The enchanting Blair Castle
On a Saturday in early May we took the time to visit this castle
We had wanted to see Blair Castle and were glad we got the chance,
no disappointments this day.

Another view right out of a fairy tale book, the castle is still the home of the tenth earl and is open to the public only in the summer months. We loved seeing the furnishings, tapestries, big game trophies, narwhal tusks, swords, and the bedroom in which Queen Victoria stayed for three weeks.

This is the entrance to Blair Castle, we were there on a little day trip on our P-day. We drove north past Pitlochary alongside the River Tay. We love this part of Scotland.

It was a beautiful sunny, warm Saturday when we drove east to Tantallon Castle, as you can see it is right on the Firth of Forth. The large rock in the background of one of the shots is Bass Rock. There is a light house there and it used to be the home of a few hardy monks but know is home only to the birds who roost there. Tantallon Castle is only about a forty minute drive from our flat. We were there and back in time for Carolina's baptism.

While we were exploring this castle ruin we were wishing that TJ and Kyra ages 10 and 6 were with us, they would have loved the hidden passageways, the expansive green lawns, the rocks to climb.

We were happy to be at the baptism of Carolina recently. She is a student at the University of Edinburgh studying English. She is from Mexico City and is so fun to have as the newest member of our Young Single Adult group.

Here we go again, this little cutie was born on JT's birthday May 18. Please meet our newest granddaughter Kendall Rose O'Neal. Greg and Christy are so happy to have her, and we can't wait to meet her in person. I've already spoken to her on the phone (Greg put the phone to her ear, Grandma Jo to Kendall: "Hello beautiful, Grandma and Grandpa love you," then lots of kissy noises). We miss all of the kids, but especially these newest babies.

Let me assure all who follow this blog that we love our mission! We are so busy and feel like we are accomplishing so much. I'll give you a run down of a typical week, in fact it was just two weeks ago. Church on Sunday, we left the flat at 9:45 in the morning to pick up our Chinese 20 year old Young Single Adult friend Sarah, who has been a member of the church for only a few months and is an economics student at a university. Meetings from ten thirty to one thirty; then a YSA lunch so the kids don't have to take an hour bus ride home and back for the four o'clock fireside. All of the YSA (young single adults) from the whole of Scotland attended and wanted to stay and stay and stay. We cleaned up after the fireside and left a few of the kids still there at eight PM. Sarah was such a good sport hanging in with us the whole time.
Monday morning zone conference till three PM. Then back at the building for Family Home Evening from seven to nine-thirty. Don't forget the refreshments. Tuesday through Friday seven AM until three-thirty - work at the archives. Tuesday after work, Costco to get goodies for the rest of the weeks meetings, and laundry. Wednesday evening from six until ten YSA Council meeting and Institute. Don't forget the refreshments. Thursday evening visit with Dot and Ray at their home from six-thirty to eight. Friday evening Chinese Institute from five-thirty to eight. Don't forget the refreshments.
We really were looking forward to a three day weekend. Monday was a bank holiday and the archives was closed. We didn't have to be anywhere until Monday evening for YSA Family Home Evening. So off we went for a relaxing Saturday, Sunday and Monday to explore the Scotland we were waiting for spring to see. Inverness, Loch Ness, the Great Glen, the village of Tain where there is a wonderful little cottage industry, Tain Pottery. Yes I bought a few things and shipped them home to Andrea's. And most of all the beauties of the Highlands. We feel so blessed to have a wonderful mission president who encourages us to get out as often as we can to meet the people, see the sights and foster a love of this amazing country. The words of Sir Walter Scott seem appropriate here:

Breathes there the man, with soul so dead,
Who never to himself hath said,
This is my own, my native land!
Whose heart hath ne'er within him burn'd,
As home his footsteps he hath turn'd

From wandering on a foreign strand!

We don't want this to feel like a travelogue but we want to give you a feel for this foreign strand, and can't fill the pages of a blog with pictures of us sitting at our computer and camera station day after day but that is really how we spend most of the hours. We are in a windowless, gray-walled room with bright camera lights glaring, uncomfortable chairs, old backs and bodies but a love for the people of Scotland and feeling privileged to preserve their records. With an eye to the future when all families can be linked father to son, mother to daughter.
Anyway Saturday morning early after packing a couple of sandwiches and apples to eat on the way we set out, it was raining of course, but our outlooks couldn't have been sunnier. It rained until just before we arrived at Inverness. We hope you enjoy our pictures.