Applecross Victorian Walled Garden

This week we're on holiday in the Scottish Highlands.  We come up at least twice a year to stay with my brother in law.  Today I dropped the family off near Torridon so that they could walk up  Liathach and then I had about 6 hours to myself until it was time to pick them up again.  I drove down to Sheildaig on the west coast and had a wander through the village and along the coastline.  There's a super little cafe and craft shop called Nanny's which is in a pale blue tin shed at the end of the village, it's full of local crafts and very friendly.
After that I continued around the coast until I came to Applecross.  There's a Victorian walled garden there which had stood derelict for a good number of years until about 2002 when a group of people started to bring in back to it's full glory.  There's still work to be done but what they have achieved so far is amazingly beautiful.  Here are some photos:

And this is the 'Potting Shed' cafe and restaurant.  I didn't have time to sample their goodies but the menu looked very enticing.

I then completed my circuit and drove over the pass to bring me back down to Torridon where I was

able to sit in the sun with my book and some Apple and Cinnamon cake (from the village shop) awaiting the return of my weary walkers.

Etsy and Folksy Bags

Hi, I've just reopened my Etsy shop which I haven't used for a while.  I thought I'd spread my wings a bit and see if I can interest customers on the other side of the pond!
These are a couple of bags that I have listed today.  The first one is an unusual printed canvas with an adjustable shoulder strap, and the next one is made from a piece of chocolate coloured linen - good enough to eat!

The only problem is trying to decide which bags to put in my Etsy shop and which to put in my Folksy shop.
I decided to start photographing my bags in the garden again as it's looking particularly lovely and summery.  Here are some of the beautiful colours:

Cycle Touring on Arran

Last week my husband, two daughters and I decided on an impromptu trip to the Isle of Arran.  We put our bikes on the car and drove up to the West coast of Scotland where we left the car on the mainland and took our bikes on the ferry across to Brodick.  The weather was fantastic and the crossing calm.  We cycled for about 8 miles around the coastal road (in an anti clockwise direction) and it was pleasantly flat although a terribly rough road surface.  Then there was a rather steep pass that we had to attack.  This is us having a rest and a snack at the bottom. 

After 16 miles of cycling we arrived at the beautiful Youth Hostel in Lochranza. 

The views were amazing as it was right on the coast and just a few metres away was a ruined castle.

The next morning we hit the road again early as we had approx 30 miles to cover .

On the way we stopped at the Auchagallon Stone Circle, which was a couple of miles from the road but the walk was a welcome change of  'muscle use'.                                                                            

Then only about another mile further along the road we stopped again, chained the bikes up and walked down a steep path to the beach where we discovered some amazing caves.   

                 

Back on the bikes again and down to the next Hostel in a small place called Kilmory.  When we arrived there were a group of eight elderly folks staying there and would you believe it but four of them lived in Kendal, about 2 miles from us!   

These amazing bluebells were surounding us, along with many other wild flowers as we walked down to the coast in the evening.

The next day was a gruelling 15 mile ride back up to the ferry.  There couldn't have been more ups and downs if it had been a rollercoaster!

Waiting for our ferry to arrive.  An absolutely fantastic holiday.  My only problem was that I'd actually put some weight on - not the plan at all!!!

Features of the House

I haven't managed to update my blog for a while but I'm back now and continuing the theme of our new self build house.  This is one of ten beautiful sliding sash windows that my husband made - they took quite a long time to make but we're really pleased with the finished product.  There are two like this in the dormers on the top floor and you can stand and look out of the little triangular windows at the sides to get a good all round view across the fields.

I laid this slate floor in the kitchen.  It was heavy work and I was only able to lay about 15 in a session before I became tired and aching, so it took me a good few days.  Then I sealed them and grouted them.  There's underfloor heating pipes underneath all the floors so it should be toasty this winter!

This is one of my daughters helping me with the slate wall in the garden.  It's heavy work but very therapeutic.  I've done it all in stages over a period of a few months and this is the finished wall (apart from the front corner, but I'll get around to that sometime!

This photo was taken in the winter but now there are lots of colourful plants.  I'll have to remember to take an up to date photo to show you as it's quite lovely.