Week ending December 18, 2011

Last Sunday, we delivered Swedish bread to three of the eight flats in our section of the building.  The rest were not home.  We got one during the week but that was mostly because we were gone or had company.  Monday, I made my second batch just before bedtime.

Tuesday we left work with the wind really blowing hard again.  It wasn’t as strong as last week but there was still a travel advisory out.  We called the Branch President to ask how it was over his way.  He felt we should just call Mutual off.  So we spent the evening cleaning and baking bread.

Wednesday I went to work but suddenly had sharp stomach pains like the flu or food poison.  I stayed at work for about an hour and a half, but after losing my breakfast Bill brought me home and I stayed in bed until around 2:00.  I was feeling much better by then.  That was a good thing because that evening we had Elder and Sister Clark coming to stay with us for three nights.  Also we had tickets to go to The King and I with about seventeen missionaries that had arrived for Senior Missionary Conference.  The play was wonderful.  It was well cast with some strong beautiful singing voices.  They used their scenery well also.  The only problem was we just missed our bus and at that time of night the next one was a half hour wait.  Needless to say, it was a late night.

Thursday we arrived at the Mission Home and packed our own picnic lunch.  Then we traveled to Glamis Castle which was about an hour and a half away to the north.  The castle is still being lived in today.  It is beautiful and is all decorated for Christmas. 

To keep the Castle open they allow tours.  The section on the left with the armor was built in the 800's.  The dining area was built in the 1800's.  In addition to the revenue from the tours they are also a working cattle ranch with Highland cattle.  The cattle have a double layer to skin which allows them to stay warm in the winters.

We ate our lunch in the cars on our return trip back to the Mission Home.  We had a couple of workshops that afternoon followed by a potato bar for dinner. Then Elder and Sister Matthews presented a fireside on their mission in Nigeria.  They had an exciting and scary mission having been shot at two different times.  They loved the people and their faith and willingness to be taught.  They would go back to Africa again without a second thought.

Friday there were more workshops and presenters.  We learned about the Centers for Young Adults and the impact they are having on the 18-30 year olds in areas on this side of the world where the church is not as strong.  We also have a couple who have just opened an Employment Center to assist people in upgrading or getting a job.

We ate at the Carvery which is like a buffet in the States.  This was followed by a fireside with Elder Stephen Kerr who is an Area Seventy .  What a dynamic man!  He used two of the Christmas Tabernacle programs from previous years as the background of his talk. 

Saturday we had a fantastic lesson on the difference between having a testimony and being truly converted to Jesus Christ and the atonement from President Griffiths.  Then we had a testimony meeting and Sister Griffiths bore her testimony.  We have the best mission couple you could ever have.  I will truly miss them when they leave in July.

Our last speaker was Elder Craig T. Wright who is also one of the Area Seventies.  Just when you think it couldn’t compete with what we have had, it did.

We went to Falkirk after the conference for their Christmas music and spoken word.  Imagine a whole evening of acapella singing by members.  We had no one there that could play the piano.  I excited I am to hear that some of the grandchildren want to take piano lessons.  It will be so useful on their missions.  How I wish I had continued and could now play.

Today I used the Churches new videos of the birth of Jesus for my lesson.  I am so impressed with them.  The girls were so caught in the story.  Thank you for this new endeavor by the church to make new videos for the church.  Bible Videos - The Life of Jesus Christ

December 11, 2011

Monday’s family home evening lesson was the one given by President Boyd K. Packer in the October Conference entitled “Counsel to Youth”.  In light of our callings we felt it appropriate.  We have our work cut out for us we noticed as we met with them on Sunday and Tuesday.  There are about five or six in both YM and YW. Most are related to each other as brother and sister or cousin which can have its pluses and minuses. We are looking forward to the rewards and challenges.

This week also brought the dreadful word “rework”. Blurry pictures Bill took and I missed that Salt Lake found.  They warned us when we were there we all would have rework, but somehow or other you hoped you would luck out and not have any. 

