frayed at the edge

Not just for Burns' Night*

I went out on my own for lunch today, as Malcolm was attending a seminar (another one about managing our savings, and yes, he went because there was free lunch!)  I decided to go back to The Mill, as we had yet to have lunch there.  We had an excellent breakfast on Fathers' Day, and of course we have had cuppas and delicious scones, so I was sure that lunch would be good.  As soon as I saw the haggis and cheese toastie on the menu, I just had to have it, especially as the haggis is from Pringles Butchers, the cheese from Standhill Cheesery, and the bread from Hunters Bakery (sorry, no link for that) ...... all local businesses

 

 

it was absolutely delicious ..... the haggis was peppery and the cheese sharp.  Back home, it was on with Twas the Night Before Christmas.  I stitched together the next row and added it to the section I finished yesterday

 

then put together the bottom  section

 

and put the two together

 

the last stage was to add the side strips

 

I now have some more embroidery to add round the edge of some of the stitcheries (and I noticed that I had missed a star on the top right stitchery!), then it will be ready to quilt.

 

I forgot last week to do a knitting update!  I have almost finished the first teacosy ...... but I have still chickened out from cutting the steeks.  However, I popped it over a small teapot to let you see how it will look

 

and this is the second one, done in the reverse colourway

 

if you are wondering what the little pink thing is on the right of the teapot, it is my little sheep which covers the needle points (and stops the stitches falling off!)

 

while I was sewing this afternoon, it was hard to concentrate, as I was watching Bradley Wiggins cycling at the Olympics.  By the end I was standing in front of the tv jumping up and down, cheering him on!

 

 

*you can read about haggis and Burns' Night here

It stopped raining ......

........ for about five minutes this morning, and for the first time in days, the Mintos weren't hidden by mist and low clouds

 

but the Eildons were only just visible

 

I stopped at the church to take photos of the new information notice (click on the photos to enlarge them)

 

 

and here is the man himself!

 

since the morning that we saw the fawn, I have kept a lookout as I have come past that field, and this morning I was rewarded with a glimpse of an adult deer in the long grass

 

I must have made a noise as I leaned on the field gate to take photos, as the deer's head came up, and I just had time to snap one more photo before it leapt off back to trees

 

the new owners of the neighbouring farmhouse are having some groundworks done.  Does anyone know how to hotwire a mini digger ......

 

....... or even better, a big dumper truck!!

 

by the time I got back home, the rain was on again, and this spider web in the front garden had captured some raindrops

 

later in the morning, we drove up to Selkirk, to have lunch at Lochcarron.  The closer we got to Selkirk, the heavier the rain came down, so a large bowl of spicy Thai chicken soup with delicious bread was very welcome

 

back home, we settled down to watch cricket on tv ..... the West Indies v New Zealand.  They were playing on the island of St Kitts, and we delighted in seeing lots of blue sky and sparkling seas!!  While Malcolm wrestled with the crossword, I got on with my knitting, finishing the body of the tea cosy

 

the pencil is through the steek stitches for the spout

 

I have just pushed the steek through to the inside, but it gives you an idea what it will look like once it is cut to make the opening

 

the next stage is to work another vikkel braid, before shaping the top of the cosy,then finishing the edges with i-cord ...... and there should be enough wool left to make one in the reverse colourway!

 

to finish, I assumed the sheep in the old orchard were ewes (they are usually lying down when I see them), but after taking this photo this morning, I'm not so sure .........

Ungrateful goldfinches!

All winter I put out niger seeds in case any passing goldfinch was hungry ...... so you would think that when a pair appeared in the garden this afternoon, they would have waited until I fetched the camera!!

