frayed at the edge

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

 

 

Abandoned!

I had more or less planned today's post ....... but then a very special parcel was delivered!!  I have mentioned that we will celebrate our Silver Wedding at the end of August.  Malcolm got his present from me last week - a Kindle (sorry, I haven't taken a photo, as it's not very exciting to look at!)  My present isn't just for our anniversary, it's also for my birthday and my Christmas ....... a new lens for my camera. As I'm not at all technically minded, I'll just let the photos do tho the talking!

I was so excited, I didn't even go outside - I just took some photos through the lounge window.  The first one shows the garden seen through the existing lens

 

 

This is with the existing lens extended

 

 

Next is the new lens  ........

 

 

......... then with the lens extended

 

 

The next photo had me jumping up and down and sqealing with delight (after putting the camera down!)  This is with digital zoom .......

 

 

The photos were all taken standing in the same place - except for the last one ...... I had to kneel down and lean my elbows on the coffee table to keep the camera steady, as the least movement is hugely magnified!
I don't want to turn into a camera bore, so I'll just show a couple more photos which I took during a quick walk this afternoon

 

I took this 'close-up' from about eight feet away.  I am amazed at the clarity - the apple is only the size of a cherry ...... and did you spot the fly?

 

 

I was leaning on a gate to capture this thistle, which was about six feet away - I love how the background is hazy, and you can see the little bit of spiderweb.

 

Back now to a quick roundup of what should have been the main events of today's post!  As I mentioned on Friday, I took Malcolm out for breakfast yesterday morning

 

absolutely naughty, but very delicious (I couldn't finish mine!)

 

Monday means the knitting update.  On Saturday I pressed the pencil case, and chose a fabric for the lining

 

 

Then yesterday I made it up

 

 

I quite often have a mug of hot chocolate when I'm busy in the studio at the weekend, but on Saturday I forgot to take my mug back into the house, so yesterday I used this mug

 

 

This week's project is one that I have been looking forward to - a lacy scarf

 

 

I have also made a start to the pink blanket for Linus ........

 

 

....... and a baby shawl, which I hope to have finished in time to put into the Southdean Show in August

 

 

To finish, one more photo taken with the new lens.  This is our neighbour's tiny horse (it's about the size of a sheep).  It lives in a paddock way back from the road, so up to now, any photo I took of it wouldn't show what a cute little thing it is!!

 

 

 

 

 

Astounding!

I've just been sent a review copy of this book .....

 

 

........ and I'm enjoying it so much, I thought I would share it with you now, rather than waiting until I have finished it (I have skimmed through to the end).  It is full of all sorts of knitted wonders, lots of facts and figures about the design and construction of the projects, and profiles of some of the knitters.  Some of you will recognise the knitter on the cover, as she has been at Woolfest.  Ingrid is famous for her large scale knitting - read more about her here.  The next photo shows one of her amazing creations - a 21-foot historical coble boat ....... and Ingrid looks charming as a mermaid!

 

 

At the other end of the scale is this teeny, tiny sweater knitted by Annelies de Kort, which fits on the head of a pin

 

 

This tiny cardigan is also one of Annelies' creations - you can see from her hand just how small it is

 

 

How much do you love the man in your life?  Would you spend ten months knitting twelve miles of yarn to make a Ferrari for him!  That's what Lauren Porter did (although it was a project for her degree)

 

 

It was very difficult to pick things from the book ....... but I think everyone will go aaaah at the next photo!  There is even a pattern for the jumper if you want to knit one for the penguin in your life!

 

 

Having recently killed off two cacti in my bathroom, perhaps I should simply knit replacements, like these amazing ones by Irene York!

 

 

The last piece of knitting I picked to show you has me completely bamboozled!  I have just re-read Alasdair Post-Quinn's explanation of how he has a different pattern on either side ....... and my brain is hurting!

 

 

If, like me, you enjoy knitting and somewaht daft things, then pop the book on your wishlist!  (The photos were used with permission from the publishers)

 

I am almost embarrassed to show you my knitting - it doesn't really stand up to comparison with the wonders in the book!  I have finished another baby blanket for Project Linus.  For this one I used a lovely yarn in white and blue (I also have a ball in white and pink!). 

