Daily Snappers #59

Tidy.

My spice cupboard - all neat and tidy with all the labels facing the same way.

I have been asked why they aren't in alphabetical order - now there's an idea.......

Skywatch Friday

This wasn't my chosen photo for this week but earlier this evening I got an aurora alert. So quickly put jean and a fleece on over my pyjamas - grabbed my camera and tripod (and youngest son) and headed out down the coast.

This is the first time I have ever seen the Northern Lights and to be honest I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. It was amazing - even if I didn't manage to capture all the bright colours in the sky.

It's late now but I am off to bed with a smile on my face - and a hot water  bottle!

Pop over to the Skywatch blog to see more skies from around the world.

Daily Snappers #57

Knot.

A walk in the park at lunchtime looking at the trees - and saw this knot in a tree.

I also saw some snowdrops.

Daily Snappers #56

I did this.

Tonight I made fishcakes for the first time - Slimming World stylee. They were a bit of a faff but tasted quite good. Even better there is enough left for tomorrow nights tea for me too so no cooking - result.

Daily Snappers #55

Routine.

Every lunchtime (after a quick walk up the street) I head to the tearoom with my lunch (which includes a Muller Light Turkish Delight yoghurt and a Rocky Road HiFi bar) and my book for some piece and quiet.

It's Monday. What Are You Reading?

I had a quiet reading weekend - what about you?

There are a group of us playing a reading version of Bingo over on Facebook - you can read about it here.

One of the squares is to read a book with a blue cover and I have picked A Gift To Remember by Melissa Hill (such a pretty blue cover too!)

Darcy Archer works in a small bookstore in Manhattan. A daydream believer, she refuses to settle for anything less than being swept off her feet by the perfect man… literally. One day, when cycling to work, Darcy accidentally crashes into a sharply dressed gentleman walking his dog. He is knocked out cold, rushed to hospital and the poor pup gets left behind. Wracked with guilt, Darcy takes the dog and makes plans to reunite him with owner, Aiden. As she discovers the mysterious stranger's world of books, travel, adventure and all the wonderful things she's ever dreamt about, Darcy builds a picture of this man and wonders if he could be THE ONE… But does fantasy match reality? What happens when Prince Charming wakes up? Will Aiden be the happy ever after she's always imagined?

Show More

Show Less

Pop over to The Book Journey to see what everyone else is reading this week.

Daily Snappers #54

Chill.

This wasn't my first thought when it came to todays prompt - but a flash of inspiration while Callum and I were wandering Asda this morning. We have been super organised and have done a meal planner for the week (essential as I think I am doing something every evening this week) and we now have all the ingredients.

Daily Snappers #53

Win.

Win(ter) walk along the beach . We are so lucky to live near the coast and have so many gorgeous beaches to walk along - and they are just as beautiful in the Winter as they are in the Summer.

Everytime I go to Findhorn I have to take a photo of the steps from the boardwalk leading down the beach.

As usual with our walk we had to finish off with a hot drink and a slice of cake - this time it was at The Blue Angel organic cafe on the Findhorn Foundation. The banana and walnut loaf was delicious.

Daily Snappers #52

Village.

I live on the outskirts of a town - views of rolling countryside - but it isn't a village.

Hopefully out walking tomorrow which would have presented a better photo opportunity but I do like taking my Daily Snappers photo on the day.

A pretty little china cottage in an antique shop in town - with the not so cute price of £55!

  

Skywatch Friday

Sunday was a glorious day for a walk along the coast. This is the view from the edge of Culbin Forest looking out towards the Moray Firth.

Pop over to the Skywatch blog to see more skies from around the world.

Daily Snappers #51

Athletic.

Perfect prompt for me today (not something I would have ever expected to hear myself say) as it was my Thursday night Jog Scotland group. Didn't want to explain to by running mates why I wanted to take their photo so took this sneaky shot instead!!

Tonight was 4 minutes jogging and 3 minutes walking in between repeated 3 times. In fact we did it 4 times - just over 2.5 miles. And it is actually getting easier.

Daily Snappers #50

Practice.

Tonight was our weekly latin and ballroom class - time to practice our natural turns in the waltz and go over the first few moves of the quickstep.

