seaside crofting: July 2022

Welcome to our July blog, hope you enjoy the photographs.

The project for this month has been reroofing, starting with a shed as a practise piece.

and then with the help of some exceptional friends starting on the larger task of the outbuilding.

thanks Andries for going up first !

heavy lifting gear needed

Look at the size of these roofing stones !!!!!!!

and yes they will be going back up when the roof trusses are made

A bit of imagination needed here, this will be my "Junie space".

After a morning's exploring..

Tilly needs a bit of rest and relaxation in the sunshine with Wilma

and Wilma trying downward-facing-dog pose on the yoga mat

When the ferry is out of action and your Co-Op food order comes by plane instead, you learn that the place to pick it up is on the side of the runway, of course !

Our potato patch is coming on a treat, potatoes grown through black plastic sheeting, so no weeding, no watering and no earthing up, just harvesting when ready.

Andries gave us a demonstration on how to make fire, always something new to learn.

Orkney Art Club came over to the island to give a wonderful workshop for lino printing

thank you India and Magdalena

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Around the island....

the famous North Ronaldsay, seaweed-eating sheep

July is the month for the "punding", the rounding up of the sheep into the "punds" for the annual shearing, a community affair.

The sheep make a wonderful rumbling, echoing sound as they walk along the loose stones on the beach.

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Poem of the month

Rumble, rumble, rumble on the rocks

there go North Ronaldsay sheep.

Rumble, rumble, rumble on the rocks

every day of the week.

Rumble, rumble, running on the rocks

now they're gathering speed.

Rumble, rumble, running on the rocks

they're off to eat their seaweed.

Rumble, running, rumble, running

they know it's time for the punds.

Running, running, running, running,

they're gonna give them crofters some fun.

Rumble, running, rumble on the rocks,

jumping up and over those dykes.

But the crofters are cunning,

the sheep stop running

and settle down for the shears.

Rumble, rumble on the rocks,

there go North Ronaldsay sheep.

Baa, baa

June Purvis

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(photo Sue Mara)

The annual North Ronaldsay Sheep Festival this year runs from 1st to 12th August, the island will be full of volunteers and islanders rebuilding the famous sheep dyke that surrounds the island.

(photo Sue Mara)

The festival programme includes film showings, dances, wool mill tours, workshops for weaving, felting, landscape art and lino printing, nature walks, quiz night, umami demonstration and a visitors vs islanders football match (Malcolm will be there, he's in training !) A great varied programme.

for more information go to :

nrsheepfestival.com

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Quote of the month