66. Guiding Lights Part Two

Following on from yesterday's post, here's the green light on Seaview Terrace.

65.Guiding Lights Part One

The entrance to Johnshaven harbour has rocks on either side, so there's little room for error as boats come in. 

In order to guide boats in through the narrow channel, there are two lights.  This red one is at the harbour, and there's a green one directly above it on a higher road.  To travel safely through the channel, boats must line up the red and green lights.  Simple but effective.

64. Spot the church

This is another one taken by my daughter, Kirsty, on the school snapping morning.  I'm amazed that you can see St Cyrus church so clearly on the horizon - it must be about 4 miles away and it wasn't exactly a clear, bright and sunny morning.

63. Cormorants

This is one of the photos taken by the children on Thursday (my daughter actually, which is how I have access to it.)  A great shot of cormorants drying their wings in the wind.  A few seconds before this was taken the whole row of birds were doing it - typical!

62. Taking photos

As a result of this blog, I was asked to take a group of children from Johnshaven Primary School out to take photos of the village yesterday. 

The Women's Lifeboat Guild are celebrating their 60th anniversary this year, and have asked the school to produce village related artwork.  The photos we took will be used for this along with drawings and paintings that the children are doing in school.

61. Happy Shopday to me!

It's about time I included a photo of Starfish Studio, and today's the day as it's my shop's second birthday - whoop whoop!!

60. Interesting house

One of the more interesting houses in the village.  I believe this was once a church (one of many).

59. View from above

This is the view of the village from the main road (A92) that runs from Montrose to Stonehaven. 

58. Seen better days

Just look at the hole in the side of this boat!  I suspect it's not been in the water for many a year. 

57. Crowded house

I am reliably informed that this teeny tiny cottage was once home to a family of thirteen!!  Nowadays it's used for storage, which seems much more sensible!

57. Flags

Flags fluttering on a breezy day - we've had a lot of those lately!

56. Wild flowers by the sea

This was taken yesterday morning whilst out for a walk with my friend on her birthday.  The sun was shining but there was a chilly breeze causing these pretty wild flowers to wave about.

55. Chimney repairs

These are especially for regular reader Jenny Beedie - proof that her husband and son didn't spend all day yesterday in the pub!!

They were working on the cottage next door to Starfish Studio.  They dismantled an unstable chimney, reused the bricks to build a new one in its place, and removed and capped two other old chimneys.

They came back to finish the job off this morning.

54. Big boat

If cruise liners are your thing then this will seem pretty titchy, but believe me, for Johnshaven harbour this is a BIG fishing boat.  I don't know why it's here or where it came from, but I first saw it yesterday. 

Boats of this size are more commonly seen at Gourdon harbour - about 3 miles north of here.

53. The church

This is the village church.  The main entrance is out of sight on the left hand side of the building.  The door you can see leads to the church hall where the Brownies and Guides meet.

52. Tulips at the harbour

I took this one a few days ago when the tulips were still looking good.
This will have to be the last photo of the bulbs growing around the village as they are getting past their best now.

51. Amazing reflection

I took this down at the harbour at about 8pm last night.
I'd seen the rainbow from my living room, but had no idea that there was this great reflection until I got down there!

50. Banner

A few years ago as part of the annual Flower Show there was a competition to design a Johnshaven banner.  This was the winning entry by Max McBay which is now on display at the entrance to the caravan site.

49. Notice

Sign in the window of Johnshaven Stores today :)

48. Constant threat of coastal erosion

This fence divides the beach from a narrow path that is regularly being eroded by the sea. 

The path is right beside a family's garden and there's an ongoing battle between the sea and the humans to keep this popular walking route useable, and prevent the erosion from reaching the garden wall.

47. Heron

Not a great shot, but I knew if I went any closer he/ she would have flown away.

46. Benholm Cottage

This one's especially for Jennifer Gaylord Miles who lived in this house as a tiny tot and is now on the other side of the Atlantic.

I took this photo this morning, shortly before it started to rain.  The house to the right of your old house is a holiday cottage so you may want to take a look at Puffin Cottage's website ready for when you come over for a visit!

45. Beach find

This is one of those fascinating pieces of weathered wood that you find on the beach.  The sea and lots of wee beasties have slowly transformed it from a tree trunk into this intricate work of art.

44. Station Brae

Looking down Station Brae.  This steep footpath links the centre of the village with Seaview Terrace and is the route the kids take up to school in the morning after buying their sweeties from the shop.  The railings are handy to pull yourself up when there's ice and snow lying!

I recently learned that Johnshaven's train station (built in the 1870s, closed in the 1960s) was paid for by the man whose house is on the right of this photo (Serena House).  He also had the path built so he could easily get from his house to the station, hence its name.

43. Overcast at the harbour

The blue sky had gone away when I went out for a spot of fresh air yesterday evening, so this photo of the inner harbour looks awfy dull.

42. Ouch!

I love this photo, taken a couple of evenings ago. 

I hope you like it too because shortly after taking it I tripped and stumbled and twisted my ankle - no-one warned me that this blogging lark may lead to injuries!

41. Name that blue flower...

This was taken in the evening sunshine, and unfortunately the carpet of blue in the woods is in the shade. 

Contrary to popular belief, these are not Bluebells - they are Wild Hyacinths.  I am a complete ignoramus where plants are concerned, but this is one that I do know a little about!! 

The confusion over the name of these wee beauties was a favourite topic of my late father-in-law, so in honour of him I'm giving you the facts!

In England these plants are known as Bluebells, but the Scottish Bluebell is quite different, having only one flower per stem.  A Scottish Bluebell is known as a Harebell south of the border.

If you're a plant buff, you may be interested in this link to Two Crows, who obviously know a lot more about flowers than I do (not difficult!).  There's a lovely pic of a Scottish Bluebell on that page.

Whatever they are called, they are beautiful and they make the woods look absolutely stunning. 

40. Moving a boat

I never realised how much hard work is involved in taking a boat out of the water.  Yesterday evening this boat was being slowly winched onto its trailer and it seemed to be a slow and physically demanding task.

As a wee bonus, here's a pic of the boat in the harbour a few hours earlier when the tide was in.  I don't know anything about this rather splendid boat, other than that it doesn't usually live in the harbour here - don't think I've ever seen it before.



39. Spring colour

Following on from yesterday's subject - many gardens in the village are very much on public view.  This blue shed is in one of many gardens that sit on the opposite side of the road from the house it belongs to.

I would tell you about the interesting, circular building in the background, but I think I'll save that for another day!

38. Alison's Garden

Alison must have the most interesting and quirky garden in Johnshaven. 

It's opposite her house, right beside the beach so it's in full view for everyone to see.  It's full of a huge assortment of interesting bits and pieces, many of which have been customised by Alison and her daughter.

Anyone is welcome to add things to the garden, so it is constantly changing.

37. Caravans

Looking straight out to sea, this has to be one of the very best spots for a seaside caravan site.