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)

 

 

 

 

The four Maries

Last Saturday, when Stuart and Alison were here, we visited Mary Queen of Scots house in Jedburgh.  In one of the rooms, there are paintings on the wall panels.  This Is Mary

 

 

and these are the four Maries (or Marys), who were the ladies-in-waiting.

 

 

If you google the four Maries, you actually discover that there were up to eight different Maries, but according to the song I learned many years ago

The Queen, she had four Maries

Tonight, she'll have but three

There was Mary Beaton, Mary Seaton

Mary Carmichael and me.

 

The singer of the song was Mary Hamilton, who was about to be executed. Mary had an amazing and complicated life, before she was executed on the order of her cousin, Queen Elizabeth of England.  You can read more about her life here.

Mary must have had tiny feet - this is one of her shoes, and looks as if it is only big enough for a child

 

After looking round the house, we went on to see the Castle Jail.  This inmate didn't look very happy about being incarcerated for debt

 

 

And this poor woman had the added misery of a very bad hair day

 

 

I came across this amazing quilt, which was made on 1901.  It is rather badly hung, in a narrow corridor, so I couldn't get a good photo of it

 

 

Friday, as ever, means cake at patch'n'chat.  We had our favourite apple and sultana cake - there was silence as we all tucked in!

 

 

And to end, a little aaah moment ....... another very cute calf, snuggled up to its Mum.  I hope you all have a good weekend, love Anne

  

 

 

 

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!

 

 

 

 

Admitting defeat!

It was a lovely morning, as we set off south to Newcastle.  We had a quick stop in Belsay for a cuppa (you know I can't be away from a teapot for too long!)  I was very glad we stopped, because it gave me an opportunity to take photos of more lambs!

 

 

 

 

You probably noticed that the ewes have both black and white lambs.  The first time I saw this when we moved here, I asked a sheep farming friend why the ewe had different lambs.  Her answer was straight to the point - she said 'the ewe was obviously a hussy, and the lambs have different fathers'!

 

When we got to Rachel's, we had a cuppa, with a piece of the most wonderful lemon drizzle cake, then we left Malcolm to wrestle with the dishwasher, while we took the dogs for a walk.  We walked under the amazing Armstrong Bridge

 

 

Then Flossie posed in front of the new footbridge (it was rusty from installation, as a design feature!)

 

 

We passed the pet cemetery (which made me think of the very scary Stephen King book)

 

 

Spring is far more evident there - the blossom is already out on these trees ........

 

 

....... and the rhododendron is flowering

 

 

However Flossie wasn't in the least interested in such things, much preferring to run in and out of the river with a big stick (sorry the photo is blurred, but it's the only 'action' shot that I managed to take of her!)

 

 

In case you're wonderfing where Tosca is, she only went with us on the first part of the walk, as her little old lady legs aren't up to running round the park, so we popped her back home to supervise Malcolm.

When we eventually returned, Flossie was suitably wet and muddy, and had to be hosed off before being allowed back in the house.  Malcolm, meantime, had dismantled large amounts of the dishwasher.....

 

 

........ but despite his best efforts, he was unable to find what was wrong.  (don't worry, he did put it all back togehter again!)  Rachel then fed us a lovely lunch, with more of her wonderful homemade bread, and sent us on our way laden with lemon dizzle cake, ginger biscuits and homemade red gooseberry jam.

On the way home, we were stuck for a while behind this .......

 

 

........ fortunately he eventually turned into a farm.  Then later, this rather large timber lorry pulled out of a side road in front of us

 

 

As you can see from this next photo, the driver wasn't content with just his own side of the road!

 

 

We weren't looking forward to being stuck behind him on the long uphill climb from Bonchester Bridge, when, oh joy, he turned off!

Rachel and I now have to co-ordinate our diaries, so that she can come up to visit us!

 

 

 

 

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!!

 

I'm still smiling!

So why am I smiling - because I've got my lovely new teeth!  I had a rather long visit to the dentist yesterday afternoon, during which he did the final fitting for my new partial dentures.  He thinks that the support that they will give to my own teeth, and the help they will give to aligning my bite properly, will finally sort out my 'face-ache'.  So here I am this morning, smiling!

