Woolfest is looming. I feel like I'm drowning in yarn, and yet I don't feel I've got enough yet! Just how does one judge how much to take? Any suggestions anyone? I mean, the worst thing that could happen would be to run out on the first day, and yet it feels potentially equally bad to have to travel home with boxes of yarn.

So as a break from the pressure of dyeing, I took the dogs for a quick walk today. Stevan had a good excuse not to join us - he's putting in a new fireplace. It really is just as well I married a man with a head for heights, as the first job this morning was to clean the chimney.

chimneysweep3

Anyway, back to the walk .... the dogs and I headed up the hill behind our house and we slowly wended our way over to Lexie's Loch.  From the top of the hill you get a great view of the Split Rocks that make Clachtoll so famous:

clachtoll

And then looking in the other direction I was so pleased to see that the sand seems to have returned to Stoer beach.  You'll remember me grumbling back in November about how all the sand had been washed off the beach and we were having to walk on pebbles ... well the sand is slowly returning.   You can see here how different a colour the water is when the bottom is sand as opposed to stone.

sand-returns-stoer

Once up at Lexie's Loch, Lexie felt it necessary to take a dip.

lexie-in-lexies

While Peggy felt it necessary to keep an eye on the emerging water lilies - she was pretty sure they were planning an attack as they waved and danced in the breeze:

peggy-at-lexies

This is the best time of year to see the sundews which abound in the boggy areas in Assynt.  Drosera Anglica is very common.  They stand about 7cm high, but their colouring is amazing.

sundew

After some fresh air it was back to dyeing.  Over the next couple of weeks I'll show you some of the lovely goodies I have to bring with me to Woolfest, including some beautiful, handmade, wooden shawl pins.  They are gorgeous, and made by the same talented gentleman who made my buttons for my February Lady's Sweater.  Oh, and for those of you keen to acquire one of Isaac's flock - never fear.  There will be more winging their way across from Africa in early July.