Tuesday 11 September 2012

Out of the Sheiling


I sit here, listening to the gale blowing outside, and hearing the occasional rattle of hailstones on the window pane.  The morning sky has been punctuated with rainbows as the clouds have raced across the sky, reminding me that I do, in fact, live on an island in the North Atlantic, and not the Carribean.



Indeed, the Summer here has been glorious - warm and dry - hot even! For weeks on end, we listened to the despair of those on the mainland, as the torrential rain poured down on them, while we basked in the much coveted rays. Fires raged for several days in the Castle grounds, we were advised to 'use water wisely". On a visit to family in Edinburgh, James and I sat with our suntanned faces glowing among the pale skins of the others! We had to spend time watering our crops - not a chore we are accustomed to here. We often forgot to take coats and jackets with us when we went out. The sunshine seemed endless and every day was a bonus. It was all rather surreal and astonishing.




But now it is over, and  the Summer has finally given way to Autumn. The wind has a chill to it, and the evenings darken earlier.  Time to drawn in - to begin to harvest the work of those balmy Summer days.  I had a wonderful time in my "Shieling"- productive, fulfilling and refreshing.  I have indeed, made cheese, listened to stories, sang songs, knitted and spun, but I have also reconnected with myself, found new interests and friends, and learned - oh so much.  I hope to share some of this with you as we begin the long exhale towards Midwinter. ♥

48 comments:

  1. Loving that rainbow! If anyone can make the most of the walk towards Winter, it is you ;-)
    Love, v

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  2. Welcome back! It sounds like your summer has been every bit as freeing and beautiful as you had hoped. I'm looking forward to sharing autumn with you...putting on the kettle now :-)

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  3. Lovely post - good to have you back.
    Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

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  4. Welcome back to this space Jacqui, I have missed you!
    It is nice to hear your summer was a good one, even if
    you had to water [something I know well]. I hope James is
    well and enjoying school and life continues to shine
    happiness on you.

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  5. Thank you - I have missed the conversation with you all xx

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  6. So wonderful to have you back! As you can see, you have been greatly missed! Hope all is well with you!

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  7. Such a beautiful sky you have there. I'm looking forward to all that you have to share from your shieling!

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  8. we also have felt the shift from summer ( HOT, HOT and very dangerously dry here in Ontario) to cold nights and warmth during only the mid point of the day. the hens lay less eggs. I am comforted by this progression as I look forward to some inside quiet time to nestle and go inward.

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  9. Anonymous11/9/12 16:11

    Yippee, you're back! :) A beautiful post, and aren't you lucky to have had a summer! Looking forward to reading more from you. Love, Tina xx

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  10. Good to hear you have enjoyed a lovely Summer, it's been good down with us too - hot and sunny most of the summer; it must have been all the land between your island home and our south coast home that endured the wet!

    Look forward to reading more, and seeing all those lovely things you have been doing x

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  11. So exciting to hear your thoughts! It's a beautiful time of year, this turning inwards. :)

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  12. Nice to have you back, when it was just photos it took an age to download! Now your words are there, celebrations all round.

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    1. Oh sorry about that - I have wondered if my photos were too big.

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  13. What a nice post:) ~ I also enjoyed the story about the Shieling. We all need to to step back a pace or two and learn to listen. Have a wonderful day!

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  14. Lovely to see you again! The nights here are getting dark so quickly, I'd forgotten how quickly winter looms in Scotland after more than two years of perpetual Summer! I'm looking forward to lots of wintery things!

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  15. what a wonderful thing to do over the summer. I'm glad you found it restorative.

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  16. Yay, you are back!!! Lovely post!

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  17. Oh thank you all for your lovely welcome home :) Xx

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  18. Welcome back. As you head into Autumn we are beginning spring (or we were) there has been snow even in the North Island and it is 6 degrees C. here at present.

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  19. Hi Jacqui! Greetings from California! I found your blog right as summer began, and I am so glad you're receiving comments again. I really respect the fact that you closed comments for that period - a time of introspection and tuning in - and like you, look forward to Autumn and all that She brings.

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    1. hello Gail - thanks for popping back. The Summer was so busy and even more so with the great weather. It will be nice to catch up with eveyone again now. xx

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  20. What a lovely post, looking forward to sharing Autumn with you here :) x

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  21. Lovely to have you back. Missed talking to you. These times spent on your "own" so to speak, can be so rewarding. Look forward to hearing more about it.We are looking towards a very hot, dry summer so in the mean time I plan to enjoy my spring.

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  22. welcome back, can yopu send the name of the harris tweed company where you got your curtains in an earlier blog, great stuff

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    1. Hi -thenk you. you'll find it on the links page of my blog

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  23. lovely to have you back. Welcome to a new season and your last picture is gorgeous.

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  24. Welcome back, I missed your stories of your life on your special island. Glad your summer was a real summer. Only hoping we get a real summer here on my island in the roaring 40's. Take care!

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  25. Lovely rainbow! Think you had our sun as well, we have had so much rain this summer!

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  26. Thank you all again, it lovely to be back xx

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  27. What a wonderful way to wake up, to see a firm friend fully back in this space. Sounds like a glorious summer, I think you were owed that ;) and spinning...Yay!!!!!

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    1. Lovely message to read Claire - thank you xx

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  28. So lovely to have you back again. I've loved sharing your summer with you xxx

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  29. Lovely seeing you back again Jacqui, seems like you have had a marvellous break, can't wait to see what you've been up to xx

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  30. So glad to have you back - missed your summer posts xx

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  31. Lovely that you have had a great break! May you be renewed and refreshed!

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  32. Lovely pictures. Welcome back.

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  33. Thank you all - you are so gracious. It is nice to be back. Hoping to catch up with everyone in the next few days xx

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  34. Glad you're back! We are on the move again, but this time we are coming back home to Scotland....only six weeks to go and am I ready? Noooooo.

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    Replies
    1. WOw Kelly - will those orphan lambs be coming with you? And I never knew you were a compatriot ;-)

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  35. So good to have you back. I hope your summer was everything you needed it to be.

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  36. Welcome "back"! Glad you had such a lovely summer in so many ways!!

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  37. Hi, welcome back - looks like you had a lovely summer! I've been watching the weather forecasts wishing I still lived up near Skye - the weather has been sooooo much better than the soggy Welsh/English borders : )

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  38. Anonymous18/9/12 18:32

    Lovely to see your words as well as photos, and to resume the conversation. Would you believe it, this is the first summer in 16 years we haven't gone to the West Coast? The one summer we would have been guaranteed lovely warm, weather. It's been pretty rainy and dreich here in Aberdeen but nevermind. Fall is in the air now anyway.

    I'm looking forward to hearing all about what you've been up to. xox

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  39. Well hello again. I'm so glad your summer has been beautiful inside and out and I do so look forward to the exhale towards winter with inspiration here and a growing love for it myself. Love and light X

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Many thanks for visiting me. I love to read your thoughts and appreciate each one. I will respond to comments and queries here, so please check back xx

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