November stroll

Took a stroll up the lane to the post box enjoying the warm souwesterly breeze. The sun was shining on the numerous tall autumn trees covering the high rocky outcrop of Dun Dearduil. On the way back spotted a very acrobatic red squirrel leaping from branch to branch like a monkey - not even stopping to pose for a photo. A rather lonely red-legged partridge ran down the lane and I disturbed a pheasant which flew up noisily from the long grass. Took a walk on to Farigaig pier and heard the deer calling out from the other side of the loch.Noticed that most of the conkers on the horse chestnut tree nearby have been blown to the ground overnight. The last fruits of the year,the sloe berries, are still clinging to the blackthorn bushes at the bottom of our driveway. Last year one of our neighbours gave us a bottle of sloe gin she had made and we really really really enjoyed it. Although it is now November - last year we had our first snow on November 18th - there are still roses flowering in a neighbours garden.