frayed at the edge

A short post

We were on the road by nine this morning, on our way to Stitchin' Heaven, to deliver my patterns.  Unlike the last time we went, it was a lovely bright (if chilly) morning

 

yet again, we were held up at roadworks!

 

unfortunately, Anne wasn't in the shop, as she had been poorly through the night.  So she missed the fun of a shop filled by a visiting group of ladies

 

the Wednesday regulars were all working on the same projects as last time, so I didn't take any photos  So that's it - a short report of a busy day!  Now that I have finished the red, white and blue wallhangings and handed over the patterns, I think I will have a thorough tidy-up in the studio tomorrow ...... and perhaps a bit of a reorganisation.  I would like to move some of the furniture, but I will need Malcolm's help with that.

 

 

A multitude of talents

I had a great day out on Saturday, joining some of the other members from Abbey Quilters for a UFO day (that's unfinished objects, not aliens invading!)  First, we layered the raffle quilt for next year's exhibition, but there is an embargo on photos of it!  Next up was Rineke's striking black and red quilt

 

then we oohed and aaahed over Ivy's pretty quilt

 

Edith was hand quilting a small applique quilt

 

Anne S was finishing off her block keeper, with its cute owl

 

Sandra started off working on a pile of blocks

 

then did some machine quilting on this very cute quilt

 

we helped Moira layer this stunning quilt - the photo doesn't do justice to the colours.  She is very generously giving the quilt to Linus

 

of course lots of cuppas were drunk, and many biscuits eaten ....... and we might have eaten a few of these chocolates which I took, in case we needed a sugar boost

 

we weren't able to go for a walk yesterday morning, because of short, heavy rain showers, so had to console ourselves with a rather magnificent cheese scone

 

while trying to ignore the Christmas tree beside our table!

 

fortunately the rain had gone off when we saw this pipe band marching through Jedburgh

 

the rain stayed off as we drove home, so I was able to take some photos of the scenery

 

this is Fatlips Castle (although sometimes I get confused and call it Hotlips - do you remember her from MASH?!

 

this last photo is for Thimbleanna - I'm sure she wishes she had sheepies in a field behind her house!!

Tin love!

You may have noticed that I love tins - big ones, small ones, in-between ones ...... and when we were away I added to my collection.  This one appealed to my sense of humour

 

and this one is slightly impractical - because of course if you put pins in the cushion, you couldn't put the lid back on!

 

even I have to admit that Christmas is getting close, so it was time to buy the Christmas biscuit tin

 

when we see items that have names on, we never find any with "Malcolm" ....... until Wednesday, when I found this garden sign.  When I was paying for it, I remarked to the lady serving me that I could always paint over "genius at work" - and she said "just put a question mark after it".  Poor Malcolm, well and truly insulted!!

 

I had to go to Jedburgh just before lunchtime today, so I arranged to meet my friend Maureen for lunch after my meeting ..... but we were blethering so much I forgot to take photos!  It was a beautiful afternoon, crisp and clear, so when I got home I grabbed the camera and headed off up the hill.  Why is it that sheep turn their bottoms towards you just as you snap?

 

there were only two donkeys in the field

 

there are still lots of apples in a neighbour's old orchard ...... maybe I should have a midnight scrump!

 

just look at that beautiful blue sky above the church

 

I never tire taking photos of the Mintos

 

and the Eildons

 

I wonder if these sheep .......

 

appreciate the scenery?

 

this sheep was giving me the evil eye!

 

whille this one just looked so pretty

 

on the way back down the hill, of course I had to stop to admire my favourite view

 

and take more photos of the donkeys

 

then my bucolic idyll was spoiled by this - I had to jump on the verge to get out of the way of this lorry!

 

but then I took a last arty photo to restore my inner peace (or something like that!!)  The higgledy piggledy fence may have been replaced, but the reflection still looks good

Breakfast

We had a very enjoyable visit with Stuart and Alison, and they were pleased with the present that we brought them from Portugal - a mortar and pestle and a little dish for olives ........

 

........ which match this little dish, which we brought back for Stuart from our last holiday there, five years ago

 

we had a leisurely cuppa when we got up this morning after a long lie (Stuart and Alison having departed for work quite a bit earlier), then we headed to Torwood Garden Centre, to the bright and airy coffee shop .....