Not good enough yet to splash out on a proper pair of dancing shoes.

Daily Snappers #49

Last.

The last page in my book - which I finished at lunchtime.

Daily Snappers #48

Short.

Cheated a bit today - this is my local short(bread) shop - and very nice it is too.

It's Monday. What Are You Reading?

Something different this week as I am reading Humle By Nature by Kate Humble (for those of you not in the UK she is a TV presenter over here - mainly presenting natural history type programmes.) I enjoy watching her on the TV - although I do wish they would bring her back to Autumnwatch as Michela Strachan gets on my nerves.

KATE HUMBLE is a writer and presenter. Her most recent television credits include Volcano Live, Orbit: Earth's Extraordinary Journey, Lambing Live and the long running popular wildlife series Springwatch and Autumnwatch. She is a qualified commercial diver and is the second woman to be appointed President of the RSPB. 
Kate and Ludo launched their business Humble By Nature in 2012. Based on a working farm in Monmouthshire, they run courses in food, rural skills and animal husbandry. They live nearby on their smallholding with Badger and Bella, a hive of bees and various other hoofed, furred and feathered livestock.


But I picked this up mainly it is about her and her husband buying a smallholding in Wales at the foot of the Black Mountains which isn't too far from where I grew up.

In 2007, after twenty years of living in London, Kate Humble and her husband Ludo decided it was time to leave city life behind them. Three years later, now the owner of a Welsh smallholding, Kate hears that a nearby farm is to be broken up and sold off. Another farm lost; another opportunity for a young farmless farmer gone. Desperate to stop the sale, Kate contacts the council with an alternative plan - to keep the farm working and to run a rural skills and animal husbandry school alongside it. Against all odds, she succeeds.


Here, in Humble By Nature, Kate shares with us a highly personal account of her journey from London town house to Welsh farm. Along the way we meet Bertie and Lawrence the donkeys, Myfanwy and Blackberry the pigs and goats Biscuit and Honey, not forgetting a dog called Badger and his unladylike sidekick Bella. And we are introduced to the tenant farmers Tim and Sarah, the locals who helped and some who didn't, and a whole host of newborn lambs. 


Full of the warmth and passion for the natural world that makes Kate such a sought after presenter, Humble By Nature is the story of two people prepared to follow their hearts and save a small part of Britain's farming heritage, whatever the consequences.

Pop over to The Book Journey and see what everyone else is reading today.

A Sunny Sunday

We made the most of the glorious weather today by wrapping up warm and heading off out for a walk.

Nairn is usually a place we drive through to get to Inverness - but today we stopped the car and wenr for a walk. We parked at The Maggot carpark and headed along a path towards Culbin Forest eventually turning off and walking back towards Nairn through the forest itself. We ended the walk by ambling along the soft sands of Nairn beach.

Daily Snappers #47

Medal.

In 2010 Sam was selected for Team Scotland and represented his country at the World Kickboxing Championships - and he returned home with a bronze medal.

He no longer does kickboxing (training 6 days a week and travelling up and down the country to competitions got too much) but he does have a shelf full of trophies, medals and certificates along with his black belt.

  

Daily Snappers #46

Learn.

I have learnt that I can actually run - although not too far. We are 4 weeks in and I can now run for 3 minutes without stopping and gasping for breath. Weight loss is still steady at a pound a week but my clothes are noticeably looser which is a good sign.

After looking at this photo I have learnt that I probably have to buy new trainers - but these are so comfy.

Daily Snappers #45

Love is.....

I'm on a diet so he knew chocolates wouldn't be appreciated. No gaudy bunch of flowers as he knows my opinion on those (waste of money - would rather see flowers in the garden)

So tonight he cooked me a Slimming World friendly tea (steak with all the trimmings) and a box of teabags. Who says romance is dead??

Skywatch Friday

Always enjoy a good sunrise.

Daily Snappers #44

Close.

Couldn't think what to take a photo of for todays prompt - till I was leaving the house for work (nice and early for a change as the boys are off until Tuesday for in service days) and saw my key in the lock.

Daily Snappers #43

Something that makes you smile.

