frayed at the edge

Winding down .......

........ and gearing up!  First, I am winding down towards the end of the week, when I will take a break from blogging until the start of January, and of course I am now gearing up for the Christmas festivities.  When I start blogging again (perhaps on the 2nd or 3rd), I hope to have thought of a new and exciting way to celebrate my 4th blogiversary (on the 8th of January) ...... I've done giveaways, I've done swaps, I want to do something different this time (I have a vague idea of some sort of awards).

Now for the promised birds.  The nuthatch has been appearing more often, but it tends to zoom in, grab a seed and zoom off again, so it's hard to get a sharp photo of it

 

however, the robin poses very prettily

 

there was a pair of collared doves

 

this great tit is striking

 

and this blue tit is tiny

 

hooray, a better shot of the nuthatch

 

but one bird that isn't faring so well is the big wooden owl, which we brought back from Indonesia.  Unfortunately, he has developed a hole in his head

 

I popped out this morning to do the last of my Christmas shopping.  I had yet to buy something DIY related for Malcolm, so I headed for Homebase, which is on the other side of the valley from us.  It was a misty, murky morning, as you can see from this shot of Ruberslaw

 

but there was a glimmer of sunshine in the distance

 

I like this clump of trees

 

I can't show you my latest knitting, as it is a present, but I'll be back tomorrow with a sewing update.

I like this shed!!

No, not a garden shed, but a rather nice bottle of wine!!

 

the weather was better yesterday morning, so we were able to go for a walk.  We decided to go to Selkirk and try out a path which we hadn't walked along before.  I immediately started taking some of my favourite arty photos of seed heads

 

the low winter sun through the trees made it look a bit spooky

 

the ground was littered with pine cones

 

you know I have a strange liking for rusty, higgledy piggledy things

 

we don't need this sign to know that walking is good for us!

 

there were wonderful views across the river

 

there are some wonderful old mill buildings - this one still has a large water tank on the roof .....

 

........ which was made here in Hawick

 

as always, all that walking meant that we needed some sustenance, so we decided to go to the Waterwheel Cafe

 

where we had a delicious two course scone lunch ...... cheese for the main course

 

and fruit for dessert

 

but when we came out after lunch and went to see the owls ........ shock, horror, they were no longer there!  We will have to find out next time we are there what has happened to them.  On the way home, the clouds started to gather

 

back home, I added lights and some fancy ribbon to my driftwood tree - I love it!

 

I have lots of bird photos to show you tomorrow, but to finish today, another of my strange fancies ........ electrical gubbins!!

Backlog!

It has beeen such a busy week that I have several photos that haven't yet made it into the blog, so I shall share with you now.  But first (fingers crossed!) the troublesome photo from yesterday ....... and I remembered another little snippet about the wallhanging.  I had asked the members to bring their wallhangings in and I would award a prize to the best one.  One of the members, who was by far the most experienced quilter in the group, informed me that she had changed my pattern, to make it better.  She was most miffed that she didn't win ...... but she didn't make the wallhanging as set out in the pattern, so as far as I was concerned that disqualified her (never mind her tactless remark that her version was better!)

 

earlier in the week, I looked out the kitchen window and saw that there were lots of sheep in the field across the road.  Several of them were lying round a feeder, which looked as if it had a bale of haylage in it.  I fetched the camera, went to take a photo ....... and discovered that two horses were spoiling the shot!

 

however I was able to take a photo of the sheep the following day .......

 

........ as well as photos of the frosty, foggy scenery

 

this horse is a toughie - all the others have blankets on

 

and of course this sheep has a warm woolly coat!

 

I was delighted recently to read on Kate's blog that she has published a book of Shetland knitting patterns.  For those of you who don't know of Kate, a brief history ....... Kate was a highly successful academic when she was struck down in her mid 30s by a devastating stroke.  She has battled through the aftermath of the stroke to regain her health, but sadly had to give up her beloved academic career.  However, she is also an incredibly talented knitwear designer (she also designed the fabulous teacosies that I knitted recently), and is now forging a successful second career. 

 

even if you don't knit, you could buy the book just to drink in Kate's photos of the stunning scenery ....... and you will definitely love the chapter about puffins!

 

when I bought the first issue of Homemaker magazine, I loved it so much I promtly took out a subscription, and was delighted when issue two arrived earlier in the week

 

there are lots of yummy things

 

a free gift .....

 

...... with patterns, recipes, and delicious papers

 

it's Friday, so of course that means cake.  Today we had Annette's wonderful fruit cake

 

and to finish .....I saw this robin this morning and rushed to get the camera ....... amazingly, he was still there when I ran back to the window to snap him!

 

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend - it looks as if we will be having a soggy one!!  Love, Anne

A change of direction

A very quick post, as I will shortly be heading out to Kelso for Abbey Quilters Christmas Party!!

