See what the wind blew in......

A couple of days ago, we were out on the croft when we spotted something red under a rock. It turned out to be a partially inflated balloon originating from Demiro's Mediterranean Restaurant, Cardigan Bay. We rescued the balloon which managed to deflate more before I took the photo, and e-mailed the restaurant in question who were very surprised to hear where it had ended up! We have an invite to join them for champagne next time we are passing Cardiff Bay. As we've had constant southerly winds for a couple of weeks now and I guess the balloon escaped and floated up here. If only it could speak, I bet it could tell an exciting story of its travels.

Around about the same time, my husband came in with a yellow plastic tag he had found on the shore. This had belonged to a lobster that was taking part in a research project but sadly the lobster was no longer attached. On one side of the tag was written "DFO LOBSTER NL" and the other had the serial number as per the photo. When we looked on the internet at lobster research programmes, we found that NL showed it originated in Newfoundland! I have e-mailed the DFO in Canada and they are trying to find out more details for us.

So all in all its been a week of interesting things finding us instead of the other way round. But it is so good to think that we are all networked together not only be the internet, but by the winds, and oceans etc. Food for thought.......

On the knitting, weaving, spinning front, things have been a bit slow as we have the builders working at home and the loomshed is really cold, what with the frosty weather etc., so I have designed and knitted a jolly little shrug-type garment out of my handspun Carloway Tweedy yarn, and with a handspun white Wensleydale border crocheted round the edge and armholes. It's in the final stages of being partially felted just now - so pictures tomorrow. Have started another one already for the Etsy shop as the one I have fits beautifully and is incredibly warm.

The SassyGael knitting evenings get going this Thursday evening at Tarbert Community Centre, Isle of Harris between 7 and 9 pm. This week Joan from Calanacrafts has a prior engagement so I shall be holding the fort. A great place to come to knit, crochet, sew, or do whatever handcraft that floats your boat - and all for £3.00 per person including a cup of tea and biccie. Beginners and experts in all fields welcome.

Otters, Lobsters, Free-Range Eggs and Hen of the Day!

Yesterday I was in Leverburgh, south of Scalpay, to pick up a gift I had commissioned from a friend - Abi Stubbings - who was one of our regular stallholders at the SassyGael Craft Fairs in 2008. She did a fabulous painting of an otter on reclaimed wood which I thought was an ideal gift for a friend who lives near the seashore opposite a small island where otters regularly parade around. When I saw it, I was completely entranced - it is just amazing. In fact, I nearly kept it for myself. Our little creel boat is called the "Sea Otter", so I guess it is just a matter of time till I order another copy for our porch.....

Although, of course, we already have some of Abi's previous work. Because my husband catches lobsters for a living Abi painted a lobster for us. Though I'm sure she would have even if he wasn't a lobster fisherman!

These paintings are really special and Abi specialises in things marine - crustacea, birds, etc. Her oystercatchers on table lampshades are well worth having. If you are interested in getting in touch with Abi, just contact me.

Now here's a picture which shows a degree of optimism for the future season! Five eggs, all laid on the same day - wow. Think the lighter evenings and mornings are having a good effect on the hens, so we will soon be back supplying the tastiest, freshest, most free-range eggs at the Outend, Isle of Scalpay.

Hen of the day today isn't really a hen - she's a guinea fowl. We have seven of them and they make great guard poultry. They lay small speckled brown eggs with very tough shells. Though they can fly extremely well they stay around and about the croft and don't wander far. The dog enjoys nothing better than rounding them up and keeping them together while she moves them up and down outside the house. They co-operate for a while but when they are fed up with the game they fly over the fence or go up on top of the turkey shed where they screech loudly. Our youngest guinea fowl was hatched by a miniature nankin bantam and though it is about five months old and twice the size of its foster-mum, still thinks its a chicken!