frayed at the edge

A hint of spring?

When I was out in the back garden on Saturday afternoon, a little flash ofcolour caught my eye.  Could this tiny narcissus be the herald of an early spring?

 

Then yesterday when we were out for our usual Sunday morning walk, we saw shoots of wild garlic .....

 

....... seedlings

 

...... and a tiny winter aconite

 

Before our walk, we stopped at Scott's View ...... to admire the view!

 

 

On our walk to the William Wallace statue, we were entertained by a beautiful chocolate labrador, which ran tirelessly back and forward along the path.  You can just see him in the middle of the photo, as he careered round the bend in the path

 

I had the long lens on the camera so that I could photograph some of the detail on the statue - I hadn't noticed this dragon-like creature on his helmet before

 

From the path, we could see another monument, away in the distance.  This is the Waterloo Monument on Peneil Heugh

 

Of course you know what the next photo is ...... yes, after our exertions we had to go for a cuppa!  As it was nearly lunchtime, as well as sharing a piece of lemon drizzle cake, we also shared a bacon and mushroom muffin

 

For the last couple of weeks, we have been using the main road rather than the back road to the house, as part of the back road was covered in muck* after the farmer cleaned out his cow byres.  However, we came round that way yesterday so that we could check on the Jacob's lambs

 

 

I was busy in the studio on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons working on the circles for the quilt top.  I discovered that I had miscalculated how many squares to cut to make the circles, and didn't have enough, however I have now made the rest and hope to get them sewn on tomorrow, and the final outer border added

 

I'll keep the rest of the postcards for tomorrow, and end with one of my 'arty' photos!

 

* that's muck as in manure, not mud!!

Going down in a blaze of glory!

We were treated to the most amazing sunset last night, with the sky blazing with colour.  The photos don't really show the true depth of red, as the camera kept trying to add light!

 

 

 

At Abbey Quilters last night, we had the choice of three small proects to work on.  As a new member, I chose the name badge.  I was pleased with how the embroidery turned out, as I didn't mark it, I just did it freehand

 

Next to me, Mary and Katy were prepping pentagons to make balls for babies

 

This morning we headed up to Lauder for a walk before lunch.  I got sidetracked by the way these plants were growing in the cracks in an old wall

 

 

When I caught up with Malcolm, he pointed out these stones stuffed in to the cat flap in this garden door - I guess that's one way of keeping cats out of the garden!

 

We had intended to have lunch in the Flat Cat Gallery, but it was very busy and we couldn't get a table.  So we headed off for Stow (pronounced to rhyme with now).  The scenery was stunning (sorry, there are funny marks on some of the photos .... courtesy of the dirty windscreen!)

 

 

 

 We had lunch in The Cloudhouse.  Bacon, poached eggs and toast ...... sometimes simple food is the best!!

 

To end, the first of the photos of the post cards from the swap

Anairam

Anairam

 

Lynne

 

Linda

 

Aren't they all fabulous!!  More tomorrow.

A cold and frosty morning

We wrapped up warmly and headed to Selkirk to go for a walk at The Haining.  The paths tend to get very muddy, so it is best to go there when it is either frozen or dry!  The views are stunning ......

 

 

...... with the Sheriff Court standing out against the hills

 

There are several paths to follow, and today we headed for the one through the woods

 

The snowdrops were peeping through the dead leaves

 

I often mentioning looking up ....... which Malcolm did today, spotting first this

 

then this, which we decided is a large nest

 

The wind came up as we walked back to the car, making it very chilly indeed, so we were glad to go for some lunch to warm up.  We both had the corn beef stovies  (delicious!) ..... the photo looks a bit blurred, as the camera kept steaming up, coming in to the warm!

 

Back home, I got on with the quilt top.  When I mentioned yesterday that I had stitched the wrong two rows together, it didn't occur to me to say why!  The first row has circles on blocks 2, 4 and 6, so on the second row, they should be on blocks 1 ,3, 4 and 7. 

Having stitched sashing to the lower edge of each strip, I put them back on the wall to make sure that they were all correct

 

I then sewed strips one and two together, then strips three and four, and then sewed the first two to the second two (did you follow that?)  It is much more accurate to do it this way, rather than adding strip after strip, as the piece can become distorted

 

This stage is much slower to do, as I have to make sure that the blocks are aligned

 

To finish, two quite different, but equally appealing photos.  First, I just love how the little window is squeezed in next to the chimney

 

and second ....... all together now --aaaaah, isn't that the cutest little dog!

Sitting pretty

I have been doing more work on Cobweb - although as I wasn't happy with her wings, I ended up frogging them, and will knit a new set.  But she was quite happy to pose for photos ......

 

....... especially as she has lovely purple flowers in her hair!

 

Yesterday morning we went to Melrose for a walk along the river.  Although it was cold, with a little snow on the ground, it was bright, and it was good to get out and stretch my legs after spending rather a lot of time asleep on the couch last week!

