The Grand National…

Thursday 12th April – 3.30am and up like a shot! Perhaps should have had a Gummie?

Framing this morning and got done by midday.

Beautiful day (When out of the breeze).

Saw a Peacock Butterfly sunning itself in the meadow.

Daffodil leaves poking through.

Work continuing well with Gallery extension

Friday 13th April – 6am, nae even finished me first coffee and Barclay was digging the biggest hole in the garden!

7.30am and I waved goodbye to our charming guest Angela, wishing her well with her next chapter in life. And … that is now me having a week off from Airbnb! This will be the first in over a year. Love it, but I am just exhausted at present.

It turned out to be a grim cold day, an abundance of Finches in the garden.
Jim & David made great progress on the Gallery extension and got tables, chairs etc ordered for it today.

Saturday 14th April – 3.01am and that was me up!
Saw the breaking news of us bombing Syria.
Today was nae a day I was looking forward to, yet, has always been a great one in previous years, The Grand National.
For as long as I can remember, Dad would put my bets on for me and we always had great chat in the morning about it.
Today would have been no different and then we would have been discussing the latest news on Syria, we enjoyed talking politics too.
Mother telephoned am, did I want a bet on the National, I said no, everything had changed, it did not feel right.
Though as the day wore on, I began to have second thoughts, Father would indeed want me to, so I made my selection and got my bets on with William Hill.
Alistair home early and a spur of the moment decision was made to continue work on Loch McBasil, am exhausted as I type, but thoroughly enjoyed it.
4.55pm, dropped tools and headed on indoors to watch the National.
Champions theme was playing, (That was what Mum & I walked into Church to at Father’s Thanksgiving Service).
Jockeys steadying their rides and they were off, by time they had finished their first time round, I was already out of my seat, heart in mouth and talking to Dad, Pleasant Company was in the lead and was looking comfy.
What a finish, a photo finish and congratulations to Tiger Roll & Davy Russell on your win and to Gordon Elliott and his yard, not forgetting owner Michael O’Leary.
But, not only I had I got 2nd place, I also had 3rd with Bless the Wings.
Just a shame that William Hill app & site is down and no one can collect their winnings!
Back out to Loch McBasil to tidy up, then will finally collapse on the ole sofa as soon as Ive published this.

Father & I with his horse Claudia Miss

First Place

What a difference some sunshine makes

Gallery Visitors!

Loch McBasil

Progress slowly been made

The Quick Thaw …

Pulled back the curtains this morning, to see a fresh covering of Snow.
The day was off to a good start.
Though was short lived when I realised I had run out of Coffee!!!
Had to make do with Alistair’s Kenco.

Whilst having morning coffee, I noticed about a dozen Siskins in the garden, so they must be about to return, though these soon flitted off.
I don’t think Barclay’s constant barking helped! He was stood at the gate in full voice for a few minutes, but as I write, I still have absolutely no idea what or why.
After I had got Barclay calmed down, I let the Poultry out, fresh snow seems to send the Ducks in to a skittish frame of mind and that was it, they were soon away flying down the glen.
Then Barclays Groomer came to collect him for Spa Day, waved them off only to discover I hadn’t closed the door and there was the tame Sheep in the sunroom chewing me writing desk! Had to lure him out with a Parsnip!

Come lunchtime, the temperature had reached a balmy 4c and the Snow began to thaw quickly and I saw our first Snowdrops & Aconites.
Also, McQuack had returned. I walked down the road in search of the other Duck, but no sign of McDuck anywhere.
Got the yard brushed and then finished prepping for tonights guests.
It was then I saw a flash of something fly by the kitchen window, McDuck had finally returned. So where he had been for the last 4hrs, lord knows.
Told him anymore of that and he’ll be getting his wings clipped!
Ruddy Ducks!!!

Looked across the river to see that a Herd of 8 Fallow (Including 2 young) had appeared, haven’t seen these ones before, so will keep an eye on them. They seemed happy enough for a few hours.

By 3pm, you wouldn’t believe we had had Snow, that was one quick thaw, though pleased to see more is forecast.

Tonights guests have arrived and are here for three days Skiing.
Barclay back from his Spa Day looking and smelling all posh, but of course doubt that will last.
Another Jamie Oliver 5 Ingredients recipe for dinner tonight, okay, but looks nothing like in the book!
Still weary and hoping can get a better nights sleep tonight, thought I had improved some last night, but Alistair has just informed me that I called out for Dad again 😦

Blanket of Snow

Sheep chews Desk

First Snowdrops

And Aconites

Flowers In The Glen …

Had a drive down one my favourite glens last Sunday, Glen Lyon.
The weather wasn’t great, but it was still as beautiful, magnificent hills, crisp fresh air, clean clear waters, lush greens and all was peaceful.
The Heather is really starting to show the now and the countryside has an abundance of wild flowers.
I didn’t get many photos, but tried to capture something each time we stopped to let Barclay out, or stopped for me to open gates on a fabulous K Road (Meaning unnamed roads/tracks, which are my favourites & I’ve christened them K Roads, those who have been out with me, will know exactly what I am on about).
Heres a small selection of just some of the flora we saw
Karen x

Pretty Purple Heather Beginning To Decorate The Hillsides.

Bell Heather

Bumble Bee on Cross-leaved Heather.

Slender St john’s-wort

The Lichen, Cladonia portentosa Growing At Glen Lyon, Highland Perthshire.

Lesser Spearwort

Wild Thyme Creeping Over Rocks. The favourite flower of Fairies.

Heath Spotted-orchid

Monkeyflower

Dozens Of Heath Spotted-orchid, Glen Lochay.

Foxgloves Growing Amongst Rocks & Boulders

The Orchid …

Last year, whilst out walking McBasil, we came across an Orchid, just one, not another in sight.
This year, curiosity got the better of me and I decided that Barclay and I would venture back to that very same spot to see if it had shown again this year.
First visit, there was no sign of it, but, things are about a week – 10 days behind this year compared to last, so we we would take another trip in search of it.
This time we were rewarded for our troubles, there its was!
Now I am not that great on Orchid identification, but giving its colour and location am opting for a Northern Marsh-orchid – Dactylorhiza purpurella.
It may look a sturdy wee thing, but it is not, it was just hanging onto its spot and I certainly wouldn’t have wanted to knock/touch it!
It wasn’t that tall either, as you can see from the 2nd image as its measured against me iPhone 6plus (Approx 17cm), the Orchid stands at 12cm.
Last year, it was only around for approx 2 weeks.
Am pleased to have come across this beautiful gem
Karen x