Visit and meeting

 This morning Tina had an errand to do so we went into Dunkeld. Errand completed we bought cakes to take to her aunts and had a drink before coming back to finish off the jigsaw.

It has been chilly today and spasmodic showers. We drove to Pitlochry to have lunch with her aunt and cousins. Aunt Anne was 85 today. We stayed for quite a while, leaving when Anne was clearly getting weary. A couple of journey photos.

This evening we went to an informative talk at the arts centre about the planned development of the Beatrix Potter garden. There are going to be new statues and activity booklets for children. The garden is quite tired looking now so it should help to bring more visitors in in for the evening now and keeping warm with the cats help, although having her sleep on my feet is making them go numb!

Garden and river walk

 I did do some clearing of ground elder at the back of the beds I have dug and planted, did take photos but have deleted them as they were so dark inthe shade you couldn’t see where I’d been! Did take a photo of this pretty allium, it was a  ‘rescued’ plant from the garden centre and looked on its last legs, so I didn’t expect it to flower this year.

I did take a photo of the jigsaw this morning, as you can see, still a way to go.

Tina dug up a sycamore that was in the middle of a bush, it was over a foot tall but it is now a stick with trimmed roots! Will it or won’t it grow?

We at out for a ride in the car withTina to Perth, she had some printing to be done and we went to have the car washed as well. We picked up something at a bakers for lunch as we had to get back as Tina had an appointment,

I went for a walk this afternoon just walking along the river path. Took this photo of the Birnam oak, the one in the middle, as it is now in leaf.

I made my way along heading for the bench opposite the cathedral on the other side of the bridge.a couple of photos on the way, one of the new growth on a fir tree.

I sat on the bench opposite the cathedral for a while.

I decided to walk on a bit further looking to find a way down to a lower path and spotted two more benches that I hadn’t noticed before, they were looking over a beautiful spot, one to visit again and it is bout a mile away. Had to go down a very rooty slope to get there!

But so worth it!

I did do a sketch.

A couple of photos note way back, a view of the bridge and one of the massive sycamore in leaf.

I have watered the garden and put the bin out. Maybe do a bit of the jigsaw after I have written couple of letters.

A tree day

 I prune the bonsai tree roots regularly, well, every other year, but I have never trimmed the branches as much as I should. So today, I bit the bullet and decided to do some pruning. I have got wound sealant so all should be well.

Trimmings and trees!

After lunch I went for a walk and took the sketchbook just in case.

I went to have a look at the repaired sign, it was well received so I may have made a rod for my own back!

I walked into Dunkeld and picked up a small canvas for a small donation. There is going to be a display of these canvasses when painted to raise money for a charity. You get the canvas, paint on it and submit it. They are displayed and sold for £10 each to raise the money. A very different idea, I will take a photo when it is finished. Then I walk to the cathedral, I hadn’t been in it before, or know much about it.

The information said they have visitors from all over the world, and at the back they had information sheets in numerous languages.

The grounds are lovely and plenty of benches.

I have never really felt conquering drawing trees, but decided to try sitting on one of the benches.

The rhododendrons up here are splendid and everywhere. They are coming into flower now.

I had a drink and then walked home. May do some jigsaw, yes, still the secret garden, when the cat decides to move!

Will finish with a photo that Tina took a couple of nights ago.

Walk and repairing

 Before I went out for a walk with Darren I did some sorting in the kitchen as I wanted to clear the table as I had a repair job to do for Tina, well, for the church really. When we were ready to leave William had left two tiny oak trees for me to bonsai, so that will be interesting.

We walked into Dunkeld, had a coffee and looked in a few shops before getting something for lunch. We walked back along the river path and I took a photo of Darren by the sycamore tree, I know I have mentioned it’s girth before but having someone stand by it gives a better indication of its size.

After lunch Darren set off for Hornsea and I spent the afternoon tidying up a material sign for the church. It was a flimsy material and the eyelets had rotted and torn the material. So I cut those off and cut out a made edges with the material Tina bought in Blairgowrie yesterday. She had ordered some eyelets that don’t need a machine. I did have to cut the holes in the material but they worked well.

Hanpve done a bit of the jigsaw, but leaning over the swing and the jigsaw has made my backache!

Just watch a man win half a million on Who Wants to be a Millionaire!

Blairgowrie and not much else!

 This morning we went into Blairgowrie, Darren had some business to do there and we had a wander round, stopped for coffee and cake and visited a fab book shop that we went to last time we went. Also went to The Nest which sells donated art and craft stuff, we just got some material so that I can tidy up a sign for the church. A couple of photos, a building that would have been lovely in its day and an unusual bike rack.

On the way back Tina drove us to Polney Loch which is a walkable distance from home, don’t know bout walk back as well though! It was lovely and there was an old building which used to be a curling shed. In England people skate on frozen lakes, in Scotland they curl!

We have had a relaxed afternoon. Tina and I both bought jigsaws at the book shop, I got the next one I will attempt, it will probably be more tricky than the previous two! I also got a mini 50 piece one which I did this afternoon. Tina bought one for her Aunt as it is her birthday next week.

After dinner we watched some tv together, I thought about going out for a walk but it rained!