frayed at the edge

Morning has broken ......

...... Cat Stevens was singing on the radio this morning - and the sky looked like this

 

But the strange thing is .... this is where we normally see the sunset.  This is the sunrise reflected on the clouds.

This morning, I put Maia in a bowl of just-warm water and some delicate wash to soak for about twenty minutes

 

 

I then rinsed it well and squeezed (remember - NEVER wring knitting!) the excess water out.  Then I rolled it up in a towel and left it for a while for even more water to be soaked away.

 

 

The final stage was to block it (stretch it) to its full size (don't worry about the wrinkles, they are in the sheet, not the knitting!)

 

 

I have several 'Christmas' cacti.  During the summer they live on my bathroom windowsill and in the winter they sit at the end of the bath.  Every year they flower a bit earlier ...... but this year they have gone mad and are flowering already!

 

 

At the other end of the bath, I have a very special African Violet.  It was part of a group of plants in a basket that I gave to my Dad as one of the presents for his 80th birthday (Stuart celebrated his 21st birthday the day before!).  My Dad wasn't very good with houseplants, and when he died six and a half years later, only the African Violet survived - and it had only three leaves left.  I took it home and repotted it ...... and it flourished.  Within weeks, it had not only put out more leaves, it had also flowered - and it then flowered continously for about two years!  After that, it flowered off and on, but over the summer it looked a bit sickly.  However, after being moved to its winter home on the bath, it has suddenly perked up .... and today I noticed flower buds on it!

 

A (very) mixed bag!

I was going to call this post 'When will I see you again?' ..... but you might have got upset, thinking I was taking a break- it was because when I went out this morning, it was three degrees, which always starts me singing ......'When will  ....... ok, terrible joke!!  We woke up this morning to the first frost - it was so cold, I took this photo of my car from the bedroom window - I wasn't going outside until I had to!

 

But it wasn't that surprising that it was cold, as it was very clear last night - I did brave the cold then to take this photo of the moon

 

Tonight's heading reflects the fact that I have a collection of photos that haven't made it into other posts, so I thought I would use them tonight before I forget that I have them!  It was my bloggy friend Sarah's birthday yesterday (this is an 'oops' moment - because we went away just after my birthday, I didn't post photos of my lovely bloggy presents .... sorry).  Sarah loves beachcombing and driftwood .... and Malcolm just happpened to have some driftwood in the garage, so he made these two lovely things for her ( I remembered as I wrapped them that I hadn't taken a photo - do you like the animal print tissue paper!)

 

Don't worry - he didn't use my best cutlery ..... we found some in a charity shop to use.  The lettering and decoration on the shopping list is done with a poker pen.

 

When we came back from our holiday, this clump of tiny mushrooms had appeared in the grass at the front of the house

 

 

Recently we were back at the Water Wheel cafe, where the eagle owls are still thriving

 

 

 

Yesterday, when Malcolm was going out, he asked if there was anything I wanted (meaning milk, bread, veggies).  I replied that he could bring me a present (ignoring my Mum's voice in my head saying 'people who ask don't get'!)  Well, I did get ...... he brought me this quilting magazine - complete with cd, which has lots of patterns and templates that can be printed out

 

 

I have finally finished Maia - well, almost ..... I have still to block it

 

 

For some months now, I have had company in the bathroom ........ a very leggy spider.  Usually it is hanging from the ceiling - but of course when I went to take a photo, it was hiding in  a corner!

 

 

As this last photo shows, we may have had frost, but the climbing rose is determined to behave as if it is still summer!

 
 

Picking lilies?

Malcolm : What do you mean, you're going to pick lilies, we don't have any in the garden.

Me : No dear, I said I'm going to make some piccalilli. 

Some weeks ago, I promised Tinky that I would share my recipe for piccalilli with her ...... so I thought I might as well share it with all of you!

I started yesterday, when I chopped up about 500g of cauliflower.  I put it in a colander, over a bowl, and covered it generously with salt.  I left this overnight for the excess moisture to drain out of the cauliflower

 

 

The original recipe for the piccalilli uses cucumber and pickling onions, but I prefer to use ......

