I set my alarm every morning for 6 a.m. It's full-on sunlight by then and the lighting is great for photographs. When I woke up at 6:00 this morning it was dreary, rainy, and cloudy just like yesterday. I reset my alarm and went back to sleep. I woke up again at 7:00 and it was sunny and beautiful! I should try that snooze trick more often.
I went on a mini-walk around the thriving metropolis of Hillswick...that is, before the cloud cover and wind set in. It was brief, but enjoyable.
After my walk, it was time to get ready for the day.
The Transition Shetland, a community event that promotes sustainability is going on this Sunday and we are in prep mode here getting ready for it. I've been tasked with making a bunch of baked goods. Which, in theory sounds like something I'd be totally capable of doing.
The only problem is, many of these things I have either never made before, never eaten before, or have never used grams, ounces, or pints as measuring methods.
I'm using an old cookbook that belonged to my host's grandmother. The recipies are fantastic. I made scones yesterday from it and today I was tasked with making a Bake Well Tart. Yeah,I had no idea what that was. Thankfully, I had a genearl knowledge of what a tart was supposed to look like, so that helped. Jan leaves me on my own to cook, so I just wing it. I get to work in this lovely old kitchen:
And this was the view out the kitchen window:
It makes doing the dishes, totally worthwhile.
I successfully completed my first tart ever and celebrated by splitting a mini version of it with Jan over a cup of tea. It was delicious. I am going to have to write down these recipes before I go.
After a nice long chat, we went to work in the garden. I planted lettuce and spinach in the politunnel and then went to work weeding out the beet root bed.
Everything was moving along brilliantly and then it happened. I had just scooted over on the ground to a new location and felt a sting on my arse. I didn't think much of it and it went away a few minutes later. But then I got poked by one of the weeds I was pulling and had the same stinging burn happen. Turns out, I was being stung by nettles. I had it happen 4 times before I gave up. I'll tackle the rest of it tomorrow with some garden gloves.
If it doesn't rain, anyway.
As we were wrapping up in the garden, they started swarming. Midges. They're like mosquitos, but so much worse. The sting itches a lot more and they are rapant here at certain times. I had about 15 on each arm at one point. Now I'm covered in tiny little red bug bite marks.
A huge storm is headed this way, we're told. Winds up to 50 mph. After the 92 mph winds I experienced in Omaha while trying to fly out to Scotland, I think I can handle it. Plus, I have a front row seat to watch the sea storming.
I'm really looking forward to the community event this weekend. Should be a blast.
I get Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday off to roam about the island, so I am trying to plan some last minute stuff to get a chance to see more of the island.
So here's to hoping that tomorrow I don't get stung by nettles or midged, as they say here!
Until then...
Location:Hillswick, Shetland
What exactly is a politunnel?
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