A Reminiscent Hodgepodge

It's hodgepodge time and this week we're reminiscing and smiling. Make sure you visit our host Joyce's blog, From This Side of the Pond, to see what my fellow bloggers have come up with.

1. Speaking of endings....at your wit's end, at loose ends, a dead end, burn the candle at both ends, all's well that end's well, or no end in sight...which 'end' phrase might best be applied to your life lately? Explain.  

None of them really apply to me at the moment, so maybe I'll choose no end in sight thankfully of this wonderful life with my beloved.

2. What was a must have accessory when you were growing up? Did you own one? If so tell us what you remember about it.

In the 80's the must have things were often very brightly coloured and fluorescent. I had several belts in different fluro colours - orange, pink, and green. Leg warmers were all the rage so I had a pair of those in my Aussie Rules football team's colours. 

3. Something that made you smile yesterday?

My beloved hates being cold in bed and has a habit of burrowing under the covers until you can't really see him, which always makes me smile. I was reading whilst muffled snores could be heard faintly through the covers.

4. January 30th is National Croissant Day. Do you like croissants? Sweet or savory? We're having chicken salad for lunch...would you rather have yours served on a croissant, a wrap, a bagel, bread, or a roll of some sort?

I absolutely love croissants, preferably sweet, though just plain is nice as well. At the weekend I had a fabulous chocolate croissant that was incredibly scrumptious.

As I'm a pescatarian I wouldn't have a chicken salad, but if I was having a prawn salad I'd like it in a wrap please.

5. Sum up your January in fifteen words or less.

It snowed a lot, was very cold, and I turned another year older.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

On Sunday evening we went and saw Julie Fowlis in concert. She sings the majority of her songs in gaelic which is the traditional language of Scotland, so I couldn't understand the words, but I could the sentiment. A lot of the songs are based on mythology which Julie would explain before the song. The photo is of the stage set up before Julie and her band came on as you're not allowed to take photos during the performance.

What's made you smile this week? Until next time, be good, stay safe, and we hope January was good to you.

Pamela & Ken
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Sparks

Sparks is hosted by Annie at McGuffy's Reader (visit to see everyone else's sparks) and her words are the best to use to explain:

"I believe we are meant to be lights in this world. If we allow our light to shine, we can see where we are going. It is then that we can begin to truly see each other clearly. Together, we can light up the entire world!"

The aim is to post a positive quote, thought, poem, or verse. Here's my contribution for today.

Pamela & Ken
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Friday's Friendly Fill Ins

It's Friday so it's time for the friendly fill ins which are set by Annie at McGuffy's Reader and Ellen at 15andmeowing.com. The words in purple are the prompts that are provided and then the rest is me.

1.The flu shot always makes my arm ache for a few days. I have the flue jab as I'm a nurse that works with cancer patients who are often immunosuppressed, and I would hate to give them any illnesses. I also have it because of an underlying condition I have and I really, really don't want to catch the flu.

2. I think everyone should take a few moments daily to consider at least three things that they are grateful for.

3. I (almost) always tell Princess Cookie Cat that she's in charge when we leave the two furbies at home, because she's the oldest and the more sensible of the two.

The sensible one

The crazy one

4. I (almost) never  fall asleep before my beloved because I read for a lot longer. Reading has never put me to sleep so I usually have to force myself to stop if what I'm reading is really good. Even when I was young and it was lights out, I used to read with a torch under the blankets.

Do you have any interesting daily habits? Before you go make sure you hop over to Annie's Blog to see what my fellow bloggers have come up with for their fill ins.

Until next time, be good, stay safe, and have a gratitude filled weekend.

Pamela & Ken
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Top Ten Thursday - Scavenger Hunt

This week for top ten Tamara (Part-time Working Hockey Mom) had us doing a scavenger hunt. We shot the following items / situations :

1. barrel
2. crochet
3. empty space
4. snacks
5. beads
6. chalkboard
7. success
8. umbrella
9. fuzzy
10. blogger 

and are completing them with captions or a short story now. Here are my interpretations of the above:

1. Barrel - this one wasn't at all difficult to find as being in the Whiskey land of Scotland it's a bit of a theme wherever you go. This barrel table is in a lovely cafe in Nairn where we live. It's a really nice space to go and have a coffee or a meal, or in the evening go for a nice glass of wine.

2. Crochet - I failed to find anything crochet to take a picture of so I've reached into my archives for this lovely crochet blanket. One of my work colleagues gave it to me as a joke secret santa present as we had loads of them where I worked at the time. She thought I would hate it, but it made the best cat blanket.

Muffin Monster chilling in the sun

3. Empty Space -  we recently visited a Medieval Churchyard where there was an empty stone coffin and before I know it my beloved decided to try it for size.

4. Snacks - today at work I had an extremely unhealthy snack, crisps. Sometimes they're just the perfect thing to eat.

5. Beads - when we moved to the highlands I didn't pack my beads very well and somehow they managed to get tangled very badly, and remain so as I refuse to cut anything. Every now and then I attempt to untangle them and hopefully soon it will miraculously happen.