So instead of wonderful bird photos, I'll start with a knitting update.  The good news is that I sailed through the vikkel braid ......

first stage

 

second stage

 

ready to start the next section of the pattern

 

........ but then I ran into a slight problem!  The pattern said cast on using the backward loop method - oops, I had no idea what that was.  I went on to Ravelry, where I found a reference to a video clip on Youtube.  I had a look at the clip, to discover that I did know how to cast on that way - I just didn't know that was what it was called!  The extra stitches are for the steeks ...... pay attention, I shall explain this only once!  Knitting on the circuar needle means that I am knitting a tube - but obviously for a teapot you need openings for the spout and handle ........ so, you cast on extra stitches where the handle and spout will be, then when you have finished knitting the tea cosy you ....... CUT through the middle of the steek stitches.  I have never done it before and I am slightly apprehensive, so I will be studying Kate's tutorial ery carefully before I wield the scissors!

one set of steek stitches

 

When I was sitting in the summerhouse this afternoon having a cuppa, I had a little play with the camera, as I had put the long lens on in the hope that the finches would return.  Its amazing what you can take a photo of without leaving your chair!

raindrops on a hosta

 

the clematis flower lost its outer petals in the strong winds last week

 

the ring where Malcolm hangs his hammock

 

the honeysuckle flowering on the pergola

 

I did get up to take these photos of the lavender  - I couldn't see it from my chair!!

 

Ali has received her swap parcel, so I can show you what I sent her - actually I can show you half of what I sent her, as I forgot to take a photo of the little bits and bobs from the studio that I added to the parcel.  So this is what I got at Woolfest for her ..... lots of little bits of nuno felt, and some beautifully coloured mixed fleece curls

 

To finish - Malcolm took this photo of me in the town centre this morning (I don't know why I look so anxious!)

 

The little plaque set into the wall to my left shows the height of the flood waters in July 1846 .......

..... just as well I wasn't standing there then!

No comment!

Thank you to everyone who let me know that there was a problem yesterday with the comment form (otherwise I might have thought that you didn't like me anymore, and I would have sat in a corner and cried!!).  Hopefully all is well - although in fiddling with things I managed to move my sidebar from the right hand to the left hand side!

I may have mentioned once or twice recently that we have had a lot of rain!  The River Slitrig this morning was crashing over the rocks, but the heron was quite unconcerned

a handsome fellow

 

I'll just straighten a feather

 

have a little scratch

 

perfection!

 

It rained most of the afternoon - the birdbath was in danger of overflowing!

 

there were puddles on the path

 

then late in the afternoon, the rain went off and the sun came out!  The water in the birdbath was so still you can see a reflection of some leaves in it

 

the lupins and poppies have been spoiled by the rain

 

and the honeysuckle, which has only just flowered, is looking rather sad

 

The light was so poor for most of the day that I was worried that I wouldn't be able to take photos of the Hope Love and Friendship stitchery (which has still to be pressed)...... but the late gleam of sun came just in time

 

working the bow in chain stitch means that it stands out nicely in the centre

 

The knitting needles that I had ordered arrived this morning, so after I had finished the ironing this afternoon, I sat down and made a start to my Sheep Carousel tea cosy

 

This shows the first few rounds of the corrugated rib (I have worked a few more since taking the photo).  Next comes the vikkel braid, something which I haven't done before.  I've read through the instructions, and I think I understand them ........

Raindrops kept falling on my head!

It's so good to be back home with my reasonable internet connection - I've got lots to show you, so let's get started!

We got to Woolfest early, and headed off to have breakfast before the show opened.  Suitably fortified, we headed straight to Kate's stall, as I had told her that I had intended to be first in the queue to buy her wonderful new design, the sheep carousel tea cosy.  Malcolm wielded the camera, as Kate and I tried to smile nicely!

 

Not only did I get the tea cosy kit, but it came in a super cotton bag

 

 

It's a long time since I did colour work, and I haven't worked steeks or braids  before, but I'm looking forward to getting started

 

My next purchase was this yarn bowl, which I bought from Willofibre.  You sit the yarn in the bowl, feeding it through the spiral.  Then when you knit, the yarn stays in the bowl and doesn't roll about all over the floor

 

I had said to Malcolm that I wasn't going to buy any yarn, as I am trying (!) to reduce my stash.  However when I stopped at Helen's stall for a blether (Helen, second from the left, used to live here in the Borders, before she went off to the other end of the country) .......

