April 11, 2011 - Trip to Selkirk

I dug up about 5 sapling trees (an ash, alder, beech, sycamore, and birch) from various places around the yard where they had begun to grow from seeds dropped from the adult trees and Matt transplanted them for the hedge. During the course of my work, I found out that stinging nettle is aptly named when I allowed it to touch my bare hands while digging up one of the saplings. It produces quite a burning itch (like poison ivy without the blisters)! Thankfully, I brought along some Jewelweed salve that works great on poison ivy and does a decent job on this as well. I'm hoping the effects of stinging nettle don't last as long as poison ivy though...

As it was raining, Jane decided we should go into Edinburgh to get some new glass panes for the greenhouse, because several were cracked or broken and she wanted Matt and I to replace them. So all 4 of us drove into Edinburgh and Roger gave us a "driving tour" of the city. Luckily the weather cleared on our way and it turned out to be a nice partly sunny day. After picking up the glass, Jane had us stop at an organic market for some rhubarb ginger jam (cost 4.25 pounds for a small jar; about $8...yikes!). After we got home, we ate lunch and tried the rhubarb jam...which turned out not to be rhubarb at all, but plum. Jane was terribly disappointed!

After lunch Roger, Matt, and I went on another field trip to Selkirk (about 40 miles south; check the map at the top of the blog if you want a visual idea) where Roger buys the organic eggs for the shop. It was a nice drive through the countryside where we saw lots more sheep and many lambs (unfortunately I couldn't get a good photo of the little ones). Along the way we stopped at Barony Castle in Eddleston. It was built in 1536 and is now a hotel. The trip took several hours and we returned about 5:30p.

When we got back, Jane was in her pottery studio so I got to watch her make a couple of porcelain tea pots. When she was done, we went over to a friend of hers to pick up some book shelves and a futon she was giving away because she was moving to Finland. I moved those inside when we got back and that completed the day. I imagine I will be working on the greenhouse and gardens again tomorrow if the weather holds (possibility of rain tomorrow too)...

Until tomorrow,
Karen

not so great view of Edinburgh and the sea from the mountains

sheep (we had to stop for them while they crossed the road)

Selkirk

Selkirk

baby lambs

Scottish countryside

more sheep and countryside

Barony Castle

Barony Castle