frayed at the edge

We have three new contenders .....

...... for the "biggest worm ever" contest!  I encountered these three beauties this morning

 

I made the collage here, and at the same time I made this one of raindrops hanging like diamonds on plants in the verge

 

This snail was in danger of being washed away on the wet road

 

but these heifers were happily grazing in the field with the Jacob's sheep (you will recognise the gate!)

 

 

 

I got my trainer rather muddy  .........

 

....... but I wasn't worried, as I knew it would be cleaned up ......

 

...... when I walked through this on the way home!

 

at the weekend, I finished Stuart and Alison's oven gloves and potholder

 

 

last night I finished the last piece of work for Anne

 

 

 

so, hooray, I can do some sewing for me!!  I have made a start to the block keeper (I got the pattern from Anne last time I visited her shop) using my Ghastlies fabrics, including the ones that Judi (no blog) gave me

 

instead of the owl applique, I decided to fussy cut squares from two of the  Ghastlies fabrics, using a cardboard window template so that I could mark the cuttting lines

 

 

the pieces cut, ready to get started

 

the first block, part sewn

 

both blocks pieced

 

and sewn together - which took two attempts, as I forgot to turn one upside down the first time!

 

I chose this fabric for the lining of the block keeper

 

and layered up using a polyester wadding to give a firmer finish

 

I have quilted all the background (white) areas

 

 

good progress!  After I finish the quilting, the next stage is to make various pockets for the inside.

If only looking really silly .........

....... had helped Andy Murray win.  I wore this stupid hat - folded up from a page of yesterday's newspaper - all afternoon in the hopes that it would have some magical influence on the result.  Ah well, there is always next year

 

Moving swiftly on!  When we were walking through the Saturday market in Hawick, we saw that the fruit and veg stall had some very cheap strawberries, so on Saturday afternoon I started on a marathon of jam making, which finished today!

 

This is basic strawberry jam, looking good in my fancy jars that I got here

 

I also made strawberry and nectarine jam - delicious

 

I make jam in small batches in a large glass bowl in the microwave

 

using a pound of fruit and a pound of sugar.  I use jam sugar, as I find it gives a better set

 

today I made strawberry and pear, and strawberry and melon - and still had a pound of strawberries left!  So I finished with another batch of plain strawberry jam, which I put into smaller jars to give away to friends

 

I bottled the new batch of sloe gin, and also sloe port, which we had made with the sloes from the first batch of gin.  This is the gin being strained

 

When Stuart and Alison tasted the first batch of sloe gin, they immediately demanded said they had better get another bottle or else said please could they have a bottle from the second batch (sorry, this is a poor photo!)

 

the rain stayed off long enough yesterday morning for us to go for a walk.  We thought we would go somewhere different, and walked up the road that passes the back of the donkey sanctuary.  There is just something so appealing about donkeys .... it is hard to pick just a few photos to share with you!

 

 

 

 

 

the road took us down to the suspension bridge over the River Tweed, which was running full and hard

 

 

usually we approach the suspension bridge from the other side of the river, coming down this road

 

on the way back to the car, I paused to take one of my favourite arty shots

 

I wan't so lucky with the weather for my walk this morning - yes, more rain!  This leaf had obviously had enough of the dreadful weather and dropped off the tree early!

 

but even on a wet grey morning, there is always something to brighten the day!

 

 

 

ps, when we were on the way home yesterday, we saw three different means of travel

horse power

 

pedal power

 

easy rider!

 

Forget about chairs .....

....... I think Malcolm should start building an ark!  If we get any more rain I shall start collecting animals two by two - except for slugs and wasps!!  However it wasn't raining when I went out for my morning walk - although it was very humid.  After my nefarious plan to acquire logs from the neighbour's pile, this morning I coud have come home with a wheelbarrow and spade, left out by Farmer Jim

 

this plant growing in the verge always reminds me of triffids

 

will it open and lash out at me?