 

Usually we walk through the park in Hawick, then walk back along the road that runs high above the park.  However on Sunday we did it the other way, so I had a different view of the scenery!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time to go ...... I'll be back tomorrow with a sewing update.  Here's a little oops I had this afternoon - don't the geese know that they are supposed to be flying in the same direction!

That's enough of that, thank you!!

This was the view of the back garden early this morning ...... that's quite enough snow, thank you

 

but let's go back to thhe start of the weekend, and of course, the Christmas Fair.  Oh dear, I didn't sell very much, although as I know several other stallholders also had poor sales, I didn't get too upset!  I did get slightly annoyed with a woman who had a good look, then said she was just getting ideas and picking people's brains for things that she could make .........

 

the highlight of the afternoon was the delicious bacon roll that I had for lunch!

 

at the end of the afternoon, I was delighted to be given a gift by the wonderful Maria, who had the table next to me - a set of wine glass charms (in return I gave her one of the toiletries and chocolates set)

 

from my friend Lorraine, I bought her gorgeous marzipan fruits, to decorate the Christmas cake with (I'll be making it tomorrow) ........

 

...... and new to her repertoire, chocolate ginger creams

yesterday, we went to Dryburgh Abbey (we had a voucher to get in free!)  There was a little bit of snow on the ground, which added a little extra something to the photos.  I also had some fun taking some in B&W

 

there were some tricky bits of road to negotiate

 

and beautiful scenery to admire

 

we popped into The Main Street Trading Co for a cuppa and a bite to eat.  We shared a delicious feta and spinach muffin ........

 

....... and a slice of cake, which was drenched in a citrus syrup

 

I love the mugs

 

they have just opened a deli and homeware extension - I wish I could have taken photos of all the wonders for sale!

 

I'll be back tomorrow with a sewing update, but to finish, some birds in the snow

Pyrography

When we were in Hawick this morning, Malcolm had to pop into the Sorting Office, to pick up a parcel which the postman had tried to deliver yesterday.  As I wasn't allowed to see the parcel, I had a wander along the river, camera in hand.  I was delighted to see a heron ..... but despite several attempts, I couldn't get him properly in focus, as he blended in so well with the stony background!

 

the view along the river was lovely, with lingering autumn colours

 

now ....... the goodies that I bought yesterday.  When we did our shoppinng in Gretna last year, I had stocked up on Whittards hot chocolate, buying three tubs, as it was a "3 for the price of 2" offer.  I only drink it on Friday mornings, when we have a cuppa in the middle of doing the housework, so the tubs lasted all year - I had the last serving last Friday.  This time the deal was "buy 1 get 1 half price", so it seemed sensible to buy four tubs.  Although it is made with proper chocolate, unlike the diet stuff I drink the rest of the time, a serving is only seventy calories, not counting the milk ........ and I don't count the milk, as I am supposed to drink lots of milk as I have thin bones

 

I have loved Fry's Chocolate Cream since I was little ....... but don't worry, I won't pig out on all these bars, as I get Malcolm to dish it out a few pieces at a time!

 

this bag of chocolate popcorn was a bargain compared to buying the small bags that are sold in shops.  We will divide it up into lots of smaller bags, to enjoy when we are watching movies on tv

 

more chocolates - but these ones aren't for us!  They are for a little extra something for the Christmas Fair, which also includes glasses (recycled from scented candles) and some toiletries from Arran Aromatics

 

I made up six bags, each of which contains three little bottles of assorted toiletries, and some chocolates

 

having packed up everything ready to put in the car on Saturday (I won't have time tomorrow), I did some sewing, as I wanted to see how the machines performed after the service.  I put together the latest top for Linus - the Husqvarna stitched beautifully, and was noticeably quieter

I then switched to the Janome for some free motion quilting.  Again it stitched well, although I should have altered the tension.  I stitched the small area diagonally across the centre, in between the flowers I has stitched previously

 

I'm sure by now you are wondering what has happened to the pyrography - well here it is now!  Malcolm's final creations for the Fair, six bookmarks and one letter opener, made with very thin pieces of wood, and decorated with his poker pen.  I looked out the last of my stash of poly bags which I bought (very, very cheaply!)  in Indonesia, to package them

 

some ribbon and pretty labels, and they are ready to sell

Shooting the moon!

There have been reports today that the Americans planned to blow up the moon during the Cold War, but all I used to shoot the moon at 6.30 this morning was my camera!  The photos cold perhhaps have been sharper, but I was shivering on the front doorstep in my nightie!

 

we headed off this morning for Gretna, where there is an "outlet village", to do some Christmas shopping.  It was wonderful to see blue sky and sunshine after all the recent rain

 

we had a browse round the shops, deciding what to buy, then went for a bite of lunch.  The last time I ate in Subway was after I walked across  Sydney Harbour Bridge, which was perhaps preferable to doing the dreaded shopping!  Today we both had the "big beef melt" - delicious, and actually reasonably healthy eating!

