You have to be tough to live north of Inverness.

I opened the curtains this morning to thick frost that looked like a covering of snow. A scene reminiscent of an old-fashioned glitter Christmas card. But the frost hadn't covered everything completely, just outlined it with a tinsel-white felt tip pen. With dark shapes now highlighted to give a very bright morning.

So, what have I been doing lately? I have definitely not been arty. I wiped down my easil and tidied away my pastels in late September when I took a gie to start bottling. (A 'gie' being a compulsive inclination to do something.)

I do things in gies!

I have made: Green Tomato Chutney, Plum Compote, 4-Fruit Marmalade with Cointreau, Bramble Plum & Apple Jam, Orange Slices in Spiced Honey, Spiced Apple Sauce, Cinnamon Pickled Grapes and Pickled Eggs.

Some sound more appetising than others.

And then I took a crochet gie. I love a bit of crochet. It's an easy way to experiment with colour combos, at your fingertips.

When my sis suggested we try a couple of Xmas Craft Fairs in Caithness, it spiked my interest and resulted in a range of crocheted items that included the usual Hot Water Bottle Covers, Gloves, Blankets as well as Xmas crocheted/beaded Wire-work Decorations.

You could say I was hooked....sorry!

I have just returned home after the first one. To travel just 60 miles further north in November is not for the fainthearted.

I remember being amazed when my kids would arrive in July in Inverness from the Central Belt - jacketless. Totally unprepared for the unpredictable Highland weather - even in summer!

But, there again, I arrived in Caithness a few days ago, sporting 4 layers which was way short of what was required for warmth. I should have doubled up. Doubled everything. Doubled pants. It was freezing!

The Xmas Craft Fair was in a village hall near a cluster of houses. You know the sort - a Victorian one-room affair, wood lined with long heaters attached to the roof trusses, a few stags heads and with a floor well scuffed by dancers. Around the panelled walls were old photographs of laughing folk dancing, or groups of serious people standing. It was a hall with history. One that had been well used.

The other stall holders were welcoming and friendly, but without the 2 cups of coffee provided by Kait over the 4 hours, it would have been numbingly cold.

Luckily, my sis had made several Fleece Dog Blankets. So, we sat with these on our knees, clutching our coffees, until more punters arrived. Very Victorian!

If she'd brought her Chihuahua, I would have happily let the wee rascal sit on my knee as a hot water bottle, this time!

Lap dogs are very useful.

Especially in the winter.

When it came to 3pm, we packed up, said our goodbyes and returned home. So glad to get into the car to get the heating on. Full blast. Daylight was already fading with half a moon stuck in a lemony sky.

And we're repeating all this in 10 days at another Caithness venue. We're treating this as an experience. But, somehow, I don't think this will turn into a gie!

I'm wondering about the thermal qualities of crocheted over-knickers? Or, maybe a full-on crocheted onesie for dogless Highlanders? Maybe I should just cut-to-the-chase and consider getting a dog?

Like I said, Lap dogs are very useful.