Sunday, October 30, 2011
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Day 6. Wedding Eve.
Feels like it should be an official holiday. Wedding Eve. It's our first weekend day here (well, first we have any non-jet lagged memory of) and the town was abuzz with people. Shoppers everywhere. Lots of drinking (boy they get started early) and the weather just as suddenly turned from late fall feel to early winter feel. The air has a nice chill to it and the skies opened up a couple times with a nice cold rain. It's been absolutely beautiful (but we are the kind of folks that find the idea of a Florida vacation abhorrent ;) ).
Today we stayed local. Slept in and grabbed an early lunch. Then we all did our own thing with Chuck heading back to the apartment, Pam going shopping solo, and Les and me finishing up some last minute stuff. I got a quick haircut and then we spent a couple hours sightseeing and shopping downtown. We saw a cat that needed petting then picked up the cake at Marks & Spencer and met up with Chuck, Pam, Lesley's aunt MaryJo and her two friends Judy and Alba (or Alva, or... ? Nice lady regardless :) ).
Chuck treated us all to a nice dinner (yep, I had Haggis) and we are now back at the apartment, packed and chomping at the bit for tomorrow.
Tomorrow. Can't wait for tomorrow to be today.
Today we stayed local. Slept in and grabbed an early lunch. Then we all did our own thing with Chuck heading back to the apartment, Pam going shopping solo, and Les and me finishing up some last minute stuff. I got a quick haircut and then we spent a couple hours sightseeing and shopping downtown. We saw a cat that needed petting then picked up the cake at Marks & Spencer and met up with Chuck, Pam, Lesley's aunt MaryJo and her two friends Judy and Alba (or Alva, or... ? Nice lady regardless :) ).
Chuck treated us all to a nice dinner (yep, I had Haggis) and we are now back at the apartment, packed and chomping at the bit for tomorrow.
Tomorrow. Can't wait for tomorrow to be today.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Day 5. Let the prep begin!
This morning started off with a jaunt over to Callander to feed Hamish and check out the woolen mills. It's amazing how many Hamish toys and shirts and other memorabilia can actually be made. But the guy is cute ( as is his girlfriend and their little one).
After Callander we took Les and Pam to Arnprior for their hair trials while Chuck and I picked up our kilts. Being a knife collector I was aghast to learn that Scottish law prohibits renting the sgian dubh with the kilt. The sgian dubh (skeen-doo) is the traditional Scottish dirk/dagger worn in the kilt sock as part of the whole ensemble. The Brits are so worried about knife crime (90+% of which is committed using kitchen knives, but I digress) that they have banned renting of this piece of their heritage. Instead you get a prop that looks like one, only isn't. Bah! So I bought a proper one (Oh ouch. Twist me arm! ;) ).
Les and Pam both looked stunning with their hair all done (sorry, no pics) and Chuck and I looked like, well, guys in kilts. :p
We wrapped up the evening with a trip to an Irish pub of all things where I had... More haggis (which I also had for lunch, but in a pie crust - yum!). :D
Tomorrow we pick up the cake and pack for the wedding/honeymoon.
After Callander we took Les and Pam to Arnprior for their hair trials while Chuck and I picked up our kilts. Being a knife collector I was aghast to learn that Scottish law prohibits renting the sgian dubh with the kilt. The sgian dubh (skeen-doo) is the traditional Scottish dirk/dagger worn in the kilt sock as part of the whole ensemble. The Brits are so worried about knife crime (90+% of which is committed using kitchen knives, but I digress) that they have banned renting of this piece of their heritage. Instead you get a prop that looks like one, only isn't. Bah! So I bought a proper one (Oh ouch. Twist me arm! ;) ).
Les and Pam both looked stunning with their hair all done (sorry, no pics) and Chuck and I looked like, well, guys in kilts. :p
We wrapped up the evening with a trip to an Irish pub of all things where I had... More haggis (which I also had for lunch, but in a pie crust - yum!). :D
Tomorrow we pick up the cake and pack for the wedding/honeymoon.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Day 4. The other coast.
Of course, I suppose a country that has a coast everywhere but to the south really only has one looooong coast, but by "other" I mean west.
Today we took a long and leisurely drive to the northwest and through the uplands and southern highlands to Fort William. I have to say, not that I am an expert, but I think the most beautiful country in the world are the highlands of Scotland in the autumn. I was awe struck. Or as they say here, positively gobsmacked. I really have no words in my meager vocabulary to aptly describe the grandeur. Images of mountains and fog blanketed lochs, valleys of every green, gold and red hue imaginable, and air so crisp and clear -- memories that can keep my dreams full for the rest of this life.
