Well, it’s a month since I last “put pen to paper” - a busy time with me still searching for some odd hours to add on to each day.....
I did finish the annual accounts away at the beginning of the month. They are always a trial.... so that’s a weight off my mind. June’s weather improved steadily and in the last fortnight the garden has needed watered nightly. I think I’ve lost the weed battle in the shrub/rose garden..... actually it is quite colourful at present, so I’ll leave well alone! The leeks finally were planted a while ago. I think there is a wee something wrong with my timing - the day after the potatoes went down it snowed and the leeks have needed constant water since they reached their final positions. However, I’ll perhaps get the spinach, mustard, rocket and yet more lettuce timings better........ Then every space will be used up, at least. The first lettuces are growing much faster than Cheque and I can eat - there’s only so much one can do with a lettuce leaf..... any ideas for breakfasts?
I have recently had so many very pleasant guests from all parts. This week I’ve met people from America, Germany, France, Switzerland, and Britain. Yesterday and today I have an English couple and three young Australians, who are very kindly calling at the butcher’s shop in Kyle for smoked ham haughs, as they go to the Isle of Skye!
Tomorrow will be taken up largely with soup making, in preparation for Sam and Catriona coming next week. Neither of them is good at eating vegetables - but they love liquidised soup - and mince and “tatties”! Perhaps the garden potatoes will be big enough for them to dig their own..... Sam’s will make bread too. Catriona is more into the puddings and cakes!! Sam then goes for two weeks to Scout Camp and Catriona may stay here till the rest of the family arrives for Regatta fortnight, beginning July 25th. So that just about takes care of July’s spare moments!
I must thank Ian for having tracked down, from Australia via Canada to Plockton, a suitable cookbook for my spare microwave-. I live in dread of my everyday model giving up the ghost! So now I can practise on the quite different controls and hopefully become just as fond of it. Ian and Alison can judge my success or otherwise when they holiday here in September - actually they should not expect miracles, as that is now only 10 weeks away.......
Yarrow and Sponge are enjoying the company in the house and actually vie for attention in the mornings! I remind Yarrow that Sponge is no use at going for walks in the village and so he must tolerate Sponge’s pushiness. Cheque has enjoyed the real warmth of late and has fairly trotted around. Today, she’s sluggish and practically knocking at the front door to come back into her box!
Thank you everyone who has written, often sending beautiful photos, over the past few weeks. How I long to be on Broadband to speed this computer along.....There are a FEW drawbacks to living in our beautiful part of the world - impulse buying is not on (maybe a good thing!), THE bus to Kyle goes once a day, no late night grocery shopping in Plockton, and no ready access yet to Broadband - small prices to pay, believe me! Best wishes, Ann.
