Hassells in the Highlands

This is along the Thurso River. I walk along here almost every day.  There are so many things I would like to write about our experiences here in Scotland, but we are running out of time. So here are a few bits and bobs I will just comment on. HEN PARTIES These are what we would call “Bachelorette Parties.”   A thing I have only seen here – but maybe it’s happening in the US as well – is that the bridal party all wear sashes. They say, “Bridesmaid” or “Maid of Honor.”   Brides wear “Bride” and sometimes a veil as well. ALCOHOL It is not only legal to drink alcohol on trains, but it is legal to bring your own alcohol to consume on trains.   However, it cannot be consumed after 10pm. When questioned as to why that is, it’s because of football and/or rugby games. Apparently, people get so worked up over their team’s loss or victory, that they can get violent and/or destructive. And since alcohol contributes to that, they don’t allow consumption af...

On the ferry, leaving Scrabster, with Dunnet Head in the background. Dunnet Head is the most-northerly point on the British mainland. We started taking dance lessons last January. I have written about that before, so I will not cover that part again, except to say we have been learning Smooth Waltz and Modern Jive, from which American Swing comes from.   I am happy to say that in September, our little group of dancers was promoted from “Beginners” to “Improvers.”  😊    And in being promoted, we joined another, established, group of Improvers, which means we have a lot more dancers in our class now. That makes it all the more fun. Leaving Scrabster harbor Me, Mike, Steve, Lexi, Gary and Lee - after we got in the calm water If you read the post about our dancing a while back, you will recall that there are regular opportunities to dance here. Our instructor, Steve, arranges for almost-monthly Live Jive dances at the Park Hotel on Sunday aft...

This Dresden Plate quilt is my own that I brought from WA to quilt here I have not posted as much about quilting as I thought I would when I started this blog. However, that is not a reflection of the amount of piecing or quilting I have actually done.  T here have just been so many other interesting things to write about.   The back of  the Dresden Plate quilt But quilting really is my passion. I belong to different FB quilting groups so that I can admire other people’s quilts, fabrics and quilting techniques as well as learn from others. I see quilt patterns everywhere   - even in the tile flooring in Italy.   I love all types of quilting fabrics and have even been known to ‘pet’ fabric. I believe all fabric should have a ‘home’ - a place to be used to bring comfort and warmth and even joy - and I cannot bear to throw a possibly-usable piece of scrap away, so I will even rescue fabric scraps that others want to throw away.  I do have...