This morning we had an egg painting competition. The eggs were some beautiful brown ones from my Mum’s friend’s hens. They are free to scratch around outside, and have lovely views to look at which must make for contented hens and quality eggs. I am afraid that R is not a very talented artist. His […]
I did a double take walking past a delicatessen window in Castle Douglas today – it was full of very lively ducklings. A passing spaniel also didn’t believe what he was seeing and had a good bark at them. They didn’t seem very phased however, and went on with what they were doing, which was […]
R and I climbed Cairnsmoor of Carnsphairn today. There is a traditional rhyme There is Cairnsmore O Fleet And Cairnsmore O Dee And Cairnsmore O Carsphairn The biggest of the three Actually it is quite a big hill, taller than Beinn Bheula in fact at 797m, but (whisper this) it is a bit of a […]
Halfway through making the bed and had to stop because Schrodi was having a kip with/on BooBoo the bear.
R and I are off to Dumfries and Galloway to see my parents over Easter. I love baking but I am constantly trying to be healthy and not to put weight on, so I am not so fond of eating the results (or rather I am but I would rather not), so I always bake […]
The wildlife are now back in force. Last night R and I watched our pine marten (or one of our pine martens?) eating nuts on the bird table for about 10 minutes. Then suddenly he shot off into the woods. We realized why a few seconds later when a large badger emerged under the fence […]
It turns out I made a slight error the other day when I said I had got to the summit of Beinn Lochain. It turns out that there are two summits, a secondary lower one and another behind it which is about 50m higher. I only made it to the first one and was deceived […]
I have guests coming at the weekend and the meal I am making (Cypriot Chicken) is served with flatbreads. Last time I made these I used the River Cottage recipe, and although the results were nice, it involved cooking them on a griddle which filled the kitchen with smoke. So this time I tried Paul […]
On my way out today I noticed that the two ducks (a mated pair) which paid a brief visit yesterday were back today. They were still there when I got back tonight and I think the female might be measuring the island up for a potential nest. I’m in two minds about that – I’d […]
Again the misty morning cleared to dazzling sunshine by lunchtime today, and I decided to fulfil a long desired wish and climb Beinn Lochain (the one to the right of Beinn Bheula as you look across the loch from the village). Beinn Lochain is a Graham at 703m but is moderately challenging because there is […]
