It's been a dogs life at Westness this last week, in glorious sunshine for so much of the time. There are many photos of our new miniature dachshund, Nancy, incoming. I hope you'll understand!
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Tea on the steps in the warm sunshine, with Tunnock's caramel (dark chocolate, please note).
Sibyl fast asleep in a little hot spot.
That evening we went for a drink up at magical Hullion, with our new neighbours.
Back to the softest sunset.
Mirror flat seas the next morning.
And more beautiful sunshine in the afternoon.
Sibyl and Nancy are now together a lot now.
Sunset drinks.
It's still light at 9.45pm in the evenings now.
Prussian blue sea the next day.
More warm sunshine. Charlie's mown paths are amazing in the garden now. Everything else will be growing long.
Family photo in the library.
Bluebell woods bursting.
Afternoon walk in the garden...
New paths cut in the coppices...
Charlie's irises, planted in the first weeks here, happy against their south-west facing wall...
The veg garden taking form. INCREDIBLE work.
Evening vista.
Easter flowers for the Westness Chapel.
And another beautiful sunset - seals all around now.
We woke to another mirror flat morning.
Seals calling to each other - an amazing, haunting sound.
Sunshine and clouds.
Tiny Nancy.
Easter flowers on their way to the chapel.
Charlie's greenhouse - already amazing.
He's given the apple trees on an old wall a hard prune and they are covered in blossom. It bodes well.
Enid in the sunshine.
The drawing room in the sunshine.
My brother and sister-in-law were coming to stay, and our friend Mo - so we had to get an attic bedroom up and ready too. Sunshine STREAMING in. It's so lucky that we can live here for a while like this before we have to do any building works, getting to know each corner of the house.
Easter Saturday service with our lovely minister, Brenda, and an assorted group of friends and islanders. Charlie looks like a giant because of the camera angle I think!
We couldn't do a service on Sunday because Brenda was needed on mainland, but we'd decided to have an Easter Day service on the Saturday. Easter Day in New Zealand, after all. The church looked amazing with Charlie's spring bunches, all picked from the garden.
Looking out of the door of the chapel.
Easter lunch in the dining room.
That evening - Monica and the girls.
Easter Day breakfast.
That afternoon I went for a long walk with Tim & Lisa - around to the cliffs...
Every hidden ledge now has a pair of nesting birds.
Guillemots.
And fields filled with newly born lambs.
Oystercatchers and pied wagtails on the shore -
Dozens of seals, lying on the rocks or swimming close to shore.
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Back at home, Nancy had gone into mad cute overdrive.
Tim gliding by on his paddleboard that evening.
Crazy Easter evening light.
Today, Tim & Lisa carried on their travels to the outer islands, and Monica headed back to London. I took her to Kirkwall airport this morning, and on the way we called into the beautiful, romantic, decaying Hall of Clestrain - I pray that the proposed restoration starts soon, before it's really too late.
What a magical spot, overlooking Hoy.
Sun gleaming on Stromness.
Back to Westness - bluebells in the woods, and trees coming to leaf.
Charlie and I needed to stretch our legs so went on the usual walk up the hill. Violets everywhere on the roadside now.
A beautiful afternoon up at Quandale.
And back to Westness in a brisk breeze.
What wonderful times we've had this Easter, as the landscape unfolds, and spring bursts to life in Orkney. Now, it's Easter Monday evening. The dogs are all fast asleep on the sofa and it's time for bed. Tomorrow, I've got to travel south - with a slightly heavy heart. It's getting harder and harder to leave, as you can imagine.
Lent is over, but I haven't gone back to the news. I don't miss it at all.
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41 comments
I adore your blog,it transports me from urban London to a form of Paradise.I am staggered at the pace you have created your wonderful home.Any tips on how to create some of that paradise in less conducive circumstances
Robert always said live in a house for a year if you can and the house will let you know what it needs…….
Nothing like the soothing sound of eider ducks cooing!
Beautiful place! (Top right for the walls!)
It comes as no surprise that it is hard to be torn away from this most beautiful (and homely) corner of the British Isles. (Ditto re Lenten ‘sacrifice’.) Thank you for sharing.
So lovely that the environment on Orkney seems to be doing well, and that you’re thriving in it. Charlie has made amazing inroads with the garden and the veg plot, and is wearing his ’tache well! x
Wonderful as always! Love what Charlie is doing. The mown paths make the garden look so established. Nancy is going to be the star of the show in future, I can tell! They are adorable – we have one. Of course you realize they aren’t dogs at all, just adorable little people in dog form. Bottom right for house colour – as near to a soft sunset as you can get – not flame though! Happy Easter to you both!
Dear Ben & Charlie
I can’t tell you how much joy and excitement I get when I discover a new post. What amazing sunsets and skies not to mention the surrounding scenery you get to soak up daily – just achingly beautiful.
Loving the cut paths in the garden, Charlie has his work cut out for him but is clearly embracing it – it’s lovely to see some shape and form emerge.
The house is looking great too, thank you for sharing the journey – what’s not to love.
I so love your blog & photos. I am so happy for you, Charlie & dogs. I keep Rousay in my heart it is indeed a magical place. Thank you for sharing your love for Rousay. God bless
What a perfect Easter….and thankyou so much for beautiful pictures…I love to see the growing of Westness House and of course the garden….keep posting…❤️☀️
Just beautiful! I can understand your sadness in leaving. Hope you are there again soon. Adore seeing all Charlie’s work in the garden. Thank you for sharing.
