The Last Hurrah

It really feels like summer is at it's end around here, but the festivals keep coming. Probably due to the fact the English schools are still on holiday, but we'll take what we can get. Today we went to the World Peace Centre (I have no idea, so don't ask), to the nature festival. It was great! We saw some bats, salmon and trout fry (that means babies, we didn't fry trout; that's for later), and did some pond dipping. We also made jewellry out of vegetables, and carved on a non-electic lathe, which was totally cool. Mae also made a robins house, which we will hang up on the wall in our new place as soon as we get there!

Survival

Well, day one at school is finished, and just a few tears (from me when we met Liza who started me off on the way!! ). But Mae loved it and can't wait to get back. Although she was slightly dissappointed she didn't do writing or reading. Long may it continue!!!

She can't smack me from Canada

Well, mom has left today and it was a great visit. We had two holidays within holidays and had so many days out it felt like we packed a whole summer into four weeks. And Mae had a blast spending so much time with her nonnie. Here are some pics. From mom's SD card from her camera. Which I left in my computer yesterday. Sorry. It'll be in the post on Monday!

Enjoying the heatwave

Burns walk kissing gate rules apply

Burns Hermitage

Galloway Childrens' Festival

Relaxing at Stobo Castle

Enjoying Praline Cake at the expense of the Braun Handmixer (it was worth it!)

Spending time in Ayr at the Irish Sea

Loudoun Theme Park (the baby rides were vomit inducing!)

Spending a great day in Bamburgh at the North Sea coast

Surviving a camping trip!!

Finally, my own banner!

It may all fall through yet, but this could be it!!

Phone Antics

Usually when Sharon and I are on the phone something crops up that the conversation has to be cut off quite quickly. Sometimes it's kids falling off chairs. Sometimes it's kids eating bumblebees. Sometimes it's kids who think they have just started their period needing a bit of calming down.

If you can tell me whose kid did what you get a prize.

But today I was on the phone with Sharon out in the garden. It was drizzling a bit but it's been so hot this week I was cooling off. I suddenly heard a great deluge or downpour or something, but didn't feel it so looked around. It was our swimming pool draining from the top. I guess that's why they say don't put it on a slope......

In other news, school is out for summer!!!!!

Happy Birthday Dana!!!

I was just looking back at your blog for a good photo and re-read the fish horror story and laughed my head off! So here's a reminder. Hope you have a good one!!

Guid Neichburris

(Note: Pictures are not in any order at all!!!)

Well, we were in the big parade this weekend. I would liken it to boot camp (you can disagree with me, Jason!). Mostly because I had to sit on a lorry for 4 hours straight, legs completly cramped! But it was good, otherwise. Mae had a grand time. It was the local childminding group's float, and parents could come on, although I think there was only a couple of us.

The crazy thing was how many people were watching the parade!! We saw loads of people we knew, which Mae loved, but when we stopped we were so close to everyone! And passing pubs was nuts, all you could smell was beer fumes!

The best part was when the pizza arrived at the float- I tell you, Mae has the best childminder ever!!!

All in all, a good day. The next day was Beck's birthday party. Yesterday we went with the school to the Puppet Theatre in Biggar, which was a whole day out. Tomorrow is another birthday party at the farm. Thursday is Mae's graduation and induction day (another full day at school for me and Geoff) Friday Mae and I are off to Edinburgh to take Lauren out for her birthday on Saturday and at 6.50 am on Sunday, Nonnie is showing up.

Can't wait for the holiday!

Mosquitos, Midges and Ticks, oh my!

When I lived in Canada I was never really bothered by mosquitos, and I figured I must have some kind of magic elixir for blood, which helped me escape the torment.

So when we moved to Scotland, I thought, ' Bah, midges. Way tinier than mosquitos, and they don't like me, so I am not worried.' Swarms? When British people think that a flurry is a blizzard, I figured it was a slight exagerration.

Midges are awful. You can't see them at all, and it's like you are suddenly being stabbed by millions of tiny needles over and over in your scalp. They are the kind of thing that would make a person run screaming into the coldest lake.

But ticks? Oh, Jesus wept. I had another one on my leg today. It's HEAD in my leg. A little fat body and legs sticking out of my BODY. And you have to calmly and firmly grasp them with your tweezers and twist clockwise. Maybe more than once, as their heads are really stuck in. Ticks make me feel the scream welling up in my chest.

Old Tarts

Happy Birthday Sharon!!!!

I Bid Ye Fair

This is the motto for Mae's soon to be school. And actually, I DON'T bid ye fair, because someone is taking time and moving it way too fast. When did Mae turn into a schoolkid?! Sure, I don't have to change nappies anymore, I just get threats that she is going to call Rebecca D's dad (who, incidentally, is a police officer) to put me in jail. I would rather change nappies.....

The funny thing with kids, though, is what they come up with in their spare time. One of the dads at the nursery works on a farm, mainly with poultry. Mae told me they were going to see the babies hatch out, as they now have a new 'chickilator' in class.

Don't be Scared

Mom seems slightly reticent about camping with us this summer. It's only for four nights, as opposed to a month the year before last with my brother and his family. I would say she will be fine. After all, look at the size of this baby! With the awning on, it's almost as big as our house!!!

Two and two

I finally figured it out. This has been bothering me for ages.

Busyness

Busy baking pies- so much rhubarb in the garden that's all we have been making! And although this baby was a bit soupy, having more or less turned it into bumbleberry pie with the addition of raspberries, blueberries and strawberries as well as rhubarb, it was GRRRRReat!!

Busy waiting for our fabulous, overpriced sofa!

And busy watching our ants, whom I have grown incredibly fond of- they are so interesting!! They love strawberries (yes, we all knew that...), they put their dead friends all together in a pile, and one is getting very inquistive when I give them droplets of water to drink; he's started running up the dropper and out of the farm for a wee explore. They are so cool and what a great gift for Mae's birthday!!

And busy not only celebrating births ( cousin Andrew- can't wait to see him!), but also big birthdays, with Ross turning 70 last week- Happy Birthday! (I won't tell you how old my brother in law is!!!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS!!!

And what a great birthday gift- a new baby boy!!