Resurrection.

Today I commenced on sorting out the shedudio..  Now I know many of you in blogland have been scurrying around spring cleaning, decluttering and sorting like the busy people you are.  But for me, for some time now, it has been an effort to even get down to the shed.

This morning was DIFFERENT.  I  woke up and felt really, really strange.  I felt like ME again.  So I got stuck in.

Hmm. That lot can wait.

Tidied the trolley.

Then things went a little pear shaped.  I ended up with more mess than I started with.  But fear not, all those piles, bags and well more bags have got sorted things in them.  Honest.

Cleaned and sorted the sink area.  Can finally see ''Aphrodite at the Waters Edge'.  She is an indoor water feature.  Which I never use.

 So all I need now is a bit more puff to move the bags to where they can be taken off and recycled.  Maybe tomorrow.  

What made this miraculous recovery even more jaw dropping was that we have just had family visit for four days.  Lovely to see them.  But I have had my fill of 5a.m. starts followed by CBeebies.

 I do not encourage eating of chocolate, unless it is me eating it, so I bought Lego for the 5 year old.  Pleasing to see I could still find the relevant bits.

The 2 year old with Duplo.

Both enjoyed the Kids Activities at the Lighthouse Museum.

But lunch still involved a screen......

Happy Easter to all who celebrate it.

Oh, forgot, house received very satisfactory Home Report.  Now house hunting. Post to follow.

Apologies for absence, being a Grandma.

My Grandaughter, aged 21 months, has come to stay.
Mum and Dad came too and Nanny. I am Grandma, she is Nanny.
Arrived Monday, that took the whole day, travelling here from Lincoln.

Tuesday they visited Macduff Marine Aquarium, Duff House at Banff and lots of Fishing Villages on the way down again to here.  Pennan, Gardenstown and Crovie.  They have been up the Lighthouse, lunch at the Lighthouse, on the beach, up sand dunes by Rattray Head Lighthouse.  Fraserburgh Swimming Pool.

Thursday Daddy and Nanny went off to Balmoral to gatecrash the Queen.  While Granddad and Grandma, Mum and Granddaughter went to Willows Animal Sanctuary. (www.willowsanimals.com for the full story.)

So above is me and Granddaughter where we met one of the many horses.  And I did my horse whispering.

Which GD found hilarious.

I was not allowed on the slide.

 One for Tina at thequiethomeblog.wordpress.com  who made this gorgeous doll, Sam.

 Bath time and bed.

Sadly, once that had occurred we hit the wine bottles.  Should have gone to bed.

I leave you with this lovely picture of one of our wonderful beaches.

They all left today.


Normal Service will be resumed, just finishing off the wine.

Weird weather.

Not just in my corner of the world, in North East Scotland, but everywhere.  Snow in Middle England, Snow in Canada, well you expect it there, but not in May, they are still waiting for Spring.  Here we had a few warm days, well, the temperature increased a bit, and everything went mad.  Normally one has daffodils, followed by tulips, but everything is now coming up all at once!  (Pleased to see the bulbs I planted have come up, lots of Alliums!) (At the same time as daffodils, tulips, rhubarb!, )
Sadly no pictures, as when I was all prepared yesterday camera in hand, hung the washing out in bright sunshine, then a great wind came , half the Dawn Patrollers' T shirts headed for the North Sea, the sky darkened, hailstones as big as eggs, thunder, what is going on?  (Well I took shelter down the shed.)

The Dawn Patroller managed to take photographs on his dawn patrol, (but then he has a better, far more expensive camera than I.) (and it wasnt raining, or hailing, or thundering.)

 The Rooster is guarding the wood pile, part of which we are having/paying for, for  next Winter, well the next bit of the Winter, as it really has not come to an end yet.....

Well, I guess, life goes on.  The Robin bellowing to his partner, or one he has an eye on.

The DP has been away this last weekend, down in Edinburgh.  Moving youngest daughter from one flat to another, including two cats.  Also enjoying himself at the RSPB Bird Fair.  And taking grandchildren, sons of eldest daughter, on one of the days.

"Is this the countryside?"  Poor deprived child living in a city.

While he was away I kept the home fires burning.  And did quite a bit of painting.

Our art session this week has been concentrating on pen and ink.  I have now an obsession with Gannets.

All done in pen and ink.  And more to come!

Our part of the world has the largest onshore Gannetry at Troup Head.  The Gannets nest there each year.  Troup Head is an RSPB bird reserve and you can see it from the cliff, but also from the sea.  A fantastic sight.

So long as the weather does not portend an apocalypse should be a good season.  And only   six weeks or therabouts to Midsummers Day.......

Spring Chicken -thats me.

It was my birthday on Thursday, first day of Spring.(Yes, I know some think it the 20th...)   As we know in this country it has not been exactly spring like.

