frayed at the edge

A big tidy up!

 When we came back from our holiday, I looked round my Attic and thought - oh dear, I really need to have a proper tidy and reorganisation!

 

I decided that I would dismantle the Super Quilter (on the left of the photo), as I have so much to do at the moment that I don't have time to practise using it, and I need the table space to layer up several quilts

 

looking better already

 

this is a much better layout for layering quilts.  Did you notice the little blocks of wood under the table legs?  The table needed to be raised for the white unit to fit under it, so of course the other table had also to be raised to make them level

 

at this point I sat down and enjoyed a refreshing cuppa!

 

sorting out a pile of UFOs

 

looking better!  The little bags hanging on the tables are for fabric scraps and threads

 

much, much better - and I even vacuumed the rug, which we bought way back in 1990.  We think this is the 5th house that it has been in (and I think two houses ago it spent some time in the loft!)

 

my lovely friend Margaret (the Queen of Appliqué) has asked me to quilt her latest masterpiece …… but I won't be able to share any photos until after Abbey Quilters' exhibition in July.

I'll be back on Friday with photos of an embroidery project that both Malcolm and I have been working on.  He wielded a pencil, and I wielded a needle, and we are rather pleased with the result!

I'm back!

Thank you for your continuing kind thoughts and good wishes for Jennifer.  She is slowly getting better, although she has a long rehab in front of her.  She will be in hospital for some time to come - for the moment she has to have a nurse with her when she gets out of bed, and won't be able to put her weight on to her bad leg for another 6 weeks.

 

I was going to do a catch up of photos from the last week, but we would be here for some time, so here is "what I did yesterday".  The sun was shining in the morning, giving some good shadow shots

 

these are the plants on the kitchen windowsill

 

both these wine glasses have a chip in the rim, so have been demoted to ornaments

 

we went over to Amble for a walk in the sunshine

 

enjoying the blue sky

 

down at the harbour we saw two boats racing

 

and being easily overtaken by this one

 

this is an old lifeboat, which now runs trips to see puffins.  I will have to get some sea-sickness pills so that I can go on a trip!

 

this is the current lifeboat, which came roaring into the harbour

 

but this one with its crew of pigeons was going nowhere

 

the next two photos, of eider ducks .......

 

....... are for my long-time reader, the lovely T-a, who is a great fan of them

 

I walked out alone, along this extension of the pier .......

 

...... so that I could take a photo of the lighthouse through the gate.  When Malcolm joined me, I said wasn't I brave, walking out there on my own, as I really don't like being over water.  He said, why would you worry, it's solid concrete under you

 

oh no it wasn't, as I saw when we walked on!

 

having read the information board

 

of course I then had to take my own photo of the island

 

I have lots more photos to share with you, but I will keep them for Wednesday.  So do come back to see my new best friend - although those of you who have been  following me on Instagram (@annetaydon) have already had a sneak peek!  To finish, a bright clump of daffodils in the verge in front of the house

Making waves!

First, an update on Jennifer.  She had tripped and fallen on Wednesday morning, breaking her right leg very badly above her knee.  She had major surgery yesterday to insert a metal plate to repair the break.  But when we visited her this afternoon, she was remarkably upbeat and positive.  She is facing a long recovery, so we are so pleased that we moved here last year, as we can be on hand to help.  She said to thank you for all the lovely comments  you left for her.  Before we went to the hospital, we went to Newbiggin-by-the-sea for some lunch.  The weather was terrible, with huge waves pounding on to the beach

 

and threatening to engulf "The Couple"

 

it was all in stark contrast to our sunny walk on the beach last Friday

 

these rocks are fascinating, where they have been eroded by the elements to show the different layers

 

this hollow is confusing, as it looks as if the water is sitting in one side, but it is a vertical hollow

 

we walked to the end of the beach, then came back up on to the promenade

 

where the sunshine gave us .......

 

........ lots of shadow shots

 

I remembered my own advice to look up - and captured old chimneys and blue sky

 

and a seagull 

 

whoever had walked on the sand before me had somewhat larger feet than me!

 

the crocus were enjoying the sunshine

 

back at the flat and looking out over the dock

 

the water was still - perfect for reflection shots

 

we waked over to town for a bite to eat, and on the way back, stopped on the old bridge to take more reflection shots

 

it was just getting dark so the streetlights were lit on the bridge, so they too were reflected in the river

 

Malcolm requested this shot, with the rowing club  enclosed by the bridge and its reflection

 

then this shot is looking over to the opposite bank

 

it's Friday, so that means a round up of scones and other tasty things!  We shared this scone last Saturday - it has sun-dried tomato, feta cheese and olives in it (I picked the olives out of my share and gave them to Malcolm!)