 

........ for breakfast - a delicious panini, with sausage, bacon and egg.  You won't be surprised to know that we didn't want any lunch!!

 

there was a display of plants at the garden centre door, which included an enormous rusty watering can

 

the colours in this permanently planted area were glorious

 

it was very wet and miserable driving up yesterday, so we were delighted when the early rain cleared away and the sun came out this morning

 

we decided to make a short detour to Blackness.  I don't need to tell you what this is a photo of!

 

those pesky English were here some years ago

 

we had a (windswept) walk on the beach, where we had a good view of the castle

 

there was an abundance of shells

 

and a lot of not quite so attractive seaweed

 

I  got my big lens back yesterday (woo hoo) and put it to good use on the journey home.  There is a lot of work happening on the reinstatement of the railway from Edinburgh to the Borders ...... involving massive earthworks and BIG machines

 

and, of course, there was the glorious scenery of the Borders

 

I may have bought one or two interesting things when we were away - but you will have to wait until tomorrow to see them!

Logging on

On Saturday, we went to Jedburgh for a change, and popped into The Abbey Bridge Tollhouse Cafe  We haven't been there for some time, so we were surprised to see that there had been a major reorganisation, with the stove shop and the cafe swapping areas (if you click on the link, you can see what the cafe used to look like).  Malcolm liked the new counter, and had a good look when he was paying the bill!  The logs are only a few inches long - someone must have spent a long time cutting them

 

On Sunday we varied our routine, and went for our cuppa first.  We had decided to go to the  Mayfield Garden Centre in Kelso, and then go for a walk along the river.  We had a very good cheese scone ........ and I forgot to take a photo!  This magnificent tree hasn't changed colour yet

 

but these two are starting to show their autumn foliage

 

I like this gate ...... and the house is fabulous, but I thought it would be a bit cheeky to take a photo!

 

I missed my big lens yesterday, when we saw not one, but two, herons on the other side of the river

 

but I didn't need it to take photos of these birds

 

there were ducks

 

adult swans

 

and cygnets

 

 

I do like a nice bit of rust

 

this lorry was so big I couldn't get it all in the photo, so imagine how scary it is when you meet one while driving through the town

 

this is now the entrance to a shop, so it is good to see that they have preserved the intricate mosaic (I bet all of you who are quilters are taking note of the border!)

 

on the way back to the carpark, we passed the Abbey

 

there is a fruit and vegetable shop at the entrance to the Garden Centre, with lots of excellent produce

 

if you don't knoow what the knobbly green thing on the left is, it is a romanesco.  I used some of the cauliflower in the vegetable curry that I made for tonight's dinner

 

on Saturday I made the pear and bramble jelly.  Have filled three jars, I then added finely chopped basil to the remaining jelly.  I thought I had prepared enough basil, but once it was mixed in I realised that I should have used quite a bit more.  Also once I put the jelly in the jars, the basil rose to the top.  It tastes fine, but isn't really savoury

 

out in the garden, we have glorious autumn colours

 

but the climbing rose is stll flowering on the pergola

 

and the little clematis still has several flowers on it

 

and even when the outer petals drop off, there is still a pretty centre left

 

I think it is time I tidied the studio!

 

to finish ...... I bought these scary treats for Malcolm this morning.  He won't have to share them with me, because I really don't like white chocolate!!

<

Leftovers!

But not leftover food, rather some photos which were left over from yesterday.  The garden was full of birds, with lots of sparrows on the feeders

 

a tiny coal tit sneaked in when the sparrows weren't looking

 

a chaffinch investigated fallen seed

 

some starlings watched from the telephone wire

 

before I went to meet Lorraine yesterday, I had to pop into Hawick to pick up a parcel from the sorting office (I am convinced that the postman lurks at the end of the road waiting until we go out, before leaving one of those annoying cards!). On the way back to the car park, I walked along the river where the trees are just starting to turn

 

looking the other way along the river to the Town Hall

 

at patch'n'chat, Anne S. was working on some very cute stitcheries

 

and then, of course, there was the Friday cake.  I wish you could have a slice ...... the sponge is so light it almost floats off the plate, and it tastes delicious

 

I have lots of sewing to do over the weekend, and I will also be making pear and bramble jelly.  I think I will take some of the jelly and add some herbs to make it savoury, to have with meat.  I'll let you know on Monday how it turns out.  The forecast doesn't look too promising for Sunday, but perhaps we will get a short walk between the showers.  I hope you have a good weekend, love Anne

