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Friday 22 May 2009

SkyWatch Friday, Camera Critters and Castles

To see more skies from around the globe or take part visit SkyWatch Friday!

Findhorn was all black clouds, rainbows and planes.

Can't remember what day (!) but this was sunrise from our window....I didn't feel like going to the bottom of the road in my jammies :o)

An ominous sky at Nairn yesterday.



And later at Burghead, we could see heavy showers all across the firth and over the hills....

....and moments later we experienced a similar full-on cloudburst which left us looking like drowned rats....and as for Mum....well let's just say it was scary!



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So yesterday I went to Auldearn to pick something up (have you tried your local Freecycle? We scored a leather armchair which the boy has claimed!) I took Rosie along for the ride. (yes, that IS the red blankie!)


Thought since we were out that way anyway we'd visit Cawdor Castle....it must be 25 years since I was last there!

Cawdor is such a pretty castle set in beautiful gardens. The car park is set among ancient towering Oak trees, we thought we'd walk round but we saw the dreaded no dogs sign, grr! The castle itself is surrounded by trees and unless you're willing to pay the £8 entry fee (which yesterday, alone, I was not) you will struggle to get a decent close-up photo.

There is also a golf course in the grounds and ponds, it's very tranquil here. I visited the gift shop and headed back to the car and Rosie. We saw lots of interesting things on the drive home and had to stop and take more photos....

These guys were in a field in the castle grounds, no idea what breed they are but check out their funny hats!

We stared at these Alpacas....they stared back! There were things made from their wool in the castle gift shop but they live on a nearby farm.

Near the Alpaca field we saw these cute little pansies growing wild.

Cawdor village has a pretty little church.

We went to say hello to these guys, but nothing.....they just sat with their noses in the air, like statues! Wonder what our giant friends Walter, Annie & Co would make of them?

On the way home we went to Nairn for a quick run on the beach....

Zoom zoom zoom.....

Our last stop on the way home was nearby Brodie Castle which has this old stone in it's driveway.

Mum is going to take the boy back there today, she'd never hear the end of it if she visited a castle without him and again, no dogs, though when Mum went to take this photo she saw a cheeky little Westie!

In the afternoon we went to grey Burghead for a very wet beach walk (see SkyWatch!)

We found another jelly....not as big but even more gross....looks like phlegm!
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Thank you for all still visiting us, we promise to reply to you all soon. Mum is busy trying to set up a website.....anyone know any decent free web builders? NOT Freewebs.com, it's driving her nuts!

26 sniffy tailwags:

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

What beaWOOtiful pikhs AGAIN!

Tank woo fur sharing them!

Happy Holiday Weekend!

I'm sure woo will have LOTS of Beaglerriffikh fun!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

Hamish Westie said...

Love the ominous sky pictures. We even had some thunder here in Aberdeen yesterday - a rare event.
Too bad they don't let dogs into Cawdor.
Cheers! H.

An English Shepherd said...

great looking pictures :-)

Wizz

Sue said...

Wonderful pictures, as usual. The stone is intriguing, I want to see if I can copy the design in cross stitch.

Lorenza said...

Those pictures make us feel serene!
Thanks for sharing them!
Good luck to your Mom with the web site!
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza

The Army of Four said...

Mom loves the pansies!!! Very pretty!
And the castles and the stone... so much history and so beautiful! But "no dogs"? How discriminatory!
Those sky pix were sooooo wonderful! I love those!
Did you like your special time with your mom, Rosie?!
Love,
Ammy

Dot O said...

Nicky, these are beautiful pictures!! Rosie looks comfy in the car too. I would love to visit that old church and cemetery.

Your sky photos are breathtaking....

You have a great weekend. Maybe I'll catch up with you some evening....

Stella said...

When you tour Cawdor (dogless), please take loads of pics. I know this name from somewhere but can't figure what to pin it to. Tell us who lived there and what happened to them.

All pics beauties!

Kisses,
Stella's Mom

Anonymous said...

Hi Beagles! Wow, a real castle! Too bad no dogs are allowed - I second that grrr...

See ya!
Joey

Joe Stains said...

omdog how cool, we never get to see CASTLES where we live, that is pawesome!!!

Miss Lizzy said...

Dear Beagles,
I think this was your best post EVER! (and that is saying something!!) Not sure if you know, but I study 18th-c. British history (finishing up a PhD). My people were really into visiting castles and parks and they were quite taken with "the gothic" (by which they meant medieval) and "ancient" customs, ruins, etc. Their attitudes were common & kind of a run up to the romantic movement of the late 18th-early 19th c. Of course Scotland was considered ground zero for the "gothic" castle & many people began to make tours of Scotland to visit them. I've read many letters that reference this stuff. So imagine my delight in seeing your pictures! Also loved seeing the Pictish stone -- looks like a Scandinavian rune stone. I loved that it was discovered in the 18th c. too! Your sky pictures were lovely & ALWAYS love the dog pics. We liked the one in the collage with Rosie's ears flying best! I don't know how old your boy is, but glad to hear that he would love to visit the castle! Have fun and have a great weekend!

Cinnamon and Mint said...

As we don't have any castles here in New Zealand, those photos of Cawdor Castle make me want to visit Britain! Wow, another big jellyfish! Jellyfish are a bit grotesque but also beautiful. Don't you think so?

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

Such an interesting place you live in - always so much to see and share - we always love visiting your blog.

Happy weekend, the OP Pack

The Oceanside Animals said...

Love the old church and graveyard! And the Pictish stone is very cool too!

Amber and Nala said...

Cool creatures you got to see! :) Have a super weekend!

Nala

TwoSpecialWires said...

We're off to dream about your castles.... it's like we were there. We will be in our dreams. It's wonderful

As always
Jake and Fergi

bagel said...

hey have you heard of www.weebly.com? Oscar and pals just created a new website from there. So u might want to try it out :)

Molly the Airedale said...

What a gorgeous castle and we love the zoomies along the beach!
Our sissy used geocities.com for her website!

Love ya lots,
Maggie and Mitch

Wimsey said...

I hate those "No Dogs" signs. Harrumph! We're probably better behaved than a lot of the two leggers. Oh well, beautiful pictures of you and the landscape around.

Mason Dixie said...

wonderful pictures. NO Dogs Allowed that is unheard of!! totally not fair at all. =)

Suzuki said...

Hi guys!
I'm just stopping by to let you know that Scooby & Lady have set a date fur their wedding. Stop by my blog to see how to RSVP if you would like to attend.
Big licks to you
Suzuki
xxx

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Jewels said...

LOVELY PICS! So much history you have! I'm jealous. It's settled. I'm definitely going to have to visit one day.

Arran, Arthur and Mum said...

Woah, scary looking skies. Funny how those humans don't like getting all soaking wet.
Beautiful piccures of Rosie and the wonderful things you visited. There be so much to see and do where you live. Makes us want to come visit!
~lickies, Ludo

Criquette said...

What a great post and such beautiful photos! When we visited Inverness we didn't quite make it over to Forres, we got as far east as Nairn (and Cawdor Castle!). If we ever get back to Scotland (and I really hope that we do), I'll be sure to visit your lovely area.

Raising Addie said...

Very cool post!

Thank you soooo very much for the very generous surprise gift!!!

You were sooo sweet to think of us!

Chasing my tale...
Addie, Lucie, and Hailey