RETURN TO THE PONDAROSA, AND MORE SNOW

In a previous blog I told you about the Pondarosa Cafe on our Scottish beach. Below is a shot of Greg in the garden of the cafe with the Chinese statue, yes thats right, Chinese. Chinese, Pondarosa, Scottish beach, very strange. Click on pictures to enlarge.

Some visitors looking at the fountain outside the cafe.

Icicles on the fountain

The cold weather has never really gone but at least we had a few days free of snow. Not for long, as this picture shows the cold outlook from just outside my garden

Icicles on the cliff and snow on the beach. Just to the left of this shot at the base of the cliff is a cave where it is said people lived at one time. There is also a local tale that a tunnel goes from this cave all the way to Duffus Castle. I couldn't get a shot of the cave entrance from where I was on top of the cliff but will take some shots from the beach at a later date.

A sea stack. The gull are gathering and will soon be nesting here.

During my walk today I looked out for animal tracks in the fresh snow. These are fox tracks.

I wonder if the fox was following this rabbit who left his tracks for me to find.

And now tractor tracks. A farm worker was ploughing in the next field.

Here is a view of the snow capped Bin of Cullen beyond Lossie forest. We often walk in the forest which has endless tracks and paths that lead to the beach or through the trees.

A view of Ben Rinnes covered in snow. Duffus Castle is in the bottom left corner of the shot.

WALKING THE DOGS

The snow had gone and was replaced by mud, however the sun was shining, the sea was blue and the dogs needed to be walked, so we headed out across the field. We met the new boys in the field next door. They are tups (male sheep) of various breeds . There are about a dozen in the field. I like the brown and white one. Click on pictures to enlarge them.

Two of my friends dogs are staying with us for a while. Here is Louis at full stretch, running back up the field watched by my Jarvis.

At the bottom of the field we can access the cliff path. Today the tide was going out and gulls were resting on the rocks

Heading back up the opposite side of the field, Jarvis and Louis are still together and Brian just visible bottom right. This is when I get to use my leg muscles

We were treated to a display by a Tornado aircraft from the nearby RAF base.

This is our cottage tucked in below the hill top. Visible in the distance is Lossiemouth and St. James church spire and the tower with red tiled roof of St. Gerardines can be seen

Louis looking wet and windblown but very happy.

Jarvis, backed by blue sea and sky waits for me to catch up.

Later on that afternoon we were treated to this amazing sunset.

SNOWDROPS AND TOMBSTONES

We always begin to look out for Snowdrops around this time of year and can always be assured of a good display in Duffus Old Churchyard. It amazes me how such delicate little flowers survive in such harsh weather. For better detail click on pictures.

The porch of the ruined church offers shelter to more snowdrops
The boys use a tombstone as a lookout hoping to catch sight of the many rabbits that live here.

Enlarge this picture to read of the tragic loss a family suffered in the 19th century.

The stone above is the one to the left of this shot, it is by no means the only one with such a sad record.

A view of the ruined church and some of the oldest stones.

Inside the church

This little chap sits quite high up on the outside wall, I wonder where he came from. It's good to know that re-cycling went on way back then.

Below are a couple of details of tombstones. I published a blog of this place last year and may have repeated some shots, so if you have seen them already I apologise

AS IT SAYS IN THE SONG

There's nothing quite like a seaside holiday town in the rain. The west beach at Lossiemouth looks pretty dismal, the lighthouse barely visible through the mist and rain but two hardy souls are walking their dogs on the beach. If you click on the picture you will spot them. Greg and I enjoyed coffee and home bakes in the beach cafe called The Pondarosa, yes that's right Pondarosa.

Would you fancy dipping your toes in this water?
On the west beach plenty of vacant picnic tables and benches, roll on summer.

This little Roebuck and his pal came to visit the other morning. The shot is a bit hazy because the window was steamed up. The deer come by quite often but of course as soon as you appear at a window they run away so I was pleased to get a shot of this one.

Remember the Hichcock film The Birds. Well we could have provided plenty of
players from this lot who were feeding on the field at the back of the cottage. Mostly Rooks and Jackdaws with some Pigeons and gulls too

I don't know what scared them, don't think it was me, but look at the chaos as they took to the air. Do they ever collide with each other? There are one or two near misses amongst this lot. Click on this and the next shots and see if you can spot them.

Looking like black snow as they get higher in the sky.

They circled the field and came back to feed again.

WATER WOODS AND GARDEN

The water of Loch Insh was very choppy last time we visited so we opted for a bowl of hot soup in the warmth of the cafe which must have one of the best views in the country.

The pictures can be enlarged by clicking on them.

Why is Greg smiling? he's thinking about the cream tea waiting at the end of this walkTree trunks displaying a variety of lichens and bark.

A pathway invites us into the forest.

Braving the cold at the top of the Cairngorm Mountains. Look at the threatening clouds.

Back in my garden my footprints leading to the bird feeder show up in the frost

Another view of the garden.

It's worth clicking on this shot to see how the ice crystals have built up on the chariot and horses statue and the mans helmet.

A SHORT BREAK IN GRANTOWN ON SPEY

Last winter we spent a few days in Grantown on Spey, below are some shots of the beautiful scenery of the area and also some of the birds and animals we captured.

For more detail click on photos.

Greg on the bank of the River Spey hoping to catch sight of a salmon.

The birch alder and willow trees in this shot prove that trees are still colourful in winter.
This house looks uninhabited, I wonder where the people went and why.
More winter colour .

Greg on an ornamental bridge on the Revack Estate, if you click on the shot you will see the lovely orange colour on the tree in the foreground.

A pair of Oystercatchers

A Lapwing with rainbow colours on his wing

A very proud looking Greylag Goose

This Red Deer stag seems to be keeping his females in order

A pair of obviously tired Mallards.

Talk about "hanging on by your finger tips" this cheeky chap was hogging the peanuts much to the disgust of the poor little chaffinch to the left.