Things That Made Me Happy Today

It was yet another glorious day in my corner of the world.  We have had a lovely long string of them lately. This means that I have been able to go out and goof around in the garden just whenever I darned well please. Most years I have to dash out between rain drops to do things in the garden and scurry back when the weather gets worse.  I can't just go out and play in the garden when I want to, my garden time is dictated by weather but not this weekend!

Blue skies!

actual shot of the sky 2 May 2011

Perhaps today was a bit more glorious than others as it was the last day of an extra long weekend.

The day started with a handsome pheasant by the bird table.

Male pheasant 2nd May

Please note that just the day before, The Man of the Place endeared himself to me yet again by scraping and painting the bird table.  He also made a new roof for the bird table as the old one was deemed to be rotten.




Over in the vegetable patch there is more honour to be piled upon The Man of the Place.   Earlier, using this machine:

I love this machine!

the vegetable plot has gone from this:

makes my back ache just lookin at it

 To this!

dug over and ready for planting

I have since used the spade and fork to remove the clumps of grass and large weeds with long tap roots.  I have also started to plant a few things.   The sweetpeas have gone in.  They're tough and can handle a bit of frost if it shows up.

plants and vegetables living in harmony

I can't get ahead of myself as the threat of a late frost has not passed and I really can't plant tender things out until the end of May.   I sowed a lot of stuff in the greenhouse and am keeping the tender plants safe and frost free.   Those leeks, onions and peas can go out though and possibly the broccoli.

greenhouse in production

Over on the left side of the greenhouse I've got a stock of plants that I intend to place in hanging baskets and containers.   I've got five hanging baskets to plant up and just as many containers.

wind and glass don't mix

Remember a few months ago when winter storms caused the door of the little greenhouse to fall and shatter?   Well because there was no door, the chickens (disasters in the garden - really) got in and had a dust bath in what was left of the grow-bags I had in there.  The chickens flung compost all over the place.

newly glazed greenhouse door

 I reglazed the greenhouse door. It almost looks like there is no glass there as the glass is still so clean.  This is not my favourite gardening chore, but I got it done and then tidied up the greenhouse and hauled in the new grow-bags for this years tomatoes, cucumbers and basil plants.  I have planted two little tomato plants in there, watered them and wished them well.   Now that the door is back on, the place is a hen-free zone once again.

Count the tadpole competition

Now then . . . over in the pond there are thousands of wiggly tadpoles.  On days like today, I can waste an awful lot of time on a particularly comfortable rock on the edge of the pond, watching the tadpoles.   Watching tadpoles is a very important gardening task and it should not be overlooked.

Discovery apple tree in bloom

The apple trees are in bloom.

apple - Discovery - in bloom

Close up shot.  If the frost stays away, I should have a couple of apples in the autumn.

dirty toes

After a full day of tidying greenhouses, raking and digging, a bit of planting, watching tadpoles and admiring things . . . I am quite ready for a long soak in the tub.

Old Family Photos

I've been scanning in some old family photos so that I can forward them to my cousins. 

Some of these pictures I acquired in 1996 when I was in Wisconsin for my dear Grandma Carew's funeral.

My Grandma Carew's engagement photo.   Taken circa 1931.   She was always very fashionable.  I miss her terribly.  She was a perfect grandmother.  I am hoping that if I get to be a grandmother, I will be just as good at it as she was.

This photo was on top of her dressing table always.  It was put there the day they moved in and was there until I removed it after her death.  It is my grandparent's wedding photo.  I remember seeing the dress.  It was a dark forest green velvet with silver bugle beads around the neckline and around the back.  It was stunning.  My cousin Carey and I tried it on in one of the unused upstairs bedrooms when we were teens.   We knew the importance of that dress and were so careful with it.   Grandma was slender before those babies started showing up!  I don't know where the dress is now.  I hope my my Aunt Mary Ellen has it.  She'll keep it safe.

My Grandma Carew's parents were Dennis and Elizabeth Halloran.  This is their wedding photo from on or about 1899.

