Saturday 30.05.2020

A thoroughly windswept day, but gorgeous with it, tossing its hair over its shoulder and slow motion running along the beach as if it was auditioning for a shampoo advert.

Quite different to yesterday which was hot and only fit for sitting very still in, preferably in the shade, today challenged you to join in so we did. The wind, easterly and very fresh, side-swiped us all the way up the road but once in the woods it could only swirl round the tops of the trees.
Actually sat for a while, watching the tops of the trees swirling round.....a spot of shinrin-yoku always good for the soul......

while dogs spent a happy half hour sniffling round or sitting waiting patiently for the communing to finish.

A full on early summer`s day, blues and whites and greens and yellows......

.......soul duly restored.

Sunday 24.05.2020

The picture can`t capture it but this morning up on the top field the sun caught the grass as it rippled in the still strong wind and it looked exactly like water.

The soundscape yesterday was all about the wind and we went out more or less in defiance of it, straight into its teeth on the way up the road. It felt like it was blowing straight through my head, in at the nose and out through the ears.
More sheltered at ground level in the woods naturally but it still sounded as if the surf was up, the tops of the trees thrashing wildly around, some of them creaking as they swayed so if you shut your eyes you could imagine being on a clipper, bowling round the Cape of Good Hope.

Trees at their shiny best....

and the coos are oot (been out for a while actually) and came to inspect us as we tottered back down the road.

It`s all quietened down today though it`s been grey and cool and in this part of the world doesn`t do any harm to be prepared........we`re only 28 days from the shortest night......

Saturday 9.5.2020

Not often in northern Scotland can you say that a walk in the woods in the rain is a pleasurable experience but today it really was. The air was close and still as we walked up the road with dramatic skies promising more of the rain showers we`d had in the morning.

As we got further into the woods one of those showers set in but it was warm, like walking in the tropics and the pattering of raindrops made for a delightful rhythmic accompaniment as we walked under the burgeonng fresh green beeches.

.


A bit damp by the time we returned so a hot shower, a wee dram and the weekly treat of crisps (have to ration them in lockdown conditions) and all is well.
The cloud`s come right down now, it`s raining much harder but it`s still hard to believe the forecast for tomorrow.

Thursday 7.5.2020

Not a cloud in the sky early on. Not the wispiest of wispiest wisps. That "busy old fool", the "unruly sun", had already been up for a while and the shadows were a lot shorter than they were at this time a few weeks ago when they stretched right across the top field.

In the woods it was perfection: light and shadow,

cool and fresh in the shade, warm and balmy in the sun, the air was still and spring was springing away like billy-o accompanied by a chorus of birdsong.

One distant, pale cream streamer of cloud on the horizon as we came back down the road but no other sign yet of the impending blast of northerly wind and snow we`re apparently due over the weekend. Our resident Robin had better find some shelter and "hide his head under his wing - poor thing!"

Tuesday 5.5.2020

Beautiful on the top hill later this afternoon and in the woods earlier it was positively warm, no extra layers needed. Which means if the forecast for the weekend is right it`s going to be an `affa`shock for all the lambs that have been enjoying the sunshine - mention of the white stuff and strong winds has been made.
Nevertheless, it was proper late spring/ early summer this afternoon. Completely still, the trees were like statues (but definitely communicating silently with each other**), the sky was clear and a deep blue and it was impossible not to simply stand still, look up and soak up the atmosphere.

The little white flowers (now identified as Wood Sorrel) seemed to have multiplied overnight so they made constellations in the grass and pushed up from every available tree stump.

And the gorse was at its very best, brilliant gold with that fabulous coconut scent. Grows like a weed and a lot of time is spent cutting it back but unbeatable on a day like this.

The next couple of days should be much the same then apparently it`s batten down the hatches time. Snow? Really?


Oh well, if we have to light the fire and stay in, I have my next binge reading all ready to go. :)

**The book I`m currently reading filling my head with all sorts of strange notions. :)

Monday 4.4.2020

New week, new month. Last days of April into May have thrown just about everything at us weatherwise: pale morning sun; rain; sleet; rainbows; frosts; biting winds; warm,still afternoons soaking up the rays; moody skies; clear, azure skies.....you name it - a year in a few days.
Now they`re forecasting a warm week, ending next weekend with......snow?!

One day at a time though (as befits the `lockdown` lifestyle anyway) and yesterday in the woods, early on at a good pace with younger dog, it was crisp and sparkly and so green it nearly hurt the eyes.







The curtains of fresh larch draped across the path contrasted with the still wintry looking big beech that stands right in the middle of the woods but she/he/it (?) will soon be coming into her/his/their - :) - own.

Meanwhile, on the back hill this morning it was a sky of two halves: to the East bright blue with high, white clouds; to the West coal black and spitting tiny white globules of hail. Not sure which side will win as the day goes on - or perhaps the battle will simply continue.