A misty morning

We left home at 9am, to head off down the road to Stitchin' Heaven. There were bands of mist drifting  across the valley, making the Waterloo Monument on Peneil Heugh look as if it was floating in the air (click on the photo to enlarge it for a better look)

 

there was more mist further down the road

 

we were held up by roadworks

 

it was very annoying to have to drive behind this truck at 10mph for THIRTY YARDS, when the work was completely on the other side of the road

 

never mind, as soon as I got to Stitchin' Heaven, Carolyn put the kettle on and made me a cup of tea.  Carolyn was minding the shop today, as Anne is still quite poorly.  However Anne joined us at lunchtime and spent the afternoon with us.  Since she has been ill I had only spoken to her on the phone, so it was good to see her.  As always, everyone was busy sewing.  Annie was sewing together lots of tiny squares, which will eventually become a table runner

 

she had made these two pretty holders for reels of thread .......

 

...... and this lovely bag

 

Frances was working on her applique blocks - she has found the perfect fabrics for her thistles

 

Sue was continuing the hand-quilting of her Lilly Pilly

 

Carolyn has been designing blocks - I like her pumpkins

 

Margaret was working on a complex pattern of hexagons and diamonds

 

Ros's applique basket is very pretty

 

and lastly Lucie was working on a whimsical applique. I am hoping that she will make up patterns for her whimsical blocks, as I would love to make a quilt with them

 

Lucie was also taking photos, so we pointed our cameras at each other, counted to three and snapped (yes, a bit childish!)

 

Sue brought in a very special present for Annie.  Some time ago she had been given these beautiful Japanese dolls, which are made of paper.  However, beautiful as they are, they are not her thing, and knowing that Annie loves all things Japanese, she gave them to her (I was most envious!)

 

did I buy anything ....... I may have, but you'll have to wait until tomorrow to see!

Little and large

I decided to make turkey meatballs for the Fast Diet dinner, but when I did the shopping this morning, I couldn't get turkey mince, so I bought turkey steaks innstead.   I got out my big food processor, which  I bought it when we lived in Indonesia, so it is probably fifteen years old, and is still used regularly

 

the recipe says to use dried oregano, but I decided to use fresh herbs - some from the garden and some from pots on the kitchen windowsill.  I got out the little herb chopper - just a little bit smaller than the proocessor!

 

while the meatballs were cooking, I made the pear and chocolate jam.  First I cooked the pears with lemon juice and sugar

 

then stirred in the dark chocolate.  It doesn't look parrticularly appetising ....... but does it taste awesome or awful?

 

and the verdict is ....... DELICIOUS!!  Malcolm, who doesn't really like dark chocolate, also thinks it is good, although I don't think we would eat it on toast for breakfast!  There is a recipe in the book for a speedy tart - make a shortcrust pastry case and blind bake it (if you want to be really speedy, use a ready made one) spread it with some pear and chocolate jam, then arrange slices of poached pear on top.

It was only when I added the eggs to the meatball mixture that I remembered that the last time I made them, the mixture was a bit sloppy.  If the recipe had been in a book, I would have put a note on the page, but a post-it on the screen of my Kindle would be annoying!!

 

On Saturday I spent the day at Borderland Fabrics working on quilts for Linus.  The day got off to a good start when we were treated to delicious sconnage

 

then we had a choice of soup for lunch - I had lentil

 

to make sure we didn't run out of energy, there was a big tub of chocolates

 

sorry, what's that you're shouting?  Oh, you want to know about my sewing!  Sandra, our wonderful "Linus Lady", had a pile of fabrics for us to use.  I chose these four, and cut them into two sizes of strips - there was enough fabric to cut strips for two quilts

 

I didn't take my sewing machine, as Annette had said that I coud use one of the demonstration machines that she has in the shop.  I was slightly nervous when she gave me a brand new, unused machine! 

 

the first batch stitched into blocks

 

I still have an outer border to add - it was good to have some sunshine to take photos this morning

 

I didn't have time to work on my knitting through the week, but added a few more inches over the weekend.  I had a trial run at stuffing the tube, and rolling it up.  I have decided to make the rug oval, rather than round

 

 

we went for a wlk along the River Teviot yesterday, hoping to find some sloes, but alas there were none to be had.  However we did see these two elegant swans ........

