The Beauty of Seaweed

For the past six(?) seven(?) years we have holidayed in the most perfect little cottage on the shores of Loch Fyne, spending our time boating, eating, paddling, swimming (them, not me- I am not totally mad), eating, reading and spending hours between the tide lines looking for things.

Mostly it is the crab hunting which gets the most excitement and enthusiasm, lifting up rocks and seaweed and finding The Biggest. But we like picking up interesting pebbles, skimming flat stones, feeding mackerel guts to the hermit crabs and generally mucking about by the water.

In the past, the vast seaweedy areas have been largely ignored by me, except when I am cursing on it as I slip carrying a heavy boat down the the water's edge, or when I am throwing little bits of it onto a beach fire and watching it change colour to the brightest green. They are not the most inspiring colours and really do stop you from moving with any speed over the shore.

But this year, one sparkling sunny morning before breakfast I took a mug of tea and wandered down to do some beach combing. I didn't get very far because I was suddenly over-whelmed by the beauty and variety of the weed. Instead of just trudging over it I crouched down and really looked at it. It twinkled and shone in all manner of colours from darkest black to acidic lemon yellow. Reds, oranges and greens. Really quite stunning.

 Of course I didn't have my camera with me and had to finish my cuppa and go back for it. By which time the light was quite different.

egg wrack

bladderwrack

black bladderwrack

green bladderwrack

toothed wrack

 I did have the bonus of seeing some deer prints in the sand though. They run over to a tiny island across from the cottage at first light and are cut off when the tide rises. I have never seen their prints before. And loads of moon jellyfish which were bumping against me wellies.

There must have been about ten different varieties just in our little patch of shoreline. And they are so beautiful to watch from a boat when the tide comes in and they sway upright in the water.

What were your holiday surprise moments?

My Summer Romance

Oh Pinterest, how I love you. But I also hate you.

Do you not realise that I have packing/cleaning/small(ish) children/cooking to do?

You must stop teasing me and distracting me from real life and making me think that I can live in a pure white house wearing floaty clothes and eating delicious food with Daniel.

It must stop.

I am going away for a while and when I return I insist you do not contact me.

I am sorry it has to be this way but it is over.

Farewell my love.

Look who's come for supper...

While we were sitting eating our supper, a snuffling and scuffling sound could be heard and glancing out of the door, who should we spy but Mrs Tiggywinkle, otherwise known as Stuart. (Long story.) S/he didn't stay long enough to pose for a good photo but I am sure I heard her say 'Cheers' as s/he went on her way.

I hope you are enjoying some late evening sunshine and soaking up some much needed vitamin D.

Broken and Holey

I managed to loose a whole post about SmallerBean's exciting two days. A and E. Teeth falling out. Doctors, nurses, x-rays and plaster casts. Me having to leave the house full of friends eating cake and buying jewellery to go and collect my girlie from school and cart her off to hospital. My gorgeous friends clearing up my house and locking up. But blogger lost it. Buggerblogger. Anyway. Here she is, broken and holey and very disappointed that it isn't school tomorrow so she can show off her new look.

Two broken bones in the cutest little cast

One hole where the tooth used to sit

A very brave and stoic Bean who is really looking forward to going to school on Monday.

 Have a happy and sunny weekend filled with mundanity and calm.

In My Garden At 11.17am

Take a little tour through the flower beds of BeanTowers. A heady mix of sun, green and (some almost over) flowers. A perfect accompaniment for a cuppa.

The mulberries are appreciating some sun at last...

Mr Bumble was the only buggy beast willing to be snapped. And all the birds stayed far away, except for the swifts, neck-achingly high.

I forgot about this little chap...

The everlasting sweet peas which sneak up under the fence from next-door to get to the sunny side of the fence are about to explode into colour and scent.

Finished your cuppa? Thanks for joining me.

Looking Down

Looking up is supposed to be better for you for a number of reasons. I can't really be bothered to think of them now as this isn't a looking up kind of post. Maybe I'll do one of those next time.
  
We spent a week in The Borders, just outside Castle Douglas, and quite a bit of it was spent looking down. This was partly out of necessity, as the cottage we stayed in is on a very steep hill, and partly because there were lots of interesting things to look at around the wellie area.

 The BeanSprouts made a most excellent fire and didn't manage to burn themselves. Probably because they were looking down.

 I got deep into the snowdrift which stayed all week (Beans named it The Glacier). I didn't slip over because I was looking down.

 Stream walking cannot be done when you are searching the trees for woodpeckers. Take it from me...

 Mr Toad did not have his car with him. 

 'Hey. Yes, you. Big foot. Mind where you are putting your size sixes!'

 Small got stuck. I nearly fell down laughing...

 Smaller found a very poorly fish when she was looking down in a rockpool.

 A rather fabulous castle was built on the beach by the Bean girls and looking down onto it was really quite gorgeous.

 And of course, no beach time is ever worth doing if a bit of combing and treasure seeking isn't involved. Do you like my tiny bit of brick with writing on it?

 None of these would have been spied if I had been head-up and sky gazing.

It is definitely worth a glance earthward every now and then.

Vitamin D Boost

I spent a good twenty minutes just standing on the front door step staring at this, this afternoon. Please stay a while Mrs Sun and Mr Bluesky. We need you.