The Secret Life of Plants

May day today and what a lovely looking day it is! It's bright and sunny out and a little warmer than the last couple of days have been. While everyone 'doon Sooth' has been out having BBQ's, getting sunburnt and having fun in the Sun our weather has been it's usual cold miserable self - well except for Monday, Monday was nice.

Speaking of Monday's glorious weather, mum and I had been invited up to come and see the lambs in the lambing shed at our Landlord's farm and decided that was the day. Lambing is always a super busy time for farms but the Landlord still found time to chat for a bit while marking the lambs. We spent a little time with the orphaned lambs who where being pretty noisy. Now they weren't technically orphaned but it's difficult for the ewes to look after more than two lambs so any extras and put together and either given to ewe's who've lost their own lambs or looked after by the farm workers.

(Smiley little lamb just before it tried to eat my finger)

It's been a really busy week again this week with extra shifts at the garage (to stop me from wanting to move on to the cafe) but there's been plenty of other things to be getting on with.

Last weekend I stayed in town and since the other half was out at work for most of the weekend I spent my non-work time knitting and getting to work in his garden. My mum is in charge of the garden at our house but in town I have free reign. Although the place was completely abandoned for some time I intend to keep busy getting it back to it's wonderful old self. On Sunday evening I cleaned all the rubbish out of the garden. Surprisingly there was an entire length of guttering under all the grass - as opposed to the short length I thought was under there - and the supposed ground sheet lying off to the site was actually an entire tent! Once all that was cleared up I got to work filling in an attempted pond right in the middle of the grass although the local cat and sometimes house guest Jake insisted on trying to help by getting under my feet so it did take a little longer than expected. As you can see the plants have taken over while we weren't looking but hopefully we can work together - the plants included - to make this a really pretty little space!

(This is what I'm working with. Just taken out the rubbish and filled the 'pond')

My knitting has been going well with more and more orders for my hats are coming in - really exciting stuff. It's even drawing some interest back to some of my other items too!

(another new hat!)

In other news I'M GOING TO PERU. I know most of you knew that already but I've actually got the flights booked now so it's really happening. I'm going to be working even harder to save up for other aspects of the trip but it's great to have that little task done and out of the way, plus I have some definite dates to work with. Next on the Peru to do list is paying for my time at the research station where I'm planning on staying for the majority of my time over there. If you would like to see where I'm going to be and what sort of work I'll be doing click here!

Well I think that's all I have to report for now - I'd better get back to knitting!!
Chat to you all soon!

(Title brought to you by Stevie Wonder - now that's a cool song to check out)

Here Comes the Sun

As of yesterday we have now had approximately three nice sunny days up on Orkney this year. However it is only March, and after all we're not meant to get nice sunny weather until the tourists start showing up - it's a natural ploy to convince them it's perpetually paradise up here - not that I'm a conspiracy nut or anything...

Anyway, having been warned of the lovely weather on it's way my sister Melanie and I along with the 'mother-taxi' (just kidding mum!) and the pup went up to the Ring of Brodgar - a neolithic henge and stone circle surrounded by lochs and open fields. Mel was after some photos of a very cute fox cowl she'd just made from her first pattern and I was hoping she could strike a pose with a couple of my finished  items too. 

It was still a bit nippy and we did have to time our shots for when the sun was clear of cloud but it could definitely be classed as a success! 

(a lovely cowl I made a short while ago - more details here)

While mum was out at her new job I went into town for a 'business meeting'. First though it was off to our favourite coffee shop - Trenabies for a cuppa.

Now the business meeting - well I don't know if I can really call it that. A friend of mine has an interesting business idea and wanted to meet up and discuss it and see if I would like in....so if that works out smoothly you might all get to hear about that too!

Next it was time to catch up with an old friend from school, before heading over to the other half's place to knit. My latest project is a super long black and purple, stripey scarf for another good friend. It's taken about a week already but it's almost finished now so hopefully I get to post that off to her very soon!

Well today has been dedicated to finishing a uni assignment so I'll speak to you all again soon, 

Ciao!