Sunsets, Spanish, and Spending

Yeah, we're doing alliteration .... why do y'all ask? 

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The sunsets are now happening earlier in the evenings, and the sun is setting further to the west. It's amazing how quickly the seasons come and then move on, giving way to the next season.

It's always good to be assured that, "While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease" (Genesis 8:22)

This was what I called the kids to see last evening. As always, the photo simply does not do the beauty justice, but as it's not possible for y'all to land on my doorstep evening after evening, then a photo must suffice.

Just a few minutes later, the sky looked quite different. I was glad I caught it, because the colours didn't last long at all.

You see, it always pays to be close to a window at the time of the sun's daily Adios!

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Can you tell the Wee Guy - who is no longer the Wee Guy, but is Calum Stewart - and I are learning Spanish? Si. We spend an hour every morning with Rosetta Stone's Spanish, and then we spend a shorter time in the afternoon doing some revision.

I am having to make myself keep up. It ain't easy when you're forty-seven ... that is why I'm doing a language with CS now. Young brains an' all that.

For example, the other day, when Jackson was doing what he's doing in this photo, I said:

"Un perro esta come."

"No!" corrected Calum, "He is not eating."

"Un perro esta corre?"

"Noooooooo, mum! El esta durmiendo!"

Okay, okay, mate. I'll get it right sometime ...

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Now, talking of Jackson and eating. While we were away in summer, the Builder came back to the house in which we were saying with the announcement that he'd bought Jackson some new bowls.

Fine, I thought. Good thinking, I thought. 

Later, when I went into the car, THESE were the bowls I saw.

MASON CASH?!?!?

For the DOG!!! (no offence, Jackson).

"Honey.... do you know how often I've looked at Mason Cash bowls for the kitchen, but convinced myself that the cakes will taste just the same when made in a plain old £3.99 bowl and resisted the temptation to buy them???"

For. the. dog....

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Clearly, the Wee Guy's reading habits are a good deal more useful than the Builder's have ever been.

This is what I 'caught' him engrossed in today. He is loving it! I reckon he needs to sit his father down some day soon and give him some of Dave's and Rachel's (yes, he's on first-name terms with them) advice. 

This Past Week ...

I was having a wee wander through some photos today, and I came across some snaps I'd intended showing you last week, but didn't actually.

This could sum up my life: not doing what I'd intended.

I love the drama of this kind of sunshine and cloud. I love the way these colours speak to my heart of strength. It may be because I'm an islander, but strength means more to me than beauty.

Even though I love beauty too.

Talking of strength over beauty .... This photo shows Big Brother lifting potatoes, along with one of his sisters and one of his nieces.

His nieces are both plentiful and adoring towards him.

Even though I said (above) that I preferred strength over beauty, that doesn't of course mean I don't love beauty. These waves, with the wind blowing spray off the top of the crest, are my favourite.

Doing the dishes with this as my view is no chore, I can assure you.

Raspberry Breakfast Muffins.

They are seriously good, but (and this may also be because I'm an islander, or because I'm Scottish, or simply because I'm not American) I cannot get my head around having muffins for breakfast - even if they do have crushed shreddies, porridge oats and fruit in them.

But you know what? I don't need to get my head around a thing to love doing it. They are seriously delicious and they may warrant a whole post to themselves in the future.

I stayed behind closed doors for all of ten days recently because of a sore throat. Of course, staying behind closed doors is no hardship for me - I have never been known to get cabin fever. Ever.

And one of the benefits of staying inside with a sore throat is that Katie hangs out the washing for me.

Along with her Macaroons, her home-made pizza, and her Lime and Coconut cupcakes, this is yet another reason I have for keeping this particular daughter.

THAT FLAG

The Live Traffic Feed sits on the side of my blog.


Places interest me. I love to see towns, cities, states, countries named. If I don't know where a specific place is, I google it, and normally I call the kids and say, 'Oh, come and see where this place is'.


Being the enthusiastic learners they are, they always come rushing to where I am with a glint in their eye, desperate for their next geography lesson. 


Uh...did you believe that?!


