This moment...

A single image, no words, capturing a precious moment from my week.  A simple moment that I want to pause, savour and remember. 

I am so happy to be joining in with Soulemama again this week. Wishing you all a refreshing weekend.

Quilted tales

A few weeks ago, some lovely readers noticed this quilt in the background of one of my pictures - here to be precise.  Not only that -  but the artist herself came across the post too, and left a comment - how cool was that? And so, with no chance now of anyone thinking that, perhaps I had made it myself ( lol) -  I thought I would devote a whole post to it, and other quilts in my life.

Most of the renovations to the house are now complete, and we are on to the accessorizing  part.  I am still really trying to find a style that suits a 1970s bungalow, but also incorporates that modern country look that I like.   We brought all the pictures from our old house and while one or two of them fit in nicely somewhere, most just don't quite work.  We had a large expanse of wall above the couch which was begging to be filled with a piece of art, so we decided we would look at the work of artists from the island.
A very pleasant but difficult task. There are so many talented people working here on Lewis, and we have seen a fair few exhibitions already, but nothing really called to us.
Remember the day we went to look at the cows for the first time? Well, we stopped in at the Morvern Gallery on the way, for a most excellent coffee and utterly fabulous Vicky sponge. Of course, there is no point in being inside an art gallery and not looking at the art is there?  And there were a lot of beautiful pieces there, to be sure.  I had noticed the quilt in the passing, as I browsed about, but my head was fixated on looking for a painting.  Sitting down to my latte and giant wedge of cake,  John, who had been wandering around with James, asked what I had thought of it.  Hmmm - what did I think?  I went back and had a proper look and something shifted in my mind.  There was something very familiar about that scene.

*

Reader, I bought it.

The quilt is called Abandoned House, Loch Roag, and was created by the immensely talented Effie Galletly, who has produced some stunning work.  You can view her collections on her website at
Netherfield Gallery.

The quilt depicts the house as if looking towards the Stones, where it appears rooted in the land, but our normal view of it is surrounded by water - almost on an islet. What attracted John to the piece is that the land surrounding the old house is a patchwork of greens yellow and brown - symbolic of what we are trying to achieve on our own croft. I so love that.   We also discovered that the last inhabitant of the house shared our surname.  Synchronicity or what?  I love having it in that space and I can lie on the couch meditating on all those colours and shapes - it makes me very happy.

The second quilt is one which I came across, unfinished, in a box of my Mother's sewing stuff. I am not sure if it was to be a table runner or a wall hanging, but it is very beautiful.  She was quite a talent herself, in her day.  I decided to attempt to finish it, as only the corners needed binding.  I actually thought I had made not a bad job of it, until I see this picture - oh dear - maybe a good pressing will help straighten in out!  Anyway, I have decided it will look fine as a wall hanging in our bedroom, which, coincidentally (once I have made the blinds) will be pinky purpley with subtle splashes of yellow.  Synchronicity again - thanks Mum!

The third quilt was made by my daughter, Karen, during her recent holiday here.  Isn't it gorgeous?  Isn't Erin just the sweetest babe in the world?

I was so pleased when Karen said she had started quilting, because I had just been thinking of getting to know that craft - you know, for something to do in my spare time.  She had picked up the basics from the "look inside" feature of this book, and had hand quilted and embroidered the front. We had great fun playing  around, finishing it off when she was here, not to mention planning other sewing projects. I was so inspired. 

And so - can you handle another quilt?  Last one for today - promise. OK, here is my first real attempt at quilting - even if it is a bit cheaty using panels of fabric instead of sewing strips together. I made a mess of the first binding, and fell out of love with the material I was using, so had to started again with this gold satin ribbon, which I like much better.

It is a quilt for our nephew and wife's first baby which I must get finished very very soon, because it's  intended recipient - is now HERE!  Dylan James - all 10lbs of him, was born last night at around 10pm - welcome to the world sweet boy.

The proud grandparents can be seen in my previous post, smiling bravely through the Edinburgh downpour. And I am now a Great-Aunt!  How dignified and grand does that sound? 

More quilting may appear in future posts - it's what we Great-Aunts do isn't it? 

* photo credit to daughter Kristine.

Summer Loving

A different week for us - heading off as dawn was breaking, interrupting a small herd of deer with my camera flash, as we drove along in the half light.

Over to Stornoway, where the early morning ferry was beginning to yawn and stretch, ready for the first sailing of the day. After a smooth crossing and easy drive down, we were soon arriving at my Dad's house for our short stay. This was the first time we have all been down since selling the house in April.

 Dad is in Canada right now, visiting my sister, but we did catch up with everyone else. Erin is growing and changing all the time - even since her visit to us a couple of weeks ago.  We even had a visit from my soldier nephew, Scott, dropping in on his weekend leave - it was so good to see him.

We helped Kenneth move out of his flat. He will be moving into a different one in a couple of weeks, before the start of the new semester, but will be staying at my Dad's until then.

Back into a very wet Edinburgh the following day, to meet John's brother and sister-in-law.  By happy chance they were here from the South of England on a short break - a long held ambition to see the Tattoo at the castle.  The rain was torrential, but they enjoyed their visit anyway.  It was so good to see them, too.

At least the ducks enjoyed the weather.

And then it was time to head for home - with two children in the truck!  Daughter Kristine travelled up with us to stay for a few days holiday. It is lovely to have her company for a wee while.