 

......... I succumbed to this rather tasty skein

 

It was hard to capture it in a photo, but can you just see that it has a sparkle running through it

 

I bought one or two other things, but I'll save them for tomorrow, so that I can show you some other photos.  I may have mentiooned that it rained rather a lot ...... this was the view from our cottage, looking out on to a section of flooded road.  It was quite entertaining watching the different methods employed by drivers to deal with the problem - drive slowly, drive fast, through the middle, along the side

 

 

 

The rain might have been pouring down, the road may have been flooded - but if the verge had to be cut, it was going to be cut!!

 

On Saturday Malcolm went in to Cockermouth - these are some of his dramatic photos of the river in the town centre

 

 

 

When Malcolm picked me up on Saturday afternoon, we headed off to Keswick - where it was still raining!  When we walked down to the lake, we found that the rowing boats had been pulled up on to the road ....

 

....... as the strip of shingle where they usually sit was under water - as were the wooden jetties - you can see the lines of poles showing where they are, usually with pleasure boats moored alongside

 

Usually when we are in Kewick, we get fish and chips for dinner, sitting down by the lake to eat.  However this time we had to eat indoors!  Haddock and chips - delicious!

 

But, I hear you cry, where are the stars of the show, where are the sheep

 

 

 

 

I'll be back tomorrow with more of my purchases, more cute animals ....... and I'll tell you whom I had a cuppa with, and whom I had lunch with!

 

 

Gretel makes ......

........ if you don't normally buy Mollie Makes

 

do look out for next month's issue, as the wonderful, multi-talented Gretel will be showing us how to needlefelt

 

I am still working every evening on the stitcheries I am making for Anne's quilt

love is the music of your heart

 

love is a happy revelation

 

do everything with love

 

love notes are portable hugs

 

love and joy are united as one

 

This afternoon I went to meet up with Lorraine for a knit and natter ....... which of course meant cake!!  Today's was a very, very delicious orange and rhubarb cake

 

My knitting hadn't been out of the bag since the last knit'n'natter, but I did do a bit more this afternoon - I have now done the two feet and one and a half legs of the doll

 

To finish, another little sign of spring from the garden ...... this time it's the ornamental quince, which has started to flower

 

Still knitting!

You might have noticed that there hasn't been much knitting mentioned recently ....... because I haven't been doing very much!  One reason is all the sewing I have been doing for Anne, but the other reason is that I just lost my enthusiasm for a few weeks.  I also haven't been at knit'n'natter this year - again there are two reasons - first, my friend Lorraine that I car shared with was away for several weeks (she went away a granny and came back a great granny!!) and second with the ever-increasing cost of fuel, I have been using the car a bit less.  However Lorrainre and I decided to meet somewhere nearer, so today we had our first get together ....... and of course cake was involved!  A very delicious orange cream sponge

 

When I was sorting out some knitting yesterday to take with me today, I realised that I hadn't shown you this book, which Jennifer gave me recently

 

There are so many lovely dolls, it was hard to decide what to knit first.  I finally narrowed it down to these two - they have the same basic body, so once I have done that I can choose which one ...... but of course the Johnny Depp lookalike is very appealing!!

 

 

I have to admit that there was much more nattering than knitting, and I am too embarrassed to show you the little bit that I did!!  When I got home, the front garden was full of birds, so while Malcolm made the dinner (sausages and mash with onion and mushroom gravy - delicious) I took these photos

 

 

 

 

 

 

The robin isn't always so good at posing ...... this is just one of the many photos in which it hopped off just as I snapped!

 

Sitting pretty

I have been doing more work on Cobweb - although as I wasn't happy with her wings, I ended up frogging them, and will knit a new set.  But she was quite happy to pose for photos ......

 

....... especially as she has lovely purple flowers in her hair!

 

Yesterday morning we went to Melrose for a walk along the river.  Although it was cold, with a little snow on the ground, it was bright, and it was good to get out and stretch my legs after spending rather a lot of time asleep on the couch last week!

Don't worry, Malcolm hasn't started carrying a manbag, it's my camera bag, and the other bag has the Sunday papers in it

 

It took several goes to capture this crow, as it kept turning its head

 

On the way back into town, in search of a hot drink, we came across these shaggy beauties

 

I enjoyed my hot chocolate, while Malcolm declared his americano to be excellent

 

The Post Office building in Melrose is very stylish .......

