frayed at the edge

A soggy tale!

When I got home from my usual Monday morning shopping, I found Malcolm in the garden wearing swimming shorts.  Now, I know I was in town for a while, but I didn't think he had time to dig a swimming pool, so why was he in his shorts?  Well .... it all started yesterday evening, when ......... but I'm getting ahead of myself, so lets go back to yesterday morning -

We headed off to the garden centre to buy some fence paint (yes, it's that time of year again!), then we thought we would visit the Donkey Sanctuary - after all we've lived here for almost four years and hadn't yet visited it.  There was just a small problem - when we got there we discovered it didn't open until 2pm (oops).  However, I was able to take some photos .....

 

enjoying the spring grass

 

 

this one was a little bit shy!

 

On the way home, we had to have one of those emergency stops for photo taking ........

 

as you can see from his leg, he thought about getting up .........

 

 

....... but it was all too much effort to get up and pose!!

 

Back home, while Malcolm was working in the garden, I was busy sewing - but it was practical sewing.  I was making this peg bag for Stuart - at the moment he has his pegs in a plastic bag.  The fabric came from my stash of curtain samples, which our local curtain shop sells very cheaply.  I just made a very simple peg bag - I didn't think he would want one with applique and embroidery!

 

 

But I also got quite a lot of sewing done on the applique runner for our bedroom chest of drawers

 

 

Later I also did some work on my knitting.  It is a scarf/shawl, knitted in laceweight yarn.  I have been making it up as I go, but it looks as if it will turn out ok.  I've pinned it to our footstool to give you an idea of how it will look

 

 

Don't worry about all those ends - I have a cunning plan for them!!  So that takes us up to yesterday evening ...... there was a lovely sunset and I went out into the front garden to take some photos, including this one

 

 

I then went through the house and out into the back garden, where I took this photo of the moon

 

 

But as I took the photo, I realised that the outside tap was running, so I went to turn it off ..... but it refused to stop running.  I fetched Malcolm, who also couln't get it to turn off.  We have a short length of hose attached to the tap (to make it easier to fill the watering can) and Malcolm faffed about trying to put a clamp on the hose to stop the flow.  But I came up with a simple solution - we put the nozzle from the main hose on the end of the short hose and closed it - problem tempoarily solved.  When Malcolm went to fit a new tap this morning, he encountered a slight problem - he couldn't turn off the supple to the tap, which meant he would get soaked when he took the old tap off ....... hence the sensible solution of wearing his swim shorts to do the job!!

We have another small problem - these two swallows are determined to move into the garage to nest - but that would mean having to leave the door open all the time, which isn't a sensible thing to do (sorry about the quality of the photo, but the light was bad, and I didn't want to startle them with the flash)

 

 

As I'm writing this, lots of swallows are swooping round the garden, feasting on insects - I have tried to take photos of them, but they are just too fast!!

 

 

 

 

Little lambs

As promised, here is the tale of Lucy, Lottie and Edward.  I was sitting in the studio on Tuesday afternoon (working on next Tuesday's tutorial), when three little lambs wandered past the back door.  I wasn't entirely surprised, as Malcolm had been talking to our neighbour on Monday, who had mentioned that they were hand-rearing three orphaned/abandoned lambs.  Of course my first reaction was to grab the camera!  I opened the door as quietly as possible, in case I scared them, but they stood there and posed prettily for me

 

 

My neighbour came out of their stable to tell me about the lambs - that's Lucy on the left, Lottie in the middle and tiny little Edward on the right.  She said they were more dead than alive when they got them, but are now all thriving.  The lambs meanwhile were tucking into the clover and dandelions

 

 

I asked what would happen to the lambs (I was thinking Sunday dinner!), but they will be going into the field with the horses - I was given a quick lesson in animal management .... the sheep eat the bits that the horses don't eat, keeping the pasture healthy and the worm count down (I didn't ask for an explanation of that bit!!)

 

 

If you think it looks a bit like a building site .... that's what it is - it's where the last part of the steading is being converted into a house!  The lambs were quite happy to explore, but they haven't been so happy being out in the field - every time they are taken out, they just finds gaps in the fence and come back home!!

 

 

I mentioned that I have been working on a new knitting design - here is a little sneak peek!

 

 

 

 

Backsliding!

I have been trying really hard to keep to my New Year's resolution to buy fewer books and magazines .... and adding to my stash.  But at the weekend - oh dear!  It started on Saturday, when I saw the first issue of a new sewing magazine, complete with a kit to make a spotty bag and a catalogue full of all sorts of crafty things

 

 

Then on Sunday, when we went to The Main Street Trading Company in St Boswells for a cuppa, of course I had to have a browse round the books.  Oh dear, oh dear ...... not one, but two books came home with me

 

 

If all that wasn't bad enough, on Sunday evening when I was reading my favourite blogs, I saw that Helen had details of a wonderful shawl kit .... yes dear readers, I ordered one as fast as my fingers could type my order!

