Myrtle Cottage - Winter 2009

The harshest winter for 20 odd years apparently! The house was cold but there was no damage caused by the extreme weather. Although we were snowed in for a few days and we weren't sure whether we'd get out to get the Christmas dinner supplies, the landscape was magical. We only lost one plant. The conifer at the gate was also split by the weight of the snow but we grafted it back together and it seems to be managing fine.

Birds

The bird feeder directly outside the sitting room window has attracted loads of starving birds over the winter. We ended up buying seed and nuts by the sack full. We've had robins, blue tits, sparrows, chaffinch, greater spotted woodpecker, red-legged partridge, yellow hammer, pheasant, blackbirds, wagtails and greenfinches. We also had a slow worm at the front door early summer. With all the bird food we also had door mice nesting in the grass verge opposite the house (they've subsequently eaten my carrot tops - unless that was rabbit)

Burn-side Garden 2 - Winter 2009

The winter garden hid what would become a spring and summer spectacle of colour.

Burn-side Garden - Winter 2009

Evidence of a lot of clearing up to do before Spring. The ivy from the old outbuilding has since been removed.

Kitchen Garden - Winter 2009

A view from the far side of the kitchen garden with the arch leading to the basement garden. The conifer in the foreground played host to a nesting bird in the Spring (sadly the nest was subsequently abandoned and the chicks died).

View from Myrtle Cottage

A view to Ben Wyvis in the distance and Little Wyvis in the foreground on a cold frosty morning, taken from the sitting room window.

Moving In November 2009 - basement 2

The end of the basement area under the hall and kitchen areas. A large open 'fire' is only just visible. We were told that this area was habitable some years ago and the residents used to do their loo in an outhouse that drained into the burn! The hope, eventually, is to turn this into a self-contained holiday let with an open plan sitting room kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. The door leads out directly to the basement garden and there is an archway to the kitchen garden and to the road side garden.

Moving In November 2009 - basement

The basement area which is directly beneath the sitting room. The beams and end wall are earth bearing due to the sloping site of the house.

Moving In November 2009 - bathroom

No shower which means a hose down in the bath every morning - not ideal. One of the rooms we're looking forward to developing.

Moving In November 2009 - Blair's office

Technically the 3rd bedroom. A strange shape due to the staircase.

Moving In November 2009 - sitting room

The coal fire is fantastic when lit. The chimney sweeps tells us its original to the house which is a great feature.

Moving In November 2009 - kitchen 2

Thank heaven for microwaves!

Moving In November 2009 - kitchen

No washing machine or cooker for 2 weeks!

Moving In November 2009

Our new house! You can see evidence of an old outbuilding at the gable end - this used to be a laundry and coal house. We hope to be able to build this up again into a store room at the bottom and a small conservatory at the top.