6. Chalkboard - this is the other thing that I failed to find this week, so it's another one from the archives. This chalkboard sits outside a pub in Inverness and what's written on it really amused me so I took a photo when we were walking past.

7. Success - the building that I work in has won several architectural awards over the years, and this cute little dude was when the building was commended in the copper in architecture awards 2012. He sits on the mantelpiece in work's big lounge room.

8. Umbrella - I love how bright and colourful these umbrellas are, but here's the thing, I never see anyone using such bright ones here in the highlands. I think one of the reasons is that there is rarely a day here that there isn't strong wind with the rain so umbrellas tend to end up inside out, so it would be silly to spend loads of money on one.

9. Fuzzy - I love this throw and matching pillow that I bought very cheaply. It was not just the colours that attracted me but also the lovely fuzzy softness of them. I love the feel of soft fuzzy or velvety things. So much so that today my friend had a velvet belt on and I sat next to her stroking the side of her belt (yes, I am a very weird person).

10. Blogger - This is my beloved who is such an important part of this blog, and whilst he doesn't actually write the posts, he gives me lots of ideas and photos. I'm already driving him mad with discussions about what theme we're going to have for this years A to Z challenge in April.

There you have it, a completed scavenger hunt with only two slight cheats. Before you go, hop over to Tamara's Blog to see how my fellow bloggers faired with their scavenger hunts.

Until next time, be good, stay safe, and enjoy all the little moments this week.

Pamela & Ken
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A Positive Hodgepodge

Time for the hodgepodge which is set by Joyce at the blog From This Side of the Pond - if you get a chance hop over to see what my fellow bloggers have come up with for their answers.

1. January 24th is National Compliment Day. Is it easy or not so easy for you to accept a compliment? Share a recent compliment you've given or received.

I find it really hard to accept a compliment but am trying to do better. One of my friends at work has taken to hitting me in the head if I don't accept a compliment or say something derogatory about myself - maybe that's why I'm doing better, she's given me brain damage.

2. Ten little things you are loving right now.

My beloved's hugs, Cookie Cat purrs, Bramble Jelly's cuteness, milder weather, slightly longer days, walks in the cold, coffee time, pink hair, walking, and bedtime.

3. Would people describe you as a positive person? Do you see yourself that way? I read here  a list/description of eight things positive people do differently-

Positive people find something to look forward to every day, they celebrate the small stuff, they're kind, they stay busy, accept responsibility for their actions, forgive themselves, know when to move on, and resist comparisons

Which action on the list would you say you do regularly? Which action could you add to your life to give you a more positive outlook? If you're a positive person, what's something you do regularly that's not on the list?

I'm not sure I would describe myself as a positive person, though recently I have been told that I'm a very grounded person, so maybe the two link together.

I definitely try and celebrate the small stuff as often as possible, and need to add resisting comparisons to my daily habits.

4. Homemade chicken soup, beef stew, or a bowl of chili...what's your pleasure on a cold winter's day?

None of the above. Instead it's probably vegemite on toast or even better would be a fish finger sandwich.

5. The best part of my day is....

Sitting on the sofa with my beloved in the evening, Bramble Jelly on Ken's knee and Princess Cookie Cat asleep beside me.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Love this song and just wanted to share - it's Wendy Matthews (Australian) singing The Day You Went Away.

Do you accept compliments easily, or like me is it something you find really difficult. 

Until next time, be good, stay safe, and take the time to compliment someone this week.

Pamela & Ken
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Sparks

Sparks is hosted by Annie at McGuffy's Reader (visit to see everyone else's sparks) and her words are the best to use to explain:

"I believe we are meant to be lights in this world. If we allow our light to shine, we can see where we are going. It is then that we can begin to truly see each other clearly. Together, we can light up the entire world!"

The aim is to post a positive quote, thought, poem, or verse. We never know what has brought a person to the point we meet them at, and what their experiences have been - I guess this is a bit like 'don't judge a book by it's cover'.

Pamela & Ken
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Exploring a Medieval Highland Churchyard

Recently our landlords gardener told Ken about a ruined church and graveyard that we would like (he knows us so well). Today we went looking for this church, in freezing temperatures and a pending snowstorm - we're sensible like that. After thinking we were never going to find it and roads getting covered with snow, we found it, Barevan Church.

It was very atmospheric seeing it in the snow. From what I've found online, the church stopped being used in the early 1600's and has slowly deteriorated over time. It's now a listed as a scheduled monument of historic importance.

As we walked around we could see footprints of someone who had been there earlier, and I think they were a giant as their footprints were enormous. Look how small my foot is in their print, and I've got large feet.

It's such a peaceful setting and as it's up back roads in the country there's no noise except that of nature.

Something I'd never done in my life was make a snow angel, so what better place to do it than in a medieval graveyard. Ken went first and I think he makes a spectacular angel whereas I'm hidden by my angelic assets. I was very excited at making my first ever snow angel.

