Cowboys don't come Cuter than this...

This was our cute little waiter tonight ...

...sitting patiently after the meal...

... and not so patiently.

Waiting. Waiting for...

...this!

And now we have the cutest cowboy in the West.

The quickest draw in the West.

As I say, the cutest, noisiest cowboy...

to ever say, 'I love you Mom so, so much'.

2011, from April to June

In April, we had a new addition to our family

Our very cute, Jackson, became part of our family.

Sometimes, I wish he was still that size...

We also had a Homeschoolers' get-together to celebrate the Queen's birthday, but the day was so lovely, we spent most of our afternoon at the beach.

Here, we have to take advantage of the weather when we can.

During April we had the very joyful event of our Royal marriage, our day tinged with some sadness, of which you can read here.

In May, we looked at Harris Tweed in a number of posts, and in this one, we met a friend who weaves on a traditional loom.

And, began our look at the fruit and veg for this year's plot.

Finally, for this post, we have a little skim through June.

I answered some of your questions in this post

and we had a look at Big Brother shearing some sheep....

...with a little help from a (little) friend :)

Beginning our Review of This Year's Posts

We're coming to the end of another year and here's the first look back at 2011 on the blog.

In January, we looked at the reason for sheep. I was glad we studied this topic, because I did know there must be a good reason for them.

In February, I took a walk along the beach...not our beach, but the beach to which we went when I was growing up.

In March, the girls and I went to the mainland, 

we drove to Harris for the day, 

and both Catherine 

and Katie celebrated their birthdays.

As we enter our final week before Christmas, I realise that those of you who have the gift of organisation are more fortunate than you'll ever know.

Those of us who are not, are thankful that we are loved despite what we are. 

In the next review, we will look at some posts from the next three months of the year.

On the Flightpath

Every time I looked up yesterday, I seemed to see one of these...

I took this photo up at our local Post Office. I was thinking as I took it of the many, many emigrants who left our shores to go where this plane was going.

They, however, did not have the luxury of a plane journey. And those left at home did not have the luxury of a telephone like the one in the photo. They would never hear the voices of their loved ones again.

Here is our local Post Office. It may be cute, but it is also the handiest thing ever. I know that many communities had their Post Offices closed down over the past few years, but I am so thankful we still have ours.

Last year, when DR was going to Canada and the USA (er...did you hear he went across the Pond? His siblings have never stopped hearing it... don't you just love brothers?!) I ordered money in dollars from here. The money comes from the mainland, but I had it at lunchtime the following day. Great service!

As I said, every time I looked upward yesterday, these planes seemed to be passing.

....Mocking me.

Another one gone, and we're not on it.

These photos are taken looking south over the Ness moor, with the sun setting in the South. I'm about a mile South of our house, with the sea West of me, and the moor, with its expanse of peat, stretching for miles.

Friends Reunited

Ever since November 5th, when the rams went on their holidays, I've sat here day after day after day, wondering when my friends would be back.

I mean, how long can any one holiday be? How much fun can any two rams have on a holiday?

Don't I look sad? All alone, no one to talk to.

And then, out of the blue, last Saturday afternoon....they arrive home.

I had a good look at them. Thought they'd lost a bit of weight. Looking a bit peeky, I thought. Tired, I thought.

Clearly, their holiday didn't do them much good. I must tell Big Brother not to let them go on that kind of holiday again. I just know the rams would thank me for it in the long run.

I waited for them to come and speak to me.

Nothing.

An hour passed...

Daddy, why don't they come and say Hello?

Mum....Is there something wrong with me?

All they're doing is eating.

All day long. Munch, munch.

Oh, hang on, Mum. He's coming over...

It's Bruce and he's coming to talk to me! 

....Or maybe not...

More food.

That's it. I'm no bothering with them any more.

Even I don't eat all day long.

Yes, I know it's because Mum and Dad don't let me. I've heard them saying how fat Labradors can get, and how they'd never refuse food, and how they'd eat all day if they could, and how the vet says owners are always duped by the pathetic, hungry look on their pet Lab's face. 

I hate the Vet for saying that. They'd have been totally duped if he hadn't spilled the beans.

Beans? Did someone mention beans? That's food, isn't it? 

Another Lovely Visit, and it's Getting Close to The Big Day ...

How lovely to have a little time out, Patrice, and to come and chat with y'all. Are things as hectic with all of you as it is here? I just don't have a minute, and even my poor blog is not seeing as much of me as it ought. 

I'm glad we're inside too. The days here are so dark. When it's raining and cloudy at this time of year, we really feel like it doesn't brighten up at all. The official sunset is at 3.30pm, but even around midday, we need the lights on. Never mind, warm homes, plenty of food, and good health... certainly no reason for moaning.

And so to your questions:

1. Where is your favourite place to think, reflect, or pray?


Well, every lunchtime, I go into our lounge, and sit in a very comfy chair in the corner. In summer, this corner will have had the sun all morning, so it's nice and warm. It's also close to the radiator in the room, so at this time of year, it's nice too. This hour is my hour, and the kids know not to come and fetch me unless someone is bleeding really badly, or the house (or garage!) is on fire.