 

autumnal scenes

 

handsome fellows

 

and of course, arty seedheads

 

to console ourselves for the lack of sloes, we headed off for some sconnage.  I had gone to wash my hands, and when I came back, Malcolm had already cut up the fruit scone

 

it was delicious, as was the cheese scone

 

to finish - when I was busy in the kitchen this afternoon, I had the tv on.  Do you recognise this blast from the past?

Shock horror!!

We went for a walk after lunch, to look for sloes ....... and there wasn't a sloe to be found!  We had hoped that there would be a good crop this year, after the complete lack of them last year, but there was not a single solitary sloe to be had.  However I have had a look on ebay (where else??!!) and if we don't find any locally, I will be able to buy some to make sloe gin.

However, there were compensations aplenty ....... first there were animals

 

wonderful scenery

 

new gates to admire

 

I was glad to be in the company of a master dry stone waller  who approved of the construction of this new stretch of wall

 

then there was the chance to take some arty seed head photos .......

 

before wending our weary way up the hill home

 

resisting the urge to kick up the leaves!

 

when we moved here seven years ago, there were only a few sparrows in the garden.  Now, many, many, bags of bird food later (costing a lot more than tuppence a bag!), we have a very healthy population

 

finally, the sewing!  I started with the six blocks with little sayings

 

after cutting them to size, I added the borders

 

then stitched the six blocks together

 

when I was in the studio at the weekend, it was cold enough to have the first fire of the autumn!

 

next, I took the six blocks with little pictures (you might notice that one of them isn't quite finished!)

 

these six blocks just have plain borders

 

I looked out the instructions for my workshop bag .........

 

.......as two of my friends from Abbey Quilters, Sandra and Sheila, are coming for a day's workshop in November to make one

 

it's quite a while since I last taught this workshop, so I need to make new samples

 

I pulled these fabrics from my stash - I'm looking forward to using them

 

I bought this panel at patch'n'chat on Friday, for a quick and easy project ...... yes, I'll tell you about it tomorrow!

<

Sunday morning stroll

When we got up yesterday, it was a lovely bright morning, but by the time we had breakfast (kippers on toast) it had clouded over.  However, when we got to St Boswells, it had brightened up again.  We parked in a lay-by, and set off to do another one of the walks round the village.  Fortunately the gate wasn't locked, so I didn't need to climb over it, as has happened on previous walks!

 

the elder trees were laden with berries, providing a feast for the birds - any cars in the vicinity will be well and truly splattered!

 

the path follows the old railway line, but as you can see, it has been reclaimed by nature

 

there were lots of mushrooms

 

there were still some plump brambles (I picked them, along with some rosehips, and made  jelly)

 

we left the path and headed up a farm track

 

you can imagine my delight when I saw this ........ a beautiful rusty building, with large bits of farm machinery

 

the scenery, as always, was stunning

 

Malcolm kindly held these acorns for me

 

of course you know what comes next ....... sconnage!  We went to the garden centre, and were delighted to find that the special offer for October was a fruit scone with jam and clotted cream - yum, yum!!

 

a large parcel arrived in the post for me this morning

 

it contained a belated birthday present, from the other Scottish Anne blogger.  The most wonderful soap - if only you could smell it!  And it is even more special, as it is made by Anne's daughter Debbie.  If you fancy some, check out The Wee Soap Shop.  Thank you Anne, for such a lovely present!

 

in Sainsbury's this morning, the man who served me at the checkout was somewhat bemused when he scanned four different packets of sugar ...... I had to explain that after lots of jam, jelly and chutney making, I had used almost all the sugar in the house (I had some caster and demerara left)

 

I mentioned before the holiday that Stuart had borrowed my big lens.  It was because Alison had arranged for him to have a photography lesson for his birthday.  I was going to put in a link in to Will Robb Photography, but there was a problem and I can't get the website to open. Stuart has known Will since they were at school together, and is delighted that his photography venture is doing well.  This is a photo of The Grassmarket in Edinburgh, with the castle on the skyline.  I am looking forward to seeing the rest of his photos

 

On Saturday I decided what I would knit, and looked out this wool from my stash

 

come back tomorrow and I'll show you how the knitting is progressing, and give you a sewing update.