 

then yesterday when we in Amble, we were somewhat naughty and not only shared a (small) cheese scone

 

but also a toasted teacake (which meant we had a very frugal lunch!)

 

two last photos from our beach walk.  Malcolm picked up a lot of driftwood .......

 

....... and a lot of golf balls - we have no idea where they came from!  

 

the forecast for tomorrow is miserable, so I will be keeping warm and dry in The Attic, and getting on with some sewing.  Then on Sunday we will visit Jennifer again - I'll have to get her some little goodies (today I took her my "emergency" bar of chocolate - I always have a bar of posh chocolate in the cupboard!).  I hope you have a good weekend, love Anne

A bit of a crisis

Oh dear,  Malcolm's sister Jennifer had a nasty fall today and has broken her leg (and possibly damaged her knee).  She needs surgery, so we are waiting for the phone to ring with an update on what is happening.  So, as you will understand, the last thing on my mind this evening is composing a post.  All being well, I will be back on Friday, and in the meantime I will leave you with this photo from our beach walk, love Anne 

Spring in the air!

There was blue sky this morning, and the sun was shining in the windows, making it seem as if spring is on its way.  In the kitchen, the sun was shining on the Christmas cactus, which has just finished flowering, and the kalanchoe, which has been flowering for weeks

 

the jug of daffodils has been brightening the kitchen all week

 

but through in the lounge, the poinsettia is looking rather sad!

 

on the kitchen windowsill, the basil and coriander are growing faster than we can use them!

 

we went up to Alnwick this morning, where the monthly Farmers' Market was on.  There weren't many stalls there today, but as always the jolly chap selling sausages had some very tasty samples for us to try

 

who knew that there were so many flavours of sausages!

 

we came home with three packets (you get a deal for buying three) ........ but they aren't for us.  They are for Malcolm's sister Jennifer, as her two sons are visiting her soon, and they have been know to tuck into a sausage or two!

 

this afternoon, I was able to pop out to the Attic for a play.  I set up the super quilter with a small sample that I made years ago, to have some more practice.  This time I decided to use my big machine.  For my first attempts, I thought it would be easier to use my small machine, but the advantage of using this one is that I don't need to use the foot pedal.  I just have to push the start button and the machine runs at the speed I have set it at.  Malcolm is hoping to fit bigger handles, to make it easier to use the machine

 

getting better, but it is hard to stitch smooth curves

 

of course when we were in Alnwick, we went for a cuppa, choosing The Olive Branch, as we know they have good sconnage

 

we were naughty, and had one of our famous two-scone lunches!  This is an excellent cheese scone, served with some cream cheese and mango chutney.  That may sound a slightly odd combination, but it was very tasty

 

a traditional fruit scone with butter and jam

 

we weren't the only ones enjoying a tasty treat ....... this starling was tucking into fat balls in the garden this morning

 

we have a very special occasion this weekend ......... do come back on Monday for lots of photos!  I hope you have a great weekend, love Anne

Back in the old routine!

 Yesterday I took down and packed away all the Christmas decorations, and now all that is left is the Christmas cactus

 

and the poinsettia - amazingly I have managed not to kill this one, and so far it has only lost one leaf!

 

while I was packing away the decorations, Malcolm was busy putting up this curtain over the front door.  Oh dear, I can hear you say, but how will the door open with the curtain in the way?

 

a little bit of magic - the curtain rail is attached to a bracket at one end, and can you just see the arm that pushes the rail forward as the door is opened?  I had vaguely remembered seeing such curtain rails, and eventually tracked one down online

 

I got very excited when I was out in the garden this morning - this tiny shoot is a snowdrop, the first of the bulbs we planted in the autumn!

 

this blackbird is slightly hazy, as I took the photo through the kitchen window

 

when we were watching University Challenge last night, three of the questions involved naming Russian cities marked on a map.  To help, the cities' names were shown in the Cyrillic alphabet.  Malcolm was exceedingly surprised (and impressed) when I told him the answers.  He had forgotten that I studied Russian at school

 

after a search this afternoon, I found my Russian dictionary, which was a school prize

 

I used to be able to read and write Cyrillic script!

