Wednesday 30 March 2016

Footprints in the Sand!

Well Hello there Everyone and welcome to my wee blog. I hope you are all well, but if not I hope that you will feel better soon.

I want to say hello and welcome to two new Followers, Wendy and Megan, thank you so much for visiting and choosing to follow, I hope you will pop in when you can and like what I make.  Aquarius and Lesley thank you too for your visit and comments and I will be over to see you all soon. Thanks to all my usual Followers for your kind comments too, I appreciate them all, and know it takes time to go through your lists, so ta very much.

What a day I've had!! It was such a lovely morning that we decided to go for a run, in the car, and have a wee walk, so off we went to Fortrose, Channory  Point and we were lucky enough to see three Dolphins. They are known to be at this spot, but I have rarely seen them.  They were puddling about, not giving it the high leaps but nevertheless my heart just sang at seeing them.  Of course I had no camera and not even my phone, which I left on the chair beside my insulin kit to pop in my bag, luckily I took the insulin. I go nowhere without my phone, don't feel dressed if I've not got it, a bit like not having my lippy and earrings on.  Anyway, I was kicking myself as I would have loved to show them to you.

Next, we went to Dingwall and Alistair took me for lunch, in no less a place that the Dingwall Auction and Mart. That man takes me to some wild places. There is a café there and it is fabulous, and today was really busy as there were sales on, the place was stuffed to the gunwales with farmers. What food though and really very reasonably prices and oh the home baking was to die for.
Having never been to a livestock market before, I thought I would like to see what it was all about. Well it's very noisy and smelly, I sat beside this elderly man who was obviously a farmer, I could tell by his dungarees, muck and big staff.  I asked him how he managed to understand the Auctioneer as he was talking at a 100 miles an hour in what appeared to be a foreign language.  Laughing, the farmer told me that you acquire an ear for it.  I then asked what was going to happen to the sheep next, off to be slaughtered he told me.  I must have gone all shades of green and then a little bit of tears let me down, as the song goes.  Oh I did feel a fool, it's not as if I don't eat meat, I have tried in the past to be a veggie, but it didn't work.  However, the farmer just patted my arm and gave me a there there sort of smile.  I was so glad I'd had my Black Pudding Roll before I went in.  What a hypocrite I am.

On the way home, I spied three Birds of Prey, I think there was a buzzard and a couple of falcons of some kind. I'm not that good at identifying birds.   So, It's been a great outing, but glad to get home and beat the huge hailstones, really cold as well now.

On to my card;
Some more Inkylicious loveliness. Once again the photo is pants, I hope you can read the sentiment. I'm loving making my own backgrounds but I need loads of practise.

That's me for today, I hope you enjoyed my long winded story and my make, I'll love you and leave you now and hope that you have a great evening and see you soon,



32 comments:

Erika said...

Kate your background looks fab and the sentiment is lovely.
It sounds as if you've had a lovely time out, I enjoy going to the mart and no matter how many times you see the dolphins it is always a magic occasion. It is one thing I could never tire of and one of the big benefits of living up here.

Hugs Erika. x

Chrissy said...

This is a beautiful scene Kate..love the sentiment too..

Luv CHRISSYxx

Sandma's Handmade Cards said...

Hi Kate. Yes, I did enjoy your story and it sounds like you've had a really lovely day. It must have been wonderful to see the Dolphins but it's so typical that you didnt have a camera when you needed one but you'll always have the precious memory. It seems very apt that your card should be about the sea and as you know, I always love a bit of Inkyliciousness. This is one of my favororite sentiments and I have used this stamp set so many times. It's great to hear how much you're enjoying your stamping and making your own backgrounds because that's what it's all about. you keep up the good work Kate :) X

Pen Sunshinepen said...

Evening kate just loved your blog today I walking with you all the way. We have buzzards here every day and when there are young about boy they are noisy. They nest usually across the fields from us.

Made me laugh about the market. Thank just what I needed.

Crafty hugs Pen x

Groovyquail.blogspot.co.uk

Pen Sunshinepen said...

Ps I should have said love the card. The words are just beautiful.

Xx

Sally H said...

What a lovely day, Kate! Dolphins, a buzzard and two falcons - great spotting! Your card is wonderful too. I love Deby's beach scenes and you have captured the mood beautifully. That sentiment is one of my favourites too. I love all things inkylicious :D . I was just wondering if you have seen my tutorials for ink dusters? There is a link to them on my blog if you are interested.

Tanya said...

Sounds like a lovely day was had Kate! Those auctioneers are something else!! Mad how anyone can follow.

Your card is gorgeous, I love the colours, you've done such a great job :)

Tanya xx

Marlene Atkinson said...

Wow this is gorgeous Kate, we must meet up sometime for coffee. Marlene

cotnob said...

A beautiful card Kate, such a lovely inked background.
How fabulous to see dolphins, it must be a wonderful sight.
Pauline
x

Hazel said...

Kate, your day sounds fantastic, oh I miss watching the Dolphins they would be playing in the sea in front of our old house. Living room up stairs so you could a great view. Oh I couldn't go to a cattle mart it would just make the thought of those animals off to slaughter house. Yes I to eat meat.
Your card us lovely with your crated back ground! I have that stamp and love it. Hazel X

Wendy L said...

