Slugs on the Refrigerator

Sniffle, Snuffle

Shipped

I am sure if your life and livelihood depended upon a boat to connect you to the mainland, it would fade to the unremarkable and perhaps even to uninteresting...but as I have no such familiarity with boat life (it would be hard to find another place in the world more land locked than Lisbon, Iowa), I can't help but get excited at the prospect of boarding a CalMac. My small boy shares my excitement and spoke of little else for the week leading up to going away.

Captivated from the moment he saw the Stornoway ferry pull in to Oban as we waited ours to Craignure, boats were THE discussion point in the 2 year old crowd. 

And now, our feet have found themselves firmly back on the mainland after a wonderful trip.  Breathtaking views, great food (home cooked and otherwise), gale force winds and a wood burning stove all made the trip a relaxing and welcome break from reality.  Ship me there any day.

River

"River" was one of Ellis' first words.  While I would like to say that it says something about his deep connection to the outside world, it actually tells you more about the tides of our own lives. You see, our little corner of the world is connected to the city of Stirling by a small pedestrian bridge.  Yes, of course there is a road that takes traffic in and out, but it heads in the opposite direction of city life, down a long, dark country road.

 

And so, being car-less, we find our feet or 2 wheels taking us over the bridge many times in a week, every week, rain, shine, sleet or snow. We watch the river change with the seasons and the tide (something rivers in Iowa paid no notice of). Its a focal point of conversation with neighbours, "Isn't the river high/low/calm/rough today?".  Its a popular outing for the smallest family member, with stones collected sometimes for days with the delicious intent of having them meet their fate on the muddy bottom of the Forth.

 

 

And then their are the boats.  The Forth in Stirling no longer sees the traffic it used to when it had its own harbour, but occasionally the odd race or boater will traverse their way through the snake like curves and pass under our bridge.  Saturday saw one such race and now we can't cross the bridge without checking to make sure there airen't any boats sliding underneath the bridge.

Tounges in Trees

And this, our life, exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything. ~William Shakespeare

 















Photos by Kevin taken at the Hermitage in Dunkeld and Glen Affric

Captive Audience

Zoos make me anxious.  Perhaps I have been in the environmental sector too long and entering one instantly triggers epic internal monologues about conservation policy, the viability of captive breeding, genetic sustainability, biological potential and Saartjie Baartman 

 

Its amazing how the baggage of adulthood can be shed with the simple laugh of a small child**.  My doubts quieted as I saw the complete and total joy that spread from head to toe of my small boy as we entered Edinburgh Zoo.  Running from exhibit to exhibit, dragging us along to see what came next.

The sea lion was the major hit.  He stared and laughed in delight for ages at their flippered antics. Of course, we could not convince him it was a sea lion and not a seal like the many he's seen on our trips to the coast (and once on the River Forth near our house). But, being right has little meaning in the face of such love and adoration.

 

The swimming penguins also were met with squeals of delight.  Apparently, the buckles on small man's jacket strongly resemble something edible to the diving birds and a fair few came up to investigate.

Of course, the other major hit of the day was running and climbing.  Why walk when you can run, especially down hills and in crowded areas?  And why go around an object when you can climb it?  The zoo has an amazing range of play  parks dotted around its full length and breadth...and Ellis had a play on each one.

 

 

Oh and because the sun was shining, ice cream had to be consumed.  Its a law of physics, you know.

And so with my baggage put aside at the entrance gate, I too was able to be captivated for a few moments. 

** Green Twins Mummy recently wrote a beautiful post about the joys of seeing things anew through children's eyes here