 

no - it opens into a pink flower, which fades to white

 

usually there are lots of cranesbill geraniums in the verge, but this year there are very few

 

there is also very little common (purple) vetch, and virtually no yellow vetch

 

I had the big lens on the camera this morning, and you can see from these three photos of the Waterloo Monument, what a difference it makes ..... especially as the small lens wouldn't even pick up the tower on the skyline

standard setting

 

digital zoom on

 

digital zoom plus fully extended lens

 

I have decided that this Jacob's ewe now recognises me, and enjoys peeking through the bars of the gate to have her photo taken!

 

In the field on the other side of the road, although the lambs are getting big, they still like to snugggle in to mum

 

this ewe looks most unhappy to have been shorn!

 

Just before Woolfest, Tracey organised a swap, inviting both those who were going to Woolfest, and those who weren't, to sign up.  She then paired an attendee with a non-attendee, so that those who went could buy a little something to give those who didn't, who would send a little something in return (phew, that was a tricky sentence!).  My swap partner is Ali, and I was delighted to receive her parcel this morning

 

I opened the fabric on the left to discover this fabulous felt cupcake picture

 

then the other fabric unwrapped to reveal a colourful crochet flower and  amazing crochet butterfly, which has a needlefelted body

 

the butterfly is doublesided, so can stand up, although Ali suggested that I might like to use up some of my much-loathed invisible thread to have it "flying" in the studio

 

as soon as I know that Ali has received her parcel from me, I will show you what I sent her.

 

As I look out of the window as I type this ....... yes, it is raining again, and the weather forecaster on tv is painting a picture of rain, rain and just for a change, some more rain!  Andy Murray is playing at Wimbledon ..... I shall be exhausted by the time the match finishes - whether he wins or loses I think I shall have to lie down in a darkened room with a cool cloth on my forehead to recover!!

 

To finish - a cute bunny photo - taken at full zoom, so slightly fuzzy!

 

You don't often see ......

....... the Stars and Stripes flying in our neck of the woods

 

but on Saturday it was flying at our neighbours' house, as they were hosting a western themed barn dance.  Fancy dress was optional, but we made an effort with somewhat limited resources to look at least a little bit western, wearing denim shirts and stars and stripes bandanas

 

 

the highlight of the night was the bull riding.  Several young boys had a go

 

 

then this woman came forward, and said that as she was from Texas, she would show them how it was done ...... oh dear, pride literally went before a fall, as having been helped on

 

she promptly fell off the other side!

 

undaunted, she got back on - and fell straight back off ...... she gave up then!

 

It was a very enjoyable evening, which raised hundreds of pounds for Guide Dogs for the Blind.  (Did we have a go on the bull - of course not!!)

 

I thought it was time I tidied the studio, as there were piles on the chairs, on the floor, on the tables

 

 

 

so both yesterday afternoon and this afternoon, I put things away, vacuumed the carpet and cleaned both machines

 

 

whie I was busy in the studio, Malcolm was playing with his stash in the garage

 

producing an Adirondack chair, which has still to be sanded and painted

 

Malcolm joined me on my morning walk and it was his sharp eyes that spotted these ears sticking up in the grass.  Judging by the size, we think it was a fawn, waiting for its mum to return

 

One of the neighbours had this pile of logs delivered last week.  When he had a pile delivered last year, they lay there for quite a while, causing me to hatch a nefarious plan to pick up a log each time I walked past,to take home for our log pile ....... of course I didn't do it, but perhaps he should remove the temptation!

 

As we trundled back home this morning, we saw this ewe and lamb.  The ewe went on munching on the verge, but the lamb came towards us, looking as if it was spoiling for a fight!!

After a lot more rain (surprise, surprise!) it was a damp when I went out for my walk this morning

 

with a new stream appearing in the verge!

 

But then rain means that I get to play with taking photos of raindrops on plants!

 

The next three photos show how luxuriant the plants in the verge are - I just moved a little bit closer for each one

 

 

 

Usually when we go out, we either go for a cuppa and scone, or for lunch ......... but when we go to Duns, as we did this morning ....... we do both!

