Jolly times at FHE

I apologise for not having posted much lately. The posts have been dreadfully thin on the ground! But tonight we had a great time at FHE (technically, I should call it home evening group, as we're not a family, but I can't be bothered). For our activity we made pretzels with Sis. Whitney. She had the dough made up already. It was SO fun!

Yum! Homemade pretzels!

Melissa, Sis. Whitney, Spring, Kris, Dovile & Rachel.

Kris, Dovile, Rachel & Mercy.

Spring's heart-shaped pretzel was the best!

the lovely Rachel.

Belated St Mungo Day

Apologies to those of you who have already seen these pictures on Facebook.

Well, St Mungo Day is the 13th or the 14th of January. I missed it by a couple of days, and celebrated on Tuesday, the 15th. I was going to try to pull of something more elaborate, but in the end I just did sugar cookies. As I have cookie cutters for all the St Mungo symbols (a fish, a bird, a tree and a bell) I just had to make them this year (I missed it ENTIRELY last year!).

I did sample a few that broke or that were over-cooked, but all the rest I gave to the Young Women Tuesday night.

I selected the best looking ones for the photos.

Fledgling iPod photos!

I know it sounds silly, but I love the vintage look of the photos that one can take on Apple products: Instagram, Hipstamatic, etc. and have looked forward to a day when I could try them out. And here is that day! I took a few pictures around my flat, and yesterday I wandered about the Botanic Gardens to snap a few pics.

Poinsettias 

The view out my window.

A close-up of my blanket Morag made for me.

Kibble Palace.

Blossoms - in January!

Late Christmas - how jolly!

So, there were a couple of boxes wending my way that I didn't get till last week. One was because of customs fees which I had to pay, and then they delivered my box to the local postoffice, but the postoffice didn't believe me, and I had to go back a few days later and get it. They still seemed a bit dubious, but at least they handed over the box.

All in all, I have received three late Christmas boxes, all of which were well worth the wait! I had a wee box from Morag (with some lovely Trader Joe's stuff and a couple of lovely hand-made things); a box from my sister Jennie and my niece Afton (Afton had my name in our family Xmas swap thing). That yielded some lovely jewellery, some 1920s style door signs, and a lovely grey sweater. The third box was a NEW iPod that my siblings got for me. I can now take vintage looking pictures! I confess, that's the main reason I wanted one. But I'd hardly had it a half hour when I was convinced of its other charms as well!

The beautifully wrapped gifts from my sister Jennie & my niece Afton!

Riverside Museum

Last Friday I met up with Sylvia, a lady in my ward, and her delightful daughter Maya. She wanted to go to the transport museum, and invited other people along. At first it was just us, then we were joined by other women (Kate and her daughter, and Leigh and her son). It was a jolly adventure around the museum.

These reminded me of "A Child's Christmas in Wales" when he gets a kit like this and makes  a sea-faring tram.

Kate's little girl sitting in the old subway car.

Hogmanay!

New Years Eve was a huge success! Dovile and I walked to the church, where Glasgow ward was hosting a ceilidh. I danced, and talked and had a wonderful time!

Dovile by the Christmas tree.

My dress - a gift from Heather, and a wee jacket that matched it perfectly that I found at Primark!

There is no better way of seeing the old year off/ welcoming in the new than by ceilidh dancing!

Spinning around in 'Strip the Willow'

Oh, look! Men in kilts!

Back home, safe and sound, at 2:30 a.m.!

The Harbour

After wandering along the beach, we walked back up to the road and over to a wee cozy harbour. I think the name of the beach and the harbour is Sandside. The name of the sand dune is Cnoc Stanger. Rachel sent me a link to the RCAHMs website telling about the area, and that after a storm in the 1750s, remains of stone dwellings were found in the vicinity of Cnoc Stanger. Also at some point bones (ooh!) and cremation urns. Who knew we were traversing over such archaeological ground!

A flooded field.

The harbour.

I find lobster traps to be very picturesque.

James atop the slippy rocks.