Exquisite
Bottom right for the wall colour!
Loving seeing all you have done
In the time u have been there
Belated Easter greetings
Behold…another magical setting. Westness, the chapel, the island, and those sunsets. Just wow.
If once you have slept on an island. #gratitude🩵
It feels like stepping into a story…a magical, beautiful, windswept romantic place… Rousay.
Love to see your new location, inside & out. Did I see a Hudson Bay blanket on the bed in the rose bedroom? They are becoming an even more sought after item in Canada. Happy Spring to you🌷🪻
Some dogs have all the luck! No doubt Nancy deserves her new-found bliss at Westness. I wonder what kind of trees are in your meadow? With trunks spreading from so low to the ground. How lovely it will be when they are all in full leaf.
Perhaps some time you could make a video with sound of the calls of the seals, for an Instagram story or post? I’ve heard of seals barking, but not the kind of sound you seem to describe. It’s wonderful that you always turn wherever you find yourselves, into such a paradise! Thank you for sharing it with us!
The violets and bluebells are so beautiful. I remember Mothering Sunday in the 50’s when each child picked a posy of violets from a basket in front of the altar and presented it to mum.
I did a laugh when I saw the Lindt Easter bunnies on your table … my table had them too thousands of km away in Brisbane.
Thank you for the photos… a magical place. No wonder you feel a wrench when you leave. 💐
Could there be a more beautiful spot? Your blog is such a delight! Thank you!
Magnifico!
I love your photos and your blog. Thank you so much for sharing these gorgeous images . Beauty is still possible in the world. Thank you!
I so love your blogs. Love your photo’s of sea,land,flowers,buildings,dogs,especially cute wee Nancy.
Happy Easter Ben and Charlie.
Happy Easter to you both. I loved seeing all of the pictures of Nancy and the other dogs, they all are enjoying each other and the wonderful outdoors. The chapel was lovely with Charlies garden flower arrangements. I do like your dining room wallpaper and your lovely setting for Easter and breakfast setting of the table. Such gorgeous scenery with spring flowers, bluebells and violet blooming and the apple blossoms. Charlie’s greenhouse is thriving. What a wonderful Easter you have enjoyed. I gave up biscuits and gloomy news for Lent, and I don’t have the inclination to rush back with both. All the best. Again, just love seeing all of the photos of Nancy, she seems to be really growing and so sweet. Nice Sybil is watching over Nancy.
Un pur bonheur sous une lumière incroyable ! Merci pour vos magnifiques reportages qui me transportent chaque fois dans votre art de vivre et dans votre poésie.
Beautiful Nancy – wonderful addition to the tribe. Mind, if she stays still long enough she’ll look like one of the tufts of dead grass! Happy Easter to you both – the life there seems to suit you all so much. You’ve found your paradise.
I love how you have turned this into a home and the garden is developing so quickly. You mentioned previously having to move the pond because of the path alignment. Would an easier option be to widen the gate in the stone wall, or move it over to “fudge” the alignment?
Your Nancy is perfection, and new home & garden. A delightful film, honors your Nancy ! Kept hearing its soundtrack while reading.
A much watch for ya’ll …
Was Hear My Song based on a true story?The film is based loosely on the life of the Irish Tenor, Josef Locke (1917-1999). The film’s exposition begins in Liverpool’s Irish community, with Micky O’Neil running Hartley’s Night Club. Micky is a bit of a rogue, and although he considers Nancy Doyle his girlfriend, he seems conflicted in saying “I love you”.
https://www.imdb.com
Hear My Song (1991)
Dogs, flowers, wine – that covers it.
Thank you for this incredibly beautiful blog.
How wonderful that Sybil is now looking after the gorgeous little Nancy! She seems happy with her pack. Happy Easter Ben and Charlie!
Alicia
I absolutely love your blog. The photos are stunning and I love the mix of house and garden. Thank you for sharing
So agree on living in a space before renovating/changing. Taking time to understand and functionally adapt to space makes all subsequent decisions, likely, more effective and pleasing. Light, space, that pesky doorway, etc all take on a different meaning.
This made me smile so much – and for Nancy, a laugh. Blessings all round. I don’t think life gets much better, does it?
I love your posts, the photos are fantastic and I feel like you are my friend as you slowly unwrap your family and dogs to us all. Thank you
Lovely to see some interior shots again. Have just bought my first tulip vase at the local antique fair so was delighted to see your pair in the photos.
It was plain to see that you had a lovely first Easter weekend in your new environment. All your dogs are also loving their new home. Nancy is adorable! As the summer progresses it will be magical to watch how Charlie’s garden grows. Thank you for sharing with all your bloggers; we enjoy your wonderful photos so much!
Barb
What calming scenes. Westness and it’s surroundings, Charlie in his Easter suit, seemed as though it was all out of an Edwardian dream. I don’t know how you could make it anymore perfect, although I am sure you will. I hope when you repaint the exterior you land on a colour on the right side of the doorway —nothing that would make the house stand out and be jarring on the coastline. It is just so lovely now, the way it melts into the land:). HAPPY (belated) Easter:)
it goes without saying, dear ben and charlie that dog spelled backwards is god!
So idyllic! Happy Easter!
Lovely, lovely, lovely! Nancy is a charmer!
Lovely photos, as always. Did you catch the recent Radio 4 programme about Rousay’s archaeology? It’s still on BBC Sounds ‘Time travel in Orkney’…