walk while waiting

 We went to a bike shop in the Clachan of Campsie..the wheelbuilder is slow but thorough...so we went for a walk up the valley behind the shop,aftter lunch in the cafe in the hamlet

 The Campsie Fells, crossed by The Crow Road

 we couldn't go very far up the valley, because of rockfalls and wind damage...this was a 70 foot beech tree....

 wonder if she said yes......

 we followed a path further up the hill instead,so....

 We saw a fire..and later found that it was the roof of a primary school in Airdrie, where they were using a blowtorch to put felt on a flat roof...normal practice....

 back in the shop we met a pup....spaniel, cross lab,cross poodle.....name of Jack.

and we came home from Wheelcraft with a well crafted wheel for road training on a track bike.  Super strong, built with tandem spokes

frosty morning wordless Wednesday

playing around

 New barens, courtesy of our trip on Saturday..hopefully one will fit my hand well.
A baren is used when you have placed the paper on the inked lino, to rub over the back to ensure an even print.

The Pirate bought some purple carrots as a special treat . I saved the water after steaming them as it was a fantastic colour. (they tasted good too!)

Walking back from the village,I did a little wool-gathering...washed it in water from the butt.. used an acid mordant as I didn't want blue....

 I might try again with a more concentrated dyebath..just for fun!

Yesterday we foraged a little more "windfalls"...

It needs a little more drying, but it will keep us warm...it is beech, a beautiful wood.

 Showers today...and sun...over there

chilling out....

 On Thursday we headed out by car, calling past the memorial to Davy Bell, a cyclist who wrote about many roads and tracks under the name  "The Highwayman"

We parked at Newton Stewart, and after lunch at the Belted Galloway cafe (to be recommended!) rode our bikes along the lanes to Wigtown, then headed inland a little to Spittal before hitting the lanes again back to the coast road and the bike path back into Newton Stewart.

Our route home was up the other side of the Cree Valley,so that I could see this....print inspiration?  Thankyou,Pirate!

 then on to Glen Trool...but the centre was closed

 chainsaw art...a red squirrel..

 and his habitat....crop being logged....

 then on Friday, after the Pirate's latest three monthly injection ( only six to go!) we had a little time to spare between things we needed to do....and headed for Maybole Shore....

 where the mist lifted a little

 evidence of early morning runs in the sand...

 then we returned to Maybole in time to see the mist darken and then reveal the almost full eclipse.
We both felt a little disorientated and queasy for a while...a common effect we found out later.

The living room is being sorted and tidied....one room at a time...and we are expecting our first guest of several on Monday!!

Today the sun shone brightly, making bikes the order of the day once more...and Southwards again, this time past Girvan to meet a friend on the beach for lunch...

About 40 miles ridden today....the housework and bike cleaning can wait till tomorrow!

new linoprint and Spring

 I cut so far, then take a pencil rubbing, cut some more....
and this is the first proof print.

Kirkmichael Road,Maybole...looking towards the Ayrshire Hills.

Now to get printing..the cards are selling at £3 each,plus P+P.  The next step is to cost a mount and packing and P+P for a print on A5 paper.

Today is the first day that it has really felt like Spring...the honeysuckle leaves are just opening in the hedgerows and the dog's mercury at the hedge base is almost flowering. The birds are all "twitterpated" and rooks are carrying sticks almost longer than themselves!

Kirkmichael to Kirkmichael and back...

 Ayrshire to Perthshire, 140 miles...for the Scottish Potters' Annual weekend, with three demonstrators, exhibition for members, Raku workshop with David Roberts, all in the Field Studies Council centre, Kindrogan Hall .

 fire alarm.....

 Cairngorms to the North...with snow...

 Ronnie Fulton

 Patricia Shone

 David Roberts second left (and Pirate on the far right) at the Raku Kiln

 The Pirate's present...a Mermaid by Ronnie Fulton, with my Nessie...bartered for a small saltglazed salt pot....

We had an enjoyable time, got inspired and had a good rest as well...much needed.