Happy birthday Darren

 This morning we took it easy and had a late cooked breakfast. I did do some bits of the jigsaw, but photo tomorrow. When we had eaten we drove back to the car park at Rumbling Bridge so Darren could see it and then we walked up the hill a bit.

We took some pics when we got to the top of the hill.

Darren took a photo from the top of that rock.

Mine from on the ground in front of it.

There was a sign to the Hermitage, about a mile, so we decided to follow the path. I did take the walking poles, the first time I have used them. After three adjustments to the height I did find the helpful as it was a very hilly walk and uneven ground. We knew we were there when we got to Ossians cave. It was shady under the trees so for the inside one I used the night setting.

We walked a bit further until we got to the place Anya and I had reached  on the first visit there.

I have to admit I was struggling a bit on the way back. We had a rest on this amazing bench.

We drove to a cafe and had a drink before we drove to Dobbies in Perth for afternoon tea.

It was very enjoyable, and we even brought some cake home!

I rescued a house plant, what more can I say? I will repot it tomorrow. The indoor plant compost cost almost as much as the reduced plant!

Quite where it will live is to be decided!

We have just had birthday cake, and having a restful evening.

Time to make a cake

 Just saying make a cake sounds easy, I was going to make a sponge and have made hundreds if not thousands! But, no cake tin liners, an oven I have never made a sponge in and where are the sandwich tins! I found a pair of shallow square tins and lined them like I do the Christmas cakes. Made up the mix then couldn’t spread it out in the topics as the lining kept moving! To say I was relieved with the result is an understatement, although the proof of the pudding will be tomorrow. Really wanted to make a cake for Darren who is driving here today so that he wakes up here on his birthday.

Tina drove us to Dunkeld and we dropped some boxes and a case off at the charity shop. We couldn’t get parked so didn’t go for a drink.

I foolishly said that having done the sky of the jigsaw I could enjoy doing the tulips! Oh boy, I started getting the pink pieces out and felt overwhelmed, so decided to finish off the windmills and the ground behind the tulips!

Will decide how to go forward tomorrow. I watered the houseplants today, they seem to like the position they are in with plenty of signs of new growth. I have two branches that were knocked off a bonsai in soil now, and used rooting powder. I had them in water for a few weeks, no sign of roots but they look okay so far. I would be delighted if that take.

Just relaxing with the cat for now.

Garden, sketch and evening lecture

 First things first, I finished the sky of the jigsaw, what a challenge that was!

Then I removed the dead flowers from my vases and refreshed the water. Both posy and larger flowers are lasting well.

When I went into the garden a bee was on this plant but disappeared inside to other flowers, so took a photo of the plant anyway.

Didn’t buy too many plants yesterday and got most of them in today.

But the main job today was getting the Virginia creeper we bought the day before into a pot.

It was sunny so I spread this pile of sodden weed out with the rake into the sunshine so as I could get it into the garden bin, as rain is forecast for tomorrow.

I went into the church to do a sketch and got the weeds into the bin when I came back. Can’t put them in when they are wet and full of Earth as they won’t empty them if they are too heavy, even though we have to pay for the privilege!

This evening we went to Aberfeldy for a lecture about a Scottish artist called Joan Eardley, very interesting, neither of us had heard of her but apparently her paintings sell for large amounts.

I had a particularly bad night last night so won’t be long before I am in bed!

 

Surprise flier and amazing day!

 I have done a bit more to the jigsaw, but a photo tomorrow. We both went out into the garden, I had plants to make way for and Tina started clearing an overgrown area at the bottom of the garden. The garden bins, both full, were going to be emptied today, so we could make a start on the stuff waiting to go into them!

After a while we had a tea break in the garden and the postman arrived while we were enjoying the sunny weather. He had a flier as well as the post.

We decided to take a ride to Bennybeg but I collected the empty bins and we both got the stuff waiting into the bins. The plant centre is twenty miles or so away and it was a great journey, the hills hadn’t got the trees on so quite different. We went through one area which took our breath away but we were surrounded by these enormous hill but not easy to get the idea from the car. Managed slightly better on the way back.

The plant centre was great and we spent a lot but got our free bedding plants!

After we had looked round and bought our purchases at a garden centre with a cafe. We didn’t look round the garden centre but went into the glass making place and admired the beautiful stuff then went in to where the men were making glass items.

That was fascinating. Then on the way home, lots more photos!

A while after that we saw a sign to Rumbling Bridge, so we went to the car park and walked down to the river.

The last two were taken from the bridge, very narrow and a little alarming when a car appeared!

Then we did make our way home. We would never had found these places if the postman hadn’t delivered the flier! Quite a day.