Staying Local

Just a short one today - the weather's been too miserable to really adventure far! With amber warnings for rain and wind, I cancelled plans to meet my neice for an outdoor photoshoot and stayed in the dry. 

In a breif gap, we revisited the Dechmont UFO walk and were treated to the sight of several deer running by. Missy oddly prefers this wet stormy weather to the negative 8C we had earlier in the week and has been chasing squirrels again, which is enjoyable to see.

And that's really us. I've been focusing on finishing odds and ends on jobs and projects and have started to make progress in my hexigon quilt. I also finished a commission:

His working name is Cinnabar and soon he'll be in the arms of a 4 year old who loves red. I'm pleased he's going to a good home! 

And that's it. Hopefully the weather breaks and we'll have more adventures to share soon! 

Linhouse Glen

The first adventure of 2024 is done! That's not to say I haven't been busy - yesterday was a non-dog-friendly trip to the Irn Bru Carnival which was a blast, but left me both exhausted and too full of sugar.

So what to do when you have a day to yourself, you're tired but restlessly full of sugar and low key anxiety? Go for a two hour walk to see what you can find. 

Which is how I ended up at Linhouse Glen with Missy. We have previously explored this Scottish Nature Reserve, but it was a fleeting visit against the oncoming dark, so it was nice to have the morning to freely roam with the only threat bimeing the potential loss of a welly in the mud. 

Missy enjoyed herself too - between busy working schedules, the ongoing battle of the early nights and general life ad nauseum, she's been getting the park walk twice a day every day. It's a good walk, and most consider us very lucky to have it on our doorstep, but even I was getting bored of the same circle (hubby and I go in different directions, so one walk is clockwise and the other anti clockwise, to try and bring some variety to the day for Missy). 

Despite the cold, it was a pleasant walk. No sensible creature is awake from hibernation yet, so Missy trotted from tree to tree and sniffed to her hearts content. I also had a moment of childhood joy as a train passed us at the crossing point - it carried freight, and there's something thrilling about such a machine blasting past you in close proximity. 

If course we were very safe, and Missy was securely on her lead as we crossed. Although there was a moment of hilarity when, instead of going under the style to get to the path, Missy nimbly hopped onto the step, turned and sat down primly. 

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Guys. It's finally happened. The dog is now asking for her photo to be taken! I'm sure no one would belive me, but I managed to catch it on film as I was gathering footage for a tiktok. 

I am proud to say though that she has a good eye! :

A Very Quiet Start

Missy has the right plan I feel, hiding under the covers and letting winter pass over. As implied in my last post, my Big Sisters MIL made it home, and sadly passed away on the first of January. She's the last of that generation on my side, which I think has added more profoundly to the loss. I've been doing my best to support my sister, mostly just lending an ear and some kind words.

We did our usual and stayed with friends for the Bells, and had my Manchester sister up for First Footing. We coordinated a play date for all the kids, which in hindsight, was a great idea as we adults weren't our best when we got the news. 

I like to think my somewhat subdued energy was forgiven when my neice and nephew received thier viking outfits - they can now join thier mum in the living village at the reenactments. My neice,rather coincidentally had viking homework and had to film a little video about viking Home Life. My sister had been honest in that my niece deliberately dragged those little heels in order to to film in her outfit, which she knew was on its way. I had to speed up my deadline, but I think it paid off. I even had time to make my sister a cloak in green wool during thier stay. 

There was less a mini Xmas and more a gathering of the clan during thier visit and then they were off. I took my eldest neice and nephew out rollerskating on the Saturday, mostly to get them out the house and also to let my neice know that it's OK to have fun even if you are mourning. 

And that's been it. Work has been a hit the ground running sort of week and I can't complain, it's been good to get back in the swing of things. Talking about the swing of things, I'm wanting to get into a good routine this year with adventures and get Missys tiktok going a it more, but I've decided resolutions can start in February this year.

Until whenever I next post, stay safe and give those you love a wee hug.