Let's try again. Day 1 Scotland

My cousin came up and we sat with our pictures and brochures and things and got all of our days sorted out.  I was flustered on my own.  Together our memories worked.

We arrived in Scotland in the afternoon. We walked around our hotel, found something to eat and called it a night. We had to be up and at it.  We had scoped out the bus the night before, so we knew exactly what we were doing!  HA!  

Our tour guide was Gary.  He was a great guide, funny and knowledgeable.

 Our day looked like this....

We went in the town Inveraray.  We drove past the castle.  We couldn't tour it because it was closed.  

The town is very sweet.   Everyone we met was very kind.  We were told that we had very strong accents.  That made us laugh, every time. 

We were supposed to go on a road that at the top had a spot called, Rest and be Thankful.  We couldn't go rest and be thankful because there had been a slide, so we couldn't go up it.  It was a very windy, narrow road. 

In Kilmartin we went to the Museum, and there is a beautiful church and cemetery.  We had lunch there. 

 

           

We went to Loch Lomond.   It's shores measure about 14 miles.  It's a huge freshwater Loch!

Then we went to Ancient Hill at Ft. Dunadd. I hiked up and saw 360 degrees from the top.  So beautiful!

 A panoramic picture from the top.  

Achnabreck with its ancient rock art. There is so much history there.  American thinks it's old. HA!

We went to standing stones and ancient sites.   

Kilmartin

 

These beautiful walls were EVERYWHERE!  So cool. They have stood the test of time.  

And that is a little peek into our 1st full day in Scotland.  

Peace

                                 

Tioraidh an-dra'sta

Good by for now...

Scotland 

My cousin asked me more than once about going to Scotland.  Then covid hit and of course everything stopped.  Then it came up again and we decided it was a great idea.  She was retiring after 32 years of teaching.  It was a wonderful idea for her retirement.  A great gift for herself.  Her sister and me, rounded out our trio. 

Because I took pictures with my phone and real camera it's a bit out of order.  So here is travel day and then day 1.  Starting in Seattle then in Glasgow Scotland. 

 

Madeline and I, Loch Lomond

Sheep are 3 to 1 in Scotland. 

 I'd live in this house!

I don't want to try and explain everything.  I've written and deleted a million things.  So here is day 1. A few standing stones, Loch Lomond, and Kilmartin and ancient stones. 

Child like excitement

Do you remember when you were a little one and just got so excited about things?  Not just Christmas but random things.  Knowing a movie you wanted to watch was coming out, a new bike. then next book in a series that you loved.   Anything that made the warm fuzzy feeling of excitement.   

Our Little Miss Horsey girl has loved horses I think her whole life.  She has been put on a horse almost from the beginning. When she was 4, she started horse riding lessons.  She fell off 2 years ago, I think, and broke her wrist.  Her mom hasn't been in a rush to make that happen again.  Also, LMHG (Little Miss Horsey Girl) doesn't want to ride English.  She wants to ride Western. (a girl after her Grandma Greats heart).  She and I had a sleep over a few weeks ago.  We were talking about the farm.  She told me she really wanted to go ride.  I told her when I went next time, I'd let her know.  I was and I did.  Her folks said she could go.  When I picked her up, she was vibrating!  She had told her mom next time she didn't want to know until the day of.  It had been too long to wait! Tuesday to Thursday.  LOL She had packed Tuesday.  This is what she packed for 3 days, 6 pairs of undies, 3 pairs of pants, 2 pj's, 2 socks, 4 shirts, 3 shorts, 1 jumpsuit, 1 hoodie, 1 coat, 3 pairs of boots, 1 pair of slides, 3 books, 1 tablet and a few stuffed toys.   Her parents LAUGHED at this.  

When I woke up Friday morning, at 7 AM I rolled over and the 2 little eyes said Nana when are we getting ready?  I said LMHG I just opened my eyes.  You have got to give me a minute.  In a little voice she said OK.  I said go find Papa and ask him for breakfast.  I got in the shower then dressed.  I went to make some tea and everywhere I walked she was on my heels.  She asked when are we leaving?  I said Uncle Bugs isn't quite ready yet.  We will leave at 9.  

 She sat there waiting for about 30 minutes. 

At 9:35 she asked how many more hours?  I said please don't ask that again.  We haven't even gone 1 hour yet.  At 10:40, Are we almost there yet?  I said we aren't even halfway yet.  I'll let you know when we are half way.  We will get to the farm at 3.   While we were driving, she asked what time would she be able to ride?  I just sighed. 

