frayed at the edge

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!!

 

 

A double celebration!

As the weather has been a little bit better, we went for a walk on both Saturday and Sunday, and on both days I took my own advice to look up for things to take photos of.  On Saturday in Hawick I was rewarded with this beautiful stained glass window, which I think I might adapt into a wallhanging

 

 

 I was also looking down, and spotted this first sign of better days ahead - daffodils just peeping through

 

Yesterday we went to Melrose, and on an old building which is now home to the Scouts, I spotted this (I think the Duke of Buccleuch is the richest man in Scotland, Malcolm thinks he is the biggest landowner .....perhaps he is both)

 

 

Then Malcolm saw this wonderful date stone, which looks as if it could have been carved yesterday, not a hundred and eleven years ago!

 

 

This clock is magnificent ...... wouldn't it be good if more buildings had such decorative things on them!

 

 

It's almost time to take the Christmas decorations down, and if you would like some ideas of things to do with your cards, then have a look here at a tutorial I did this time last year.

 

So, finally, we come to the reason for today's heading!  Saturday is a very special day ....... not only is it my second blogiversary, but it will also be my 600th post!!  That can only mean one thing ..... yes, a giveaway.  I wanted to make it a special one, so I have decided that I will either knit a pair of socks or make a small wallhanging for the winner.  All you have to do is a leave a comment between now and Friday the 14th, when, as always, I will ask Malcolm to randomly generate a number to pick the winner - who can then decide which prize they would prefer.  There may be second and third prizes as well!  All you have to do is leave a comment between now and the 14th ...... the more comments you leave, the more chances you will have in the draw, so why not leave a comment every day!!

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!!

 

 

 

Out and about

We had a wonderful Christmas day, with lots of lovely presents, good food and a glass or two of wine!  Yesterday morning, we popped into Hawick, where we were delighted to find Sainsbury's open, so that we could buy the Sunday newspapers.  Leaving the car at the supermarket, we went for a walk (a very cold walk!) in the park.After the walk, we went into the supermarket cafe ..... a large cup of steaming coffe for Malcolm, and a hot chocolate for me!

We were amazed to find that the river had frozen over

 

 

and there was a wonderful 'icefall', where water coming down off the bank above the path had frozen

 

 

When we crossed the footbridge over the river, this was the view in one direction

 

 

and this is the view looking the other way

 

 

As we went back across the river, Malcolm spotted a salmon!  If you look carefully in the centre of the photo, you can just about make it out

 

 

When I opened my presents on Christmas morning, I started with the smallest one ...... and immediately declared it to be my best present!!

 

Wonderful Sock Monkeys to put on keys - I have put them on the keys for the studio.  Then the second parcel produced .....

 

..... the cutest little owl to keep my Ipod headphones on!

 

I know it isn't quite yet time to make my New Year's resolutions, but I have already decided that 2011 will be (fanfare and roll of drums) ...... The Year of the Kits!!  I looked out two kits from the studio, but when I went to start the first one, which was a free gift with a magazine, there was a slight problem

 

 

If you look at the bottom, you will see that the chart for the design was in the magazine, which I no longer have!  However, all is not lost, as I think I will be able to mark out the stitches on squared paper.

It was on to the next kit ....

 

 

and encountering no problems with this one, I have done the basic stitching of the first heart

 

 

Although there has been a little bit of a thaw, we still have a lot of snow lying and the birds are still flocking to the garden to be fed ...... today's collection included this big fat pigeon

 

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!

The dark side of the moon

This morning we had a lunar eclipse ...... I think this may be the first one I have seen, as usually these momentous events are obscured by clouds!  This first photo shows the lights of Hawick to the left, and the shadow part way over the moon

 

 

Then this photo shows the shadow further over the moon

 

 

But I can't show you any more photos because ...... it suddenly got cloudy!!  Later, when the post arrived, I was delighted to see this envelope ......

 

 

....... as I knew it would be fron my lovely bloggy friend Lynne.  Enclosed with her Christmas card was this gorgeous crocheted snowflake

 

 

I think I might put it in the middle of my mittens bunting (don't worry, the flames are fake!!)

 

 

After having starlings in the front garden for the first time yesterday, there were two new birds outside the back doors of the studio today.  I had to consult the bird book for both birds.  I knew this first one was a finch, and the bird book confirmed that it is a bullfinch.  The colours are stunning ..... finally a bird to rival the fantastic birds that Karen has on her blog!

 

 

 

 

Then later in the day, there was even more excitement when three of them appeared, although I only managed to capture two of them (and one of them is hard to spot at the top of the photo!!)

 

 

But the biggest thrill was this bird - although it took me a long time to get  photos of it!  There was actually a small flock of them in the tree, but they kept flying off whenever I crept up to the door to try to snap them.    After a long consultation with the bird book, I decided that they are redwings ..... birds that neither Malcolm nor I have seen before

 

 

Once this one had finally sat still long enough to have its photo taken, it then hopped round and faced the other way, for this final photo

 

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

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