Storm Katie Arriving? We've our very own ...

Apparently Storm Katie is about to hit the UK. The Met Office are telling us that England and Wales are going to be affected by winds of around 60mph.

I have two things to say:

1. Winds of 60 mph are not a storm. They are but a gentle breeze - the kind of breeze us Nisich (folks from Ness) wouldn't even notice except to say, 'Oh, what a great day for the washing'.

But more importantly ...

2. Did no one tell the Met Office that Storm Katie arrived exactly 19 years ago?

Yes, 19 years ago, God gifted us our second daughter. You can go to this blog post to see a whole lot of Katie :) . For today, we'll concentrate only on the past year.

This was Katie last year, celebrating her 18th birthday ...

And in the year since that evening, so much has happened.

She visited Paris, and was enthralled by the Eiffel Tower and the rest of the city;

She spent a week in Italy (yes, Italy!), and delighted in its ancient history, its food, and its sunshine.

(We're not jealous, are we?)

She then left her room in the home she'd known since she was six years of age:

She voted for the first time, 

And chose the Atlantic for her Ice Bucket Challenge dip.

And of course...

She was bridesmaid to her dearest (okay, she's her only) sister.

Aye, it's been something of a full year, my darling, and now we thank God for His blessings of another year, and wish you a very happy and blessed year for this coming one.

(with one of her birthday presents: Highland Cow, by Tamsin Thomson Art)

And getting ready to blow out her candle, kindly supplied by the staff at Pittodrie House Hotel!

 You are such a gift to us. A precious gift from God, and I hope you know just how much you are loved by us.

Sunshine, Trees, a Walk, and Some Stunning Scenery

Our cottage sits on the side of a hill. From the front of the cottage, we look down the hill - primarily at trees, albeit beautifully coloured trees at this time of year. And so the trees are forgiven for hiding the countryside beyond.

However, today we headed out the back of the house ...

and into the wooded area behind the cottage.

The sun was shining, it was the mildest of November days, and Katie and Calum Stewart  persuaded me to head out into the sunshine.

Katie, like me, stuck to the tracks, whilst the Wee Guy took less conventional routes.

These trees are tall. 

The aged parent (that's me) was way fitter than the pair who were following me up the path.

C'mon guys! 

The day was stunning. The view was beyond stunning, if that is possible. Our frequent stops on the way up the path had nothing to do with the steepness of the climb and our own general lack of fitness, did it, Katie?

Nope. Not at all. Our frequent stops were simply to drink in some of the beauty around us.

Above the tree line, there was little growing but heather. Most of it had a real beyond-summer look to it, but here and there, there were splashes of colour still remaining.

I do love the way some plants cling on to summer for as long as possible, extending their flowering season and so giving us the pleasure of their colourful beauty well after their allotted time has passed. It feels like they've gone above and beyond their call of duty, for no reason other than to give us added pleasure.

Bennachie is right behind where we live, and although we weren't climbing Bennachie, we climbed to the top of part of this ridge.

Clearly a number of folks had added their own stone to this càrn over the years. It was so beautiful today, we could easily have sat having a picnic here. As it was, we'd come food-less (never excusable), and so we simply drank in the beauty around us.

Here's Bennachie, south of where we were. All being well, we'll reach the fort at the top one day. After all, to not go to where a fort is would be, well, unforgivable. Ain't that right, CS?

It was a fair way up our chosen path, but an easy enough walk. And of course the descent was great fun! I'm so glad I persuaded myself to leave my work, forget my ironing, and even ignore the fact that Calum Stewart had done his History, but not his Maths or any of his other work, and siezed the moment.

Winter isn't far off, and so enjoying this Indian summer kinda day was important. What was even more important was simply enjoying some outdoor fun with the Wee Guy, who isn't wee any more, and who is, at least, still living with us.

Unlike the two older kids who've deserted us. What's all that about, eh? What on earth has possessed them to think of living away from their Mum and Dad. I mean ... they're still babies, for crying out loud.

Well, they were just a couple of short years ago.

SUMMER HAS ARRIVED!!!

Yes, the capitals are necessary. And yes, the exclamation marks are necessary.

Having had the least summery summer I have ever known, the past couple of days have given us a real taste of summer sunshine. In Autumn.

Despite all our busyness, Katie decided to drop tools and head down to the beach to enjoy  the delicious sights and sounds on Tràigh Shanndaigh. I haven't done anything to any of the photos, so the colours do not do justice to the beauty, but I still want to give y'all a glimpse of 'our beach'. Yes, that's the beach that will soon not be on our doorstep. It will, however, be 'our beach' for our kids forever.

What the pictures never show (and yes, I know I've said this time and time again) is the sound of the sea. It really is well named, Ceòl na Mara.

There is something about the sound of the ocean that is inexplicable. At least, I am unable to explain it.

All I can say is that it does something to the deepest parts of my heart.

 And finally, it was time for Katie to come home.

*      *      *

Yesterday, Katie and Calum couldn't resist heading down again. 

Now, normally Katie's selfies look something like this:

(this was from Tuesday's visit to the beach)

....or like this:

(this was from yesterday's trip)

But, believe it or not, she pointed the camera in the proper direction and gave us a proper selfie today.

and even gave us a doubly-fab-selfie:

There's something about the endless rolling of the waves that makes even Calum, at his stage of life, stop and ponder.

Jackson, on the other hand, has little time for such contemplation ...

 This is more his style.

Happy Birthday, Katie!

We have had two birthdays this week here. 

Y'all may or may not know that these two gifts were given to me on Mothering Sundays. Yep, on Mother's Day, 1995, I was given our first daughter; and on Mother's Day, 1997, I was given our second daughter.

How cool is that?!

Surely the best Mother's Day gifts ever!

My baby girl was 18 this week, so I thought I'd take some trips through Memory Lane to remind Katie of some things she's done, and places she's been in the past few years.

*      *      *

Katie, remember when yourself, Catherine, and myself went for our trip to Edinburgh?

This was where you first cut your hair short ...

.... and where you had great fun in the shops. 

*      *      *

Remember when the three of us went to Inverness for a wee trip?

...and you took me to McDonalds, where you both had a laugh at my expense when the tray arrived and I asked where the glass was.

A glass?? In McDonalds?!?! Clearly, I had a lot to learn...

*      *      *

And remember our overnight trip to London? Our whistlestop tour of the city, and then our non-stop drive from the south of London all the way to Inverness.

Fun times .... even though the Boris Bikes were clearly not made for people who are as, erm, vertically challenged as you and me ...

*      *      *

 Remember when you decided to do the Ice Bucket challenge ... in the Atlantic!

... when you got to vote for the first time?

when you got the first glimpse of Catherine in a wedding dress?

When we had a fun photo-shoot down on the beach?

And remember when your older siblings went off to Europe without you?

Just as well you've got a forgiving nature, eh? :)

*      *      *

You're happy with tools in your hand ...

Yup, you're in your element when you're armed and dangerous ...

But you are happiest behind the wheel of ... well, of any vehicle!

On the other hand, we are happiest when you do your stuff in the kitchen.

No matter what you turn your hand to, it all turns out delicious, whether the mint fudge, 

or the yummy Victoria Sponge.

*     *     *

Eighteen years ago, Katie, God gave us our second daughter, our third child. 

You. 

Over the years, you've made us laugh so much; you've brought us so much joy ...

You really are our very Special K...

and I love you.

More and more with each year that passes.