LOCAL ABUNDANCE

Louise, Anne, Maggie and I had a wonderful Ladies Who Lunch get-together today. Ann was chauffeusse and drove us to Braidwoods in Ayrshire. Oh my, what a lovely, serene, discreet luncheon venue! As I was disinclined to snap photos of the white table cloth which held sparkling cyrstal and a glass vase of fresh freesia sprigs, the website reference will have to do here.

It is owned and run by husband and wife, Keith and Nicola Braidwood, and is One Star Michelin rated. It has been like this for a while and I can see why. Spotless in decor and on the utilitarian side, flawless in service and, last but not least, the food said it all - 10 out 10! They use local ingredients of which there are many in Ayrshire and the outer reaches of Scotland. We quaffed a bottle of Chilean Carmeniere and drove home happy, resolved to do this sort of thing again!

Meanwhile back at the ranch, these photos give a little of the local scenery.

There are roadworks going on along the link road to Loch Lomond. While sitting in the queque the other day I watched the sun setting on this farm on the brae. Glen Fruin is behind, to the north.

David Deans drives his fish van all the way from the east coast every Thursday. We are therefore doubly served in Helensburgh both with his mobile service and the local fish shop.

However, what tends to happen on Thursdays is that the various neighbours emerge, especially if it has been foul weather, and congregate at the van. Here is Barbara, from upstairs, getting fish from David's son who was 'helping' his dad today.

FOLLOWING THE LIGHT

I set off about 3:30 pm on a 10 minute drive to Loch Lomond to see if I could catch the last of the afternoon light. And catch it I did. As usual a small cloud came and went as I sauntered along the shore at Luss trying to keep my eye on where the sun's rays were falling.

This is the last of the sunlight on the shore of Loch Lomond. Ben Lomond was sparkling white with snow and as the sun went low in the sky the bright snow went into shadow as I stood there.

But look what caught my eye! They were quite far out but I had a go with the telephoto lens. Quite lovely!

And here is the very, very last of the light falling on the left-hand sea gull. His mates are hunkering down for the rest of the evening, by the looks of things.

The light had gone by now, but none-the-less this female mallard seemed good material to do a Photoshop 'cut-out'.

DIGI ON THE DOOR-STEP

Another dump of snow today which was quickly followed by brilliant sunshine and melting temperatures. It makes for good fun with the digi camera. It is amazing what is outside one's front door!

THE CAT IN THE HAT

This Google logo appeared this morning. Old friends, indeed! These are Dr Suess (as in Mother 'Goose') characters from the 1950's onwards.
They are there because: Theodor Seuss Geisel, born 105 years ago (March 2, 1904 in USA - died 1991), was an American writer and cartoonist, most widely known for his children's books written under his pen name, Dr. Seuss.


In 1954 Life magazine published a report on illiteracy among school children which concluded that children were not learning to read because their books were boring.

Dr. Seuss responded to this challenge. His publisher made up a list of 348 words he felt were important and asked Geisel to cut the list to 250 words and write a book using only those words. Nine months later (1957) he produced The Cat in the Hat. The book used 213 of the words from this list plus another 13 which did not.


This book was a tour de force. It retained the drawing style, verse rhythms and all the imaginative power of his earlier works, but because of its simplified vocabulary, could be read by beginner readers.

The instant success of the book prompted Geisel and his wife to found Beginner Books e.g. Hop on Pop, Fox in Socks. In all, he published over 60 children's books.