frayed at the edge

Foraging

We went for a walk yesterday morning, but we soon got distracted from the walk by these .....

 

 

..... lots and lots of wonderful rose hips.  And there were still some roses too

 

 

 

 

We picked lots of rose hips, and some brambles - more about them later.  But I wasn't so distracted by the picking that I forgot to admire the wonderful scenery

 

 

Malcolm dropped me off on the way home so that I could pick some more rose hips and some apples from the hedgerow, then I walked the rest of the way home, enjoying the warm sunshine.  The views have changed, now that the crops have been harvested, and some of the fields ploughed and replanted

 

 

 

 

The sheep were also enjoying the sunshine

 

 

 

Back home, I sorted out our foraged fruits

 

rosehips

 

 

brambles

 

 

The apples on the right are from the hedgerow, the ones on the left are crab apples, which Jennifer gave me.  This afternoon I washed all the fruit thoroughly, then I topped and tailed the rosehips and put them in a large saucepan, along with the crab apples and some of the hedgerow apples and added water.  I put the rest of the hedgerow apples and brambles in another suacepan and again added water.  Then, I left both lots to simmer

 

 

By the end of the afternoon, the first lot was dripping through the jelly bag

 

 

Malcolm, meanwhile, was working on his steps

 

 

The knitting update ....... the socks are finished

 

 

........ and the scarf is almost finished.  I have still to sew in the ends and block it.  I made a couple of mistakes - the first one was missing out a row of the cable ....... I had knitted quite a bit more before I noticed, so I didn't take it back.  Then I forgot to make two of the bobbles - but I simply picked up the stitch and worked the bobbles ..... it just means I have more ends to sew in.  BUT  as I arranged the scarf on the floor to take a photo ........ horrors, another missing bobble!!  I had planned to knit the scarf again in a different colour - maybe I'll just do it without the bobbles!  I can't show you what I am knitting this week, as I am taking part in a swap over at Mousy Brown's and of course I am knitting a little something for my swap partner Alyson.

 

To finish ...... I didn't just bring fruit home.  When I tipped the rosehips into the bowl, a spider appeared!  Don't worry, I rescued it and put it out in the garden!

 

Green machine .......

........ this is our inverter in the loft

 

which takes the direct current from the solar panels and turns it into alternating current, which we can use.  We don't actually need bright sunshine for the panels to start generating, just daylight.  If the panels generate more electricity than we are using in the house, then the excess is exported to the grid.  This little meter in the hall cupboard tells us how much we are producing

 

Now comes the good part - under a government scheme, we are paid for every unit of electricity that we generate, plus a little more for every unit we export to the grid ......... and every unit that we use means a corresponding decrease in our electricity bill.  I think that's what you call a win/win situation (although of course we did have to invest in the solar panels!)

 

 

While all the technical/electrical work was going on this morning, I popped the big lens on the camera and headed into Hawick.  I had noticed these figures on a chimney some time ago, and finally I remembered to take some photos.  The figures are rather grimy and in need of some tlc.  Unfortunately there was a tv aerial in the way ...

 

 

 

But the only angle which excluded the aerial meant pointing the camera at the sun

 

 

Still looking up, first I saw these old chimneys

 

 

 

then something special at the top of this building

 

 

a thistle on the right (symbolising Scotland)

 

 

and a rose on the left (for England)

 

 

I think this view along the river looks quite continental

 

 

The heron was enjoying the sunny morning, standing on the riverbank preening

 

 

It is such a handsome bird, I never tire of taking photos of it - and it very kindly showed me both profiles!

 

 

 

Back home, the birds are on a somewhat smaller scale!  I am still trying to get photos of them on the birdbath .... but these sparrows were just sitting in the hawthorn tree laughing at me!

 

 

Eventually a sparrow did pose prettily on top of the stone owl

 

 

and the robin was a bright spot among the sparrows

 

 

I'm off on another day out tomorrow - this time to the autumn quilt show, which is also the Scottish Championships.  As well as lots of quilts, there will also be TRADERS ..... but of course I couldn't possibly buy anything so soon after my trip to Harrogate .......

