frayed at the edge

Out and about

We had a wonderful Christmas day, with lots of lovely presents, good food and a glass or two of wine!  Yesterday morning, we popped into Hawick, where we were delighted to find Sainsbury's open, so that we could buy the Sunday newspapers.  Leaving the car at the supermarket, we went for a walk (a very cold walk!) in the park.After the walk, we went into the supermarket cafe ..... a large cup of steaming coffe for Malcolm, and a hot chocolate for me!

We were amazed to find that the river had frozen over

 

 

and there was a wonderful 'icefall', where water coming down off the bank above the path had frozen

 

 

When we crossed the footbridge over the river, this was the view in one direction

 

 

and this is the view looking the other way

 

 

As we went back across the river, Malcolm spotted a salmon!  If you look carefully in the centre of the photo, you can just about make it out

 

 

When I opened my presents on Christmas morning, I started with the smallest one ...... and immediately declared it to be my best present!!

 

Wonderful Sock Monkeys to put on keys - I have put them on the keys for the studio.  Then the second parcel produced .....

 

..... the cutest little owl to keep my Ipod headphones on!

 

I know it isn't quite yet time to make my New Year's resolutions, but I have already decided that 2011 will be (fanfare and roll of drums) ...... The Year of the Kits!!  I looked out two kits from the studio, but when I went to start the first one, which was a free gift with a magazine, there was a slight problem

 

 

If you look at the bottom, you will see that the chart for the design was in the magazine, which I no longer have!  However, all is not lost, as I think I will be able to mark out the stitches on squared paper.

It was on to the next kit ....

 

 

and encountering no problems with this one, I have done the basic stitching of the first heart

 

 

Although there has been a little bit of a thaw, we still have a lot of snow lying and the birds are still flocking to the garden to be fed ...... today's collection included this big fat pigeon

 

A deep depression over Hawick

No, I'm not talking about the weather, but the gloom in the Donald household when it started to snow again!  We are completely fed up with this weather - it hasn't been above freezing for days.  Ah well, never mind, it will soon be Christmas!

I took the big camera out to the studio this afternoon, put two chairs in front of the doors so that hopefully the birds wouldn't be so aware of the movement when I went to take photos and fly away, then ....... it started to snow yet again! 

 

 

However, eventually, the snow stopped and I saw a little flash of colour

 

 

Which turned out to be a great tit

 

 

It obligingly hopped down to have a peck in the snow for food

 

 

It was joined by a male blackbird

 

 

Then, much to my delight, some redwings appeared ....... but they were so well camouflaged by the leaf litter, it was hard to get a clear photo!

 

 

 

I have mentioned before that I like to light a scented candle in the kitchen.  Usually I buy supermarket own-brand ones, but my treat at Christmas is to buy one of these

 

Other than the Christmas cake and some mince pies, I don't bake at Christmas, but this candle is filling the house with the most wonderful aroma of vanilla - if only I could blog the smell!!

 

We finally had some of our purple potatoes!!  Malcolm cooked wonderful salmon for dinner (the 'fish man' calls at the house every Wednesday morning with fresh fish).  He made some purple mashed potato to go with it  - the potatoes stayed purple and looked a bit weird, but they tasted like ...... ordinary potatoes!

 

 

I had already started to write this post, when I remembered that I hadn't taken this last photo - and in my rush to take it I think I must have moved the camera, so it is slightly blurred!  I wanted to show you my wonderful crochet snowflake from Lynne, which I have added to the centre of the mitten bunting

 

I think I will have to work on my crochet skills, as snowflake bunting would look lovely for next Christmas!

Please, no more songs on the radio ......

....... about snow!  We are very, very fed up with the stuff!  Yesterday, I should have been going to the last Woolgathering of the year, but I got up to find it had snowed again, and had to stay at home.  Then yesterday evening we should have been going to visit friends, but between the snow and the freezing temperatures, we reluctantly had to cancel.  And lastly, we should have been going up to Falkirk to visit Stuart, but with the threat of more snow to come, we were worried that, although we might get there, we might not get home!

But, on the other hand, it does makes for good photos!!  We had unusual visitors in the garden this morning - starlings

 

 

Malcolm had some errands in Hawick this morning, so I decided to go with him.  It was quite misty when we arrived, as you can see in this photo of the Town Hall

 

 

When I stopped on the bridge to take a photo of the river, I was delighted to see the heron

 

 

Remember the mountain of snow in the car park?  It has grown even higher ..... I think it will be a long time before it melts!

 

 

Later in the morning the mist cleared and we had blue skies and sunshine, so after lunch we decided to go for a walk.  This was the beautiful (but chilly) view as we set off towards the church

 

 

But at least we could head back home and warm up after the walk, unlike these gorgeous girls

 

 

The church looked lovely in the sunshine - but I am keeping the photos for Shadow Shot Sunday!  We walked back down the hill, past the house, as there was a large fallen branch that Malcolm wanted to bring home to cut up for logs.  While he was dealing with the branch, I found more sheep!