What the pictures do not show is the howling winds which have brought the temperatures even lower.

All family departed now.  Quiet!  Toys packed away.  But then you dont really need bought toys or play equipment.

Dried pasta, a bowl, a jug and a wooden spoon.  

Dont even need a fancy push chair.

Yesterday the DP told me to be ready to go out at 6.30p.m.  I was all set for an early night and a glass of red, having refrained all week.  You cant risk small children knocking yer glass over.  Plus, said small child had woken me up at varying intervals during the night, boy can that child scream.

But it appeared I had no choice.  Our friends duly collected us and off we went into the freezing blast and horizontal sleet.  "Is this really a good idea?"

Well, yes.

As we arrived at the Lighthouse Museum, I said, "It doesnt launch til next Friday."  This being the Museums evening restaurant new venture.

Well what a (late) Birthday surprise this was!

Starters, choice of Cullen Skink Soup,

Scallops on Black Pudding, which I had, wow!

and Leek and Crowdie (Scottish cheese) tartlets.

For the main course the choice was Rump Steak, Haddock or a Vege burger.  Made with Chick Peas (which we had a taste of and was delicious.)

Dessert was Sticky Toffee Pudding, A Fruit Crumble or Something Creme Brulee.

All freshly cooked to order, all locally sourced food.  Nothing like this for miles around, the Restaurant should be a success.  And what surroundings!

When we asked for the bill.....no charge.  And a bouquet of flowers for me.  Ever seen a spring chicken cry?

(Footnote:  The staff now have nerves calmed knowing they can put on this superb food, and are looking forward to filling restaurant with proper punters.  And a large donation to Lighthouse Funds from the Happy Guinea Pigs.)

Sorry, got side tracked.

My apologies for not blogging for some days.

But I am being a Grandma ( and a Mum).

Two youngest daughters with us for the best part of the week.  Plus my grand daughter aged 15 months.  

Catch up soon.

A Break in Tradition.

For the last thirty odd years on the first weekend in December a real Christmas tree is purchased and put up and decorated.  When the kids were little, as soon as they had gone to bed, I re-arranged the decorations.  Still do.

A the Dawn Patroller disappeared off last week, no tree.  Yes, I know I could have got one,  but thats one break in tradition too far.  We cannot give up the annual arguments, now can we?  "Too big, too small, too fat, too bare........."

In crept the various Santas, reindeer and so forth.

While he was away in Lincoln reading bed time stories, 

I gave Gordon his Christmas Head dress.  (Gordon greets/scares you to death in our entrance hall)  And he dont look too impressed.

Found some more Santas.

Lit the candle burner in amongst coffee beans (supposed to then smell of coffee, so far zilch.)

But tomorrow, tomorrow, he thinks he might be well enough for us to go and fight to the death over which tree to bring home!  Bring it on!

Ups and Downs.

Further to my, earlier this week, post, this is probably a far more realistic set of pictures of what it is really like to bring your bit of fish to your plate.

The Harvester, aptly named, attempts to harvest the seas for your fish supper.

This is one of todays 'state of the art' fishing boats.  The pictures are courtesy of the Daily Mail, and the photographer, name in the corner of the pics, who must have been equally tossed about the troughs and the highs of the seas in another boat taking the photographs!  

Imagine, if you will , being in another era and still heading out to farm the seas.

A Puffer (steam powered.)

And earlier, sail.  All went out in the same weather and encountered the same challenges.  Albeit these last two pictures are taken with a calm sea, in harbour, but where were they heading?  Then, they had no satnav, no radar, no weather forecasts, but out they went.  And met the same high seas, the same deep troughs, and, mostly, came back safely to port.

Tis amazing.  They , the fishermen, are a different breed.  

I sometimes visit the Seamens Mission, there I meet with the Geriatric Mafia Crafting Gang, but sometimes, I just lean backwards and listen to the talk of the retired fishermen who also come in for their craik and banter and cup of tea.  Wonderful people.

So - back to normality, well my normality.  Wednesday morning art group and we are all still struggling with perspectives and verticals and horizontals, mainly round here the only horizontal you can count on is the sea, that's always level on the horizon, thank god, otherwise we would be fleeing to the mountains.  

Another worry for me,  is I do not ever get to grips with the sun setting and rising in different places depending on what time of year it is, and I dont care how many times it gets explained about the tilt of the earth....

the other is when you drive down a road and you see the sea apparently higher than the road you are driving down...why does it not therefore flood towards you?

As it does not, ever, I do not get too worried about it.

And finally, or have you all pressed the delete button?  I continue with my exciting journey down the wet into wet painting and have done this Birthday Card for my Granddaughter who will be one on Friday.    She and her parents have had a rough ride during this first year so my choice of elephants is to pray for tough hides for us all.

And for you if you feel the need, and having ups and downs.