Tayview 16th March 2013

 The snows have largely gone with a change of wind now coming from the south West.

Reed beds of Mugdrum Island off Newburgh, trees along the shoreline of the Carse of Gowrie the distant hills beyond obscured by mist. I like the horizontal changes of colour and texture. There is always something even on a dull day.

Pieter Bruegel the Elder: at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna [Hardcover]

With all the snow about here in North Fife and the sheer artistry of the views I'm reminded of Pieter Bruegel the Elder's paintings. See preceding posts over the last few days.

Pieter Bruegel the Elder (c.1528/30–1569) is famous for having elevated the status of landscape painting. He is also considered to be the greatest sixteenth-century Flemish master of scenes from ordinary life. This beautifully illustrated volume presents twelve world-famous masterpieces shown in full colour, both in their entirety and in close-up detail.

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See further, Click Here. Pieter Bruegel the Elder: at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna
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Cumulus Cloud North Fife

Cumulus cloud over the River Tay today 15th March. Overnight the wind shifted to the South West bringing warmer moist air. Cumulus clouds are a type of low-level cloud that can have noticeable vertical development and clearly defined edges. Cumulo- means "heap" or "pile" in Latin. They are often described as "puffy" or "cotton-like" in appearance, and generally have flat bases. Cumulus clouds, being low-stage clouds, are generally less than 6,500 feet (2,000 m) in altitude unless they are the more vertical cumulus congestus form. Cumulus clouds may appear by themselves, in lines, or in clusters and are often precursors of other types of cloud, such as cumulonimbus, when influenced by weather factors such as instability, moisture, and temperature gradient. Normally, cumulus clouds produce little or no precipitation, but they can grow into the precipitation-bearing congestus or cumulonimbus clouds. Cumulus clouds can be formed from water vapor, supercooled water droplets, or ice crystals, depending upon the ambient temperature. They come in many distinct subforms, and generally cool the earth by reflecting the incoming solar radiation. Cumulus clouds are part of the larger category of cumuliform clouds, which include stratocumulus clouds, cumulonimbus clouds, cirrocumulus clouds, and altocumulus clouds.

Cumulus clouds form via atmospheric convection as air warmed by the surface begins to rise. As the air rises, the temperature drops (following the lapse rate), causing the relative humidity (RH) to rise. If convection reaches a certain level the RH reaches one hundred percent, and the "wet-adiabatic" phase begins. At this point a positive feedback ensues: since the RH is above 100%, water vapour condenses, releasing latent heat, warming the air and spurring further convection.

In this phase, water vapour condenses on various nuclei present in the air, forming the cloud. This creates the characteristic flat-bottomed puffy shape associated with cumulus clouds. The size of the cloud depends on the temperature profile of the atmosphere and the presence of any inversions. During the convection, surrounding air is entrained (mixed) with the thermal and the total mass of the ascending air increases.

 

Should you gaze awhile the boiling motion becomes apparent displaying the tremendous energy at play.

Some meditation.

North Fife Landscape 14th March

North Fife Landscape

Murdochcairnie Hill, snow on its final melt lending linear information not normally noticed.

Myrecairnie Hill.

Landscape North Fife

Two fighting cock pheasants fought in front of me, this one took refuge up a tree, sign of that spring impulse that some beasties get and some people, come to that.

By Luthrie North Fife, I'm quite captivated by the way the landscape is delineated with the introduction of white.

 

 

Carrot Cake

Carrot Cake

 

Carrot cake, lemon butter icing with marzipan carrot. made buy my daughter at Bell Baxter School North Fife. Very more-ish, I could have eaten quite a few.

North Fife 12th March 2013

North Fife 12th March 2013

 

Woods above Balhelvie Farm.

Normans Law.

 

Brunton close by.

 

Star Bank fields by Luthrie.

Mountquhanie fields by Brunton.

 

Normans Law looking South West. How different views are when the colour is largely away and lines. shapes and textures say it all, Qualities  important in drawing.

4hours later, colour becomes the dominant feature.

 

North Fife March 11th 2013

North Fife March 11th 2013

Heading West to Newbugh approaching Parbroath.

 

Sunset in a cloudless sky over the River Tay, High pressure and freezing conditions. Brrrrrr

Tayview March 10th North Fife

Tayview March 10th North Fife

A light dusting of snow in the morning.

More white than green bleating sheep cry out for food.

Hungry sheep,  full of expectancy ..... barrrr barrrr

Pinkfoot geese alight on seeing me approach,

They are off to safer havens.

 

Winging their way up stream over the River Tay.

As the afternoon progressed snow lay at lower levels.

World Junior Culinary Grand Prix at ScotHot Glasgow

Scottish Juniors Prepare for the ultimate Challenge

The Scottish Junior Culinary Team who are based at Adam Smith College will represent Scotland at the forthcoming World Culinary Grand Prix at ScotHot 2013 on 4-6 March at the SECC Glasgow.The students have been working hard to prepare for the challenge and  are hosting a run through dinner at the college St Brycedale campus in Kirkcaldy on Wednesday 27 February to do a final practice of their menu.

 

 

 

Students busy prepping for the final practice, 60 covers in all,.they appeared to be relaxed and engrossed in their tasks.

The Meal

Starters, "Arbroath Smokie" Cake on Curry Scented Monkfish and Sweetcorn, Buttered Spinach and Aubergine Relish.

Main Course,  Roast Rump and Herbed Faggot of Scotch Lamb with a Couscous Sauce, Carrot Puree, Potato Compression and Wilted Baby Gem Lettuce.

 

Dessert, Liquorice and Cherry Bavarois with Hazelnut and Ricotta Cake "Crabbies" Ginger Sabayon and Sour Cherry Sorbet.

Finished with Petits Fours and Coffee.

I shared a table with three others.

Marie-Clare James, Marketing and Events Manager for The Federation of Chefs Scotland.

 

Emma, Food blogger.

 

Ross Boyce  Previous Master Chef contestant.

Naturally we talked about food, a little of our selves since we had never met before, interrupted by mmmms and oooos of appreciation of the tastes and delights of the meal.

 

Ross Lyall  Chef and trainer at Adam Smith College, one of a team managed by Bryan McCabe, Department Manger, Hospitality and Fashion.

The team at the end of a long shift, looking suitably chuffed.

Counting the takings, the bottom line.

Tayview February 28th 2013

February 28th, The River Tay, placid water fronting the distant snow covered Perthshire Highlands.

 

After a largely sunny  day clouds came rolling in the afternoon.

Warmth of the sun has encouraged these miniature iris's to blossom.. A sign of impending Spring, at last.