 

....... the ER over the door refers to Edward VII, not Queen Elizabeth, who is celebrating her Diamond Jubilee this year

 

I saw this little knitting sheep in a cake decorating shop window ........ if the shop had been open I think I would have bought it!

 

Another bit of fun to finish - someone in this furniture shop has come up with eye-catching signs!!

 

Helping a good cause .......

....... and having fun!  As planned, I went to Kelso on Saturday morning to join in the Linus Day.  I took along the quilt I had almost finished, and by mid-afternoon it was all done and ready to hand over to Sandra, our wonderful Linus Lady

 

At our table, while I was hand stitching, Katy was machine quilting .......

 

......... Tricia was machine piecing

 

and Anne S was sorting out some small pieces into bundles ...... and we were all chatting, telling jokes and generally having a grand day out!

 

Last year Sandra distributed over 400 quilts and knitted blankets in The Borders, so hopefully we can improve on that figure this year.  I came home with a pile of fabrics which had been donated for making more quilts

 

I think I will start with these fabrics ...... the white/cream rectangles can be pieced to make backgrounds for applique and the patterned fabrics will make pretty sashing.  This is  a detail of the first quilt I made many years ago for Linus - so long ago that I didn't have a digital camera - by the time I had the film developed, I no longer had the quilt, so couldn't take a better photo!

 

Yesterday afternoon, I started my 'job' ....... but it scarcely seems like work doing something that I enjoy!  I have cut a vast amount of squares for the quilt top .......

 

...... and made a good start to one of the kits (isn't it just so cute!!)

 

I didn't do as much knitting as usual last week - I was out on Tuesday night and we were late home on Wednesday, so I had a good session this afternoon catching up with work on the fairies.  I had done some of the sewing up on the first fairy

 

The next stage involved a length of dowel and double-sided sticky tape .........

 

........ and some stuffing

 

Having wrapped the dowel in stuffing, I inserted it up through the body and into the head.  I then added more stuffing and sewed the remaining body seam

 

There is a bit of work to do on her face before I add her ears and hair.  I thought I had some wire suitable to use on the edges of the wings, but it was too fine.  Fortunately Malcolm produced some from the depths of his stash in the garage and I was able to make a start to shaping the wings

 

I have now received several photos of the wonderful postcards that have been made for the swap - remember, if you haven't yet sent yours, the deadline for posting them is the end of the month.  Cathy has now received my card, so I can show it to you.  It is a felted landscape, which I gave the title of Bluebell Wood at Sunset

 

You may have noticed that there were no photos of our usual Sunday walk ...... that's because just as we parked the car, it started to rain, and as it was also windy it really wasn't very pleasant, we went to the garden centre for a cuppa and scone instead!!

A special delivery

I love when things arrive in the post with foreign stamps ......

 

...... and I was especially excited this morning, as I knew this had come from Cathy, my swap partner.  Cathy is the most wonderful artist, and she has painted the most beautiful postcard for me

 

She also enclosed two postcards from Sicily

 

and some tiny cards showing more of her wonderful work

 

Thank you very much, Cathy!  I have received some photos of the postcards that have been sent already - they are all fabulous and I am sure their recipients will be delighted with them.  I am looking forward to when all the cards have been sent and recceived, and I can show you the photos.

 

I mentioned yesterday that I had picked up some little bits in charity shops.  First, in Shelter, I found this little Laura Ashley case (it is about 6"x4")

 

It contains beads, trims and little card labels and embellishments

 

Then it was on to the Oxfam shop, where first I found two balls of aran weight cotton yarn

 

and then a bag of tapestry wools, in soft shades

 

Friday of course means cake - today was one of our favourites ....... Annette's light-as-air chocolate sponge

 

I will have a very busy weekend sewing, with the Linus day tomorrow and on Sunday I will start my new 'job' ...... although I can't really think of doing something I love as a job!!  I hope you all have a good weekend, love Anne