Wishing, Castles, Spitting, Fish N Chips

While I sit with the family watching shows, my brain starts working and I figure i should start writing. I was thinking today, while washing dishes, that on your 20th anniversary people should have a party where you get all of your kitchen crap replaced. Like your gross pans or get a new rice cooker or whatever you need. I mean would that not be the greatest thing ever? I could certainly use some new cookie sheets and definitely a new rice cooker. But then I think wouldnt it be fun just to have a party...well i am not so sure i would want to do that with all kinds of people coming over. Shane isnt big into having people come over, he gets all weird and crazy about it. Nothing is clean enough or we would not have enough food (when he got enough for an army)....so I suppose i have answered my own question.

I went to England/Scotland with my girls this last month. It was a glorious trip.I wish we had spent a bit more time in Scotland, but it was our first trip and we wanted to see London as well. Needless to day I thought today i would start with Edinburgh Castle.

 I was standing at the Castle and was amazed that i was standing in a place that had been here for hundreds of years, it had to be defended, kept people safe (the wall of the city is only visible in some places). Living meant being inside of its boundaries. I was humbled to stand in such a place where so many had stood before me. My Uncle John is quite the historian and gave us such great history lessons while we were walking around. He knew everything about everything....So i got a bee in my bonnet and took a panorama of Edinburgh from the Castle. In the distance is the sea. That area with all of the trees would have been where the moat was around the city. John says it was disgusting full of...well you can figure that out...and they drained it and now it is partially a beautiful park we walked through. The Castle is built high up in the city so everyone can see it. I still cannot fathom the amount of people who have walked through there, who stepped where i stepped and created this beautiful country.

Speaking of cool this painting is in the Great Hall. It depicts the Battle of Waterloo. It was so stunning and huge. I wish i could show it here, but my photo does not do it justice. 

Inside the Great Hall were centuries of swords and some body armor. Interestingly, the armor is so small, like a typical 14 or 15 year old boy could fit into it today. Shows that our size has changed over time and probably (most likely) our nutrition. It was so cool to be in a Hall that had been used for centuries. I was told that the Hall is still used for pomp and circumstance when the Queen needs to do something. Pretty darn cool.

The Hall also had the family plaques of clans and such. I took a photo of this one as the bottom left corner is William Wallace. It depicts how the 2 plaques combine and become the top one into a royal plaque depending on whom is in power. 

When we arrived in Edinburgh the Queen was in town so we couldnt go tour the Palace of the Holyrood House. It was nice of Queen Elizabeth to come because we were there but really I would have liked to go inside of her house. 

This gorgeous fountain is in the front area of the palace. 

The Palace, if you look close there is a flag that is the Queens flag and shows that she is home. 

So this is the Heart of Midlothian. Funny story about this. We were walking by it and my Aunt Susan says "Girls go over there and spit in it, eh". Say it in a Scottish accent in your mind and say it really fast. My Aunt Susan speaks really fast. Needless to say there were 3 girls around it with a selfie stick taking a photo, my uncle then tells us that this is the spot where they would hang people. apparently its good luck to spit in the Heart? Sure is so there is that. Needless to say Susan, Lindsay and Leslie as well as my 3 daughters spit in the heart. Good thing apparently we needed luck. The 3 girls were totally mortified, but good fun was had by all of us.

This Cathedral is just behind the Heart of Midlothian. It is St Giles Cathedral.  It is so beautiful. I went inside and just sat and looked at the stained glass. This photo below is of one of the windows. The cool thing about is the names in the windows. Adam, Noah, Enoch Melchesidic, Abraham, Isaac. So cool. I found it so amazing. That had been there for years centuries. 

It was amazing the trip. I am still processing the pieces and bits of it. I am so glad to have gone. I miss everyone already. My girls miss the food, wait i miss the food as well. Fish and chips...yummmmm. 

It was a wonderful time. Now i am back in the US with my family and happy for it. Grateful to have family...but still wishing for new kitchen crap.

Friend, Scouts, A bit of the UK

I have been working on a blog post about my trip to the UK but it is coming along slowly. I keep getting stuck, so i put it aside. I found though that i have other things to write about. Since i have been back to work I have tried to really concentrate on my job more and work harder than usual. I really missed going to work everyday, it has become a part of my life. The job there is a blessing in my life. I am feeling challenged quite a bit as well lately. Some of the ladies i work with are so nice to be around and super helpful.

Since my trip i found that i am really super out of shape. I have a found a really great friend here. It certainly has taken a while but i found one. There are others but with my friend i can be myself and talk about anything and everything with her. She is kind, understanding, supportive and willing to listen to me bitch about anything. She understands when i  bitch and complain that it just to get it off my chest. She understands where i am coming from. She has been a great support to me over the past few months. Her daughter is getting married in a few months and we decided to get into some sort of shape. Her daughter has picked a color that is quite bright and she will be wearing it at the wedding. She wanted to loose some weight and get into a bit of shape. Our house is a bit down the road from the High School. She comes over at 6 am and we walk to the school and journey around the track a couple, sometimes 3 times. It is a pretty long walk. We take the dog with us and she enjoys the high life of running free for a bit (dont tell anyone that part).

Cindy and I have figured out that we are very similar in a lot of ways. I have come to a realization that its okay to be and do as i wish around her. It takes a bit for me. She can be clear with me and honest with me about what i am doing if am not on the right track. I am often surprised that she deals with my crapola. Its a huge comfort to me. I can text her, call her, go to her house virtually anytime i need or want too. Walking every morning has given me an outlet and made me get some exercise in. So I may not say it much but I love you Cindy, thanks for loving me back.

In other news, my boys are off to scout camp in McCall. Those boys have worked their butts off this summer to earn the 250 bucks it costs to go. They have also worked hard on their merit badges. John has finished all of his paperwork for his Eagle Scout Project. He is turning in the paperwork in the next week or so. This is exciting stuff considering he isnt ever 14 yet. It doesnt happen often that a boy earns his Eagle Scout at 14. Jake is well on his way to his Eagle as well. Funny story about the boys. I received a notice from the cable company whom we have internet through. We have gone over our limit for whatever (not savvy in that way) and its because we have 2 boys constantly working on line on merit badges. Interesting, i find it funny. Good thing those merit badges are almost done for the summer.

So for a few photos of my trip. We went to the Brittish Museum and got to see some of the most AMAZING things here are a few photos of some paintings from some of the greats.

VanGogh !!! I mean for real I was standing in front of it, not more than 10 feet from it!

VanGogh....i still cannot tell you how amazed i was. 

VanGogh i could see the brush strokes in the paint, it was so surreal

Degas called Ms La La at Le Cirque absolutely beautiful

an actual Michael Angelo it is unfinished but absolutely stunning. 

One of the coolest places in London we went too was this park. We were across the road looking for the Hard Rock Cafe and I saw a park and needed a rest. So we sat down for a bit in Hyde Park and I admired the beautiful green grass and trees, we got up to walk more and i looked down and there this was. I loved Princess Diana. She was a great role model and mother for her children. Her demeanor was wonderful, she was gracious. It made me stop in my tracks and take a few mins to think about what kind of mother I am. And here i was with my daughters in a city full of history. It was a great moment for me. I am sure my daughters didnt see it the way i did but it sure meant something to me. Princess Diana touched my life and she was gone far too soon.  

OH and i miss these people who are my family, who love me and brought me great peace and many stories about my sweet mum. 

They fed us, let me cry, cried with me, laughed with me, oh and they fed us.I love them. Ron and Iris i am looking for a photo of you two and i cannot find one. I miss them so much....