Happy Boxing Day!

Cinderella

19 of us went to the panto this afternoon and I laughed a ton! Hopefully, everyone enjoyed it as much as I did.
My kids think that it is hilarious that every year we invite families to go and then the following year, those families have left the country rather than go to another panto with us!
Mike still doesn't have his luggage!{he is trying to tell us that all of our presents are in his missing luggage--yeah right!}
Finally cut out the Mrs. Claus cookies, and made the frosting, but still have not decorated them!
Have not put the traditional gingerbread house together either, though Bonnie has given us a family of 5 gingerbread people to abide there, once it is constructed.
Watched "Santa Claus 2" tonight. Fantabulous! Chelsi has already seen #3.
Tonight we also opened our St. Nicholas package from the Clancys. We received it yesterday though Connie sent it in October! Very fun, we loved it all. The cats went nuts and drooled all over the wrappers, KSU loved the chai since Chelsi couldn't find any, and I loved the playmobile ornaments.
Happy December 23rd to all!

We're all here!

The whole family arrived yesterday! Chelsi came at 4 and Mike arrived around 8. Chelsi's luggage arrived at noon and Mike's never did show up!

Can't forget AMBER!

WRAPPING!

OK... so I am done shopping, shopping, shopping! Now I am wrapping, wrapping, wrapping. I want to have most things under the tree before the rest of my family arrives tomorrow! {Did manage to take some pictures of the frost today.} Kelli is sure watching the skies for snow! Decorated the church on Saturday.

10 days 'til Christmas

Received our first package through the post. So exciting! Thanks Cooper family!
Today was the last day of school for the kids! So very exciting!
Tomorrow we are decorating the church.
Check out http://paperheart06.blogspot.com to see what else I have been doing!

Busy, Busy, Busy!

Happy Birthday JoeAnn!
Last night we had our clog Christmas party. It was lots of fun! We danced and ate and exchanged gifts.

Today, Elizabeth and I met at Duthie and drew our usual fabulous drawings. Also took goofy gold bauble pictures{saw this on Kirsty's blog!}

Aren't they FUN?

Reindeer

The reindeer visited today!

Thanks for all of your comments!

Happy birthday yesterday to Julie and Janie!

We danced in the Mercat Cross!

It was a cold and blustery afternoon down in Aberdeen centre on Sunday. After a fitful start, we wowed the crowd with Whalley, Yellow Sheepskins & Conway Arches. The garlands were lovely with their holiday tinsel. We then headed down to Castlegate for a new audience. Our final dance of the day was Yellow Sheepskins and we danced it in the cross. It was a piece of history!

Heraldry & MahJong

Was mesmerized last night by a talk on Scottish Heraldry. Very Interesting! Thanks Elizabeth for going with me. It was at St. Nicholas Kirk downtown and they served some delightful mulled wine and mince pies.
Today had a blast with the Mahjong ladies---Melinda had a winning "Winter" hand! We also created a "Aberdeen" hand of a pung in each suit, a pair of winds or dragons, and a mixed chow! The "winter" hand is 4 pungs and a pair of circles (snowballs), N or S winds, or white dragons!
Here is the promised teapot picture and some mj shots.

St. Andrew's

Hey!

Went shopping in St. Andrew's today. Checked out the Christmas Shoppe and the Teapot Shop. Had a very nice cup of earl grey tea and a freshly baked scone too. I was so excited to find the "Figgy Pudding" teapot that Debbie C. got there a few years back. I just love it---too cute! I will put a picture on tomorrow. Here are some shots of the sun rising over the North Sea and some stonework in St. Andrew's.

Then it was back home for a quick bite. Ryan returned early from a game in Glasgow. They won! Yeah! Off to dance practice. We(Raggie Morrisons) will be performing this Sunday in Aberdeen.

HAPPY SAINT NICHOLAS DAY!!!

