More Chatting... This Time, We're Inside

Patrice, I'm delighted we're chatting inside today. The thought of a warm drink and a cozy corner sounds wonderful. 

All that and great company.... What more could we ask for?

1. Have you ever had a blog slump?

Well, Patrice, I think I'm there now. I'm not sure I have a blog slump, as such, but I do feel that I'm going to end up writing about the same things over and over. I keep thinking of stuff to blog about, and then I think, 'Oh, I've said all that before, and I've shown similar photos before.... the readers will be bored seeing all this again.'

But another blogger said recently that blog-readers come and go frequently. That means that there are probably readers who weren't with me this time last year, and so all this is not second-hand for them.

Maybe every blog needs, at some stage, to decide in which direction to go. I may need to give it some thought...

2. What's your favourite way to serve hot chocolate? Marshmallows on top? Whipped cream? A cinnamon stick?

I actually don't drink hot chocolate, but our kids love it. DR loves it with all of the above, and bells on top. Catherine is a plain Jane; the Wee Guy likes cream but not marshmallows; and Katie is a cream person too, I think.

I do love the thought of hot chocolate, and love my kids having it when they've come in from a cold, wintry day. But it aint my cup o' tea... 

3. How do you handle it when you see someone you think you know, but cannot place? Do you approach them and ask, shy away, or just go home and hope you don't think of it at 2am?

Oh, Patrice, you must have had me in mind when you asked this question. This happens to me all the time. I see a face, I know I know the face, I know I've seen the person before.... but where? and when? 

Do I know them from way back when I was hairdressing? Er, that's nearly 25 years ago. 

Do I know them because I met them at a church service somewhere? 

Do I know the face because they look like someone else I know? 

Or do I simply know her face because she served me once in Tesco? 

As for what I do...well, that depends. If the person comes up to me and talks, then I have no choice. I smile, and take my cue from what she's saying to me of course,

"Hi, Anne! I haven't seen you in ages!"

"Oh, Hi! No....not for ages" I smile, a thousand thoughts racing through my head. Church? Tesco? The salon? Glasgow? Someone's mother? Someone's daughter? My cousin?

None ring a bell.

"So, how are Mum and Dad?"

"Oh," I smile...here's a clue. She knows my parents. Scrub Glasgow. Scrub the salon. "They're fine, thanks. Yes, really good." I'm playing for time. Should I ask her how her parents are? Maybe they're not living. When did they die? Twenty years ago? Then I have no excuse for not knowing. Two weeks ago? I could have her in floods of tears....

"I haven't seen them for ages. Tell them I'm asking for them."

This is the point at which I ought to say, 'You know, I know I know you, but I just can't put a name to you', but I'm terrified in case I know her really well, and she may be hugely offended. She may be my cousin. Or someone in whose company I was only five days ago. Oh Anne, get a grip. Think! 

Talk about the weather.... something neutral, but it'll give you time, Anne.

"Isn't the snow lovely." Oh, I think...mention that you've driven from Ness. Then she might say where she's driven from. "The roads from Ness were clear though."

"Oh," she says with a wave of her hand, "I don't know how you people can live in a place like that. I'd hate to live out of town."

She's a townie. And all of a sudden I've decided I'm not bothered. How dare she 'not know how anyone can live in a place like Ness'.... Huh! All that effort. All that panicking lest I offend. All these palpitations.... 

for a Townie.

4. What was your position in your family? Were you the eldest, a middle child, the youngest, or an only child?

I was the middle child of three. This is why I'm scarred for life.

Actually, I'm not scarred. Er...no, I'm not!

I definitely do think a person's position in the family makes a huge difference though. I'm not saying that the eldest always ends up thinking he's boss, or wanting his own way. And I'm not saying that the youngest is always the cutest and grows up knowing this to be true. I'm not saying it's always true, but ... I'm just sayin'.