Don't worry, Malcolm hasn't started carrying a manbag, it's my camera bag, and the other bag has the Sunday papers in it

 

It took several goes to capture this crow, as it kept turning its head

 

On the way back into town, in search of a hot drink, we came across these shaggy beauties

 

I enjoyed my hot chocolate, while Malcolm declared his americano to be excellent

 

The Post Office building in Melrose is very stylish .......

 

....... the ER over the door refers to Edward VII, not Queen Elizabeth, who is celebrating her Diamond Jubilee this year

 

I saw this little knitting sheep in a cake decorating shop window ........ if the shop had been open I think I would have bought it!

 

Another bit of fun to finish - someone in this furniture shop has come up with eye-catching signs!!

 

The old and the new

Malcolm and I hadn't been to the Woodhorn Museum before, and we had assumed it was just a collection of the mine buildings and machinery .... so we were amazed to see this visitor centre (Malcolm and Jennifer kindly supply the scale!)

 

They are looking at this

 

The plaque made us smile, as the word jobbie means something quite different for us!!

 

This memorial is for the men who died in the 1916 pit explosion

 

We will have to go back, to have a closer look at the various buildings and large pieces of machinery

 

After getting off to such a good start knitting the fairies, I seem to have got bogged down finishing them.  I am still fiddling about attaching the wings to wire to shape them, but I have made a start to doing Cobweb's hair.  I haven't stitched it in place yet, but I think it looks good!

 

As always I was at patch'n'chat this afternoon, and there were cheers when we went through for our afternoon cuppa, and found our favourite apple and sultana cake!

 

I hope you all have a good weekend - no doubt I will be chained to the sewing machine!!  Love Anne

 

A visual feast

We had to head to Newcastle again this morning, as Malcolm's car had to have more work done on it (a warranty repair this time, no so nasty bill!)  As always I had the camera at the ready as we approached the border.  On our side the sun was shining ......

 

....... but on the other side it was misty

 

You can just make out the line of the hill on the left, under the low cloud

 

As the car repair was going to take some time, we were given a coutesy car.  We headed over to Morpeth, to visit Malcolm's sister Jennifer.  While we were having a cuppa, Malcolm spotted this blue tit on the peanut feeder

 

Suitably refreshed, we then drove to Newbiggin, where Jennifer treated us to lunch.  Cheese omelette for Jennifer ....

 

....... crab sandwiches for Malcolm

 

....... and a ploughman's for me (Malcolm pinched some of my cheese!)

 

After lunch, we walked down to the seafront, to see .....

 Couple

 

However, it had turned rather cold and windy, so we didn't linger, but went on to Woodhorn Museum to see this exhibition

 

There were no signs forbidding photography, so I took some photos, although because of the low lighting in the room, they don't do the work justice

As we walked back to the car, it started to rain ...... but the sun was still shining and we were treated to this beautiful rainbow

 

I also took a lot of photos in the grounds of the museum, but I'll keep them for tomorrow.

 

 

 

Bridging the gap

After dropping off the car yesterday, we went to Freudz Cafe for a cuppa

The name of the cafe is explained by the plaque beside the door ......

 

Suitably refreshed, we headed for the Biscuit Factory, where we pottered round all the wonderful exhibits, until it was time for lunch. 

 

 I ordered a BLT and Malcolm a smoked ham and cream cheese bagel, but when they came we shared them - they were both delicious!

 

As we then had extra time to kill, we walked down to the River Tyne, where we saw several of the many bridges that cross the river

 

We crossed the river by the Millenium Bridge, which we then had a spectacular view of ........

 

...... from the Baltic Mill, which is now an arts centre.  Unfortunately we picked the wrong time to visit, as most of the floors were closed for the construction of new exhibits

 

Having crossed back over the river, we then stopped to look at The Blacksmith's Needle - which is where the tin of sardines came from.  Malcolm as ever provides the scale!

 

I could have taken dozens of photos, but contented myself with these ......

 

We then visitedBessie Surtees House, which dates frmo the 16th and 17th centuries

 

We enjoyed our visit to Anne's shop (she had just taken delivery of some delicious linens, which I was very tempted to buy) ......... but I came home with all this without spending a penny

No, Malcolm didn't distract her while I stuffed it under my jumper!  I've got a job!!  I am going to stitch sammples for Anne.  I am particularly looking forward to doing the little Blankits.

 

I was going to go for a walk after lunch, but while we were sitting at the kitchen table eating, lots of cloud suddenly appeared and there was a spit of rain in the air, so instead I headed out to the studio.  I layered up the quilt I am going to give to Linus ....

 

....... then quilted it and added the binding.  By the time I took this photo, the rain had turned to snow and it was so dark I had to turn the light on - you can see the difference that makes to the colours

 

I'll finish the quilt on Saturday, whenI am going to a 'Linus Day', organised by Sandra, our wonderful local Linus Lady.

I got some little bargains in the charity shops this morning, but I'll show them to you tomorrow.