 

 

I like the diamond pattern, but I had to pay more attention to knitting it, comopared to the other blankets with the squares

 

 

A rather sad little tale to finish (and if you're squeamish, don't scroll down to the photo!)  I was in the kitchen this morning, while Malcolm was through in the back lounge.  I heard a bit of a commotion, then he appeared holding something, saying ' you'll never guess what I've just found'.  I could have gone on all day with guesses - but this wouldn't have been one of them ........ he had found a tiny dead bat in the big plant pot that the yucca is in.  We have no idea how it got there, and it must have been dead for some time, as it was completely dried out (don't worry, I washed my hands thoroughly after taking the photo!)

 

 

A very VERY busy weekend - part one

Saturday morning found us standing in Hawick High Street, waiting to see part of the spectacle of the Common Riding, which you can read about here.  We knew the proceedings were about to start, when the band formed up on the road

 

 

The band moved off, as the Cornet, with his right-hand and left-hand men, came into view

 

 

Following them were horses of all sizes and colours, with riders of all ages

 

 

The bearded chap on the left is our neighbour, Billy the Farmer

 

 

After all the horses had passed, we followed them up the High Street

 

 

There was an entertaining moment, when this horse was determined to head back down the High Street

 

 

And of course, the the most essential part of the parade wasn't far behind!

 

 

After all the excitement, we walked round to where we sometimes see a heron, on the River Slitrig ....... and there he was (for some reason, we have just assumed that it's a male!)

 

 

He was sitting minding his own business, when a crow swooped past him, causing him to raise his head at glare at the offending bird!

 

 

Back home, I headed out to the studio, and turned the tv on ...... to find there was an even grander spectacle to watch - the annual Trooping the Colour, to celebrate the Queen's Official Birthday - you can read about it here

 

 

 

 

 

I then spent the rest of the afternoon quilting the other Linus quilt that I made recently - but I'll save the photos for tomorrow, along with what we did yesterday.

 

Of course, Monday means the knitting update.  Last week's project was a string bag.  Straightforward to knit ..... but the pattern said it took 150g of double knitting cotton ...... and I only used 50g!  The pattern said to put fabric binding round the handles, but as I'm just going to hang the bag up in the utility room cupboard to put carrier bags in, I didn't bother

 

 

 

I wouldn't put anything heavy in it - this is how much it stretched with just a tin of tomatoes in it!

 

 

I am getting a bit fed up with the poorly written patterns and the vague making up instructions.  I have eight more projects bagged up ready to do, but I think after that I will just do the ones that appeal, rather than working my way through the rest of the book

 

 

This week's project is a pencil case, knitted in two colours

 

 

I was at the dentist this morning ....... and there was some very bad news!!  No, no, nothing wrong with my teeth, they are doing well ......... but shock, horror, my dentist is retiring!  I said to him 'you can't retire, I'm in love with you (in purely a dentistry way)'.  He said he may come back and work part time, so maybe I'll get to see him again - he has been such a help with all my dental trials and tribulations, that it is quite upsetting to lose him!!

So do remember to come back tomorrow for part two - including a visit to a quilt show .......

 

 

Honey!

On Saturday, I had a wonderful day out with the ladies of Southdean Rural (the Scottish version of the WI).  I used to be a member, and they very kindly invited me to join them on their annual day out.We were picked up by bus at the village hall, and headed for Northumberland, to visit the Chainbridge Honey Farm - you can read more here.  As we didn't leave until eleven, we arrived just in time to have lunch!  They have a very unusual tearoom - an old double decker bus ......

 

 

They had reserved the upstairs seating for us, and I was able to nip up the stairs ahead of the others to take a couple of photos

 

 

 

We were all so busy chatting when the food arrived, that I forgot to take a photo of my delicious cheese savoury baguette (but don't worry, there will be cake later!).  After lunch, we were given a guided tour by Heather, one of the daughters of the farm owners, who took us through the whole process from hive to the finished products that they sell (if you click on the link above, you can see the wide range of goodies, which you buy online!)

After seeing the large pieces of gleaming machinery where the combs are processed, we moved on to the workshop where all sorts of things are made with the beeswax

 

 

 

After seeing the working side of the business, we headed for the visitor centre and shop.  First stop was a taste of the honey .......