 

I cut 100g onions in half and sliced 200g gherkins.  I rinsed the salt off the cauliflower and left it to drain.  The other ingredients are

 

300ml vinegar, 50g sugar, 1 tsp turmeric, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 2 teaspoons dried mustard, 1 tbsp cornflour

 

The method is simple - put most of the vinegar, the sugar, turmeric, ginger and mustard in a large saucepan and bring to the boil.  Add the cauliflower and simmer until it is almost cooked.  Add the onions and gherkins and simmer for a few more minutes.  Use the remaining vinegar to slake the cornflour, then add a little at a time, until the mixture has thickened.  Spoon into hot jars, cover and label.
This made four small jars - now I just need some cheese on toast .....

 

Once the piccalilli was ready, I finished my Ishbel shawl - I had blocked it yesterday, and today I sewed in the ends.  I had also knitted fingerless mittens with the leftover yarn and I finished them as well.  Then it was out to the studio to take photos  ......

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While I was cooking, the postman arrived with two boxes.  One contained a roll of cellophane wrapping and some cellophane bages.  I popped two washcloths and a bar of soap into a bag and tied it with a scrap of ribbon - of course it will look better with matching ribbon and a pretty tag

 

 

When I saw these cardboard boxes, I thought hmm - what can I use them for?  Perhaps for the new baby sets, with some pretty tissue paper (this is just an odd piece from my stash)

 

 

And to finish - could you have resisted this bakers' string and these super tags, which I can stamp or embellish 

 

Miserable!!

No, no ...... not me, but the weather!  We have had some heavy showers this afternoon, and the forecast for the next two days isn't very good (snow was even mentioned for the Highlands!).  On Saturday, I popped out for a quick walk before lunch (I'm missing my morning walks, now that it is too dark).  It was sunny when I set out, but by the time I had walked up the hill to the church, some threatening clouds had gathered

 

 

However, it had cleared again when I took this next photo

 

 

But what was this I encountered along the way - have the Martians finally landed?

 

 

Nothing so exciting - it's just an electricity supply pole

 

 

Just about this time last year, I mentioned to Malcolm that there were a lot of berries on the trees and in the hedgerows - and according to folklore, that is the sign of a hard winter to come.  He laughed at me .... and we all know what sort of winter we had!  Well, I don't want to worry you, but the holly tree in front of the church is laden with berries .....

 

 

In the afternoon, I was busy in the studio - I thought it was time to make a serious effort to get things ready for next month's Christmas Fair.  Do you remember quite some time ago I knitted a great pile of cotton washcloths, and new baby sets?  I eventually found them in a drawer, and pressed them, ready to sew the ends in

 

 

I have bought some lovely soap, to make up sets with perhaps two washcloths and one or two other pamperings things (I've ordered some lovely packaging!)

 

 

I also made a batch of handbag tissue holders.  I have been making these for years - I have made dozens and dozens!  Every time I say I'm not making any more .... but I always do!

 

 

I recently bought a new die for my Cuttlebug, which it makes teeny tiny tags.  I thought I would use them for price tags and maybe make up some small bags with other bits and pieces to use for cardmaking and scrapbooking.

 

 

Yesterday morning, as usual, we went for a walk (and as usual we went for a cuppa and scone afterwards).  Malcolm spotted this cow, sitting in the shadows.  There weren't any others in the field , just this one looking lonely!

 

 

I took this photo because of the funny-looking dead tree - but now I just want to sit and look at the wonderful blue sky ....

 

 

To finish, something I haven't taken a photo of for a while - a lovely length of higgledy piggledy fence!

 

 

A lot of walking ........

...... and a little bit of knitting!  I wouldn't want you to think that I am being lazy on my holiday.  On the way over yesterday, I started knitting a sock in the car (I've discovered that I can manage plain knitting .... maybe I'm finally growing out of car-sickness!

