Drama under the sun

We seem to have packed much into today - I certainly feel as if I'd climbed something bigger than I manage these days. It began, of course, because the sun keeps shining, calling to the traditionalist in me to get a washing on because the line was beckoning. So even before I went out to Pilates I had the first machine-load washed and pegged out - almost made myself late for class. We worked so hard too - lots and lots of stretching, which I find just about the most taxing thing I do. I've never been able to touch my toes - I can't even straighten my knees when I bend over - so I'm feeling it now, twelve hours later.

Back home I put on a second wash, which joined the first outside except for the items that were already dry and came in, and had my coffee in the sun, slightly deeved by the radio of the joiner working on my neighbour's back room. I pulled my chair back so that our kitchen got in the way of the noise and did my Italian, and by the time I'd finished it the chap had gone for his lunch. 

We had lunch indoors, but then Himself went (of course) to the church to practise and I sat outside and read the Sunday paper. I had a long phone call from Di, catching up after not seeing each other for a week, and by the time we'd finished Himself had returned and we went for an undemanding walk at Toward lighthouse. 

When I'd gone upstairs to change, I'd noticed a thick grey cloud across the water and extending north to the Tail o' the Bank; as we drove south we realised it was coming from the hills above Wemyss Bay and extended away to the north in the relatively still air. The photo above shows the distinct plumes of smoke from wildfires, some of which have merged while others still look fresh and new. Bute too seemed to float in a haze of smoke, though the fires there were blowing away from the town (extra photo taken from much the same spot as the main, only looking south instead of north) The white building is the old foghorn house at Toward Lighthouse. 

Then home to a strange but tasty meal of cauliflower cheese with black pudding slices (and a few new potatoes to keep Himself happy), followed by wonky red fruits poached in gin, with a dollop of yogurt. And then I started on my Mother's Day chocolates ...

Before I came upstairs, I went out into the garden to see if the aurora was showing; it wasn't, but the moonlight and the stars are epic - and the moon was shining into the kitchen in a dramatic way.