frayed at the edge

Garden delights

When I was in the garden hanging out the washing this morning, the sun was shining and the colours in the border looked so wonderful, I had to take some photos to share with you

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And now that you have feasted your eyes on all those wonderful colours, it's time to announce the winner of the giveaway ........ after much deliberation, Malcolm thought of a number, and when I counted through the comments .....

the winner is ...... Helen Lockhart

 

Well done Helen - I'll get the parcel off to you as soon as possible.

Beside the seaside, beside the sea!

I could just recycle a previous post about taking Malcolm's Dad to Newbiggin-by-the-sea (we took him there today for lunch) - but instead I took some photos to show we really were beside the sea!

 

You can just make out 'The Couple' on the platform beside the new breakwater, which was put in to try to prevent further coastal erosion.  The church on the headland wasn't quite so close to the edge when it was built.  Behind the church, you can just make out a caravan park - Malcolm and his family went there for a holiday one summer when he was little - it's about 5 miles from where they lived.  He never dreamed then that in years to come he would travel round the world!!

 

After the breakwater was built, lots of extra sand was added to the beach - before it would have been gradually washed away by the tide.

 

I know we need to find new sources of electricity, but I'm sorry, I just think these things are a BLOT on the landscape.

 

It's half term In England this week - so where are all the children - they certainly weren't in this play park.  Probably all at home in front of the tv or playing computer games!

 

This next photo needs a 'cute' warning .....

 

isn't she just adorable.  She lives in the upstairs part of the cafe where we had lunch - someone had left a door open and she had crept down the stairs.  I swear as soon as she saw the camera, she adopted this 'I'm just a poor abandoned dog' look!

 

Can you contain your excitement - it's the next part of the great 100th post giveaway - remember, just  leave a comment to be entered in the draw

 

Today it's a collection of little buckles - I love the heart-shaped ones at the top.

 

On the acupuncture front - the sore jaw is about the same (with the addition of a lovely little bruise beside my  ear!), but I had the best night's sleep I've had in weeks.  And if I can do it, anyone can - it really doesn't hurt - unlike injections when the doctor/nurse says you'll just feel a slight scratch - no, I will feel a needle being stuck in my tender flesh!!

A walk on the wild side

Usually when we go for a walk, we turn right up the hill, but yesterday, we turned left, down the hill (you know sometimes we are just such little devils!)  When we got to the bottom of the hill, we reached the first thing I wanted to take a photo of

 

So why take a photo of the post box?

 

If you look carefully below the crown you can see 'VI', so combined with the initials GR, this shows that the box is from the reign of George VI (the Queen's father), so it is pre-1952. 

Our next stop was just round the corner, to take a photo of the phone box

 

As you can see, it is no longer in use, and is already being reclaimed by nature

 

On the way back up the hill, I kept stopping to take photos of the plants in the verge - as no doubt the council will appear one day soon and cut it all down

    

 

 

 

When we were almost back home, I spotted something else worthy of a photo - another old fence post and the end of an old wall

A few yards further on I had to stop again, to capture this wonderful stretch of wall, with the most amazing growth of moss on it

 

 

Remember, everyone who leaves a comment over the next few days will be entered into the draw for the amazing giveaway for my 100th post - today I had a look in my bead and button drawer and found these wonderful chunky wooden beads, along with some smaller matching ones

 

 

And finally .... a quick update on the ongoing saga of the pain in the jaw!  Today I went for my first ever session of acupuncture.  You know what I'm going to say next  ... I don't really like needles!!  However, I was very brave, and didn't scream or cry ... oh all right, I hardly felt a thing (the one I felt most was in my right earlobe!)  I had needles in my feet, shins, hands, wrists, ears and face - oh, and a couple in my tummy.  I think it has already eased the pain a bit ......

Hot'n'spicy

Yesterday morning, I met up with the other ladies from the Rural at Southdean, and we were soon on the bus and heading south to Heighley Gate garden centre, just outside Morpeth.  We did have a small detour on the way, as the driver was relying on his satnav, which took us on a rather scenic route.  On arrival, first stop of course was the Ladies, then second stop was the coffee shop for a cuppa and some of the biggest scones known to man - they are probably visible from the moon!!  (however I didn't want to embarrass my friends by taking photos - you do get some strange looks when you photograph your food in public!)

