frayed at the edge

An unwelcome visitor!

I should have shown you this first photo on Friday - but because I was redoing Thursday's post ...... I forgot!  This twig tree is usually out in the studio with the hearts and butterflies on it but I bring it in to the house and add the little eggs at Easter

 

 

I made the felt flower for last year's Southdean show - I won second prize with it (modesty prevents my telling you that I also won first prize with a needle-felted picture!)

 

 

On Saturday morning, I headed off down the road to Chesters, for the Easter 'Market Day'.  I took with me the leftovers from the Christmas Fair and some cards that I have had printed from some of my photos.  It didn't take too long to set up my little stall

 

 

I didn't sell a lot - but enough to have made it worth going ....... and I had a delicious bacon roll and lentil soup for lunch!

We went for a walk in Jedburgh yesterday morning.  We were intrigued by this little figure that we spotted on the gable of an old house.  He looks as if he is playing some sort of musical instrument (click on the photo to enlarge it for a better look)

 

 

Back home, we found we had a very unwelcome visitor in the summer house ...... a wasp

 

 

As you can see, he was aiming to move in permanently, as he worked away on his byke (nest).  He had already completed the first layer, and was working on the next one

 

 

As we didn't fancy sharing the summer house with him and his family, Malcolm removed his efforts (with the aid of a long stick)  The byke is made of a paper-like substance, which the wasp makes by chewing tree bark

 

 

However, these visitors, making their very noisy way up the road to a new field, were very welcome!

 

 

Malcolm reluctantly modelled last week's knitting project, the lovely pale green gardening gloves.  After posing in them, he gave them back and said he didn't really think they were practical gardening wear!

 

 

I've chosen another small project for this week, as I am still resting my hands and wrists (which are much better)

 

 

 

 

Introducing Miss Jemima

This is my rag doll Jemima, modeling last week's knitting project.  She is actually a little bit old to be wearing a baby cardigan as she will be thirty five this year!  The cardigan was straightforward to knit, although I find constant moss stitch tedious - and it always give me sore wrists and hands.  When it came to the three-needle cast off for the seam down the sleeves, I read the instructions several times, and each time came to the same conclusion - if you do it the way the pattern says, the seam will be on the right side!

 

 

She soon got fed up posing for photos, and tried to climb over the back of the chair, revealing the fact that she lost her shoes many years ago!

 

 

Those of you who have the Debbie Bliss book and have been following the progress through the projects, will know that this is not the next one

 

 

This week should have been shelf edging, but instead I am doing gardening gloves (I think Malcolm would look very sweet in pale green knitted gloves, his opinion isn't printable!).  The reason for the change of order is quite simple - we are going on holiday soon, and the projects for the two weeks we will be away are big ones.  I don't want to take a lot of knitting with me, as Stuart and Alison are joining us, so we will probably be out more in the evenings, and I won't have as much time to knit.  However once we're back, I'll continue to work through the projects in the order they are in the book.  I had planned to start my socks last week, but because my wrists were sore, I decided to have a rest from knitting after I finished the baby cardigan.

 

On Saturday I went for a walk after lunch, we both went for a walk yesterday morning, and then today I again went for a walk after lunch.  There is so much growth in the verges/hedgerows, I realised that I am not very good at plant recognition, so this afternoon I got out this book .....

 

 

....... and went through my photos.  However I didn't find it particularly helpful - I think it would be better to have a book with photos, rather than drawings.  However, I didn't need a book to identify the wild garlic yesterday - the smell was a big clue!!  We were walking along the river, when we came round a bend to be greeted with the sight of garlic as as far as the eye could see!

 

 

Growing among the garlic was another plant that I know - butterbur.  The flower spike comes up first, followed by leaves that look like rhubabrb

 

 

This next plant is tiny - I think it is a wild strawberry

 

 

This is so delicate, it would make a lovely applique block

 

 

When I was out walking on the main road today, it happened again ...... an enormous truck thundering along the road!  (I think they park somewhere and wait for me to appear!)

 

 

I sometimes see strange things when I'm out for a walk - and this implement certainly qualifies - it looks like a cross between a rake and a pitchfork!

 

 

To end, some more lambs ...... they are just so cute, I just have to take photos of them!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

A well trained son!

We had a relaxing evening on Friday, with Stuart and Alison quite happy to watch tv, after a busy week for both of them at work.

 

 

Stuart and I got up early on Saturday morning, and headed out for a walk.  Unfortunately, it was very misty, but this little creature was happy with the damp road!