 

some very good advice after the Christmas overindulgence! 

 

I may have stepped away from the chocolate, but this week we have indulged in two delicious cheese scones

 

but of course as usual we had half each, so not too naughty!

 

the forecast for the weekend isn't too bad, so hopefully we will get out for a walk, after being somewhat lazy for the last two weeks.  And of course I hope to spend some time in my Attic, playing with fabric!  Have a good weekend, love Anne

 

Snow!

Yes, I know that snow looks pretty, and people who live in places where it doesn't snow wish it would ....... but is a pain in the bahookie when plans have to be changed because driving conditions are bad.  I briefly opened the door to take this photo

 

but the other photos were taken through the window

 

it snowed off and on all day, and was quite a bit deeper than this later on

 

no sitting out in the garden!

 

however, before the snow got too bad, we went along to Nelson's to meet up with Lucie and her lovely daughter Sarah.  There were no other customers in when we arrived, so we bagged the table next to the heater!

 

Malcolm and I tucked into cheese scones

 

while Lucie and Sarah both chose chocolate brownies

 

and I have to admit that wasn't the only scone that I ate this week.  I popped up to Alnwick on Monday to do some Christmas shopping, and treated myself to this wonderful fruit scone

 

we had planned to go the Berwick after our cuppa with Lucie and Sarah, but the weather changed that plan!  So as long as we don't get any more snow, we'll go up on Sunday.  Right now, the log burning stove is lit, and we are planning a cosy evening watching tv!  Whatever the weather, have a good weekend, love Anne

 

An extra post!

I forgot on Monday that I would be doing my November report on my 17 UFOs tomorrow, so for today, just a quick post.  Malcolm has finished recovering the dining chairs ........ and what is this, I hear you cry, another chair covered in the same fabric?

 

actually, he has done another two chairs ....... he bought these chairs in Indonesia, when I was on a trip back home.  When I got back, our driver Sumario told me that "Mister" had been to his favourite shop and bought the chairs (Sumario called me Madame, which I rather liked!).  Everyone who sees these chairs wants them, and Stuart's step-sister Claire had demanded suggested that we leave them to her in our wills!!

 

I did think about making new cushions for them, but I made these cushions for my Dad for Christmas the year my Mum died, so they are 22 years old, and I can't bear to part with them

 

I used to make a lot of soft furnishings, often finished with piping and/or frills - these days I wouldn't make the effort of putting ties on the back!

 

I'll be back tomorrow with several projects that I have been working on this month - there may even be a finish!!

 

A very happy day!!

First, dear peeps, I just want to thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers for the family following the death of Malcolm's brother-in-law.

 

But now we move on to something wonderful!  I have been keeping a very big secret from you for the last six weeks .......... having got engaged in February, Stuart and Alison suddenly got themselves organised, and on Saturday they got married!!  Here is the handsome groom (I may be slightly biased!) on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh before the wedding

 

and here he is with his very proud and excited Mum, enjoying a small refreshment

 

the wedding was in the City Chambers - a somewhat nervous groom and his best man Fraser waiting for the arrival of the bride and her bridesmaid Lynsey (who is Fraser's wife)

 

once they were married, the photographer took lots and lots of photos - here we have the happy couple looking slightly pensive as they wait for the next photo tom be taken

 

these are family photos -  obviously when we see the official ones we will be looking at the camera!

 

it was a very small wedding, with just immediate family (they are having a big reception in January for other relatives and friends).  Here we have, from left to right, Alison's brother Derek, her Dad Jim, Stuart, Fraser, Stuart's Dad Sandy, Malcolm and Stuart's stepsister's husband Ian

 

then we have the ladies, again from left to right, Stuart's stepsister Claire, Alison's Mum Linda, Lynsey, Alison, Alison's sister-in-law Emily, Stuart's stepmother Morven, and me

 

aren't the girls gorgeous!!

 

while Stuart and Alison went off with the photographer for more photos, the rest of us had another small refreshment, then walked along Princes Street, with the Castle dominating the skyline

 

to this fabulous hotel for the reception

 

and to finish, another shot of the happy couple!

 

Sad news

Hello, my dearest peeps.  We received some sad news this morning ........Malcolm's brother-in-law, the husband of his older sister Jennifer, died suddenly last night.  So I won't be here for a while.

Love, Anne