Wood, Wool and Walking by the sea

The Assynt Festival held Wood and Wool demonstrations in Lochinver Village Hall this week. It was excellent. Spinning and combing and carding at one end of the hall  chopping and carving and drilling at the other. I may never make that green wood three legged stool or process fleece into yarn and knit something amazing  but it was impossible not to be caught up in the enthusiasm and joy that the wood worker and spinners alike had for their craft. The wooden buttons, so beautifully made were the first attempt by a lady who had only recently begun to spin wool. Her knitted bag in basket stitch was a delight. They gave their time so freely and somehow we came home at the end of the day feeling better for it.

Just Rubbish

Loch an Obain lies in the heart of a National Nature Reserve. Scottish National Heritage promotes its care and improvement. It's stunning and beautiful. Loch an Obain couldn't be described as a beach exactly. It has difficult access involving scrambling down a steep slope often waist high in bracken and rushes and rough and boggy underfoot. I didn't go to take photos of rubbish but the more we followed the strandline along the shore the more abandoned boxes, floats, fishing nets, rope and plastic containers we found. All of it classed as fishing litter from trawlers and boats. I don't hold Scottish Natural Heritage responsible for cleaning up this mess. The wriggly coast line of north west Scotland with its hidden coves and lochens often miles off the beaten track with little or no easy access by foot is almost impossible to keep tidy and debris free. But I can hold Kellybegs Seafoods Ltd in Co. Donegal in Ireland responsible for dropping their fish box overboard, even if by accident.  It took determination and effort to drag it from the shore back to the car. No Unauthorised Use it says on the side of the box. Quite right, it shouldn't have been there, washed up on this beautiful bit of coast line. I authorised myself to take it home and use it for putting things in. The following day I went with a friend to Ullapool to help with a beach survey and clean. I learnt about littoralartproject.com. and The Marine Conservation Society - working towards clean seas and beaches. If people care they will get involved.
We want to go back to Loch an Obain. but we think to clean up round the loch we will need a boat. A challenge certainly!

Move Over.....

...the wind turbines are coming. A drive to Inverness these day is hardly complete without being flagged down by an approaching police vehicle and told to pull over and wait for the wide load that is coming through. We wait and soon an enormous piece of wind turbine comes by towering overhead and very, very long. We can't imagine there would be a lorry long enough to carry it as it keeps on driving past. Finally it goes by, and just as we get ready to breath out another one follows close behind. This is where they are going. 

An Ordinary Day

Off down the lane to post a letter. The weather came and went along the way.
Rachel of Slow Lane Life ll has lost her blog enthusiasm. I do totally understand how she feels. I generally enjoy 'doing' my blog but, at times, like Rachel, even though I have things to blog about I just don't seem to be able to get it together. I've been thinking about blogs I like to read. It's often the simple ones, almost understated, that capture a time, a day, a moment with photos and pictures leaving me wanting  more.
Meanwhile today has just been ordinary. The walk down the lane to the post box and back is about six miles,  During that time we had all sorts of weather with intense sunlight in between.
Dear Rachel, I remember a logo I saw once on someone's blog. B.W.O  (blogging without obligation)
It's hard to follow but I think it's sound advice. After all blogging is just a hobby. I think you should enjoy a blogging break, have a nice cup of tea, and maybe from time to time you'll 'pop' back to blogging land.. Like everybody else, I enjoy your blog and I would miss you if you didn't come back!