Tuesday, August 12, 2014

shetland

the adventure continues!...after arriving to burrastow house we spent our first hours getting to know each other and our surroundings...




  we met the host and chef extraordinaire of burrastow, pierre



a newly married couple arrived to have their wedding photos taken at burrastow







our first evening, we gathered for an informational talk by our lovely tour leaders, gudrun johnston and maryjane mucklestone. they had a surprise for us, in the kishie (basket) on the table were hand made project bags filled with special treats! the fabric of the bags is so cute, it's of knitted fair isle sweaters! 


jumping ahead, sorley, our driver extraordinaire (and gudrun's lovely brother) made a special stop so i could get this photo. i saw a shetland otter!


my very first morning, i woke so excited, at 4am, the sun was already high in the sky. i ran to my window and couldn't believe my eyes!! there was an otter swimming in our bay. i grabbed my camera and tiptoeing out the room and down the stairs, still in my pajamas!


i remembered reading simon king's 'shetland diaries' book, he talked about how timid the otters are here. it's important they don't see you, or even smell you. oh dear, which way was the wind blowing? i couldn't tell, so i crept behind the low wall surrounding burrastow house. coming closer to mr. otter. i stealthily peeked over the wall and watched as he exited the water scampering up on to a pile of rocks and seaweed...


carrying a large fish in his mouth! i could hear him feeding on the fish, tearing it apart with his sharp teeth. forgetting the rules, in my excitement i stood up and immediately knew my mistake. mr. otter dropped his meal, turned and bolted back to the sea...


and then he watched, cautiously (curiously?), before swimming out of our voe and into another around the bend. it was the only time this trip i would see one, but i saw one! and saw the otter sign too!


artic terns here on their migration, i love these birds so much...


time for our first field trip! our trusty ride, driven by sorley, gudrun's brother. (thank you again sorley!)


on the way to...



eeps!




waiting for a tour with oliver henry!


the master of jamieson & smith shetland fleece


explaining the sorting process



lovely pat admiring a peerie fair isle jumper (look at the gorgeous vest she made!)



tour is over, back in the shop for our lace knitting class with elizabeth johnston! and look who's here! it's friends sandra manson and ella gordon! eek! very excited to see them both!

 i tried on sandras sample cardigan, hairst, and bought the pattern :)


kate davies! 



time to leave, our visit to jamieson & smith was a highlight for all of us i think (we actually returned 3 times!)


 some have asked to see my journal, i have no idea how to share, so here is just a glimpse inside...


just like this post, it's incomplete. there really was no way to document all the wonderful things that happened on this trip. i tried my best though, filled almost ninety pages! i didn't add the photos of the second part of this days field trip to this post, the textile museum (for fear of the post becoming too long). oh dear. if there is still an interest, i'll keep sharing! there is a LOT more!

bye for now! xxx lori

79 comments:

  1. Oh, yes! I'm still interested! Please share more. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a wonderful trip. I love your journal and the lambs are just gorgeous. Did you knit on yrour trip at all??

    ReplyDelete
  3. Such an inspiring post Lori, I especially enjpyed your observations of the otter! You must have had such a lovely time! Wonderful journal and I just adore the sheep at the end!
    I cannot wait to read more!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Keep sharing! I live in the (much) lower part of Scotland and I've not made it to Shetland yet so I love seeing all your pictures! :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wonderful to read about your trip to Shetland! I loved seeing all your pictures, you are amazing the way you capture the atmosphere so beautifully. I am looking forward to reading lots more, please!
    Happy week, dear Lori.
    Helen xox

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you so much dear helen, so sorry i haven't been by for a visit, will stop over soon!

      Delete
  6. Well, of course, we want to see and know more. Most of us will never get to that corner of the world. And it is especially lovely to take a trip that is combined with adventure and the hobby you love so much. Too bad that little otter was so timid, but I'm glad you got to see one. How do you print the pictures for your journals when you are traveling? Have a wonderful Wednesday. Tammy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. sorry tammy, just getting to this question! i use a portable printer called pogo, it's made by poloroid and it's fantastic. it makes the little 2x3 photo stickers that are perfect for journaling and handing out to people you meet while traveling.
      the otter was not little! they are huge in shetland! so very excited to see one!