Then there was the Jacobite train to Mallaig. More highlands vistas and of course the Glenfinnan Viaduct. Or also known as the Harry Potter train and viaduct. Very cool, but the scenery was just too much competition for Mr. Potter. Even the best CGI from Dreamworks (or whoever did it) just can't hold a candle to these lands. Mallaig is a coastal fishing village so the views of the sea and the rivers feeding it were nearly as spectacular as the highlands themselves.
On the way back we stopped in Callander for dinner and snapped a few pics of Hamish. Hamish McKay Denovan is a Highland bull. Cutest bull I'd ever seen. We're hoping to go back tomorrow time permitting to feed him and do some sightseeing in Callander.
So for now Hamish will have to feed our critter fix, and the scenes from today will have to feed our souls.
As for the pics, the best are on the camera so the blog will have to suffer (though the one of Lesley's dad Chuck and his reflection came out pretty good for a camera phone). Pics can't really do the Highlands justice, anyway. I did include the obligatory pics of lunch (more fish and chips) and dinner (more haggis).
Today we took a long and leisurely drive to the northwest and through the uplands and southern highlands to Fort William. I have to say, not that I am an expert, but I think the most beautiful country in the world are the highlands of Scotland in the autumn. I was awe struck. Or as they say here, positively gobsmacked. I really have no words in my meager vocabulary to aptly describe the grandeur. Images of mountains and fog blanketed lochs, valleys of every green, gold and red hue imaginable, and air so crisp and clear -- memories that can keep my dreams full for the rest of this life.
Then there was the Jacobite train to Mallaig. More highlands vistas and of course the Glenfinnan Viaduct. Or also known as the Harry Potter train and viaduct. Very cool, but the scenery was just too much competition for Mr. Potter. Even the best CGI from Dreamworks (or whoever did it) just can't hold a candle to these lands. Mallaig is a coastal fishing village so the views of the sea and the rivers feeding it were nearly as spectacular as the highlands themselves.
On the way back we stopped in Callander for dinner and snapped a few pics of Hamish. Hamish McKay Denovan is a Highland bull. Cutest bull I'd ever seen. We're hoping to go back tomorrow time permitting to feed him and do some sightseeing in Callander.
So for now Hamish will have to feed our critter fix, and the scenes from today will have to feed our souls.
As for the pics, the best are on the camera so the blog will have to suffer (though the one of Lesley's dad Chuck and his reflection came out pretty good for a camera phone). Pics can't really do the Highlands justice, anyway. I did include the obligatory pics of lunch (more fish and chips) and dinner (more haggis).
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Day um three?
More rest. Only woke at four this morning. That meant we were up for Chuck's home made breakfast. Yum. The man has a gift.
Went to St. Andrews today. Got to play around in the sea, visited St. Andrew's Castle and St. Andrew's Cathedral. Got pictures of the Old Course, of course. The Castle was way cool. Followed a mine shaft under it from when it was besieged. Very creepy.
Best part of the day was visiting Di Gilpin's studio. Di is a world famous knitware, pattern, and hand-spun yarn designer. We got to see some of her latest fashions and ended up buying enough yarn for an army of Scotsmen's kilt hose (though I think it's technically enough for one pair), a couple patterns, some knitted gloves... and a sweater that is just phenomenal.
Meeting Di and Kristen really was a huge highlight. Such genuinely nice people. I'm sure if it wasn't already growing dark we would have stayed much longer. I know Lesley was really touched.
Anyway, on to the pictures. As before, I have no idea what order the software will put them in, but all I got with the phone cam was the surf and coast, the 18th at The Old Course, and a couple of Di Gilpin's studio. :)
Tomorrow the Jacobite Train!
Went to St. Andrews today. Got to play around in the sea, visited St. Andrew's Castle and St. Andrew's Cathedral. Got pictures of the Old Course, of course. The Castle was way cool. Followed a mine shaft under it from when it was besieged. Very creepy.
Best part of the day was visiting Di Gilpin's studio. Di is a world famous knitware, pattern, and hand-spun yarn designer. We got to see some of her latest fashions and ended up buying enough yarn for an army of Scotsmen's kilt hose (though I think it's technically enough for one pair), a couple patterns, some knitted gloves... and a sweater that is just phenomenal.