 

 

We stood well back, as this tractor and trailer appeared out of the mist, taking ewes and lambs out to the field from the lambing shed

 

 

Once we were all finally up and showered, we headed to Jedburgh for breakfast, after which we visited Mary Queen of Scots' House and Jedburgh Castle Jail - but I'll save that for another post.  On the way home, Stuart was driving ...... and being well trained in my blogging requirements, he didn't need to be asked to stop when we saw this cow and her contented calf!

 

 

 By lunchtime the mist had lifted and we enjoyed lunch sitting out on the deck.  Stuart was having fun playing with my camera, and very patiently took a lot of photos of this little beetle, trying to get it in focus (if you compare it to the size of the print, you will see just how small it was!)

 

 

Having enjoyed another lazy evening, on Sunday morning I made breakfast (French toast, bacon and maple syrup) before Stuart and Alison headed off for Falkirk.  As it was a glorious morning, Malcolm and I went over to Harestanes for a walk.  The recent rain and the much warmer weather means that there is a lot more growth.  This is a chestnut tree - the buds will soon open into either pink or white flowers

 

 

The flowers on this mahonia are very bright

 

 

The air was full of the scent of wild garlic

 

 

Best of all, the beautiful blossom on an old apple tree

 

 

Now, the weekly knitting update!  The needle case was another very simple project ........

 

 

........ which only took an evening to knit - and about thirty minutes to stitch the lining fabric and felt on

 

 

This week's project will take a bit longer - a baby cardigan, knitted in 4-ply on 3.25 needles!

 

 

 

 

Scrumptious!

Recently, I had hoped to win some wool in a giveaway by Pip.  The prize was a hank of any sock wool from her wonderful shop.  When I didn't win, I sobbed and sobbed (for about three days!!) ....... then I did the sensible thing and bought the one I had hoped to win!  So when the postman rang the doorbell this morning and handed me one of Pip's trademark purple envelopes ........

 

 

......... I knew that it contained something truly scrumptious!

 

 

It is 45% silk and 55% superwash merino.  I wanted something special to knit a pair of socks from the book which Rachel gave me recently

 

 

I have chosen this pair - although I don't think I will get them started before next week

 

 

We have had some heavy rain, so when I was in Hawick this morning, I wasn't surprised to see how full the rivers were.  This is the Slitrig, looking down to where it joins the Teviot

 

 

This is the Teviot, with the Slitrig coming in from the right - you can see the rough water where the two rivers meet

 

 

Just before I came in from the studio yesterday, I remembered that I had yet to take a photo of the knitted blanket for Project Linus.  I popped it on my work table to take the photo, so it's perhaps not the best of photos!

 

 

Tomorrow, we are heading for Newcastle again, for Malcolm to have another go at fixing Rachel's dishwasher (we should have gone last Thursday, but Rachel's Lovely Son came for an unexpected visit, which of course took precedence over such a mundane matter as the dishwasher).  While Malcolm wrestles with the dishwasher, Rachel and I will take Flossie and Tosca for a long walk - the sun is supposed to shine, so hopefully I will have lots of photos to share with you!

 

A busy weekend

There was great excitement on Saturday when the post arrived, bringing a very special book

 

 

So why was I getting so excited about a children's book, I hear you ask?  Because the author is my lovely bloggy friend Gretel.  Would you like a little peek inside?

 

Oh dear, Mrs Mouse has burned the cake .........

 

 

........just as her friend Kitty Blue was due to arrive for tea

 

 

but the day is saved, as Kitty has brought a wonderful cake to share!

 

It's a charming book, but it is even more special when you look closely ....... Gretel needle-felted Mrs Mouse, Kitty, the cakes and lots of other bits and pieces.  And if that wasn't enough, she also did the illustrations - she is just so talented.  Of course I bought my copy from Amazon (it's the dreaded 'one click'!) ..... and I've got my name down to be told when the next book is available.  (The photos are used with Gretel's permission).

 

Yesterday was Mothers' Day.  Stuart wasn't able to visit, as he had another engagement (Alison's nephew's 1st birthday party, complete with bouncy castle - I couldn't compete with that!!).  But he sent me my present - gorgeous Kath Kidston gardening gloves (much too pretty to wear in the garden!)

 

 

I also got a card - I would like to think that he sent it because I look just like the slim, elegant lady on the front (apart from the cigarette!) ...... but no, it's because it's the cheekiest card he could find!

 

 

At first glance, the wrapping paper has cupcakes on it ..... but on a second look, the cupcakes are made from fabric and knitting!

