Memories of Scotland

Well, it's been nearly a week since we returned from Scotland and we are still thinking about the fun we had!

I'll start at the beginning - a ten hour drive in mostly rain ending up in Appin, Scotland around 8:00pm. It was pitch black as we drove down the single track road to our desitination - but the sat-map stopped. We kept going and the road ended into what looked like a driveway - 1 mile later we rounded the bend to see not only our farmhouse, but at least a hundred red deer looking at us. The stags were all gathered in our front yard. We asked the caretakers if this was a deer farm - no, they are wild. We didn't see that many deer again that week, but there were about 8 stags that were always around.

The week was full of hiking and we were always in our wellies - though it only rained one morning for us, the sunshine-filled week that we experienced was preceded by 3 weeks of straight rain. So, that leaves mud...and cow manure (we were on a working farm), deer poo, and chicken poo. Every little boy's dream. I sank up to my ankles at times, but Jacob took the brunt of it by sinking up to his knees. Boy, did Aiden think that was funny! (Jacob got the last laugh by finding a deer antler the same day near the spot where he sank!) Our hikes usually didn't last too long, but always brought great views. Our longest hike was up the glen (scottish for "valley") when we completely lost track of time and realized we had hiked for 2 hours one way and it was lunch time. Jeb was upset and Aiden was beyond tired. I ended up carrying him halfway back! In all, Aiden was a trooper hiking at the wee age of 3.

Our excursions outside our farm included a day trip to the Isle of Skye, which gave dramatic views that the kids could have cared less about and about 8 hours in the car (thank goodness for the car ferry ride!) and Loch Ness. Aiden put it best: the monster was sleeping the day we visited. It was still pretty cool to visit the 1400 year castle.

As always, we had some funny moments. How can we not, it's us after all! Here we go:

1. I read the guest book where we stayed on our first night. About 10 entries referred to a ghost that lived there and that he was nice, but loud. I was scared all week - went to bed around 8:30pm since Tom left every night to go on a walk.

2. Cows mooing like crazy! Why? The calves got taken to the market. So sad! But, the market was terrible and they didn't sell - calves back the next day and cows headed back to the hills.

3. When we booked our house, they referred to it being inspirational for the book "Kidnapped" which is about a man that was murdered. When I asked the farmer's wife about it and said, "it's a novel right?" She said, no, they brought his body right back to the house next door! I nearly flipped! (turns out it was 300 years ago!)

4. Aiden fell in the river. Funny after the fact I guess. I obviously wasn't there.

5. Jeb feeding the chickens. He loved it. All the boys did. The chicks began to sit on our kitchen window waiting for us. Hopefully we didn't overfeed them!

6. And finally, we must always have a bathroom story! Once again, 20 minutes from home, Aiden announces that he has to go. Out comes the water bottle. He was hesitant at first, but it worked like a charm with Jacob commenting that he thought maybe he needed to go too...

Beautiful trip, even better memories!