Fenwick

For most people, visiting Scotland is another big adventure full of local sights and sounds - castles and history, museums and more.  For us, Scotland is a little like home.  Scotland is a place of visiting family and just relaxing without much of an agenda.  This visit was no different, and just what the family needed after the busy city life of London.

Our one "tourist" thing was to go to Culzean castle, which is on the coast.  We got distracted by the beach for sometime and are actually brushing sand off of Julia's feet here so that she can put her shoes back on.

Cousin time!  Simon's cousin, Sabrina, came over with her kids and her youngest daughter, Sophie and Julia were quick to make friends and run off for their own fun.

Noah helping Aunt Liz in her greenhouse by breaking seed pods so that the seeds can be planted for next year's crop.

We stopped by Aunt Betty's house for a short surprise visit.  It's getting harder for Aunt Betty to come to us, so we were more than glad to swing by and say hi to her.

Right about the time that Jonah got sick, Uncle John was having his own series of health troubles.  These two guys are brave fighters who have faced medical adversity with courage and tenacity and it was wonderful to see them together.

Uncle Richard sneaking in a little story time with Jonah.

Scotland really is about family.  Mum's cousin, Jane, came to visit with her daughter, Jane, and her daughter, Summer.  Julia loved Summer!  It's not often that Julia gets to play with younger children, and Summer was an instant hit.

Uncle Richard allowed and encouraged Noah in some experimental photography.  Not all subjects were as willing to pose as others, but be still managed to get some good pictures of our time together.

Cousin Lorna came to Scotland, because she didn't get enough of our company in London.  She was a much better poser than mummy!

Granny & Aunt Liz

Why mummy couldn't make a normal face that day is beyond us, but at least Jonah's making a similar face in this one.

Julia, testing to see if Uncle Richard's beard really is attached.

Photo credit all to Noah

Uncle Richard loves birds and had all sorts of fun visitors at his bird feeder.  One of the more random and entertaining guests was this pheasant who visited a few time while we were there.

The beach at Culzean castle.  There were small fish, crabs and other little invertebrates in these tide pool channel areas.  It was so much fun to explore them that we almost didn't make it to the castle.

That's the castle in the background.  It has a strategic coastal location for protection, but why bother with the castle when there's the beach?  Seriously though, it was a very nice castle - regal but not too ostentatious.  For many reasons, if I had to own a castle, Culzean would be tops on my list.

Dead crab that Anna found in the tide pool

Another view of the castle from the "dry" side

Julia learned about stinging nettles on this trip.  They are not nice and she is not a fan.

The kids got to help Uncle Richard and Aunt Liz harvest potatoes from their garden that we ate for dinner one night.  How's that for farm to table?

Our photographer at work

Anna, our baker, working on afternoon tea scones.  She made some delicious scones and we hope to see these talents state-side as well.