Jean's photos

It was so calm today. The garden was still and the sky was cloudy. I didn't notice in the morning as I was cleaning the kitchen and getting ready for my grocery delivery. Once it came and all the paraphernalia of unpacking and putting away was over I settled on the sofa feeling I didn't want to move and didn't care if I never walked or took a photo again. Meant to write to a couple of friends but wasn't in the mood. So I decided to have a bad day. Went into the garden to take a photo. A token gesture, Any old photo would do but I ended up taking lots and enjoying it. Came in, opened a bottle of wine and lay on the sofa, with a bowl of nibbles and read a very enjoyable book. Later I may eat some sensible food and walk round the block in the dark but then again maybe I won't. Sometimes it's better to just go with the flow.

A lovely lazy day. Switched the washing machine on. Did a bit of gardening. It was sunny but very cold so when some hail began to fall I retreated to the sofa. Bought yet more seeds which I am keen to start planting. Phoned Margaret and we talked gardening for ages. She has a right of way through her huge garden and it's been made a core path so she is concerned about insurance. It's not clear who is responsible if people injure themselves. Later I went back to Strath and the River Eden. The plan was to photograph flowers along the bank to make a collage. I did but liked the butterbur much better than the others. I think I'll keep going back. It's a nice little walk and very quiet. And I'd like to see the dippers again

A beautiful day. Chilly but sunshine all the way. I was late up having had a restless night but seemed to get through a lot. Dusted, hoovered, the washing machine was in action, amended my grocery order, checked my bank account and cleaned the bathroom which should have been done yesterday. In the afternoon I rewarded myself with a visit to Loch Leven's Larder. Bought a couple of Cook's frozen meals and rather a lot of nibbles. They sell lovely little bread sticks, garlic and parsley and tomato and basil. I'll have to put them away in a cupboard and not eat them all at once. Came back along a little back road full of pot holes. Stakes have been hammered into the verge at Glenvale and the Bonnet Stone. There is parking at both spots but so many people have turned up and been blocking the road which is pretty well single track and used by tractors. Further along I photographed the sheep, parking carefully for about five minutes, then went to Strath for a short walk to bring my step count up to speed. A really nice day all round.

A cold morning with a chilly breeze. I fed the birds. Andy cleaned my car and once he'd finished I went to the Pillars for milk and my favourite nibble, sesame breadsticks. Carried on to Strathmiglo to walk in the Community woodland and photograph blackthorn. It was sunny and sheltered and I had a chat with an old acquaintance walking her dog. Came home and used my new stick vacuum to hoover downstairs and the stairs. It really was a good buy. Spent the afternoon chatting with Andy over coffee, shortbread and clotted cream fudge as the sun went and the sky darkened. It's got colder and I put out a little extra bird food as this morning's supply had gone. I could see a blackbird looking hopefully at the empty ground feeder. The wind is getting up and it's time to put out the bins. Hope to goodness they don't get blown over this week.

Blue skies and sunshine all day. I had to do the bed changing etc. but then went into the garden and dug out all the docken. Wasn't as hard as I expected and Beaky was delighted. All that turned over soil ! Went back to Strath and Gateside in the afternoon photographing. There were fewer people around than I thought there would be which was great. Pleased to get a catkin shot at last. The tree is in the car park and is enormous. It's been coppiced at some time in the past so there are huge branches. They spread out almost from ground level and I was able to lie back in what is a little seat with my wide angle lens(see Extra) Wish I could have got the whole canopy in. Walked along the Eden afterwards and found a flower I didn't recognise. I'll need to have a search through my flower books.

Had a quick tidy then got into the garden again. My wild flower border is looking so much better apart from one patch which has been taken over by docken. I scooshed it a few days ago but it's unaffected so I'll have to try again. Pleased with my progress so came in and had a read then went up to Strath to photograph. It wasn't sunny like yesterday so I gave up on the catkins and the butterbur. Found there were coltsfoot further along the river too but stuck to the view with Corston tower reflected in a flooded bit of field. Came home and realised I'd forgotten to post a letter which was already late so went round to the village shop. A big mistake as I succumbed to a bottle of wine. When I came back I found a sack of bird food had been delivered to my front door and an Amazon package put through the letter box containing a box of fudge shortbread. I didn't order it and there's no note of who it's from. I suspect Andy or his daughter Emma. So looks like I'm going to have a sinful weekend. Maybe just as well as the forecast is for snow. Snow !

I wasn't in the mood to get up this morning. Everything seemed pointless. However, once up, I dusted upstairs, cleaned the bedroom window and set Roomba going, all of which I've been putting off for a week at least. By then the sun was shining so I went into the garden, planted seeds and cleared more of the borders. My cherry tree was humming with bees and Beaky was singing at the top of his voice in the crab apple. Round about four o'clock I went to my favourite location between Strathmiglo and Gateside to photograph fields. There are two good lay-by's on the main road and I photographed newly ploughed fields from one. Returned along a back road from Gateside and noted another shot then stopped in Strath and walked along the river Eden. Discovered that the tree in the car park is full of pollen laden catkins and along the river butterbur was growing. So guess where I plan to go tomorrow.

A good start to the day as I got stuck into giving the kitchen a thorough clean quite early then relaxed until groceries were delivered. Got them all put away and photographed in the garden. It was colder than yesterday and I chickened out of more gardening. Drove up to Strath and found a possible photo at a favourite layby then walked in the Community Woodland. I'd forgotten there was blackthorn there and it's just starting to come into flower so must go back again in a few days. Once home I remembered I needed to buy bird food.. Sunflower hearts have gone up in price quite a bit. After that I faffed around looking at small trees and shrubs as I may be going to remove a couple of shrub roses. Not really decided and it won't happen for a while.