keeping warm and working

 We've been lucky to be able to forage for firewood, getting some beech..from a fallen tree that fell across the road a couple of years ago. All the really good stuff went, but we don't mind using smaller wood. It keeps us warm and doesn't spit like other wood!!  Better that we use it than see it just burnt or chipped by the roadside.

The trip to Ballantrae was worth doing, I've earmarked a couple of images to return to when the weather and light are better! 
You don't have to have bright warm sunshine...I've put some Atmospheric Ayrshire cards in my Etsy shop!

 and also some Spring Flowers to keep us hoping....

Yesterday's local foraging on foot didn't yield much...as after ten minutes of sun, the wind suddenly blew up strong and chucked hailstones then snow at us!
I know you're supposed to do a minimum of twenty minutes walking a day...but I'd rather not do it in these conditions!!   Then five minutes after we got back home,the sun was trying to tempt us out again...ready for the next heavy hailshower!!!

A walk in Ballantrae

looking forward to Spring

 The Snowdrops are blooming at home.

We celebrated by dodging the showers of rain and taking a walk on the beach by Culzean Castle.

New Year's Day in North Tolsta

 The sun greeted us on this first morning of 2014

 so we celebrated by going for a drive, to go for walk...

 to a bridge at the head of Seaforth loch, one of the many places that Charles Edward Stuart is reputed to have landed...but quite a feasible location, miles from anywhere even now...

 fresh peat cuttings, by the old road that runs by the loch

 there has been some heavy rain recently, and one stream had torn a scar right down the slope and by-passed the road bridge

 mid-day sun.....

 We  found a group of at least a dozen "black houses" by a larger burn, with a large fank (group of sheep pens that look like a group of fences)

 and a chassis with a diff....?????

 and a lobster pen.....

 and most surprisingly, a Herdwick sheep !!!

 A small fank

 Then we cheated and drove to where Mr C.E.S. walked....just South of Stornoway...

 and saw a rock garden..

 and in the evening left The Pirate talking in the kitchen while three of us went visiting.....!!

harbour walk at Maidens

 the surf breaking across the harbour bar

 as the sun goes behind the top of the village

 the tide edging in...it was almost over the playing field by the harbour

 the swell coming along the harbour wall and splashing up over

 it has been rough and windy all day today..

 here is the old model for the weathervane

and the sea outwith the harbour.....not to be ventured upon!