5. How do you handle accumulated possessions (stuff)? Are you a pack-rat, a minimalist, or somewhere in between?

In my dreams I am a minimalist. Oh, talking of dreams - last night, I was in Toronto, and we were in a huge stadium waiting for the Ness football (soccer) team to turn up. They were going to be playing and we were there to watch. We hadn't, though, flown out just for the game - we seemed to be there anyway, but thought nothing odd of the Ness team coming all the way out to this huge stadium in Toronto to play.

And two nights ago, I was in South Dakota. Now, I've never been to South Dakota, and I know nobody from this state. It is, however somewhere I'd love to go (....along with the other 49 states, right enough), but I dreamt I was in SD. On a ranch.

There were horses and everything. But thankfully, no one made me ride one.. Phew! Even in a dream, that would have been too much.

What were we talking about, Patrice? Oh yes, 'stuff'. I have it all over. Loads and loads of it. And then I have a purge, and I fill a dozen bin bags, with some going to charity, some to friends, and some to the bin. My greatest problem is that I have to begin the process and see it through before the Builder comes home. If he so much as sniffs a black bin bag, he trawls through it 'in case I'm throwing something out he wanted to keep'. I'm not kidding. The whole exercise has to be well and truly over before he gets a whiff of my day's work. And so, I am destined to live in a guddle. 

And that's yet another reason, Patrice, I love to spend some time with you and the other ladies each week. Just a wee while chilling and chatting. Drinking tea and eating cake (we do have cake, right?). Ahhhh, bliss.

Our First Snow

This is what we woke to this morning.

Simply lovely...

Katie and Calum went for a little stroll in the road. 

Everything looks so lovely in the snow, don't you think?

This is not the tracks of a car losing its way, but the footprints of my kiddos....

This fella absolutely loves the snow...

This is his first meeting with the white stuff, and when the Builder opened the back door for him today, he really didn't know what to make of it. He crept along the few inches of pavement right up against the wall of the house - the only black part! But, by the time Katie and Calum had him outside, he loved it so much he wouldn't come back in for them! 

He was having so much fun. Let's hope this isn't gonna be our snow quota for the year. 

For Sale

Today, I decided this daughter...

... is for sale.

Actually, I take that back. She's free to a good home.

Why?

Because, whilst I was merrily minding my own business in another part of the house today, she allowed this...

to happen.

She not only allowed Jackson, aka destroyer-of-all-things-his-mouth-finds, to find, grab and play with my boot...

... she quite happily stood and took photos of the said event.

All this knowing that this dear mutt destroys anything he can get his paws on, and his teeth into.

The photo below shows the moment I walked through the door.

Caught!

And next is a rather disturbing looking photo, of an apparently disturbed dog.

Give me my boot! 

So, all in all, you can see why the aforementioned daughter is today Free To A Good Home.

Offers in writing please...

Too Good not to Share

There are some things too good not to share.

Tell me... Does this picture not just do something to your heart?

I had never seen nor heard of Tim Cox until this week, but his paintings blow me away. Maybe those of you in the US know him well. His website is here.

The link originally came to me from CA. I reckon himself and DR need to head West next time they cross the Pond. I can see it now: 

Crofting Boys take on Wild West.

They wouldn't know what hit them. 

(I'll leave it to yourself to decide who the 'they' are!)

This one is called As Good as it Gets

...this one, Heart and Home.

And have a look at this one, called If Looks Could Kill

Could anyone tell me what's happening here?

These paintings are seen through my eyes, but they touch my heart. I'm not a horse owner, never have been, but these paintings touch a chord somewhere inside of me. There is something so beautiful in the sight of a horse and his owner. I think it's true of the sight of any man with an animal he cares for.

Something very, very special.

It's Getting to That Time of Year Again

I'm guessing, Patrice, that we'll definitely be inside for our chat today. We certainly would be if we were meeting at my place. As I type here just now, we have winds of 75mph, and hail showers banging on the window.


It sure makes you thankful for warm, secure homes.


Apparently, tomorrow will be December. I say 'apparently' because I'm not too sure it's true. You see, two weeks ago, it was September.