 

suitably fortified, we did the shopping, then moved on to another small shopping outlet ..... but before we looked round those shops, there were many more photos to be taken!  First there were belted Galloways and Highland cows.  As you can see, all the rain has turned their field into a sea of md, quite a lot of which has transferred itself on to the poor beasties

 

then there were lots of rusty old farm machines

 

although Gretna is in Scotland, we had to pass through a few miles of England ....... should Our Fearless Leader (Wee Eck) get his way, will we have to go through border checkpoints and passport controls in the future?

 

more wonderful scenery

 

with the occasional reminder of the wet weather, with run-off from the fields flowing across the road

 

every time I see this sign, I suggest to Malcolm that we stop, so that he can buy some jewellery for me ...... but he keeps saying that I don't need any more - but what has need got to do with lovely rings, pretty bangles, gorgeous earrings, delightful necklaces........

 

we didn't just do Christmas shopping, we also bought some treats - I'll tell you all about them tomorrow!

That's better!

Fortunately the stormy weather had gone when we got up this morning, and we escaped the floods and power cuts which have affected other parts of the country.  I nipped out in the middle of doing the housework to take some photos ...... and got caught by the postman, who raised an eyebrow at my disreputable houseworking clothes!  The Eildons were hazy in the distance

 

when I stood on the front doorstep to take this photo, I realised how much the trees in the foreground have grown in the six years we have lived here, as they now obscure the Mintos

 

that photo was taken with the big lens, but when I was leaving for patch'n'chat, I nipped out into the middle of the road, to take this photo with the small lens

 

once in the car, I didn't get very far before I had to swerve into JimtheFarmer's drive ........ because look what I saw in the field across the road - DONKEYS!!

 

at patch'n'chat, Jen had finished a little quilt for Linus

 

I was playing with another batch of fabric samples

 

this was the first version

 

I then added centre strips, as I did with the black, white and red quilt

 

then added a square in the centre

 

then, of course, there was the Friday cake ....... Annette's delicious chocolate sponge

 

over the weekend, I shall be putting the finishing touches to my stuff for next Saturday's Christmas Fair.  I hope you all have a good weekend, love Anne

Two happy bloggers!

We didn't take our usual route to Longframlington this morning, as we were picking up my friend Lorraine, who had a Christmas cake and marzipan fruits to deliver to Anne.  As Lorraine has to sit in the front, as she suffers dreadfully from carsickness, I was only able to take some photos of the scenery on the way to collect her

 

Malcolm dropped us off at the shop and went off to do some beachcombing ...... he found lots of bits of wood, but he won't be able to use them for some time, as they will have to dry out.  Lorraine and I spent the day drinking cuppas, eating lunch, blethering ........ oh, we did manage to do some sewing as well!  The most important piece of news is that Anne is having a major sale next week, to celebrate the first anniversary of opening the shop, so if you are anywhere near Stitchin Heaven, do call in .......

 

....... and treat yourself to some of these delicious fabrics!

 

But the highlight of the day was meeting Lucie, whose blog is The Happy Quilter.  So there were two happy bloggers, as it isn't very often that you get to meet other bloggers in the real world!  I had assumed that Lucie would have a northern accent, so I was surprised to discover that she is Canadian - so now when I read her blog, I will have her accent in my head!

 

However the photo of the day has to be this one - how cute is this dog on the back of the quad bike!

A very busy weekend!

Despite talking more than sewing, I did get quite a lot done on Friday, sewing quite a few more clamshells (sorry, forgot to take a photo!) and making a start to the embroidery on the Needle Nookie

 

Katy brought in her chicken wallhanging - it is just so cute!  The chickens are called Clara, Doris and Ethel

 

the wallhanging has an amazing edging

 

and the chickens look appealing with their ricrac topknots

 

as always there was the Friday cake - Annette's delicious cupcakes

 

this Saturday we are having a "Linus Day" at Borderland Fabrics, where we will work together to make as many quilts as possible.  Katy made a start to one, using this Jelly Roll of Christmas fabrics ......

 

sub-cutting some of the strips and deciding on a layout for them

 

later, we ordered Chinese food

 

I had my favourite chicken chow mein

 

yesterday morning we went for a walk in Kelso.  The sun was shining and the sky was blue - a perfect background for these old chimneys

 

I want a window like this one!

 

Malcolm took this photo (the boy has talent!)

 

as well as tractors and rusty things, I also like boats!

 

and you know I love herons

 

this is Floors Castle, home of the Duke and Duchess of Roxburghe

 

I finished the baby quilt.  These aren't the best of photos, as it was another dull, grey day

 

I also finished my ripple rug!

 

I also made a start to quilting the little teddy bear quilt for Linus

 

on Friday, I got these fabrics from Sandra, our wonderful Linus Lady - I'll show you tomorrow wwhat I have done with them!