This is the archive for the ‘sheep’ Category

Scotland

September 20th, 2019

It was a whirl wind tour of Scotland. Starting in Queesnferry so Bob could finally see one of his favorite bridges, the Forth Bridge, and a bus into Edinburgh to visit Dovecot Studio.

Image of Forth Bridge Image of Dovecot Tapestry Studio
Visit for each of us!

Then Skye—staying in Elgol for a boat trip and small hike to Loch Coruisk in the Cuillin Hills and in Dunvegan with hikes at Quiraing, and Neist Point.

Image of Quiraing Image of Neist Point
Hikes in Skye

After Skye, up the west coast staying at Inverkirkaig—hiked a bit—very windy—and found the most wonderful bookstore/cafe, then across the top to the ferry to Orkney.

Orkney: Ring of Brodgar at dusk, Skara Brae, the sun came out as we bought our tickets, sheep, wool and dye sheds, a tapestry gallery, a scotch distillery, and more wind. I love wind, but this wind could, under certain circumstances, drive one mad. For us, in our short time, it was part of the adventure.

Image of The Ring of Brodgar Image of Skara Brae
5000 year old Neolithic sites.

Ferry back and down the east coast and into Glendevon for a great dinner, another short hike and then the plane from Edinburgh. All I can say is WOW! Around every corner—more beautiful than the last—WOW, food and people—WOW, history, geology—WOW!

Image of Scottish Mountains Image of Heather
Beauty whether you look up or down

We had never been to Scotland and wanted to get an overview, seeing as much as possible in the two weeks we had. Bob did wonderfully driving on a different side of the road and on the many two way but one lane roads—with sheep on them! (There were signs.) He also researched and booked all our accommodations and to a one they were great! Three hotels and the rest B&Bs.

Image of Black Sheep Image of sign for sheep in road
Cattle grids in the roads kept the sheep in their area but not off the roads.
Some were very cheeky and would play “I dare you”…

We didn’t seek out castles but they were everywhere.

Image of Castle
Had to take at least one castle picture!

Didn’t hear a bagpipe but saw several guys in kilts. Stayed away from tourist sites as much as possible. Scotland is a very contemporary country and while I did want to see the Neolithic sites in Orkney I also wanted to experience Scotland today as much as possible in our short time.

Some how as I planned out our trip with post-its of where we would stay and what we wanted to see, I still thought we’d have time to hike every day and sit and sketch, and just feel where we were. Time doesn’t stretch that way so only a couple of quick sketches (one done in the car) and a few rather short hikes, but lots and lots of images and now that I’m home I wake up at 4:30-5:00 and hit the studio—so excited to download my brain into studies and paintings and spin the wool that I bought and just digest.

More sheep

July 14th, 2014

Always on the look out for sheep! Here are two I found in Finland.

I didn’t see live sheep but there was an island out in front of our cottage and there were sheep on it. We could hear them baa baaing in the evening.

Carving by Mikael Balt
Wooden sheep carved by Mikael Balt in the 17th century.
Raahe Museum, Raahe, Finland

Toy sheep
Riding toy in an abandoned school playground.
Lapaluoto, Finland

Some said this wasn’t a sheep, perhaps a duck or a horse, BUT, I think he looks like a sheep, so a sheep he is!

Henry Moore’s Sketchbook

July 20th, 2012

Working on sketching sheep for a project and remembered a book I haven’t looked at in years. “Henry Moore’s Sheep Sketchbook”. Dug out my copy and spent a rainy afternoon with an old friend and a cup of tea.

Henry Moore's Sketchbook

My copy with it’s dogeared cover.

Looked it up on line to see if it is still in print and discovered that it was reissued as a paperback. (Also found a video about the reissue.)

Sheep and Things

July 20th, 2012

Don’t know why I like sheep things but I do!

Carved sheep Carved sheep Metal 2 Headed sheep

Three images

These and more are on a sheep page I made earlier.