Walking at Forvie Sands

Just let the day happen today. Didn't get going till after 3, but probably not soon enough for Thumper, who was no doubt very thankful for the opportunity of some uninterrupted late afternoon peace, after being fussed over by four over compensating humans interrupting his feline snoozes to give him a cuddle. Walking in the forest with him earlier with Sam, Thumper's heart was not in it.

When we all eventually headed out it took ages to get out of the garden. Sam was poring over the beasts....the marvel of the wasps and earwigs co-locating their nests, Mr Frodo in the pond, pond beatles creating their wee bag of air, the kestrel flying past, the buzzards calling, the butterflies and bees.

Finally in the car and it was about the swallows keeping pace with the car and Sam noting their every movement and their speed. Then three Ospreys on the Ythan, groups of starlings in mini murmurations and on to Forvie.

Hazy sunshine and blustery breezes. Baby frogs everywhere, bees and caterpillars. Achy legs and down to the sands. Jellyfish on the tide and sand martins leaving the nest. We stayed for a while, till near 7. Then up the stones for steps, wind blasted. So frothy was the sea that it was churning up the foam against the rocks and blowing it up like soap suds up high over the cliffs and over our heads. Bubbly snow in summer. Back via the up and down heathlands, finally to the car.

And home. To cuddle Thumper, who was looking lost. To be given some new tatties from Pat's garden and to while away the last couple of hours of this weekend in deliberate distraction.

I got some lovely photos of all our shadows together on the sands today. But I really like the photos I got of Sam in the evening light. Some great ones, but I like his smile here.