Due to an unusually harsh winter this year, most flowers are blooming later than normal. Some in our garden.... rhodendron, azaleas, magnolia tree
Monday, 10 May 2010
A few springtime pics...
At sunset across the loch from our house...
Due to an unusually harsh winter this year, most flowers are blooming later than normal. Some in our garden.... rhodendron, azaleas, magnolia tree
Due to an unusually harsh winter this year, most flowers are blooming later than normal. Some in our garden.... rhodendron, azaleas, magnolia tree
Finished redecorating living room!
We've been extremely busy since we came home from our travels near the end of January. One more room is now finished - the living/dining room. Now on the lookout for some nice art for the walls. The large wall hanging was purchased in Uganda, as were the woven baskets, bowls, trays, wooden masks and wooden boat, woven placemats, pillow covers, cloth, etc etc. Also on display are photos of our Ugandan friends and artwork by one of our friends.
Photos of our redecorating and remodeling
Photos of our redecorating and remodeling
Saturday, 24 April 2010
Isle of Colonsay, continued
We enjoyed our week on Colonsay even though it was quite cold much of the time. Choices were to stay in the house in front of the fire, or bundle up and go out. We did lots of walking and biking and most afternoons we spent some time in the lovely Colonsay Hotel with pints of beer and wireless internet access. Colonsay's history goes back nearly 9,000 years. Intro to Colonsay
On our final night the ferry arrived in Oban just before 10pm so we spent the night at the incredible Falls of Lora hotel before driving home this morning. Falls of Lora Hotel, Connel by Oban
This was the first time we stayed at this hotel and we were in awe of the incredible collections in it...large brass items, antiques, an eclectic collection of paintings and photos, etc.
More of my Colonsay Photos
On our final night the ferry arrived in Oban just before 10pm so we spent the night at the incredible Falls of Lora hotel before driving home this morning. Falls of Lora Hotel, Connel by Oban
This was the first time we stayed at this hotel and we were in awe of the incredible collections in it...large brass items, antiques, an eclectic collection of paintings and photos, etc.
More of my Colonsay Photos
Monday, 19 April 2010
Isle of Colonsay
Danny are I are spending a week in a rented cottage on the wee Isle of Colonsay. Our 10th wedding anniversary was April 17th. Our cottage is a 3 bedroom traditional stone cottage which faces the Atlantic Ocean and it's the same one we stayed in for our 5th anniversary.
Colonsay is 17 square miles with a resident population of less than 200.
http://www.colonsay.org.uk/
Sunday we rode our bikes to Balnarhard Bay, a stunning beach. The ride was gorgeous but there were many steep hills we had to walk the bikes up. Well worth it though!
Colonsay is 17 square miles with a resident population of less than 200.
http://www.colonsay.org.uk/
Tuesday, 6 April 2010
Updates
Danny and I are still doing DIY in the house. It's been years since the living/dining room and the doors were painted. All have now been painted except the back doors. Even got a shiny new gold letter box in the front door. Except for one door, all the doors in the house are the original from 1927. A couple of them even have the original hardwood doorknobs.
We are now awaiting our new carpet and I will upload pics of the living/dining room when it's complete.
In just over a week we are going to the Isle of Colonsay for our 10th wedding anniversary. I'll be taking loads of pics whilst there and will share them.
I've learned that my second grandchild will be another girl! The magic event will occur in August. Her big sister who will be 5 by then is thrilled that she's going to have a wee sister.
We have purchased an airline ticket for our Ugandan 'daughter' Doreen to visit us this summer. We didn't realize how difficult it is to get a visitor visa to the UK from Uganda. Her first application was rejected and she is reapplying. We're trying hard to get it approved.
The weather here has been changing from one day to the next, as usual. Here is a pic from last week when there was still snow on top of the mountains across the loch. I'll be re-photographing all the flowers and plants in our garden as they bloom this year.
We are now awaiting our new carpet and I will upload pics of the living/dining room when it's complete.
In just over a week we are going to the Isle of Colonsay for our 10th wedding anniversary. I'll be taking loads of pics whilst there and will share them.
I've learned that my second grandchild will be another girl! The magic event will occur in August. Her big sister who will be 5 by then is thrilled that she's going to have a wee sister.
We have purchased an airline ticket for our Ugandan 'daughter' Doreen to visit us this summer. We didn't realize how difficult it is to get a visitor visa to the UK from Uganda. Her first application was rejected and she is reapplying. We're trying hard to get it approved.
The weather here has been changing from one day to the next, as usual. Here is a pic from last week when there was still snow on top of the mountains across the loch. I'll be re-photographing all the flowers and plants in our garden as they bloom this year.
Tuesday, 16 March 2010
New kitchen
Danny completely gutted our old kitchen and installed a new one. From start to finish took 6 weeks of working almost every day, all day. As this kitchen is north-facing and gets little light, we chose white cupboards and bright tiles. This house is 83 years old so walls and floor are not even and this created extra work. I painted the walls, woodwork and doors, and oiled the beech countertops. Otherwise, Danny did it all. Well done, doll!!