 

ps - I've just come back to say that I am having a problem leaving comments on Blogger blogs that have word verification.  No matter how many times I type in the correct word, it says it's wrong and won't publish the comment.  So I am still reading all my favourites, I just can't leave you a comment.

900 posts .......

....... and I still haven't run out of things to say!!  When I started the blog, I never thought I would still be writing it three years later and that so many people all round the world would read it.  Thank you to everyone for reading and commenting - there wouldn't be much point in doing it if it wasn't for you!

As always for a Monday, I have lots of photos, all clamouring 'use me, use me, I want to be in the blog'.  So here goes.......

after the chocolate bunnies, mint chocolate lambs - yum, yum

 

the new curtains, looking good

 

I could see this from the back door of the studio - I want one!

 

the frosty start to yesterday's walk

 

sorry Malcolm, I couldn't squeeze this wood pile into the camera bag!

 

Malcolm provides the scale for this very old tree

 

not snow, but heavy frost in the garden this morning

 

icicles dripping from the sill of my (very dirty) car

 

the tit has its feather fluffed up to keep warm

 

this horse doesn't look very happy

 

and this one looks pretty miserable too

 

I'll keep the knitting update for tomorrow, as there are several photos to show you. 

It will be Burns' Night on the 25th, so one of the local butchers has an eye-catching sign in front of the shop, to remind folk to buy their haggis

 

A work of art!

As promised, a few more photos from our trip to Peebles.  When I saw this melted wheelie bin, I wanted to bring it home so that I could sell it to the Tate Modern, or enter is for the Turner Prize ....... well, it's as much a work of art as some of the stuff they inflict on us!!

 

Down by the river, one of these wonderful pine trees had come down in last week's storm

 

The centre of the tree was rotten, so it obviously just wasn't strong enough to withstand the high winds

 

This morning we popped into Hawick as usual - and as usual we walked round to see if the heron was on the River Slitrig.  Yes, there he was, basking in the sun

 

Just as I took this close-up  ..... he stuck his tongue out!!

 

I went out for a walk after lunch (Malcolm was rearranging the furniture in the back lounge and declined to accompany me!)  This was the first photo that I took ......

 

........ no, it's not a slightly fuzzy shadow shot, it's a completely out of focus shot - this is what it should look like!

 

These two women were enjoying a gentle potter on their horses

 

but this one went past at a trot!

 

So, I mentioned yesterday that we got a bargain in Peebles ...... and what a bargain!  A pair of pinch-pleated, double width, full length curtains

 

with thermal linings

 

They will replace the basic, cheap Ikea curtains which we put up as a temporary measure when we moved in more than five years ago

 

Malcolm has almost finished putting up a new rail for them, so hopefully we will get them hung tomorrow.  How big a bargain were they?  They cost us £35, which was a fraction of the original price ........ I couldn't even buy the fabric for that!

 

One last photo from my walk - and of course it has to be a sheep!  This Jacob's ewe should have her lamb(s) this month

 

It must be nearly Easter ........

....... as the shops are full of Easter goodies (I think we saw our first Easter egg on Boxing Day!)

 

We had a bit of discussion after breakfast this morning about where we would go for lunch today ..... we decided to go a bit further afield and went to Peebles.  When we parked in the main car park, we didn't take our usual route to the High Street, but instead headed in the other direction and crossed the river by this footbridge

 

Although this avenue of trees has a certain stark beauty, I want to see them in the spring to see if they have blossom, when they would look truly beautiful

 

We have never noticed this bead shop before, so were a bit surprised to be told it has been there for four years!

 

It was full of all sorts of beads and findings

 

We rarely see old-fashioned shops with their wares out on the pavement ...... perhaps the shops are worried that someone might trip over something and sue them!

 

Do you remember the last time we went to Peebles for lunch, when Malcolm had a delicious meal and I had the terrible chicken soup and dumplings?  I didn't show you the restaurant/deli last time, buut I'll show it to you this time ........

 

....... as we had the same meal that Malcolm had last time - toasted muffin with Ayrshire bacon, poached eggs and hollandaise sauce.  Delicious!!

 

After lunch we went for a good long walk along the river.  This was the second fishermen that we saw - it must have been a bit chilly standing in the water, waiting for a fish to bite!

 

Can you see at the right hand side of the footbridge, there is a dog walking across, followed by its owners?  It was funny when they got to the other side - the couple walked down the steps, but the dog, which was rather old, walked round the disabled-access ramp!

 

Walking back along the High Street, Malcolm spotted this sundial on a building across the road - it's just a pity the sun wasn't shining!

 

On the way home we stopped in Walkerburn at this new coffee shop ........

 

I was going to have my usual tea, but Malcolm suggested that I have hot chocolate ...... and he also got a chocolatey traybake .......you won't be surprised that we decided not to have the planned dinner this evening, and instead had a bowl of homemade soup!

I'll show you more photos tomorrow, when I will also tell you about the amazing bargain that we got.  But to finish,  this is what I bought in the bead shop

teeny tiny charms for me

 

a charm for shoe-mad Alison to add to the charm bracelet we gave her for Christmas