The first signs of Spring in my garden.

Daily Snappers #42

Metal.

The metal railings outside Elgin Cathedral whilst out on my lunchtime constitutional around the park.

Daily Snappers #38

I knew I had missed a day out somewhere!

Game.

I still play Farmville - only a much simplified version called Farmville 2. Something brain nubingly simple as planting vegetables or milking cows.......

But son't get me on Flappy Bird - cannot beat my high score of 2!

Daily Snappers #41

Timed.

Struggled with todays word - till I walked into town during my lunchbreak. Why is your lunch hour the quickest hour of the day - when you spend the rest of the time clock watching??

It's Monday. What Are You Reading?

A new week - a new book.

Last night I started By My Side by Alice Peterson. I just love the cover - what do you think?

One step can change everything... Cass Brooks loves her job, her boyfriend Sean, her life. Until, leaving home one morning, distracted and hungover, she steps into the path of a truck. When she wakes up, she can't walk. And suddenly all her hopes and dreams, the plans she'd made with Sean, the future she thought she'd have, seem out of her reach. But then fate intervenes again. Cass meets Ticket, a loyal golden Labrador who refuses to leave her side. And on a flight to Colorado, she sits next to Charlie, who believes he can show her a life full of possibilities, if only she'd let him. Cass wants her life back the way it was. Charlie knows this cannot be. Yet a future beckons all the same...

Please pop over to The Book Journey and see what everyone else is reading today.

Daily Snappers #40

Relax.

The perfect way to relax is with a good book - shame I have been too busy this weekend to do much reading. Never mind - it's back to work tomorrow for a rest!!

Daily Snappers #39

Something beginning with F.

Filigree - my candle holders in the beautiful sunshine this morning.

My Month in Numbers : January

This month I managed to read 6 books - but only the one below was given 5 stars:

This month I went on 5 walks which I thought was quite good seeing as how the weather hasn't been the best at weekends. I walked a total of 22.28 miles which took 9 hours, 17 minutes and 36 seconds burning off a total of 3068 calories.

I lost a total of 5 pounds at fat club this month - and my target is finally back in sight.

I took part in The Great Garden Birdwatch over the weekend of  the 25/26th - my total bird count was:
Sparrows 1
Blackbirds 3
Great Tits 7
Blue Tits 4
Chaffinchs 2
Robins 3
Quite a pleasant way to while away an hour.

Now onto the communal count.

How many new things did you try?

In January we started a beginners class in latin and ballroom - so far we have learnt the basic steps of 4 dances - Tango, Cha Cha Cha, Waltz and the Quickstep. Lost count of the number of toes I trod on!!

I joined my local Jog Scotland group this month and so far have been out twice - it is a good laugh although I'm not sure my old knees are finding it funny. We started off by jogging for 30 seconds and then walking for 30 seconds repeated 10 times. Each week it gets progressively harder :(

How much did you pay for a loaf of bread?

A loaf of hedgehog bread was £1 in Asda this month - white bread is a treat in this house.


Pop over and say hi to Julie and see everyone elses Month in Numbers.

Skywatch Friday

Interesting what you spot on a walk along the coast.

Pop over to the Skywatch blog to see more skies from around the world.

Daily Snappers #37

Weather.

A spot of blue sky and some sunshine at lunchtime - which followed the frost this morning. We have been very lucky this far North to miss all the storms that seem to be affecting large parts of the country (so far only one rainy weekend when it has been to wet for walking) They must think it is going to be cold tonight as we were pebble dashed by the gritting lorry while we were out jogging tonight.

Daily Snappers #36

I heard.....


I listen to Radio 2 in the car so Chris Evans accompanies me to work in the morning and Simon Mayo and Drivetime home again.

Daily Snappers #35

Striped.

My stripey wellies. Sadly there hasn't been enough snow to warrant wearing them - but on the plus side we seem to have missed most of the rain the rest of the country has been getting recently. So at the moment I just wear them to wash the car in.

Daily Snappers #34

Square.

The shape of my breakfast cereal - but on 30 grams worth as per Slimming World instructions - with a banana as my super free - and it was yummy.