Three soups in one day

No, no, I haven't gone on a weird diet!  We had homemade chicken soup for lunch, then I made two more pots of soup - I like to have lots of soup in the freezer when the weather gets colder.  Yesterday Malcolm had cooked a piece of ham in the slow cooker, with lots of onion, apple and apple juice.  This provided a big pot of stock for the first soup

 

 

Once I had brought the stock up to the boil, I added frozen peas, and simmered the soup for a few minutes until the peas were cooked

 

 

These are the ingredients for the other soup - parsnips, apples, butter, seasoning and chicken stock

 

 

I cooked the parsnips for about five minutes in the butter, added the apple - and an extra ingredient, a teaspoon of ground cumin.

 
 
 

Then I added the seasoning and the stock, and simmered the soup until the parsnip was soft.    Once both soups had cooled, I gave them a quick blitz.  Then I gave Malcolm a little sample of both of them ...... he declared them both to be very good!

 

 

I mentioned that Malcolm had another project for the remodelling of the front garden ........ we have never liked these steps in front of the lounge window (the middle section is actually a door)

 

 

so Malcolm is making new steps to stretch the width of the whole window using decking - this afternoon he has a trial fit of the supporting framework

 

 

The garden is looking good

 

 

except for this rather large weed, which had somehow escaped Malcolm's eagle eye!

 

 

The knitting update - I have finished the socks, except for the Kitchener stitch on the second sock

 

 

I've gone back to the Debbie Bliss book for this chunky scarf

 

 

It's a nice, quick and easy pattern

 

 

To finish ........ this is the bottom of an advert on the side of a van, which I saw in Hawick this morning.  Is the estate agent saying that he is the only independent agent (rather than the property department of a solicitor, which is the more common way of selling houses here) or is he saying that he is the only one who works hard

 

On the road again!

This morning we set off in bright (but chilly!) sunshine, to drive down to Morpeth to see Jennifer.  As it was so glorious, we stopped at the viewpoint at the Carter Bar ..... but as often is the case there, the views were hazy!

 

 

 

However, to make up for the hazy views, further down the road we were treated to some dramatic skies

 

 

 

We went out for lunch with Jennifer, a belated celebration for Malcolm's birthday.  Both Jennifer and Malcolm had scampi and chips ....

 

 

...... while I had a 'New York deli' burger

 

 

Much as I love chips,  I couldn't manage to eat the whole helping!  We are still full, and haven't yet had any dinner - I think we will just have a light snack later!

As we went back to the car after lunch, we saw this horse and shetland pony

 

 
 

 

 

On the way home, Malcolm had to stop the car to let me take this photo - the road is like a roller coaster and  I couldn't hold the camera steady!  (don't worry, there wasn't any other traffic on the road)

 

 

When we crossed the border, we pulled into a layby, so that I could take some more photos of the stunning scenery - we are so lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the country

 

 

 

 

While we were away for the day, there was lots of work going on in the front garden .... the path was finally being relaid after being lifted for the drainworks.  The workmen just have to come back tomorrow to do the pointing.  We are delighted with the new look path  ...... the previous one was laid with large gaps and odd spaces between the paving slabs.  While it looked good, it was very awkward to walk on - it was like crossing stepping stones.

 

 

 

Remember you have until tomorrow to leave a comment, if you would like to be included in the draw for the giveaway (Malcolm has been practising his random number generating ...... or maybe he was just counting something!!).

To finish - every time I see this sign at the Carter Bar viewpoint, I want to take a big black marker to it and correct the mistake on the second line

 

It should be fahren, not fahran - the sign on the other side of the road is correct!

Another night out!

Yes, I was out again last night - it is very unusual for me to have an evening out two weeks in a row!  Last night I headed to Kelso to join Abbey Quilters ........ when we first moved here, I joined two quilts groups, but neither was the sort of group that I really wanted to belong to, and I eventually left.  But I know lots of members of Abbey Quilters (I've even been a guest speaker there!), so I decided that I would join them, and yesterday was the first meeting of the new year.  I had a great time, and in no time at all had chosen a piece of redwork to stitch .........