Dennis Halloran looks like someone who could fit in to a crowd of local farmers here.  I've seen faces like that at agricultural shows and auctions my whole life.

Great-grandmother Halloran's own engagement photo.  It amazes me that the clothes in these older photos were all made by hand, very possibly by the person wearing them.  All the older family photos are all studio portraits.  No holiday snaps, no pictures of Great Uncle Clifford with a big fish.  Photos were a serious business and an expense to be figured into the budget.

This is Clifford Carew - aged 4,  Murray Carew - aged 3 and John 8 months.  They look like they would have run Great Grandma Carew ragged.  It was the fashion to dress young boys this way.  It surprises many when I say the middle child with the long curls is actually my grandfather.  I recognise that shade of brown hair and those eyebrows I see them when I look in the mirror.

Standing are John, Murray (my grandpa) and Clifford Carew.  Seated are Grace and Great Grandma Nell Carew.

My Grandpa Carew died when I was young.  I just have images of him in my head.  I wish they were clearer.  The few memories I have of Grandpa Carew are great memories though.  He was always smiling and happy and loved to indulge his granddaughters.

Um El Faroud - Malta

One of the tasks that was set for me during a recent dive trip to Malta was to get some deep dives completed.   The first deep dive of the dive trip was on the wreck of the Um El Faroud, a Libyan motor tanker.  The ship was being worked on in dry dock in Malta, when a gas explosion on board killed nine Maltese dockworkers. For three years after the 1995 explosion she lay in the harbor of Valetta.  She was then moved to the current location

Memorial Plaque to the dockworkers of the Um El Faroud

Our dive club had a couple of good reasons for diving on this wreck.  

Rodger Donald dives the Um El Faroud

Our Branch Diving Officer, Rodger Donald had been diving on this wreck not long after it had been sunk and was keen to see how it had changed in 10 years.    Back then there was a large crack through the ship.  One could stand on the deck and straddle the crack.   A violent storm (or series of storms)  completed the break and the ship is now in two large chunks on the floor of the sea.  It was commented that there is less life sticking to the wreck than we expected.  

Um El Faroud

It was agreed that if the ship had been sunk in the Clyde estuary , it would have been covered by soft corals and encrusting algae by the time 10 years had elapsed.  I don't know how much of those opinions are based on loyalty to home waters . . . however, there was plenty to see. There were more fish here than I have ever seen on any dive in the Clyde.

Rodger Donald and a ladder inside the Um El Faroud

I loved this dive!  I'm not overly fond of wreck dives.  I'm much more interested in staying shallow, where the light is better and there are more little things for me to see.  I will admit that the number of fish living near this wreck was amazing and kept me from staying inside my own head where I start to worry about the depth, air consumption and other less pleasant thoughts.

Male Parrot fish on the Um El Faroud

In addition to thousands of damel fish, I saw at least six parrot fish, both male and female.  I'd only ever seen one parrot fish in all the other Mediterranean dives I've done.

Damsel fish on the Um El Faroud

In going forward to the next stage of dive training, I have to complete 10 deep dives.  This wreck dive plus one other deep dive completed during this trip means there are 8 to go. 

The thought of doing the remainder of the deep dives in Crummock Water in the Lake District where there is 0 visability and 0 life doesn't inspire me.  I wonder if I can convince anybody to go away with me for another cheeky little dive trip. . . . to warmer waters.

Rab and Nick dive the Um El Faroud

There was a sea squirt and some encrusting sponge starting to stick to the side of the ship so life is beginning to think of the hull of this ship a permanent thing.

unknown sea squirt

When I get find out what this is, I'll edit this entry - New Book Needed!

Diving in Malta

Sunday the 3rd of April was Mothers Day here in the UK.  I was given a less than traditional gift by my son George.  He gave me some lovely white linen trousers.  I wore them later on in the day when I drove to the airport.  Ok so linen isn't the best material for travelling, but . . so what.  I don't care about a few wrinkles.



