March 9th storm force

The winds were forecast to be storm force 11. We did have a weather station once but it blew away, so we have no way of measuring.  Suffice it to say, it has been pretty windy - sufficient to blow a hay feeder from the top of the wind turbine field, down hill and over 2 fences and the track, into the field beside the Studio.  Thankfully it didn't hit anyone on its way. It is now safely tucked in behind the workshop.

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That lovely day on the Ross of Mull feels now like a distant memory blocked out by the wettest, darkest day on Saturday, when the in-by fields flowed with flooding waters from burns and ditches and straight down the hills.   Wherever Farmer has driven in the quad bike or tractor has become a river of rain as if overnight.  The ground is so saturated it cannot take any more.

Rochester the bull must surely be happier indoors in weather like this?

Half the cows have calved now, the others look to be some time off.  The young ones are growing up fast, and very inquisitive (as long as you don't move too sharply) coming up for a closer look.

After Saturday, thankfully comes Sun-Day. Living up to its name, the day dawned and blue sky greeted us when we woke this morning.  What a huge shining relief to see the sun and its brightness.  I went to Croig.  I went to Dervaig.  Drank coffee at Croig and tea at Dervaig.

The family walk with dogs took us down below the house, along to the Ensay burn.  The opportunity for a family photograph with dogs, the one on the left is Walter leaping towards his master, Farmer.

On our way back to the farmhouse a deep grey cloud burst into a hail storm, and we got soaked.  All in a day! Spring? Perhaps not quite yet.

A grand day out

Farmer and I had a grand day out on Wednesday.  We went from home to the Ross and back to Dervaig for 4pm.  We managed to do some errands at Ardalanish Farm, have a delicious lunch at the Bunessan Bakehouse and explore a new beach.  The weather was wonderful and Farmer kindly stopped many times for photographs and a few times for farming chats.

Garden hares

The hares are back in the garden, they are teasing me by coming in before it is fully light or just before it is fully dark, thus making photographing them very difficult.

Farmer and I walked through the field where the tups are, and Jan showed off her skills without the others (Cap and Walter) to disturb her.  She can sometimes seem afraid to come up on the sheep, but she was not worried about bringing the tups back to the Farmer this time.  Kindly Farmer was holding Coco for me so I could take photographs.

A couple of years ago we fenced off a couple of areas in the field with no name, so that the young seedling birches could grow.  Thank goodness we did.  One of the recent storms has seriously hit the granny birch in this roundel, the trunk has split and the main limb is touching the ground.  Farmer is going to cut the limb back and hopefully the tree will regrow from lower down.

A good swell in off the sea brought some dramatic waves crashing against the jet black wet rocks along the shore.  The wind was strong enough to nearly blow me off my feet taking some of these, but I managed to stay standing and not get wet. 

This morning, amidst hail storms and more winds, a load of hay and straw arrived.  This is always a good feeling.  The driver had the load unwrapped and untied in record time and was soon back off down the road heading for the ferry.

Farmer then went to feed the sheep, before stacking the bales in the dry of the cattle shed.