Made it to the aloch of the Lowes

 This morning I was up late, and then had an easy morning. After lunch I decided to try and get to the Loch of the Lowes, I tried once before when I got lost and did a mammoth walk but was put of by the steepness of the road out of Dunkeld followed by quite an arduous walk. But, with needing exercise and weight loss to kill or cure the hips I set off.

The road was at its steepest before the first photo of where I had walked and the second the next bit. Took it slowly and stopped to rest a couple of times.

Now photos of the walk and progress.

Just liked the dead fern in the middle of the green ones (photos are an excuse to have a breather too!)

Still not high enough!

That one and the next one I could see glimpses of the loch, but still a good way to go. Then the two after that I was on the final quarter of a mile.

The osprey statue at the car park!

I bought a cold drink in the visitor centre and let Tina know I had arrived. She asked if I wanted her to come and collect me and I said yes. I should have taken the walking poles as apart from the steep bits the path was often very rocky and uneven. The poles would have given me more confidence and take a bit of pressure off the knees and hips.

I went into the hide and saw the osprey chick, now almost full grown and the had a monocular telescope in position. Tina joined me in there so got to have a look too. A couple of shots from the hide.

This evening I have watered the garden and done a bit to the jigsaw.

To finish the Virginia creeper I bought a few months ago is climbing up the wall next to Tina’s office door has taken well nd should look splendid in the autumn.

Forwards and backwards

 Monday is garden group and knit and natter group. I usually stay in Dunkeld between the two groups but today I decided to come home, get changed and walk back again. I took this photo on the way this morning to try and get the reflections.

At St Ninians today I dead headed the roses and then weeded and swept the arched walkway, which has become my area to keep tidy. Only three of us today, and Moira, who runs the group had to leave early as she had been called to do jury service. When I was walking home I took this photo of the ancient sycamores trunk as I think it looks like a face!

I walked back for the craft group and took my new embroidery. Well, new to me, I bought it at The Nest at a very reasonable price. It is sort of sewing by numbers, and there are a lot of numbers! Some artistic license may come into play, either way it is going to take a while. A photo of the kit and another of my start.

I was feeling a bit weary walking home, it was quite hot as well. I took this photo as I thought the white butterflies in the lavender was pretty.

We have had dinner and I have just been out watering the plants. May do a bit of embroidery!

Morning walk

 After I had chatted to Anya today I decided to go for a walk. Tina and Darren went along the river path in the opposite direction to Dunkeld and then followed a path to come back into the village, so I tried the same route. A lot of photos, on that just looks like a barbed wire fence, I liked the fact that the metal poles are in boulders.

This afternoon I have done a bit of jigsaw, a crossword and watered the hanging baskets even though we have had rain the eaves stop the rain getting to them. Not planning to do too much, I will walk into Dunkeld twice tomorrow, I usually stay out all day but have decided to come home between groups, so had better conserve my energy.

Chores and a short walk

 This morning I did some overdue household stuff and then went for a walk into Dunkeld. I went by the river path which was quite dry which was good. I took some photos of the bridge from the other side.

Tina had ordered some blue poppy plug plants, just three, and they arrived today. So I went out , did a bit of weeding and got them planted. We had a roast dinner this evening as Tina is out tomorrow evening.

I tried drawing with coloured fine liners 

Listen to an audio book now.

Sorting, weeding and evening walk

 My bedroom has become a bit of a dumping ground as I have stuff that hasn’t got a home. So I have tried to rethink it a bit and have decided on a few more things that can head there was to the charity shop.

This afternoon I went out to do some weeding on the area in front of the bungalow where the cars are parked. It is gravel but a lot of tufts of grass and weeds are appearing. I spent an hour or so but it was really making my hip hurt. In case you think I didn’t do much I added a pic of the full tub afterwards!

Tina had some Tesco points and kindly used them to get me some flowers. I enjoy getting them into a vase.

This evening Tina suggested going for a walk. We went to the higher car park at the Hermitage where the walks are through wooded areas. It was a nice walk, some quite steep parts though. We arrived at a folly, the sign was at the top but will add it first.

Resting now and have a program about Bob Dylan on the tv.