Still Summer!

 

Although we had a day of rain, largely the weather is dry, no wind (oh joy unconfined!), and many sunny spells.  Indeed today was very warm.  But these photos are from the end of last week so the sky looks a little grey.  Still warm though.

Mid August is when the parish and island agricultural shows are normally held (sadly again most cancelled this year) culminating in the "County Show" in Kirkwall (again cancelled).  It's tradition that folk then say "ah well that's summer over then..." and it is also tradition that I roll my eyes because it often isn't.  Though it is true that summer is drawing to a close. Grasses and other plants are seeding now, and most young have fledged the nest.  Though I see some swallow chicks still resolutely in their wee nest in the barn. Plenty of swallows skimming over the field for insects including their fledglings.  But while it is warm and not windy I count that as "still Summer!

In the garden - woundwort and the crocosmia is coming into bloom....

Monkshood, a late summer favourite (yes I know it's poisonous but I don't eat it....so...)

A soggy hen (the day it rained...) among the woundwort.....

Did I mention it had rained....sigh....  snail munching the monkshood.  Presumably not poisonous to it.... then again have I discovered a snail deterrent! 

Green, yellow and white predominate in the border....

And the "shrubbery" round the back of the garden.... not much colour at all here but in summer the rosa rugosa is in bloom, as is the mint. Fuschia's are somewhat hidden now and I haven't seen the honeysuckle for some time. Berries are appearing on the whitebeam though. This border is definitely feral!  I don't really do anything with it except get bits pruned in Winter.  The hens love it, especially in the winter as even the bare branches give some shelter from the winds and rain. The hebes are evergreen so always shelter there.

Button out on her evening perambulation.....

Stopping to watch the Hamnavoe ferry sail into Stromness....

This is the house well.  Not been tested for some years so no idea if drinkable.  But it would have provided water for the house, and cattle and sheep.  In later years there would have been a pump to pump the water into the water trough alongside - apparently then the cows were led down from the fields to drink.  There was a water tank outside the house to store the water for the family.

Some houses on the island still choose to use well water, though mains water comes over from Hoy nowadays.

This is the base for the old trough.

Er Button it is NOT a good idea to stand on the well cap!! 

It reminds me of a children's nursery rhyme

Ding, dong, bell,

Pussy's in the well

Who put her in?

Little Johnny Green.

Who pulled her out?

Little Tommy Stout.

What a naughty boy was that,

To try to drown poor pussy cat.

Who ne'er did him any harm,

But killed all the mice in the farmer's barn.

Fortunately no rescuing was needed..... So I could relax and look around at the old buildings

And then a walk to the shore.  A neighbour's boat ready to go out fishing once the tide is in.

Someone has been having a go at a standing stone circle!

A walk back in time.... well not really but I thought a black and white cat should appear in black and white for a change!  The old farmyard....

Then there was time to sit on one of the several picnic benches around the island and admire the view.....

And lovely light in the evening.....