And finally, the camper van is coming - yay!  It has been living in a friends's barn since we moved, and it is full of stuff from the old house -  pictures, bags and boxes of...  well  - who knows? it will be fun finding out all those things we have never missed.  John drove the van, and I drove the truck and before we knew it...

we were back in Ullapool waiting in the ferry queue again.

And so on we go - heading into another week.  

Still clinging on to Summer.

 Each Sunday I am posting a series of snapshots of things I have loved in the past week.  Those ordinary but special moments that might have gone unnoticed or forgotten  Trying to distill the love and joy from this hectic Summer season to remember with gratitude and warmth when the days are short again.

Mainland

We are heading back to the mainland for a few days - catching up with family, dental appointments and truck recalls.
Back sometime over the weekend with pictures.  xx

Summer Loving

A busier time this week as we have been easing ourselves out of holiday mode.  We had a lovely day, midweek at the show, but otherwise we have been getting on with work around the croft.

Loving these everyday chores

picking peas

making hay while the sun shines

moving the cows on to the hill grazing.

getting ready to bring the peats home

celebrating at a post wedding barbecue in the village,  (Thankfully the newly weds have somewhere else to stay until their beautiful new house - designed and built by the groom and his father, is ready)

and cooling our feet in the ocean.

I wonder what the tide will bring in next week?

Summer is such a busy time, and so much is going on that I want to hold on to - especially now we are into August. Each Sunday I am posting a series of snapshots of things I have loved in the past week.  Those ordinary but special moments that might have gone unnoticed or forgotten  Trying to distill the love and joy from this hectic Summer season to remember with gratitude and warmth when the days are short again.

This moment...

A single image, no words, capturing a precious moment from my week.  A simple moment that I want to pause, savour and remember. 

I am so happy to be joining in with Soulemama again this week. Wishing you all a relaxing weekend.

Showtime!

Wanna go to another show?  Yes? Of course you do - especially when it is the Carloway Show, held yesterday amid warm sunshine and happy crowds.

As it was the Centenary Show, we were welcomed with a piece of Aran-Cridhe (gingerbread) handed out by this lovely lady dressed in a costume from the time.  At the early shows back then, aran-cridhe was handed out to the children and would have been the only sweet or candy they were likely to taste all year.

And it was nice to see our own local music hero in attendance, happy to sign autographs and catch up with folk. Do check out his band's website above - they have a wonderful sound.

James was happy just running around the field and playing in the playground, meeting up with his friends.

So I got lots of time to study the produce entries - stunning as usual.

As was the baking and craft section.  Loving that quilt.

And John was able to study the livestock and listen to the judging - for next year maybe?

The heavy events were enjoyed by us all - Ranald Fraser (bottom) makes it all look so easy.

and even our celebrities are not too grand to have a go.

There were childrens' events - although I do think this lot on the end were kidding themselves a bit

Mind you - the opposition didn't let them off lightly.

The final competition of the day was the Maide Leasg (pr. maji leash - tr. lazy stick).  This is a trial of strength, first used as a Highland Games event at the early Carloway shows.   Great fun.

And James and I had our artwork entered in the show too.  A second and third for me - which I was very pleased at, since the competiton is always very keen here.  James put in a picture of The Titanic striking the iceberg. He didn't win, ( the category was for under 8 years) but he had a lovely comment from the judge praising his brushwork and use of two colours.

All in all a lovely day that just hit the mark.  Latha math, as the song goes.

Yarn along 7

Joining in with Ginny today, even though have nothing on the needles.  However, Iam thrilled to report that a new yarn shop has opened in Stornoway - A Good Yarn.  One of the members of the Knit and Natter group decided to do something about our desperate need here on the Island, and she opened a shop. Lots of lovely things - yarns, notions, fabric, quilting stuff, spinning wheels - it is now a firm destination on my itinerary when I make my weekly trips into town. Now - I must really knit something....

I am still reading this book, having finally prised it away from my husband.  I am savouring it slowly, a chapter at a time.  I love it - this man just talks so much sense, about the way our food is produced and about those who are responsible for producing it.  I could go on and on for hours, quoting chunks of Mr Salatin's wisdom, but I won't - we are heading out to our local agricultural show, my husband is jingling  truck keys around, and my son is already sitting in the back. Suffice to say it is already playing a big part in our farm management strategy.
Visit Ginny at Small Things and see some real knitting.

Upon a Lammas night

The first day of the month of Lùnasdal (August) is one of the old Scottish quarter days - a holiday to celebrate the early harvest, and the first bread made with the new wheat.  To give thanks for what was given and anticipate the abundance still to come.  It was a time for marriage - or handfasting  (a trial marriage, which would last a year and a day - continued or not after that time).  It was also a time to display craftwork - and this tradition lives on here at the various local agricultural shows going on around the Islands just now.

But it would also be a welcome respite from the hard work.  The Summer here is short, but the days are long, and every hour of that light is precious.  The fields would be busy from dawn to dusk - cutting and stacking hay, and reaping the corn.

John has been cutting and raking our hayfield, and a couple of good days should see it stacked.

We covet our neighbour's haystack - a work of art indeed.  

But we give thanks for our own small harvest too.

And on this day, I have this beautiful song of Robert Burns in my head - it so encapsulates the whole essence of the Celtic festival of Lammas.  

Or, you can read it, and hear it read here.

Wishing you blessings of abundance on this Lammas tide.