A more energetic day

 I was up later today and had an easy start to the day, bit of pottering and jigsaw. Just before lunch time Darren moved this massive gate so I could clear behind it. I don’t know how he carried it, I started trying to help and could hardly get my end off the ground!

This is what it was like behind it.

He had to manoeuvre it round the hydrangea, which is in beautiful flower now.

The side of the bungalow looks tidier now.

I have two sunflower plants in a pot, they won’t get very big as they are in a small pot, but I have nowhere in the green for them. They were on a table but I have put the pot against the wall now as there is a bolt in the wall which I can use to support them if necessary.

After the family call I decided to try and walk to The Hermitage,  I haven’t been on any longer walks for a while, partly pin nd Hartley het and being tired. The Easter levels re low, these photos are from the underpass.

Took this one from Inver bridge.

And this is the food kiosk at The Hermitage.

It seemed a long walk up to the waterfall, which want as lively as usual.

I took this picture to maybe draw at home, the rocks just stood out and it seemed a good angle.

I had my small sketchbook and a pen with me. Shouldn’t really put the two together but a sketch isn’t a photo.

Took these flowers on the walk home.

I was exhausted when I got back, it was still hot and I am unfit! Have the watering to do now!

Will finish with two pics from Tina in Wales.

Not the leaning tower of Birnam!

 I did go for a walk into Dunkeld this morning, I had a large bag of mini marshmallows that Tina won in a tombola that we decided to give them to Corbenic as they make their own cakes. I had a drink while I was there and bought these ‘butteries’ which I hadn’t heard of, they are a sort of flat roll.

Some photos of the walk, I had a rest in the community orchard.

We both put some pieces in the jigsaw.

I went and sat in front of the church to do a sketch, and, the spire wasn’t actually leaning!

I have done the watering of the garden and the church pots. Pandora came round to find me but didn’t come all the way to the front, she waited by the tap at the side of the church.

This and that

 We have had a small rotary dryer for some time but not really a good place to have it so it sits in the shed. So it’s either trying to dry bedding over the airer or the laundry. As mine is a single bed and it was a nice day I had the bottom sheet over the airer and the quilt cover on another airer outside and it has dried beautiful and is nice  and fresh.

Tina had mentioned that volunteers sell veg and fruit from The Field outside the Arts Centre on a Thursday at 10am. I went across for ten and people were walking away with their purchases. Obviously they get there earlier and the locals know! I will be across there earlier next week. Did get some courgettes, runner beans and some rocket for £3.

Some flowers arrived for me today with no message, but it didn’t take much working out they were from Tina. Very pretty.

I am only making two Christmas cakes this year, but as we are not near a large supermarket I ordered ingredients from Grape Tree. Got some snack to get to the free postage and got these, never seen them before, they are very tasty and the flavour not too strong.

Had a lovely video chat with Sher today and mentioned the plant in the kitchen which needs repotting. She agreed so I now have it in a larger pot.

I did a sketch of the plant, not from the photo!

I should go for a walk but it is very hot and my ankles are quite swollen so will settle for watering our garden and the church pots and flowerbed later.

Easy going day

 Tina got away early to make her way to Wales where she is on a course get a week or so. She arrived safely and had a reasonable journey.

Darren and I have both done a bit of jigsaw today and Pandora joined us as usual. She was just adorable this morning, fast asleep. It can be a real pain but she is not being naughty, just likes to be with us!

When I think a puzzle is difficult I have to remind myself that I persevered with ‘The Fighting Temeraire’!

I bought some plants when we went shopping, just one tray and I got them planted out this afternoon.

I also did a sketch, but from a photo this time.

I watered the garden and the tubs and a flower bed at the church. Took those photos of foxgloves, a bit lower than usual so that yu can see the insides. There was a bee in the third one.

I took what I thought was a photo but took a one second video. I couldn’t see how to get a single fram so took a photo of it, hence the arrow middle!

May be a bit more energetic tomorrow!

Quite a day

 Well, the mundane stuff was some household chores and doing some washing. We have to take the bins to the end of the road and with other bins and although it has worn off so we are not sure if we are taking ours. I have some little tins of model paint and went out to write Rectory on them. 

That done I went in with the paint and decided to try and clean the top of the tin before putting the lid back. Tipped the tin too far and had paint all over my hands and on the carpet! I cupped my hands, still holding the tin and got to the kitchen, shouting for help as I went! I managed not to drip any more paint and once Tina had provided kitchen roll to remove the worst of the paint I washed my hands with turps! That work, but although Darren tried to lift some of the paint from the carpet that didn’t do so well.

This afternoon I went shopping with Tina, as we turned onto the main road through the village we knew something was amiss as there was a constant stream of traffic from the A9. We couldn’t turn round so we changed from going to Perth and get off the A9 and go to Blairgowrie. Shopping was fine and the journey back not too bad until we got to Dunkeld which wa gridlocked. A very narrow Main Street and bridge and traffic everywhere. We were pretty much stationary for about twenty minutes. Apparently a roadworks vehicle had broken down on the A9 and wasn’t cleared for over five hours. It is a very busy road and hard to cross at the best of times.

This evening I decided to find the edge pieces of the latest jigsaw. Ended up spending longer at that than I intended. Almost done but about three pieces missing ( not really missing, just not found!)

I went round to the church with Tina as she has been asked to water the tubs and a bed for a week but she is off on a training course in Wales tomorrow. Then I watered our garden, did get Tina to take a photo of me watering the hanging baskets.

Gardening and nattering

 I had almost finished the jigsaw yesterday evening and did finish it this morning with Darren. We are glad that one is finished! I got another one out of the library at the weekend so will start that soon.

Monday is Dunkeld day, gardening at St Ninian’s in the morning and knit and natter in the afternoons. I cleared along a walkway today and deheaded the hanging baskets. After a tea break I did some weeding.

I went into the cathedral ground at lunch time and did a sketch from a bench which was in the shade, it has been very hot and humid again today.

I walked there and back along the river path which is mostly shady. Tina had to go to Strathtay for a meeting and I went along to see what it is like. A lot of steps up to the church!

Tina had parked outside the post office, quite a few villages up here have still got post offices, and this was a very small place.

I did have a walk through the village, some very imposing properties but this one I think was some sort of gatehouse.

I found the parish church which was a pretty little building with an attractive entrance.

Have now watered the garden and sitting with my feet up. Pandora has decided to sleep on the chair next to me tonight, I think she is feeling over heated as well!