Tag Archives: Summer Flowers

The Last of the Flowers

3 Replies

Daisy and I went for a lovely walk with the dogs in Clothie – my separate five acre croft land that is a little way into the open hill grazing.

Having climbed the hill, I sat on an old windowsill of the derelict croft house and admired the view, happy that the postman had dropped off an important parcel (for an exciting craft project I am about to start).  I watched him driving off back up our track.

The grass is nice and high in places. This is the old horses and ponies’ winter grazing for a few months.  The dogs found it hard work to walk through and had to bounce over it to see where they were going – I hoped this would use up lots of energy and tire them nicely out, while we didn’t have to walk very far.  It did.

The beautiful abundant summer flowers are now all dying back.  Summer is beginnning to feel over here.  It has been a very good year for them.  So much colour.

I found a good patch of Devil’s-bit scabious which is my favourite. It was competing with the buttercups and hawkweed.  Interestingly, the horses and ponies won’t eat it.  It always looks delicious.

Daisy and I wandered around our field for a bit while the dogs did their own thing. Last time I was here, Pepper came home with a dead polecat that she had hunted down.

Given any chance at all, Pepper is a keen hunter, always on the look out.  I don’t discourage her because a) it is my own land and b) it is one less polecat to try and kill my chickens and ducks.

Back to Dog Walks in the Flowers

3 Replies

As Pepper has now had her two stitches out (and, apparently she was a very brave soldier), I thought she could start going for a walk again, but only short ones and strictly supervised.

So I decided Pepper and Ted should go to Clothie, my 5 acres of long grass and flowers which forms part of the old horses and ponies’ winter grazing.

At times, it was difficult to see the dogs.  They were easily lost in the long grass and flowers.

Nearly impossible at times.

Pepper was loving her new freedom.

The two dogs bounded over the grass together, trying to see over the top and where they were going all at the same time.

Meanwhile, having walked to the top of the hill, I sat on a windowsill of the old crofthouse not watching the world not go by.  There wasn’t a soul to be seen, just the long grass swaying in the wind to the sound of the curlews shouting.

I think the short walk was a success.  The daily bandaging less so, though. She hates that and fidgets horribly.

I still don’t trust her not to go a-visiting – strict supervision, remember!

Now, Ted I mostly trust. He has a good track record and stays around the house.

While Pepper is always looking for the chink in our armour.

Not Pepper’s Day

5 Replies

The dogs and I went for a walk to Clothie – our 5 acre field complete with a derelict croft house that used to be a school.

The grass is so long it make the dogs invisible but they love it, bouncing over everything so they can see where they’re going or aiming for.

And the flowers are glorious and so many of them. They seem extra-good this year.

I walked round and then sat on a windowsill while the dogs galloped about looking for bunnies, etc and eventually gave up to sit close to me.

I had a lovely view with the sea in the distance.

And then, on the way home – which is across the open hill a little bit – I noticed Pepper was lagging behind and licking her front paws.

Upon closer examination, and after following the trail of blood around the kitchen, I discovered she had cut both front paw pads open.

Poor little thing.  She was in a state so I grabbed her and put her on the table, examined both paws, got some gauze and rubber gloves and made two makeshift dressings, covering them with a rubber glove and tape to keep the dirt out.  I also gave her a painkiller.

So now I am carrying Pepper everywhere and she’s no lightweight.  She slept all afternoon, which was good.

And I’ve made an appointment for Pepper to see the vet tomorrow (no appointments today, unfortunately).

Once OH gets home, I might soak and re-bandage Pepper’s paws better. This was a real bodge job as I only had one hand (the other was holding her from jumping off the table).  And then there was all the blood to clean up and I’ve just trodden in cat (?) sick and I am feeling sorry for myself too.

But poor, poor Pepperpot.

A Bit of Colour

1 Reply

It was a wet foggy start to the day.

The kind of day where you need waterproofs but then you’re too hot because it’s also warm outside.  Basically dreich (such a good word – a classic Scots adjective used to describe weather that is dull, damp, bleak, and miserable.)

No one felt very inspired to do anything.

(I love how Monster has the bed and Pepper doesn’t and yes, she does mind hugely.)

And a photo of Ted, just in case you think he has been forgotten.

Anyway, after cooking all morning and making my usual hand-felted Shetland sheep this afternoon, I was in dire need of some fresh air – the weather had cleared at lunch time which made everything much brighter.  So I went outside with the dogs for a walk around the ungrazed fields to see if I could find any evidence of our summer flowers.

A happy sight – my first heath spotted orchid.

Some Spring Squill – this was my first sighting in the field.

The marsh marigolds now in full abundance – great swathes of deep yellow flowers everywhere.

The “mayflooer” or Cuckoo Flower or Lady’s Smock – I am ashamed to say I had to look up the name of this as I always forget but it is a favourite in its own quiet way.

So that was me today.  A nice peaceful Sunday.  All we need is the sun to shine and everything will be perfect.