Status - Amber Alert again!

Wow that was a windy Christmas - pardon the pun nothing to do with the Brussel Sprouts!   We never have any anyway!  A lot of damage around the islands and it seems we are in for another bout of gales tonight.  Boat not sailed tonight.

December been a very busy month with lots of nights out - but I have fingers crossed not once succumbed to a cigarette!   I am proud of myself.   Succumbed to food instead - bang goes the diet and being weighed in next Thursday.  Will just have to cut back as soon as New Year is past - Monday!

Garden seemed to survive okay.  Been out and checked, a few pots had rolled a bit but were still in the garden.    I saw advertised in a magazine today a pop up greenhouse and thought - well that would not survive Shetland's weather. Even the one I had which was weighted down did not survive. Was reading my Gardening Magazine today and Shetland is once again represented - lovely to see and also how hard it is to garden here. Looking forward to the lighter nights and getting out in that garden once again. Wonder what summer we will get this next year?

Lots of bulbs popping up and still some life in the primulas and daisies I planted.  Pansies got a bit of a bashing.  Birds been busy feeding today .

Had some lovely Christmas Presents including a Jewellry Box, Harry Potter DVD set,  books etc and I bought a weather indoor/outdoor station with money I got from my parents.

Snowy not too keen on Turkey but loves his new toys.

Went for a lovely walk around the Loch yesterday - it was nice to get out and get some fresh air and daylight!

My Desktop Garden as made by one of my colleagues.

The real present was a bucket of daffodils

 A extremely relaxed Snowy on Victor's knee.

 Annes shoes as worn by Cathy!

Elaine & Anne

 

 Anne & Cathy

 Victor - Christmas Day

My Jewellry Box

Christmas Dinner - it was delicious but now fed up of Turkey! The crackers are Cat Crackers from the Red Cross.

Catching up with some reading, playing Mahjong on my DS and Crossword Puzzles -being lazy.  Need to get a jigsaw on the go - also need to do some crocheting & cross stitch - haven't done any for ages

Looking forward to the New Year.  Cheers everyone

Elaine

xxxxx

December misery & Snowy's Birthday!

Ah the usual one day its gales, snow and or rain next day can be quite nice.   Sometimes wish that we could have snow in December that stays until January say.  Nice frosty crisp days - I love them! 

Been down In Aberdeen beside my folks and at a meeting in Aberdeen. Managed to miss the gales either way - did take photos as I left Sumburgh on the 27 November.   Quite a swell.   It was a bumpy trip into Aberdeen.   Visited Elgin and did some shopping, the tree in the centre is lovely and the lights in Huntly are super too.   Ours are looking a bit insipid this year.   Aberdeen's were lovely. Although I forgot to take a photo. 

Stayed in Jurys Inn and the hotel was nice - food very good too.  Went to see Arthur Christmas and I thoroughly enjoyed it - I am a big kid at heart and love animated and childrens films.

I bought some winter onions and garlic cloves to plant out in pots outside the back door- in the shelter but it has not been warm enough or dry enough.

Been a sad month too as a  friend died suddenly and she will be sorely missed.

Christmas Parties have started, had Victors 2 works ones and mine is on Friday. 

Snowy had his adopted Birthday yesterday the 12th December - cant believe its a year since we took him on.  We love him to bits - he is such a character - very loving, loves his food, and easy going except when he gets in fights.   He has a Xmas Advent Calendar this year and already knows when to ask for his treat!

 A windswept Sumburgh in November

 The Christmas Tree in the Centre at Elgin

 My Mum

 Pusscat - Mum & Dad's cat

 Snowy guarding the Xmas Tree

 A very high tide in the small boat harbour today 13th December

 Our Christmas Tree

My mantlepiece decorated for Xmas.

To all my friends and family, home and away and all those who follow this blog I wish you all a Merry Christmas and hope that everyone has a lovely time whatever you are doing and wherever you are.

Elaine xxxxx

Gales & Rain - its dark dark dark!

I realise that I had written that I was potting up Arum Lilies when it was Amarylis that I had repotted. They are already growing rapidly. Not been much weather for garden - last weekend was mild and finally emptied the last bag of potatoes King Edwards and they were not very large or a lot of them.  Bit disappointed - it looks like the Rooster Potatoes won hands down this year. Still the Foxgloves are flowering and some Marigolds - hardy soles in this rain and gales. Still lots of Blackbirds around Clickimin Loch.    There is a Robin around here.

I bought a bag of Roosters from the Farmers Market a couple of weeks ago.  

Went to Orkney last week, stayed at the Ayre Hotel - food and room excellent. This week had a deep cold so spent a couple of days in bed.    Feeling fine now but still coughing - mind you that could be the result of no smoking that is making me cough.  There are still times when I could go back to smoking but it I just keep on with the old willpower!

Snowy fine now and the hair growing back where he was shaved.  Now his claws are also growing - been scratch free now for a while.  He is currently trying to cuddle me and standing on the computer.

Off south tomorrow to see my folks and do some shopping.   Got a few bits and pieces of Xmas Shopping to do. Have a eeting in Aberdeen so its nice to be able to tie everything in together.

 A sleepy Snowy

 My bed at the Ayre Hotel - it was huge and comfortable!

 Kirkwall - the Peerie Sea

 A new bed in the Laundry Basket

Highish tide today at lunchtime.  - Too dark to take photos!

Weather keeps a changing

Well that was a nice weekend - managed to get some gardening done, tidying up, repotted my Arum Lilies, emptied out pots, moved pots, cleaned the path - but need to give it a further clean.   Still some marigolds flowering and I spotted a nasturtum flowering yesterday through the gloom.   Its dark in the morning and its dark at night, yeuch. The greenhouse is definitely a bin job. Some of my bulbs seem to think it is time to come through too.