 

 

....... except I am stitching it in blue!

 

 

That little block is just a practise bfore starting on this one, which is this year's challenge  - most of us picked a block, then all the blocks will eventually be made into a quilt for next year's exhibition

 

 

I also signed up for a talk and a workshop, put my name down to participate in a block of the month quilt, and somehow came home with a set of patterns for another quilt .... perhaps if I give up sleeping all this sewing will get done!!  I also came home with two bags full of cooking apples, given to me by my friend Anne S.  Malcolm produced this box, which had had bottles of wine in it - the cardboard dividers make it ideal for storing the apples in

 

 

After all the stormy weather, it was a much better day, so we went to Jedburgh for a walk along the river.  The abbey as ever looked imposing, seen through the trees

 

 

The river looked tranquil this morning .....

 

 

....... but the detritus caught on the bridge pier is evidence of how hard the river had been running recently

 

 

This duck was quite happy, standing on a large stone on the river bed

 

 

We walked quite a long way along the river, but for once we didn't see a heron - usually we see two or three on this stretch of river.  But we did see this clump of fungi - I've told you before that I always imagine a little village of elves living in tiny fungi houses!

 

 

Remember to leave a comment if you would like to be included in the draw on Friday, to celebrate my 800th post (which was on Monday).

To finish - I went out the back door of the studio this afternoon, to close the outer storm doors ..... and found that I have new neighbours!  This is the field that was ploughed and reseeded earlier in the summer - it now has lush grass which these sheep were tucking into, in the afternoon sun

 

 

 

ps - the clear blue sky has been very welcome - but it also means that the weather has turned a lot cooler ...... we have just turned on the central heating for the first time this autumn!

W'otter lot of fun!

When we were going out on Saturday morning, I realised that I didn't have a camera in  my bag, so I picked up my small one, which was next to the door, rather than go back for the big one.  Of course, this guaranteed that there would be a fabulous photo opportunity, which I really needed the big one for!   You have probably guessed from today's title ...... yes, there were two otters playing in the River Teviot.  I had never seen otters before, other than on tv, so it was wonderful to be able to watch them .  Unfortunately, they were so quick to dive again each time they surfaced, that the photos aren't very good .....

 

 

 

 

 

It turned a bit chilly on Saturday afternoon, so Malcolm lit the stove - the first time this autumn

 

 

Yesterday morning we headed over to the village of Eckford for a craft fair.  There were lots of stalls, but as it was so busy I wasn't able to take photos ...... except for this one of the wonderful plate of home baking that we enjoyed with our cuppa (we didn't have any lunch after feasting on the cakes - Malcolm manfully ate both pieces of scone, in support of my efforts to eat less!!)

 

 

I didn't buy any of the crafts on offer (as I make most of them myself) ....... but I did buy this wonderful yarn, from a lady who was selling off some of her stash.  It is pure silk

 

 

 

It is very windy today (the tail end of Hurrican Katia) - you can see that the grass on the verge has been flattened

 

 

The poor horses in the field across the road were thoroughly miserable, standing with their backs to the wind

 

 

The view over to the Mintos was hazy with all the rain in the air

 

 

It was difficult to take photos of the birds today, as the feeders were blowing about - in the end only two photos were usable

 

 

 

On the ground this little sparrow was making his feelings clear, shouting at anyone who would listen!

 

 

Fortunately these roses are sheltered, and have survived the wind

 

 

Monday means the knitting update ...... I have finished the first sock and made a good start on the second

 

 

To finish ....... this is my 800th post!!  So of course that means a little giveaway.  Leave a comment anytime between now and Friday (you can comment every day if you want!) and the random number picker (aka Malcolm) will choose not one, but two winners ..... one in the UK and one abroad.  I have no idea yet what the giveaway will be - I shall have to delve into my various stashes!

Unidentified flying objects .........