Wednesday was a normal day with no surprises

Thursday started just like any morning weather wise. Of course daylight arrives after we are hard at work about 8:30 or so.  It was partly sunny and some wind. One of the ladies did walk in saying they were already closing some schools all day and others at noon because of wrong wind warnings.  By 10:30 on the radio the police were asking everyone to go home early because of predicted winds of up to 100 mph.  It was supposed to hit in the early afternoon.  We only live 10 minutes or less from work and we cross no bridges to get home, so we didn’t think we would be impacted much.  We though the power might go off, but we have food, water, warm clothing and blankets, and the flashlight Mike sent with us that we had used once when the power had gone out early one morning for seven minutes.  Our boss lives in Livingston which is about a half hour away and you do use a bridge the way he usually goes.  So after lunch they advised him to go home.  At about 1:15 they came around and advised all of us to leave so they could close the building.  They said on the street there was a good sized limb that broke off and blocked the sidewalk.  So we came home early.  I used the time to make cookies to take to reward missionaries who had a clean apartment for our Saturday Flat inspections.  We suffered no major damages in our area but the usual shingles, downed sections of fences and trees, etc.  The same type of damage Davis County, Utah suffered the week before.  However, on the west coast the wind was blowing so strong it caused a wind turbin to burst into flames.

Saturday we arose to soft beautiful snow falling with about three inches on the ground.  It looked like a White Christmas.  We debated about calling and telling the Elders and Sisters we were not coming because they were about one and a half hours away.  After prayer we decided to go forward with our plans unless we discovered the roads to be slick under the snow.  We were glad we did.  After slower going, snow packed roads for the first 45 minutes, the snow was gone and we only had wet roads for the rest of the day including our return trip to Edinburgh.  We visited the towns of Kilmarnock, Irvine, and Ayr, all on the western side of Scotland.  We enjoyed meeting the Elders and Sisters and seeing where they lived.  We found their flats to be in pretty good shape so we shared with them a plate of cookies and goodies. 

As a side benefit of the trip I found all I had been looking for in the shopping we did between visits and after we were through.  Who knew peppermint candy canes would be hard to find. I also found a couple of sweaters that will come in handy for Mutual night.

I also had made Swedish bread Friday night to rise over night.  I braided it Saturday morning and put it in the guest bedroom to rise while we were gone. I came home to bake it that evening.  So we have now made our first batch of Swedish bread to share with our neighbors.  Christmas is almost here.

Bill and I have worked hard on our lessons for today and hopefully they will be successful.  Thanks Natalie for the links.  I am using a suggestion found on Sugardoodle of the parable of the popper and popcorn to help with the lesson on dependability. 

Sunday evening at 5:30--the lessons are over and went well.  Who knew popcorn is also a rarity in the Scotland.  We found the kernels in a grocery store, and Costco has the microwave variety.  We found out the only place they get it is when they go to the cinema (movie theater).  They loved it with white chocolate drizzled over it.  I thought of you Julie as I was doing it.

We came home and went for our usual walk for exercise--a walk up the big hill.  It only took 55 minutes today rather than an hour.  We’re both getting stronger.  Guess what I saw blooming in someone’s yard -- a daffodil!  How things change in one day.  Today is cloudy and warm.  All the snow is gone and the lawns are green and beautiful, and so with warmer temperature and a daffodil is it winter or spring?  We love it here.

We hope all of you are having a great week.  We hope to hear from lots of you as we have this last week.  We know of your prayers for us and feel of your love.

Week ending December 3

What a week.  It started with Bill being called as First Counselor in the Young Men’s organization on Sunday morning before church and then sustained in Sacrament Meeting.  There are six young men that attend church on a regular basis.

We were invited to Brother and Sister Dickson’s home for Family Home Evening and dinner on Monday along with the other Elders.  What a wonderful dinner it was.  Some of the best lasagna I have ever had with wonderful garlic bread and then a jelly, fruit, and cream dessert.  We gave a lesson on Family History and the Elders on praying for friends to invite to hear about the gospel.  The Dickson’s have only been married since July.  It is a second marriage for both.  Soon after they were married Brother Dickson went in to have his esophagus stretched and all went wrong.  They put a hole in it and the follow up surgery almost killed him.  He had a few near death experiences and then spent nine weeks in the hospital recovering.  He said it was a good experience because he feels nearer to God than he ever had in his life.  We had a great evening there.

Tuesday we went back to Falkirk for mutual.  I went with to attend the Young Women’s in Excellence Program, while Bill met with the young men and shared a lesson on their priesthood duties.

Wednesday, Bill went out with the Elders for a visit and I got Christmas letters and package ready to mail.  In regards to packages, please do not send us any.  It is too expensive as we have learned from sending one and receiving one.  Please write us emails and we will Skype for Christmas.  It will be the best gifts we can get from you.  If you love us please do this.  We have everything we need here and are really not missing any things from home.

