We found it (and other things)

Then we found them.

We've been searching for suitably shaggy and horned Heeland Coos (or Highland Cows) to photograph since we first saw them before we came over the pass to Ballater days ago. Apparently they had all gone south to avoid the terrible snow and sleet and rain that we were enjoying for our first few days up here in Scotland. BUT yesterday broke sunny and off we went exploring again and came upon these coos.

And happened upon this little herd of sheep....don't they look like little court jesters? And Faye thinks the one wants to know 'if this wool make me bum look big?'

We had spent the morning driving under blue skies which actually allowed us to see the tops of the mountains (highest about 3000 ft) for the very first time. It also relieved a touch of claustrophobia that I didn't even realize I was feeling after four days of 'low ceilings'. Our first stop was the Royal Lochnagar Distillery right next to Balmoral Castle. But alas and alack they were closed. After accidentally driving just a wee bit onto the Queen's Property (was that an official car driving towards us as we made our U-turn and escape?), we found our way to Tomintoul where I stood in front of a small fire while Faye shopped and Michael and Robin engaged themselves with whiskey (scotch) tasting. (Who would have suspected that they would prefer the most expensive bottles?)

We even followed up with a tour of the Glenfiddich distillery and more tasting.



We did get to photograph a couple of castles....though Michael thought this one, Corgarff Castle, looked more like a grain elevator than a castle.

So we found Kildrummy Castle which is clearly in need of significant repair but at least had a semblance of a turret. So we stopped for tea and sandwiches (at the hotel there not at the castle) before heading home. And we even got the older, craggy Scottish waitress to smile!

After arriving back at Craigendarroch, we split up. Michael to stroll into town, Robin to climb Craigendarroch, Faye to swim and steam and I to run on the treadmill....all of this in preparation for our Scottish Night dinner here at the lodge which was really great fun.

First of all, had it not been for one couple in their early 30's we would have been the youngest there - by far! But we got to hear a wee bit o' the pipes thanks to a nice chap named Ian who uses his grandfather's 100+ year old pipes and lots of Scottish folks songs thanks to Bruce Davies who it turns out has played many times in the States and many times at the Scottish games in Pleasanton (which is right next to Livermore where I used to work). He even wrote a song "sittin' in Santa Somewhere with a Californian red....' about being happy to be where(ever) he was in California but wishing he were home.

Anyway, potato leek soup was followed by haggis with potatoes and turnips, followed by stuffed chicken breast with hmmmmm potatoes and turnips, finished off with a black currant crumble tart (and I wouldn't be surprised if somewhere in the crust or the crumble there were potatoes hiding). But it was all very good - dare I even say the haggis which (unlike Michael's previous two attempts at haggis) was tasty and spicey like a Jimmy Dean breakfast sausage.

All in all a very good day. No doubt that the sunshine helped. Today the forecast is for rain again, but we've already been out walking (in some snow) but at least with clear blue skies again So I'll post more 'wildlife' photos shortly.