Tuesday 27 March 2012

Fog and Sunshine - Maybe Snow

Lerwick has been shrouded in fog Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Bit of a pain as I intended doing some gardening - did get out and get some done.  The Fuschia bushes are all cut now.  In the end had a fairly lazy weekend oops.

Went to the vets with Snowy on Friday and typical it was a beautiful day in Scalloway. I believe the West and North were lovely on Friday and on Sunday.    Its gorgeous in Lerwick today and yesterday but the forecast is for cold weather and snow.  Spent a couple of hours today forking over my vegetable plot feeding and covering to warm it up.   Tidied up some pots and hocked out the dandelions that are beginning to show their leaves.   Lots of daffodils now in the garden too.

Not sure what is happening on the bird world but they seemed to disappear for a few days wondered if it was the fog or that they were starting to build nests - maybe better food elsewhere - who knows.  I have found out that it is the male Lark that sings in the sky but I keep referring to him as her. The blackbird male is singing beautifully just now and the male sparrows are looking rather splendid.

Snowy got his booster and is in good health.   Been running around in the garden loving the sunshine today.

I have been out walking too in the sunshine - lovely.   Just heard it has been 22.4 degrees in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, think its been about 14 or 15 here and warm!

 Anemones - Snowy in background
 Daffodils in pots
 A triple headed daffodil in a pot in the house
 A very bare side of the house where I have cut back the fuschia bushes.
 The bumble bee in the garden this afternoon - very sleepy and then flew off.
 Winter onions and garlic
More daffodils.

Finally got tickets for Bill Bailey in May - still not organised trip for Victors Birthday.  Will do soon when we decide what we are doing.   I found a little wooden greehouse/growhouse on the internet so hopefully it will arrive soon and survive the Shetland wind!

Elainexx

Friday 16 March 2012

I spied a Red Squirrel!

I have been south a couple times with work this last week in Aberdeen and Aviemore but little time for shopping.   I did manage to buy some gardening stuff in Homebase in Inverness - they had loads of plants I would have loved to have taken home with me but unfortuately I was flying.  I am hoping to get in to the garden this weekend weather permitting.   I started cutting back my Fuschia bushes a couple of weeks ago so need to carry on and do the rest.

The Red Squirrel was of course not in Shetland but in Aviemore outside my bedroom window.  I tried to get a photo without disturbing but my camera is not very good. The weather was lovely in Aviemore as it was the previous week in Aberdeen.  Its been a bit mixed here.

Missed the Northern Lights again last night! Drat.

The garden is really beginningto spurt into life.  Lots of green leaves coming through and plenty of bulbs are now flowering, irises, crocus, tulips, daffodils, snowdrops and anemones.  These are all in pots but the bulbs in the garden are also coming on in leaps and bounds.

Still looking at a mini greenhouse or a coldframe - not found anything that I like or within price range yet.

The Lark is here too - Spring is around the corner.  Its been sunshine , showers and hail today aturday.

 Aberdeen Harbour
 SEPA Aberdeen Office
 A 500 piece Jigsaw I have done
 Snowy helping on the laptop
 A lovely daffodil
 Life in the garden
 A sleeping Snowy - Looks like he is sucking his paw
 The Red Squirrel in Aviemore
 A very laid back Snowy
The Red Squirrel and of course trees!!!!

Sunday 4 March 2012

March Spring?

This weather is weird - calm and mild one day - galeforce wind next.   Mind you did see some sunshine this week which always brightens everyone up.   Folk even smile.  I always wonder what other conversation we would have with strangers if it was not for the weather.

I actually spent some time in the garden today - overcast but mild and calm and cut back 2 of my fuschia bushes - another 2 possibly 3 to go.  These have been growing for probably near 29 years so the trunks are fairly thick - but they are old and getting a bit too tall. My washing keeps getting caught up in them.   Now I have cut them down to about 2 feet from the ground.   They will live up - there is plenty growth and I am going to try and keep them at this level.

Fairly busy at work just now and I am off south this week and next week.  Aberdeen and Aviemore.  Looking forward to Aviemore.  Aberdeen is a day trip no time for shopping except at the airport.  

Trying to look to do something for Victors 60th.  We thought of London and the Queens Diamond Jubilee but very expensive for 4 nights.   Might just do a couple of days in Aberdeen instead, and go for a sunny holiday later in the year.

There is a big crane at Peterson SBS Base just now and it is one of the largest that has been in Shetland.  Photos below.

Crocuses, Iris,daffodils, Anemones and Snowdrops all blooming.   Each day brings new flowers.

 Fantastic Quilts at the Museum. I have been twice now and I am still in awe - lots of hard work.
 Some of my favourites.

 This is my work of art - my jigsaw!
 Snowy loves shoes - these were new ones that I bought yesrerday so he has to give them loves and sit in them!
 The big clean!
 Swans on Clickimin Loch
 Snowdrops
 This tub got a bit of a battering yesterday in the wind.

 
The big crane at Peterson SBS - see the reels in the background.