A Road Trip with the Girls, and a Chat on Patrice's Porch

 Hi, Patrice. I've missed a number of your weekly chats - you can tell Wendell I've missed him the most. ;)

Those of you who are on Homeschool on the Croft's Facebook page will know I've been away since I sat on your porch. By 'away', I mean I've been on the mainland. Yes, me an' my girls went to Inverness for a couple of days.

Us three heading to Inverness meant:

- lots of driving
- lots of blethering
- a fair bit of shopping.

Here we are, having arrived in Inverness. Catherine was driving, I was wearing a pair of Katie's sunglasses that look like they were made for someone with a somewhat larger head than mine, and Katie was photographing. Such fun.

We all, of course, like to try new things, experience previously unknown, er, experiences, and so the girls dragged me along to McDonald's.

Yes, you read that correctly: I had never been to McDonald's before. Catherine shooed me off to a table and herself and Katie got our order. I'd only read half a page of my book when they were with me, food an' all. When we'd removed our stuff from the trays, I asked (stupidly, it turned out), 'Did you forget a glass?'.

A glass! Oh, the hilarity ... The Smooth-no-bits orange juice was to be drunk out of the bottle.

Hey, it was fine. I managed. And the Chicken Burger with Spicy Salsa was actually delicious. I was impressed with the speed of service, the chips (Catherine's, but I stole some), the burger and the roll. 

Next time, I'll remember to bring my own glass.

And now, Patrice, onto your questions for this week.


1. Did you ever take piano lessons, as a child or adult?

No, Patrice, I didn't and if I could add anything into my childhood, it would be piano lessons. I absolutely love listening to the piano being played, and still dream of playing it myself one day.


2. How many times do you eat out each month?

We don't eat out, on average, even once a month. We ate out last week to celebrate Katie's beginning college, and the Builder and I ate out when we were away at a wedding over the summer. Before that .... ummm, I can't really remember when we ate out last. Because it's such a rare thing, eating out is a real treat for me.

This was my pudding from our eating out experience in summer. There's a bit of a story behind it, but suffice to say we had the most amazing meal at the Drumossie Hotel, outside of Inverness. The whole meal was simply exquisite, and this dessert was the perfect ending to a perfect evening. 

A lemon pudding with a thyme foam, raspberry sorbet on a bed of crushed nuts, and two shortcake rounds.

Ohhhhh boy .... 

3. If you could snap your fingers and change one thing about your appearance, what would that be? (Temporary or permanent)

Hmm, I'm not sure I'll draw attention to all my defects, Patrice.

But I do think that we often see ourselves differently from the way others look at us. I remember when I was about seventeen (aka a lifetime ago), I was at college in Inverness and this guy was telling me he had been talking about me to another fellow, and was trying to describe me ... I assume his description began with, 'You know the really, really small one....'

Having tried to describe me for a while, the other guy eventually said, 'Oh, you mean the one with the mole beneath her nose!'

'Umm ... I don't know. Does she?'

Well, I had many issues then with my appearance - I was seventeen! - but the tiny wee mole on my upper lip? I have to be honest and say it never kept me awake at night. In fact, I'd hardly ever noticed it, yet this fella associated me with this MOLE! 

Not my height. Not the gap between my teeth. Not - well, not a hundred other things. Only that wee mole!

To really answer your question, Patrice ... yes, there are things I'd change, but all that stuff I'm not happy with - they're just externals. They don't really matter. Eternal matters - they matter. Our looks? Not so much.


4. Do you like looking at art or photography? Do you go to any places that displays them?

I do love looking at photos others have taken, and love to admire the talented eye some photographers have. 

If you go to the site, Digital Overdose, you will see some fabulous photos from our neck o' the woods. I love photos that make me feel as well as admire, and so many of his photos do just that. They speak to my heart as well as to my eye. Does that make sense?

This photographer also shared this timelapse video with me today:




It was taken from his own home, but shows our house 'on the hill'. The video gives you some idea of why I am known to go on and on (and on ...and on) about 'our sunsets'.


5. Do you have new things for your fall/winter wardrobe?

As you know, Patrice, our Summers do not behave like your Summers. And our Autumns do not behave like yours either. Our seasons mean that my wardrobe doesn't change around too much from month to month, or season to season. And because I spend most of my time at home, and especially now that we have our wonderful little stove, my beloved cut-offs will be with me all winter. 

Much to my daughters' joy. 

"Isn't that right, girls?"

No response, came the stern reply.