In March Kate and I ventured to the southern Highlands of Scotland for a wonderful — but exceedingly chilly — two-week holiday. We rented a cottage atop a hill on the Finegand Estate in Glenshee, Perthshire, that afforded amazing and ever-changing views up and down the glen. It had snowed just prior to our arrival, and would continue to do so for much of our stay.

As I sat down at the kitchen table to sketch this view of Creag na Bruaich directly opposite, remnants of the last snowstorm were beginning to melt and expose the crests of hills in the sheep pastures below us.

[detail enlargement]