For two days now (today isn't sure yet) the sun has shone out of a predominantly blue sky with no accompanying wind. Today the sun is winning the battle against the clouds but the wind is from the North, is strong and is bitterly cold. The atmospheric pressure is bumping against the stop at the top of the scale (this photos was taken before it quite got there).
I worked outside most of the time for two days but today it's indoors things.
This morning I made a list in six sections: outdoor jobs; indoor jobs; garden; garage; paperwork; and today. It should keep me going for 12 weeks. Hopefully by then it will be almost empty and one job after another finds its way onto the "Today" list.
The birds are now attacking the provisions on the bird feeder which is a sure sign of Spring. I have absolutely no idea why 'my' birds eat hardly anything from my feeder in the winter (but flock to a neighbour's). Well over a decade ago I fixed a bird nesting box to my garage wall about 15 feet from the ground. Unfortunately I fixed in on a North facing wall which is where the cold winds come from. It's been used occasionally (I have opened it up in the winter sometimes to have a look). However I have never actually seen a bird taking nesting material into it. This year it's definitely being used. I will definitely have to give it an overhaul when the autumn comes.
Meanwhile I heard the melodious call of a Stonechat from the top of one of my trees. I nipped inside, grabbed a camera and from 25 metres or more through the kitchen window managed to get a recored if hardly a good photo.
On Thursday morning (the first sunny day of the week) I decided to go for my allocated daily exercise by walking the long way round by road to the pier below my house, along the shore and then up the croft back home: around 2 miles with plenty of gradient to exercise the heart and lungs. The view from the beach looking into the sun was one I could look at for ever.
Looking up from the bottom of the croft my house seemed a long haul up. Unfortunately now that the land isn't grazed it's virtually impossible to walk straight up the croft because of the huge tussocks of thick grass interspersed with deep ditches which are partly covered up now. A broken leg was not what I needed at this stage of the game. So I walked along the shoreline and up the track.
That sea view is stunning and I can understand why you would wish to stand and gaze at it for hours.
ReplyDeleteI'm missing the sea just now. It's my go to place when I feel unsettled. Instead, I will be content with a riverside walk on my daily Boris Bimble. Stay well. X
Jules, I can't imagine living away from the sea because almost all my life I've lived fairly near it. I'd make do with a river if I had to but with friends who have lived a bit too near a river this year I'd like to be up a hill a bit. I've never lived anywhere flat either thinking about it. A Boris Bimble.: love that.
DeleteBeautiful photos of beautiful landscapes. The one of the sun and see makes me homesick for the ocean. The sparrow reminds me of the dog with a long stick trying to get it through the door. I think the sparrow will make it work.
ReplyDeleteMaywyn, you are a good way from the sea now but did you used to live near the sea? I laughed recalling a dog dog with a stick bigger than the gap. It always seems to puzzle them.
DeleteThat photograph of the view of the sea and the beach shows a stunningly beautiful place. I can see it is a view you would never tire of.
ReplyDeleteRachel, I'm conscious of how fortunate I am.
DeleteYou might have to install a heater in your bird feeder for the winter months, Graham. :)
ReplyDeleteI love the sense of peace of your surroundings...love, love, love it!
Take good care, Graham. :)
Lee, I'm happy to cosset my birds up to a point but..... My surroundings can be an ocean of peace and then a storm comes along and lashes us with regular 60 -70mph winds and it feels a little less quiet.
DeleteSounds like a wise decision to keep to the track and not risk breaking a leg... Lovely view from the beach!
ReplyDeleteYes, Monica, a broken leg isn't funny at the best of times.
DeleteWhat a tranquil scene. No wonder you so love living there. I hope the sparrows do complete their nest in your box. They are messy and noisy but so loveable.
ReplyDeleteJayCee, I do enjoy all the birds in the garden except the starlings. That is totally irrational and I'm trying to like them but they are such bully boys.
DeleteWhat a beautiful beach scene. And very sensible to avoid the trip hazards although the tussocks must look lovely in the wind.
ReplyDeletePipistrello, to be honest I'd not noticed the tussocks in the wind simply because there are so many of them.
DeleteSo when there's nothing else to distract you , you can get some chores done. I still need a long stretch of nice weather.
ReplyDeleteRed, I could do with a nice stretch of dry weather in particular so that the ground will dry out a bit.
DeleteAhh, that view of the sea. You really do live in Paradise. I'm glad you are enjoying it with your camera so we get to see it, too. Be careful with those legs. Be well.
ReplyDeletePauline, Paradise is a state of mind I think. I know people who would shudder at the thought of being marooned in my house just as I would shudder at the thought of being shut in in a city.
DeleteI could spend all day on that beach; provided that the weather allowed. I love deserted beaches with rocky outcrops. Our Billy would love it too.