Anyway, I'm rambling. I don't normally ramble, so I caught myself in the act immediately. Aren't you glad I'm not a rambler? The Builder is extremely glad he's not married to a woman who rambles on and on. And on. 


Eh, where was I? Oh yes, the Live Feed thingy. Today, it says on there. A visitor from .... are you ready for this... from (I nearly have to spell out this word - a bit like that animal - _ _ _ - you know the one) from...Europe.


There, I got it out. EUROPE. And there, right beside that piece of information was the flag. You know: THE FLAG.


So where on earth was my visitor from? Germany? France? Norway? Greece?


If the visitor was from the UK, their flag would look like this

Norwegian? Then this would be displayed.

Maybe Greek?

Or even French.

Why did I say 'even' French?

I don't know. It was subconscious. Who can tell how my mind works...

Could we have countries named, please? Would you mind NOT displaying THAT flag on my blog again. If I see such behaviour being repeated, I will remove you.


Live Feeder.... you got that? Cos I'm deadly serious.

Lunar Eclipse - Eclipsed by Cloud

Yesterday morning, there was a lunar eclipse?


Did any of you manage to see it? We saw until about half way, and then cloud came rolling in. What a disappointment. 


This morning we have a clear view of the moon.

Why could the clouds not have obliged yesterday?

Weren't you Wondering...?

I'd like you all to know that...


1. Mr Wayne is now back with his male companions. I was looking at him today and couldn't quite figure out whether he looks: 

a) totally content, 

b) totally satisfied or 

c) totally miserable.

Unfortunately I don't have any photos taken today to post. It was too cold for me to go out, and my dear daughters wouldn't oblige, so here's one taken a couple of months ago.


2. My dishwasher is up and running. It has forgiven me for listening to my untrustworthy good friend, and is washing dishes as it used to. 

No more bubbles; only sparkling dishes.

I love you, and I'm sorry if I made out I loved my Tumble Drier more. You know I'd choose you first any day. 

Today...

Today - I made Tomato Soup for the first time ever. You see, I don't like Tomato Soup myself, so I never made it! Until today. Recipe to follow.

Today - is sunny. I mean, it's gorgeously sunny. And still - no wind. I have to pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming.

Today - Mr Wayne gets the boot out of the ladies' field. Time will tell if he lives up to his reputation.

Today - is the day of the swimming competition of the Lewis and Harris Sports Festival. I'll let you know later how our competitors get on. I'll also let you know whether I embarrass myself or my kids with my poolside behaviour. It has been known in the past.

Journalism at its Best

I mentioned before that we have a couple of Americans living in our village.


They're everywhere. 


Remember Chicken Run: 'over-paid......'


Well, one of them was in today, and I took the opportunity to interview her.


Yep, I have always dreamt of being a journalist, and today was the perfect opportunity to put my skills dreams into action.


So here we go.


World class Journalist (aka, Me): Tell me a bit about yourself. (I'm good, amn't I?)


American Interviewee (aka, Lesley): Ok. I'm 28 years old, grew up in Georgia and lived pretty much all my life there until I came here. In Georgia, I was a teacher, teaching secondary Science. Back in Georgia, I have Mum, Dad, younger sister, brother-in-law, and a dog who's way more spoiled now than he was when I was there.


Me: So - what on earth are you doing here?


Lesley: I got the opportunity to spend a couple of years working for a non-profit organisation, recording stories in Scottish Gaelic. And so I took it. I figured  - here's the chance to experience a different culture and language....go for it.


Me: So tell the truth - how does it compare to what you'd imagined?


Lesley: It's a lot more wideopen space than I thought. Truthfully, had no idea what living on as island was gonna be like. I love seeing wide open space all around me.


The people are very warm and very quick to embrace outsiders. On the island, people have gone out of their way to make me feel welcome, and that means so much when you are an outsider, and have no idea what people are gonna think of you.


It's much colder, windier and darker than I'd expected. I'd never figured on a 4pm sunset.


It's a strange feeling, but I don't feel as isolated as I know I actually am. I feel on one hand that I'm at the edge of the world, but it's been a pleasant surprise that I don't feel as isolated as I actually am.