Wasn't it? I have no idea where time went this year.  Let's get blethering, Patrice, and then we'll have a lovely cuppa and a cake. Sound good? Yep, it does to me too :)

1. What is your favourite day of the week? Why?

Mmmm... I think I have two. I love the Lord's Day. I love that the Builder can rest on that day, because he really does need the bodily rest that day gives us. I love that I can spend so much of the day reading or listening to sermons. My soul needs that. And, of course, I love that we're able, as a whole family, to go and worship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. I love Sunday evenings, when we have pancakes and then sit in the Lounge. We all have our books and we alternate between reading and talking. It's a really relaxing time for us.

I also love Fridays. There's definitely something about 'that Friday feeling'. The Builder is normally home earlier on a Friday, so there's that to look forward to. We are able to eat together and then spend the evening together. We may make it a 'movie night' - that means guzzling chocolates whilst snuggled on the sofa. Or we may just sit and chill, and talk about our plans for the following day. Whatever we do, or don't do, I love Friday evenings, and I love the anticipation of it all day. 

Yes, I definitely have a spring in my step on Friday.

2. What's your favourite Christmas movie?

Oh, Patrice, I think these Christmas questions are going to be a nightmare for me! I'm Scottish. I'm a Highlander. I'm an Islander. I'm Scottish Presbyterian, so give me a break!

Christmas movie?? I've just asked the girls if they know of any Christmas movies. I got blank looks and shrugging shoulders. 

3. Is there a Christmas carol that's special to you?

Eeek! I may just give up on this and return in January! A Christmas carol? Er...nope.

Quickly, give me another question:

4. Is there an art or craft you'd love to be able to do?

Oh, phew! I'd love to be able to sew well. I've only ever sewn curtains. I'd love to be able to make little nicknacs, cushions and such like for the house. I'm in awe of those folks who can chuck some pieces of material together, dab on a couple of buttons, and Bob's-your-uncle, you have a lovely handmade gift. I look at it, with my jaw touching the floor, and their response to that reaction goes something like, 'Oh, tut, that's nothing. That's so easy to make.'

Er... speak for yourself. 

I'd love to decorate cakes beautifully. I'd love to be able to make nice cards, but I have the artistic ability of a hippo, and the imagination of a crow.

Not that I wish to insult hippos, who may be wonderfully artistic for all I know. As for insulting crows... to be honest, I don't mind doing that. I really don't like crows. I mean, I know they're wonders of creation in their own way, and maybe (just, maybe) they may have something beautiful about them... I know all that, but I just don't like them. They don't look nice. They don't sound nice. They just aren't nice, and I've decided I have a better imagination than them. So, I take back all I just said, and change it to me not having the imagination of a sparrow.

That's better. 

5. Do you have a live Christmas tree or an artificial one?

When we were growing up, we never had any type of tree. Since I married, and because the Builder always had a tree, we do have one. It's artificial, and it's the same one we've had for years! I'm not into Christmas decorations in a big way, although I do love the coziness of fairy lights, and the greens and reds and golds of the garlands and wreaths. As y'all know, I love the winter months, the cozy evenings, the dark nights (er, and days!), so the decor at Christmas time really suits me.

It's now time for me to hit the sack. The girls have been so busy all week painting their bedroom. They spent all of today cleaning the floor of splashes of paint, and generally cleaning and clearing up, ready for the furniture going back tomorrow. They've done so well - I certainly wouldn't have known where to begin painting a room at their ages. I'll show you some photos of the newly painted bedroom in the next couple of days... the whole expedition (that's what it felt like!) has been quite an undertaking!

Hope you all have a great week, and that we'll meet next week again on Patrices porch swing. Or in her house, as the case may be.

Looking forward to seeing you too, Wendell :)

Good News

There is a blog I always read, even in my busiest times. It's called Spilled... because my cup overflows, and Davene, its author, has such a wonderful way with words. She also has four gorgeous wee boys, and often has photos of them, and writes of what they have said. Yes, this is a definite attraction for me.