 

 

In Stuart's absence, Malcolm took me out for breakfast - but I am much too embarrassed to show you a photo of the rather large breakfast that I ate!  We went to Selkirk, and I took some photos from the car - it's funny you don't realise how bumpy the road is until you are trying to focus the camera!

 

 

 

 

I was busy in the studio on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons, but I'll tell you all about that tomorrow.  To finish, of course, it's the update on the knitting project.  As the belt was just a little bit small for me (I knew I wouldn't wear it, so I just made it the size given in the pattern), I had to call on my lovely mannequin to model it

 

 

It ties at the back with a bow - very pretty

 

 

This week it's a needle case.  I found the perfect piece of fabric for the lining in the scrap basket!

 

Yellow is the colour ........

....... that is appearing in the hedgerow.  When I went for my walk yesterday, I spotted the first dandelion of the year.  While dandelions look lovely in the verge, they are a pest in the garden.  Malcolm has to wage war on them every summer to remove them from the lawns.

 

 

A little further on, in a shady damp area under the hedge, I found some clumps of marsh marigolds.  These are very pretty little flowers - I had some in our last garden, in a shady bed with other damp-loving plants

 

 

Then, one of my favourites - a little primrose, just starting to flower

 

 

But it wasn't all yellow ..... there were also lots of tiny violets 

 

 

If you are fed up with photos of lambs, look away now!  But who could resist this little one watching me as I took its photo!

 

 

There was also a ewe keeping an eye on me - she is a Herdwick.  I shall be keeping an eye out for the Herdy lambs arriving - we are now in the main lambing season

 

 

Back home there were more yellow flowers - but there are only two left on this orchid, which started to flower just before Christmas

 

 

However, this slightly paler one has just started to flower - and it has lots of buds on it

 

 

I have almost finished the belt (it is all knitted in garter stitch, so not exactly taxing!).  I'll knit the last few rows tonight, then I'll get on with the Linus blanket.  It is so good to be able to photos outside in the sunshine - I took this one this afternoon

 

 

To finish, a bit of fun!  When I spotted this chocolate owl while I was doing the food shopping yesterday, I just had to buy it for Malcolm (he did let me have a little taste - but not of the white chocolate, which I really don't like!!)

 

Interruptions!

I was busy writing Friday's post, when I had to temporarily abandon it, to rush out into the front garden to take photos of the stunning sunset (a welcome interruption!)

 

 

 

On Saturday morning, we stayed longer in Hawick than usual, so that we could see the parade which is part of the Reivers Festival.  While we were waiting, I snapped these fine fellows

 

 

 

Then the parade came into view and I took the next photo.  But then there was an unwelcome interruption, as I must have accidently pressed the wrong button on the camera, and it refused to take any more!

 

 

I'll come back to the Festival later, but now for the third and last interruption.  I was walking down the hall on the way to the kitchen yesterday morning, to make breakfast, when I glanced through the door of the lounge - and there on the peanut feeder was a woodpecker.  I ran to the kitchen to get the camera, then took the first photo through the door and the window.  I then slowly opened the door and crept into the room, but the woodpecker must have seen the movement and flew off to the other feeder.  I managed to take one more photo before it flew away

 

 

 

So, to get back to the Festival - on Sunday morning we went for a walk in the park, ending up at the next event ....... an encampment and re-enactment.  We were a litle bit disappointed, as the last time we went it was a much bigger affair, with lots of horses, but we still enjoyed what was there

 

 

 

 

 

 

When we saw lots of people tucking into stovies, we decided we would have some too!

 

 

When I told you about our walk up to the Waterloo Monument last week, I said it is on the highest point for miles around.  If you look at the horizon in the centre of the photo, you can see the tower (if you click on the photo, it should enlarge)

 

 

It's Monday, so that means the knitting update.  Last week's project was very simple - I know the book has to cater for all levels of ability, but these bookmarks could have been knitted by a 5-year old!  The other colours are simply woven in using a darning needle, and the ends tied together

 

 

This week's project is very simple too (there are some more interesting ones coming in the next few weeks!).  A simple knitted belt with ribbon stitched round it, and a contrasting bow.  As it won't take long to do, it will mean more time to get on with the blanket for Linus

 

 

ps - several of you wondered why I hadn't just picked the lamb up to put it back in the field.  I couldn't catch it!  Every time I got close, it ran off again, and each time it was getting further and further away from its field!!

