Welcome to Nethershields

Today we bid the city farewell and headed to our new accommodations in the country.  Not sure where we were going to end up after our hotel stay was over, we have seen the Lord providing a way for our family through each part of this journey.   Two of the doctors, husband and wife, generously offered us their granny cottage until our final move was ready.  It has been such a blessing; miles and miles for the children to roam freely, horses to visit, cows and sheep out our front windows and beauty everywhere.

Our first night, we were invited over to the main house for tea (dinner.)  Alberto and Trish and their teenage daughter, Sophia were wonderful to socialize with.  Alberto knows so much about the country and he and Trish have had many travels around the world.  We had a good laugh when we asked Sophia if we had accents and she performed an American accent that actually sounded more like a valley girl.  Hmmm, is that what the Brits think we sound like.

Alberto told us that there is a law called "the right to roam" that allows the public to do just that- roam the countryside, hills, rivers, woods, and on.  This is God's land he and Trish said and should be enjoyed by all.  I so loved this idea as those fields had been calling to me since we pulled into the farm.  We all couldn't wait to go exploring!

It was wonderful to be outside, wild and free.  When we thought it was time to get back indoors (it stays light out until 11pm in the summer) some cocoa and butter toast warmed up and calmed our bodies before bed.  

Pollock Park & Burrell Collection

The past two weeks have been to do list after to do list.  We've been in the car a lot.  And when we haven't been in the car we've been in the hotel.  Both of the latter have been a blessing but when those are the only two locations five people have been in together for fifteen days there comes a breaking point.  We needed to get out.  A picnic at Pollock Country Park and a tour through The Burrell Collection was a perfect recharge.

It has to be said that the playgrounds in Scotland are awesome!  Every one we've been to so far has a zipline, merry-go-rounds ( I love merry-go-rounds), and the coolest see-saw contraptions. This park also had a truly bouncy trampoline.  

Such a sunny day with so much play meant we must conclude with ice cream cones, obviously.

We got all nice and sticky as we licked and walked our way over to the Burrell Collection- a very impressive accumulation from one man's many travels, which he then donated to the city of Glasgow in 1944.  Just outside of the museum it was first necessary to enjoy the many grassy hills, perfect for tumbling down.

Warning: this video contains some misjudged phrasing and misplaced camera shots.  Surprisingly, considering the source, neither of these were intentional.

At the museum, Jon and I were especially in awe of the great dining table dating to 1581 and the furniture, which Burrell himself didn't allow his family to touch, from the 17th century.  The suits of armor and battle weapons were also lots of fun to see.  Jude looked them all over thoroughly before deciding which suit and weapons he would have chosen.

Pinto's

We saw this little chain in downtown Glasgow and thought we'd go back and give it try for dinner tonight.  It was kind of like a Chipotle set-up with similar flavors.  All-in-all not bad when we need a burrito fix, but the search goes on!

This post is really all about the video though.  Definitely pay attention to Arden's moves as she tries to follow Logan's lead.  Oh my goodness, I love these girls.

A Taste of Home

 We found the American isle!  But . . .

I don't think any of our cravings will ever justify an eight dollar box of mac & cheese or twenty dollars for Pepsi!

And then there is the Mexican isle; where even those who actually live in El Paso don't consider this Mexican.  We have made it our mission to find the most authentic versions as possible or start attempting to make our own.  So far, we've tried at least five different "salsas" without success, but we truck on!

Then we discovered Costco (angels sing from above!)  What's funny is that we never had a membership when we lived in the states, but in foreign lands we found our Mecca.  Mmmm, I could eat a Coscto hotdog everyday.  And that's what is so great about it- it feels and tastes like every other Costco I've been in.  They do have some British brands, but it's the only place we've been able to find Ziplocs, chocolate chips, Skippy*, Stubbs BBQ Sauce, real tortilla chips and a few other happy items.

Of course, it's not that we haven't had some great British options available or tasted some of the yummy comfort foods they are known for, but there is something grounding and relieving about having a little taste of home.


I thought Laurie would like to know that the kids found a decent substitute for their beloved Ramen.

Downtown Glasgow

We have been enjoying a wonderfully sunny Scottish summer.  Everyone says this isn't the norm, but  coming from the Pacific Northwest we are accustomed to recieving each sunny day as a gift.  Downtown Glasgow is beautiful.  It's a big, busy city so that vibe is still there- lots of people, lots of tourist displays. But the architecture is just wonderful and it surrounds you wherever you are.  And, currently we don't mind finding entertainment in the cliché's.  

Bring on the bagpipes!

After much walking and running around we needed a boost. I had heard that Scottish ice cream was a treat, but then what ice cream isn't!  We yelped a charming, old fashioned shop and enjoyed some yummy cones.

Happy Fourth!

Happy Independence Day fellow Americans!

Unfortunately, we have been so busy running around trying to become British that we weren't able to do anything to celebrate our freedom from them. Funny little thing.  We opened a new bank account, bought a car, set up new mobiles and may have found our new home, though it wont be available to move into until August.   

We haven't gotten to do any real exploring or touristy stuff yet but have enjoyed some really tasty fish and chip suppers, wonderfully friendly and helpful people, and beautiful drives about the country.  

Thankfully, we've had some built in friends here with Jon's former Washington colleague, Chuck and his wife Giagi.  They gave Jon his first driving lesson in roundabouts, acclimated us with the mall and Sainsburys, and had us over to their flat for spaghetti dinner.  It's definitely been nice to have some American insights and friendships right away.  

Our new car!  Jon says that technically it is not a minivan; it is an estate. 

Also, I was not the one driving when our front tire got it's new look.

Tomorrow we're going to look at a couple more places to rent as back ups if the one we're hoping for weren't to work out.  We may also go explore downtown Glasgow for lunch as we've been waiting for seven years to taste a Cornish Pasty and a sandwich from Pret again.  

The kids had been learning some of the british words for things and Jude was so excited to exclaim "Rubbish Can!" whenever he spotted one.  He was running around the hotel to every can he saw and shouting "Mom, a Rubbish Can!"