August fields

Sunshine and showers.. at times it feels as if it is mostly showers.

The wild flowers seem to have loved the weather a bit more than we have.

The Coronation Meadow is changing - lovely rich blue patches of Tufted vetch fading into soft warm drifts of flowering grasses.

Walking through the Duill bog, huge clumps of Square stemmed St John's Wort..

the lovely bulbous pink of the Ling..

the sight of young birch trees growing out of the spongy moss...

and deep drifts, the sensory memory of childhood, the mixture of Bog myrtle and Meadowsweet in the air as we walk...

Back along the track and the sun shines.

The Salen Show 2015

It doesn't feel right to miss the Salen Show, it is one of the main events of the farming year - so I try not to! It is a great occasion when the farming community and the wider island community comes together to celebrate where we are and enjoy a day out.

There were lots of sheep to judge.

Bob Stewart was there with his innovative Spinlight, designed and manufactured (3D printer) on Mull.   Look at his website for details of this amazing walking stick light, perfect for walking in the dark, on uneven Treshnish tracks (hint, hint Farmer).

There was lots of local produce - and I was giving out Mull and Iona Food Trail leaflets, some of the time.

The Hill Race had an entrant all the way from Texas, pictured below talking to Angus MacKay, the compere. 

Poultry is also shown, in my favourite tin shed, and this pretty hen was having a nap.

The cockerel crowed throughout the day. 

This year there were goats to be judged.

A good turnout of fine Highland cattle.

Some very young 'young handlers'.

The pipe band played and also the Scottish Ensemble.

This 3 year old Highland heifer belonging to Angus MacColl, Mingary won the best in show.  Caroline MacPhail and her beautiful Highland pony were a close second. 

The show ground was beginning to empty when I left, but an hour later the informal party had begun, and as I drove past it looked lovely and relaxed. The evening sun was shining.  

The Bunessan Show

The Bunessan Show is on the first Friday in August, in the fields in front of the school.  Having a friend staying gave us the excuse to take the day off and head down to the Ross of Mull.  It was a beautiful day and the drive was spectacular. We headed down via Killiechronan and Gribun, and came home via Craignure.

The views from the show ground are lovely, over Loch Scridain to the Burg, and north towards Ulva and Treshnish.

Farmer helped J with his Cheviots - he got lots of rosettes.

There were not so many cattle being shown as there were sheep.

Judging is a serious business and there is no rush.

The Champion Cheviot, bred and shown by our neighbours. 

The PTA were selling Ardalanish sausages in a roll to raise money for the school fund.  Their raffle prize was a wonderful new wheelbarrow full of local produce.

The parking area was a bit muddy in places. 

After the excitement of the show, we headed for Ardalanish beach, but called in at Ardalanish Farm on the way, to look at their lovely tweeds. 

We walked through a carpet of Eyebrights to reach the sands, along a vibrant area of Meadowsweet.

Ardalanish has a much sandier soil than here, so there are some wild flowers there that cannot grow up our way - Sea holly for example, and this white flower, which I haven't looked up yet.

On our way home we took advantage of the mussels for sale sign being up, when we got to Loch Spelve, and bought a lot of mussels for very little!  Another of Mull's honesty shops.