Benmore Botanic Gardens

Lovely day today - sunny and about 70F.  So I rode my bike to the gardens and took some pics.

A few more photos

Danny visited his old school in north London last weekend for a retirement party and to reconnect with old friends/colleagues.  Otherwise, nothing new.  Still thinking about where to go for my 60th birthday next winter.  Waiting to book our tickets to Michigan next May/June as it is still too far in advance to allow booking.  On the agenda is my niece's wedding, visiting with granddaughters and the rest of the family, and a trip to Sleeping Bear Dunes for a week. 

Down the loch before the rain - changed to b & w with a speck of red boat

Dahlia



One of the yachts from the Tall Ships - edited to b & w

Out front - tweeked a bit to make more vibrant

Tall Ships Races Greenock 2011

The 4th day of the event was the Red Arrows Airshow, the Parade of Ships and the fireworks.  Tall Ships Races Greenock

I took the ferry to Gourock and walked a short distance to a spot overlooking the Firth of Clyde where all the ships would pass.  It was chilly and cloudy for a couple of hours but then became sunny and very warm.  Photos are here:  Photos of the Tall Ships - Greenock and Gourock

brave windsurfer amongst so many ships

Red Arrows Airshow

A cruise ship happened to be amongst the racing ships

an overexposed shot - but I like the effect

Tall Ships, Flowers, Red squirrels...

The weather has been lovely for a few days - about 70F.  Saturday I attended opening day of the Tall Ships Races Greenock.   Greenock which is just across the water from us is hosting a 4 day stopover in this race.  Lots of events, entertainment, tours of the ships.  I got this photo on Saturday.  On Tuesday the ships go to their next destination so there is a parade of 57 ships with full sails.  I hope to get lots of good photos!

I happened to catch some photos of this red squirrel in our garden.  Red squirrels are an endangered species here.
                                                                                      

A walk in our garden....

Clematis

Clematis



Hydrangea



Finally a nice day!

Hit at least 70 today but felt warmer.  Sunny with a few fluffy clouds.  Danny and I hopped on our bikes and rode to Benmore Botanic Gardens.  About 12 miles round trip with a few hills.  Forecast for the next two days is the same. 

Church of Scotland, Strone

Benmore 'castle'

Redwoods

365 project

I've finished the month of June on my 365 project.  The theme for the month was gratitude and I participated the entire month.  June photos on 365

Here's a couple of them...



Foxgloves

Isles of Barra & Vatersay

Danny and I went to the Isle of Barra in the Outer Hebrides for a week.  I've created a separate travelogue.  Isle of Barra visit

My photo collection - Isles of Barra & Vatersay

A few of the photos...

Danny on a Vatersay beach

We spotted a pod of dolphins feeding

More things to be grateful for....

Going to an island on Sunday and staying for a week.  Will be very grateful if the weather doesn't totally suck the entire time! 

Continuing the 365 Project's June theme of gratitude.

Grateful for the flowers in our beautiful garden

Grateful for my books

Grateful for all the colours in our garden

Very grateful for this man, my husband

Grateful for music

What are you grateful for?

Gratitude has been suggested as a theme for the month of June on the 365 project.  Great idea, so I'm joining in for the month. 

Submissions so far of things I'm grateful for......

Clean Water

My equipment

Local scenery

Our home

Flowers & birds

Just finished my fourth month of the photo a day for a year project.  Weather promises to improve in a couple of days. 

This bully chased off the other birds to get the nuts

Baby Blue Tit - looks quite obese!