 

Did you notice that there are only three needles ....... I had a slight accident when I went to start a new row - the needle pinged out of my hand and vanished down the side of my seat, never to be seen again!  We know it must be in there somewhere, but we just can't find it (for some reason Malcolm refuses to dismantle the seat!!).  Fortunately is was one of my very cheap bamboo needles, so I wasn't too upset - and there is a little wool shop here in Keswick, so I was able to buy another set!

I have also started knitting 'Ishbel' .... a lovely shawl by the very talented young designer Ysolda Teague.  If you haven't seen Ysolda's work, do have a look at her website - and you can buy her patterns (as I did) as a download.  For Ishbel, I am using beautiful yarn that is 70% merino and 30% silk, which was given to me by Meg.  It is knitting up very quickly

 

We have walked for miles (and miles) today ..... and I have taken lots and lots of photos.  Once we are back home I will do a collage or two, but for now, here is a small selection

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I still have so much to tell you ..... and we haven't even been to the Pencil Museum yet (we will probably go tomorrow, as rain is forecast).  I'm off to rest my poor legs, have a glass of wine and do a little bit of knitting!

Hard graft!

Don't worry, I haven't been working my fingers to the bone, rather I was grafting the toe on Malcolm's second sock last night.  This is also known as Kitchener stitch (but I don't know who Kitchener was!).  No matter how often I do this, I have to read the instructions and then keep reciting the method as I work my way along the stitches

 

 
all ready to start

 

 

finished!

 

This afternoon, it was off to Borderland fabrics for an afternoon of patch'n'chat.  Anne S. brought in her latest project - she has completed the centre of her quilt top, and is ready to add her first border

 

 

I made a start to my first owl

 

 

And of course there was cake - one of Annette's lovely sponges with delicious raspberry jam

 

 

It has been a rather miserable day here, so I thought we ought to have something lovely to look at to cheer us up ...... I hope these two orchids do the trick

 

 

 

 

I hope you have a super weekend, love, Anne

Nearly there!

I have still been knitting away at Maia - it has to be 67 inches long before I attach the end, which I have already knitted.  As I am 64 (and a bit inches) I held it up , thinking I must have knitted enough by now .....

oh dear - a few inches still to knit!!

 

When we went out this morning, I noticed some tiny mushrooms in the grass, so I popped out to take some photos after lunch

 

the size of a 10p piece

 

 

these are pea-sized!

 

After taking photos of the mushrooms, my eye was caught by the berries on the rowan (mountain ash).  Traditional trees have red berries .....

 

ours has dark pink ......

 

 

...... and pale pink!

 

But not everything has realised that it is autumn ...... the climbing rose is still flowering

 

 

And this little alpine is gorgeous

 

 

On Sunday we went for a walk in Jedburgh - first we saw this street sign ......

 

 

....... then we saw this one

 

 

Malcolm wondered if perhaps there had been a pub called the Nag's Head in between the two closes - but is it a horse's head (I'm thinking of The Godfather and the head in the bed) ..... or did a husband finally snap when his wife nagged at him once too often?
 

In stitches!

Today was a 'Kist' day - when my house group come for the day to knit, sew, drink tea and generally have fun!  I have been working on Malcolm's socks - I have already turned the heel of the first one

 

 

One of the group, Seonaid, loves to play with sewing machines .... so she was delighted to have a play with my new one.  Whereas I have started at the beginning of the stitches (ie, the plain boring ones!) Seonaid plunged in to try out the fancy stitches

 

 

 

 

I forgot to show you these two photos yesterday ..... we went for a walk in the park in Hawick on Sunday.  One side of the park ends at the river - on the other side there are some houses with gardens which run down to the river, which gave me a good view of these two garden features

 

a rather smart bird table

 

 

a fun topiary

 

The weather has taken a turn for the worse - we have just had a very heavy shower and the forecast for tonight is for very strong winds ..... so I thought I would pretend that it is still the height of summer, with a look back at our glorious bees' balm in full flower ......

 

...... and one of the lovely fuchsias which added glorious colour to the garden

 

  

Watch the birdie!

On our way home this morning, we decided to have a stop in Linlithgow.  We had a walk down to the loch, where this swan went all shy just as I snapped!

