Aberdeen Beach, Jump, Scotland, In The Pipeline

In The Pipeline

I have to say, even with the rain, it’s been lovely to be back in Aberdeen, especially now that we have a week of school under our belts. Catching up with friends, being back at our church and returning to the rhythm of daily writing without constant interruption has been wonderful. Also every time I …

london, thames river cruise, cousins take europe

Snapshots of London with Kids

[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-pieC8gDc3P4/U-SNJ78I9nI/AAAAAAAAZUo/avslENdfx_U/s144-c-o/IMG_0710.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/100212479652479288017/201407CousinsTakeEuropeII#6045111801686324850″ caption=”Processed with VSCOcam with hb2 preset” type=”image” alt=”IMG_0710.JPG” ] When Simon, Ben and I left Aberdeen at the beginning of July with Peter and Whitney and our cousins, we stopped first in London. It was the boys’ first trip to London, and so we had a list full of what we hoped …

Aberdeen, Scotland, In The Pipeline

In The Pipeline + One Year In Scotland

Y’all this week we mark a year of being in Scotland. I have some fun “retrospective” posts coming up next week because I think it’s important to remember the good and the bad from our first year here. I was just reading my first post from our new home town and it seems like yesterday …

Snapshots of Mauritius, View from a Beach Lounger

{More} Snapshots of Mauritius

[pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2uIALBgqbQU/U-s9DE7lDmI/AAAAAAAAbWA/Kdp7rPfKTfc/s144-c-o/DSCF2776.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/100212479652479288017/MauritiusPhotosIStillWantToUse#6046994047747559010″ caption=”” type=”image” alt=”DSCF2776.JPG” ] Snapshots of Mauritius Back in June, I shared some of my favorite images from our trip to Mauritius, but here are a few more of my favourite shots + animated GIFS from this exceptional getaway that Simon and I took in May to the tropical paradise of Long …

A Story about Making New Friends

A Story about Making New Friends “Hi, I’m Flea.” she said as she sat down next to me in the airport. “Hi! I’ve been so excited to meet you! I’m Alison.” “And this is Simon.” “Simon, can you say hello?” “Hi.” (small quiet voice) I’ve mentioned before that Simon and I are introverts. In fact …

Snapshots of London from the Thames

Snapshots of London from the Thames On a recent visit to London, we booked a river cruise with City Cruises. I love walking along the Thames in London, so I thought it would be fun to get out on the river and enjoy the sights from a different perspective. Also, I knew we would have …

Snapshots of Engelberg, Switzerland, Europe

A Story about the Man in Seat 68

A Story about the Man in Seat 68 If Kings Cross is the heaven of train stations, clean even when it is not serving as the setting for Harry Potter’s interlude between death and life, then Gare de Lyon is hell. Deceptively gorgeous from the outside, the inside is filthy and chaotic, more keenly felt …

A Story about Trying Something New

A Story about Trying Something New Or alternately titled, Stepping into the Arena Once upon a time I stood up in front of people and made a fool out of myself. I’m not sure how else to put it. I acted (badly) in plays, I sang some especially mediocre ‘specials’ with my sister in church. …

A Story about Westminster Abbey

A Story about Westminster Abbey She stood at the end of a row of empty seats, searching the arriving crowd with anticipation. She would wave when she saw them, familiar faces in the crowd of mostly tourists come to hear the Eucharist sung in one of the most glorious, most celebrated cathedrals in the world. …

Beauty from Ashes

Beauty from Ashes Twelve years ago today, we received one of those phone calls you never want to get. A family friend called from Switzerland to let Taido know that his father had tragically drowned trying to recover his daughter, Maya, who had also drowned. Maya, Taido’s half-sister, was five years old at the time, …

Montmartre, Sacre Coeur, Paris, Go with Oh Apartment

A Walk in Montmartre {Paris} (21/48)

When Mary Polly and I were in Paris in June, we rode bikes from our apartment in Marais to Montmartre early in the morning, so we could spend our last morning in Paris walking the hill that overlooks the city. Sitting on the steps of Le Sacre-Coeur was on Mary Polly’s Paris Wish List, so …

Summer Harvest Menu, Summer Squash, Purple Hull Peas, Tomato, Okra, Cornbread

Summer Harvest Menu

We are having a absolutely FAB summer, but I have to say, I am still missing hot, hot summer in Arkansas. I know that sounds crazy, but it just does not quite feel like summer without daily trips to the pool and constantly dripping of sweat. Other things I miss include Arkansas tomatoes, purple hull …

From the London Eye, England, Ten Days in the UK

Snapshots of London

I am back in London this week so I thought it would be fun to share just a few of my favorite photos from my last trip to London with Mary Polly. Our big splurge was riding The London Eye (super pricey at 20 pounds per person), but we got some very fun shots from …

#48walks, Long Walks, St Cuthberts Way, Lindisfarne

#48 Walks Update

Friends, I have so enjoyed taking walks this year. Even more, I have loved that so many friends are walking along with me via the internet. (and sometimes in person!) I thought I would just do a little #48walks update since it is about halfway through the year. Personally I find the summer to be …

Snapshots of Paris, Go with Oh Apartment, #IGTravelThursday

Snapshots of Paris

So, Mary Polly and I went to Paris for two days and nights with our dear friends, Sarabeth and Elizabeth. They were stopping over on their way to Kenya, so we jumped at the chance to stopover with them. To Paris! Because Paris is always a good idea. We were positively giddy to be in …

A Story about Yoga on the Beach, Mauritius, First Choice Holidays, Long Beach

A Story about Yoga on the Beach

A Story about Yoga {On the Beach} It was that time of day when the light is so magical you can hardly bear to tear yourself away from staring at the horizon, except that there are young children with you who do not care about the color of the sky. They care about making it …

St Cuthbert's Way

St Cuthbert’s Way 20/48 {Scotland + England}

For the last two weeks, I’ve been journaling my walk along St Cuthbert’s Way and now it’s complete. Here are all the links in one place for your reading enjoyment. And there’s even a recipe! St Cuthbert’s Way Journal Beginnings Day 1: Melrose to Harestanes Day 2: Harestanes to Morebattle Day 3: Morebattle to Kirk …

St Cuthbert's Way

St Cuthbert’s Way Journal {Day 5}

            Day 5 of St Cuthbert’s Way: Wooler to Lindisfarne From the moment we received our itinerary, the last day of our journey along St Cuthbert’s Way loomed large with its big number 18 in the mileage chart. Before we ever left home, I was harboring doubt about whether I …