A family wedding

 

We have spent the last few days enjoying the children's October holidays and reminiscing about the wonderful family wedding last weekend.  My littlest brother D was married to the very lovely K, in a celebration that was very them.  A church ceremony with lots of personal touches (and thankfully I didn't mess up my reading) and then a huge party with lots and lots of ceilidh dancing.  The main factor in choosing a venue was the size of the dance floor and we certainly all made use of it!  My wee ones stayed up very late into the night and had the best fun dancing with their cousins, their extended family and anyone else who would take them on!  They made very sweet flower girls and very smart ushers.  Thanks so much D&K for including them in your special day.  We had a simply fabulous weekend and so much enjoyed seeing family, friends...........and D&K setting off on what I'm certain will be a very happy married life together.

Summer snapshots - home

The last of my Summer Snapshots posts - home.  I'm not sure that any of us feel as if we're properly home yet.  We definitely love our house even with the squish and the squeeze (currently the boys are sharing a small single bedroom*), and I'm very confident that it will feel like home but at the moment it is all too new - the house, the schools, the activities, even the scenery and surroundings.  It will just take time.

The wild flowers were picked for my new vase, which was a gift from some of our summer visitors.  Do you know Anta?  They design and make wonderful homewares (all materials are sourced and made in this country).  I have coveted their stoneware for quite some time so I couldn't quite believe my luck when I unwrapped the vase. The Anta workshop is not far from here and I'm itching for an opportunity to visit.

John took Finn off for a big boy weekend part way through the holidays.  One day the rest of us collected beach stones, washed and then painted them.  It was a great wee project for us all........apparently the finished stones look very 'pretty' arranged along the wall of the house and Katie takes pride in showing her 'bunnies' to anyone who comes round.

Last but not least I had a little time to do some sewing.  The first for months.  I still have a fair bit to go on this quilt top but it was very satisfying just to sit down and lose myself in the fabric - the patterns, colours, textures - and the planning........ so much planning goes on while I sew!

Katie and I have picked brambles most mornings this week.  Or should I say that I have picked brambles while Katie has eaten them.  She has shared a fair few with the dog too, Susie loves fruit. I'm finding it a really relaxing way to begin the day........wave off the school bus, wander down a footpath to the shore picking as we go, throw some stones or run in the sand and then make our way back home - to remember all the jobs that need doing!  We've eaten brambles most nights through the week and have frozen a few bags too.  I do love free food! Have you had a chance to pick any berries so far this year? 

* There's only space for a small desk between the two beds (each has half of it) and the door doesn't open fully because the room isn't designed for two beds.  They are coping remarkably well especially given that Finn is very messy and disorganised and Angus is the opposite. Finn's hamster, Sporty, is on the floor between the two beds as well.......and that's it, no more space.  We have plans, though, to convert the garage which will give us a fourth bedroom and separate rooms for the boys.  We may also be able to add on a fifth bedroom if we're able to stretch our money and then the girls wouldn't have to share either.  I know that plenty children have to share rooms all through their childhood and if the girls have to carry on sharing that would be fine too, and isn't in any sense a judgement on families who do so - we fully understand the predicament, we have always had at least two of ours sharing!  If we can manage a fifth bedroom it would feel like such a luxury and really help with overnight visitors. 

Summer snapshots - cycling to Rosemarkie beach

Cycling to Rosemarkie Beach - another summer snapshot.  It takes us only five minutes or so to get there......along quiet roads, past the golf course and campsite, with the sea in view all the way. 

Our silly Susie hasn't taken to running alongside the bike very readily.  She started off pretty convinced that the bike was out to attack her.  But after several more trips, and some patience and encouragement, she is steadily relaxing and beginning to enjoy the run.....and I can stop gritting my teeth.  I don't find it at all relaxing to have a reluctant dog beside me given that I'm shepherding the three older children and desperately trying to make sure I don't topple my bike with Katie on the back!  I think the perseverance is paying off though and I can see us making this trip often.  Katie and I walk along too Rosemarkie too, after the others have been safely escorted onto the school bus, but I think we'll cycle sometimes especially if we have less time and want to be sure that Susie has had a good run.

In other news, the sun has returned.  Not with quite so much heat behind it but it is certainly very welcome!  I hope you are enjoying a sunny Monday morning too!

Here, there and everywhere

Here::

What a view - taken from our garden and is the view from our kitchen and sitting room.....wonderful



We can see the sea too

'Our' beach....just 10 minutes walk from the house

Picnic lunch today

Hello!  I do hope you are having a lovely summer. Sorry to have been so absent.  We are safely moved.  I can't tell you what a relief it is to be here and beginning our new life.  Major house renovations, followed by selling, buying and moving from one end of the country to the other, while solo parenting for a good few weeks, came with a fair few stresses and strains.  But, after a month or so of being homeless (staying with my parents and then in a rented cottage) we moved into our new home about 5 weeks ago (I think, I'm losing track already).  So, we're here and we love it although it still feels rather surreal and rather as if we are on holiday.  We have had four lots of visitors staying so far and another two sets this coming week - thankfully I was pretty efficient with the unpacking and it was all done within the first couple of weeks.  Helped hugely by our first visitors - my mum and dad, who entertained small people and did lots of digging in the garden.  Yes, garden.......I can't tell you how exciting that is!

There::

This little girl absolutely loves to walk

This big little boy will start high school after the summer - how did that happen?

This girl spends most of her time in a mysterious world of her own

Walking part of the Speyside Way - from Knockando (where we visited the wool mill, what a perfect spot)

This boy is coping so well with being uprooted......and he has even more freckles this summer!

One of my favourite short walks, ever - Loch an Eilean (and Inshriach nursery and tearoom is a favourite spot too)

We were away for the week last week with John's parents and had a lovely time exploring Strathspey.  John and I know the area well but it was new to them and to the children. We had almost perfect weather but we were pleased to come back home and do a bit more settling (and entertaining).

Everywhere::

Just for my records - Finn is in a real tree climbing phase - this is the scariest yet!

We'll be off again in a wee while, down south to soak up the Commonwealth Games.  We're all pretty excited about the three events we have tickets for.  Shortly after that we have some time in Elie, Fife with my family.  So........I suspect I'll not be around here much but I wanted to pop in, record some photos and say hi to all.  And to apologise for the lack of commenting and communication in general.   I'm not going to promise a great improvement just yet - I think that will have to wait until the children are settled into the new school term next August/September.  In the meantime I hope you are enjoying some sun and maybe even some relaxation!