Thursday we had the delightful experience of going to the play Beauty and the Beast as a pantomime.  We didn’t know it was a pantomime when we got the tickets or we probably wouldn’t have got them.  We found out that a pantomime is not what we think of.  It is like a melodrama where the audience gets involved booing and cheering.  It is usually a children’s play and done around Christmas.  We loved it and would have liked to take all of you to it.

Friday Bill went out with the missionaries again.

Saturday we went and visited Rosslyn Chapel.  It is the chapel that was mentioned in Dan Brown’s book The Di Vinci Code.  Construction of the Chapel began in 1446.  It was built by Sir William St. Clair for his family to attend and be buried in. 

He wanted it to be a teaching place as well so all the carvings are telling Bible Stories.  The whole building is built of stone and for that reason is still standing and in use today.  There are hundreds of stone carvings throughout the Chapel.  Stories from the Old and New Testament are carved in stone.

This carving represents the birth of Christ.  There are 41 pages of information in one reference alone on the internet and hundreds of books written about this Chapel.  One of the mysteries associated with the chapel was the several images that seemed to be associated with music.  Just recently a father and son team was able to “break the code” and discover the song.   It was fascinating.

Today President Paterson asked us to come early so he could visit with me.  I was called and sustained as First Counselor in Young Women’s.  So all of you who are serving there also, I will appreciate any suggestions, websites, ideas for activities and lessons that you have.  It has been several years since I have worked with young women.

We also had our first snow this morning.  We had about an inch of snow.  Now it is gone on the roads for the most part but when we went out to walk a few minutes ago a man almost slipped and fell right in front of us.  It was enough to scare me and so we came back inside.

We have our tree up and decorated, and stockings hanging in the window. 

We hope you too are getting ready for the holidays and have a great week.

Week ending November 26

What a wonderful week this has been.  It was my week to make pumpkin pies.  I started with a whole pumpkin.  On Saturday I scooped out the guts, cut it up and baked it in the oven.  Then I had to steam it in a big pot because it wasn’t soft enough.  Tuesday I made the pies.  I put all the ingredients in the blender for the filling and the blender did the work of making the pumpkin smooth. It took about 4 hours to bake 10 pies.

At 8 p.m. on Tuesday we went with the Assistants to the President to visit a newly baptized member.  We were able to share our testimonies about the importance of serving in the church.  Then we invited the A.P.’ back to the apartment to sample one of the pies.  They were kind enough to take seven of the pies in to the Mission Home for us that night.

The last two pies we took to work on Thanksgiving Day to share with those we work with in the Archives.  None of them had ever tasted pumpkin pie, and their reactions varied from loving it to uncertain. 

We only worked for half a day on Thanksgiving.  We came home and I made dressing for the dinner and wrote in the blog “If you grew up in Grays Lake”.  I’ve been working on this for about a week, sharing my memories of growing up in Wayan. 

We had Thanksgiving Dinner Thursday evening at the Mission home with about 38 missionaries including senior couples from all over Scotland, elders and sisters from Edinburgh area, and President and Sister Griffiths.  What a wonderful dinner and evening it was.  The food was wonderful.  We had turkey, ham, potatoes, dressing, yams, several salads and of course, pumpkin pie.

On Saturday we visited the Georgian House, in the "New Town" area of Edinburgh [new meaning late 1800's).

The building you see is actually the exterior of several town houses all built together to give the impression of elegance.  The inside rooms were very nice,

but when you go downstairs to the servants area you begin to understand the hard life they lived to try and keep the wealthy happy and full.

Girls were forced into servitude at the age of 11 and had to work 18 hour days.  Servants learned to respond to the sound of the bell to take care of their masters needs.  It was an interesting presentation.

Week ending November 19, 2011

Preston England Temple

This week began with the Flynn’s coming over for dinner and Family Home Evening to discuss how to prepare a lesson the Mission President has asked us to create for the missionaries to present on  Family History.  The idea is to help the converts get excited to go to the temple to do baptisms for their own family members within the first three to six months of their own baptism.  Retention is much higher if you can get them to the temple as soon as possible.  It was a lively discussion and we came up with some great ideas.

