Scottish Weather, I mean, Scottish Weekend.

Hello! The wind is playing a tune on its whistle outside at the moment. There are low tones, high tones and poetic lulls and gusts.

The high winds are wonderful to listen to if you're tucked up inside, cosy and warm.

I went in to town earlier, and joined the other people battling the wind. Our faces were screwed up against the cold, and there were moments we were held in the grip of the wind, not able to take a single step.

I've just heard an ominous noise, and I can't bear to investigate.

I investigated something earlier. A loud crash. I found some of my lovely old ceramic  plant pots had been lifted off the window sill and thrown to the ground, smashing them.

We live on the border of Scotland, and you don't live in a place like this for the weather.

A couple of weeks ago, we went to Scotland for a long weekend, to celebrate my Mother-in-Law's seventieth Birthday. It was a family gathering, all paid for, very generously, by Alan and Susan, my Parents-in-Law. We had a wonderful time, everyone was very excited to be staying at Crieff Hydro. It's an amazing place, extremely family friendly, so the children had a ball going off to their various entertainments. It's the sort of place that families go back to year after year, and the children of the families take their families. Hugo's family went there when Hugo and his sister were children, and now my Sister-in-Law and her husband take their four children there. There's something wonderful about that don't you think?

Hugo and I like going to Scotland for a holiday, despite the variable weather. You just have to accept that it's probably going to rain, especially this time of year, and it doesn't bother us (much).

The Scottish landscape is more dramatic with great big thundery clouds racing across the skies!

Whilst we were there, we managed a couple of excursions. The one I'm going to mention is a place that is AMAZING.

The Scottish Crannog Centre. Link to its website here.

To see more amazing photos of Crannogs, go to this link.

A Crannog?

What is a Crannog, you may well ask. Well, to get a short, expert explanation of what a Crannog is, go to this link.

We got to go into the house on stilts you see in the photo above, which is a reconstruction of a Crannog, the remains of which are further up the Loch, and are being investigated by Archeologists (who work under water).

To think we were sitting on sheepskin covered benches in a reconstruction (but which felt like the real thing), of a Loch dwelling from the early Iron Age, FIVE THOUSAND YEARS ago! Amazing. I recommend a visit.

We were shown how the people of the time made fire (very hard work). The tour guides were excellent, making the whole place come alive.

I was drawn to the hand dyed, hand spun yarn on display in a basket.

Apparently a foreign visitor to the area, of the time, recorded that the people living in the area wore the most wonderful colourful clothes, but were very smelly.

I love places like this Crannog centre. There's a place about an hour-and-a-half drive from us, called Beamish. It's a superb living museum, and it's always a real treat to visit.

We did a lot of driving through dramatic rugged landscape that weekend.

It was so cold, that getting out of the car was a bit of an ordeal unless I was wrapped up in a coat, hat, scarf and gloves.

We did manage to catch a few rays of sunshine one lunch time. We parked beside a Loch, to sit and admire the view whilst eating our bread and cheese.

I wanted to take photos of my newly acquired GORGEOUS Rowan Fine Tweed yarn.

This is a new yarn by Rowan. It's beautiful 4-ply tweed deliciousness.

I'm using it to knit my striped diamonds.

I don't think you really get the feeling of just how cold I was in this photo above.

The idea was to take photos of each ball of my new Tweed yarn in different parts of the Scottish landscape, areas where the colours of the landscape were similar to the colours in my tweedy yarn.

I didn't get very far with that endeavor, it's uncomfortable to take photos of yarn in a rain soaked gale. There is also only so much help you can ask of a husband in these circumstances.

The weather did affect my photograph taking quite a bit on our mini break, it was bitterly cold, really very bitterly cold. But we still managed to have a WONDERFUL time!

It was in the week after returning from that little holiday, that everything kicked off with 'The Pig's Knickers' winning The Sheffield Children's Book Award (blog post about it here), which was very exciting, and you were all so lovely, sending me wonderful messages of congratulations, thank you so much. I was left some fantastic comments on my blog post about the publication of 'A Secret Worth Sharing' too (blog post about this here), and I want to give you a great big huge enormous thank you for that too. I'm sorry that those of you in America weren't able to access the iplayer link to CBeebies.

There was something else that made last week extra exciting too, and that was an article in our local newspaper about 'The Pig's Knickers'.

The article is excellent, Ian Smith, the jounalist who interviewed me, did a wonderful job, it's beautifully written.

(If you click on the photo above, it will appear larger, and you might be able to read it).

And just to end this blog post, a photograph of the author of The Pig's Knickers, Jonathan Emmett, wearing spotty knickers over his trousers, to accept the award.

You can visit Jonathan's fun website 'Scribble Street' here.

See you soon!

Vanessa xxx

Comments

[Sharon]

Hi Vanessa. What a lovely write up in the paper. I showed and read the article to Joe and Annaliese.They are most impressed. They are now prancing around the room in their knickers, they think this is highly entertaining!!!

[Liz in Missouri (with Lucy)]

Oh Gosh - I wish I could have trailed along on your trip to Scotland - all bundled up in woolies against the chill. It looks so beautiful.
That's a wonderful article in the paper - and I had to laugh out loud at Mr. Emmett's knickers! He must be just a load of fun to work with.