......... in this case birds!  I have been looking at so many pictures of ducks, I am starting to quack, but I still don't know what this is.  It was swimming in the River Teviot this morning

 

 

 

 

I also haven't been able to identify this bird, which was bobbing about at the water's edge.  It looked similar to a wagtail, but with stiking yellow  flashes

 

 

 

 

However, I didn't need any help to identify this next bird - the heron

 

 

 

 

 

I thought I should take a photo of this old mill, as it is scheduled for demoltion ...... although hopefully the clock tower will be saved.  The building is a victim of the economic downturn - it was going to be developed into apartments, but those plans fell through, and the building fell further and further into disrepair.  It will be sad to see another little bit of Hawick's rich history disappear

 

 

These two handsome dogs were patiently waiting for their owner outside the supermarket - I guess their owner didn't see the item on the news yesterday about dogs being stolen and large amounts of money being demanded for their safe return

 

 

Back home, the birds haven't been put off by the appearance of the owls round the bird table, and were tucking in when I took these photos after lunch

 

 

 

 

 

Summer is now officially over, and one of the horses in the field across the road already has its coat on!

 

 

To finish - why do these ripening elderberries not fill me with joy ....... because it means that soon my car will be covered in purple bird poo!!

 

 

The birds and the bees ......

......... and other creatures. 

I'm running late tonight as I was at the hairdresser, then had to put a cake in the oven after dinner (yes, me, baking!!).  So, not much text, just lots of fun photos!

 

sparrows saying good morning

 

 

enjoying breakfast

 

 

crows having a noisy quarrel

 

 

I love his top knot!!

 

 

a squirrel with a conker

 

 

a big fat bumble bee on the bees balm

 

 

a bee on the budleiia (alas, no butterflies)

 

 

a hover fly

 

 

a little fly

 

 

a fat fly on the grape vine (but, alas again, no grapes this year!)

 

Must go, as the cake needs to be checked.  What am I baking - I'll tell you tomorrow!!

 

Steam ......

...... is coming out of my ears!!  I had got to the last photo of tonight's post, whenTypepad had a wobbly and wouldn't insert it, so I clicked on 'save', intending to exit Typepad, then come back and finish the post ....... and instead of saving the post, I got one of the awful 'error' messages, and the entire post vanished never to be seen again!!

I can't face doing the whole thing over, so here are the highlights ....... wonderful views ot the Mintos and Eildons, in the sparkly clear air, after all the rain

 

 

 

I finally made it to the bottom of the hill today .....

 

 

..... after being prevented by the rain yesterday, and these cheeky lambs on Monday

 

 

When I was at knit'n'natter this afternoon, the logs for the winter were delivered - what a shame I wasn't there to help Malcolm stack them in the log store!

 

 

So what am I knitting, now that the shawl is finished!  My lovely, fun sheep tea cosy!

 

Nothing but blue skies!!

Well, not quite, but we have had a lot of blue sky and sunshine today ........ although there has also been a chilly wind.  But first thing this morning, this lone seagull was enjoying a leisurely flight.

 

 

Passing a neighbour's house, I was delighted to see lots of sparrows - here are just a few of them

 

 

There was a wonderful scent in the air, with the sun shining on this honeysuckle

 

 

The sheep looked much happier today, after the soggy weekend

 

 

 

 

Every time I read Meredithe's blog, I am amazed at how much stitching she does - she makes me feel like a complete slacker!!  So today I was determined to get more done.  I started with my hexagons.  The project box is filling up nicely, with the first set done, and six more strips cut out ready to tack on to the papers

 

 

Working on the hexagons, I use three different pairs of scissors.  The black handled ones are for cutting paper, the yellow handled ones are for cutting thread, and the blue handled ones are for cutting fabric.  The ribbons are to indicate what the scissors are for when I have visitors in the studio using them (it is a terrible offence to use my fabric scissors to cut paper!!)

 

 

Then I got out the second Baltomire block, and finished the flowers.  It has still to get some berries on the main stem, bit I haven't decided how I will do them - I may make some beaded ones

 

 

Then I started on the third block, pinning the wreath in place, and stitching some of it

 

 

To end, some snow in August ...... no, not real snow, the snowberry hedge round one of the neighbours' garden has suddenly produced a large crop of berries - much earlier than usual!