Tuesday night we drove over and met with President Paterson of the Falkirk Branch in a "getting to know you"  interview.   We received a hint of what he has in mind but will wait to share that information when the calls are actually made and announced.  He also asked us to introduce ourselves and bear our testimonies in Sacrament Meeting on Sunday. 

The youth were there having Seminary and then followed by Mutual.  They have Seminary on Tuesday/Thursday nights.  They had about 12 youth in attendance.  The young men were going swimming and so we learned there is a swimming pool in that town.  It was the first we had known if they had pools here or not.

Thursday night brought a wind storm that rattled our windows.  There was a slight amount of rain with it but nothing serious.  The temperatures this week still remain in the high forties and low fifties and no hint of snow yet.  Last year this weekend is when they received the big snow storm that started their snowiest year in a very  long time. 

Scotland/Ireland Mission Home

Friday night we joined the Flynn's at the Mission Home for dinner and to discuss our ideas for the lesson with President and Sister Griffiths.  It was a delightful evening.  We came away with a clearer understanding of what the President would like.  Now we need to finalize the presentation.  We are also having the Assistants to the President present our proposed lesson to a newly baptized member to see if the lesson outline works.

Saturday we took the Flynn's to Falkirk to see the Wheel, Callendar House, and their City Center . 

The Wheel is the world’s first and only rotating boat lift.  It was designed to connect the Union Canal with the Forth and Clyde Canal 115 feet below.  The canal is closed now for rides until Christmas season and already they are booked  for the season and so we will have to wait until next summer to experience that.  But you enter the wheel in your boat, the wheel turns lowering you the 115 feet and you come out in the next canal like our lock system.

We enjoyed out visit to Callendar House again.  We stopped by the kitchen and saw the item we showed you last week and asked you to guess what it was.  Unfortunately there were no guesses posted so we'll try this again and see if anyone posts a response this week.  What do you think this  is a picture of?

Mystery item from kitchen

In case you can't tell we enjoy the downtown area of Falkirk.  The enter city center is a pedestrian walk way with lots of shops.  We especially enjoy the "Pound" stores (dollar stores) and the thrift stores.  We'll have to take you there when you come over for a visit. (hint, hint)

Falkirk City Centre

Week of November 7 to 12, 2011

Bill went out with the missionaries a couple of times during the week.  I was asked to stay home as there were too many people going for their small homes and it would be overwhelming for the people to have that many.  It didn’t hurt my feelings.  It gave me a chance to make cinnamon rolls that I had been craving for several weeks but never stayed home long enough to make.

Bill shot over 10,000 images and I checked around 45 volumes of Deeds of Records.  We got an "all clear" from Salt Lake for the work from the week before.  That was good because they were cemetery records that were more challenging to image and more valuable for family history.  Now we can return those records and hopefully get another batch to do this week.

We also got to come to our flat on Tuesday and listen to a regional telephone conference for an hour and a half on Family History.     I served popcorn, candy and drinks to make the call more enjoyable.  There is a chance we may have one every two weeks but they think they will be able to have them at work the next time. 

On Thursday night we received a phone call from our mission president, President Griffiths, asking if we would be willing to go to the Falkirk Branch and be part of that branch.  They just had a change of leadership last week and he felt the Lord was calling us to go there.  It is about a thirty five minute drive from our home to the chapel.  We were delighted with the call and to feel like we will be a part of a branch. 

As a result of that call our plans on Saturday were to drive out there and find the chapel so we would know where we were going,  We set the GPS for the postal code and off we went.  We travel down M9 which is equivalent  to our freeway.  We drove straight to the building which is located on the outskirts of the city tucked back in a neighborhood on a dead end street.  There is a six foot fence around a beautiful, larger than expected building. 

We then set off to explore the city.   The city center is delightful with lots of small shops set along a meandering street.  We found all kinds of shops from pound (dollar) stores, to shops selling fabric, clothing, and toys.  In the middle of the block was an entrance to a mall that has as many stores as our malls.  There were some of the same stores like Claires.  We also saw a MacDonald's and Burger King.  The local Church  of Scotland was sponsored a craft show where they were selling all kinds of homemade items, and had displays from local charities and there was even one on  Family History.  It was a lot like what we see at home this time of year.

Instead of visiting a castle this week we visited the Callendar House, which has been turned in to a  museum.