ReplyDeleteCro, you hit the nail on the head with your second clause. The weather often has a lot to say about my staying on the beach. The weather and midges.
DeleteGood image of the beach.
ReplyDeleteDid Gaz get home? Hope they are safe wherever they are.
Adrian, Gaz and family are still marooned in Melbourne. He has taken an apartment for the duration until Emirates ring him with a flight home.
DeleteYou sound very industrious and I have to laugh at your comment about your subtle garage 😊
ReplyDeleteKylie, I am by nature a person on the go. As my Dad said when I was a wee boy "You have ants in your pants.".
DeleteWith your house being where it is, a daily walk seems to be appealing no matter the weather - but of course I know I'd talk differently if a cold wind was blowing or the midgets were out in full force!
ReplyDeleteLove the bird on the twigs, it is a beautiful picture even if you say it is not.
I do miss being allowed into the palace grounds and other parks around my home town. They are at their most beautiful right now, but I understand these measures had to be put in place as so many people were being insensible and gathering in large groups.
Meike, if I'm walking into a cold wind my eyes water so badly that it becomes a problem so I prefer to walk in the shelter of the trees when it's windy (which is a lot of the time!). I'm glad that you liked the Stonechat photo. As far as I know our Castle Grounds are still open. Mind you it would be difficult to close them off physically anyway.
DeleteYour photos, as always, are great. Re the making of lists, you are much more organized and disciplined than I am. Mostly we have been doing what we always do: sit around, watch the telly (mostly Animal Planet and Home & Garden TV), play the occasional game of Phase 10, read, read, read, take the dog out, rinse and repeat ad infinitum. Ellie has done a bit of coloring, a bit of crocheting, so she is the more productive one in the family. We take turns preparing the meals, but they don't require much "preparation" (take out of the freezer, pop into the microwave). Life goes on.
ReplyDeleteBob, you probably don't need to be organised with lists because you have a memory. I'm taking this opportunity to do some major house maintenance bot inside and out. I also have a huge garage/workshop which need a lot of time spent on clearing and sorting it out. I also cook a lot from scratch. My wife never let me cook so when we separated in 1993 I was able to cook. I've lived alone for 20 years and used to be happy cooking for a dinner party of 12. Now 6 is my preferred number. Now it's just one for the next 12 weeks at least.
DeleteAs usual, I'm the 29th comment... heh! Thanks for the photos, and so glad you are well and walking and enjoying the air. I also have birds who act weirdly... I have three large feeders, and they go to 2 of them, but leave the third hanging (literally). Can't figure out why. Also, every year I would put out Nyjer seed in finch feeders, and goldfinches would come. Two years running, I kept putting out seeds and never saw a goldfinch, and the level of the seed never went down. This year I am not even putting any out - I may have lost faith in the finches. Where did they go, I wonder?
ReplyDeleteOddly, Marcheline, I had two goldfinches visiting for a number of years. There were just two. Last year there were three so I assumed that they had bred. They are not a common sight here on Lewis. In New Zealand I used to see huge numbers at The Cottage. They were a flock bird.
DeleteWE THE RESIDENTS OF EAGLETON DEMAND THE DEMOLITION OF THE SUBTLY UNOBTRUSIVE GARAGE BUILT BY THE SCOUSE SASSENACH.
ReplyDeleteDonald McKenzie
Hamish McKenzie
Janet McKenzie
Ian McDonald
Iain McDonald
Rory McDonald
Flora McDonald
Pat McDonald
Caitlin McDonald
McKenzie McDonald
McDonald McKenzie
Jimmy McDonald-McKenzie
Fergus The Hamster
Sorry, YP, using my considerable powers of deduction I discovered a terrible error in your petition. I shall edificate you. Lowlanders, generally speaking, use Mc. Highlanders and Islanders, as a general rule, are Mac. There are no Mcs in Eagleton. There are no children either therefore a hamster is unlikely too. However, now that you have stirred up such feelings I keep looking at it and thinking that it should be demolished. Unfortunately all the building firms are refusing. They say it's something to do with a virus.
DeletePS Scots gaels spell English/man 'Sasunnach'.
Deletere. The Mc/Mac issue, you were of course assuming that other inhabitants of Lewis can spell. However, I shall accept your correction with magnanimity. What a shame that no children currently live in Eagleton when in past times they would have been ever present members of the community.
DeleteYP, oddly for a tiny place Lewis's Nicolson Institute has produced a great many people of considerable educational merit and fame even. The educational standard is very high. It is a great shame that there are no children in Eagleton. When I moved from the other side of the bay to live in Eagleton in 1993 there were a few youngsters including in my household. Now it is a largely aged population.
DeleteMy ancestry is full of both lowlanders and highlanders but it's good you got some fresh air at the beach, which for me it's a great place to sit and ponder life.
ReplyDeleteAmy, it's good to hear that you have Scots ancestors. Mine were from all over the place.
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