The three trees from another angle. 362/366

Fife


Folder: Scotland

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18 Mar 2021

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17 comments

135 visits

Trees near Brunton.

Yet more warm sunshine. It's been lovely. I notice Beaky is eating the mealy worms before any starlings appear and after him a jackdaw arrives. None left for the starlings this morning. I think I'll have to put out a second helping if they don't start coming earlier. I hoovered the stairs directly after breakfast as they where very grubby and I can't remember when I last did them. They have been preying on my mind and making me feel guilty for some time. Spent a lot of time in the garden getting rid of more lamium. It will be a never ending job I fear but there is some silver lamium I want to keep. Was so engrossed I nearly forgot about the trip to the recycling then set off without my gardening gloves and had to go back. I couldn't have moved all that thorny stuff without them. Great to see it go but there's still forsythia to be chopped. Afterwards I went back up the road to Creich to photograph trees I saw yesterday. I photographed them years ago but had forgotten about them. Was lucky with the clouds. Carried on over the hills to the Tay and Newburgh. Everything was looking its best. Lots of people out at Newburgh so I didn't walk. Passed Birnie on the way home. It was packed with cars. Stopped at Heatherhall Woods which was full of dog walkers as usual. I walked along to a field to photograph the cloud formations over East Lomond so I got peace and quiet. Sadly the photos were full of flare in spite of a lens hood but it didn't matter. It was a lovely day.

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11 Mar 2021

31 favorites

21 comments

142 visits

Field colour and geometry.

Still up late and lethargic but the sun was shining. I went out to see what the pile of prunings I needed to put in my car was like. I expected very wet after last nights wind and rain but no. They were as dry as bones. Shunted them into the car instantly then went to feed the birds. Found Beaky outside the kitchen door ready to fly inside if I'd let him and felt I was off to a lucky start. After a very late breakfast I drilled drainage holes in my house number box. A sack of pea gravel arrived and some wood preservative so the bit of fence I'd prepared got doused in the stuff. The postie brought a renewal price for my car insurance which I opened reluctantly. It always rises astronomically and I then have to search around. Not this year. No price rise and a promise next year will be the same. Have they decided to keep old customers instead of always having low prices to attract new ones ? Began to feel I needed to pinch myself to make sure I had wakened up. Decided I would follow the instructions for activating my renewal of my computer security. Something went wrong when I bought it and sorting it out has been a pain so I expected this to be a pain too. But it all went smoothly. Made off to the recycling with my prunings, filled up with petrol and drove off to Loch Leven's Larder for weekend cake. The weather was amazing. One moment the sky was blue. The next black cloud had descended with a ragged edge of rain showers falling through a strip of sunlight. Then all was dark and misty and a minute later the rain and cloud had moved on and it was blue sky and sunshine again. I was driving along a back road into the sun with shining puddles hiding pot holes of unknown depth. Stopping in field gates for photos. There was hail. Sometimes I had to photograph from the car as rain was being blown onto my lens and I could hardly see what I was taking. It was so magical I got carried away and pulled myself together just in time to buy cake and nibbles. Drove home more sedately on the main road stopping for a few more shots. I love the field colours. Just as well for, when I looked at my haul flare was everywhere in spite of using a lens hood. But it didn't matter. Just being there and enjoying the show was enough.

08 Mar 2021

20 favorites

13 comments

95 visits

Top of the totem.

I never seem to manage two busy days in a row. Went to bed at a reasonable hour but woke up late this morning not in the mood to do anything. Eventually dragged myself out after lunch to visit Homebase where I bought a fencepost, a hacksaw and a tray of violets. Not many people and very well organised. On the way home I decided to have a look at Formonthills, run by the Woodland Trust. I used to go there years ago for a different route up East Lomond, something which is now beyond me. I hardly recognised the place it has changed so much and for the better. Lots of trees and paths and various sculptures where paths cross. When I got to the Totem Pole I had, of course, to carry on up the hill to see if I could see the Lomonds. There they were and, much to my surprise, a trig point for Rhind Hill. It's only a little hill but it's a while since I saw a trig point. Cheered me up no end.

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25 Mar 2021

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17 comments

121 visits

On the harbour wall.

A nice lazy day. Spent the morning reading news, doing crosswords and e-mailing friends. in the afternoon phoned Linda whom I had missed yesterday and spent well over an hour gossiping away about potholes, lockdown fatigue, Johnson's "Greed is good" blunder and Nicola's 4% pay rise for lower paid NHS staff. Well deserved but brilliant timing as Holyrood is in recess and electioneering is now started. Should be worth a few votes for the SNP. Afterwards I took my prescription to the chemist and glass to the recycling then went to Dysart to have a walk and a photograph. Found I could get onto the harbour wall to photograph a boat I've always liked and the blue Sea Beams by Donald Urquhart. They caused a bit of a stooshie when they were first erected but people have become fond of them over time.

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26 Mar 2021

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13 comments

122 visits

Spring fields and Corston Tower

It's been an interesting day weather wise. Blue sky one moment then grey cloud the next and very cold. An order of cyclamen arrived this morning, beautifully packaged and I got out in a good patch and planted them under the smoke bush. They flower late winter to early spring so it will be next year before I see them. Did a bit of pruning but didn't linger in spite of being well wrapped up. Went to the Pillars for milk, eggs and a couple of nibbles then had a walk in bright sunshine. Still hoping to find pussy willow but no joy. Drove up to Strath and the layby just outside to photograph a favourite view and did a little circular tour with hail, sunshine, dark cloud and more hail. Came home to lie on the sofa reading for the rest of the afternoon. Time now to organise dinner. I'm going to make baked apple for afters.

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01 Apr 2021

30 favorites

19 comments

147 visits

Newly ploughed.

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.

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05 Apr 2021

33 favorites

22 comments

144 visits

The sprout stem eaters.

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.

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09 Apr 2021

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9 comments

213 visits

Stony serpents.

Worked hard in the garden this morning and spent the afternoon drinking coffee, eating cake and chatting with Alison and Bob. It was sunny and yesterday's wind had dropped. Went out in the car afterwards and wandered around. We have some lovely rock formations in Fife. Came back late and a bit dazed from constantly driving into the sun. Very hungry so tucked into lamb tagine from Cooks which is delicious. Made me sleepy though and I'm feeling very tired so forgive me for not commenting. I'll catch up tomorrow.

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10 Apr 2021

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13 comments

252 visits

Reflecting on the Eden.

I slept very late today and woke still tired with gardening aches and pains. Faffed around on the computer as usual then stripped the bed and took the bedding downstairs. Half way down the phone rang so there was a bit of a kerfuffle to answer it. Turned out to be Veda who never usually phones at that time but I collapsed onto the sofa and we chatted away for over an hour. Finally fed the birds, loaded the washing machine and had breakfast at lunch time in my housecoat unshowered. Eventually made myself presentable and abandoned any plans to do anything other than the normal Saturday laundry routine. That was enough. I was so tired. Read, photographed the birds for a while with the window open. I had intended to go to Leven but I didn't have the energy so went to Strath yet again hoping I might see the dippers but no luck. I caught a glimpse of lambs in a field on the way there and made a note. Spent some time looking at the river at the start of the walk. It's nicer than I thought it was. Coming back to my car I met a woman with a little Westie I've met previously. I could see the dog giving me the once over and realising that it had met me before. They are so enthusiastic and full of zest it's impossible not to smile.
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