However, once we started looking round the plants, I had ample oppottunities for photos.  First was this wonderful collection of different varieties of lavender

 

This put me in the mood for blues and purples, as seen in the following photos

 

 

 

As we came out of the garden centre to get back on the bus to go into Morpeth, I snapped this gorgeous old car

 

You can imagine my surprise, when five minutes later it overtook the bus!!

Having used up the calories from our scones with some shopping (I think we inspected every item of ladies' clothing in Rutherford's department store) we then headed to the pub for lunch.  Now, I am sure you all know that food eaten on a day out does not count (Ithink that may be diet rule number 7), so I had something which I love, but rarely eat ...... pizza!!  Not just any pizza, but a hot'n'spicy pizza, with spicy meatballs and jalapenos (yum, yum, yum!!).  A glass of wine might also have been consumed.  After lunch

(sorry, there was an interruption to typing, as Malcolm got a bit over-excited ..... he's watching football on tv - Aston Villa v Newcastle (his team) ...... Newcastle are teetering on the edge of relegation, but Manchester United have just scored against Hull, which helps Newcastle ..... if you don't follow  football, that was all a bit meaningless to you!!)

to resume ..... after lunch we returned to shopping - or perhaps I should say browsing round the shops, because we didn't actually buy anything!  But I wouldn't want you to think we are very shallow, and weren't paying attention to the lovely architecture in Morpeth, so here is the Town Hall

 

and the Clock Tower

 

All too soon, it was time to get back on the bus and head for home - the driver didn't use the satnav, so we didn't have any interesting detours!  As we crossed the border, I phoned Malcolm, so by the time I got home, his fish pie was cooked to perfection, and with a glass of white wine, was the perfect end to a lovely day out.

 

It's day two of the giveaway ..... day one was something for knitters, so today is something for sewers ..... this gorgeous YLI thread.

 

Oh dear, Aston Villa have scored (that's BAD!) ..... but we 've just channel hopped to the cricket, in time to see England win decisively against the West Indies, by six wickets.

ps - my football team, Airdrie United (except for me they will always be Airdreionians, aka the Diamonds) are also involved in a relegation play-off - it's just all too much!!!

pps Malcolm has just read the post, and I'm having to add this pps, to say that Morpeth means 'murder path' ... from the days of cross-border raids, when the raiders travelled through what is now Morpeth .... of course the town's other claim to fame is that Malcolm was born there!!!

A domestic day

I have had a busy day with run-of the-mill domestic chores - including spending the afternoon ironing!!  So for once I haven't any new photos to show you, which means I've had a trawl through the archives looking for something for today's post.  I hope you like what I've found!!

 

I took this photo in our last garden, just a few weeks before we moved.  What has the squirrel seen?

 

A tasty feed on my raspberry canes, that's what!!

 

It's hard to believe, but this is my 93rd post!!  So you know what that means?  Yes, it's time to have a giveaway.  Starting tomorrow, each day I'll have a look in the studio for something to add to the giveaway, so by the time I get to the 100th post, there will be 7 goodies to be won.  All you have to do is leave a comment and you'll be included in the draw (yes, same method as last time.... Malcolm will think of a number!)

I do like to be .....

..... beside the seaside - but unfortunately, when we took Malcolm's Dad to Newbiggin this afternoon, the weather wasn't very good, so we weren't able to sit outside for a cuppa, as we did last time.  However, that didn't stop me from having ice cream with my cup of tea!

 

I love the red and white cup and saucer and the matching tablecloth.  After the cuppa, I had a quick visit to the local wool shop - a good old fashioned one with great piles of wool everywhere.  You won't be surprised when I tell you that I bought some balls from the bargain basket!

 

I was intrigued by these two plaques, which were side by side on the side wall of a house - I will have to find out more about them (and find the rest of them!)

 

 

When we took Malcolm's Dad back to the Home, the sun had come out, and with it, two of the doves in the Home's dovecote

 

Before we headed for home, we had one last stop, in the Sue Ryder charity shop in Ashington.  As soon as I saw this remnant, it was in my hand and I was heading to the counter to pay!!  There is about two yards (or do I have to say metres) of it, and it is just the right colours for the dining room - yet something else for the to-do list!!!!

Just stay still!

We were crossing the bridge over the River Teviot in town this morning, when we spotted a heron.  Of course I whipped out the camera, but just as I went to take the photo, the heron moved and hid behind a clump of long grass.  He eventually moved back into view, and I was able to take this photo

He then turned to face us, so we had to wait until he decided to turn (almost) sideways on

 

We then walked on to the path along the river, hoping to get a better view from above.  I had just got the pesky bird in focus when .... he flew off!  However I did manage to snatch this photo before he flew under the bridge

  

I am off now to do some serious stitching on 'Sunset' as the deadline is looming!!  I have decided (more or less) how I am going to finish the piece.  I'll post some photos tomorrow.

