The sun setting behind the Hoy Hills, with the
Hoy Low Lighthouse light in the centre of the picture.
Hoy Low Lighthouse light in the centre of the picture.
I'm slowly settling into the Autumn days now. The clocks went back an hour a couple of weeks ago and, having had some glorious sunny, mild, still days (among the rain and wind) I can now accept that early November is indeed time for Autumn.
So I've been stocking up the freezer and store cupboard, buying in batteries and checking rechargers. MUST check the heating oil this weekend! Although I live on a wee island it's not THAT remote for getting supplies in. Most of the shops in Stromness across the water will put things to the boat and in bad weather, a neighbour will often collect stuff from the boat for me (he's a wee bit heavier than me and less likely to get blown away - tee hee!). But it's still nice and comforting to feel that I have "supplies in".
This week though I did have to go to town to get my Orkney Mainland car MOT'd (certificate of road worthiness). So I popped into Kirkwall for the morning, taking time for coffee and a bacon sandwich breakfast at The Reel Cafe (with free wifi). I love the atmosphere in this cafe where you are surrounded by music and instruments as you sip your coffee. Great music venue too!
There wasn't a puff of wind about and Stromness harbour was glorious with reflections.
The trees in Stromness are quite bare now - you can see Hoy High lighthouse on Graemsay through the skeleton of this tree - just to the left of the kirk (church) spire.
The days are getting shorter. Sunrise is at 7.50am and sunset at 3.58pm today. The hens are going to roost in the hen house earlier and earlier. They sit on the doorstep in the morning demanding breakfast - despite the fact I NEVER feed them near the house and they have to follow my down to the henny hoose to get food.
They get quite impatient - if you look closely TWO of the hens have their heads in the cat flap!
But there are still some lovely sunsets to watch and enjoy.
Yes, that autumn squirrelling instinct, Sian, getting stocked up against the winter. I really love this set of photos, especially the hens and the marvellous reflections one of the boats. Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteGlad you like the photos! Yes - I'm definitely in squirell mode at the moment! Just about to make a big pot of soup to freeze.... it will probably last me till March :-)
DeleteWow, that's not much sunlight. We just set our clocks back (spring forward, fall back) and I'm pretty sad when the sun sets before 5 pm ...
ReplyDeleteLove the hens waiting on the step. Any chance of a photo from the inside of the hens sticking their heads through the flap ?
Yes winter is tough with so little daylight. But I tended to hibernate when I lived further south and it would be dark when I went to work and by the time I got home. So not much difference. And at least working from home I can get out during the day when there IS light! As for photos of hens from the inside - the door is quite thick so they don't actually stick their heads through the other side. But the tapping on the cat flap when I'm in the porch preparing their food is a bit disconcerting....
Deletevery funny to see the hens looking for food on your stepdoor :)
ReplyDeleteIt does feel a bit overwhelming sometimes!
DeleteSpectacular skies in your photos, but I so love the hens! Reminds me that many years ago when I lived on a boat on the Thames used to feed the swans each day, and if I forgot or was late they used to tap on the side of the boat with their bills!
ReplyDeleteOOOh you lived on a boat on the Thames? I used to love seeing the boats moored along the river. That must have been great? And yes birds DO get used to being fed at a certain time - we used to have sparrows that would tap on the window if my mother was late putting their food out in the afternoon. "Bird-brained" is supposed to be a derogatory term but they seem quite clever to me!
DeleteLovely in good weather, especially very early on a summer morning, with a mist rising off the water, but not so great in bad weather! And not much space, which is bad news for an untidy, book-living hoarder like me!
DeleteOh your ladies do make me giggle - those with their heads through the cat flap shouting 'OYYYYY' gives our grub! Stock up lassie when that sea stops looking like a mill pond, we'll just keep in touch via email!
ReplyDeletePS the man at the dump now thinks I'm bean eating fiend until I explianed i was dropping off your islands recycling! Thanks for your (islands) can's for recycling! Keep up the good work!
On lovely calm days like today it's easy to forget the wild windy days of winter. But they will return! LOL re the man at the dump. When I took a load of cans over they were mostly beer cans and he asked if I'd been having a party. I had to explain I was recycling for the ISLAND not just for ME!
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