Monochrome Monday

Instead of the usual colour, here's a black and white photo for a change. I thought I'd join in with Monochrome Monday. Aileni is the host of this meme, visit his blog to see more monos.....probably far more interesting than mine!

This photo of Aberdeen Angus cattle was taken at our local farm shop on a very cold afternoon a few months ago.

Saturday sunshine and stormy seas

The sun came out today but we still had the cold northerly wind, which made for a very rough sea and spectacular waves crashing over the harbour wall. Despite the finger-numbing wind, Jana and I had a lovely walk on the beach.

The relative calm inside the harbour..........

........and the swell outside

Snow fell on the hills last night

Jana sitting, but not for long, because there are birds along the shoreline......

.........some redshanks..........

.......with a few turnstones mixed in

Looks like a bubble bath for these two

Taking to the air..........

..........wonder why?.........

........maybe they've seen the 'on point' vizsla?

The ones that got away!

We weren't the only ones on the beach today

This black lab was definitely a water lover

A jolly collie came past with mind set firmly on its ball

Six paps went out on the second shift

They got to go racing in the field by the woods

The reds take the lead

A passing snow cloud pauses briefly over Hopeman

The following two were taken on my third walk of the day

Pansy got to go out on her own with her ball for an early evening run on the beach. The tide had gone out so there was much more sand.

The wind hadn't let up though so still plenty of white water out there

The Berry Eaters and the 200th post!

All thoughts of Spring have swiftly disappeared as our weather goes from bad to worse. Cold northerly winds have brought rain, rain and more rain plus some sleet and hail showers thrown in for good measure. There's even talk of more snow falling.

As a reminder of warmer days, I am posting some photos which were taken a week ago.



I was thrilled to hear and see a flock of about 16 waxwings in a tree opposite my house. These birds are occasional visitors to Britain, coming over from Scandinavia looking for food when conditions are harsh over there. They are particularly keen on berries. It's been a number of years since I last saw any so I rushed to photograph them before they flew away but I needn't have worried because they hung around a couple of days and I was able to shoot them as they stripped a neighbour's cotoneaster bush of its berries.

They are very distinctive birds and quite easy to photograph because they allow you to get fairly close to them.

This is my 200th post! How quickly it's come around.

True Colours Beige

When I first saw that beige was this week's choice for True Colours Thursday I thought I'd have trouble finding anything of interest to photograph. However, a walk down to the beach this morning revealed that beige doesn't always have to be boring.

Visit our host Blue's blog if you'd like to take part in this meme.

The beige beach of course!

A beige pebble

Surely touches of beige in these shells?

More beige beach

The froth that the rough sea was producing today. It looked more beige than the photo shows, especially when the sun was on it.

That beige sand again

Jasper Pug - a very laid back friend

This is our friend Jasper, a little extrovert, but also a very cool dude. As with most pugs, his two aims in life are eating and sleeping.

If he could do both at the same time he'd be in Heaven!

In relaxed mode.

Where did Spring go?!

It was all change as far as the weather was concerned today. Gale force winds brought rain, hail and the temperature dropped down to 3 degrees.

Those poor Spring flowers are taking a bashing.

Hail storm approaching Lossiemouth beach.

392 in dog years

This was the right part of the country to be in today, it seems the Highlands recorded the highest temperature of the day with 19 degrees in Altnaharra. We managed 16 degrees - pretty good for this time of year.

Long-Suffering Husband celebrated a birthday today. He says he doesn't feel a day over 70. He certainly doesn't look it........that's probably because he was actually 56.

Better make the most of these dog walks while the knees hold out!

Pansy keeps her eye on the ball.

It's hot work chasing a ball on a day like today..........

Pansy's tongue went into overdrive..........

........and now it's out of control! (Click on the photo to enlarge)

LSH looks lost in thought whilst practising his teapot impression.

True Colours Thursday

Green is the theme for True Colours this week. Blue is the host of this meme, visit her blog if you'd like to join in.

The green hill that Duffus Castle sits on


New green shoots (definitely Springtime!)

The green eglu (des res for hens)

Green compost bin. It doesn't look very green in this photo but there are supposed to be forty shades, aren't there?

Pansy's favourite green ball......slightly worse for wear

Green weeds......plenty of them in my garden!