carter Bar (the border between Scotland and England) to take some photos.  That was a big mistake - indeed it was a VERY big mistake, as the place was heaving with tourists ......

 

 

....... these are just two of a row of coaches

 

 

I know this is very unpatriotic, but I did feel sorry for the tourists being subjected to the bagpipes!!  (I think it sounds like a cat being strangled!!)

 

 

But it was worth it to take these photos

 

 

 

There are no photos from lunch with Rachel - probably because we don't want friends and relations saying 'you ate what??!! ...... whatever happened to the healthy eating plan?'.  But we had a lovely time catching up with all the news (don't tell them, but of course we talked about our lovely sons and their gorgeous girlfriends!!).  Then it was out to our cars, to transfer lots and lots of boxes which I had brought for Rachel - if you don't read her blog, do pop over to find out about all the ups and downs of her on again/off again house selling/buying.
On the way home, I decided that I had time to make a rather large detour to Kelso, so that I could pick up my new glasses (the opticians phoned on Monday to say that they were ready).  Malcolm took so long to take this photo, you might notice that my smile is slightly strained!

 

 

The state of the garden when I got home ......

 

 

...... but an ingenious solution was found to look after the beech hedge until it can be replanted!

 

 

ps - I haven't forgotten about Malcolm's day out on Saturday, and also what we did before heading for home on Sunday - I'll tell all tomorrow!!

So, what did I buy .......

........ of course I bought some yarn!  And of course I bought it from my friend Helen

 

lusciuos sock wool (socks for me)

 

 

gorgeous plain colour (socks for Malcolm)

 

 

divine laceweight yarn

 

These are funny little egg-shaped balls of rug wool - I think I will use it to knit and felt stripey bags

 

 

The other bits and pieces ......

 

multi-coloured bags of wool tops for needle felting

 

 

baby camel hair and silk, for embellishing

 

 

pre felt for the embellisher

 

 

a wonderful Australian magazine

 

I also bought something very special when we were in Keswick - this may look like an ordinary bag .....

 

 

....... but is a padded bag for the camera!

 

 

On to the state of the front garden ........ yes, at last work has begun on our new sewage system.  It took quite a while to get all the permits organised - but finally the work is under way.  There are holes everywhere!

 

 

 

 ....... and just to make things more miserable for me, my bathroom has been tied in to the new pipework, so it's out of use until the whole system is up and running, so I will have to share Malcolm's shower room!!

 

 

 

Here, piggy piggy!

It's almost time for Woolfest, so at the weekend I got out my assorted piggy banks, to count out the money I have saved up to spend on all things woolly  (the piggy with the blue bow oinks when you put money in it!)

 

 

I soon had all the small change counted, and in bags ready to change at the bank, which I did on Monday morning

 

 

Although Woolfest doesn't start until Friday, we are heading over to Cockermouth tomorrow, as we are renting a (very tiny) cottage until Sunday, so that we can get out and about and make the most of our stay.  Malcolm has just made one of his fabulous lasagnes to take with us for dinner tomorrow night, but I think fish and chips could be on the menu for either Friday or Saturday!

Although it was a bit grey this morning, I took the camera with me, to have another play with the new lens.

 

I was far enough away from this lamb not to scare it!

 

 

the horse stopped and posed for me!

 

 

what is the dark shape on the horizon?

 

 

a cow!

 

On Sunday, I had remarked to Malcolm that I would need to get the stepladder out to take photos of the clematis, as the flowers were all above my head.  However, this afternoon, with the help of the new lens, I was able to take these photos, without the aid of the ladder!

 

a bud just starting to open

 

 

this bud is half open

 

 

a glorious flower

 

The climbing rose on the back wall has also started to flower

 

 

When I stopped to take this last photo, I thought it was of a bee - there were a lot of them buzzing about.  But when I looked more closely, I decided that it was a wasp - and moved on swiftly!

 

 

As far as we know, there isn't an internet connection in our cottage, so this may be my last post until Monday - but hopefully I'll find somewhere with wi fi, so that I can let you know what we're up to on our little holiday!!

 

Rain stopped play .......

...... but not at Wimbledon!  I woke up in the early hours to hear heavy rain, and when I got up it was very grey, damp and misty, with just a little bit of drizzle in the air.  So there was no point in taking the camera with me on my walk - I didn't really think you would want photos of low cloud and dripping trees.  However, I did get to play with the new lens a little later on in the morning, trying to capture raindrops landing in a puddle in the front garden!

 

 

 

 

Rain was going to feature in yesterday's post ...... but first, some of the other photos that got left out!  I finished the knitted cushion covers (having finally remembered to buy foam pads for them!)

 

 

I was putting something away in the airing cupboard on Saturday, when I found cushions which I made about ten years ago.  I thought they would be ideal to put on two of the kitchen chairs

 

 

The centres of the cushions were practice pieces for free motion quilting

 

 

 

 

Now to return to the subject of rain.  On Sunday afternoon, it suddenly started to rain.  This was no ordinary rain ...... this was rain of biblical proportions ....... and I was out in the studio!

 

wet,wet,wet

 

 

the rain bouncing on the summerhouse roof!

 

So until the rain went off, I had to stay in the studio ........ but at least I had Bruce Willis to keep me company

 

yes, he did once have hair!!

 

Fortunately I had taken some photos of the front garden before the havoc wreaked by the downpour

 

the climbing rose has just started to flower

 

 

our new peony

 

 

a teeny, tiny alpine

 

 

a bee on the honeysuckle

 

To finish, an update on Malcolm's sore finger!  The awful black bit on his nail has gradually come off - fortunately leaving some nail underneath.  Although the nail is a bit lumpy and bumpy, hopefully over the next few months it will grow ok

 

 

Would you like to join me .......

........ on my morning walk?  You have to be up early, unlike these horses in the field across the road, who were enjoying the sunshine (we haven't had much recently!)

 

 

However, the sheep in the next field were up and about

 

 

No matter how many times I walk this route, I never tire of the view ....... on the right are the Minto Hills and on the left the Eildons (this view only shows one of the two Mintos, and two of the three Eildons!)

 

 

I walk for a mile and a half, then turn for home - and am faced with a long walk uphill

 

 

and more uphill

 

 

and yet more uphill

 

 

But once round the bend, the rest of the way home is downhill

 

 

As I get to the last field, the sheep and lambs start up a ferocious racket!  I discovered that it is because they are hoping I have their breakfast - sadly not, that's supplied by the farmer some time after I go past.  But the ewes and lambs run across the field every morning as soon as I appear.  Here are some of them watching to see if I am going to stop

 

 

While these ones ran down to the gate (I feel like the Pied Piper!)

 

 

But while I'm striding out, I do notice lots of things to take photos of.  In a few weeks these little buds will be raspberries

 

 

This little rosebud .......

 

 

...... will soon look like this

 

 

This plant looks like something from a sci-fi film!

 

 

Back home, another poppy has flowered - at least this one won't be battered by the wind and rain!

 

 

When these little clumps of toadstools come up in the grass, I always imagine that they contain a town of tiny pixies or elves!

 

 

 

It's almost time for Woolfest!  I am very lucky this year, as I am going on both days.  Are you going too?  Do leave me a comment or e-mail me (there's a link on the sidebar) if you are - perhaps we can arrange to meet!

Finally, thanks to everyone who identified my little creature for me - I was almost right ...... it's not a hummingbird, but a hummingbird moth.