We could just have a cuppa when we go to Hugo's, but their scones are amazing!  Today we had a blueberry one

 

which was bursting with fruit

 

after a stroll round the town, we headed off to Pearson's Garden Centre for lunch.  I had intended to have soup, but then I saw that I could get a small portion of macaroni cheese ....... possibly my favourite garden centre lunch!

 

Malcolm had tomato and pesto soup, which was excellent

 

Back home, I finished stitching  Love, Hope and Friendship, but didn't get the chance to take a proper photo before dinner, so here is a little sample

 

Yesterday I started sewing the stitcheries on to Life is Beautiful.  I pinned the stitchery in place .....

 

...... with stabiliser on the back

 

I used Dawn Cameron-Dick's method of invisible machine applique

 

 

By the end of yesterday afternoon I had sewn fourteen stitcheries .....

 

........ just another eighteen to go!

 

 

So, what else came home with me from Woolfest?

colourful curly bits for felting

 

Jacob's at the back, merino/silk blend at the front

 

lovely bits of blankets ..... stitcheries perhaps?

 

irresistible goodies from Oliver Twists

 

cute buttons

 

Malcolm bought this tiny kit for me when he was in Cockermouth

 

Yesterday I told you about chatting with Kate and Helen, but I also met several other friends.  First was Tracey, whom I had met last year at Woolfest.  We had already arranged to have lunch together on Saturday, but I had stopped by the stall where she was helping a friend on Friday to say hello.  While we were chatting, Malcolm phoned me (!) to say that he had just bumped into Anne (owner of Stitchin' Heaven, my "boss").  She had left the lovely Mick in charge of the shop for the day, so that she could have some woolly fun.  We had a cuppa and then indulged in a little bit of shopping!  Then on Saturday I met Tracey as arranged ...... as well as Emily and her friend Emma.  We had lunch together, then Tracey and I went off in search of a cuppa.  She had lots of exciting news to tell me ..... after a great deal of "will I, won't I", she has taken the plunge and has started design crochet patterns, and already has a raft of commissions from several magazines.  I also chatted to lots of stallholders and other woolly fanatics!!  I had a great time and I'm already looking forward to doing it all again next year!

 

When I went out for my walk this morning, it was very misty. 

swallows chirrupping on the phone wires

 

misty sheep

 

and misty horses

 

a welcome splash of colour

 

I've been busy sewing - I'll show you the progress tomorrow!!

It's so good to be back home with my reasonable internet connection - I've got lots to show you, so let's get started!

We got to Woolfest early, and headed off to have breakfast before the show opened.  Suitably fortified, we headed straight to Kate's stall, as I had told her that I had intended to be first in the queue to buy her wonderful new design, the sheep carousel tea cosy.  Malcolm wielded the camera, as Kate and I tried to smile nicely!

 

Not only did I get the tea cosy kit, but it came in a super cotton bag

 

 

It's a long time since I did colour work, and I haven't worked steeks or braids  before, but I'm looking forward to getting started

 

My next purchase was this yarn bowl, which I bought from Willofibre.  You sit the yarn in the bowl, feeding it through the spiral.  Then when you knit, the yarn stays in the bowl and doesn't roll about all over the floor

 

I had said to Malcolm that I wasn't going to buy any yarn, as I am trying (!) to reduce my stash.  However when I stopped at Helen's stall for a blether (Helen, second from the left, used to live here in the Borders, before she went off to the other end of the country) .......

 

......... I succumbed to this rather tasty skein

 

It was hard to capture it in a photo, but can you just see that it has a sparkle running through it

 

I bought one or two other things, but I'll save them for tomorrow, so that I can show you some other photos.  I may have mentiooned that it rained rather a lot ...... this was the view from our cottage, looking out on to a section of flooded road.  It was quite entertaining watching the different methods employed by drivers to deal with the problem - drive slowly, drive fast, through the middle, along the side

 

 

 

The rain might have been pouring down, the road may have been flooded - but if the verge had to be cut, it was going to be cut!!

 

On Saturday Malcolm went in to Cockermouth - these are some of his dramatic photos of the river in the town centre

 

 

 

When Malcolm picked me up on Saturday afternoon, we headed off to Keswick - where it was still raining!  When we walked down to the lake, we found that the rowing boats had been pulled up on to the road ....