 

 

...... then some shopping!  For me, soap, handcream and a block of wax to run my thread through for handsewing

 

 

 

 

For Malcolm, a tub of heather comb honey and a beeswax owl candle (which is beside the owl I bought for him in Majorca for his collection)

 

 

 

In the visitor centre, when I saw this wasps' nest, I was very glad that we spotted the small ones in the summerhouse - this one is about two feet long!

 

 

The last stop of our visit was back in the bus, where we enjoyed a cuppa and cake - I had an exceedingly delicious piece of border tart

 

 

It's Monday, so that means the knitting update.  Because I decided to knit a second cushion cover, I only finished knitting last night, so I haven't made up the covers (I also need to get foam pads).  So for the photo, I put them over our footstools

 

 

This week's project won't take long - a string bag, the main part of which is knitted on 9mm needles!

 

 

More fun in the sun!

It was another beautiful morning (although the forecasters are now saying that they got it wrong when they said the hot weather would last until Saturday).  After deciding not to take the camera every morning ....... how could I leave it at home when there are still so many things to take photos of!  After taking lots of photos of the flowers in the verges earlier in the week, today I concentrated on the different grasses

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I came back down the hill, there was a ewe peering through the fence, as if she was keeping an eye out for me!

 

 

In the front garden, this iris is about to flower ....... but it should have flowered months ago!

 

 

Last week I gave my orchids a good talking to, as they have been sitting on the kitchen windowsill, eating me out of house and home, without a flower to show for it (oh, ok, they only get a litle water every now and then)  Thye were told in no uncertain terms that if they didn't pull up their socks and do their job, they were heading for the compost heap.  Well, it worked, and two of them had new flower shoots this morning!

 

 

 

I have finished knitting the cushion cover (although I haven't made it up yet)

 

 

I had enough yarn left to do another one, although I have had to change it slightly, and swap the blue and white yarns in the second one

 

 

Of course Friday means patch'n'chat ....... and that means cake!  This week it was our favourite apple and sultana

 

 

Just in case you haven't had enough of cute animals this week, I'll finish with this beautiful calf - it wandered over to see what this strange woman was doing, stopping in the middle of the road and sticking a camera out of the car window!!  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, love, Anne

  

 

A very busy weekend!

I have lots to tell you and show you ...... so here goes!

On Saturday morning we went to Jedburgh for breakfast (just a roll and sausage, not the full works!).  We then had a potter round the charity shops - I didn't buy anything.  But, when we went into a recently opened antique shop ....... I saw a wonderful little pincushion made with Victorian coins.  I immediately wanted it, but having looked at the price tag, I couldn't really justify buying it.  As I stood gazing at it, Malcolm came over to see what I was looking at.  I showed it to him and said I really, really wanted it ..... and he said, well buy it (normally he drags me from the shop!)  So the little pin cushion came home with me!

 

the front

 

 

the back

 

 

the side with some pins

 

On our way home, we called in at a small craft fair in the village of Denholm.  I recently met one of the stallholders, and said I would pop in to see her.  Everything Jakki makes uses recycled materials.  You can see her two Etsy shops here and here.

 

 

In the afternoon, I went out to the studio, to finish making this week's knitting project, the peg beg.  I choose one of my (many) curtain samples for the lining

 

 

I pinned the two together .........

 

 

I stitched round the edge, leaving a gap to turn the bag through to the right side

 

 

I then stitched the sides

 

 

I should have put a coathanger in the peg bag, but I didn't have a suitable one, so Malcolm cut a piece of dowel and added a large cup hook

 

 

 

I enjoyed knitting this much more than some of the other projects - but again, the instructions for making it up were minimal - a diagram showing how to do the lining would have been helpful.  This week's project is a cushion cover.....

 

 

........ which I started yesterday.  The back is just stocking stitch, which was quick to knit, and I have now started on the three-coloured pattern

 

 

Yesterday afternoon was spent in the studio sewing.   I quilted the little Linus quilt - it was relatively quick to do, as I quilted it with straight lines

 

 

 

All that remains to do is trim it and put on the binding.  I have also finished another knitted blanket for Linus (it still has to pressed) - Jemima was quite happy to model it!

 

 

I've started another blanket, using some variegated yarn that I bought in the hardware shop in Jedburgh on Saturday!

 

 

To finish .... we spotted these beauties in the car park in Jedburgh on Saturday morning ..... but I don't think I would give up the comfort of my car for a motorbike and sidecar!