A really lovely thing that I read online is that the local Cawdor Church holds a service in the ruins of Barevan Church once a year - we'll have to find out when that is as I'm sure it's a really beautiful occasion.

This tomb was in the annex next to the church which originally was the cold room for keeping bodies before the funeral - it seems someone may have escaped. Maybe that's where the big footprints came from.

Look at this sexy man carrying my handbag with such style.

There are some beautiful carvings on the headstones, well on the ones that weren't covered by snow - we'll have to go back in the summer to look at the others.

Next to the churchyard is a fenced off area that we could only see two graves in and in the middle there was a large stone ball. Mr Google has informed me that this new area is for the current family of Cawdor and the most recent person to be buried here was Hugh Campbell, the 6th Earl.

Around the ball are carved the words Lord Jesus Christ and son of God have mercy upon me and all who rest here.

There's also this very unique cross but there are no words on it.

One of these must be the Earl's grave, but we didn't want to brush the snow off as it looked too peaceful to disturb.

This is looking at the new area from the gates.

Here we are with a rugged up snowy selfie.

Looking across the countryside from the church.

On our drive home we passed a farm that breeds shire horses and these two lovelies came to say hello.

You'll be pleased to know that once we navigated the back roads back towards civilisation, we found a cafe and had a lovely hot drink to warm us up.

Until next time, be good, stay safe, and have a really wonderful week.

Pamela & Ken
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Friday's Friendly Reflections

It's Friday so it's time for the friendly fill ins which are set by Annie at McGuffy's Reader and Ellen at 15andmeowing.com. The words in purple are the prompts that are provided and then the rest is me.

1. I have never been able to sleep with a wardrobe door open in the bedroom. I know it's a bit weird for an adult to have a thing about monsters in the wardrobe, but it's just one of my many quirks. 

2. I wish I could still play the piano as well as I used to, but as I haven't had access to one for years, my abilities have slipped away. I think the last time I played one was when we stayed at a lovely bed and breakfast in Whitstable, Kent, which was years ago.

Bed and breakfast piano

3. Home with my beloved and the furbies is my ideal winter night. 

4.  A picture of Bertie Boo and Muffin Monster came up in my Facebook memories today. Bertie was such a lovely boy, and left this earth in 2014 at the age of 12, and Muffin, our feisty little black cat left in 2016, again at the age of 12. I wrote a post, Farewell to Bertie Boo, after he died, but I still haven't been able to write one about Muffin - maybe one day.

What would your perfect winters night be? Before you go, make sure you pop over to Annie's blog, McGuffy's Reader, to see what my fellow bloggers have come up with for their fill ins.

Until next time, be good, stay safe, and say hello to the next animal you see.

Pamela & Ken

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Top Ten Thursday - Happy Things

This weeks top ten is things that make us happy which is great as I'm part way through the 100 Happy Days Challenge - I post a photo a day on instagram for 100 days of something that makes me happy. I started the challenge on new years day as I thought it was a nice way to start the new year, so we're up to day eighteen and for this post I'll share ten of the things that have made me happy so far. Thanks to Tamara at Part-time Working Hockey Mom for the wonderful theme.

1. Day One - new years day walk with my beloved. The temptation when I decided to do the 100 days challenge was to put a photo of Ken for every day, but I've restrained myself. He will appear fairly regularly as he definitely is my happy place.

2. Day three - a very rare occasion, our two furbies eating dinner together.

3. Day six - I'm always happy when I'm exploring an old graveyard. This one was very lovely and there is a pending blog post about this.

4. Day seven - churros, one of the happiest foods there is. Whenever we go to a music festival we always share churros, as they're the perfect festival food. The sauces are chocolate for Ken, and caramel for me.

5. Day nine - my lovely warm slippers which I'm appreciating even more at the moment as we're having very cold, snowy weather.

6. Day ten - lovely sparkly belated birthday card which is so cute.

7. Day twelve - I treated myself to a new bag in the post Christmas sales, and as they all hung together I realised I may have a little bit of a spotty bag addiction.

8. Day thirteen - banana caramel loaf at the Olive Tree Cafe at Logie Steading. This is a lovely little shopping village in old farm buildings that we like to visit. There's a great craft gift shop, a vintage clothes shop, a whiskey shop, an art gallery, and a fabulous second hand bookshop. So whilst the picture for this day was the cake, the happy was really the whole experience.

9. Day sixteen - my happy thing was that I'm so glad my husband is such a good driver. The weather has been a little bit challenging this week, but I've been delivered safely to work every day by my personal chauffeur.

10. Day eighteen - Princess Cookie Cat has the cutest little paws and they definitely make me smile.

I loved this theme as I think it's always good to take time to realise what we've got in our lives that makes us happy. Before you go, make sure you hop over to Tamara's Blog to see what my fellow bloggers have come up with for their happy things.

Until next time, be good, stay safe, and do something that makes you happy this week.

Pamela & Ken
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