St Andrews day in Abernethy.

Last year after the severe snowstorm the village was cut off for almost two weeks. We were the village the council forgot. Today, one of the villagers brought in his own diggers , one a mini type, and is still busy clearing pavements and trying to make the narrow, steep streets more accessible.

It could have been a lot worse. We've had none of the winds that were forecast so there has been no drifting.

November snow.

It's still a bit early for us to be having so much snow, although much of north east Scotland and North east England have had substantial falls for a week now. This morning I was awakened by a very loud banging (I thought it was a bomb!) and a light flashing through a chink in the curtains. It continued at intervals for several hours and turned out to be a thunderstorm...in a snowstorm and must have been overhead, going by the noise....extremely bizarre.

I had been contemplating going to a show at Lanark today but did know that the forecast was for snow. It is almost as deep, but not quite ....YET...as last year., and it is snowing very heavily again.......Maybe we will get a sudden thaw! (I can dream).

Our back garden before daylight this morning.

Most of the dogs loved it, especially the two young ones.

It snowed heavily for a good few hours so all thoughts of going anywhere in the car (this is a neighbour's) were soon discarded.

In the afternoon it faired up for a time and the old "wartime spirit" came alive and our short cul-de-sac was cleared.....but are the other roads in the village, especially the brae? Oh no, it's snowing again!

Roley and Maisie clocked up a few miles with their racing around in the snow, while it was falling.

..although Roley was not too happy about this snowball which had collected on his foreleg.

This was the back garden during a break in the snow.

Spencer preferred to curl up on the sofa and ignore the weather.

Who needs a fancy bed?

What could be better than an elevated position in the sun for a wee snooze out of the way of those two annoying younger siblings?

Just perfect....

..for me and my shadow!

A bit of decorating.

I never did like the colour of the wallpaper in the kitchen when we moved to this house over 5 years ago but I have only now got down to changing things. It had been newly decorated and we don't change things till they require changing. Dogs had seen to this with little chewed bits on the skirting boards and little nibbles at the wallpaper. Some time ago I stuck vinyl flooring strips on the bottom part of the walls so no chewing there now and topped them with a narrow wooden moulding but that red/ pinkish paper up above was fading in the sunlight. (sometimes the sun shines here!) It had to go...well, had to be covered up.

I started gloss painting the wooden skirtings and door surrounds yesterday and then had to protect the parts covered, from the dogs, by opening out the puppy pen. It is taking forever to become completely dry. You can see our trusty 45 year old wooden step ladders with their record of all the colours of paint we have used over the years. I may say, I look pretty much like they do at the end of the day. I start off using gloves but they are soon discarded and I wish I had worn an old shirt over my jumper!

Swallow takes refuge beside the radiator.

The first coat of emulsion has been applied and the place looks brighter already. Some of my sundry equipment covers the kitchen table!

Luckily, one complete wall has been tiled and I am not about to change these, even although they are a dark burgundy colour so nothing needs painted there.

Second coat tomorrow then put things back on the wall and re-hang the clock.

The upgraded path on a frosty day.

For over a week now the path, a few yards from our front door, has been cordoned off and a notice displayed (quickly uprooted by the local hoodlums) stating it was to be improved, making it much less muddy in places, and would be closed off while workmen were there. It was a bit inconvenient for me as this is my route to whichever walk I would be taking. However, it has all been worthwhile with much better underfoot conditions and hopefully will bring to an end my sliding all my length on my back on the really steep parts. I must have proved, several times, that I do not have brittle bones! On the downside (excuse the pun), on a purely selfish note, it will probably prove to be a Mecca for the young village off-road bikers, with its steep braes and corners.

There used to be a really muddy dip here.

The "new" path stops at the approach to the far side of the little bridge over the little rapids/waterfall.

The burn above the bridge.

The path leads up the side of this field with a great view over Abernethy, especially on a day like today.

The wicket gate into the field.

Roley and the frosted grass.

Mo, Maisie and Roley head back into the wood.

The two young 'uns always race across this bridge.

The path by the burn.

Time to drop by for a drink!

..before heading home.