 

 

 

 

Drookit!!

When the alarm went off this morning at 6.30, I stumbled crawled was pushed by Malcolm leapt out of bed, looked out the window ...... and seriously considered getting straight back under the covers!  It was wet and windy - not at all inviting for a three mile walk.  However, memories of all those cakes eaten on holiday compelled me to get dressed and head out the door.  It wasn't too bad at first, the rain was light and the wind was behind me.  But on the way back, I was walking into the wind, then the rain got heavier and heavier.  When I got home, I had to get stripped off in the kitchen, as I was thoroughly soaked and dripping!  I had to put the airer in the bath and leave my things to drip - they are still wet!

 

 

This was the view from the lounge later this morning - not the sort of weather we expect well into May!

 

 

Did you notice that there was no knitting update last week?  Things didn't quite go to plan on holiday.  The first project was the shelf edging - not that I have any shelves that I would want to put edging on, but as it is knitted in cotton, I thought that it might look nice on the edge of a towel.  However, after working three repeats of the pattern, I decided that I really didn't like it and wasn't going to waste time knitting any more.  I haven't blocked or pressed it, which no doubt would improve it .....

 

 

I think this stitch with all the loops is a bit strange - it looks like a parachute!

 

 

The second project was a tealight cover ....... and I have to admit that although it was just a little thing, it didn't get finished on holiday!  It's one of those patterns where you are constantly counting the stitches, and ad we were always chatting in the evenings, I kept losing my place, so I gave up and finished it last week when we got home!

 

 

This week's project is more substantial - a peg bag knitted in aran wool

 

 

I could also have a go at knitting something from this magazine which I bought on holiday ........

 

 

........ although I think I will have more success using these patchwork magazines ...... 

 

 

....... and these cross stitch/craft magazines

 

 

We regularly passed a field with sheep and lambs, but as it was on a busy road, Malcolm was never able to slow down enough for me to take photos ....... then last Tuesday, on the way to the airport, he had to make an emergency stop, as there were sheep and lambs on the road!  (this is for Thimbleanna - who loves all things sheepie!)

 

 

 

A leisurely weekend

I promised to tell you today where we are going on holiday - so I won't keep you waiting any longer!!  We are off tomorrow to Majorca, back to Pollensa, where we have now had several holidays.  Stuart and Alison are joining us, although we are travelling separately .... we fly from Newcastle, and they fly from Edinburgh.  We have a very early flight tomorrow, so we will get there well before them, giving us time to shop for essentials ....... beer and wine bread, milk, tea, coffee etc.

We pottered about on Saturday, getting things tidied up, sorting out what we want to pack.  Then on Sunday we headed first to Jedburgh, to get the Sunday papers.  On the way, the drivers of two cars which were coming towards us flashed their lights and gestured for us to slow down.  I just had time to get my camera out to take photos of the problem

 

 

 

It was another glorious morning, so we went for a walk round the town, calling in first at the gardens at Mary Queen of Scots' house.  This old apple tree was delightful, clothed in blossom

 

 

 

As we walked on round the town, I found another postbox to add to my collection.  This is a Victorian one.

 

 

We sat by the river and enjoyed an icecream - sorry no photo, as we had to eat quickly before it melted!  Then we had a short journey to the Oxnam Quilt Show.  Among the members of the group are Annette and Cathy from Borderland Fabrics - you will recognise this first quilt ...... it is Cathy's version of the 'row quilt', which inspired several of us to make similar ones

 

 

Annette made this quilt for her grandson Harry - he doesn't just like tractors ...... he likes John Deere tractors!

 

 

Another tractor quilt ....... the one that I made for Linus.  It was included in a display of quilts which have been donated (after the exhibition it will be given to a sick child)

 

 

On our way home from Oxnam, we were stuck behind a slow-moving car and horsebox.  But that gave me more time to take these photos

 

 

 

It's Monday, so of course that means the knitting update.  This week's project was a pair of baby sandals.  Not having a baby about the place to model them, I had to stuff them with some wadding to take the photos!

 

 

 

I've sorted out two small projects to take with me

 

 

 

I have done some posts to appear while we are away - including Shadow Shot Sunday.  They are just little posts, but I hope you will visit ...... the blog would be very lonely without you!  Please still leave comments (I love getting comments!), and I'll catch up with them when we get back.