we experienced more than one ferry crossing. . .

. . . so here's some more photos of scenery from ferry crossing!  These were taken during the middle of last week when we sailed from the port of Ullapool, in the Highlands, to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis.  This is a three-and-a-half hour ferry crossing through The Minch.  This particular crossing is notorious for frequent bad weather and rough waves which can really make the passengers miserable.  We had been told numerous horror stories and boarded the ferry armed with "sea bands" (acupressure bracelets) and motion sickness medication.  And I think we must have been blessed with the absolute smoothest crossing this entire year!  It was utterly calm and very beautiful.  You could hardly even tell when the ferry steamed out of the loch and into open water, there was only the very slightest swell.  Our later crossing of the Little Minch (which I've already posted photos of) to Skye was noticeably rougher and less happy on the stomach in comparison (and yet a "regular" informed us that he thought it was a fine, smooth crossing!).

Anyway.  Enjoy the photos!  Thank goodness we have no more ferry trips until January!  :-)

The view as we steamed away from the pier:

The view to our left -- Ullapool harbour.

 Ullapool behind me (this was at the back of the boat, to the left).  I've heard stories of what the housewives go through to keep their front doors shut during the gales that blow in!

 

David and Ullapool (this view was to our right).

the view to the right as we turned out of Ullapool harbour and steamed up the loch.

 

 Another view of the mountains beyond Ullapool, from whence we came.

 

 

 Silhouette of David

 

David took this shot of the deck from which we were enjoying the view.

castles!

 These are photos of Inverness Castle in Inverness.

 

 

The following photos are of Lews Castle, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.

 Proof I was there: :-)

 

 I took the photo below and it's my absolute favorite!

 

 

 David took these shots of the castle grounds:

 

 

photos!

These are photos that David took during our ferry crossing from the Isle of Harris to the Isle of Skye yesterday morning.  It was early to mid morning and quite windy and cold, so I stayed down below resting, but I still was able to enjoy the view!

 

 

 

 

Dozing in the lounge. . .

 

This photo was taken from the bus.  The ferry docked in Uig, Isle of Skye, and we then took the bus all the way from there back to Glasgow (8 hrs).

More photos to come. . . :-)

home again, home again, jiggity jig

follow the link to exhaustion. . .

This link will take you to a map showing our journeys during the past 7 days.  First, 3 1/2 hrs by bus from Glasgow to Inverness; then 1 hr by bus from Inverness to Ullapool; then 3 1/2 hrs by ferry crossing from Ullapool to Stornoway, Isle of Lewis; then 1 hr by bus from Stornoway to Tarbert, Isle of Harris; then 1/2 hr by car from Tarbert to Leverburgh.  Our return journey was 1/2 hr by car from Leverburgh to Tarbert; then 1 3/4 hrs by ferry crossing from Tarbert to Uig, Isle of Skye; then 8 hrs by bus from Uig to Glasgow!  We covered WAY more than 600 miles during the week.

Now we're finally home and both David and I are utterly exhausted.  I will post lots of photos within the next day or so, as soon as I've had a decent night's sleep!  In the meantime, hopefully this will keep you occupied and interested.  :)

it's "autumn" here! :-)

During the past couple of weeks, autumn has arrived in Scotland.  The display of colour is typically more subtle here than in the States, but it is no less beautiful.  These are some photos I took this morning when David and I went for a relaxing stroll down the Forth & Clyde Canal path, which is just 5 minutes walk from our house.

 

 

 

These roses are in our front garden. And no, they are not a product of my (non-existent) gardening skills!

 

It's been a quiet weekend here.  :-)  I'm now able to find my way to, around, and from the supermarkets by myself and can do the shopping without having to drag poor David along with me!  Amusingly enough, we have found that shopping together can sometimes be one of the most challenging and stressful parts of newly married life, but we're getting better at it.  :-)

Today I spent several hours baking banana bread -- three loaves of it, so that I can take some along to Inverness next week as thank-you gifts to dear friends.  I have varied between washing piles of dishes and making food, which then creates more dishes to be washed, and then another round of food to be made, and more dishes, to infinity and beyond. . . That's the story of my life.  :-)  David, meanwhile, has diligently locked himself away in his study for the past few days, preparing sermons.  He is preaching twice tomorrow in Shettleston.

⁵ Your mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens;
         Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
 ⁶ Your righteousness is like the great mountains;
         Your judgments are a great deep;
         O LORD, You preserve man and beast.
       
 ⁷ How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!
         Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.
 ⁸ They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house,
         And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.
 ⁹ For with You is the fountain of life;
         In Your light we see light.

Psalm 36:5-9

more. . . newness.

Hello, dear ones.

I have started this blog just for you. . . specially for those of you who would love to open your inbox and find an email from me, specially for those of you who begged me to send descriptions and photos faithfully when I set off on this grand adventure, specially for those of you who might be tempted to come visit me (!) if I describe my surroundings and experiences in terms glowing enough.  :-) 

The trouble is, that having started this new blog, it's very. . . new.  I'm tired of things being new and unfamiliar!  I have spent several hours navigating my way around Blogger, blundering my way through the layout of this blog, and wracking my brain desperately trying to think up a clever, pithy title.  SEE TITLE.  Haha.  Got any clever, pithy ideas?  Please share.  I'm all out of clever pithyness.

And just to make sure we are all quite clear, I'm not starting this blog so that I can rant and rave about current events, politics, religion, my opinions on stuff, or anything else that you don't want to know and I don't want to write about.  This blog is simply a tool that helps me do two things at once: 1) conveniently keep in touch with all of my very dear peoples worldwide without forcing me to write twenty-five emails per day to keep up with correspondence to each individual; and 2) conveniently keep in touch with all of my very dear peoples worldwide without falling behind on very essential housewifely type activities such as laundry, dishes, and cooking three full meals a day.

So I hope to share with you some of the laughs and adventures and amazements that grace my day, some of the ways the Lord richly provides for and faithfully guides my husband and myself, some of the struggles that confront me in a new environment, and some of the stories that I'd like to remember in the years ahead.

"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer."  Ps. 19:14