Manchester Airport bar

I went with six other member of the Dumfries and Galloway Subaqua club to Malta.

I had missed proper sun the sort of sun that makes you seek out the shade.   It was good to be doing things.  Being active, diving, walking places.  It is always interesting to see how things are done in other countries

I really liked the diving.  It was so great to get back in my dear old wetsuit.  Diving is just easier with a wetsuit.  In this instance it was easier, but a little bit colder.    The water was about 16 C the week we were there. 


St Paul's Bay - Malta

The people who dive regularly on the island were still in their drysuits.  The first day out we were teasing them about being soft southerners . . . until after the first days diving.  Then we were wishing for our drysuits.  We toughed it out.    I won't speak for the others but I found that when my mind was occupied on other things, like looking at fish, going through wrecks and underwater caves, I forgot I was cold and really enjoyed the dives. 

One of the things to do on my list was get some deep dives done.  I managed two deep dives onto wrecks.



Um El Faroud

Up until now, I wasn't overly fond of wreck diving.  Now that I see large number of fish that call these wrecks home, I am almost converted.

Spring is almost here!

We had a glorious weekend here at Whitelees.

For most of the weekend we had life enhancing sunshine and for all of the weekend it was dry! 

I'm going on a dive trip in a few days and decided that I would wear shorts while I'm away.  I was digging out the summer clothes only to discover that they all smelled musty.  The didn't really get an airing last year so they've been in the bottom drawer for a long time.  I managed to get them - and all the bedding - washed and dried on the clothes line.  I got clothes dried on Saturday and Sunday!  I just love the smell of things dried on the line.  There is no chemical or artificially produced scent that can top it.  I even prefer bath towels to be dried on the line.  I like the scratchiness.  It makes me as though I get a little bit drier than I do with the fluffy, machine dried towels with added fabric softener.

When scraping weeds and assorted things that aren't flowering plants out of the herbaceous borders I paused as I found that a ladybird was walking across my sleeve.

Today I saw a Mayfly on the window!  I looked at the calendar today so I know that it is still March.  It continues to be March for a few more days. 

Here in March, is a Mayfly!

Spring Can be Cruel

We started the month with two lovely sunny days.  The daffodil spikes have started to show the lumps that will eventually become buds and then flowers. 


There is one hen that needs to have her wings clipped.  She flies out of the chicken run every day, lays her egg in the big plastic tunnel and then flies back into the chicken run.   From time to time she'll have a wander around before going back.  If she is out and needs some company or is bored, she'll peck at the back door.  I'll hear a faint tapping at the kitchen door. . . . when I open the door.  This is what I see:



Hello nice lady!

I have a strict no-chickens-in-the-house policy so this one is wasting her time.

I was outside this morning in my pajamas and wellies dealing with the aftermath of a visit from a fox.  Polly, our dog had been barking.  Instead of going to see what she was barking about, and Polly is not normally a barky sort of dog I told her to be quiet.   When I finally got off my backside and looked out the window, I let the dog out immediately.  The biggest fox I have ever seen was bounding away from the place.  There were feathers all over the inside my chicken run.   I thought that run was fairly fox proof.  It turns out that the run is merely fox resistant!  We lost one good laying hen and another has been bitten but not badly.  The bitten one has just lost some feathers and didn't want to come out of the chicken coop for a couple of hours.  

This is the remainder of my hens - the bitten one is the one at the top, all muddy and upset.  Six chickens is still plenty to be getting on with.  I'll not replace any just yet.  To cheer myself up after all this fox trauma, I filled the bird feeders and checked the pond.  There is a big new clump of frog spawn in the pond.  As I was hunkered down to see the state of things, I saw the BIGGEST great diving beetle I have ever seen.  He really is The Daddy of all diving beetles.  It sort of figures.  Do you know what great diving beetle larvae like to eat best of all?   Tadpoles.

There are new catkins dangling off the corkscrew hazel.  I think they look lovely.  Smaller and far less showy are the little red female parts of the plant, the part that will eventually be edible hazelnuts. 

