Getting stuck in the snow.

lots of heavy snow showers today. Got stuck trying to drive back up a hill, took us an hour to grit, push, dig our way back up it. Still what else would I do on a Sunday apart from watch the birdies...and try to work.

Car Wash postponed by Snow.

snow and marmalade

I'm afraid I have failed to do a pic each day this week, too much time on the road, admin, out working or doing Firey stuff.
this one above is just up the glen Sunday when we headed across to NI. Monday a grey Belfast.Tuesday a grey A9. Wednesday work, Thursday work...and at last Friday;

steaming oranges.

and while the oranges cooled, here passing the house that my second child was born in. 9.10pm 28th December 1988 a whopping 9lbs10oz, while the wind whipped up the loch outside the window and soup & whiskey were taken in the kitchen. The doctor used a lambing torch to see while he er...did some stitching .All very West Coast and a long long time ago.

Frost swirls.

Big mad giant frost swirls on the roof & bonnet of Rich's car. Should have put my hand in for a sense of scale, thats half the bonnet size.

Ardbriachan

A day out with my son, he was tinkering with an ancient petrol scooter, the dog ran around after him I watched the trees blow in the cold wind. Was enjoying the effects of deliberately blurring the photos, might well paint from these.

Pink Sunrise

quite hard to capture the colours right, even with a tripod. This lasted just a few minutes, out in garden in PJ's. brrrr.

ever shifting light.

Thawing hills

The thaw has happened surprisingly fast, leaving the mountains all streaky.

sleeping Digger.

grey thaw day. Mud, grit and potholes. night drive to Shieldaig  & I saw a sleeping Digger.

GreyThaw day.

bah,  typically didn't have my camera, but at least phone-camera on me today rushing around.  grey thaw & ice day.

Been doing Home Fire Safety checks around peoples houses, some great houses with great views. strange how a few miles apart different places have different birdies come and feed. Sad how many houses are still without water due to the ice, and many elderly folks are moreorless trapped in due to the ice. Met a few folk who've had injuries from falls in the recent weather. Its a worry how vulnerable the elderly are, but one also becomes aware how much good work various active neighbours do, from clearing ice, delivering shopping, sorting out wiring, moving boxes. Our community appears to work pretty well that way.

art clutter

Heres where I have work in progress. and a big pile of cardboard boxes ( not featured ). Completely failing to take photos this week, have camera with me, see great stuff, just busy busy busy. pic of the day isn't quite ready to be pic of the week yet. I'll try better tomorrow!

Frank-Cat

chained to the desk today, forgot camera when I ruished to bank & poist office, which was a shame as the wind blown loch was a good colour against the white mountains, you'll have to imagine it.
Instead I bring you Frank-Cat and a lovely page of Simon Davis Art.

Trip to town

Stags dug into hollows.

frost iced trees in the sun

Ish's photos of car window ice

Hungry Birds

This was after yesterdays photos, when the sun came up & hit the loch steam. I took this photo from the living room, this is the view from my computer chair.

This was today, frustrated with blurry pix, I set the tripod up next to the window. The bird feeder is also set up adjacent to my desk window, so that the birdies keep me entertained/ distracted all day. This Robin is atop my Ice effigy which includes the daily ice blocks from the bird water bowls.

frozen sunrise

It got to -10C before bed time last night. Stunning morning, never a dull moment as the light shifts across the mountains. too cold to stay out any longer. steam rising from the loch now catching the first suns rays.

Slum Bay Island Ice

Took the dog a walk today down Slumbay Island ( Viking name 'Slim' - Not an Island except at really high tides.)  It was a good -5C down there in the shadows, my sock kept falling off inside my wellies, so I felt every degree.  the ice gave the loch a lovely glaze. I still haven't had time to read the camera manual- I aught to just print it out which would be easier. I have just randomly play with the various settings, the auto is handy for point & shoot, but seems to make the colours rather cold, the 'snow' presets were rubbish. the manual light meter seems to give everything a warm cast. Its frustrating as I'm seeing some incredible scenes, and getting great art reference shots, but falling short of great photos.

Iced Shore

A stunning but beautiful day.  The temperature didnt get above -2C in the garden despite the bright sunlight. The high tides and sea-ice made bizarre patterns on the shore.

fresh snow & old Ice

low tide

Lochcarron Old Kirkyard

Ice

Icicles were thawing and falling around us. too dangerous to climb in any nearer to the waterfall which had amazing ice lumps built up underneath. As we climbed out of the small gorge a large buzzard flew past low, near us, with a bird in its talons, a flock of small birds harried it- it disappeared into the trees before I could point the camera.

New years Day 2010

Happy New Year and good health to everyone. After missing the daylight yesterday & feeling the worse for it I was happy to have to take a drive over to Applecross to collect the post Hogmanay party youngsters. First thing in Lochcarron the snow was falling thick and fast but this soon gave way to clearer skies. The Hill road was blocked so we had to take the long way around the coast. The micro climates were amazing, some places just a frost, others thick snow. by 2.30pm the sun started to set.4.30pm its nearly dark again.

Hogmanay

Another day when I missed the brief daylight, blue skies, pink & white mountains and before I could pull on my boots it was gone. We didn't go out for hogmanay, instead building a wee fire & sitting outside watching the moon light up the hills. Midnight was strangely silent, only sea birds on the loch calling to each other.