Meeting Di and Kristen really was a huge highlight. Such genuinely nice people. I'm sure if it wasn't already growing dark we would have stayed much longer. I know Lesley was really touched.
Anyway, on to the pictures. As before, I have no idea what order the software will put them in, but all I got with the phone cam was the surf and coast, the 18th at The Old Course, and a couple of Di Gilpin's studio. :)
Tomorrow the Jacobite Train!
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Day 2 I think.
This jet lag is a killer. Got a full day in today, though. Of course, our day started at 2 am! :p
Spent the better part of the day at Stirling Castle and the nearby cemetery. Beautiful! Sadly, all my pics are on my real camera so all I have for you today are food pics. Breakfast (including black pudding and fried bread), lunch (fish & chips), and dinner (chocolate cake). :D
What are the odds this Blogger app uploads the pics in the proper order?;)
Spent the better part of the day at Stirling Castle and the nearby cemetery. Beautiful! Sadly, all my pics are on my real camera so all I have for you today are food pics. Breakfast (including black pudding and fried bread), lunch (fish & chips), and dinner (chocolate cake). :D
What are the odds this Blogger app uploads the pics in the proper order?;)
Monday, October 24, 2011
Day 1 (or how to miss half a day because British Air has seats harder than concrete so you can never rest and end up sleeping half the next day)
We slept until 1:30 in the afternoon. Ugh! But, not all was lost. Down/old town Stirling is a 5 minute walk from the apartment so we got a good 5 hours of sightseeing and shopping and eating in.
We found a tartan wool blanket in our wedding colors, and Les found some jewelry. Me? I finally got to try haggis! Yum! (The restaurant we ate at had a Wyoming license plate -- Co 17 -- on the wall. Go fig.)
Tomorrow we meet the woman that will marry us and hopefully see Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument.
We found a tartan wool blanket in our wedding colors, and Les found some jewelry. Me? I finally got to try haggis! Yum! (The restaurant we ate at had a Wyoming license plate -- Co 17 -- on the wall. Go fig.)
Tomorrow we meet the woman that will marry us and hopefully see Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument.
Phone booth!
Haggis!
Magners! OMG I LOVE this cider.
Old Town
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Up up and away!
Bad sign that we are already exhausted and we haven't even left the country yet. Sitting in Denver International Airport wondering what to do for four more hours before our next boarding.
But... Excitement abounds! Tired in part because the critters knew something was up and kept us up with barking, meowing, and general attention-whoring. Other part is just the jitters from being so excited about the trip.
But... Excitement abounds! Tired in part because the critters knew something was up and kept us up with barking, meowing, and general attention-whoring. Other part is just the jitters from being so excited about the trip.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
The Wedding Venue
When we originally decided on a Scottish wedding we had researched having it in Gretna Green. Gretna Green is a "traditional" Scottish wedding town. It lies just north of the border with England and apparently when English Parliament raised the legal age to marry back in the 1800s many young lovers would elope to Scotland where the laws were much looser. Gretna Green reaped the benefits and became known for these weddings. Scottish law at the time allowed virtually anyone to perform the ceremony, so the local blacksmith shortly became the go-to guy for tying the knot.
Neat story, but when I started asking around on Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree forum (a travel forum) I was quickly informed that if a Scottish Las Vegas wedding was what we wanted then Greta Green was the right place to go.
A Scottish Las Vegas wedding was NOT what we wanted.
Our travel agent and friend Lisa was able to find the perfect non-Vegas venue for us: Ballochneck Country House. Located about 20 minutes away from Stirling (which is where we will be staying most of the time) this old Scottish manor is the perfect setting for a small wedding such as ours (eleven total guests including us).
The setting is just wonderful and promises to be very romantic. Not only will we have the wedding ceremony there, but also the wedding dinner, and Lesley and I will be staying in one of their guest rooms for two nights as a honeymoon. It's just a few minutes drive from Ballochneck to the Trossachs National Park, so I think I may try to convince Les to go take a ride with me (and weather permitting find a nice walk) the day after the wedding.
Be sure to check out their website linked above for better pics if you are curious, but here's one I thought fun. I downloaded a picture from the Google Earth satellite view of the manor/estate/country house (click it for a bigger pic):
Here's the menu that Fiona (the owner with her husband Donnie) will be preparing for the evening's dinner:
I don't know what half of that is, but my mouth is watering as I write this. :)
The ceremony is at 2:30 local time. I spoke with Fiona this morning and found out that British Daylight Savings Time ends the morning of our wedding so that could have been a real nightmare if we had missed that! It ends a week later here in the US so we get to go through it twice this year. Go figure.