The plump and delicate little flowers can be seen dotted around the hazel. (In the centre of the photo) They are so small that they run the risk of being covered by the lichen.   

The moles are renewing their efforts in the front and back gardens.  With the fox and increased mole activity, it is time to make a call to my friend Mike the Gamekeeper.

So, that's the news around the garden.  In other arenas, I have completed my 100th dive.

It was cold, murky and almost devoid of underwater life but I had a great day out. 

Spring is coming!

The snowdrops are out in full force.

The little green shoots of the daffodils always make me smile when I first see them.  It means that winter is coming to an end.

Lovely Neighbours

I was at a wonderful 21st birthday party for a young lady in our village.  I have known her since she was a tot.   It always startles me when I see her and others her age from the village.  In my mind, they are still chubby cheeked primary school kids and the picture I carry around of them in my head doesn't match up with the elegant young adults I am often confronted with.  It was a fun night.  It is always nice to have a reason to dust off a party dress.   There were so many of our local gal's friends from the University of Edinburgh where she attends that they needed a coach to get them here!  

One of the best things about this party was not only did all the university lads wear their kilts, there were some elders from the community at the party as well.   I got to have a nice long chat with Geoff,  semi-retired farmer in our village and father of the fabulous Tina, a dear friend of mine.   During our conversation I said that the potatoes he had given me the last time I popped by to say hello were simply delicious.

The very next day, this arrived at the house.

 Dear dear Geoff brought us an entire sack of potatoes!

I love gifts that come in big brown burlap sacks!  I do not know the variety of these potatoes, but the pale yellow flesh has a floury texture when cooked and are really tasty.  Being embarrassed by the generosity of my neighbours, I tried to pay for them.  I have been assured that the potatoes would have just gone to waste otherwise and he was happy to give them to us.

On Wednesday nights I go into Dumfries.  The dive club meets at DG1, the fancy new swimming pool for training.  I have started the custom of bringing in a cake when it is somebodies birthday.  Alex, the club's equipment officer and all around good egg is having a birthday on Sunday.   Alex is a great guy and would do anything for his pals at the dive club, but it is widely known that he is a little accident prone.  So it was no surprise when making his cake, I dropped it on my newly cleaned kitchen floor!

By some freak of luck, I actually had enough ingredients and TIME to bake a second cake.

 The shattered first cake was left here at the house - we're not proud - it's broken but still delicious.  The second cake was iced and made it to Dumfries in perfect condition.

I also wanted to show you one of the things that is currently in bloom here at the house:

This lovely clivia - given to me by Elizabeth, the mother of another dear friend, Anna.   Isn't it beautiful?

Loch Fyne

Last Sunday I was out again with the Dumfries Sub Aqua Club (some of my favourite people) to the prettiest sea loch I have ever been too, Loch Fyne.  There are a few more I have yet to visit . . . but this one is the prettiest so far.

This was taken from St Catherine (across the loch from Inverary) on the loch where we spent the day. 
Loch Fyne is a couple of hours north of Glasgow and I believe it is worth the loss of an extra hour of sleep to get there.

It was young Liam's first dive in open water.  We were excited for him!

There is some very good diving to be had.  Aside from one bump on the head and some body's equipment box breaking, there were no serious accidents.  For that we are grateful as there was a reminder in the form of a fading Christmas wreath on a tree at this site, that things can go wrong even when you follow all the safety rules. 

High spirits and excitement as we get things ready for the dive. 

I had a short and shallow dive in which I got to use my camera!  I was a happy girl. 

Squat lobster, red sea squirt and pink encrusting algae.

Sea urchin and more of that pink algae.  :-)

I don't know what it is about crabs, but the non-edible variety always want to have a go at me!

All out of the water in one piece at the end of the day.  

I've actually managed to get more dives in during the winter than over the summer.  Don't get me wrong, I prefer diving in the summer . . . but sometimes it just works out that way.  Thanks to the dive club for yet another fantastic day of diving.