Above is a lovely sunny say with fluffy clouds in the sky. Hoy High lighthouse with Sandside next to it, and the Orphir hills (Orkney Mainland) behind.
Meanwhile in the garden..... I'm so glad I invested in a fruit cage for the fruit bushes....NOT! Button enjoying a roll on the warm earth in the sunshine.... undisturbed by hens....
Though Madam Button maintains she is keeping the rabbits out - um Button dearest, it's a Hare and it's a PRETEND Hare.
Meanwhile this common carder bee goes about it's business of collecting nectar. Before you panic - the flower head is very small! It's a scabious.
The hens are also enjoying a bit of sunbathing, this time among the borage....
I should say, the hens and the cockerel! Stretched out soaking up the sunshine
Time for a bit of a preen too.
Doesn't she look smart!
I think they are pretending to protect the broad beans... yeah, right!
Elsewhere in the garden the sea holly is looking good. (Spiky rather than prickly).
I was alarmed on Monday to see these wee swallows in a nest in the byre. This is a second brood from this nest. It's the end of August and they migrate in September. I feared for them. However on Tuesday they were out of the nest on the beams and today they had fledged - no sign in the byre!! Still not sure they will make the migration all the way but wishing them luck and a fair wind!
Meanwhile the swallows from other broods have been doing well and often sit on the guttering on the rooftop having a preen and a chatter.
Last week it felt quite Autumnal, with wind and rain. We've had a respite and back to summer the last few days, but with some heavy showers and it's the season of rainbows again.
It's been a good dry summer though and farmers have had a decent crop of silage and hay and been able to get it in when they wanted. Just one or two remaining fields with crops to be gathered in now. (This one was completed the same day I took the photo so all is safely gathered in).
And of course there are beautiful sunsets. Though sadly the sun has crept back across the sea and will soon be setting behind Graemsay on it's way to it's winter "nest" behind the Hoy hills.
And for a different perspective - this is Graemsay taken from the pier in Stromness as I was waiting to get on the ferry home.