No Sign of the Loch Ness Monster

On our trip to Scotland in Sept/Oct of last year, we headed north one day to visit Loch Ness.

The major tourist spot is the Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness and since we'd purchased the 7 day Historic Scotland Explorer Pass we took advantage of it.

The castle is right on the banks of Loch Ness so there was no reason not to look for that monster.

We had a beautiful day too.

The castle and its site have witnessed some of the most dramatic chapters in Scottish history.

This is where St. Columba is said to have worked miracles in the 6th century.

The castle was sacked and rebuilt countless times.

In 1692 it was blown up to prevent the Jacobites from using it.

No monsters out there!

Here is a schematic of its history.

Now its just magnificent ruins.

Above is one of my favorite views in Scotland.  I am puzzled though by what the lines are in the forested hills.

Books Read in 2017

The books I read in 2017 numbered 66.

Not as great a number as in previous years and I'm not sure why.

If you are looking for some good reads for 2018 consider some of these:

#63 The Danish Girl 

by David Ebershoff

This was my book club's selection.  I never saw the movie but it is based on the life of a real person.

It gave me incredible insight into the transgender mindset and compassion for those who feel

they are a different gender inside than what is manifested outside.

#63 Thanks, Obama - My Hopey, Changey White House Years 

by David Litt

My husband read this one first, recommended to him by a friend.  He said I needed to read it.  He was right.  It gave me such a lift and laughs in these depressing Trump times.

#51 The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society 

by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

This was the third time I read this book.  One of my all time favorites.  If you have never read it. please look for it.

#49 The Handmaid's Tale

by Margaret Atwood

Another book club choice and one I've read a long time ago before I even kept a list of what I read.  It was a disturbing story and generated so much discussion in our book club.

#33 Little Heathens - Hard Times & High Spirits on an Iowa Farm During the Great Depression 

by Mildred Armstrong Kalish

What a wonderful memoir!  What a story of survival in the Depression years.  A real history lesson too.

#18 Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk 

by Kathleen Rooney

A great story based on the life of a real advertising executive.  It was a quick and delightful read.

#14 The Last Painting of Sara de Vos 

by Dominic Smith

A story within a story in two differing time periods.  This book prompted my trip to see the Vermeer though many months later since our first planned trip was delayed by snow.

How many books did you read in 2017?

Reflecting Back on 2017

Incredibly another year has passed us by, 2018 awaits!

Here's a look back.

We took two extended vacations: 

January we went west to Memphis and then drove south along the Mississippi to New Orleans then east to Florida.  Here's an overview of that trip

with posts following about our stops along the way.

In September we went east across the Atlantic to Scotland for two weeks. Here's the start of posts on that trip.  I still have much more to share on that.

We also took some day and overnight excursions:

Dover, Delaware

Frederick, MD

New Hampshire here and here

Fredericksburg, VA

Three Otters Eco Retreat, WV for a family reunion

Living at Vantage House has meant quite a few excursions to museums including:

Library of Congress

East Wing of the National Gallery

Sherwood Gardens

Benjamin Banneker Museum

National Public Radio

Baltimore Museum of Art twice

Living close to two metropolitan areas: Baltimore and Washington, DC has its advantages.

There's more I could share from the year, but the list is longer than what I expected when I started this post.  Needless to say I will continue to have photos to share in 2018 so I hope you'll stop by and say hi once in awhile.

Happy New Year to you!

Happy Holidays!

Family coming in to town.

Granddaughters to play with.

Cookies and other goodies to be made.

A time to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Here's my wish for you and yours to enjoy this holiday season, whatever holiday you celebrate.

I will return in the New Year with more photos to post about Scotland - never did finish those.

Happy New Year 2018!