Coastal

Today I played hooky from the shop at lunchtime and went off to an Italian restaurant with my two friends, a pair of clucking Spanish mothers. Despite being very firmly Scottish, for a moment it all felt very Mediterranean, especially since the restaurant was showing Roman Holiday (with subtitles) on its TV screens.

Coming home later in the day to a glorious sunset didn't do much to shake off the feeling that we were more Mediterranean sea than North sea.

Fear not though, I hear wind and rain are predicted for the weekend, and normal service will resume.

Do You Have A Plan?

Have you heard the crazy biblical theories about the Shemitah of 2015? In case you are not familiar with it here is a link BLOOD MOONS AND THE SHEMITAH. It is fairly long in its descriptive, but the end result is a prediction that this month is going to be disastrous on a global level.

Whether that will prove to be true or not, I have no idea, however I do know that almost everyone I know is facing some sort of tougher than the norm, problem or trial.  Everyone I talk to is extraordinarily tired (this last week), and most people are attributing it to an abrupt change in the weather.

We have our own little problems arsing here and I seem to no sooner solve one problem than another one raises its head. I guess it does not help that it is a year ago yesterday my marriage went down the toilet.

Ah well, onward and upward we go, as they say. Naturally its tipping down with rain and fairly windy, so this Latter Day Saint has plans to watch some AMAZING SCOTTISH TV and to knit a huge pile of POPPIES, not exactly a plan against impending doom as such, more of a quiet Saturday night in.

source

So Long Summer

Its that time of year again, when we jump from summer to Autumn. Lately the seasons seem to be a little confused. It worries me. When I was a little girl, summers were hot, Autumns were chilly and windy, Winter was cold and icy and Spring was wet and bright. At least I think they were, do you suppose our memories are a little confused too?

By The Autumn Sea

FAIR as the dawn of the fairest day, 

Sad as the evening's tender gray, 

By the latest lustre of sunset kissed, 

That wavers and wanes through an amber mist, 

There cometh a dream of the past to me, 

On the desert sands, by the autumn sea.

By Paul Hamilton Hayne

50 Q's

For want of a better subject.

1: What would you name your future daughter?

Estelle

2: Do you miss anyone?

My Dad

3: What if I told you that you were pretty?

I would say thank you

4: Ever been told “it’s not you, it’s me”?

Unfortunately yes

5: What are you looking forward to in the next week?

my new business opening

6: Did you go out or stay in last night?

Stayed home with the family

7: How late did you stay up last night?

Until after 1am

8: Honestly, has anyone seen you in your underwear in the past 3 months?

yep

9: What were you doing at 12:30 this afternoon?

Eating a chicken salad

10: Have you ever told somebody you loved them and not actually meant it?

No

11: Could you go for the rest of your life without drinking alcohol?

I certainly hope so

12: Have you pretended to like someone?

Not exactly

13: Could you go the rest of your life without smoking a cigarette?

Definitely

14: Is there one person in your life that can always make you smile?

Several

15: Is it hard for you to get over someone?

Its easier than anticipated

16: Think back five months ago, were you single?

Sort of

17: Have you ever cried from being so mad?

Yes

18: Hold hands with anyone this week?

Yes

19: Did your last kiss take place in/on a bed?

Nope

20: Who did you last see in person?

Oscar

21: What is the last thing you said out loud?

"You went to the beach last night"

22: Have you kissed three or more people in one night?

Yes

23: Have you ever been to Paris?

Yes

24: Are you good at hiding your feelings?

Nope

25: Do you use chap stick?

Nope

26: Who did you last share a bed with?

Oscar

27: Are you listening to music right now?

Nope

28: What is something you currently want right now?

My knee to stop hurting

29: Were your last three kisses from the same person?

No

30: How is your heart lately?

Healing

31: Do you wear the hood on your hoodie?

Only indoors

32: When was the last time a member of the opposite sex hugged you?

Yesterday

33: What do people call you?

Valerie

34: Have you ever wanted to tell someone something but didn’t?

Yes

35: Are there any stressful situations in your life?

Yes

36: What are you listening to right now?

my own mix tape play list on You Tube

37: What is wrong with you right now?

I have a sore knee

38: Love really is a beautiful thing huh?

Yes

39: Do you make wishes at 11:11?

? no

40: What is on your wrists right now?

a red hair band

41: Are you single/taken/heartbroken/confused/waiting for the unexpected?

no comment

42: Where did you get the shirt/sweatshirt you’re wearing?

ebay

43: Have you ever regretted kissing someone?

yes

44: Have you hugged someone within the last week?

yes

45: Have you kissed anyone in the last five days?

yes

46: What were you doing at midnight last night?

watching vintage Coronation Street

47: Do you miss the way things were six months ago?

Not at all

48: Would you rather sleep with someone else or alone?

That Depends on who

49: Have you ever been to New York?

No

50: Do you live in a city?

No, by the sea

A Sunday

Our Sundays are pretty much the same, week after week. We get up early(ish), breakfast, shower, dress, and go to church. Oscar is becoming quite the little man in his suit and tie, and dare I say it, he actually enjoys church.

After church we take a nap (me), and play video games (Oscar), have dinner and mentally and physically prepare for the week. Today however, I decided to blow off the laundry and after putting a lovely korma in the oven to heat, we headed out to the beach.

It may not be sunny or indeed particularly warm but that is irrelevant to us hardy Scottish folks.

We found shells and played in the sand.

And one of us jumped around like crazy.

Even when the sky became dark with clouds, we played and played

Until our grumbly tummies took us home.

Scripture Sunday

1 Peter 1:24-25

24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

Blue Friday

Blue Sea

Blue Sky

A trip to the store with the blue bags

Blue in the traffic coming home.

The Trossachs

No one but you sees the world through your eyes.

Oh Scotland

You are affy bonnie

The River

Dinner At Paula's

Glory

our street, 5pm today

Summer ..................Honest !

We have had all sorts of crazy weather this week.

Garden

This Week In The Garden

We have two tiny little gardens at the front and back of the cottage. 

We have not managed to do much with either side the last two years we have been here.

 This year we are going to make more of an effort. 

We moved the babies rose bush (which is looking decidedly un-lifelike I hope it picks up), 

and all of our hanging ornaments to the front garden yesterday (on her birthday), 

and we planted some flower bulbs. 

I intend to go to Poundland and go crazy on seeds and containers and see if we cant get a petite little container garden going.

Oscar has started a container of his own :-) 

And no, your eyes do not deceive you,

Oscar is indeed wearing a Christmas jumper 

in April.

Valerie

xxx