Immediately following the ceremony we will have have champagne and canapes while we relax and take all the pictures our cameras can hold (the cost of a local photographer would have been prohibitive so we're playing the odds that with digital cameras in the hands of nine other folks that we'll get some shots worthy of an album and framing). Dinner will follow at 5:30ish (and my mouth is watering again).
I know nothing ever goes without a hitch, but in such a wonderful setting... who cares! Besides, it's the little hiccups that make for some of the fondest memories. Or so I keep telling myself. :)
Neat story, but when I started asking around on Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree forum (a travel forum) I was quickly informed that if a Scottish Las Vegas wedding was what we wanted then Greta Green was the right place to go.
A Scottish Las Vegas wedding was NOT what we wanted.
Our travel agent and friend Lisa was able to find the perfect non-Vegas venue for us: Ballochneck Country House. Located about 20 minutes away from Stirling (which is where we will be staying most of the time) this old Scottish manor is the perfect setting for a small wedding such as ours (eleven total guests including us).
The setting is just wonderful and promises to be very romantic. Not only will we have the wedding ceremony there, but also the wedding dinner, and Lesley and I will be staying in one of their guest rooms for two nights as a honeymoon. It's just a few minutes drive from Ballochneck to the Trossachs National Park, so I think I may try to convince Les to go take a ride with me (and weather permitting find a nice walk) the day after the wedding.
Be sure to check out their website linked above for better pics if you are curious, but here's one I thought fun. I downloaded a picture from the Google Earth satellite view of the manor/estate/country house (click it for a bigger pic):
Here's the menu that Fiona (the owner with her husband Donnie) will be preparing for the evening's dinner:
Garden Pea and Mint Soup
Paella Stuffed Tomato
Fillet of Aberdeen Angus Beef rolled in Black Pepper, Red Wine and Red Currant Gravy, with Dauphinois Potatoes and Vegetables
(and wine wine wine wine wine)
Light Raspberry Sponge with Cream Fraiche and Berry Compote
Coffee and Tablet
I don't know what half of that is, but my mouth is watering as I write this. :)
The ceremony is at 2:30 local time. I spoke with Fiona this morning and found out that British Daylight Savings Time ends the morning of our wedding so that could have been a real nightmare if we had missed that! It ends a week later here in the US so we get to go through it twice this year. Go figure.
Immediately following the ceremony we will have have champagne and canapes while we relax and take all the pictures our cameras can hold (the cost of a local photographer would have been prohibitive so we're playing the odds that with digital cameras in the hands of nine other folks that we'll get some shots worthy of an album and framing). Dinner will follow at 5:30ish (and my mouth is watering again).
I know nothing ever goes without a hitch, but in such a wonderful setting... who cares! Besides, it's the little hiccups that make for some of the fondest memories. Or so I keep telling myself. :)
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Friday, October 14, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Wedding post
This is the wedding shawl that our dear friend Caron Sponsler made for Les. It's folded up because Les refuses to let me see her wedding day attire in its full glory (okay, not really -- it's folded up because it was easiest to get the picture that way). No worries, though. We'll be taking lots of pics to post on the big day. The jewelry are amethysts to go with the purple and green tartan gown she'll be wearing. Oh, and you ought to get a load of her shoes! Maybe next post... :)
Now, coming into an established family of kitties I knew I would be fighting an uphill battle in winning their affection, but I had no idea Ori would feel that I had stolen his girl.
Now, coming into an established family of kitties I knew I would be fighting an uphill battle in winning their affection, but I had no idea Ori would feel that I had stolen his girl.
"Oh the humanity! It's really happening! If I only had thumbs I could win my lady back."
No kidding. He's peeved. Peed on my jeans last night. Not just a trickle, either. Soaked em right through. At least he waited for me to take them off.
Monday, September 26, 2011
You shouldn't have...
Really. You shouldn't have. For me? All this. Aren't my people just so sweet. I know I deserve it all and more, but you really shouldn't have. I know I'm just so pretty that you couldn't help yourself, but this is almost too much. Almost. A bit more ham would have been too much.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Wedding Countdown
As we countdown to our wedding in Scotland on October 30, we want to share the festivities with everyone. Here is Miss Kitty checking out our wedding cake topper. We have ordered a traditional Scottish wedding cake with pound cake and fruit cake tiers.
Miss Kitty approves of the topper but thinks she is much cuter and should be the one to ride in my suitcase.
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