Sith cat has put on a bit of weight. So it is carry on with the liver support pills and steroids and back in 6 months. We have also been given a syringe thing as we struggle to get him to take the pills. The DP holds him wrapped in a towel and I administer the pills. I have experience of this over many years of being a cat owner. Sith cat purrs, sits for some time with me stroking his throat to get him to swallow. Then as I reach for the other pill he spits the first one out. This is blue coated and I get blue fingers .....The steroid just makes him froth at the mouth as he holds it in his mouth... So we will see what the syringe can do that I apparently cannot.
Meanwhile youngest child's cat has gone in for a cyst removed, from his tummy. Has stitches. Returned home with a cone on his head. Gone ballistic. So messages back and forth. I suggest not to remove it again, and feed him with it on and carries on as normal. As possible. Phew.
Sunny all day.
Tide just turning to go out. There are new sand banks.
Three Blackheaded Gulls come into land and begin preening.
A Rock Pipit. For once posing. They normally flick about the rocks catching insects. This one decided to stay still, basking in the sun, for me to take a few snaps. A small bird.
In the afternoon, friend and fellow artist visited.
She's good isnt she.
I just yakked.
And stressed about cats.
Nothing to be anxious about today.
My personal carer came and washed me and my hair. Made me laugh. Dressed.
I did my pulmonary physio exercises.
I guess it helps when the sun is shining to have a good day.
Remember yesterday where the sea seemed to be churning up sand? Well it does look as if sandbanks have appeared.
The Kessock Burn is now going off in lots of directions.
The Gulls are loving it.
Black Backed Gulls and everything else.
Bit of a breeze. Cold but sunny. Nae bad for February. I had a good walk. Enough to make me feel warmed up! Been a while.....
Banff registered fishing boat lining up and going into the harbour.
Back home and into the Shedudio.
Still playing with Redshanks and their reflections. This one is on a prepared canvas. Not finished yet.
Much later here is Sithcat considering whether to get off the bed and go sit on the DPs knee.
He did. He is back at the vets tomorrow. They are concerned at his weight loss. He eats like a pig. He is fine. Seems happy enough. He is on a daily steroid for his asthma. Has been on a liver support tablet for a month now as they suspect his liver being a problem. He is an old cat. We do not want any invasion or distress for him. We shall see what tomorrow brings.
So far this has been a good day. Hoping for the same tomorrow.
Our tree man was around this morning to look at the Leylandii hedge. He is to remove it this weekend. Shred it and leave us the resulting mulch. Any wood worth burning also. Obviously we have to let that dry out completely before using. So recycling a plus and a reasonable quote for the job. I doubt the boundary fence that is within will survive but hopefully enough for us to see where the boundary is/was.
Now you see it.
Now you don't.
This morning I had to sort out paying the balance on the house, Pittendrum, we have booked for April for the family to visit. I went back through to the booking emails. Shock horror. The DP had given them the wrong dates! So all the family had booked holiday off work and the booking was for the week after! Flat spin. But its sorted. They kindly changed the dates. Phew.
I really needed to go to the Prom by this time.
All the ice and snow has gone. Lots of rain overnight and this morning. Just a wind when I went . A strong gusty wind and cold. But I walked.
Look closely at the sea. I have never seen this before. It looks as if the sea is bringing up lots of sand. It will be interesting to see if there is any difference to the level of the beach tomorrow!
Back home and into the cosy Shedudio. Finished my little experiment on reflections. I have two other photos I took of this Redshank.
So my painting tomorrow.....
Soooooooooo COLD. More snow today . But weather forecast is - back to normal tomorrow. Above freezing, rain and wind. Whoopee do.
The beach today. With some original art? I think not. Everyone was wrapped up warmly. It didnt work, the wind was horrible. Walked but it defeated me.
Shedudio was nice and cosy. The DP comes and lights the stove as I leave for the Prom. Some painting.
More playing about really!
Tomorrow morning we have our tree man calling round.
The Leylandii Hedge. If you remember just before Christmas the Council said we had to get it back to behind our boundary which lies somewhere in the middle of the hedge. To trim it back to that picket fence will kill the hedge so we might as well have it removed. So advice and a quote forthcoming. Hey ho. A cost I could well do without.
Not much snow. Still very cold and icy.
I have decided I do not have a chest infection. TMI if I told you how I have reached that decision, but its down to the colour of my spit. I now know the breathing worries are down to anxiety. I worry about stuff = anxiety = breathlessness. Daft. It is the mental health issues that go along with a debilitating disease. Enough.
To the Prom.
Ice everywhere. I dare not walk. So to the railings. Breathe in the sea air.
Not many sea birds over by the Kessock Burn. Beyond that a group of footballers having a run. There are a number of football pitches over the road from the Prom. A game was going on with much shouting. This bunch were training.
Fitness training. This involves running up Tiger Hill, the big dune. Although I think strictly speaking one isn't supposed to go on the Dunes at all, but people do, and it is still there.
Blackheaded Gulls with a Common Gull nearest the camera.
Blackheaded Gulls well fluffed against the cold!
Not much sun today so silhouettes of the Redshank. Good for a painting hmmm.
Begun.
Bit more on the Short Eared Owl.
When I am painting I never become anxious. I breathe without thinking about it. Would that I could switch off the anxiety button at other times.
Last night another Aurora. Fainter. Look at all those stars. The two red lights are on top of two wind turbines. The bright bluish light on the horizon is our nearest village, street lights. To the left are the lights of Fraserburgh.
Land of the Big Sky signing off. Goodnight. Stay warm.
Still freezing. Struggling breathing today. Possibly down to the fact it is freezing! My lovely carer gets upset when I am struggling! For a young quine she is amazing. A real carer.
Determined as ever I got to the Prom.
Ice everywhere. Not getting high tides at the moment - its all to do with the moon apparently. Hence the swathes of ice untouched by the salty sea.
Gulls up the Kessock Burn as usual. Not much else bird wise on the beach today.
Two Surfers. Perhaps I should walk the Prom in a wet suit? They never seem to feel the cold.
I guess when you can do this you forget the cold.
Small boat, long way out, heading home.
Home again, jiggety jig. Couldnt settle to do anything as I had a Skype effort with my physio at 3 p.m. Just before I went back up to the house at 10 to 3 to set it up I saw 3 Fieldfares in our garden! This photo was taken as they flew off, one settling briefly on the electric wire.
Better get some red apples out on the ground so they may stay longer.
Physio well pleased with me. We do the Skype so I do not have to go into the hospital where he is based and can avoid infections. Ace.
A painting I did some time back which I sold. However I still have the copyright as the artist so I had it put onto a canvas print. Well pleased. Sometimes I look back at paintings I have done and think, "Did I really do that?!" But I did.
So still freezing. Light snow forecast for Sunday. We shall see.