 

 

We are used to seeing swans and ducks at the loch, but today we also had the treat of seeing geese

 

 

These cygnets haven't yet got their adult plumage

 

 

But one day they will look like this!  

 

 

But it was all too much for this one - a short nap was called for!

 

 

Our next stop on the way home was at a garden centre for a bowl of soup for lunch (chicken and haggis, delicious!).  When we had a look round after lunch .... more birds!

 

 

And who could resist this mum and her babies

 

 

But the day wasn't all about birds!  This funny little van caught our eye in Linlithgow

 

 

We also did a little bit of shopping ..... I have almost finished my cable cuff socks, so I got Malcolm to pick some sock yarn (I don't think he will want cables on his!)

 

 

We also saw this kit to make a fabulous wallhanging ........ it's my birthday soon, so Malcolm bought it for me as an early present

 

 

This is my 498th post, so remember to leave a comment if you would like to be included in the draw for the 500th post.  There will be two draws, one for home and one for 'away', because of the cost of postage ...... but I have a little confession to make - right now I have no idea what the prizes will be!!  I will have to delve into the depths of my stash (I may be gone for some time!!) to find some suitable things!!

   

   

Now read the instructions!

Having had a play with my new machine, I though perhaps it would be a good idea to read the instructions ....... and not just read them, but also watch the instructional DVD that came with the machine.  So first I sat and watched the DVD (I even made notes!) and then read (most of) the manual.   I looked out a folder and cut some calico to fit the pockets, then I made a start on trying out the 'utility' stitches, making notes on the fabric as I went .....

 

 

The first six were straightforward .......

 

........ but you may notice that stitch 8 is missing.  That's because to do it, I have to put on a very scary looking foot and alter the thread tension and the presser foot setting ....... so I thought I would leave that to another day!

 

We had a browse in our favourite charity shop on Saturday, and as soon as I saw this book, I grabbed it and ran to pay for it before anyone else realised what a treasure it is!

 

 

There are clear instructions

 

 

Lots of wonderful stitches

 

 

and beautiful patterns, like this Christening dress

 

 

I have finished my first sock (apart from the Kitchener stitch)

 

 

and have knitted the cuff and picked up the stitches for the main part on the second one (I need to finish off the first one, so that I can transfer the stitches to the double pointed needles!)

 

 

I have also been working on Maia.  I had been knitting it on the circular needle that came with the kit, but no matter how oftern I use a circular needle, I just can't knit very quickly, so yesterday I transferred the stitches to straight needles, and things are going a bit faster!  I pinned this bit out, so you can see the pattern

 

 

If you look at the top of the left-hand sidebar, you will see that I have added an e-mail link ....... and if you look at the right-hand one, you might see another additon - yes, I've been given an award!! It was given to me by the lovely Lee of Just Like Martha - it's hard to believe that it is almost a year since I met Lee in Sydney when we were on holiday!  I now have to nominate ten people I would like to pass the award on to and then tell you ten things about myself.  So first the nominees - I have passed on an award before, so this time I thought I would choose blogs that I maybe only recently started reading ....

http://chasingpurpledreams.blogspot.com/

http://www.ourgrandmotherskitchens.com/

http://sweetmarynz.blogspot.com/

http://cathyholtomdustylane.blogspot.com/

http://thimbleanna.com/

http://bumblebearies.blogspot.com/

http://www.rattlingon.typepad.com/

http://www.attica-slowlife.blogspot.com/

http://kristenmakes.wordpress.com/

http://www.thegreengal.co.uk/

If you would like to accept the award - just pass it on to ten other blogs that you love and list ten things about yourself.  I haven't been able to put the award into the body of the post, so if you can't take it from the sidebar, email me and I will send it to you.

 

Now, the hard part, ten things about me

1. I learned to knit and sew when I was seven

2. I'm allergic to prawns

3. I once (over the course of a month) travelled round the world

4. I have had a scar on my left knee since I was five

5. I fractured a knuckle on my ring finger when I hit myself with a badminton racquet

6. I passed my driving test first time

7. I'm scared of heights

8. I suffer from seasickness

9. I prefer a starter to dessert

10. I always wanted to be tall