EU: Scotland Tour

3/2 Note: Due to photo and computer technical difficulties, I wasn't able to get almost any photos posted before flying to London...so please review the post again! :) Thanks to David for most of the shots...

Quick Note: I found out this morning that we are actually only 8 hours different instead of 9.. so, when it is 7am there, it is actually 3pm here :)...I guess we went back in time. :)

Kilconquhar Castle (Pro. Kin-AH-cur)

George MacDonald trees!!!

With an unexpected turn of events, Daniel came down with the stomach flu 100% last night (he had mostly skipped it last week), so he ended up having to miss all of today's adventures...which was a terrible blow for all of us... :/

5 of our strapping men (yes, I'm biased... ;P)

Meanwhile, the men went off early to St. Andrews where they didn't golf but did walk the course and beach.

St. Andrews Golf Course

We girls slept in a tad more and leisurely got ready, before joining them to walk the sea shore, where Eric Liddell (pro. Li-'il) ran in real life... And, I found some seashells to scrapbook. :)

Happy Birthday Esther!!! (and yes, she IS the tallest female in our family!)
In front of Kilconquhar Castle

All of us, except Daniel and David

It is truly spectacular here!! There is nothing like water, and a vast sky!! What color contrasts too!

From there, our private mini-bus took us to the Glamis Castle (pro. Glaumz), where we had the honor of meeting the actual Earl, have tea, a private tour, and luncheon. This day might possibly be the best day of memories for all of us!! Glamis Castle was the childhood home of the late Queen Mother (current Queen Elizabeth's mother), and holds tons of history....

It fascinates me hearing the history of these castles, as they truly evolved over time, starting from just  a shack on the hunting ground, to an L shape tower (in the middle), to what it is today! And, it has been in the family for over 18 generations!

Talk about secluded and peaceful!!

We were greeted by a piper who piped at our entrance  and also before tea and luncheon.

What an honor to meet the Earl!

David and Samuel gave him one of their FirePower Pens, made of Cocabolla wood, gold, and bullet pieces, which he seemed to enjoy.. What a very nice man!

Having Tea (English Breakfast) in what used to be the kitchen fireplace! (Big enough to roast a large ox in, with the huge stone chimney going up above!)

Part of the old kitchen.

A lot of things were put into perspective.... I grew up loving the Millie Keith and Elsie Dinsmore series, but always laughed at Horace 's demanding Elsie to not run barefooted on the rug before the maid had lit the fire....well, there is a reason! Those castles and large mansions are drafty things!! Even with triple layers, I was chilly!

This doorway was just right for me!! Just a few inches over my head.....thus,
I'm a little teapot, short and stout.... :)

The Dining Hall (expandable to up 36 people...the family who was building the castle had 11 children--talk about fun..and work!)

The (drafty) drawing room upstairs...it takes 4 hours to heat this room up to any nice temperature at all.

Their 15' Billiards Table, which was gotten hundreds of years ago by that same man for his children...
During the WWI, their castle was used for a hospital and refuge for the soldiers...so there are marks and remembrances from those times in this room as well!

What a gorgeous piano this is! And it actually belonged to the queen mother, though it be out of tune!
PS...Rachel played this piano, while I played the piano in 2 pictures above....it was good to play piano again!)

Also, heard some awesome 'ghost stories', and some interesting superstitions from the earlier time periods... Their beds are shorter than ours now, which makes you feel quite sorry for any tall individuals sleeping in them... Well, they slept sitting up, for 'laying down is the form of a dead person, and who knows when the Devil might fly past and seeing you laying like a corpse mistake you for being one, and take your soul with him??!' ;)

The late Queen Mother's private quarters

Another one, is that they always turned their shoes upside-down, as 'the Devil might come stand in your shoes in the night, and when you put them on in the morning, some of his evil might possess you.' :)

Both kind of funny...but truly, it makes me sad to think about all the fears so many people had and still have... or that kings of old would accuse incredible healing women as witches, because they didn't like them...like poor Janet Douglas...and who was to go against the king??

The story goes that she still occupies a chair in the back of their private family chapel. :)

This room is amazing!! Lots of history here...including the family china--actually made in China hundreds of years ago, and it took 6 years to receive the order (in parts)...with 25% breakage expected during shipping (thus extra pieces)...
Also, the tapestries on the walls are actually hangings for a canopy bed, which were hand embroidered by the mother of those 11 children over a 14 year period after her marriage.... Wow!

