All change.

On the left is the transformed breakfast/dining room. On the right - how it was. I had a collection of African masks hanging on the walls. But after a while you get fed up of the same conversation, with different guests, about "When did you go to Africa?" In fact most of the masks came from Birmingham, England! So I decided it was time to change. A friend of ours, Allan Akers, is a professional photographer. We have on the left the stone circle at Aikey Brae, Slains Castle in the middle, and Rattray Head lighthouse and sand dunes, on the right. All within easy distance from Greenbrae. So now we can speak of the beauties of Buchan instead of Botswana.

'Gordon' the hairy headed statue has now been removed!

Slains Castle

A ruined castle on the edge of the sea.
I feel quite a lot of empathy with Slains after a very busy week. To have all rooms full is quite something in February. We now have the weekend 'off' to prepare for next week. And next week is March, cannot believe it.
The drive way is full of snowdrops and green shoots everywhere showing daffodills are on their way. March is also the month I become a pensioner.....

Do they....?

Do classes for new Grandmas?

I dont do mornings.

The dining room ready for breakfast. Fortunately for me Mike does the morning shift. I find it difficult to be all smiley and chatty first thing, it takes me a while to get going.
After my last blog it did snow and never stopped for days.. We had to take one lot of guests to the chip shop as their vehicle couldnt cope. But now it is warmer and thawing. Snowdrops everywhere. Nearly Spring.

In the deep midwinter...

...earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone.
Minus 10 degrees this morning. Never known it so cold, but, on the plus side there is no wind, so unless you venture outside - and I have no reason to!
The picture shows a blizzard or what is called a white out and our drive way. From this angle you would normally be able to see the village. We havent had any more snow since Saturday. As they say, "Its too cold to snow"!
We have guests booked in all week and all rooms are prepared. So its just a question of finding something to do where I can be warm. Ironing or baking. But then I could just sit by the fire in the snug and watch the masses of birds coming to feed.

Dont get out much anymore...

Last night Mike and I went to the 30th Birthday Party of the Waterside Inn.

At 4p.m. the radio said "No more snow in the country." Not sure which country they were referring to, though I dont think Scotland has as yet declared independence.

So as it takes me a lot longer than it used to I began to get ready. Make up on, then off, too much for a nearly 60 year old. More muted make up on, curly hair straightened with the latest instruments of torture, trousers swapped for skirt, finally found tights, boots with no heel - last time I wore heels I had to be propped up in a corner as I kept falling over - I was finally ready at 7.45.

Outside there was a blizzard.

To the cries of "Havent seen you for ages!" we joined friends and made more. Listened to a very good live band. Had some delicious food.

Realised it was still snowing, so came home. Felt like Cinderella.

Make up off, clothes in the laundry basket, boots back in the wardrobe.

Fleecy pyjamas, and in bed by ten.

Finally arrived.

The snow has been dumping on England - for a change.

Where everything came to a standstill.

It finally arrived here in the North East of Scotland, and is still snowing.

Our hens have refused to come out of their hut, and there are fifty starlings lined up along the run waiting their opportunity to pinch the hens food. Our many bird feeding stations are all far busier than any rail station or airport, which I gather are closed. We have a guest booked in tonight from Inverness. Not sure he will make it. For the time being I am having a lazy morning, my runway to the ironing temporarily closed - due to snow! Watching it far more fun.

Down off the ladder.

Bedroom all finished. As the rooms here are quite large I papered the whole room with the patterned paper. It helped that the rolls had been reduced to £5 each! The ensuite has the same pattern, but in pink, whereas the bedroom is mocha.