I'm just trying to walk myself home.
Last weekend, we took our first of what I feel will be many weekend trips to Edinburgh. For the last several months, whenever I mentioned to someone that we were moving to Scotland, inevitably, I would hear something else wonderful about Edinburgh. So off we went with a guidebook and suggestions. We took the train …
I realized this week that we have already been here in Scotland for a month.
A year ago Mary Polly and I were about to set sail on our Mediterranean Cruise. We’ve been reliving the memories and marveling at all that has happened in a year. When Mary Polly and I boarded our airplane for home at the end of our trip, we had no idea that less than a …
Pride and Prejudice for Wee Ones! Friends! We’ve discovered the most adorable series of board books based on English classics. Pride and Prejudice will always be one of my very favorite stories! We watched the 1995 BBC version recently and I fell in love all over again. Mother and I found this darling book in …
Castle Fraser, Scotland The September weather seems to be holding out for our weekend castle visits! Castle Fraser is a mere 16 miles from Aberdeen, which is an easy afternoon outing for us. The grounds and surrounding gardens are amazing! Our boys spent as much time playing in them as they did touring the castle.
North Sea Walk Sometimes, on Sunday afternoon, when everyone is feeling lazy or there is homework to be done, or you have already made a long walk to and from church, no one much wants to go for a walk by the sea. In such cases as these, it is best to go along anyway. …
Welcome to the sometimes weekly edition of In The Pipeline, where I list stuff I like on the internet and tell you what’s coming down the pipe at the Chino House. So, most exciting bit of news this week? I DROVE TO THE STORE AND BACK AND NO ONE DIED! Seriously, y’all. Driving on the …
30 Hour Midweek Highland Getaway I can already tell that one of the most wonderful things about living in Scotland is going to be that it takes almost no time at all to get out into the country. Just a few miles outside of the city, the Scottish Highlands are already beckoning to us! While …
I had been dreading spending my 40th alone so I was so happy to have my mama here and it turned out to be a quietly beautiful sort of day. Mother and I started the day by going out for breakfast and then walked to the shops and the Aberdeen Art Gallery, which has a …
Visiting Crathes Castle You could make an entire trip just out of visiting castles in Scotland. There are soooo many! I have already collected more brochures and flyers for castles than we can possibly see this year! We stopped at Crathes Castle on our way home from a quick getaway last week. The castle is …
Our third week in Aberdeen has been made brighter by the fact that my mama is here! I’m so grateful that we planned for her to come so soon, so that she could help us all settle in. She encourages the kids daily and her smile makes us all feel like we are doing great …
We celebrated getting through our first week of school here in Scotland with a trip to the village of Stonehaven to see the famous and very impressive Dunnottar Castle!
You were meant for amazing things!! Do you need a reminder? Hanging on your wall? Of course you do! We all need a little encouragement from time to time. So, in honor of the fact that I am turning 40 this week, I have a free download for you! My girl, Kandace Parker, created this …
The kids started at their new schools in Scotland this week. Super exciting! They get to wear these darling uniforms that they pretty much despise. Until now, my boys could probably count the number of times they’ve worn a dress shirt and tie on one hand. This is the best I could do on a …
Our second week in Aberdeen has been full of cobblestones, pretty buildings, new discoveries and big adjustments. We’ve logged some miles seeing our new city, the center of which is a constant bustle of activity.
I am missing getting vegetables from my sweet friends, Sandy and Michael. We were roasting okra by the bushel back home and we always ate every bite. It is a family favorite for sure. My mom tosses okra in olive oil and cornmeal before baking it, which mimics southern fried okra, but is much healthier! …
Today’s my dad’s birthday, in honor of which, I’ve made a list of 10 Life Lessons I’ve Learned From My Dad. And really, the list could be titled 10 Life Lessons Anyone Could Learn From My Dad. I’ve left off ones that are snarky, but true, such as How To Be Sarcastic or How To …
While househunting, we have been enjoying the kind hospitality of three different new sets of friends, for which we are super thankful! We got the kids all squared away to start school next week and spent today shopping for their uniforms. Lots going on! For weeks I’ve been reading info on moving abroad, traveling in …
Our first two days in Aberdeen, Scotland have been marked mostly by our search for a home. However, we have been taking it all in as we have wandered about and so here are our first glimpses of our new home town. Aberdeen, Scotland At First Glance At the moment, we are staying with a …
Ready or not, it’s time to go. We’re putting on our game faces and heading out into the big wide world. Taido is already in Scotland, continuing the house hunt. We’re not sure what his plan is for the 20 suitcases we have in tow, but we’ll be glad to see him no matter what! …