I absolutely love her excitement and love for horses.  Every time she saw horses out her window she yelled HORSES!  She is just So in love with them!  

We stopped for lunch and got back on the road.  I made her came to the front and look at the clock when we got to the farm.  It was 2:58!  

She did not ride that first day, but we got apples and carrots and she fed the 2 horses and the donkey all they wanted. 

We got up Saturday morning and had breakfast and then got our hineys outside!  I helped her catch and brush and then she helped me get the saddle and tack ready.  Raven hadn't been ridden in 3 years.  She did OK.  We don't remember dad riding her with a bit, so her mouth never stopped moving but she did really well with a tiny rider.  Then Bugs and I both took a turn.  We needed a bigger saddle but for what we did it was just fine. Then dream off all dreams she got to ride bareback!  Saturday AND Sunday!  She did good and is so brave!  I'm so very proud of her!  On Sunday we did some farm chores and she got to ride on the trailer and help me drive the mower. 

She was not thrilled to leave the farm but knew Dad and mom would miss her.  She also would miss them.  So home we went.  

Her Uncle Tom set her up with a lead line reign and she was so excited!  No bridle, nothing but a halter and lead line. 

It was a very good weekend.  One little girl was over the moon!

Find something that makes you excited!  Remember something that you used to be excited about, do that!

Peace

When the reason comes out

Several years ago I had a life changing experience.  I had a grand mal seizure at work.  Through testing and more tests I have been diagnosed with Epilepsy.  I continued to have different types of seizures until they got my meds right.  I have been seizure free for over 3 years.  So... today, 

Breezy and I went on a hike.  It was cool but not raining.  We had an almost 10-mile hike on our calendar.  We met at the assigned time, headed to the trail head.  It was a wonderful hike.  There are several small water crossings and 2 what I would call tricky/wet feet crossings.  We did really good right up until the last one.  Wet feet for both of us.  We laughed but went on.  We hiked to the most beautiful falls.  Oh, it's beautiful there.  We had lunch and took pictures and enjoyed our time there.   While we were there several groups of people came to enjoy it.  It's a non-raining Sunday, trails are busy.  We started early though.  One of the groups left as we were getting geared back up.  Hiked back out of the base of the falls and headed back down the trail.  As we came to the first crossing the group of 3 young people that had left in front of us were across the water but in the boulders.  It was obvious she was in trouble.  Her head was lolling to the side, and she was very floppy.  I grabbed Breezy's trekking poles, and she went off.  She was in SARS years ago and a guide.  She works in the medical field, with patients, now.  She was the most qualified between the 2 of us.  She got there first and safely.  When I got there, she was doing vitals as best as she could and asking questions.  Maddie apparently had said she felt funny and then promptly had a seizure in the rocks.  She appeared to have not hit her head and nothing was broken but she was not in a good way.  At all.  When we realized nothing was broken we needed to get her out of the boulders.  We got her up and off the trail under the trees.  She was not coherent and very floppy.  Breezy asked all the smart questions and We were figuring out all the what nows.  There was a couple that crossed with us.  The asked if we wanted 911.  I looked at Breezy, we looked at Maddie, and said yes.  There was a sign heading up to the trailhead that said no cell service and no 911.  Somewhere about mid hike I suddenly got a text, so I explained to keep checking as I had random service on the way up.  about 20 minutes later a man who had been booking it rounded the corner out of breath.  He asked if we needed 911, they had a Garmin in reach.  Breezy said yes.  The other couple had passed them and they said they were headed to find 911. The new folks had the Garmin so the man came running up! Lots of texts with SAR and conversations with us, we came to the conclusion that we would carry Maddie and start down.  We were about 3 hours of a wait if we stayed so we thought we could cut some of the distance if we all helped. We started down, lots of stops and lots of water.  We ran into the SARS folks and they asked lots of info and took vitals and talked a lot to Maddie and her friends.  They asked Breezy and I what we saw/did.  They took over.  Breezy and I both exhaled and went whew!  

So here is where I came in.  I'm really good in an emergency.  I fall apart later.  I don't know how Maddie felt, but I know how I felt waking up after a seizure. I was scared and very disoriented for about 24 + hours. When Maddie started coming around and was so confused, I could talk to her, from experience.  I held her hand and told her she was ok and would continue to be ok.  I told her I have epilepsy and my experiences.  She asked several questions that I could answer.  I told her what she might expect in the ambulance.  She wanted them to give her something in the ambulance to make sure that didn't happen again.  We chuckled and said that isn't how it works.  But they would help her to figure out what happened. I told her friends that when they called her parents they needed to start with, she's ok, but this has happened.  I hugged her when we left.  I'm confident she will be just fine. 

