Almost spring

The weather during February was glorious - even warm enough some days to explore and go on picnics. The jonquils, crocus, & snowdrops were coming into bloom. In Minnesota the snow would be up to our whatever, and it would still be bone chilling cold. But in Polbain there was a promise of Spring. We picnicked in the shadow of Ardvreck Castle in Loch Assynt, drove up the Wee Mad Road to Drumbeg and stopped in the pub (where the publican, MacKay, bought us a pint) and then gloried in the beauty of the drive home. The woods were full of spring flowers - like a Persian carpet.

Another day we drove up to Tain - a lovely old town made a Royal Burgh in 1066 - and then to Nigg where they were building a huge oil rig. That whole area was suffering from the closing of the smelter at Invergordon and the shops and pubs were worried about economic slowdown.

Jack was going out with our neighbor to work the prawn creels and we were having fantastic meals. They were catching quite a few spiny lobsters - little critters that were hard to clean and had no real commercial value. But sauteed in garlic butter or cooked in wine and cream they were delicious! I think we've been spoiled for life with the wonderful, fresh seafood we ate there in such abundance. Now we're about as far from the sea as you can get - and I still miss it!