Well this is interesting

 The area of Canonbie, Scotland is exquisitely beautiful, rural, and packed with history. Best, it is not prime tourist area! My dad and sister have been great fun as co-travellers.

 And I must say that tho airplane travel is fraught with delays and the seats are uncomfortable (to say the least), the efforts to ease airport lines for people with mobility issues are Tops! Dad is just over 80 and was whisked through on a wheelchair and we got the benefits too….

These last few days have included trips to nearby environs including: the Rockcliff area our family spent much time in in 1977 (it is unchanged!),  Jedburgh, Langholm, Carlisle, and lunch with a shepherdess we met in ‘77. Apparently, my ancestors were reviers, border dwellers who robbed the English and guarded the line between countries. Perhaps that’s why I feel at home here- it’s in my genes? Glad I didn’t inherit the theft thing. 

                                      Tis moi

                               Cemetery, rural 

                          Random gorgeous estate

          One of two churches dad preached at in ‘77

                             Sweetheart Abbey

                   Our sprawling childhood manse

                   Dad and sis on Gilnockie tower 

The craggy beach at Rockcliff

We are half- way thru our trip but our plans have been upended. My sister’s mom-in-law died unexpectedly and she and dad booked a plane back today. They will drop me at the next cottage stay which is a couple hours North. I won’t have the rental car so I am going to scale back the original sightseeing plans and entertain myself as best as I can. 

Putting on my big girl panties and dealing. Why is it still hard at 50?!

NC Beauty and Scotland Calling

When I return to mountains I wonder how I could have moved away. There’s something about the old Appalachians that fill something in my soul. And the fresh peaches, sweet tea, pine trees, hospitality…

We had a gorgeous 3 days of family reunion and 80th birthday celebration in Montreat, NC. Former home of Billy Graham. Like most mountain towns here, offspring of old timers cannot afford to settle back here. 

     Hubby at Veranda restaurant, Black Mountain NC

Rhododendron and small creeks trickle down sides of the mountain. Trails are plentiful and surrounding mountains cradle one as you walk while never giving a feeling of claustrophobia. 

We did have a yearling bear cub sniffing around our lodge but he/she/they did not stay long. 

I picked up a slim history of Montreat and was happy to see how women figured so prominently in its settling in the late 1800s. It was always a place for spiritual and physical rest and healing.

Along our drives we made it a point to stop at primitive store Nanbrook Farm, Lincolnton NC. 

I was pretty bummed to find it closed for vacation. Here are some pics of the inviting outside. 

These face jugs dotted the Main Street through the town. 

Hubby back at home whilst I continue my journey; I head to Scotland in the next 48 hours with father and sister.

 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿  

July July July

 HAPPY CANADA DAY!

 🇨🇦 

We are staying put, not attending fireworks and whatnot,  at our new-to-us cottage on the country. We just explored further on an atv trail by our place; we ended up with a lovely 5 mile walk which wandered between a creek and the river. Surprisingly, pretty bug-free.

It has been an incredibly easy adjustment, moving from urban to rural life. I go the 22 minute drive with hubby up to 3x a week for work and volunteer; but even the drive is pleasant. When alone here, my routine is garden, lunch, walk, projects, and supper prep.

The flower garden and veg garden are coming along (which is amazing given our almost daily rains for the month), and I fashioned a sink skirt from a shower     curtain to hide pipes and brushes. 

 I’ve gotten my sketch pad out again and have been considering putting rug pdf patterns on Etsy. If you’ve used Etsy feel free to persuade or dissuade me from them. About 20 years ago I sold patterns on eBay but got weary drawing out patterns on linen. 

Not my bag baby.

I’m prepping for some travels: a birthday celebration in NC, a trip with my dad and younger sister to Scotland, and then another archaeological dig involving human remains from the 18th century. 

As my geometric rug is looking very much the same, just longer, I’ll leave you with

more eye candy from the happy place where I volunteer…