Nairn and Cawder Castle

 

Nairn is a historic fishing town.  It's about 17 miles east of Inverness.  It has beautiful beaches.  We didn't go into the town.  We needed our salty sea air fix, and we were close.  Nairn is on the mouth of Nairn River and the North Sea.  It was kind of weird there.  The wind did not blow.  Here at home, the wind never stops.  It just wasn't like that there.  When you get to the ocean here, you can really smell the salty air.  It wasn't' strong there at all. It was very beautiful though.  A lovely relaxing time at the beach. 

I found some of the smallest shells I'd ever seen.  There are beautiful rocks there. Madeline and I were looking for agates.  She had better luck than I did.  But she knew what she was looking for. 

I wrote my name in the sand of Scotland.  Then stood there and watched the waves take it away.  

Madeline and I were looking for ice-cream at the beach. There were signs for it.  But... It was very cold and a school day.  So no ice-cream at the beach.  Bummer  

Our host at the hotel we stated at suggested that we go to the Cawder Castle.  When we got there, I was a little castled out at that point.  This one isn't in ruins.  I was pleased.  We headed in and I was excited.  It was staged so you could really get a feel for it.  As I wondered though I just kept thinking how beautiful it was inside there.  As we were nearing the end of the tour, (just us walking through) The lady that was standing there, I'm sure to tell people to stop touching things.  We stood there talking to her and she said next week we close for the season.  Then the runners get rolled up and the ropes come down and the Dowager Cawder will move back in.  My mouth hit the floor.  This is someone's HOME?  Yes, it is.  The Dowager moves back in, in the off season.  I said by herself?  The guide said Well with her day staff of course.  I thought, well sure, as one does.  LOL I just loved the thought of this women, a mother, grandmother and a great grandmother having Sunday dinner with all her people gathered there and the little ones just running around the CASTLE!  Then I wanted to go back through and open cupboard doors.  I'm sure that would have been frowned upon.  

It took me a minute to figure out those are guns. 

When they updated the kitchen to a modern one, the longtime cook/kitchen manager quit.  She didn't want them messing with stuff. 

I think because it is actually someone's home, this castle is my favorite.  I still am tickled by the fact that the Dowager Cawder still lives in the family home. 

Peace

Leakey's and not listening.

We woke up and had our destinations in mind but weren't in a particular hurry.  Madeline and Lorraine had Leakey's on their list.  I wanted to see it but didn't intend to buy books to carry home.  It is the oldest used bookstore in Scotland.  It was very cool.  There isn't a flat spot in there that doesn't have books on it. A very cool old building.  

Madeline and Lorraine were still looking when I was finished.  I had seen a 5 and dime type store around the corner.  I wanted to look for magnets, so I went on a walk.  I went to the store and it had nothing I was interested in.  It resembled an Ace hardware type place.  As I had headed to the store, I passed a shop.  I told myself DO NOT STOP. So I kept walking.  When I was finished and headed back to the car/book store, I kept saying don't do it, do not do it!  Then the next thing I knew my feet were headed into a quilt shop!  Quilt Creations in Inverness.  The women could not have been nicer! She asked what I was looking for.  All of a sudden the words Scottish fabrics that represent Scotland, came out of my mouth.  She said OH YES!  She started showing me examples.  I found some I LOVED, pinks and purples.  BUT, being toward the end of the season she only had 2 of the 5 fabrics of that line, and only in fat quarters. I don't love fat quarters  So I kept looking.  I found a complete line, only it was in a color scheme I didn't LOVE.  BUT It was all there so I bought it.  I bought 1 meter of the 3 fabrics.  ( I have since ordered/received the other 2.  I didn't think I liked them at the time, but needed them after all. So cautionary tale, buy the fabric.  I have found a pattern I'm going to use it on.  I'm excited to start it.  BUT, 

Next, headed to a different kind of castle and the beach.

Peace

9/22 Part Deux Clava Cairns

After we'd spent several hours at the battlefield, we headed to Clava Cairns. 

Clava Cairns is an ancient site outside of Inverness. It consists of 3 bronze age cairns.  It's a significant and well-preserved site.   The name Clava comes from the Gaelic phrase "Cuiridh mi clach air do carn", which means "I will put a stone on your cairn".    ( cut and pasted from Wikipedia 

Three burial cairns exist here making up a line of seven sites which are placed along the low-lying land of the River Nairn to the South. Together these sites form a massive group of some forty-five distinct cairns in the North of Inverness-shire. What is of great interest to this site is the fascinating construction that lies within a circular frame of large boulders.

I have read and enjoyed the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon.  The tv series is its own thing.  NOT like the books.  BUT I digress... When I touched the stones, I was hoping to time travel.  You know, to find my own Jamie Frazer.  No go.  So, on we went with our vacation. 

It was really a wonderful, interesting day!  

Peace

Culloden Battlefield

 

16 April 1746 

The Battle of Culloden is where the Jacobite Army took their last stand to reclaim the throne for exiled James V111 as King. 

At around 1:00 PM the Jacobite artillery opened fire on the government soldiers.  The government responded with their own cannon, and the Battle of Culloden began.  It barely lasted an hour. It was an exceptionally bloody battle that changed life in the Highlands forever.  The Gaelic was forbidden. As were kilts and bagpipes. 

I found the battlefield very similar in feel as I did Pearl Harbor or the National Cemetaries that I have been too.  Just so very sad.  I took a picture of every clan name.  I won't post them all.  It was just very moving to be there.  I walked the whole battlefield.  Slowly.  

About a 1000 Jacobite men were killed and wounded.   The government losses were 50 and 259 wounded.  What a horrible sad day.  It was the last battle on British soil.   

Peace