How would you like this to be your "throne"?? Talk about a toilet!!

This was just a silly photo of the 3 of us, showing what camera angles and crouching can do... :)

 Luncheon time...the food was delicious--very Scottish too....

 HAPPY 13th BIRTHDAY ESTHER!!!

You are growing up to be such an amazing young woman who loves the Lord with all your heart!! Thank you for your servant's heart, willingness, and sensitivity! I love you!

Take a look at that gorgeous fondant!!

Another shot of those gorgeous "George MacDonald trees" (as I call them)...

We ended up spending so much time there, that we didn't stop by any other castles, but went straight to the Pinkerton Barony...  I guess I didn't really mention why Scotland is beloved to us Pinkertons in my post yesterday....but, it is because 'Pinkerton' is Scottish....and those roots go quite deep...to the Pinkerton valley, outside of Dunbar.

I think the "Little" fits us just fine! :D

Standing in front of the Pinkerton Barony.....and I guess it looks exactly the way it did when my grandparents visited years ago!!

It started to rain...and we had a beautiful rainbow!! Look at that view!
Talk about ocean front!! (Without all the commotion or expense!)

You can't see the end of this rainbow...but I'm sure there is a pot of gold at the other end...
Any one wanna volunteer to help me find it?! :)

We had one dedicated bus driver--thank you Kevin!! (talk about tall...at 6'7"!)

My grandfather is very much into our genealogy, and it was so special to be able to go back to the actual area we Pinkertons come from!! What rich heritage, be it from 400 years ago... The folks staying there were so precious too...

A look at the land...their 17 year old daughter bundled all these...

Just for kicks...reminds me of The Wizard of Oz....

And, a factory down the hill from them...isn't the ocean beautiful (be it cold!)?!

Some interesting things I noticed about Scotland:
 - Mailmen actually deliver packages to the door slots!!
 - Toilets actually have handles on the wall, on the toilet side.
 - Rabbits are plentiful (and cute!)
 - Ring-necked Pheasants are also plentiful.
 - Scotland reminds us a lot of Virginia...rolling hills, many trees, moderate climate...it is gorgeous here! The biggest difference is that they have almost all roundabouts, and drive on the left side of the road.
 - They have hairy cows here!!!

Other notes of interest:
 - Samuel tried black (blood) pudding today, and decided he didn't like it... (I had something similar in the Philippines, and though it is tolerable, it is also downright disgusting...)

The Black Pudding is the dark disk just above...

 - We had the 'amazing' Irn Bru (pro. I-ren Brew), and it is truly delicious...much better than Old-Fashioned Orange Cream Sodas (which is the comparable American version), and up there with Root Beer and Ginger Ale.
 - Rachel and I are sharing a room, and found the bed's setup interesting... Especially upon hearing that our married grandparents slept like this for their entire married lives! I took a poll, and my siblings and I agreed that it is a tradition we shall not carry into our marriages...how would you like to have 10" separating you from your hubby every night? Nope...no way.

Looking forward: Tomorrow, we have to leave at 4am to fly to London, where we'll be be on our feet running for 2 days, before heading to Paris.. Hopefully we'll have internet at our lodgings, but if not, I shall post when possible.

Thoughts from today's devotions:
"Stop judging and evaluating yourself, for this is not your role. Above all, stop comparing yourself with other people. This produces feelings of pride or inferiority; sometimes a mixture of both. I lead each of My children along a path that is uniquely tailor-made for him or her. Comparing is not only wrong; it is also meaningless.
Don't look for affirmation in the wrong places: your own evaluations, or those of other people.  The only source of real affirmation is My unconditional Love. I see you radiant in My robes of righteousness. Be receptive to My affirmation, which flows continually from the throne of grace."

"I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of Salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, a as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels."

~ Psalms 61:10 ~

Bring Me all your prayers and petitions with thanksgiving, saying: "Thank you, Jesus, for this opportunity to trust You more." Though the lessons of trust that I send to you come wrapped in difficulties, the benefits far outweigh the cost.
Well-developed trust will bring you many blessings, not the least of which is My Peace.  I have promised to keep you in perfect Peace to the extent that you trust in Me.
The world has it backwards--teaching that peace is the result of having enough money, possessions, insurance, and security systems.  My Peace, however, is such an all-encompassing gift, that it is independent of all circumstances.

"Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true...honest...just...pure...lovely....of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

~ Philippians 4:6-8 ~