New year 2019
Hello to one and all and welcome back to Fishinkblog 2019. I hope you all had a great festive break and managed to switch off and recharge yourselves in preparation for a fresh beginning. Many thanks for all of your thoughts, comments and well wishing, much appreciated as ever. So what did you all get up to over the two week break ?
I had booked a cottage in southern Scotland and escaped there for New Year, with some friends who also have a dog. We spent lots of time walking, cooking and keeping away from the internet…. perfect !
I thought I’d share my Scottish travels with you for the next two posts and I hope you enjoy the images as much as I did creating them lol. First here’s a few images from local walks around Manchester, starting with a beautiful misty light.
These were mid December, we were so lucky with the weather in 2018, that long hot summer… wow. Feels long ago now.
A few frosty specimens, I love how the edges are all defined and white .
Even roses out in late December, surprised me.
Ok so we’re off to Scotland and a little cottage near to Borgue, between Dumfries and Stranraer. For those of you who like to see a map or don’t know where in the British Isles I’m talking about here’s one lol.
Here’s the place, some local views and a snapshot of our huge neighbours !
One thing we all enjoyed were the excellent views from the cottage and it’s proximity (10 min walk) to the local beach. Wild, rugged with plenty to discover and captivate.
Petrified mushrooms (above right) and a wonderful impression of sand ripples (below right), fossilised into the rock over time and then shifted to a vertical position by ancient earth movements.
A wonderful coastline, and plenty to keep us busy on the beach too. Anyone out there who also likes rockpool hunting?
First time I’ve seen frozen sand and seaweed too.
These were short days as the sun disappeared around 4pm, oh but glorious sunsets.
Visiting Gatehouse of Fleet.
We came across this 15th century Cardoness Castle belonging to the McCullochs of Myreton.
Then a walk around the local area to this graveyard in Anwoth. Some wonderful carvings.
A joke sign and a local pictish carved rock up on Trusty’s Hill.
Great views and three monuments, including Rutherford’s Monument.
We were lucky with the weather again.
In the evenings we did some old fashioned things like reading books, doing jigsaws and playing board games. The dogs chased one another around the huge garden, played tug of war and did a lot of sleeping.. absolute bliss.
Part two next week.
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Wonderful photos. Thank you.
Thanks Maria
Great photos & blog as always! Happy New Year Craig
Thanks Craig, the same to you young man.
Nice. Looks peaceful and relaxing. Looks like Boo and her friend had fun–love the black dog, he looks so huggable. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Joy. The Labrador was a girl called Holly, the two of them had a great time sharing the space and running around together. Nice to see them getting along so well.
I like the way you notice little things that most people pass by – leaves rimmed with frost, and rocks worn smooth by the sea. I read recently that Beatrix Potter wrote in her diary – “Thank God I have the seeing eye” – you’ve got it, too! Us artists need to have this ability, and it’s a source of great joy to us. As they say, simple pleasures are the best!
Thank you Deidre, I do tend to notice things that other people miss, and you noticed that I notice them so what does that make you lol I appreciate your thoughts as ever.