Of late: what you've missed

The brief: 

We saw the peacock in his feathered glory at the zoo; Marie got pottytrained; Our kitchen got removed never to be replaced; we spent a week with Grandma and Granddad Shaver; We celebrated Ruthie, our newest American citizen; Marie got her first real injury; we had a semi college roommate reunion with 6 children! 

Whew!

Let it be said: 18 months. Best solution to
 diaper rash ever.

Moses Lake: lunch halfway point.

Our newest American!

A run in with a bike.

Could have been so much worse!

The product of 3 couples - all could be credited to one house on 17th and 47th NE.

Also, someone needs to learn how to format these things.

...And... the Cutest Person in a Hairnet EVER Award goes to....

Marie!!She rocked it better than anyone else! We took Joel's parents on a Theo Chocolate Factory tour the other day. It was wonderful... besides eating lots of chocolate, it's interesting to see the process of making chocolate. They really focus on the reasons they are organic and fair trade, and by the end I am pretty sure I'm not the only one who pledges to herself to stop buying chocolate that isn't fair trade. They are the first organic fair-trade chocolate makers in the US, and they are here in Seattle! We will take each of you there when you visit us.

They also made Joel wear 2 (!!) beard-nets this time, because one just doesn't cover it all!

six weeks

My little baby has had quite an adventurous November! A long drive to eastern Washington to meet Grandparents Shaver, and all 3 Great-Grandparents over there too. Not to mention lots of other Newport friends.We spent the week of Thanksgiving with my side in Puyallup, as a penance for going to Thailand over Christmas. It was peaceful and relaxing and Grandma and Grandpa got lots of time with baby. And I got lots of breaks from changing diapers and burping!
The baby (my mom wonders why we named her, because I just call her baby, or precious, or sweet girl, etc.) is really changing. She is awake so much more, smiling lots, looking around, and holding her neck and shoulders up so well. She has even slept 5 hours straight during the night on a few occasions! On Monday she weighed 12 pounds 2 ounces! Go breast milk!

Sleeping with Grandpa - who is enjoying themselves more?

Back in Glasgow.

We've been back in Glasgow for 6 days now. We're still coming to peace with our return. We had a magnificently beautiful time back in Washington State. We couldn't have asked for more lovely moments with family and friends. True thanks to each of you who made time to see us and made us feel so welcome and.. at home.

Highlights of our trip:

• The SNOW!! Not only did the west coast have record-breaking snowfall the first week we were there, but Eastern Washington had 3 feet! We had a surpassingly enjoyable time shovelling snow, going sledding, shovelling more snow, drinking tea, shovelling more snow... and using the snowblower! I was delighted with every aspect. Growing up on the west side of the state never afforded me experiences with frozen lakes, dangers of snow weight on rooftops, or sharing snowblower stories with neighbours. I love it.
• Driving across Washington. Joel and I repeatedly expressed fascination that we are natives to such an unbelievably beautiful and varied place. Even though we have travelled that journey many time before, coming back to it after a 2 year hiatus brought back resounding affirmations that we love this state, our (metaphorical and hopefully one day literal again) home.
• Seeing all of our grandparents well. We are so thankful that despite ongoing health issues, all of our loved grandparents have been well and we were able to have visits with them. Nothing like time away to make you really appreciate people's character, wisdom, and advice.
• Being with both of our families on Christmas. Joel's parents were so kind as to drive west to spend the holiday with my family. Having the opportunity to spend it with both sides is wonderful, and having families who get along and love each other so much is a blessing beyond what we could ask.
• My parent's crazy new cat, Loki. He's beyond insane. It was quite fun. Joel and him became inseparable friends (inseparable: often joined by the cat's bite and Joel's foot). Here's hoping he calms down a bit over the years! (No more jumping on Grandma's back, kitty.)
• Being able to catch up with true friends. There were some we didn't get to see, and most we'd love to spend more time with, but we soaked up the time we got with each of you. Thank you!