Callendar House, Falkirk

 The museum had displays focusing on the history of the area.  Did you know the Roman Empire extended this far north?  They actually built a wall to keep out that barbarous Scot's.  The wall was about 39 miles long and 10 feet high.  Sections of the wall are still visible today.  Oh, and by the way the wall was built in AD 142.  How's that for old?

The House also features a Georgian kitchen.  The guide explained the workings of the kitchen and we could actually try and lift some of the cooking pots.  No wonder the cooks were big.

Any guesses what this item might be?

Keep guessing, we'll let you know next week.

The house is located in the middle of a park, with a wonderful walking path, a crazy miniature golf course, and a Par three golf course.  It was a wonderful place that I am sure we will visit again many times.  I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t try and find some golf clubs to rent or borrow and try out the course next summer on some sunny day.

We had lunch at the West End Bistro which had received the vote from the townspeople as one of the best places to eat in 2011.  We had carrot coriander soup and  tomato, cheese, and chutney sandwich for me and a type of Chicken sandwich for Bill.  It was as good as they said it was.

Today was Remembrance Day at Church.  We actually stood for a moment of silence at 11 a.m.  The talks were all about remembering those that died to protect our freedoms.  It was a very special meeting.  After church we drove to the local war memorial and laid a wreath. 

November 6, 2011

I can’t believe it is November already.  The last two nights we have had frost on the windows of the car though.  That was the first.  In the house this morning it is 66.7 but we still do not have the heat on.  Yesterday was a beautiful sunny fall day and it looks like today will be the same. Leaves are falling and we see lots of orange, but also still some green and still flowers.  Days are getting a lot shorter.  I start noticing it is getting dusky about 4:45 and by five it is dark.  Last night we sat in the living room and watched the fireworks for Guy Fawkes Night.

"Guy Fawkes Night is annually held on November 5. It is sometimes known as Bonfire Night and marks the anniversary of the discovery of a plot organized by Catholic conspirators to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London in 1605. Many people light bonfires and set off fireworks"

We celebrated the gorgeous day by going to  Tantallon Castle, Hailes Castle, and Dirleton Castle. 

Dirleton Castle is one of the oldest surviving castles in Scotland.  It has a beautiful formal traditional and contemporary garden and the longest herbaceous border as recorded in the Guinness Book of Records.  The gardens are beautiful. 

Castle entrance

Formal garden with herbaceous border

Tantallon Castle is surrounded by water on three sides and looks out across the Firth of Forth.  There is a huge rock called Bass Rock there that a Lighthouse is on.  It is sitting on the cliffs. 

Entry way to castle

Looking out to the sea

Bass Rock with lighthouse

Hailes Castle was built for a nobleman.  It has a small stream running through the grounds and a river right below it. 

These are all built three centuries ago.  Are you getting the idea there are lots of castles here?  We are just getting started exploring them.  Thanks to a Historic Scotland membership card we get in free.

Making the flat our own

This week Julia decided it was time to add some green to our flat.  Her first purchase was a rose plant.

Then she found a Christmas cactus and African violet.

And if that wasn't enough, she picked plants today to create a bouqet for our kitchen table.

The Adventures of Flat Stanley

Our granddaughter Brittanie sent us Flat Stanley in the mail.  Flat Stanley is a children's book about the adventures of a young boy who gets flattened by a bulletin board while he sleeps, but he's still alive.  The advantage of being flat is he can be sent to people all over the world and go on adventures with them.  We took Flat Stanley with us to see all sorts of places.


We took him to the National Archives where we volunteer.  He really got caught up in digitizing the records.

We took him to Burton Foods where they bake several different varieties of bisquits (cookies).

 We took him to our local library where he looked at all of the great chldren's books and watched kids playing games on the computers.




We took him to visit our local Primary School where he got to meet the teacher and take a tour.  He even got to have his picture taken with the class mascot!












He really enjoyed his trip to Stirling Castle--the Castle of the Kings.

His private tour guide Sandy

Trying on a suit of armour.

Sitting on the Royal Throne!

Trying on Royal Clothing.  Nice hat!

Checking out the food at the Royal kitchen.

His next big adventure was a train ride to downtown Edinburgh and a visit to the Edinburgh Castle.

Edinburgh Castle

A private bagpipe lesson!

 Just before Halloween he took a tour of Mary King's Close--an area below the streets of Edinburgh that's haunted and really spooky!

Tour Guide

Model of the Close.