It's been the most beautiful weekend at Westness. I arrived on Friday, Charlie scooping me up from Kirkwall - a few things still to do that afternoon, and early to bed. We woke early on Saturday to a beautiful sunrise.
Nancy on the step!
The bluebell woods are just about to burst.
The sea was an intense shade of blue...
But a morning mist was rolling in from the mainland.
We went for a loop around the garden...
New paths being found by Charlie's eye in the woods...
Celandines everywhere...
Charlie has started clearing the veg garden... amazing.
Just so he can get growing this spring....
The irises he planted last autumn are incredibly happy on their south facing wall.
In the woods....
But then the mist rolled in to us too...
You couldn't see across to mainland at all.
So beautiful.
Primroses are coming up everywhere in what will become our meadow.
No sooner did the mist roll in...
Than it cleared - to a beautiful, sparkling day - the sunshine was hot. You can see Charlie's start of a mown path from the door of the house to the gate to the sea. We need to think about moving the pond... we can't quite figure out why it was actually put there?
Spring bulbs.
The sea was an intense shade of blue - but still cold.
Bloody Mary's and lunch on the terrace...
I wondered if the corgis have been teaching Nancy how to look at things?
Yesterday the pub reopened since its closure last autumn. Heaven! So everyone was there and a brilliant time was had. It was a bright and breezy start this morning.
After breakfast, a walk - the sea an intense shade of Prussian Blue.
Westness Farm, looking over to the newly ploughed fields on Evie.
Violets in the road banks.
The chapel of St. Mary, looking over to Mainland...
And the ancient Midhowe Broch.
Thanks to friends on instagram, I was able to identify this as a Northern Wheatear, up on the moorland.
A sparkling day.
We've had the laziest afternoon - I had a good sleep, we had our neighbours over for tea to see the puppy, and the house bathed in warm sunshine this evening.
Sunset.... supper, and an early night.
We are a week now to Easter. Peace be with you.
6 comments
Lovely morning and walk. Lots of charm and calmness in the opening of the day. Maybe the old pond holds a secret reflection? Fill and then look from many angles. Thanks for sharing.
Dear Ben,
I’ve enjoyed reading your blog for many years now, and am most envious of Westness – what a find !
I think you should extend the pond to the right so that the path from the house to the gate cuts through its true middle – you can then create a path that goes around both sides, or build a wooden bridge across it :)
Patrick
Peace be with you (and Charlie too!) this coming Easter. May it be a HAPPY one, this your first Easter there:). With all that mist, it looked like a scene from Wuthering Heights. You could feel the quiet and stillness. What a glorious place to be able to call home.
My first read this monring…520am North Shore of Boston. Thank you. Just what I needed to start my week. Enjoy.
Peace be with you over Easter and may you get time for rest and relaxation.
Just beautiful! Thank you for sharing and Peace be with you too.