 

 

I think that's my pocket money spent for the next several months!  At the weekend, I was carrying all the bits and pieces for the hexagon pincushions back and forward to the studio - when I dropped bits yet again, I thought it might make sense to use one of my (many) bags, so I used this one

 

 

The fabrics in the centre panel are from South Africa, as you can see from this stamp on the wrong side of the fabric

 

 

I still have these lovely pieces in my stash

 

 

On my way home this afternoon, I had to make another of those emergency stops, when I spotted these tiny calves

 

 

And to end, a bit of fun ....... on late Sunday afternoon, I was relaxing in my jammies, slathered with a 'fruit smoothie' face pack, when Malcolm crept into the room with the camera ........

 

 

You can stop laughing now!!!

 

An election-free zone!

Here in Britain we are gripped by election fever ...... or maybe not!  I want a category on the voting paper saying 'none of the above' - they seem to think that having a wife who dresses nicely is a good reason to be elected.  That is the last time that the 'e' word will be mentioned on this blog!

 

I still haven't had much success finding lambs to photograph - they all seem to be in fields miles from the road, but I did manage to take this photo as we drove up the A7 this morning on our way to Selkirk

 

still not the best of photos, but at least the sky is blue!

 

Of course, Wednesdays mean going out for lunch, but when we got to Selkirk we were a bit early (we're always early!!), so we went for a walk.  We've passed this statue of Mungo Park many times, but I had yet to take photos of it, so I rectified that today

 

 

Like so many Scotsmen of that time, he qualified as a doctor, then went off abroad on various wonderful adventures - you can read more of his life and times here.  Unfortunately, as you can see from this plaque, he met an early death in Africa

 

 

When I started taking photos for the blog, I paid much more attention to my surroundings and was amazed at all the things that I saw that I had walked past numerous times before without noticing them.  An example is this wonderful tiled picture in the doorway of an empty shop (it's sad to think that it may be removed when another business moves into the premises

 

 

When we got back after lunch, I just had time to run in the door, grab my knitting bag and hurry off to meet Lorraine to go to knit'n'natter.  After parking, we were somewhat distracted by the new window display in the shoe shop ...... oh,oh,oh - shoes in all sorts of styles and colours for the summer, with beads and bows and flowers and ....... but the price tags ensured that we only looked!  OK, I have to tell the truth, on the way back to the car, Lizzi joined us and this time we not only looked in the window, but went in and examined the shoes in detail ...... but we were strong and resisted temptation (although I thought I saw Lorraine wipe away a tear as we made her leave the shop, she loves shoes so much!!)

 

So what was I knitting today?  I was working on ......... well, you'll have to wait until next Tuesday's Tutorial to find out - but here's a sneak peek

 

 

And to finish, a little bit of fun!  For those of you who don't live in Britain, you may not know that a bogie is something you find up your nose .........

 

I hurried past in case there was one close by!!

  

 

It may be April ......

....... but winter just doesn't want to go away!!  This morning we woke up to a sharp frost, which was followed by freezing fog ...... just in time for all the people going away for the Easter Weekend.

Having fulfilled my domestic duties, as always it was off to Borderland Fabrics for patch'n'chat.  There weren't so many of us there, because of the holiday, but we still had fun!  Anne S was woking on a wallhanging of angels (yes, my angels)..  She is working them in purple, which gives them quite a different appearance to my red ones. 

 

 

Anne's daughter Roberta is visiting her, so she came along for the afternoon.  Unfortunately she didn't bring one of the beautiful teddies that she makes, but she did bring her knitting

 

 

But that's not all that they brought - they had a little treat to share

 

 

I was working on my runner for my chest of drawers.  After trying out several layouts for the main part, I eventually decided on this one

 

 

I really enjoy hand applique - there is something very relaxing about sitting stitching round the tulips and leaves

 

 

As always, come three o'clock, everything stopped for tea ...... which was kept hot in the pot by the super tea cosy knitted by Anne D

 

 

Annette wasn't there today, but in her absence Cathy had made more of her wonderful muffins (she got up at 7am to make them for us!)  Today's were orange and mixed fruit and they were absolutely delicious .......

 

 

I hope you all have a super weekend, love, Anne

 

 

 

 

 

 

At last!

I was in Kelso this afternoon, on my way to knit'n'natter, when I was delighted to see these ......

 

 

and these .........

 

 

and these .........

 

 

....... so I think finally spring has arrived.  I also saw lambs in the fields on the way home - but there was nowhere to stop to take photos!  I will have to start a campaign to have stopping points for photographers added to roads.

I know there hasn't been much knitting on the blog recently, and there still isn't much to show you.  I am knitting a short sleeveless top, which is supposed to be for the spring, but at the rate it's going, I think it might end up being for the autumn.  This shows a bit of the zigzag rib and stocking stitch body

 

 

Of course, instead of knitting in the evenings, I have been working on my cross stitch.  Progress is being made, although it is very slow

 

 

The tree on the right took a long time to do, there are so many colours in it

 

 

The spaces in the frame round the tree will have beads stitched in them, and of course there will be lots of backstitching to do as well.

Tomorrow, I plan to make a lemon drizzle cake, and something else extremely sweet and delicious ...........