 

Basking in the sunshine

When we came back from our usual Thursday morning visit to Hawick, there was a large box on the front doorstep - either the delivery driver didn't read the instruction on the label, or chose to ignore it!

 

 

It was such a beautiful day, I had an early lunch and headed out for a walk.  I wasn't the only one enjoying the sun ...... these ewes and lambs were making the most of the warmth

 

 

Further down the hill, there were some new lambs, having fun playing round the bottom of a tree

 

 

Their mum was keeping an eye on me .........

 

 

......... even when the lambs ran back to her

 

 

After a few days of milder weather, plants are shooting up - whether it's a weed .......

 

 

....... or a much prettier daffodil

 

 

However, not everything I saw on my walk was welcome - fortunately I saw this truck coming, and stood well out of the way!

 

 

I didn't mind this tanker passing me at the bottom of our road - but as you can see, there isn't much room to pass if you are in a car

 

 

Fortunately this fine fellow had safely crossed the road before the tanker appeared

 

 

This may look as if the truck and tractor are about to crash ...... but the truck had already stopped at the end of the road, as the tractor went past

 

 

In the garden, Malcolm was busy cleaning the cobbled area under the pergola (sporting his new boiler suit!)

 

 

I took advatge of the sunshine to take photos of my new knitting  (the bookmarks are done!).  This is a baby blanket for Project Linus

 

 

I am using two balls of 4 ply, as I didn't have any double knitting.  The pattern is a simple basket weave, with a garter stitch border

 

 

The sun has just set, with a pink glow lingering on the horizon.  Unfortunately, the forecast isn't quite so good for tomorrow, and it is to get colder at the weekend ....... ah well, at least we were able to sit out in the garden for our afternoon cuppa!

With apologies to Miss Florence!

Oh dear - Flossie was most upset to find that Tosca and Lottie were featured in yesterday's post, but there wasn't a photo of her, the most beautiful dog in Newcastle (if not the whole world!).  So to put matters right, here she is, looking gorgeous

 

 

So , to return to the story, while Rachel and I indulged in a spot of kntting and crochet (and a lot of blethering), Malcolm had patched in the floor and put the carpet back down

 

 

We might have had a wonderful lunch, but when Rachel gave me a quick lesson in how to produce the most delicious cheese scones .........

 

 

......... Malcolm managed to eat two of them, hot from the oven!  It was a lovely sunny late afternoon, as we set off back home ........ but as soon as I got the camera out, a big black cloud blotted out the sun.  Then, every time I went to take a photo, there would be a bump or a dip in the road - I took a lot of photos of the sky and the dashboard!  But finally I managed to capture this shot - you can see how much greener the landscape is looking, as the weather finally warms up

 

 

Of course the other thing that was left out yesterday was the knitting update.  I finished the knitted beads - there are wooden beads inside the knitted covers, which makes the necklace a bit heavy - the beads swing forward and hit things!  So I don't think I'll wear it - but it looks good decorating the mannequin

 

 

This week's project is another simple one - bookmarks

 

 

I bought this book last week in a charity shop

 

 

The book was published in 1974, and the illustrations are a wonderful reminder of the styles from that decade

 

 

The look on this little boy's face shows quite clearly how he feels at being made to wear such an awful outfit

 

 

I'm smiling while I am typing this ......... why?  I'll tell you tomorrow!

No progress on the dishwasher .....

This morning we set of south to Newcastle, to visit Rachel.  Malcolm was going to have another go at fixing her dishwasher, but first he sorted out a dip in the floorboards on the landing, which was spoiling the lie of the new carpet.  Lottie made sure that the work went well

 

 

This is Malcolm puzzling over what had been used to cover the raggedy floorboards - he eventually decided it was a bit of mounting board (the sort you use for framing pictures)

 

 

Tosca took over as gaffer, making sure Malcolm was making a proper job of things

 

 

Then everything stopped for lunch - first delicious pea, cougette and mint soup (sorry, had almost finished when I remembered to take the photo)

 

With the soup, we had excellent homemade bread - if you pop over to Rachel's blog and scroll back through several posts you can read about the bread

 
 
 

Then we had open sandwiches and salad

 

 

While Malcolm went back to his floor levelling, Rachel and I did some knitting and crochet

 

 

Meanwhile, Malcolm had finished his levelling .......

 

 

Oh dear, there is something seriously wrong with things tonight - it is taking two or three attempts to put in each photo, and it is taking forever ........ so I think I will save the rest of the story for tomorrow, along with the weekly update on the knitting project.