A month microwaved

The considered opinion around here is that January went on and on forever, but the same cannot be said of February, which seems to be whizzing by at a rate of knots. So let's bring this blog up to date with a whirlwind round up of happenings since last we spoke (ok, typed and read).

Mid month, and there was a change of jigsaw! After the 99 Bees in a thousand pieces, we thought we'd go easy on ourselves and try a five hundred piece one instead. Well, that was the theory, practise is proving somewhat different.

A walk at Evie Sands a couple of weekends ago was a great opportunity for a bit of skincare and exfoliation. A very chilly wind is the abiding memory, although we did see our first Snow Buntings of the year as they foraged for food amongst kelp on the tideline, and we did happen upon a flock of Purple Sandpipers on the rocky shore.

Purple Sandpiper

Brown Hare activity has shown no sign of letting up, though getting close to the action is proving difficult. Here's a selection of shots from a sunny Sunday.

This week, I debunked to Shetland for a day, for a job on the island of Bressay, just across the water from Lerwick. The overnight boat from Kirkwall docked at 7.30am and I then caught a much smaller ferry over to Bressay. Arriving early on the island for the appointment, I made the most of the sunny morning and captured a few photos looking back towards mainland Shetland.

Looking towards Lerwick

The ferry between Lerwick and Bressay

Looking across to the Viking wind farm, north of Lerwick.

This afternoon saw a trip to Yesnaby to show Megan's parents the rare Sea Plantain Leaf Beetle which is found in only a handful of sites in Scotland.

Looking south towards Hoy

Looking north towards Marwick

In the garden, bulbs are beginning to flower despite the cold winds and occasional hail showers. Today, we roughly sketched some ideas for the area in front of the house and slightly more accurately measured that bit of the garden. Thoughts include paths, a rockery, a seating area, a pond, deeper borders and the remaining areas seeded with wild flowers. Sounds exhausting.