So after all that, I had my first answer to the "why did this have to happen to me?"  My diagnoses has brought a fear into my life I didn't know I could have.  I've worked through a lot and am way better.  There are still things I'd rather not do alone, just in case. But beside all that, I helped a young 24 year old women with what was probably the scariest moments in her life.  I had some answers for her.  

The moral of the story?  Breezy and I will now have a Garmin in reach for just said emergency! 

Peace

Isn't life funny

 Not in the funny ha ha kind of way.  

Life changes in an instant doesn't it.  My mom fell and broke her hip.  She's had to have a partial hip replacement.  What a gnarly surgery!  Her surgeon explained all the particulars to us.  I'm not fascinated about medical stuff, but I wanted to know what he had done to my mother.  I was listening and understanding what he did.  My brother sat there with his fingers in his ears.  NO JOKE.  51 years old.  My older brother blanched white.  Ding dong boys.  She is on her way to going home.   Mom hasn't loved rehab, but she's done the work. We aren't sure how things will be different but going home she is!  

We had a grandbaby who was coming to join our family.  It wasn't meant to be.  That has been hard on all of us.  We are so very sad.  They are hurting with the loss.  It's a painful thing, missing/grieving for someone you didn't know you wanted.  We all had instant dreams and wishes for this little one. As a family we were so excited.  Now we are just sad.  

My sister in law's dad is fighting cancer.  They live across the country from each other.  It's scary and hard to deal with.  My heart hurts for her.  Prayer is all we can offer and some days it just doesn't seem enough. When things go sideways with my mom/brothers, I'm just across the state from them.  I can't imagine living across the country. I hate cancer.  

I just keep thinking, we are all just one heartbeat away....  feels weird.  

Remember if someone matters to you, tell them!  Leave nothing unsaid.  You really just don't know. 

Peace

It's you and me kid

 

In a six-month period we will be adding 4 people to our family.  WHOOIE!  

Last June Heir came to us and told us that he was really in love with his longtime friend/travel buddy.  They have been on so many adventures.  They would meet all over the world for vacations. She has been here with us, and he's been there with her family.  We knew she was important to him.  BUT when he was 18 years old, he came to us and said he had no desire for children and or a wife.  We told him there are worse things than not having children.  Thats having them if you don't want them.  We really are fine with it.  I then told him that if and when he met "her" he would move a mountain to be with her.  BUT seriously no worry from us if he never did.  Well, he did!  So, he went off and got himself a Mrs. Heir!  We are so happy for him.  Boy oh boy has he had to take some ribbing from his brothers who he has teased endlessly about getting married and having children.  If he and Mrs. Heir decide to become parents, it's going to start all over again.  AND it's well deserved.  In brotherly love. 

T2 has meet his happy ever after! They will be getting married this summer.  Miss fiancé' has 2 little girls, so not only a new DIL but 2 new grands.  So that will be 6 girls to 2 boys.  We are so happy for T2.  He has waited a long time to find her.  She will be a wonderful addition to our family.  They are both so excited and wedding plans are in full swing!  I'm again reminded that I love being a boy mom.  lol 

I remember being pregnant with each of my boys.  I remember loving the feeling of it being just them and me.  I didn't have to share them with anyone.  They were all mine.  I could feel them move inside me.  I was never alone, and neither were they.  The first sound they heard was my heartbeat. There is just something so magical in being pregnant.  We only told the news we were pregnant early one time.  Oh that was the longest pregnancy ever!  We learned not to do that again.  I loved the time that it really was just them and me.  A secret I carried under my heart.  I also remember when they were born.  I wasn't that person who was SO IN LOVE that first second.  I was tired and bloody and in pain.  It was in the quiet of the night and everyone was gone, it was just them and me again.  That feeling of Oh, there you are!  I've been waiting to see your face.  THAT was the moment I was so overwhelmed with love and all the emotions that come with it.  

Now that they are all adults and finding their own partners, or not, and moving forward in their lives I'm trying to remember those times and not get overwhelmed with them going out on their own.  Yes I know they have been doing this for 20+ years.  As Monkey is our last but still lives at home while he is in school, we aren't truly empty nesters.  When we started our family and then when we decided we were complete, The thought of growing our family in a new way wasn't even on my radar.  I like this part!  Family is an endless chain, there is always room for one more name. 

Peace