 

 

Just when we thought it was all over ....

...... we got up this morning to even more snow!!  We are thoroughly fed up now, but the weather is supposed to improve over the weekend .... I think these sheep will be very glad to see the end of the snow

 

 

as will this bird (I think it's a thrush) eyeing up the empty birdfood tub (don't worry, I have more!

 

 

and as for Malcolm's poor car - he had just got all the snow cleared off it in the hope we would be able to go out today .......

 

 

Oh well, all this enforced leisure time means that good progress is being made on the knitting and embroidery front!  First, the 'circles' scarf.  I have finished the main part and have started on the circles (but I keep thinking 'octopus'!)

 

eventually all the black stitch lines will become circles

 

 

the only drawback - two ends to sew in for each circle!

 

Progress on the cross stitch front has been a bit slower - I guess my eyes aren't as good as when I started (I didn't need glasses for close work back then!) and I need really good light to work on such a small scale

 

 

Remember, this is your last chance to leave a comment and be included in the great anniversary giveaway.  I have two piles of stuff sitting in the studio, ready to go to the lucky winners, so come back tomorrow evening when I announce the winners and reveal the magnificent prizes!!!

 

Don't mention global warming!!

Yesterday I showed you Malcolm's new car under a blanket of snow ...... today it has a duvet and an eiderdown as well .......

 

 

I've put together a collage of some of the photos I took this morning

 

 

After being out in the snow taking the photos, there was only one thing to have .....

 

a lovely mug of hot chocolate!!

 

I spent some time working on my cross stitch this afternoon, then I started a new knitting project.  Given the continuing bad weather (it snowed all afternoon!), I chose a scarf from this book

 

 

There are so many lovely scarves, it was hard to choose, but I finally decided on this one

 

 

 

And of course I selected yarn from my stash (although I couldn't have gone out to buy some, as there was at least a foot of snow on the road!)

 

 

Remember to leave a comment to go into the draw for the giveaway - especially if you haven't commented before - it would be lovely to hear from you!!

  

 

Resolutions!

It's that time again, when we all make resolutions which we WILL keep this year - despite the fact that we make the same ones year in, year out and we're lucky if we keep them until the end of January!  So I've decided that this year I will break with tradition and make resolutions that I have a reasonable chance of achieving (so I won't resolve to drink less wine, that just isn't going to happen!!)  So, this year's list .....

1.  FINISH things, especially those which have been 'works-in-progress' for more than 5 years

2.  THINK - do I really need this magazine/that book ..... will I really do all those projects when I already have a to-do list a mile long (that's a clever one, it's not an outright ban!)

3.  MAKE all those kits, some of which I have had for years

4.  USE my stash - if I don't have the fabrics/wool for a project, then choose a different project to use what I already have

5.  FIND a new home for things I know I'm unlikely to do - those kits/fabrics/yarns that I bought because they were such a bargain

6.  BE BRAVE and actually post this list, so you will chastise me if I backslide (ok, I've taken my finger off the delete button!)

7.  WORLD PEACE - oops, sorry, wrong list, that's my answer for when I take part in a beauty pageant

 

So, you will be pleased to know that I have made a good start!  Remember I showed you the start of a little bit of knitting some weeks ago - well, it is now finished.  It's something I definitely need in this weather .... a scarf knitted in some of Helen's lovely sock wool

 

(sorry, both of those photos look slightly out of focus!)

 

Malcolm gave me this kit for Christmas

 

I used to do a lot of counted cross stitch, so I really enjoyed stitching this - all I have to do is trim it to size to fit into the coaster

 

And as I enjoyed that so much, I looked out this kit, which I have had for a long (LONG)time

I have almost finished it - I've just a little more of the backstitching round the leaves to do

 

So that's a good start to my resolutions!

I mentioned that I have some plans for the blog in the months to come.  One of them is to do 'Tuesday Tutorials' - just little projects that I hope you will enjoy.  The first one will be next Tuesday, and will show you some ideas for recycling Christmas cards.

I also mentioned that we are rapidly approaching the first anniversary of the blog, which is on Friday ...... so of course that means a giveaway!!  There will actually two giveaways - one for the UK and one for the rest of the world ....... this is because of the cost of postage, so the one for outside the UK will be something lightweight!!  So what will these wonderful things be?  Well, they could be some of those things in my stash that I'm not going to use ........

To be entered in the draw, simply leave a comment between now and Friday the 15th (please say if you live in the UK or abroad) - and for a change, instead of using my Malcolm-number picker, I might have names in a hat!!  Every time you leave a comment you will go in the draw - so please feel free to leave lots of comments (even after a year, I still get very excited when I get comments!!)
 
 
 

 

Here come the girls!!

At last Ulrika's sisters have decided to come out of the knitting basket, so today she was joined in getting up to no good by Agnetha and Frida ......

 

quick girls, make lots of snowballs before the boys get here!

 

 

having a blether with Mr Owl

 

 

checking there's plenty of food for birds like .......

 

 

.... this little robin

 

 

a mug of hot chocolate after their snowy adventures!