 

....... as the strip of shingle where they usually sit was under water - as were the wooden jetties - you can see the lines of poles showing where they are, usually with pleasure boats moored alongside

 

Usually when we are in Kewick, we get fish and chips for dinner, sitting down by the lake to eat.  However this time we had to eat indoors!  Haddock and chips - delicious!

 

But, I hear you cry, where are the stars of the show, where are the sheep

 

 

 

 

I'll be back tomorrow with more of my purchases, more cute animals ....... and I'll tell you whom I had a cuppa with, and whom I had lunch with!

 

 

Relaxing with a glass of wine after another busy day chatting to friends, drinking tea ...... and perhaps buying some more woolly things.  We'll be heading home in the morning - it depends on the weather whether we dawdle along the way, perhaps stopping for lunch.

 

I'll be back on Monday with lots of photos and all the news from a wonderful Woolfest. 

Just a quick hello, as this is the slowest internet connection ever ..... perhaps the persistent rain is interfering with the wifi!!

Hope it improves tomorrow so that I can tell you about Woolfest!

It was Fathers' Day yesterday, and I took Malcolm out for breakfast to celebrate ....... but we actually went on Saturday, as I wanted to take him to the new cafe at the mill, but it doesn't open on a Sunday at the moment (it starts opening on Sundays next month).  Malcolm had a roll with links sausages

 

and a large americano, to which he added hot milk

 

I had a bacon roll

 

and my usual pot of tea

 

It may only have been about 9.30, but other customers were already ordering cakes and scones!

 

 

 

Back home when I put the tv on in the studio, I became engrossed in the Trooping the Colour ceremony.  It is an amazing spectacle ......

 

 

 

 

I wonder if the Queen ever wishes she could just stay at home with her feet up watching a dvd and eating chocolate?

 

but at least on Saturday she had her beloved Duke back at her side

 

Yesterday we went to Melrose for a walk

 

As there had been so much rain on Saturday, we decided not to have our usual walk along the river, as it would be muddy underfoot.  So instead we walked through the town, enjoying glimpses of beautiful gardens ...... and unusual buildings.  This first photo is a bit out of focus, but you need to see the back of this rough wooden building ......

 

....... to appreciate the surprise we got when we saw the front, with its delightful leaded windows

 

I liked this urn on the top of a gatepost ...... unfortunately we don't have gateposts to put something similar on!

 

A wonderfully dilapidated barn!

 

I went out for a walk after lunch (having already had my usual early morning walk!)  When I went to take a photo, the camera promptly beeped at me and switched itself off!  Fortunately I hadn't gone far, so I nipped back home, put the battery on charge, and collected my little Fuji Finepix, which I haven't used for months!  I was able to take lots of shadow shots, which have been in short supply here recently!

As I strolled along, I heard a bellow, but couldn't see the animal responsible for it.  Then minutes later I heard the thunder of hooves ..... I turned to see a large black bull galloping down the field .......

 

....... startling not only me, but also these sheep, which had been peacefully grazing

 

big bull(y)!!

 

Back home, the battery for the big camera had recharged, and I set it up on the tripod in the summerhouse, to take photos of the tits feeding the chicks

 

 

I decided to move the camera, to take shots from a different angle .......

 

...... so of course the birds disappeared!  So I went over to the back gate, and had a look at the swallows' nest

 

 

Then, oh joy, oh bliss ..... look what rumbled into a view - a gorgeous tractor, cutting the hay

 

Malcolm hasn't spent the whole weekend sitting in the sun, reading the paper - I'll tell you tomorrow what he has been making!

 

In the pink!

After a lot more rain (surprise, surprise!) it was a damp when I went out for my walk this morning

 

with a new stream appearing in the verge!

 

But then rain means that I get to play with taking photos of raindrops on plants!

 

The next three photos show how luxuriant the plants in the verge are - I just moved a little bit closer for each one

 

 

 

Usually when we go out, we either go for a cuppa and scone, or for lunch ......... but when we go to Duns, as we did this morning ....... we do both!