      Delete
  7. Please keep sharing and as much as you can! Love your tales of Shetland. I just received some wool from Jamieson's to crochet with. The colours are beautiful. Looking forward to more posts as ever Lori.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you very much sheils! enjoy your jamieson's!

      Delete
  8. Those two sheep again - were they following you - "please make us into a sweater"!
    Please share more ... loving these shetland posts.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hee hee, they sure were cute. yes, have much more to share emma!

      Delete
  9. GORGEOUS PHOTOGRAPHS! and gorgeous YOU! looks divine...and how wonderful to follow your passions in knitting, wool, nature and photographs! sending love x j in tanzania.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ah janelli!! have you made your book yet?? i will be first in line. sending love to tanzania and you xxx

      Delete
  10. We are interested! Tell us more, tell us more!

    Otters are beautiful, my Nan has one that sort of lives in her garden. We're pretty close to water all around us, here, and my Nan's house backs onto a field & the otter calls it home, we don't see much of it, tho' just the discarded remains of fish it brings back!

    I am just starting a journal of my travels, a physical one that is, not just my blog. I've got all the things I've saved (tickets for national parks, encierro, everything) and am going to sort them into some sort of chronological order over the next few weeks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. wow that is so cool about your nana's otter. good luck with your scrapbook sammi! it will be a treasure to have.

      Delete
  11. Keep sharing my friend, loving this :)

    Gorgeous photos.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Share! Please? I want to live vicariously through you :) That's all.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Replies
    1. so so right, it is much more than i could show with my camera. :)

      Delete
  14. Great photos and words, as ever, such a pleasure to read and enjoy, thank you. A while back I bought the 'Tall ships toorie' pattern from Jamieson and Smith, to make for my husband who's a sailor, but never having attempted knitting with more than one colour I haven't yet made a start on it.. So yes, please, share the rest of your adventure, and maybe that will inspire me to pluck up my courage and have a go at fair isle knitting! ali.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. you are so kind, thank you very much ali! i hope you will just try the fair isle, it's not difficult at all, and practice will give you much more confidence as your pattern grows. it will help if you use shetland wool as its really designed for fair isle knitting (will give more satisfying results). good luck and thank you again.

      Delete
  15. loved reading the story of the otter, you're so lucky!
    i would love love love to visit Jamieson & smith one day, i'm pretty sure i would fill a suitcase with wool and patterns!
    also your journal is gorgeous!!! please do share more :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. aw thank you lea! i hope you do go, you will love it there. i did bring home wool and patterns, but more books since some are harder to get here. jamieson & smith readily ship for a very fair price!

      Delete
  16. Lori, you are showing me visions of a beautiful heaven, with otter included. It must have been amazing to wake up to all that light at 4 a.m. and to be able to actually tiptoe outside to have your day begin with such a special experience.

    Jamieson & Smith...I am not at all surprised that you all went back for more visits there.

    I join the prior commenters who have requested that you might please share many more photographs of this trip.

    xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. it was incredible frances, light at 3-4 am! and gorgeous views combined with stunning light. really a heavenly place. i have much more to share :)

      Delete
  17. Oh Please, oh PLEASE share ALL of it!!! I got tears in my eyes reading about the otter encounter -- how fantastic and what and adventure. And yarn. And knitters. It just keeps getting better and better!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you so much for your encouraging comment! it is such a pleasure to share knowing there is an interest! i'm so happy you are enjoying!

      Delete
  18. You simply have to share...it's all too lovely!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Lori, thank you for your exquisite photographs and for so lovingly compiling this beautiful visual journal. These posts leave me with a pang in my heart. Such an incredible experience. I am so happy to now call you a friend 'in real life.' Love you, Kathy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. dear kathy, thank YOU for being such a part of one of the best experiences of my life. love you dear friend.
      xxx

      Delete
  20. I am so glad that you are sharing your journey with us. Thanks to your amazing photos, I now get to see places that I have dreamed of visiting. Continue to write about the trip if you want to and can. thanks lori

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you very much kerstin, it's a pleasure to share with so much interest. i hope you will visit shetland one day, i think you will love it there.

      Delete
  21. Please Please continue! I want to see it all. What an experience. Thank you for sharing it with me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you penny! thank you for reading, i'm really happy to know you are enjoying!

