In the middle of breakfast

Hey Dad, can you do this?

My heart's in the Highlands

October school hols are almost over. We spent a few days in Aviemore in the highlands at a youth hostel. Travelled in a steam train - chillin! Claire turned 5 and her birthday wish was for a pony ride.

Here's Ailsa and Heather at a double stone circle from 2500 BC 

Then we were at Landmark - an outdoor adventure park. This video is especially for Grandma, Oma and all those challenged by heights. I couldn't believe Ailsa and Heather did it. Ailsa was the slowest up the pole (Kris could advise?), but once up she just jumped right down. Heather zipped right up but then deliberated for a minute at the top. Second time round there was no hesitation.

We visited a wildlife park - it's all over now, back to school - oh deer (Sharon's comment) 

A one-pumpkin pumpkin patch

Look! We grew a pumpkin! In a pot in our own garden! In the great outdoors, here in the north, without a greenhouse! Just in time for Thanksgiving or Halloween.

 Recipe suggestions please. Would it help if you saw the size, so you can gauge how much pumpkin we have for your recipe?









It's the enthusiastic size of an orange.

Memory Lane

Well, after a busy weekend re-painting windowsills, overseeing homework, getting four girls to four separate dance classes, church, making bran muffins, soup, bread, apple crumble, shouting at them to stop laughing and having fun because you are making yourself wheezy, (run upstairs and get your inhaler!), letting John take them to the park, stomping on a mini-quiche because I was fed up of fussy eaters, doing the laundry and ironing and typing out lots of notes for the school review action committee meeting tomorrow morning.....
it is really nice to have a glass of red wine and spend almost an hour looking over old blog posts and re-live lots of moments and realize what a lovely family I have and what funny and supportive blog-commenters we have too.