Teatime

As usual for Friday, it was off down the road to Borderland Fabrics.  There was the usual amount of sewing done, but today I just took photos of the important stuff - yes ... the food and drink

 

The tea definitely tastes better when poured from a pot with such a smart cosy!

 

Annette excelled herself today with this wonderful sponge - and as she had forgotten her whisk .... she whisked the cream with a fork!

The teacosy was knitted by Anne, who has been having an exciting time, as she now has an on-line shop.  Do have a look - there are all sorts of lovely kits for quilts, bags, dolls - lots of super things.  Anne will be adding more kits, so if you don't see something this time, do go back for another look.  I particularly like the Japanese quilt, which I saw when Anne made her sample one - the colours are lovely.

It's a wet and miserable evening here, but never mind ... it's the weekend  - have a good one, love, Anne

He marched me up to the top of the hill ....

...... then he marched me down again! 

It was a lovely morning on Sunday, so when Malcolm suggested a walk in the park in Hawick, I was happy to agree.  We stopped at Morrisons for the Sunday papers, then walked over to the park.  Of course I had my camera with me and we hadn't gone far before the first photo op appeared - this wonderful tree, bursting into leaf

 

Followed soon after by this beautiful azalea - the flowers are much darker before they open

 

There is a small cafe in the park, so we stopped for a cuppa and sat in the sun reading the papers.  We then walked on through the park and out on to the road to walk back in to town.  We passed this small 'Hawick Horse' (more of that later)

 

Malocolm then suggested that we walk up to the 'Mote', as it would be a good place for photos.  Now, Hawick is a hilly town and this must be one of the longest, steepest hills - my poor little legs were complaining long before we got to the top!!  However, when we got there, it was worth the effort.  This next photo explains about the 'mote'

 

I got Malcolm to stand in front of it, to provide the scale

 

Perhaps an enemy attacking the mote might have used this

 

I then further abused my poor legs and climbed what seemed like a million steps to the top of the mote to take a photo of the view to the High Street.  The building which looks as if it should be in France is the Town Hall

 

Then I had to face coming down the steep steps (I might have mentioned I don't like heights ... well, I don't like stairs either!)

 

After walking all the way back down the hill, we then strolled along the High Street, where I took another photo of the Town Hall - it's a lovely building.

 

I said I would tell you more about the Hawick Horse.  It commemorates a skirmish when the youths of Hawick routed an English army at Hornshole and captured the Bishop of Hexham's flag in 1514 (we Scots have a long memory when it comes to battles with the English!)  This is the original Hawick Horse, which stands in the High Street

 

If you have to give someone directions, you start by saying - well, you know where the Horse is ...

 

I hope you've enjoyed seeing some of the sights of Hawick!

A little ray of sunshine

Despite the better weather, I was full of doom and gloom this morning.  In recent weeks I have been suffering from a sore mouth, which I initially blamed on tmd (a pain in the jaw) which I have suffered from on and off for some time now.  However, the pain was getting worse, so I went to the dentist on Friday.  He diagnosed a gum infection and gave me antibiotics.  However, things went decidedly downhill over the weekend and I hardly slept last night, finally giving up tossing and turning and getting up at 4.30!  So it was off back to the dentist this morning.  I saw a different one this time, and while agreeing with the original diagnosis, she also said that I had a tooth which was a major contributor to my misery.  To cut a long story short, I've had the tooth out!!  Now that the numbness has worn off, I still have some pain, but hopefully that will go by the time I finish the antibiotics.

However, there was a ray of sunshine in my day, when the postman delivered this enormous envelope!

 

Ooooh - the excitement as I opened the envelope to find ..... another envelope!

 

However, this was soon opened to reveal these gorgeous goodies, sent by Meg.

  

Meg had told me she was sending me the Keepsake Quilter newsletter, so it was a lovely surprise to find the magazines as well.  And of course the card, which is just the bees knees (oh, sorry, couldn't resist that one!)  Thank you very much Meg - you certainly brightened a very miserable day!

 

We went for a walk in Hawick yesterday and I took lots of photos (of course) but I just didn't feel up to doing a post about it yesterday, so I'll do it tomorrow!!