I've been so busy lately that blogging has gone low on the priority list.  But I did promise photos of the Scotland trip.  And I suppose that an update on life might be nice too--at least it might provide me with the sense that I've been doing something lately.

I do have to apologize for the camera though.  It was acting up a lot, and I don't think the colours in some of the photos are perfectly true.  Still, I have picked the best of the lot to show you.


Cawdor Castle.  We've been there before, years ago.  I think perhaps it may have been my first trip to Scotland, or maybe the second, when Belle was a toddler.  If you know your Shakespeare, this is supposedly the scene of MacBeth.  It is an inhabited castle--so one isn't able to see the entire building, however the rooms we were allowed to see were very interesting.  One thing that helped a lot was the quiz the children were given to fill out.  It drew one's attention to details that would otherwise have gone unnoticed.


This is the countryside around Inverness.  I really really love this area.  My husband's Aunt lives up in this area, and we had a lovely visit with her.
The Fisher Woman statue in the town of Nairn, and the beach beyond.  It was a grey day but the sea was beautiful anyway.  The pinkish hue to the photo of the statue is due to the camera rather than the lighting.

Chatelherault, a former hunting lodge of the Duke of Hamilton, and now a country park with play area.  I believe the building, and grounds are often used for weddings.
The last three photos are of Bothwell Castle, again a place that we have been to on nearly every trip.  It is located about five minutes from my sister-in-law's house.  It is a very old castle.  We were actually there twice this trip.  The last picture is from the first visit, a late afternoon walk with Granny's dog.  I have a lot of good photos of the ruins from previous visits.  The castle is very photogenic with the red sandstone walls.  This time the weather didn't permit great photos, but I like this silhouette, even though the lines are caused by...you guessed it...the camera.

It was a bit rainy the second day we visited, when we actually went inside.  We climbed up a very steep, slippery, narrow, winding stone staircase to the top of the tower.  I didn't get photos of that because I was a) holding on with both hands to the rope attached to the wall, and b) because every time I looked at the stairs, I felt a bit dizzy.  Going up was difficult, and going down was SCARY.  But the view from the top was beautiful.  And yes, the kids went too--Daddy in front and me in the back, watching every step they took.  For some strange reason, nearly all of us had sore leg muscles the following day.

We had a great time browsing the wee shop in the castle and making some purchases to bring home, among them a book of castles (Usborne), and a fridge magnet for my collection.  The gentleman in the shop chatted with us for a long time.  I believe he probably hadn't had another visitor all day.

So a few photos of the trip.  It was a lovely visit, and fun to reminisce about it.  Just sorry the pictures didn't turn out better.

   We are in the process of adopting Kate from Latvia. She is a handicap girl who dresses herself with her teeth. She will be visiting us during Christmas. The orphanage doesn't want her any longer. They were putting her through training courses to learn "independent living" so they could ship her out. She is only ten years old. How do you live independently when you can only use your mouth to dress yourself, let alone use the bathroom? Her fate is certain death if she stays. The orphanage complained that she was too much for them to lift any longer. Our hearts hurt for Kate. If you would like to help us adopt her, send a check  in care of Kate to :

Open Door Adoption
PHONE: (229) 228-6339  EMAIL: opendoor@rose.net
P.O. Box 4  218 E. Jackson Street
Thomasville, GA 31799

Thanks!!
This is a picture of her at eight years old. She is now ten years old.

I got this recipe from my friend Lyn, but I put my own spin on it.  We have it every Wed. for breakfast and often have the leftovers for a snack.  We make it up the night before and store it in the fridge to make our morning as easy (and as TASTY) as can be!

Baked Oatmeal

3 C. Oatmeal

1 C. Sugar (we use less than 1 C...  more like 3/4 C. of organic, unbleached sugar... I tried honey, but it didn't turn out as soft as we liked)

1 t. salt.  (I use kosher sea salt)

2 t. baking powder (I use aluminum free from Costco)

6 scoops of organic whey protein powder (we use the kind sweetened with stevia and xylitol and either chocolate OR vanilla tastes great)

1 C. milk (actually we use 1 C. of kefir and sometimes add just a little more than a cup since the kefir can be quite thick.  Rice milk also works well!)

2 eggs (organic, if possible)

1/2 C. oil (we use unsweetened organic applesauce instead)

I also sprinkle in a large amount (I never measure... maybe a scant 1/4 C.???) of organic cinnamon

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Pour into greased 8x11 pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.  Serve warm topped with applesauce, warm milk, raisins, craisins, nuts, whatever you like.

We have also made this with eggnog instead of milk and it was yummy!

Oh, once I made it with choc. protein powder and added a couple heaping TBS. of raw almond butter and it was nice like that too!

Alyssa over at Live and Learn won the Peppermint Oil from Beeyoutiful this week.  My son drew her name from little tiny pieces of paper in my hand today. 

The kind folks at Beeyoutiful have offered up one more Tea Tree Oil

and one more Peppermint Oil to be given away so next week I'll be offering the wonderful Tea Tree Oil once again.  It's the best for cleaning, skin ailments and tons of other uses.  Just click on the Tea Tree Oil link to find out more.

Check back and don't miss the give a way starting next Sunday.
Blessings!

I have decided after much prayer that I need to close Show and Tell Friday.  It has been wonderful connecting with so many ladies this way.  I feel like I need to scale back some in my life.  Thank you all who have joined in ALL on the fun over the last couple of years. 

Our little preemie, Sarah, turns two today!

Happy birthday, Sarah Jane!!!

Has been a long time posting.
I am reorganizing here :) Have a new header and such.

I plan to devote this blog to teaching and homeschooling ideas.

Speaking of which . . . two resources you are going to love!!

Autumn Treasures - we still have beautiful foliage here--so still a great time to do this unit study/lapbook!

Celebrating 19 Years !

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I have to say  ...boy have we come a long way baby!   I had moved and  started a whole new life with Handsome in a different country from my birth, had four sweet boys, built a house and a life with my Handsome.   Do I regret any of it ???  No, God has blessed me through the thick and the thin and has shaped and molded us in so many ways. ( and still is !)  

Honey,

Happy Anniversary and may we have MANY more !  I am more in love with you now than I was way back then and I was head over heals in love with you then.

XXOOO