Home and Away

The gap in blogs is because I have been away for a couple of weeks exchanging one national park for another as I spent some time in Snowdonia. It was noticeable how much further on the flora was in Wales although on coming home it was clear that June was busting out all over. First task was to get the grass cut. We are enjoying spending time in the new summer house come barbecue. It was put up during Christmas week last year and we have spent the Spring painting it and getting it ready for use. There have been lots of comments from passers by. We bought it from a firm called Logspan based at Inverkip who were able to adapt an existing design to suit our particular site. It is now coming into its own as it is situated in the warmest and most sheltered part of the garden. Yesterday evening after having our tea in it we listened to the birdsong. A robin was singing its heart out loud and clear and very tunefully.

The walk had also changed considerably. The bluebells have finished flowering and are now hidden beneath the lush bright green bracken. There are still lots of wild flowers though and the pink campions are doing very well. It was good to be home and to feel that summer really has come at last - even if we do still light a fire on chilly evenings.

Some of you may have come to this blog from the article in the Dumpling Times - even if an incomplete url was given. I hope you wont be disappointed and share with me some of the sights and sounds you see when out and about in the area.

This is just a quick catch up as I will be away again all next week - this time to the south of France.

A hidden history and rhododendron Walk

Yesterday we turned right instead of left on leaving the house and walked through to Ross Priory.  Rosie was kept under a fairly tight rein down the long drive as she does like to chase the golf balls if she has an opportunity.  Just by the turn to the Water Board there is also a path off to the right.  It wasn't too muddy although it has been unpassable without wellies earlier in the year.  Before long we reached the small enclosed burial ground of the Macdonald-Buchanans.  This is a very special place now largely overgrown.  Through the gates are the graves of Jean Buchanan and Hector Archibald Buchanan, her husband, and six of their nine children.  The plaque at the end gives details of their names and it can be seen that the three missing children are buried where they died - in Bombay, Gibralter and Malta.  It was Hector and Jean who extended and embellished Ross Priory creating the fine building we still admire today.  Their burial place also has a certain grandeur.

We walked along the loch side looking up at the house and returned through the gardens.  We had missed the official Open Day a couple of weeks ago but the rhododendrons and azaleas are still magnificent - rich reds, bright purples, pale pinks, delicate whites and sunny yellows.

What you don't get from the photos is the wonderful sweet honey scent that engulfs you as you walk near some of bushes.

Bluebells at their best

This really is the time to go down to the woods.  The bluebells are amazing.  They seem to get bluer and bluer as far as the eye can see.  The photo doesn't do justice to the intensity of the colour and the contrast with the emerging bracken.  I've managed two walks to the viewpoint today and this evening's was so peaceful.  It amazes me that I can spend an hour walking on a beautiful evening and not see another soul.  Rosie and I have it all to ourselves. 

Where afar my steps have been,

Blue skies charm the eyes,

And the earth is ever green.

Yet dwelt my heart 'mid Scotland's glens,

Where aye in thought was seen,

The Bluebell, the Bluebell,

Amid the bracken green.

Food for free

You can't miss the wild garlic or ransom.  Even if you don't recognise the flowers you will be able to smell them.  They are growing along many of the verges in the road to the loch as well as running rampant at the bottom of the garden.  Where they have been cut back the smell is particularly pungent.  The leaves are considered quite a delicacy. Chefs use them in salads and there are even recipes for wild garlic bread.

I have to say that I haven't been brave enough to try any of these recipes yet.  There are more interesting recipes for foraged food on the Salaric Cooking blog.

There are others who have been getting food for free. On the walk to the village this morning just as I was approaching the hall I found a couple of empty, broken egg shells.  There were still traces of yellow yolk indicating that these had been fairly newly laid and plundered.  In the trees by the gate there were a couple of blackbirds getting very agitated and I spotted a jackdaw feeding in some long grass nearby.  I'm pretty sure he must be the culprit and was systematically raiding the poor blackbird's nest.  They will have to find somewhere a bit more secure if they are to raise a brood this year.  I put the remains of a shell on the post to get a picture.

Better weather ahead?

Another grey day with clouds interspersed with showers and an occasional glimpse of sunshine on the Campsie hills.  The only encouragement I take in this wet May is that the oak trees are coming into leaf while the ash trees in the garden have still to bud.  If the old adage "Oak before the ash - we shall have a splash: Ash before oak  - we shall have a soak" is right the weather should improve later in the summer.

                                                                                                

 This year's may blossom is also magnificent and just coming into its own.

A few changes

A new headline picture today - the one I took from the air last week - which may well be the last taken with the iPhone.  Up until now all pictures on An Aber Diary have been taken using the camera in my phone which, although adequate, are not the best quality.  From today however, photographs will be taken with a small Panasonic Lumix digital camera which is small enough to slip into my pocket every time I go out.

The picture for today was taken with the new camera as we turned the corner into Ross Loan yesterday morning at about 11.15 and had to pause to allow a parade of vintage Austin 7's go past.  There must have been at least 15 - 20 and another two further down the road that seemed to be having some problems.  Where they came from or were going to I have no idea.

Just to see how other pictures taken with the new camera look here is a close up of some bluebells taken yesterday.

The bluebells in Shore Wood really are magnificent.  The further you go into the wood the deep purple/blue color and the scent become more and more intense.

The cows are back

After seven months spent in their winter quarters out of the worst of the winter and spring weather the cows, their calves and the bull are back in the fields around Aber.  It is great to see them back.  A couple of months ago the fields were all top dressed with a thick coat of manure but now the effects of all those nutrients is evident in the lush green grass.  The cows obviously appreciate the space and have been trotting around with their calves in tow. For most of the calves the big wide world is new to them and they are exploring their new environment while keeping a close eye on Mum at the same time.  The bull is obviously master of all he surveys.

This is the longest period that the cattle have been inside and they were due out last week but the weather was so cold and wet it would have been too risky for the young calves that are not acclimatized yet.  Yesterday's sunny weather seemed to suit them fine. 

Although it was quite windy yesterday I was able to take up my first (and probably last) flying lesson from Leading Edge Flying School in Cumbernauld.  It was given me as a birthday present last year and I thought I had better make the most of the fine weather before the Experience Ecosse voucher expired.  Given that it was still very windy and it was a very, very small two seater Cessna plane we were flying, I was a bit nervous.  Once airborne, however all my fears vanished as I took in the amazing sights below.  By special request we flew over Gartocharn, the Dumpling and Aber and I was able to take some photos.  Not the best but it was good to 

see these local landmarks from a different angle and look down on my house from above. 

 

I was able to point out to the young pilot/instructor the Highland fault line which divides the Highlands from the Lowlands and which is clearly visible running through Conic Hill and out to Inchcailloch.  It really was a fantastic experience.