This is when I read and pray - my quiet time. Although I pray in the mornings, I am much more relaxed during this hour, and am able to spend time in God's Word and in prayer.  


2. Did you believe in Santa as a kid?


No, I didn't, but I don't think any of the kids around me did either. I never remember it being an issue. When our own kids were young, they always knew the pressies came from us, but we had to warn them every winter not to dare say that to other kids. Parents would be absolutely irate and it's not my kids who'd get it... it'd be ME! Other mums scared me!


3. What's your favourite kind of Christmas cookie? You can add a recipe if you have time.


Is a 'cookie' a cookie? ... like a chocolate chip cookie, like this

...or are cookies any little biscuit-type-cakes?

I haven't, traditionally, had Christmas cookies, and muffins aren't something we normally do for breakfast over here, but I saw a wonderful recipe the other day for Breakfast muffins. I'm thinking they'll go down a treat at the holidays. The recipe is for Apple Muffins, and it can be found at Cooking for Seven's blog.

I can almost smell them through the screen. Apple and cinnamon ... Yum!

Oh, Wendell, I think you'd love them, so next week I'll bring some round for you. (And shhhh, don't tell anyone - I'm only gonna share them with you ;)

4. Did you grow up around any of your grandparents?


Both my Dad's parents lived until I was into my twenties, but my Mum's dad actually lived with us until he passed away when I was nine years of age. I've written about him already here. My every memory of him is precious, and even now, 35 years after his death, I tear up thinking of him. 


I absolutely. loved. him.


To young folks who have their grandparents, my advice would be to make as much use of them being there as possible. Speak to them. Ask them questions. Get to know them ... I mean really know them. Drag information out of them - remember they come from a generation which didn't blow their own trumpet, and that's why we have so few stories from their past. I never heard my Grampa talk of his years in the Great War; nor his years in New Zealand; nor even simply of his childhood. How I'd love to have these stories!


To those of you who are grandparents, my advice would be to be a grandparent, not a parent. Never go against the wishes of grandchildren's parents - that's a no-no - but at the same time, I reckon you can spoil them a bit. Sit with them. Read to them. Talk with them. Have fun with them. Their memories of their times with their grandparents will then never be forgotten. That's my experience anyway.


5. What's your favourite winter sport - skiing, skating, sledding, other? If you are in a warm place, what is your favourite winter sport to watch when the Winter Olympics are televised?


I think we qualify as a warm place! 


We don't get a lot of snow, so I'll have to answer this as I live vicariously through the lives of these madmen who zoom down mountainsides at crazy speeds. We love the Winter Olympics, but I spend half my viewing time squealing and screaming because of the dangers these guys are in. I think they're mad. Mad, but I love watching it (even if it is from behind part-covered eyes half the time!)


Well, once again, Patrice, thanks so much for our lovely visit. This time next week... oh, I don't even want to think of it. I know y'all will find it so hard to believe - me being the ultra-organised person I am - but I am so incredibly disorganised. Seriously. Even by my (very low) standards, this year is bad. Real bad.

Today's Newspapers

The dramas in Europe happened too late for today's newspapers. In Europe last night, Prime Minister David Cameron vetoed a treaty change, and has left the United Kingdom 'out in the cold' in the EU. 


Methinks I shan't be losing too much sleep over that particular isolation.


Terry Smith was interviewed on Radio 4's Today programme. His blog is here, and you can read the full transcript of his interview on the blog. Here is a snippet:

JUSTIN WEBB: Presenter
Is it a good result for the euro? The markets, Robert Peston was telling us a few minutes ago, have not been too impressed, at least in their early thoughts. Let’s go to Terry Smith who’s chief executive of Tullett Prebon and Fundsmith, and what do you make of it, Mr Smith?

TERRY SMITH: Chief Executive, Tullett Prebon and Fundsmith
What I make of it? I’m not sure that this leaves Britain isolated, we’re still members of the European Community. But if we are isolated, we might be as isolated as somebody who refused to join the Titanic just before it sailed.

JUSTIN WEBB: 
It’s still the Titanic?

TERRY SMITH: 
Yes, it’s still the Titanic. I mean, there is nothing that guarantees that the euro will survive at all, or in its current form in this. The essentials that would be needed to make that work just aren’t obviously present in the deal that’s being done.

'...as isolated as somebody who refused to join the Titanic 

just before it sailed'

This has got to be the line of the year!

Anyway, onto today's papers.

This wind turbine was caught on camera going on fire in the hurricane winds that tore through Scotland yesterday. Winds of 150mph were recorded in the Cairn Gorms.

This headline follows another item of news earlier in the week which claimed that 40% of cancers could be prevented if people stopped smoking and overeating, limited their alcohol intake and exercised regularly. 

  

The Daily Telegraph reports on an undercover investigation they have been involved in. The Telegraph has recorded this chief examiner boasting about how little content is in the Geography GCSE and how easy it is.

Oops.

And finally...

The Times has a photo from yesterday's strong winds, but leads with more on the Euro crisis. Notice the right-hand side column. "American 'cowboys' blamed for NHS fiasco". Somehow, I don't think it's the Tim Cox type of cowboy of which they talk.