Bishop's House

Built in 1894 with additions later added to each wing of this Episcopal Retreat Centre. The rose window adorns St. Columba's chapel in the centre of the house.

Iona Abbey

A living community. A place of worship.

A site of pilgrimage. A house of prayer.

Barefoot in the Bog

Some days the best way to walk through a wet, wet bog is to take off your shoes. Plenty of bogs here on Iona and full of spongy moss of the brightest green and even sundews. What amazing carnivorous plants with tiny drops on their leaves to catch their prey.

Becoming Reacquainted with My Shadow

There it was in front of me as I walked along the road to the beach. My shadow. I hadn't seen it in a few days. That must mean the sun came out today! Hurray!

Stormy Clouds!

Clouds seem to take on a life of their own, especially when a storm is approaching. Strong winds gave way to heavy bursts of 'horizontal rain' the past couple of days. Is summer over?

R and R

'R&R' could stand for 'rain and more rain!' But today has been dry so far after a rainy week. I took a short break from the island and visited the seals at the Sealife Center north of Oban. I have twice seen seals on Iona at the Bay at the Back of the Ocean, but this character seemed to enjoy posing at the aquarium.

Swimming in the Salty Sea

Yesterday afternoon. Swimming in the sunshine in the salty sea (at the beautiful beach called the White Strand of the Monks).

In a poem called "First Lesson," Philip Booth wrote to a daughter:

As you float now, where I held you
and let go, remember when fear
cramps your heart what I told you:
Lie gently and wide to the light-year
stars, lie back, and the sea will hold you.

No Words Necessary

Sunny Showers and Garden Flowers

Sunny showers today. I took a few moments to enjoy the sunshine in the garden and to photograph these flowers for some English friends who e-mailed me this weekend. Thank you.

The months are marked by flowers, different ones in the fields and gardens as the year goes by. So many different blooms have opened since the time of the snowdrops back in February!

Landing the Ferry

The ferry just about to land on the jetty at Iona. The wind is expected to pick up today. Later this afternoon it may be much more difficult for the ferry to land at the pier.
I have watched before when the boat had to make three attempts to hold its position at the jetty...and sometimes it just has to turn around and go back to Mull until the weather changes.

Wind and Wave

Yes, it is not always sunny and calm on this island. This is more like the true Iona weather where the wind drives the waves crashing into the shore. The power of the waves and the force of the wind is truly awesome. It is hard to believe just yesterday all was calm and still.

I had the wonderful opportunity to hear a favourite poet of mine reading his works at the Iona Community Shop last evening. I have admired Kenneth Steven's poems since I found a book of his on Iona. His poem about an otter is amazing.

The strong winds today reminded me of a poem I wrote back in March.

Island Wind
washes
whispers
roars

relentless traveller
crosses seas
churns waves
challenges change.

Sand Eels

Sandeels Bay is named after the favourite food of puffins - slender fish called sand eels.

Watching the tide go out today at the north beach I saw a sandeel disappear into the sand. I should have expected this with a name like 'sand eel.' The small fish was swimming in clear shallow water when it suddenly darted head first into the sand to hide - from me?

I also saw the pointy little face of a mink slinking around a rocky outcrop. However, I have yet to get a good look at an otter, but I am keeping a lookout for one!

Scottish Heather

Finally. All the tiny flowers have created a new landscape. I have been waiting since spring for the heather to bloom, transforming the hills into masses of purple mounds.

North Beach

A photo for a friend, now back in Germany, who loved to walk this beach!
If you look really closely, your footprints must still be in the sand.

Sandy feet!

Yesterdays beach feet... Actually, there is sand on my toes almost every day. I have been wearing sandals all summer (this is Scotland?) and I almost always end up at some beach, at some point in the day.

Last summer I started listening to Dido's Sand in My Shoes. Now I just can't stop listening to that song!

Blue Green Sea and Lots of Sunshine!

An afternoon at the north beach of Iona...sunshine, white sands, and water that looks tropical. Summer in Scotland....would you believe it!?!

Stones and Stories

Here on Iona the stones tell stories. Some speak more loudly than others. Some seem to shout, while others barely whisper. Looking down at this beach I initially thought these stones were in the shape of a dove. I was wrong.

Sky Watching

On Iona the sky often changes from moment to moment. Those who lead pilgrimages around the island say that on Iona you can have four seasons in one day. The other evening I walked to the north beach as the sky took on a bluish purple hue. The contrast with the white sand, crashing waves and the golden tips of the grasses made for a great photo opportunity. The variations of colour of sea and sky here never cease to amaze me.