Happily Ever After

Life in The Rural Retreat with a beautiful wife, three cats, garden wildlife, a camera, a computer – and increasing amounts about running

Earlier posts can be found on Adventures of a Lone Bass Player, where this blog began life. Recent entries can be found here.

Today Cromarty, Tomorrow The World

by admin - 21:02 on 21 May 2012

My hopes of creating a lucrative snappery empire took a huge step forward today when Peeking Cat Cards were given space in their first retail outlet – Cromarty Pottery.

I didn't even have to give its owner the hard sell, for it was she who approached me at the last Cromarty market, overwhelmed by the wonderfulness of my display. The fact that she believes she can sell them at a higher price than I do may have had something to do with it too.

So a deal was struck and today she took delivery of three dozen assorted small cards with which to tempt her regulars and the many tourists who frequent her premises. With luck she'll be on the phone soon, begging for more. I can dream.

As part of my empire-building I've agreed to be the token snapper at several fairs organised by a group of booksellers who are to take their literary wares on the road west and north; The Bumper Book of Black Isle Snappery will feature too, of course.

The first two events are in Kyleakin and Dornie (check out the Market Dates page). It remains to be seen whether I'll have any profit after deducting the cost of petrol and table space from sales, but nothing ventured etc, although I'm not brave enough to join the gang for two days in Durness.

Wish me luck.

Marten Update: Yesterday I pushed the garden gate back in the hope of capturing some full-body shots of hungry martens, but darkness had fallen by the time Young Marten arrived.

We still got a good luck at her, thanks to the outside light, and were struck by how small she is – something I'd not appreciated when seeing her so close to the window.

But martens of all sizes are bold. After clearing the gate she ignored The Nutella Stump and disappeared around the side of the house. The last we saw of her was a jaunty figure, glimpsed through the back window, who ambled towards the woods without a care in the world and with the confidence of someone who knows nothing can harm her.

We were all that young once.

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