Monday in Milltimber

It's Monday! Took Amber to the vet to have her stitches checked. They are fine and so is she.

Sunny and wiiiindy here in Scotland. The cats are running around the house trying to get away from all the howling going on outside!

Today I made a {BIG} pot of chili. Also made some really wonderful Michigan Cherry and Toasted Almond White Chocolate Bark. Made some almost as wonderful mint chocolate bark. Thanks Connie for those MI cherries. Now that the package is open, I am also going to use them in a apple salad for tomorrow's Bible Study Christmas Brunch.

Posted a birthday package for you, Raleigh! It will be late, but it is on the way!

Happy Advent!

Happy Advent! Put the tree up today after church. Santa Koala is on the tiptop and the lights are sparkling. We will put the ornaments on tomorrow. Lit the first candle on our Advent Wreath. Mike is safe and sound in Alaska. What a wonderful season!

cookies

"Scrooge" was great! Excellent music! Ate at a new Italian restaurant~~~yumm!

Another batch of Christmas cookies, but I think they have already been eaten. They didn't even make it to the freezer.

Compiled some Scotland pictures for the yearbook crew~~~here are a few:

2 Days to December

Nice sunny day here in Aberdeen. Makes me want to run around outside and take pictures---too much to do though.

Trying to address Advent calendars to 10 young people, sorry but they are going to be late. That means that you get to open more than one window on the day you receive them. Remember that the Advent Season actually starts this Sunday! Is YOUR wreath ready?

Still haven't finalized my recipe Christmas card. Presents have been purchased, but nothing wrapped and certainly nothing sent off to the States. {Amber is just a lovin' on me right now, strange since I was the one to take her to the vet's yesterday to be fixed.}

I am very proud of myself though for starting the holiday prep off with making "Chinese noodle candy". Yeah! It is always the first thing I do!

Melt a bag of chocolate chips and a bag of butterscotch chips in a glass bowl in the microwave. Stir in a can of chow mein noodles and a cup of salted peanuts. Drop by teaspoonfuls on waxed paper. Once solid again you my store in any airtight container---I usually keep them in the freezer. [I am soooo excited that I remembered to pick up the cans of noodles in the States this summer, & the butterscotch chips]

I hope your Thanksgiving was joyous, funfilled , and tummy-stretching! I really enjoyed dinner at the Marcliffe(not skirlie---so sad) and returning home to have fantabulous pumpkin pie with the family+friends.

Give Thanks!

Happy Happy Turkey Day Everyone!
We are looking forward to a lovely dinner at Marcliffe with lots of friends. Last year we had turkey, gamon, various salads, skirlie (oatmeal stuffing), potatoes, and some veggies. Dessert consisted of scottish pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and something chocolate and all were served with cream. I actually love the cream part! I also have become quite attached to the skirlie which is oats and onions fried in butter. Interesting! I apologize if I have spelled it wrong and I also apologize for not rolling my r's when I say it. Today, I will probably make a pumpkin pie for the family ( which has 2 additional members from TX). I do have my one remaining can of libby's. Yummy!
Here's to watching the pilgrim candles melt! (You will only understand this if you have attended one of the many family Thanksgivings with the Smith/sisters families.)

Thanks!

I am so excited---thanks for the comments!
Yesterday's pictures were ...Amber, symbol stone with Pictish beast (what I affectionately call Daffy Duck) & crescent, copycat Arran, St.Nicholas-MitherKirk, and our last 1st day of school with a piper! Here is one more of my favorites...Sissy and Liberty!

More pictures that I really really like!

Favorite Pics

I arrived in beautiful Scotland in October of 2001. I have been taking pictures whenever, wherever, and of whomever ever since! Here are a few of MY favorites!

That's me inside Aberdeen's Mercat Cross, my daughters in Pompei, daffodils, Eliza(my painting buddy) at Pack Horse Bridge, butterfly in my back garden, and brambleberries hanging over the fence.