Lovely card and sounds like a naturalistic day (Is that a word??)

xxxx

meg said...

What a fantastic day you had Kate I've had lunch at the Huntly mart, great home cooking and bakes like Dingwall.
Stunning card your background is perfect and the verse beautiful.

rachel said...

a really beautiful card Kate - it makes me hanker for a summer beach .... sounds like you had a wonderful day - the auction mart sounded interesting! Big hugs rachel x

Rainey's Craft Room said...

A beautiful scene Kate, these are a lovely brand of stamps, always so versatile and useful. I expect by now you are tired and getting ready for bed after your adventures of today - sounds like a fabulous day to me.
Lorraine

Anne said...

Sounds like a wonderful day Kate, I'm such a softie too when it comes to animals and I'm getting worse as I get older:(
Such a shame you didn't have your camera when you saw the dolphins but what a lovely treat for you all the same.
Beautiful card, love the calm scene you've created.
Anne x

MRS DUCK said...

Hi Kate
Wonderful card with its lovely beachy scene and beautiful words.
Ah, well, you should already know that anything involving men generally is noisy and smelly.......and as for the fellas "big staff", the less said about that the better.
It would take a fair bit to put me off the virtues of a bacon sandwich or a nice juicy bit of sirloin with not quite enough pink that a good vet could revive it but I can understand why you would be upset.
Best wishes.
Ang x

Ps......note for Alastair........somewhere a bit more romantic next time fella, not involving smelly men or animals about to become dinner.

pam said...

Love reading your post about your outing today Kate, sounds like you had a wonderful time.
Beautiful scene card, gorgeous stamping and background..
Pam x

Anet's Crafting said...

Hallo Kate, wow your card is just beautiful and I love the pretty background you created. Well done. Hugs Anet x

MaryH said...

What an adventure you had and so glad to hear you got some delicious goodies in addition to enjoying the frolicks of the dolphins. We always look for them when we visit at the DD's, as there is a pod of 3, that frequent the water in front of the house. The auction sounded like fun, and I'm glad you didn't get turned off from your food! Am loving this wonderful beachy scene that you've created. Fabulous effects on the water & dunes grasses, and love the addition of the flights of birds! Good job. TFS

Lena Misquitta said...

Good morning from Goa, Kate.
Lovely scene on your card. Soft colours too. Thank you for faithfully visiting my blog and your kind words of encouragement. Have a lovely day. Lena

Have A Scrap Happy Day said...

Hello, hello Kate. Oh, I love your seaside themed card. Makes me want to go to the beach. Have a wonderful day.

Marianne's Craftroom said...

What a lovely day out. I would have been the same with the farmer. Great sentiment on your card which I could read when I expanded the picture x

aussie aNNie said...

Lovely and so serene is this gorgeous creation and gorgeous colours...xx
 {aNNie}

Barb said...

A beautiful card Kate. It looks so peaceful and I love your background.

It sounds as if you had a wonderful day out. How wonderful to see the dolphins and what a shame you didn't have your phone. I enjoyed reading about your trip to the auction house. We used to have a farm opposite us and often saw the lorry arrive and the lambs leave for slaughter. It used to upset us both too although we're both meat eaters and lamb is my absolute favourite. Hearing the cows when their calves were taken from them did used to make me cry. On a happier note - enjoy your day. Barbxx

Unknown said...

What a beautiful creative card!
Lucy x

Cara said...

Glad you had a fun day out, and saw such amazing wildlife. Love the card, so serene. Cara x

Jenny L said...

Hi Kate,
what a very super and wonderfully designed card.
your work on this is excellent as usual.
I love it.
I would have been the same, and I am nearly a veggie as I don't eat very much meat only occasionally, and then only a very little amount.
I hate the thought of something going to be killed to eat.
I know it's the circle of life as they say, but it distresses me.
Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.

scrappymo! said...

Beautiful inky card, Kate. You have made such a pretty scene!

I grew up on a farm and never had to deal with the loss of our "pets" as it turned out that my Dad was such a softie he could never slaughter the livestock. We had a huge herd of Black Angus cattle and never did he send any away to the butcher!

Karen Petitt said...

I love dolphins! What a fabulous day out, I am very jealous. Another beautiful scene, have popped both of your Inkylicious cards onto my Pinterest board to inspired me, lol, need a bit of a kick in the mojo to get back to creating landscapes and sea or ocean views Karen xx

ellyscard creatief said...

Beautiful scene card.
Gr, Elly

Sue said...

It's a beautiful card, Kate, love the background you created and the sentiment.

The farmers market is not for me. My sister lives in the country and we went once, all those caged animals, some just babies being sold to be slaughtered.
I would have done the same thing you did..........

Hugs
Sue

Sandy said...

I am certainly glad I decided to spend some time with your this morning Kate. You card is really smart - calming and so well done. Seeing I live at the beach I should tell you that you have really captured the essence of how it feels.
I love reading what you write - love the language. Always ways of saying things that I have never heard before. Now what pray tell is a Black Pudding Roll. When you go out to lunch like that, do you have to make a dinner in the evening?
Fantastic post Kate - I enjoyed every second of it.
sandy xx