An update on Snowy - he is fine now after his big fight last Monday - still a bit jittery when he first goes out.  The vet thinks he was attacked by an Otter - yes even at the top of the hill,  could have been coming from Clickimin.   He spent last Monday night at Bixter  at the Vets and then had to be sedated so that they could clean his wounds.   Well done to them as he was in such a mess.   He stayed really close to me when I was out and about in the garden at the weekend.   Wonder how many lives he has left - still the same loving boy.

Went out to Tingwall Market on Saturday and got some Xmas bits and pieces.   Packed up parcel for Canada yesterday now need to get it to the Post Office.  This weekend it is the Craft & Food Fare at Clickimin so I will spend some time their too. Its also Remembrance Sunday so will be at the Cenotaph.


We had a beautiful sunrise on Monday and sunset as well.   

Some last photos probably!

 Tomatoes inside and my inside petunia grown in a can.

 Petunia

 Snowy and his wounds

He also had his claws cut so that prevents him from scratching - also my legs have no claw marks this week!

Tingwall on Saturday.

 

Gardening coming to an end

Been out today between showers emptying pots and tidying after the gales at the beginning of last week.   I was in Dingwall on Monday and Tuesday and when I rang Victor he had been busy rescuing pots and my greenhouse.   It is still standing up in the shed but I dont think it will be able to be put together again as too many of the bits have brocken in the gale.  I will just have to buy myself a decent one.

The gales certainly put paid to some of the autumn colours - the gladiolis, foxgloves and hollyhocks have all had a battering and I cut them down today.   The annual plants have all been generally bagged and the compost bin is full!

Time to start planning for next year.  Been buying the odd bits and pieces for Xmas - Cards Calendars and Crackers.   Victor bought my Christmas Present yesterday but I will not get it until Christmas.   It is something I have been wanting for a while, and we got a discount.  We looked at a new bed yesterday so we will just have to decide which one we are going to go for.

Snowy was in a big fight yesterday - just gone out the door when the fight happened.  He spent the rest of yesterday feeling sorry for himself.  Bit better today and he has been out and about.

Need to do some walking - not done much this week at all.   Still no smoking.  We had a night out on Friday night and I did not even think of it once.   Certainly chewed some gum!.

Some photos:

Still a little bit of colour - Tomatoes tasted good - still 4 to pick! Off for a walk after lunch.

Mid October

Weather interesting - lovely day yesterday and I did do some gardening in between being ill.   Had a temperature and sore stomach which ended with me  being sick half the night - so been in bed today.   At one point Thunder and it sounded like hail on the window woke me up throughout the morning.

Weekend did some more tidying and weeding.  Tesco's had taken their packs of winter pansies down to 50p so bought some and put them in the pots of bulbs.  Trying to decide what needs fleecing this year and what could actually go into my little greenhouse for protection. Need to get that done before we get snow! Also split some primroses.  I have a few pots of plants if anyone wants them that I have split.  They are sitting in a fish box at the front door.

Surprised at what colour there is still in the garden considering the poor summer.  Tomatoes still fruiting in Kitchen window and up to 9 tomatoes nearly ready! 

Snowy doing fine - seems to be managing to avoid his fighting partner! Still catching the odd Sparrow.

 Snowy in background- autumn/winter pansies and primroses

 Californian Poppy  very - late this year

 Rose still blooming

 Christmas Rose - that I bought recently

 Poppy flowering again!

 Gladiolis - lovely colours but getting battered now

 Foxglove

Sedum

A Sunday Walk

Between showers this morning I decided it was time to get back into my walking again.  Did plenty walking in Edinburgh and again since I have been back been busy in garden so a walk was in order today. Following the NHS Lerwick walks decided to do the North Ness walk and thoroughly enjoyed it - very easy walk but also interesting.   I took some photos as usual.

Spent all morning yesterday and part of the afternoon in the garden.  Picked one of my bags of King Edward Potatoes and have decided to leave the other one for a while yet as the potatoes were a little small.   Cut back the Fuschia bushes - split some plants and  replanted getting rid of the rough bits - no use for anyone.  Still need to lift some more and divide but I will get that done another weekend. 

Will also need to start feeding the birds seed - mind you they are frantically eating today - maybe its the wind - but there were loads of sparrows & starlings actually in the garden on the ground as well as in the bushes catching beasties. I keep looking for any unusual birds but so far nothing as yet.  There is a Sparrow with one white wing tip very unusual - maybe it is a fledgling of the part white sparrow we sometimes see that I believe lives around Helendale at the other side of the town.

Looking forward to dinner tonight - Shetland Lamb, Rooster Potatoes, Carrots, Peas, Onion all grown in my own garden - might even put a garlic clove into the mix.

 At the back of the Toll Clock - Skippiedock

 Mareel - still not finished

 Boats at the Shetland Museum

 The Barrels installeds as a memorial for the Gutters - on the other side is the Poem which I have tried to photograph in order and hope that those not in Shetland will enjoy.    Quite difficult to photograph as a I had to stand right against the wall.

Its a lovely afternoon but very windy.  Snowy  just gone out - he will be glad that order wil be resumed tomorrow and he will be fed at a proper time ( 6.30 am) and not anytime between 7 and 10!  He is quite patient but he does try and waken you up and eventually I usually have to give in. Alarm set back to work.

Been doing some crocheting (still practising) but my cross-stitch has been laid aside as it is white on white at the moment and I need daylight to work with it.  Done some this afternoon.

Have a nice day   Elaine xxx