Me: So how long have you been here for?


Lesley: I've been on the island for 18 months - been in this district for eleven of them.


Me: And how long do you think you'll be here for?


Lesley: Right now, the plan is to head back to US next April - so it'll have been a 2 year commitment in all. But I think I'll be back to visit 'cos I'm told that once you've been here, you never get the place out of your system. I reckon that's true.


Me: What do miss most from home?


Lesley: Truthfully, I miss...being around people who've known me a long time.....like, forever. I wasn't expecting that, but it's one of these things that sneak up on you. Though, strangely, I feel really at home here too. I have friends that I can turn to when things are good, and when things are bad. But there's something about a place in which you can .....exhale, and feel totally at home. And I think for me, Georgia will always be that place, no matter where I am.


Me: What's 'home'? A small town, village....what? Do you even have 'villages'?


Lesley: Home is a small town...... just a little town in north-west Georgia - nothing special, truthfully....other than the people that are there - folks I've always known. That's what makes it what it is.


Me: What is your work here?


Lesley: We record stories in Gaelic - primarly Bible stories, and some folk stories, and they're all recorded in colloquial Gaelic. The work is very reliant on the kindness of locals, because I don't speak or understand as much as I'd like to of the language. Quite a few folk have been involved in it in one form or another. Folks have been so good about it, cos although they have lives and work and families, they've been very eager to say 'yes' and help us with the work. That's been the only reason we've been able to do what we're doing. And - not that there's anything wrong with Stornoway (the town on the island)  - but the help grew significantly when we came to Ness - more people were willing to be involved.


Me: Any other surprises on the island?


Lesley: Yes! My jaw dropped the first time I came to visit here. Imagine my surprise when I came to the front door and saw in the office window one of these...


(Northerners, please hide your eyes)

......'a Confederate flag! In the UK! In Lewis, for crying out loud!'. I thought to myself..... 'these people are gonna be kindred spirits'. And we were!


I have to say I absolutely love living here and it's gonna be very difficult to leave.


So there you go. My Georgian friend.


Please, please, Northerners, I love you too. Reeeeally love you.


When you're from the island it's really difficult to 'see' the island from an outside perspective. Lesley helps me do that.


And remember, you Yanks - I love you. Have I said that before? Just in case you didn't get it the first time. Please don't leave me!


Hope y' all have a great day, and that none of you choked on your Starbucks.

More Pictures

In another post, I showed some of what was hanging in the lounge and in the dining room.


Here's another selection.

This hangs in the guest bedroom.

The background colours in the print match the bedroom walls, but I love the quietness of the picture. It's so elegant, and peaceful, and quiet.

Elegance. Peace. Quietness. Sounds just like ...... er, ME!

This was given to me by a friend who lived near us when we were in Glasgow.

I love the frame, the colours and the 'feel' of the whole picture.

But I especially love the words.

"O Lord, Thou art the potter, and we are the clay, and the work of Thy hand." Isaiah 64:8

"'For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, 'plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope'." Jeremiah 29:11

A Poem for Mum

A couple of years ago, my sister and I put together an album of photos for my Mum who was turning 70. I also wrote a poem. Apologies in advance to many of you for the Gaelic inserts, and for local references that probably will not make too much sense to the rest of the known world.

One thing might be useful though: The Castle is an actual castle in Stornoway, but has for many years been used as a college. My Mum and some of her friends were 'domestics' in the Castle, and they still talk with such fond memories of their 'Castle Days'. 

For Mum - 70 years young

17th January 2008

Seventy years ago today

A baby came to Ness

What joy they felt in Emag's house

A girl for Nanag to dress.

Catherine Mary was her full name

After loved ones she was called

But very soon became Cathy Bheag

'Cos she wasn't so very tall!

Now growing up "sa bhail' againn fhìn"

Were plenty of youngsters back then

From the border of Habost to the loch near Cross

And the friends in 'taigh Fhionnlaigh Ten'

But then the Castle Days arrived

With Jessie and Cathie in tow

And Katag along with their other friends

The town girls were dealt some blow!

