We sat out yesterday evening with a glass of something refreshing and eventually had to put the garden umbrella up - not because of rain but the glare from the sun [I repeat - sun!] was too bright. Watched the
Loch Ness Express zoom in front of the house with its fantastic wash in its wake. They now allow passengers on the front, or 'bow' to all you sailors out there, and they were taking video and photos as I took pictures of them. The boat service operates twice a day during July and August and is very popular especially on a fine day. It headed off to Fort Augustus to drop off passengers and pick up new ones for the return journey to Inverness.
Not long after came
'The Lord of the Glens' and, again, we saw passengers out on the deck. This service travels a greater distance and operates cruises for a certain number of days.
Today is a bit misty and murky so no sitting out enjoying ourselves this evening!
Sitting happily at my sewing machine in the lounge this morning lost in creative thoughts when I suddenly felt something watching me. I glanced out of the patio doors and saw the mother deer a few feet away and busily munching on the wild flowers growing by the large pile of birch logs waiting to be chopped up for winter fires. Waited a while and sure enough along trotted the baby which is growing rapidly. They ate very 
contentedly together, often staring at a passing boat cruising along Loch Ness close to the shore and disturbing their peace. They then wandered off up into the forest for a spot of shade and then possibly up to Aspenwood. Guests staying in the cottage were pleased to see them both appear around the grounds at breakfast time. They also saw and heard the owl nearby. Good sunny weather today.....downhill to summer maybe ....you never know !!
The adult robin redbreasts have been asserting themselves and are very noisily marking their territory and can be quite aggresive towards each other.Nature is marvellous and has made them ignore the juveniles who are noticably different by their lack of any red colouring and are still a rather dull speckly brown. 
They seemed to enjoy their breakfast and munched happily for a long while. Luckily they haven't taken a liking to the large hydrangea in the tub near the house which is just beginning to flower in all its glory. Last year it produced no blooms at all so we are nurturing it carefully this year and put Maisie in charge of guarding the plant for us. 
The bird table and feeders were busy for the breakfast rush and it was pleasing to see the Great spotted woodpecker enjoying his feed. Breakfast was enjoyed by everyone in the garden today.
Thanks to our guests Steve and Barbara for sharing these photos with us.
The bird bath at Aspenwood is great fun to watch as the young start splashing about in the water. This young blue tit appears to be looking curiously at the coin at the bottom of the bath - we have read that a copper coin in a bird bath keeps the green algae away and it seems to be working.
