"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born." Anais Nin





Thursday, September 29, 2011

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

Love this little saying, it's a stamp from Close To My Heart.   Used my new Copics to colour this little girl.  Thanks Janet, for the image, she is so cute.



Not only cards getting made around here.  I've been craving sourdough bread. 
 So easy to make: cook 2 potatoes, use water from cooking and add more water to make 2 cups,  while still warm, add 1 pkg. yeast, 1 tbsp. sugar and stir.  Mash the potatoes until smooth and add to yeast mix.  Stand in a warm place (I left mine on the counter) for 2-3 days, stir occasionally, cover loosely with plastic wrap.  After 2 days (couldn't wait 3) I mixed in 2 cups flour and let stand over night.  
Then you take 2 cups of starter, add 1 tbsp. sugar, 1 tsp. salt, 3 tbsp. melted marg, 2-3 cups of flour and knead 10 minutes.  Place in bowl to rise, punch down twice. Bake at 400 for 15 min. and then at 375 for 25 minutes until golden brown.  It's done when you knock on it and it sounds hollow.
To replenish starter:  for each cup of starter used, add: 1 cup of warm water, 1 cup of flour, 1 tbsp. sugar.  Leave at room temp. a few hours, then refrigerate.



This recipe made two round loaves and is so yummy! 

Thanks for looking  :)



Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Last of the Photos from Scotland

This is it, the last of them  :)  I have so many!  I'm hoping to scrapbook most of them--good project for the winter.

The home of Robert Burns.





Visiting Culzean Castle and grounds, this was absolutely gorgeous.
 






On the bus again  :)


The tour ended in Glasgow, but we went on to spend a few days in Dundee.








Over to Tayport to the very Old Kirk to take pictures of a few of the gravestones. 



Our B & B, wonderful people, lovely room and great breakfasts. 


That's it for this trip.
Thanks for joining me on the tour  :)  hope you enjoyed the photos.




Fourth Batch of Photos from Scotland

Hope you're enjoying my photos.  Most of them were 'point and shoot' from the bus window.  I think my favourites are of the country side, I never got tired of seeing the beautiful rolling hills of heather, the moors and mountains.  If you like hiking, Scotland is the place to go  :)

The Isle of Skye was lovely, we had a special guide, in a kilt, full of fun.  Then on to Mull and Iona.   

 

Kilt Rock, I could barely stand here to take these next two pics!  



Had to hit this place up, but only once  :)



Tea and scone break--one of many  :)

I'm not sure how we got over this bridge--the driver wiggled the bus a few times to get a straight-on approach.


Our trip over to Iona.


The ferry coming back to get us.

Leaving Mull, we had to take another wee ferry and again the bus had to be wiggled and lifted and the ferry attendant had to get a thick board to put under the front wheel to accomodate the turn.  As you can see, it was a sideways approach to get on the little thing!


Throuch the country side--again, you can see we had gorgeous weather!

Loch Lomond ferry

We took a tour and the Loch was like glass  :)



Back on the bus.


Third Post with Photos from Scotland

John O' Groats, claim to the furthest northern tip of Scotland. 


The Standing Stones of Brodgar, the whole circle.

Part of the Circle, very impressive when you are actually standing there. 

Skara Brae, the neolithic village.  I found this so interesting! 



On the road again....... 


This was a beautiful spot to stop and it is also where I actually dug up a rock to bring home  :)  it started out a small rock on the side amongst the heather, but ended up to be about three inches long---I had muddy hands by the time I dug it out---but I have it!




The next day wasn't quite as lovely, and THE bridge didn't look inviting  :)

Bridge to Skye

This is an original crofters house and again, I've forgotten the date. 
There was space for the animals at one end, for when the weather got nasty. 
We weren't allowed to take photos of the inside. 
Can you image living in these buildings! 




This is a place on the road that looks like it is down-hill, but actually is up-hill.  The driver stopped the bus and let it roll backwards to prove it  :)

Thanks for looking, more tomorrow...