A day in the Castle Garden and hayfever!!!

Brennan has a talk to do tomorrow and it had to be on a place. So...off to Fyvie for us. We visited Fyvie Castle. They have a beautiful garden. It is so stunning and full of flowers and vegetables...and I am guessing...truck loads of pollen!!!! I got hayfever really bad..had to take a tablet and have a sleep. Anyone who knows me will know that I love a bargain...and today instead of paying 26 GBP to enter...it was 6 GBP!!!! So we sat down and had a lovely lunch for free!...we were going to have lunch there any way...but it was sweeter to know that the day was considerably cheaper. We also went to the local cemetery...will show pics of that later. The day was beautiful...not hot obviously...but not freezing. We found some feral kitties in the grounds hiding. They were cute....little ginger ninjas.

My old school photos.

An old school friend had these on facebook. I love them. Thanks Raelene!!!

I am the little girl sitting at the front on the right.


In this photo I am at the back on the left next to my favorite teacher, Miss Hickey. She is now Mrs Ryan. Funny how things have changed...for the better...mmm don't know. She took me to her parents farm for a holiday one year. She was so special to me. We had a lovely bond.


I am at the front on the left. I am sitting next to my friend, Diane. I was just talking about Diane the other day and blow me down...she contacted me through facebook. Now I didn't know her married name and she didn't know mine...but she still found me. I had great teachers in primary school and Mr Harvey was great. Firm but fair.


I am at the front on the left again.


I am on the front left again. Mr Mau had great handwriting. I just thought he was a great person.

My Family

I would like to introduce you all to my 'chosen kids'. These beautiful kids are on paper, my nieces and nephews...but in my heart....they are my kids. Life hasn't been easy for any of us as we were growing up...but having that someone who loves to to your core makes life sweet. I haven't seen them in the flesh for about 15 years... and the little ones...well I have never chased them, kissed them, cuddled them or been silly around them. I love you all so much and miss you everyday.

This handsome man is Nathan. He is engaged to Leanne. Don't they make a stunning couple!!! He is 23 years old.

These beautiful little kids are Emily, who just turned 4 on Wednesday and Seth who is 7. They are Maxine's little ones. How cute are they!


This is my beautiful girl, Maxine. She is 28 on the 27th. I miss her so much! Luckily I get to talk to her on the phone alot. She is married to Steve. He is a cutie too!!!

This is Emi with a coat on that was Maxine's when she was a little girl.

This gorgeous man is Jamie. He is 26 and single girls!!!! He is with his beautiful son, Dylan who is 2. I love facebook so much. I have found all of my kids through it. Jamie and I were so close and he was my little shadow. I wish I could turn back the clock and do things a bit different. He lived with me and Pete when he was 11. I stupidly sent him home and have regretted that decision since he was gone. When he told me the other day that he loves me....I sat at my computer and cried.

I can't change the past for us...but hopefully I can make the rest of our lives complete and full of unconditional love. The other day, after chatting on fb with Jamie....I finally felt like I had come full circle. I felt at peace.

I love you kids so much and thank you for coming back into my life.

So....when I say how many kids I have.....I will be saying that I have 5 kids. :)

Grace Maurer!!!!

The postman came today....and I gently attacked the box...and pulled out the newspaper...and slid out the beautifully wrapped gift....and openned it. It was upside down...it was so exciting to flip it over...I love the back by the way. And was so excited. I love, love, love, love, love it!!!!!! Thank you so much for swapping with me!!! So...look forward to the next one!!!!

To those who don't know Grace....she is a fantastic woman. She manages an Inn in Bird in Hand, PA. It is called The Amish View in and Suites. Google it and you will find it. It is a beautiful Inn....I can't call it a hotel...that would be insulting to it. We love staying there. She is a fantastic crafter and decorator. She is so generous to her friends and those who are friends know this only too well.

Grace, thank you so much for the beautiful cross stitch. You have spent a lot of time on this and I am so grateful to be the recipient of it. I love you and miss you heaps!

Click photos to enlarge them. You can see the beauty a lot better.

Mica, Brennan and Jordan were playing with Lily. She followed us down to the beach. The kids figured out her favorite game...they threw rocks for her to fetch. Jordan is a clever kid. He checked her tag and rang the owner. Howard is a really nice, friendly person. Down further you will see his house. Earlier I had said to Chris that I would love to live there. He also has dorm styled accommodation and a cottage to rent. If anyone wants to come over for a crafting holiday...let me know.
This is Chris at Dunottar. It is so peaceful there. It is a must see castle. My calves are still remembering it...go to older photos and you will see the stairs leading to it.
This is Chris on the beach in Cullen. It was a beautiful day.
Mica, Pete, Brennan and Jordan in Aberdeen. I love Mica's smile in this picture. What a lovely little lady!!!!
This is Mike (Pete's cousin) listening to the band. He is a musician...but doesn't play country music...I need to turn him if he wants to live in my commune..lol
This is the band playing at Tartan Day in Aberdeen. Chris asked if there were places that you could see people in kilts and bagpipes playing....I told her no...then we saw the sign for Tartan Day...they got to see all things Scottish...amazing!!!
The drummer on the right is so small...when her drum is up...you cannot see her head...lol. I wonder what they are saying?
The grey house is where Howard lives. I told him that he has the perfect house...he said to come back in February and see if I still had the same opinion. Isn't the setting perfect!!! This is in Cullen.
The viaduct and bridge at Cullen...love that photos...wish I had a superly dooperly camera!!!
Pennan is along the coastline. I have posted a pic of it before but from the top of the road...this is from the little fisherman's village.

Well I hope you have enjoyed sightseeing with me again. Our cousins have headed back home to Devon and have enjoyed their Scottish holiday. I hope they come back again to visit. We had a very busy and enjoyable 4 days. We crammed heaps in....I think 7 days would have seen all of the highlights of the area. We missed out on going to Loch Ness and lots more.

Well my calve muscles are screaming at me....and I am pooped...need to make our bed...and the boys can sleep downstairs for another night. I don't have the energy to change the beds today.

So...who is coming to stay with us???? Rules are...you HAVE to be nice...have a great sense of humour...be tolerant of a 12 year old and a 10 year old...enjoy seeing new things...easy going.

Post script: Now I know why I was a day out with the boys haircut...my dates are a day behind. This is Tuesday the 4th of August...not Monday!!!

Tartan Day...Aberdeen

We have a fantastic four days with our cousins...who are leaving us in the morning..I can feel a song coming on....please don't go...don't go....I beggin' ya please don't go. We have had a great time...and after the camera is charged I will give you a blow by blow description of the holiday.

Yesterday we went to Tartan Day in Aberdeen....now this is a true story...The big bloke in the kilt does not have on underwear....now how do I know that you ask...well.....Pete's workmate was there and does reinactments...and when the big Scot was setting up he was exposing himself....now...the workmate had to keep the wenches in the tent so as not to get them too excited....or in shock.

Now the baby.....isn't he gorgeous!!!! I did ask what he had under his kilt...and was told that he definately had a nappy on..lol. I just wanted to keep him!!!!