 

 

We had a detour on our way home from Hawick this morning, as Malcolm wanted to call in to Homebase.  I was quite happy with this, as it gave me the chance to take a photo of the view across the valley to our house

 
 

The camera did suggest that I altered the settings for the 'white balance', but that would have meant taking my gloves off, so there isn't a lot of contrast in the photo!

 

Festive fare

No more snow, but very cold and icy.  The birds as ever were flocking to the feeders this morning.  I saw this little one on the ground, but I couldn't decide what it was

 

The markings on the wings look like a sparrow's, but the bird was probably only two thirds the size of a sparrow .......

 

 

....... and face on to the camera it looks different

 

 

Whatever it was, it was very entertaining, bobbing about under the bird table.

 

Today was our Christmas lunch at patch'n'chat.  Unfortunately, several of the ladies weren't there, either because of the weather or illness.  As usual, Annette (on the left, the owner of the shop and baker of the wonderful cakes) and Cathy (quilter extrodinaire and Annette's right hand woman) dressed up for the occasion

 

 

We all took a contribution for the lunch, so we sat down to a rather tasty spread

 

 

It's just my thick jacket that's making me look fat, not all the food I've just consumed!!

 

 

I'm going to have a busy weekend, finishing off the Christmas present sewing.  I hope you all have a good weekend, love Anne

It's back!

We got up this morning to find a dusting of snow, then after breakfast it started snowing with big fat flakes and we thought we would soon be snowed in again when the road looked like this

 

 

Fortunately, however, the snow stopped soon afterwards, and there has been enough traffic on the road to clear it (although we now have the problem of ice, as it is freezing hard!).  The birds were busy tucking into their breakfast, but this one was determined to keep its back to me!

 

 

However this one posed in the hawthorn tree, standing out nicely against the snow on the branches

 

 

I finished my toe up socks last night (apart from darning in the ends).  I found the method quite straightforward - although I think it would be difficult for someone who hadn't knitted socks from the top down

 

 

I found the heel simple to do, and it looks the same as doing it the traditional way

 

 

Apart from a short break for lunch, I was out in the studio sewing from half past ten until half past four!  I can't tell you what I was doing, but I'll give you two little sneak peeks!  First, the right side ......

 

 

...... and then the reverse (which is actually a much deeper blue than in the photo)

 

 

My fingers are firmly crossed that the weather doesn't get any worse and that the roads remain clear, as I have a busy three days ahead - and if I don't get to go out, I will have to stay in and do the ironing!  Every year I ask Santa for an Ironing Fairy for Christmas ....... maybe this year I'll find one in my stocking!!

Purple potatoes!

The Christmas Fair finally went ahead on Saturday.  We did fairly well, but not as well as we hoped.  It certainly wasn't as busy as the last two years.  We got there early, to give us plenty of time to set up our stall - we were sharing with my friend Lorraine - two tables between the three of us.

 

all our lovely goodies

 

 

Malcolm's super woodwork

 

 

some of my things ......

 

 

..... the rest of them

 

 

Lorraine with her yummy wares

 

 

yes - it's me!!

 

Oh dear, I've just realised that I haven't taken a photo of the fabulous marzipan petit fours that I got from Lorraine for our Christmas cake.  I don't like marzipan, so I only put icing on the cake then decorate with the petit fours, so that Malcolm can still have some marzipan.  However, I do have a food related photo - these wonderful potatoes that I bought when I did my usual Monday morning shopping

 

I have never had them before - of course there will be a full report with photos when I cook them!  When I was in town this morning, I was heading for the footbridge to cross the river over to the supermarket, when I saw .....

 

..... a heron!  Usually they have their heads tucked in, but this one had his (or her) neck stretched right out

 

 

Last week I had ordered some cards from my lovely bloggy friend Gretel.  Our post has been all to pot because of the weather, so they finally arrived this morning.  They are pictures of the fabulous, fantastic needle felted animals that Gretel makes

 

 

Gretel also included a present for me in the parcel -  a set of beautiful cards which show off her other talent as an illustrator

 

Thank you very much Gretel, for such a lovely gift!

 

Malcolm was supposed to be getting woodworking tools for his birthday and Christmas, but he couldn't make up his mind what he wanted.  However we recently saw a demonstration of woodturning and he decided he would like a lathe.  After some online research, he finally chose which one he would like and I ordered it last week.  It was delivered today, but for the moment is still in the box

 

everyone will get a table leg for Christmas next year!!

 

Drip .... drip .... drip

Hooray - the temperature has been above freezing all day!!  So everywhere we went, there was the constant sound of dripping, as the thaw got underway.  Unfortunately, the forecast is for the freezing weather to return next week, but for the moment, we will enjoy the small respite.  As our road was still quite bad this morning, I called on Malcolm for chauffeuring services.  Our first stop was Borderland Fabrics, as I needed fabrics to complete two Christmas presents (you will have to wait to see them!).  There were no other customers, so we had a cuppa with Annette and Cathy.  Fabric purchased, we then went on into Jedburgh town centre, where, having bought the newspapers, we popped in for an early lunch!  On the way back to the car, I had to get the camera out to capture these icicle displays

 

 

 

Our next stop was Kelso ...... yippee, I've been to the hairdresser, so I no longer look like an old English sheepdog!  Of course I had to stop to take more photos - this time of the Abbey

 

 

 

Last night I was busy knitting - can you guess what it is?