We could just have a cuppa when we go to Hugo's, but their scones are amazing!  Today we had a blueberry one

 

which was bursting with fruit

 

after a stroll round the town, we headed off to Pearson's Garden Centre for lunch.  I had intended to have soup, but then I saw that I could get a small portion of macaroni cheese ....... possibly my favourite garden centre lunch!

 

Malcolm had tomato and pesto soup, which was excellent

 

Back home, I finished stitching  Love, Hope and Friendship, but didn't get the chance to take a proper photo before dinner, so here is a little sample

 

Yesterday I started sewing the stitcheries on to Life is Beautiful.  I pinned the stitchery in place .....

 

...... with stabiliser on the back

 

I used Dawn Cameron-Dick's method of invisible machine applique

 

 

By the end of yesterday afternoon I had sewn fourteen stitcheries .....

 

........ just another eighteen to go!

 

 

More things woolly!

So, what else came home with me from Woolfest?

colourful curly bits for felting

 

Jacob's at the back, merino/silk blend at the front

 

lovely bits of blankets ..... stitcheries perhaps?

 

irresistible goodies from Oliver Twists

 

cute buttons

 

Malcolm bought this tiny kit for me when he was in Cockermouth

 

Yesterday I told you about chatting with Kate and Helen, but I also met several other friends.  First was Tracey, whom I had met last year at Woolfest.  We had already arranged to have lunch together on Saturday, but I had stopped by the stall where she was helping a friend on Friday to say hello.  While we were chatting, Malcolm phoned me (!) to say that he had just bumped into Anne (owner of Stitchin' Heaven, my "boss").  She had left the lovely Mick in charge of the shop for the day, so that she could have some woolly fun.  We had a cuppa and then indulged in a little bit of shopping!  Then on Saturday I met Tracey as arranged ...... as well as Emily and her friend Emma.  We had lunch together, then Tracey and I went off in search of a cuppa.  She had lots of exciting news to tell me ..... after a great deal of "will I, won't I", she has taken the plunge and has started design crochet patterns, and already has a raft of commissions from several magazines.  I also chatted to lots of stallholders and other woolly fanatics!!  I had a great time and I'm already looking forward to doing it all again next year!

 

When I went out for my walk this morning, it was very misty. 

swallows chirrupping on the phone wires

 

misty sheep

 

and misty horses

 

a welcome splash of colour

 

I've been busy sewing - I'll show you the progress tomorrow!!

Raindrops kept falling on my head!

It's so good to be back home with my reasonable internet connection - I've got lots to show you, so let's get started!

We got to Woolfest early, and headed off to have breakfast before the show opened.  Suitably fortified, we headed straight to Kate's stall, as I had told her that I had intended to be first in the queue to buy her wonderful new design, the sheep carousel tea cosy.  Malcolm wielded the camera, as Kate and I tried to smile nicely!

 

Not only did I get the tea cosy kit, but it came in a super cotton bag

 

 

It's a long time since I did colour work, and I haven't worked steeks or braids  before, but I'm looking forward to getting started

 

My next purchase was this yarn bowl, which I bought from Willofibre.  You sit the yarn in the bowl, feeding it through the spiral.  Then when you knit, the yarn stays in the bowl and doesn't roll about all over the floor

 

I had said to Malcolm that I wasn't going to buy any yarn, as I am trying (!) to reduce my stash.  However when I stopped at Helen's stall for a blether (Helen, second from the left, used to live here in the Borders, before she went off to the other end of the country) .......

 

......... I succumbed to this rather tasty skein

 

It was hard to capture it in a photo, but can you just see that it has a sparkle running through it

 

I bought one or two other things, but I'll save them for tomorrow, so that I can show you some other photos.  I may have mentiooned that it rained rather a lot ...... this was the view from our cottage, looking out on to a section of flooded road.  It was quite entertaining watching the different methods employed by drivers to deal with the problem - drive slowly, drive fast, through the middle, along the side

 

 

 

The rain might have been pouring down, the road may have been flooded - but if the verge had to be cut, it was going to be cut!!