These country bumpkins just shouldn't be

Competition for town glamour queens

'Cò th' ann ach sinn?' was what they thought

But the boys seemed very keen!

Out on the town on a Friday night

So many new friends were found

From Back, the West Side and town itself

Pals that were really 'sound'!

But oh the boys, the lovely boys

Who came to the Castle to learn

No matter it seems where they came from

There were none as lovely as them.

To this very day, how often we hear

'Tha 'm fear 'ud cho snog 's a ghabhas'

'How do you know him?', we often ask

Then we see the look in the eyes.

'Oh', we say, 'please say no more

He must be a Castle Lad'

And we know of course there were none like them

No chance any of them were bad.

The dates were coming thick and fast

So many to choose from

I wonder if there would be any chance

Of mixing up who was with whom?

No surely not - not even Mum

Could go to a dance with one

And leave the place with someone else

I can't believe that was done!

But sure enough, I believe it's true

The night she started with Dad

A birdie tells the date didn't start

With him, but another lad!

Oh Mother, how could you do such a thing!

I'm glad I didn't follow your lead

Marina too would do no such thing

Your girls would do no such deed!

'Now isn't that true, wee Sis?', I ask

'We wouldn't have behaved like that!

At least we'd wait til the night was out

And then, we'd turn them down flat!'

But Kenny Boy was the one after all

That stole her heart and mind

And in '62 down the aisle she walked

With Jessie and Cathie behind.

Not long after that to twenty-three

In Swainbost they'd come

The home that Neil, Marina and I

Still think of as 'our home'.

So many good times were had in that home

So many friends would come there

Laughs to be had and food any time

With love and plenty of care.

At òrduighean beag' and òrduighean mòr'

They came from near and far

Good talks amongst the people of God

All churches on even par.

With Grampa and kids, and dogs and hens

And people in and out

Yet nobody felt the house too full

All, welcome, there was no doubt.

And then to town, Mum and Dad they moved

To Dad's old stomping ground

And there they started the B&B

And new friends were soon to be found.

They came from all across the globe

To Meadowbank B&B

Good food and plenty of comforts were there

For all who came to see.

And now in Lochs in a cosy flat

So easy to keep and to clean

How good God's been to you and to Dad

His love is so easily seen.

So now as you reach a milestone in life

It's easy to look right back

And see how God was taking good care

And seeing you had no lack.

And so we want to thank you tonight

Myself, Marina and Neil

For being our Mum, for all you have done

We really had a great deal!

But most of all, we have God to thank

For He's the One who is best

He cares for us like noone else can

In Him we can truly rest.

Here are some photos of photos! I should really scan them, and then download them, but .....well, the girls are busy!

You can see a hint of one of Mum's wedding photos, showing her three bridesmaids.

Mum and her two brothers, taken around 1950.

Aren't they elegant! Didn't the ladies dress so beautifully then.

Here is Mum (far right) with two friends sitting at the Castle. Jessie, on the left, has been her best friend since childhood. Although not related to us, she is Auntie Jessie to us, and is very precious to our family.

Mum and Dad on a date before they married.

Isn't Mum's dress gorgeous. 

No wonder Mum looks at me, in my cut-offs and boots, and rolls her eyes, saying, 'Where did I go wrong? I don't know who you took your sense of dress (lack of) from!'

Their wedding

Here we are - all but my baby sister.

This is the only photo ever, ever, ever of myself that I actually like.

I did post a photo of myself here the other day, and it took all of my ..... my.... something to do it.

I can't tell you how I hate being on the 'other' side of the camera. Apart from my *major* phobia, it's probably my biggest dread.

This was at my wee sister's wedding. Mum looked lovely, though I have realised I'm now posting yet another photo of myself.

Maybe this is what they call Confronting your Fears. Be strong, Anne. Be strong.

I had to include a photo from Mum's one and only trip abroad.

In 2001, she and I went to Canada for two weeks: one week was spent in Ontario; the other in Vancouver. Here's Mum and I (again...gulp!), with Merle, who has since passed away, at the Niagara Falls.