Castles and Bronte' Country

We have visited some Castles here in Scotland which we would like to show you :

The first is Craigievar Castle (Forbes Family), Aberdeenshire. The castle was built in about 1580 with the top part, above the corbelled section built around 1627.

 A view of the Aberdeenshire countryside from Craigievar Castle.

 Crathes Castle (Burnett family) near Craigievar Caste took 40 years to build and  completed around 1619

 View from the castle onto the amazing Yew Hedge planted in 1720. Behind the hedge is the spectacular garden organised into different "Rooms" and themes. Some of which are shown below :

 Chris & Paula with Mary Borley

Spynie Palace was the Seat of the Bishop of Moray and was used by succeeding Bishops for 500 years. it is just outside Elgin. Built in the 12th Century

. It 

 This is a reconstruction how it looked

 I went down to Yorkshire to attend the Funeral of my Uncle and took the opportunity to visit the Yorkshire Dales and to visit the most famous Parsonage in the world.

 The cobbled street leading up to the Parsonage. It is very 'touristy' with masses of people.

 The Bronte' Parsonage. Home to Revd. Bronte's and his 3 surviving Daughters

 Parlour

 Drawing Room

 Kitchen

 Emily, Charlotte and Ann Bronte' authors of Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, The tenant of Wildfell Hall.

Paula is the proud owner of Ollie and Titch (Titch is a massive 17.1 Hands high). They have been bosom buddies and used to live on the coast in Banff. They are both 19 years old. Happiness.

The neighbouring Farmer is busy harvesting an excellent crop of Barley. Only the best Barley goes into Whisky. This Summer was a bountiful one - the best in 10 years, we are told. Glorious.

The local Church, St Margaret of Scotland, Aberlour was bedecked for a (rare) Wedding recently.

 Font

Tower construction speeded up

Some of the stone walls were cleaned of old plaster and replastered using a lime Harling method which was used 150 years ago. Here are three pictures of the three phase process.

Most of the rest of the pictures that follow are of the stair Tower  we planned to bind the existing buildings together. Starting with Week 1.

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

We used the large slate flagstones in the tower entrance. Building Contractor boss, Russell Anderson, who usually so busy organising his large workforce and running around buying all the building materials needed. Here is an unusual picture of Russell (on the right) helping grout the slates.

Week 8

Week 9

Now for the Gardeners - Paula has left this garden wall full of plants.

An Albino Pheasant - it sits in grass like the normal pheasant, but doesn't know it is so obvious. We think it is sitting on eggs now.

We have some nice old Horse Chestnut trees . They are in flower now.

I know I have shown this Rhododendron last season, but felt that the picture did not show it's size so I have asked Paula to stand in it!

We are lucky to have a little wood. This area rings out in Summer with bird song. Lovely.

Laburnum in flower

Walking on the hillside behind us (Ben Aigen) one gets glimpses of the wide and beautiful Spey Valley looking North towards the sea (about 20 miles away)

We went to a great Rococo musical evening at Foulis Castle which is near Evanton - about 20 miles North of Inverness. A goodly trip for one evening, but we did enjoy it!

A Sermon at -3 degrees Centigrade

We are pleased to see so many Snowdrop and Daffodil bulbs coming up all over the garden. They have been quietly doing their own thing over the last few decades.

Paula gardening in Winter in the front of the house blissfully unaware of being photographed.

The Living Room is close to completion. The Library is through the far door.

This is the view of the first floor passage with the main bedroom beyond

The building team cast this little plaque commemorating the renovation

The tower foundation has been dug and the foundation has been cast. Note the first floor plank joining the two buildings - one must not look down!

I bet you thought that sheep are stupid. Here is a picture taken from my mobile just before it got dark. These sheep clearly devise different formations for their own amusement! Okay, there might be another reason.

The tree pictures above were taken about 20 miles from us. There was no snow around us so it was s surprise to run into such a change. The area is quite barren and higher up, but still it is amazing. The lower picture of a small loch (lake) shows that this area has not really melted yet.

These two pictures were taken at WorldHorseWelfare, the International horse welfare organisation that Paula supports. She is hoping to rehome a horse from them. They have 3 farms around Britain and rescue horses in distress. Established in 1929, originally as International League for the Protection of Horses. The Cart Horse Society in Elsies River, Cape Town is part of their reach.

These pictures of the seals were taken at Portgordon on the North East coast. The town cherishes the seals.

I 

I attend St Margaret's Episcopal Church in the next town, Aberlour. It's a lovely stone built Church. Whilst it is heated in Winter, but I guess that the temperature can plunge a little, hence my comment about listening to a Sermon at -3 degrees Centigrade. My view is that if the Scots can do it, then I can do it!