As always, we invite you all to come visit us in Glasgow. Most of you know our couch has been well broken in by those before you! Re-beginning our journey here in Glasgow, we appreciate your thoughts and prayers that we can remain steady and focused on the tasks at hand and finish strong. One year left!

(Pictures to follow. We have left/lost/misplaced all 3 of our USB camera cord thingys.)

Our Summer with the Folks: Installment 1

In the grand tradition of this blog, I have at least 300 posts to get through all at once, so I can slack off again for another three months. Last year, Heather's parents visited us and we traveled all over Scotland and Norway with them. This year was my parents' turn! This time around, we stayed in Scotland, but split the time between Orkney and the Rest of Scotland. This provides me with a perfect excuse to do two posts. Orkney needs its own post.

Who you calling a demi-savage?

Though we had an eventful two weeks, I must say they were much less packed than last summer, and we were able to spend a fair amount of time chillin' in the greater Glasgow area, cooking (as you've no doubt noticed) and seeing the local sights: City Centre, the Botanic Gardens, Loch Lomond, etc. The folks got to meet Basil and our other friends, see our church, and generally be reassured we were still alive.

One priority was to find the MacFarlane homelands: though I'm becoming increasingly aware of the decided American-ness of the quest for 'heritage' and 'ancestry', I've decided to continue to embrace my roots... just more quietly. Also, my dad was totally into finding Loch Sloy, which is basically MacFarlane cow-stealing HQ. We found it - or at least the hydroelectric plant that drains its water, and the mountain that we would have had to climb to see the actual lake. Close enough. Photo op.

The rest of these pictures are from the long road trip (by UK standards) up to Orkney. Highlights were Dunrobin Castle (nice castle, Robin!) huge windfarms, Cromarty Firth, and good ol' Highland scenery. Unfortunately, we were in a hurry to catch the ferry to Orkney, so we did miss some of the cool scenery Tighe and I saw last winter, but we did get to see a lot of the more northerly parts I hadn't seen yet.

As usual, there are lots more pictures here (Update: just fixed the link).

Habitual Pudding

Ever since we've known each other, one of Joel and my habits has been to make rice pudding. It has been a happy result of my inability to estimate the dry rice = cooked rice ratio. I usually end up making far too much, which leaves us with plethoras of cooked rice. Thankfully, rice pudding is a wonderful thing.

When Joel's parents were here, we ended up making rice pudding once again, and promptly devouring it. Then getting to admire my beautiful bowls. (5 gorgeous bowls for £1, charity shop in Orkney. Oh yeah.)

How do you like your rice pudding? We like ours warm with plenty of raisins, cinnamon, vanilla and/or almond, and sometimes if we are feeling amazing, rum. Then we smother it all in plenty o' delicious milk. Joel's parents thing eating leftover rice pudding for breakfast the next day is appropriate. I can't seem to justify that. How 'bout you?

The Kirkwall Hotel & Restaurant

While in the Orkney's, we ate a superb dinner at The Kirkwall Hotel. Above is our appetizer, assorted seafood deliciousness. The Orkney's know their seafood, and they don't joke around about it. It's serious stuff. Serious seafood deliciousness.

Apparently they joke a little bit with their salads. Above is our side salad that came with the meals. Quite adorable, really. I've recently begun a quest to like tomatoes, but it didn't feel necessary to eat the yellow one you can see there. When I signed up to like tomatoes it didn't include yellow ones.
In true form of the Shaver's trip to visit us, 3 of us ordered the same thing: it was Seafood Pasta this time. I took a picture of it but it does not look appetizing at all in the photo, so I instead will regale you with the deep satisfaction it brought me (and a photo of the Orkney Sea the seafood came out of). Penne pasta with mixed seafood, in a garlic tomato goodness sauce. It was fabulous, but I do have to admit it wasn't quite as earth-shaking as the pasta dish I had a O Sole Mio in Glasgow a few weeks prior. That one was stellar, it was Fusilli with Salmon in a cream and vodka sauce. Oh, man. That was undebatably Heaven expressed through pasta.

