We are getting excited!

We've been making lists and checking them more than twice to make sure we don't forget anything before we leave on Tuesday! It's amazing just how many things there are to do. Today Smoky is mowing grass and working on the road. I'm trying to keep my obsessive compulsive personality in check regarding leaving a clean house.

Penguin cookies. Yum, yum!

We've gotten lots of great advice from our pilot cousin Joel, who flew to Glasgow for quite a while, and from some photography friends who lead trips to Scotland. Have you even heard of Penguin Cookies? We had not either, but we will definitely check them out! A web search revealed that they are a product of McVitie's, whose biscuits we learned to love while in Ireland a number of years ago! Check out their website at http://www.mcvities.co.uk/products/penguins. Pat and Tom recommend the mint flavor.

Smoky has been checking out the weather reports for some of the locations we will be visiting early in our trip. Not much sun is forecast, but the temperatures seem very reasonable. Now if we can just master driving on the left side of the road!!

Stay tuned for more as our Scotland adventure unfolds.

--Shann

A Week Plus 4 to Go!

Just a little over a week before we leave for Scotland! And still the list of things to get done before that day is a long one.

Smoky's DNA results are not back yet. We're still hoping they will come before we leave. I don't think that will prevent us from having a great time. Our base plans are made, and we left plenty of time to see where the path leads us. We've made multiple trips to our local REI store for more equipment. Hopefully, we have most of what we need. If not, it will be fun shopping for local items.

Just today a cousin who has traveled to Edinburgh said she found there were lots of great vegetarian restaurants. Yum. And some photography friends who lead trips to Scotland have given us some interesting leads for things to do. One of those tips was the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre,   http://www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk/, where you can hike up the mountain to the reindeer herd and mingle with them. This is a free-range herd, but apparently they are accustomed to visitors bringing them some reindeer food.

I had better get back to my packing! I'll try to post again closer to time to leave.

Before I go, I wanted to share a photo I found of Sean Connery in highland dress. I'm still trying to convince Smoky that this would be a really great look for him. What do you think?

--Shann

August is prep month for a Scotland adventure!

The planning is almost complete for our month-long adventure in Scotland. This is a trip both of us have been wanting to do since we traveled to Ireland (and fell in love with the country and people) quite a number of years ago.

Strawberry scone with clotted cream

Smoky sent off for a DNA test to determine his ancestry. Results should be in soon. From what he already knows about his forefathers, we expect he belongs to the Donachaigh Clan, but once he hears from the test, we will know for sure.

Meanwhile, we have made plans to travel around a good bit of Scotland. I think we're on version 18 of the travel itinerary! We have a few remaining reservations to make, but most of it is done. There will be many visits to castles in our future, and we're hoping to experience some great food (scones with strawberries and cream, yum!), beautiful music, and lovely scenery.

We're preparing for any kind of weather and expect to be out in it, no matter what the weather gods bring our way. Stay tuned as I report on our plans and our progress fitting everything we need into a couple of suitcases and a couple of day packs!

--Shann