We have an integrated dishwasher and undercounter fridge (British-style), but a (relatively) full-size fridge/freezer in the laundry room.
Pics before, during, and after:
Kitchen pics
We have an integrated dishwasher and undercounter fridge (British-style), but a (relatively) full-size fridge/freezer in the laundry room.
Pics before, during, and after:
Kitchen pics
Friday, 12 March 2010
Passionate frogs and a new kitchen
No, the two are not related!
Our kitchen which was gutted is now nearly finished. Final pics will be posted here but in the meantime pics of the progress are here:
Old kitchen and new one in progress
Springtime has finally arrived as proclaimed loudly by the frogs in our pond.
Our kitchen which was gutted is now nearly finished. Final pics will be posted here but in the meantime pics of the progress are here:
Old kitchen and new one in progress
Springtime has finally arrived as proclaimed loudly by the frogs in our pond.
Thursday, 11 February 2010
Making home sweet home even sweeter
Since coming home we've been extremely busy. The day after arriving home from Michigan the installers for our new windows came. 19 new windows were installed over 4 days. The pic is the front living room bay windows. (they aren't curved!)
Danny has gutted the kitchen and we are getting new cupboards and all new appliances. This house is 82 years old so no surprise when large chunks of plaster came out of the walls when some of the wall tiles were removed. The first pic is before anything was done. Next in the midst of a mess. Finally more mess but I've painted the walls very blue. Final pictures in the next few weeks, I hope.
Danny has gutted the kitchen and we are getting new cupboards and all new appliances. This house is 82 years old so no surprise when large chunks of plaster came out of the walls when some of the wall tiles were removed. The first pic is before anything was done. Next in the midst of a mess. Finally more mess but I've painted the walls very blue. Final pictures in the next few weeks, I hope.
Saturday, 23 January 2010
Home Sweet Home
Time to settle down for a while. Travelling and visiting family is enjoyable but knackering (and fattening).
As for our side trip to Washington DC and Gettysburg.....
I recommend the following accommodations:
Arlington, VA - just across the Potomac from Washington DC. A fairly short walk to the metro (subway) and just a few minutes to the Smithsonian station. Good rate (at least in January), clean and comfortable.
Virginian Suites Arlington
Gettysburg, PA - bed and breakfast in the centre of town and very close to the Battlefield and new visitor centre. The oldest home in Gettysburg, charming, each room different (colonial, victorian, etc), fabulous breakfasts and baked goods. Not cheap but well worth it.
Brafferton Inn
We are in the process of remodeling and redecorating our home which will take two or three months. New windows are currently being installed, then the kitchen will be gutted and everything replaced. On to redecorating...carpet, walls, etc. So nothing exciting to anyone else for a while, but I will bombard readers with before and after pics.
Future travel plans:
Isle of Colonsay in April, our student and friend Doreen from Uganda will visit us for the month of June. July and August still being planned.
As for our side trip to Washington DC and Gettysburg.....
I recommend the following accommodations:
Arlington, VA - just across the Potomac from Washington DC. A fairly short walk to the metro (subway) and just a few minutes to the Smithsonian station. Good rate (at least in January), clean and comfortable.
Virginian Suites Arlington
Gettysburg, PA - bed and breakfast in the centre of town and very close to the Battlefield and new visitor centre. The oldest home in Gettysburg, charming, each room different (colonial, victorian, etc), fabulous breakfasts and baked goods. Not cheap but well worth it.
Brafferton Inn
We are in the process of remodeling and redecorating our home which will take two or three months. New windows are currently being installed, then the kitchen will be gutted and everything replaced. On to redecorating...carpet, walls, etc. So nothing exciting to anyone else for a while, but I will bombard readers with before and after pics.
Future travel plans:
Isle of Colonsay in April, our student and friend Doreen from Uganda will visit us for the month of June. July and August still being planned.
Saturday, 9 January 2010
USA holiday
Danny and I have been enjoying visiting my family in Michigan, and touring Washington DC. Plan on two days in Gettysburg, PA as well after we are finished in DC.
This is the first trip to DC for both of us. On the way into Arlington we're sure we saw the presidential motorcade as there were many police cars and black SUV's. So far we've visited Arlington National Cemetery, the National Archives, and the Smithsonian Museum of American History. Plan on the Smithsonian Museum of American Indian History and the Air and Space Museum. Will also walk past the White House, the Lincoln Memorial and other highlights.
Impressive, very impressive.
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This is the first trip to DC for both of us. On the way into Arlington we're sure we saw the presidential motorcade as there were many police cars and black SUV's. So far we've visited Arlington National Cemetery, the National Archives, and the Smithsonian Museum of American History. Plan on the Smithsonian Museum of American Indian History and the Air and Space Museum. Will also walk past the White House, the Lincoln Memorial and other highlights.
Impressive, very impressive.
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