 

 

Malcolm took the photo of me when we were out for a (long) walk this morning.  We parked the car at the Woodside Garden Centre, then set off along a path, which led us to another, steep path.  We toiled on and on up the slope (my poor legs were complaining!), then at last our destination came into view

 

 

What, you don't think that looks as if it was worth a long slog - perhaps you'll change your mind when you see the whole thing (with Malcolm, as always, providing the scale!)

 

 

This is the Waterloo Monument, on Penhiel Heugh.  The tower is 150 feet tall, and this sign over the door tells you some more about it

 

 

This is the highest point for miles around, and the views are spectacular

 

the Eildons

 

 

Ruberslaw

 

 

looking down to the River Teviot

 

Although we hadn't carried a stone up the hill with us, Malcolm used one that was lying around to add to the small cairn

 

 

On the way back down, Malcolm spotted this - it is a viewing point, but we don't know what for

 

By the time we got back to the garden centre, it was lunchtime.  A big bowl of soup was just the thing to have after our two hour walk - I chose the celeriac and pear

 

 

Back home, I headed out to the studio, to have a quick session working on the tractor quilt.  I decided to do the border with a leaf pattern.  This is the front .........

 

 

....... and this is the back

 

 

I finished one side, and hope to do some more work on it tomorrow.  This evening, I will be sitting with my poor weary legs up on my footstool, sipping on a glass of white wine (the bottle is in the fridge chilling) and doing, as always, some knitting!

 

 

Cutting the mustard

When I was in the studio on Sunday, I was watching Jamie's '30 minute meals' while I was quilting the tractor quilt.  There was one dish that he made that I thought looked quite tasty, so today I had a go at recreating it.  I assembled the ingredients (except for the chilli, which I remembered later!) - celeriac, pears, olive oil, vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper

 

 

Next, I set up the food processor with the grating attachment (I bought this processor in Jakarta, so I must have had it for 12 or 13 years!)

 

 

I only used half of the celeriac.  Using a large knife, I trimmed off the ends then cut it into slices

 

 

It was easy then to trim off all the knobbly bits, cut it into chunks and pop it into the processor

 

 

I peeled and cored the pears and added them - and that's when I remembered the chilli!  In a small jar, I put some salt and pepper, mustard, olive oil and vinegar

 

 

I popped the lid on and gave it a good shake, until the ingredients had emulsified

 

 

All that remained was to mix everything together

 

 

The verdict - I thought the dressing overwhelmed the other ingredients (and I didn't use anywhere near as much mustard as Jamie!) and I couldn't taste the pear (although Malcolm thought he could taste it).  I think if I was making it again, I would make a simple dressing with lemon juice and olive oil.

 

Things are finally starting to grow in the garden, after the long hard winter.  The flowering current is just starting to put out leaves and flowers

 

 

 

However another casualty of the weather is the winter-flowering jasmine.  At this time of year, it should be covered in flowers - but there is only this sad little one!

 

 

To end - yet something else that I want, really really want.  I don't suppose it does very many miles to the gallon, but I would be quite happy to just drive up and down our road!

 

 

 

The black sheep of the family!

Oh bliss - there are some lambs in the field across the road from the house - including these little black lambs.  (sorry it's not a better photo, but they were at the top of the field and the weather was a bit murky!)

 

 

Then, when I was going out this morning, I had to do one of those screeching to a halt things (just joking, Malcolm!) ....... because more Jacob's lambs have arrived

 

 

In contrast to all the black and white, the greenfinches were back on the peanut feeder

 

 

On the knitting front, I have finished the two cabled cushion fronts.   Now I have to admit to a major faux pas.  I had taken photos of blocking them ......... but I had a thorough sorting out of my photos - and I have deleted them!  So all I can show you is the two fronts, ready to make up

 

 

In common with forty million people wordwide, I have become addicted to playing 'Angry Birds'.  Malcolm too has succumbed- we have nearly come to blows over whose turn it is!!  If you haven't encountered the game, let me explain.  There are cheeky little green pigs, sheltering in a variety of structures

 

 

You use a catapult to fire the birds at the pigs ......

 

 

..... in the hopes of demolishing the structures and getting rid of the pigs

 

 

There are lot sof sound effects - grunting pigs and chattering birds, then the bangs and crashes as the birds hit the structures!  And the cost of all thus fun - a mere 59 pence to dowload the App - money well spent!