[Archie the wonder dog]

The weekend in Scotland looks wonderful, if a little wind blown! Wonderful article in the paper - congratulations! Oh, and I love his red spotty knickers!

[Carol]

Hi Vanessa, wonderful Scottish scenery. I love Scotland, spent several happy holidays there. Love the islands too especially Skye and Orkney. No nicer garden than Inverewe. Edinburgh is a favourite city, lived there for several months in the 60's.
The new yarn does indeed look gorgeous, great colour choice, love the photos with the scenery.
Those knickers are wonderful, every man should have a pair!
Carol xx

[Annie]

I love the shots you did get of the yarn in the landscape ... the ball on the fence post particularly. And what a lovely picture of you in the paper. Unsurprisingly you look really, really happy :D

[greenrabbitdesigns]

I love Scotland too, the scenery in your photos is beautiful as is your gorgeous new yarn!
Brilliant newspaper write-up and I do love his knickers. :)
Vivienne x

[Stephanie]

Dearest Vanessa!

Those yarn ball colours! So joyful and so Scottish. Goodness that first photograph alone made me feel very happy indeed. Thinking of you suffering in adverse weather conditions to make those photographs happen makes me think how far artists are willing to go for their art ;-) Poor Hugo's cold fingers clasping that camera though!

Scotland is fabulous and is has been far too long since I set foot there. I feel the same way about Brittany; a strong sense of folklore and stunning landscape. The Bretons are very dynamic too...

You look so pretty on that photograph in the article. Success is a potent feeling and you deserve every drop of success you get.

Happy Advent to you Vanessa!

ps Forget your diamonds! You should use your Rowan Tweed to make some multicoloured knickers to keep you warm on your next trip across the border!

[Heather L.]

What gorgeous photos!!!! Will put these places on my list for a future trip to Scotland......friends of ours like to go to Crieff Hydro too. Maybe we should check that out as well!

[Shannon Yeaton]

Thanks for the beautiful pictures, would love to go there!

Congratulations on your award, what an honor! You must be very proud.

[mlle paradis]

what an exciting post! and yes the beautiful pictures! stay warm!

[Teresa Kasner]

*C*O*N*G*R*A*T*U*L*A*T*I*O*N*S*!* Vanessa! I'm so impressed with your successes in all your books, let alone your sculptures and knitting. You are a true Renaissance woman! I'm proud to know you. And thank you for visiting my blog and leaving the wonderful comments. You rock!!
:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:
*M*E*R*R*Y* *C*H*R*I*S*T*M*A*S*!*
:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:
((hugs)), Teresa :-)

[Magic Cochin]

I so enjoyed reading this post and the newspaper article. I love all those soft muted colours - it was a great idea to take your lovely tweedy wool out into the Scottish landscape... and well done Hugo for being a good egg and taking the pictures!

Celia
x

[Alison]

Your scottish trip looks wonderful. We have a similar place near to where I live - see www.ancienttechnologycentre.co.uk, we go there to volunteer and helped to build the Viking longhouse. Places like this have a great atmosphere I think.
LOVED the knickers!

[Gracie]

Vanessa, I am celebrating with you! Thanks for sharing some of what you are enjoying and creating in your life and giving me links to be able to further explore to learn more. I am especially excited to discover your books and hope to purchase some to share with my grand boys and girls. <3

[claire]

hi Vanessa, i loved reading this post. it's morning here and my now 6yo is snuggled up on my knee, still in her pj's as the wind howls outside our house. we live in the usa but coming from scotland i loved seeing your beautiful pictures and words about the weather. i remember crieff hydro from when we were kids, it was such a fun place for kids to be! anyway, my daughter and i had a lovely time reading that post and then we kept reading down your blog...seems she likes your blog as much as I do! congratulations on the paper article too.

[Alessandra]

Love your yarn and The scottish landscape!!!
I must find a pair of red knickers with polka dots for my hubby to wear at the New Year party!!!
love,xxx

[Lynne]

It's blowing a gale here at the moment. I'm staying inside nursing a cold while Mike walks the dogs in the wind and the rain, brrr. Your images of Scotland look great tho'. I love Beamish too.
I bought the Pig's Knickers while I was away for a friends great niece. I thought it would make a great present for her. I loved the book. But I forgot to take a photo of it. I've just mentioned it on my blog. Love the illustrations. I'm just sorry I missed Mole being read. We were out celebrating an 18 year old's birthday at the time.

[lori]

oh my goodness, you! your sucess, your trip to scotland, that wool. if i weren't so happy for adorable you, i would be green with envy. i MUST go to scotland (i am a graham now)someday, and i WILL buy some of that rowan wool, it is seriously gorgeous. my favorite type of fiber, the organic, rustic feel, so natural. love the colors you chose too.
and ah, yes, what things we put ourselves through for photos, hee hee. my husband is pretty good, being a photographer himself, but still, sometimes he doesn't understand my vision!
congratulations dear girl, i'm off to read the article now. (and stare some more at your diamond blanket...)
xxx