Wee boys = delight

Well, recently she announced she was pregnant again. Would you believe me if I said that...

- I wasn't jealous in the slightest bit;

- I didn't feel broody; 

- I didn't sigh and say, 'Ahhhh, if only....', before I caught myself, gave myself a mental check, and thanked God for the four blessings I have been given. 

Well, back to Davene and her boys. These boys are cute. Really, really cute. Delightful. A pleasure. They are blessings. Adorable. 


It's got to be said that a mother is not lacking much when she has Christ, a wonderful husband and four gorgeous sons.


Well, as I said, Davene is pregnant again, and she has just announced she's expecting ..... a girl. 


A Girl!! 


Now, nobody could love wee boys more than I do, and I never looked at her blog and pitied her because she had all these boys and no girls, but I have to tell you that I squealed in delight when she told us she was having a girl. I was so excited for her that I really wanted to jump up and down and hug her - a lady I've never met! The whole thing got me thinking:


I was delighted when she announced she was pregnant, but why was I ecstatic when she told us it was a girl?


I know it wasn't because I prefer girls to boys.


I know it wasn't because I loved to dress girls in pink.


I know it's not because I loved to play with dolls with them.


I think it's because I have the blessing of having both. I am the mother of sons, and the mother of daughters. Both experiences are so precious to me: one is not better than the other, nor more precious to me. But they are different experiences.


One experience is not better; nor worse: not greater; nor lesser. Just different.


And now, God willing, Davene will be able to experience the blessing of being mother to a daughter as well as being mother to sons. I would wish for every mother to experience both.


I sure wouldn't swap either ... not for the world.


But I also wish for every dad to experience both. For Davene's husband, being the father of a daughter will be a whole new experience too. What I have seen of fathers and daughters gives me to believe that this relationship is truly special too. And if I were to ask any father who has been blessed with having a little girl what he thinks.... I reckon he wouldn't swap that for the world. Yes, Mr Spilled... all being well, this little bundle is gonna change your world. You are going to discover emotions of protectiveness you never knew existed. 


Oh boy! Look out anyone who doesn't treat this little girl right! Look out, I say!


And so, to Davene and to her husband, I wish all the blessings and joys that having a daughter can bring.


To the little girl? Well, don't tell anyone I said this, but what I honestly wish for her is that she may, one day, have a sister.


Shhhhh. I said don't tell anyone I just said that ;)

The Last Couple of Days...

We haven't seen Big Brother's sheep for a while. Today, some of the ram lambs, or tup lambs, were being brought in for the winter. These animals will be sold next year, so they have to be at their best when it comes to selling time. 


Because they're inside, their food will be used by their bodies to grow big and strong, whereas if they were outside, the food would be used, in part, to keep their bodies warm.

The wind was strong today, though not quite at the speeds we've had over the past few nights. Big brother, the Wee Guy and another nephew, Daniel, were well wrapped up against the 50mph winds in the afternoon.

The Wee Guy is clearly enjoying himself.

Oi, cove! Smile like your cousin!

As you all know, we had our Thanksgiving dinner yesterday evening. We had such a lovely time. Good food and great company.... What more does a person want?

Okay. Cake-pops, home-made by Dawn;

...and a gorgeous bunch of kids.

They spent the afternoon painting leaves, 

and writing names on our place settings.

The Wee Bundle didn't want to miss out on any of the action.

After we'd eaten....

... the Bundle's daddy giving him raspberries to eat.

They didn't go down well.

...but we loved seeing his reaction.

Again and again!

Tonight, as head to bed and anticipate the Lord's Day tomorrow, we look forward to a day of rest when we can meditate on all the goodness of God to us, and give praise for all His our reasons for thanksgiving. As I type, the winds are around 80mph, and the forecast is for the gusts to be even stronger than that. What a blessing a warm, secure home is.

May you all have a wonderful Lord's Day, and may the resurrected Saviour, who is the reason for our weekly day of rest and of blessing, become all the more precious to us all.