      Delete
  22. You're finally on the British Isle! What could be more spectacular than to start off in Scotland! I love Scotland. The people, the view & the landscape are unforgettable. Wish that I could go there again.
    Beautiful stories and pics as always, Lori. Love it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. how lovely to see you again my friend! yes, i finally made it to scotland (i've been to the uk many times, but not this far north). what a trip this has been! i do hope you make your way back someday!

      Delete
  23. Keep sharing! I'm enjoying reliving the trip with you - your photos are wonderful!

    Paula

    ReplyDelete
  24. I love your posts Lori.. I feel like I've been along... just what I needed today, thank you lovely lady.
    p.s and I do LOVE Scotland. I stayed for a while on the Isle of Rum when I was a teenager and have never forgotten that wonderful place. <3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oh wow, what lovely memories you must have! thank you for your sweet comment, i'm so happy you are enjoying these posts!

      Delete
  25. More,please!
    Love every photo and word. Your inclusion of the local wildlife makes your posts extra special.
    Thank-you, Outi

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oh thank you so much outi! this trip was very much about everything, the knitting was a lovely bonus!

      Delete
  26. Again, just beautiful. Please keep sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I'm not surprised AT ALL that Mr. Otter made a special appearance just for you. You have such a gentle presence...

    Love reliving our grand adventure through your incredible posts. xoxo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. aw sweet nicole. it's a bit hard to believe we are already reliving when we spent so long looking forward to our adventure. what memories we share now though. xxx

      Delete
  28. Your photo's look beautiful Lori! What an amazing place the Shetlands islands is!!

    Madelief x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. shetland is very special madelief, thank you so much!

      Delete
  29. In Norwegian we have a word "eventyrlig" which means " like a story" it looks like such an adventure- Glad I can live vicariously thru you. Love all the fiber- Shetland is my favorite to knit from.
    Thank you for sharing your images and also your beautiful journal.
    xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you so much camilla, it really was an adventure, i am sure for every one on the trip. shetland is my favorite too, so woolly and organic and lovely. and now holds such memory too.

      Delete
  30. I can only echo what everyone has been saying..........we want to see MORE!! Sound like a bunch of little kids don't we :) Great pics from the otter to all that fleece in the J & S store, yousa!! Thank you for taking the time to do this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you susan, i am so appreciative of your kind words, and i'm so happy you are enjoying. there's more!

      Delete
  31. What a question! Of course we want to read more!! ... and I love your journal, your memories will really be safe in there, and you will be able to return to the Shetland islands many times in your imagination.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. you are so right irene, i love journals for just that. i keep them while i'm traveling, they only collect memories (that bring the moment alive again) if done that way i've found. even if they are a grammatical mess, no spell check with a pen and paper, it doesn't seem important. the moment is though.

      Delete
  32. I'm so inspired by your beautiful journal. Yes, more please!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Love your Shetland post!!
    It's one of the places I really want to visit some day.
    And of course you we want to read more :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you hege, you are very close! you must make it there, i think you will love it.

      Delete
  34. there is no way you could share "too much"!!!!! What a trip! (sigh!) What a trip!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Lori, Beautiful photos, all, as usual. Glad you had a wonderful trip, thank you for taking us along. xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  36. You take the most WONDERFUL photos, Lori! It really does look like the trip of a lifetime - so, of course, lets hear more (please)! xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you so very much leigh, so sweet. there is more, lots more. :)

      Delete
  37. The trip to Shetland I was supposed to take with friends last year but had to drop out of included three nights at Burrastow ... now I know that's where you stayed I'm even more envious.

    And of course we want to read more :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i hope you do make it to burrastow someday annie, my husband and i want to return. it's pretty amazing.

      Delete
  38. my kind of place - remote and beautiful. looks like a fabulous journey♡

    ReplyDelete
  39. You have such a wonderful blog Lori ! This is the first time that I will comment at one of your posts but I have been reading and enjoying them for a while now. In fact your blog is one of the main reasons that I decided to take part at the Shetland wool week trip in October. You were all having so much fun ! I have always wanted to go there and now was my chance :-))
    warm regards from the Netherlands,
    Marianne (blackun at Ravelry)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oh my goodness marianne! how lovely, thank you so much for letting me know. oh wow! woolweek! you will have such a wonderful time, say hello to gudrun and maryjane for me if you see them! i would love to hear about your trip, maybe you can start a blog? xoxo

      Delete

xoxo lori