After the meal we couldn't resist having some Orkney Ice Cream (reminiscent of earlier that same day when we couldn't resist Orkney Ice Cream, and the day before, when we couldn't resist Orkney Ice Cream...). They know how to treat their cows in the Orkneys.

Joel can post on the non-food-related aspects of all of this when he gets back from Brighton.

Grilled SeaBass

I found a great deal on whole seabass, and our group of seabass virgins enjoyed it immensely! Before cooking, I rubbed it inside and out with olive oil and "Nantucket Off-Shore St.-Remy Rub". (Who can resist anything with a picture of Van Gogh barbecuing aubergine??)After throwing the seabass under the grill, we whipped it out and Joel's mom (hereafter referred to as "Mom") showed me a simple substitution for filleting a fish. After it's been cooked, you gently begin to tug on the tail, and firmly keep tugging and the tail gradually separates from the fish, bringing with it the spine and all the bones! You tend to use fingers a bit at the start to begin the fish/bone divorce. Then you are left with a gorgeous seabass fillet. Kudos to Mom. One of the many benefits to family in town.

The Ehli Family in Norway

ollowing a tearful parting with brother Jeff, gone to pursue his fortune in America, the Ehlis make their way north, accompanied by their trusty and strikingly handsome son-in-law, Joel. The voyage across the North Sea is long and perilous, but at last our craft makes landfall at the village of Sandefjord, where we manage to hire a worthy vehicle to convey us for the rest of our journey. Late in the night, the dauntless Ehlis are joyfully re-united with their intrepid and tireless Norwegian kinswoman, Sigrun, who is to accompany and direct us. Sigrun plies us with food and wine, and we rest for the night.

Arising with the dawn, our party ventures forth. The eerie light of the northern sun casts mysterious shadows, wherein may lurk any manner of trolls, nisse, tusse, huldre, or other wights of the Norse wilderness. After endless hours of driving through mountains, valleys, and woodlands, a ferry is found to take us across the fjord to Volda, near the ancestral home. There we meet more of Randi's gracious kin, who give us wonderful food, comfortable lodging, and pleasant conversation.

The next day begins with a visit to the churchyard where many of Randi's predecessors are buried. Paying our respects, we continue to the ancestral farmland itself, the fabled Velsvik. As we walk the familial grounds, we became aware of a bond reaching through the ages, linking us to this place. This bond is only strengthened by the seemingly endless supply of cakes, berries, and iced delicacies which we are subsequently served by our hospitable relations.

The following two days of our journey include a harrowing journey to Oslo over icy mountain passes, through the fjord of Geiranger, whose sheer slopes rise directly from the waterline to the knife-like peaks of ice, towering far above. It is here that the heroic Justin narrowly defeats a frost giant in single combat. Once safely in Oslo, after meeting more of the kinfolk and examining relics of the Viking age, we spend one last night with Sigrun and cast off once again for the shores of merry Scotland.

Further visual aids may be accessed here.

Ehlis Invade Scotland!

Heather hijacks the Transport Museum

I'm way behind. Two months ago, my cousin Erik and our friends Robb and Andrew all came to visit at the same time! This post isn't about them: I'm going to go backwards. Last month, Heather's family (now my family) came to stay with us for a week, exploring pretty much the whole country. The kids all slept in the lounge-basically the coolest slumber party ever. Then we all (sans Jeff) got in our longboat and headed for Norway. Here are some pictures from the Scotland week. Oh and here's the link to where most of the pictures are, though you might have to sift through Norway.

Chillin' at Glasgow University

Ehli Kids @ Linlithgow

Ma and Pa Ehli guard Edinburgh

Heather decorates Linlithgow

Family picnic!

The gang in Luss

Gratuitous Glencoe Scenery