Wedholme and Burt!

Finally managed to get an oil painting done - despite the best efforts of the cat!

Looking across Wedholme Flow towards Skiddaw. 

Snowdrops

The photo, the collage and the lino cut.

Lower forms of life!

Even the smallest of things make for interesting pictures. Can you identify them all?

Highland Cattle and Otters

A cold walk with a strong wind but no rain; down from Ballygrant through Lossit to the coast and a walk - until stopped by burns in spate - in both directions. Super views of otters fishing - four different views probably of the same two otters.

Big Strand, Islay

A damp start so off to the Big Strand. Nice view of a male hen harrier on the way and plenty of hares too. Miles of sand with lots of good surf.

Hare beneath Greenland white-front geese - an iconic Islay view, with up to 5 hares in one field. 

Into the sun towards Kintraw 

Views along the Big Strand - plenty of surf and foam. 

Machir Bay and Saligo coastline

A damper day but some good bright spells and spectacular seas. The dog loved chasing the seagulls for miles - literally - despite being mobbed by a hooded crow.

Machir bay (top) and Saligo 

Rocky with what is definitely an 'outside only'  tuggy! 

Common skate egg-case; across central Islay, patterned stone, sheep at Saligo and feeding time at Machir.

Hepworth-style rocks at Saligo.

Jura: Tarbert to Loch Tarbert - the wildlife.

Set off from Portnahaven to see a dramatic display of a golden eagle trying to take a goose in the air. Lots of geese on the way to Port Askaig and then on to Jura where there was the most obliging otter and the usual herds of deer.

Golden eagle with hooded crows

Barnacle geese 

....and many more! 

The otter !

..and the ubiquitous deer.

Jura - Tarbert to Loch Tarbert.....the scenery.

A fantastic day - the light was out of this world and the temperature got up to 12 degrees. Positively tropical! So much to see and photo that there'll have to be two different blogs today! Started off with a trip across the sound of Jura in the 'new' ferry - it has, with good reason, been referred to as the skip! The Paps gradually unveiled their wintery splendor against the cobalt sky. The sun really brought out the russets and golds and the sea was a silvery blue. Perfect.

The Paps 

From Jura 

The walk ...Loch Tarbert 

Ardnave Point

A damp walk but lovely views as always.

Lovely rams at the farm on Ardnave 

Views around Ardnave - with Rocky chasing the geese

A couple of soft pastel sketches 

Killinallen - sunshine and sand

A fabulously sunny and warm walk - the dog was in his element!

Red deer just behind Portnahaven 

Jura; looking down to Killinallen; the vast expanse of Killinallen. 

Happiness is..

The snowdrop wood at Bridgend

Tarbert and on to Islay

A good journey up, stopping at Tarbert for breakfast and a look round the harbour.  Then onto the ferry and a blustery crossing to Port Askaig before arriving 'home'.

Textures in and around the harbour. 

Gigha from the ferry, eider duck at Tarbert and seals outside the back door. 

Signs of life.

I actually felt like looking to see what has survived the winter...so far!

'Nature Printing' Bladder Wrack

An interesting morning yesterday experimenting with mono printing using bladder wrack off the beach, acrylic paint with retarder and fabric. Followed by an evening doodling around the print on the sewing machine.

Corn hearts

A finishing off afternoon - corn hearts mounted on drift wood; primrose and snowdrop cards; and a dog walk in the sunshine and showers.

Blustery Mawbray

A super walk - with big seas; clouds of oystercatchers; spectacular waves and a very happy dog!

Yesterday's destruction  - today's tide is due to be higher. 

Spectacular waves - into the sun. 

Oystercatchers 

Rocky  enjoying himself as always!