 

On Saturday Malcolm went in to Cockermouth - these are some of his dramatic photos of the river in the town centre

 

 

 

When Malcolm picked me up on Saturday afternoon, we headed off to Keswick - where it was still raining!  When we walked down to the lake, we found that the rowing boats had been pulled up on to the road ....

 

....... as the strip of shingle where they usually sit was under water - as were the wooden jetties - you can see the lines of poles showing where they are, usually with pleasure boats moored alongside

 

Usually when we are in Kewick, we get fish and chips for dinner, sitting down by the lake to eat.  However this time we had to eat indoors!  Haddock and chips - delicious!

 

But, I hear you cry, where are the stars of the show, where are the sheep

 

 

 

 

I'll be back tomorrow with more of my purchases, more cute animals ....... and I'll tell you whom I had a cuppa with, and whom I had lunch with!

 

 

The rain has (almost) gone off!

Relaxing with a glass of wine after another busy day chatting to friends, drinking tea ...... and perhaps buying some more woolly things.  We'll be heading home in the morning - it depends on the weather whether we dawdle along the way, perhaps stopping for lunch.

 

I'll be back on Monday with lots of photos and all the news from a wonderful Woolfest. 

Treacle!

Just a quick hello, as this is the slowest internet connection ever ..... perhaps the persistent rain is interfering with the wifi!!

Hope it improves tomorrow so that I can tell you about Woolfest!

A busy weekend!

It was Fathers' Day yesterday, and I took Malcolm out for breakfast to celebrate ....... but we actually went on Saturday, as I wanted to take him to the new cafe at the mill, but it doesn't open on a Sunday at the moment (it starts opening on Sundays next month).  Malcolm had a roll with links sausages

 

and a large americano, to which he added hot milk

 

I had a bacon roll

 

and my usual pot of tea

 

It may only have been about 9.30, but other customers were already ordering cakes and scones!

 

 

 

Back home when I put the tv on in the studio, I became engrossed in the Trooping the Colour ceremony.  It is an amazing spectacle ......

 

 

 

 

I wonder if the Queen ever wishes she could just stay at home with her feet up watching a dvd and eating chocolate?

 

but at least on Saturday she had her beloved Duke back at her side

 

Yesterday we went to Melrose for a walk

 

As there had been so much rain on Saturday, we decided not to have our usual walk along the river, as it would be muddy underfoot.  So instead we walked through the town, enjoying glimpses of beautiful gardens ...... and unusual buildings.  This first photo is a bit out of focus, but you need to see the back of this rough wooden building ......

 

....... to appreciate the surprise we got when we saw the front, with its delightful leaded windows

 

I liked this urn on the top of a gatepost ...... unfortunately we don't have gateposts to put something similar on!

 

A wonderfully dilapidated barn!

 

I went out for a walk after lunch (having already had my usual early morning walk!)  When I went to take a photo, the camera promptly beeped at me and switched itself off!  Fortunately I hadn't gone far, so I nipped back home, put the battery on charge, and collected my little Fuji Finepix, which I haven't used for months!  I was able to take lots of shadow shots, which have been in short supply here recently!

As I strolled along, I heard a bellow, but couldn't see the animal responsible for it.  Then minutes later I heard the thunder of hooves ..... I turned to see a large black bull galloping down the field .......

 

....... startling not only me, but also these sheep, which had been peacefully grazing

 

big bull(y)!!

 

Back home, the battery for the big camera had recharged, and I set it up on the tripod in the summerhouse, to take photos of the tits feeding the chicks

 

 

I decided to move the camera, to take shots from a different angle .......

 

...... so of course the birds disappeared!  So I went over to the back gate, and had a look at the swallows' nest

 

 

Then, oh joy, oh bliss ..... look what rumbled into a view - a gorgeous tractor, cutting the hay

 

Malcolm hasn't spent the whole weekend sitting in the sun, reading the paper - I'll tell you tomorrow what he has been making!