 

 

Yes, it's a mitten ...

 

 

...... but it's a very special mitten

 

 

In one of those little coincidences in blogland, I had been looking at a pattern on Ravelry for tiny mittens .... then the next day, Rattling on .... had posted this pattern.  I only had a ball of red double knitting in the house last night to make a start to kntting some, so this morning I delved into my leftovers box for some other colours

 

The plan is to knit enough to make some bunting to string along the front of the fireplace.  I also thought that for next year, I could knit some to make an advent calendar.

Another Christmassy thing has appeared in the house - this time a little wallhanging (except it is on a door!).  Apologies for the next photo being slightly out of focus, but I wanted to show you how I put it on the door ..... I put a little bit of Blu Tack on the door, then pin the hanging to the Blu Tack

 

 

This is a detail of the stitching

 

 

I designed the wallhanging about 15 years ago as a mystery project - that was the famous occasion when someone from the back of the room asked to see mine, so she would know what the finished wallhanging looked like!!  It did have beads and litlle silver bells, hanging from the prairie points - but I put it in an exhibition some years ago and it came back without them!  However, it still looks good when it comes out of hibernation every December

 

A quiet life!

Oh dear ..... this weather is seriously affecting gathering subject matter for the blog!!  We ventured out this morning - although, at minus nine, there was ice on the inside of the car windows!  Once we finally got defrosted, we set off rather gingerly down the road, as it hasn't been cleared or gritted since the last snow on Monday.  By the time we had walked from the car park to the shops, we were so cold that we had to go for a cuppa (and perhaps we shared a scone!).  It didn't help that I had forgotten my gloves ..... on the way back to the car I popped in to an outdoor clothing shop and bought a pair before my poor little fingers froze completely.  My hands had just warmed up when I had to take one of the gloves back off, so I could use the camera.  This first photo shows the River Slitrig, which has partly frozen ......

 

 

....... and this is the River Teviot, also partly frozen

 

 

These icicles are quite spectacular - the beautiful building they are hanging from was once a bank, but is now a wedding dress shop!

 

 

The snow mountain in the car park is getting bigger

 

 

But at least that means that the main routes through the town are clear

 

 

I spent the afternoon out in the studio making miles of bunting (ok, it wasn't really miles, but it was yards and yards!).  Here it is all packaged ready for the Fair

 

 

If the Fair gets cancelled again this week, I will throw the biggest and hissiest of all big hissy fits (then I'll sit in a corner and cry!)  I have an appointment at the hairdresser tomorrow, but fortunately Malcolm has offered to drive (my hairdresser is in Kelso) as he knows I am very nervous about driving on icy roads.  Should the weather get worse and I can't go, I will have to take the scissors to my fringe, as I can hardly see for it .... and it refuses to be swept to the side!  To finish on a cheerier note, I am going to choose a folder of photos at random, and then hopefully find a photo of something gorgeous!!

 

One of my beautiful orchids - definitely gorgeous!!

A little bit of snow ......

...... and a lot of crafting!  We perhaps had another two inches yesterday and today has been bitterly cold, so it was another day at home.  Malcolm had thought about going to Hawick to get the newspapers, but the road was really icy, so he thought it was far more sensible to stay at home!  So I spent the day in the studio ...... I know, it's a hard life!  I cut out and quilted another two cushions - but I'll just show you the backs today and I'll show you the fronts when they are finished

 

 

 

I then decided to make some more bunting  using a pack of Christmas papers that I have had for years (this bad weather has been very good for helping me to use up my stash!!) and a bigger template than I used for the last bunting

 

 

I was able to cut two diamonds from each sheet of paper

 

 

It was quite relaxing folding all the pieces, while listening to the radio

 

 

I then sorted them out into piles and cut lengths of string

 

 

I finished one length before it was time to head back into the house for dinner

 

 

It was bright and sunny today (but as I mentioned already, bitterly cold!), so I thought you might like some more snowy photos

 

 

 

 

 

To finish ..... a little Christmas decoration has crept into the kitchen - isn't she cute!!

 

Beauty and the beast

Yesterday, we went out to the garden centre for a cuppa.  The main roads were clear, and the snow looked lovely

 

 

 

 

 

But when we were in Hawick this morning, we saw the other side of all the snow we have had

 

 

 

 

The snow is slowly being clear by bulldozers and large lorries ..... and this is where it is ending up - in a very large, dirty mountain

 

 

Although the main roads are clear, our road is still a bit nasty to negotiate in places

 

 

On a brighter note, I have baked the Christmas cake .......

 

 

...... and Alison's cushion is finished

 

 

 

And a bit of good news to end with - the Christmas Fair is on this Saturday ....... weather permitting!!