Make hay while the sun shines!

The sun has been shining this week and Brian (Templeton, the contractor) cut hay on Tuesday, Brian P. turned it every night and Raymond baled it on Friday morning. It has been sitting in the field since then, but this afternoon Brian (P) decided to bring the bales down to the field beside the shed. The bales can't be stacked closely or put in the shed until they stop 'heating', and as they only got 4 days drying rather than the usual 5 days, due to thundery rain which was forecast, and came, on Friday night, the grass is not bone dry and will heat up. The bales
Bringing bales down the road.

Well balanced!

Putting the bales in line.

Easy does it!

Now for the one on the back spike.

Off to the field for some more.

Sun Worshipper

The sun has been shining today, although there was a cold north wind. Jenny found a sunny spot to snooze!

The sun shone today!!!

Brian risked wearing his Quail Oak cap today...and it didn't rain! We sat out for breakfast although it got too windy to eat outside later in the day.

I decided it was the day to tackle the shrubs in the garden. Brian had the trailer out for some fencing he did in the morning and once I got started on the rose hedge I decided to take it right back to the ground, then I cut back the Viburnum and we cleared out some of the wood that we had cut back in the autumn (fall). There were two trailer loads to be taken up to the 'burning heap' by the time we had finished. I am aching all over - better than a workout, but I suspect I will regret it tomorrow.

Sweetheart Abbey and John Paul Jones Cottage

Sweetheart Abbey the remains of a late 13th C and early 14 C Cistercian Abbey founded by Devorgilla, Lady of Galloway, in memory of her husband John Baliol. Devorgilla, is buried in the presbyery with a casket containing her husband's embalmed heart.

Stonemasons from Historic Scotland were working on making the arch safe for another 200 years.

We visited John Paul Jones birthplace at Arbigland Esate.

Hands across the seas!

Edinburgh

It wasn't quite the day for travelling on an open topped bus, but we only had one short shower and the views were worth it. The bus trip took us through the old town 'Auld Reekie' and the New Town of Edinburgh with a commentary to tell us of the history of the city.

The Royal Mile has some amazing old buildings with turrets and outside stairs.

Holyrood Palace is where the Queen stays when she visits Edinburgh. It is also where Mary, Queen of Scots' husband was stabbed to death - there was a lot of stabbing and fighting for power between the English and the Scots, now it is is done verbally rather than physically.

...and the Scottish Parliament is where a lot of the 'fighting' continues.

We had some great views of Edinburgh Castle from the bus and stopped off to visit this impressive castle, which still has soldiers in residence.

Entrance to Edinburgh Castle the Latin motto Nemo Me Impune Lacessit means 'No-one attacks me with impunity' or in Scots 'Wha daur meddle wi me'.

The view from the ramparts at Edinburgh Castle, looking out on the Firth of Forth.

Coat of Arms over a fireplace in the Castle featuring the Lion and the Unicorn. It reminded me of a nursery rhyme we used to say: The Lion and the Unicorn were fighting for the Crown, the Lion beat the Unicorn all around the town, some gave them white bread and some gave them brown, and some gave them plum cake and chased them out of town. See there you go, fighting again.

Graduation Day

It was Graduation Day today at Glasgow University, one of the universities where I work. Here I am with two of my colleagues all dressed up in our gowns. Because of the changes in our status on campus this might be the last time we get to be in the procession for Glasgow so we thought that we should record the occasion.

Rockcliffe and Kipford

After our visit to Threave Gardens we went round the Colvend Coast to Kippford and Rockcliffe.
It was a beautiful night and the beach was completely empty and the tide was OUT.

We went to 'The Anchor' for dinner. It was a nice meal, but the after effects for Bob were not so good, as his tongue got cut on something, probably a prawn shell, and we ended up at Accident and Emergency the next morning where he got 4 stitches.

This is part of the information board at Rockcliffe.

Bob on Rockcliffe Beach

Brian and Bob clambering over the rocks

Glenkiln Reservoir and the Sculptures

Greg read about the sculptures that are located in the hills near Shawhead, between Dumfries and Castle Douglas, in DGB Life Magazine, conveniently provided at the cottage. Brian and Janice had visited them nearly 20 years ago, but hadn't been back. The morning started out very cloudy and it was threatening to rain most of the time. It did however create some atmospheric photographs of Glenkiln Reservoir.

The King and Queen by Henry Moore

John the Baptist by Rodin

The other sculptures were further up the hills off the path, and as the weather was threatening, we decided to head for Threave Gardens.

National Trust Threave Gardens

We moved on to Threave Gardens at Castle Douglas. This is where the National Trust for Scotland train their gardeners.

The sun had come out by the afternoon and we enjoyed looking a the plants and flowers.
The Peonia Tulip Pinnochio was in full flower and a stunning sight.

The Belted Galloway looks a bit stunned too!

So what time does the golf start?

Joy in looking and comprehending is nature's most beautiful gift - Albert Einstein

Albert must have been a fan of the Master's too then, don't you think?

Japanese garden at Threave Gardens, Castle Douglas.

Wellies!

Glorious blooms.

Unfortunately, Threave House was not open on a Monday, so we didn't get to have a look around.

pastures new or cows moooved

After tightening the top row of barb wire on the fence where the cows jumped over last time they were in this field, I moved the cows into the field to let the grass grow back in the other field. There must be a rain jinx on the Quail oak cap - last time I wore it when Bob and I went for a walk down to the river, we were caught in a downpour, this time I wore it when I was fixing the fence today, the rain came on and I was again soaked, but carried on working on the fence.. The good news is the calves look happy enough in their new field, and when the one with the tag half pulled through its ear (702492), was eating its cattle feed, I managed to catch hold of the tag and pull it back through its ear.

After the calves were mooved, I made a start on clearing the muck out of the shed. Made good progress with this, except that I had to use the tractor in the rain without a windshield wiper or washer! James the cat won't be pleased. He used to sleep all day on a dry bit of straw on top of the muck and that has been been removed.

Mother of the American Navy

I thought you might like to see this digital scrapbook layout I did as a 4th July challenge on a forum for digi-scrappers, the challenge was to create a layout with yourself featuring as a figure from American history, well there was only one person I could choose - enjoy!

Bronze Bum

Now we know why the bronze is most shiny on the bum !