Walking and sketching

 I decided to walk to the Hermitage again today, this time I knew roughly where I was going and the pavements weren’t icy, so I got there a bit quicker! Took some photos on the way it was a chilly but bright morning.

I sat down for a few minutes on a bench in the car before walking up to Ossians hall. Took this photo, thankfully didn’t have to go up those steps!

I only took a few photos of the falls, then I went to a bench where I did a sketch, looking back t the hall and the bridge.

I was truly exhausted when I got home, really need to get fitter! Had a very quiet afternoon, sat with Pandora for a while and wrote a couple of letters. Still feeling quite tired so won’t be doing much this evening either!

Mothering Sunday

 Today I had a chat with Anya earlier than usual which was nice, then I went to the service, Tina’s first Mothering Sunday here. It was a family service so we had shakers or tambourines to use when singing the hymns. There were refreshments afterwards and everyone stays to have a chat.

Tina and I got ready to go out then and get some lunch, we hadn’t booked anywhere but took a chance. She had read about a farm that had a restaurant not far away but the queue for food there was ridiculously long, so we bought nice things from the deli counter to take home. I did take some pics on the way, the first one was trying to catch the wire bird in the trees!

Then we set off to find an ice cream parlour we had seen signs for but ended up in another farm with a restaurant and they had room, so we had dinner out after all. I had the vegetable wellington and it was a lovely meal.

They had highland cows there so we went to have a look. There was a baby in the background lying down and the mum was washing the other adult, it was very cute.

There was a walk you could take so we will probably go there again.

We have had a quiet time since we got back and had some of the goodies for tea. I am now back in my own room, complete with cat and relaxing. It has been a very nice day.

Sketching and gardening

 I got my rucksack ready and set off to Dunkeld to do a sketch this morning, I called in at a coffee shop that Tina and I had been to to see if they did take away drinks. They did so I had a chai latte to take with me. I had taken water colours but spent quite a while on the pen sketch and decided it was okay a it was, and I was getting s bit chilly anyway!

I took a couple of photos on the way back, after I had bought some sausage rolls for lunch!

Just as we were having lunch the post lady arrived and there was a package for me, it was quite small but had some flowers on a box and a little posh jar to put them in. They were from Anya, by the front of the tv now so that I can enjoy them.

This afternoon I decided to go out and start digging out the herbs in a bed in the garden. The wooden edges are on their last legs, not helped by the amount of roots under them. The whole bed is full of roots, and getting one of the herbs out was a challenge, I managed not to bend the new fork though, it was a space job in the end.

The two tubs behind the bed were empty when I started.

There is a lot more turning over the soil as it is still full of roots, but more manageable!

I helped Tina staple some booklets for tomorrow’s service and then we went off to shop t Lidl, a very twisty and narrow journey away. We had a quick dinner when we got home.

Feeling quite weary tonight.

Changeable weather

 It was bright this morning but when I took stuff out to the bin it was deceivingly chilly. I did some chores, top of the list was my shower room/Pandoras room! I started getting my things together to go out and do a sketch. I could not find the pens I had used to draw the cards yesterday, I did eventually after searching just about everywhere! I did set out and walked to the place I had found the other day, the wind really was biting but I was quite sheltered on the bench where I was going to sketch. I only took a little travel set of paints, I could do with getting a few replacement paint pans. It got cloudy on and off but stayed dry until I was heading home.

I called in to a food shop nd got some sour dough bread and an unusual salad for lunch. Tina has been poorly for. Couple of days now  and I know she is keen on sour dough bread. A little Ron then sunshine on the journey home.

Haven’t done a great deal this afternoon but did go across to the pizza van to get us one to share for tea.

They weren’t busy so I hung around and waited, so got it straight from the oven! It was very tasty.

May write a couple of letters this evening. Thinking of staying up later than usual tonight as I’d like to see Claudia’s first chat show.

Rainy day but arty afternoon!

 It has rained most of the day today, very heavily when I was due to go to the doctors. I couldn’t find the hood for my long raincoat but luckily my green coat hood had the same press studs so I kept reasonably dry. I was there in good time but I sat and waited for half an hour after my appointment time. The doctor was lovely and apologised for the delay, she was the duty doctor and had been on the phone to the hospital. The appointment was good, she ordered my repeat prescription and took my blood pressure, she was happy with it after the third attempt! The best part about the waiting was that a man came to the doctors wearing a kilt on, first one I have seen since moving up here.

Back home I started some more sorting of my large  storage cupboard and emptied another larger storage boxes. Slowly getting so I can find what I am looking for! I found the glass pen that I have had some time, I had the ink on the side but  didn’t know where the pen was.

After lunch and for the rest of the afternoon I sat drawing the daffodils I have in a vase onto cards and used coloured pencils to finish them off.  Then I used the glass pen to write on them.

I did nip out when the rain wasn’t quite so heavy and made an appointment to get my hair cut next week on Friday. Just a quiet evening now.

Maybe it’s time to give them away!

 The bonsai trees thar I have kept going for years, I think the oldest one is about twenty years old, needed the roots pruning as I didn’t do it last year. I have eleven pots to work on, it was a chilly morning and as it has been so wet the soil around the roots was matted and sodden. As I have difficulty bending down now and I kept knocking things off the table it was a painful exercise. Getting up and down from the chair was a challenge too. Anyway, I was outside about three hours, it began to rain a couple of times but it soon cleared and the trees are all done. I have asked someone to make a stand for them and began to think better of it, but as they are done I suppose I will hang onto them for a while. I made a temporary working area so a few pics.

Actually just three photos. We had lunch and had a quiet afternoon until it was time to get Pandora into the carrier to take her to the vet. We managed that pretty quickly today she was asleep and I manage to pick her up when she was drowsy! She was soon fighting me but I held on to her long enough to get her into the carrier Tina was holding open. Luckily the vets is only a few minutes drive away so not too distressing for her. The vet and the veterinary nurse were just so lovely, stroking her lifting the box onto the floor so she could look round and were both on the ground coaxing her. So caring and we were in there over half an hour, she had her jab and they changed her flea collar for us. We have to go again in a month for follow up injections and a more thorough examination if she is calmer.

I am forgiven as she has been on my lap this evening.

Feeling my age, or something!

 I have felt particularly tired today. Had been going to start on the bonsai tree root pruning but it was a grey day and a bit damp. I went out to post some letters and I haven’t tired of the mist on the hills, probably never will.

Despite the weather I decided to take a walk into Dunkeld, I was going to try and find a large mug for Tina as I managed to break two at the weekend. I walked up and down the Main Street, looked in a couple of shops but nothing suitable there. I went down the road where the charity shop is, there is a fountain in the square, not actually running but a nice structure.

Then I saw this passageway and decided to investigate. I took me behind the allotments that you can see from the bridge.

And then to the rivers edge. There was a green with benches, good place for sketching.

Some quite unusual apparatus in this play area.

I had a drink in a coffee before walking home, was fascinated by the table, explanation from Mike I think!

One more photo as I walked back.

The walk back was even slower than usual as I was feeling exhausted.

I sat with the cat on my lap this afternoon and we both went to sleep!

So apart from collecting and putting out bins, not much mor to say. I have the cat again but will endeavour to stay awake this time.