Friday, February 5, 2016

(Nearly) favorite family photos of our second year in Scotland

Choosing just a few from thousands and thousands of photos is a blessing and a curse. So many memories to reexamine; too many to share them all.

From more than 20,000 photos during our second year — the capacity of digital cameras and memory cards are a blessing and curse, too — I compiled a few hundred favorites, and then trimmed and shaved and pared to a few dozen. Some good ones simply didn't make the cut.

Of course, this was not a fast selection process for me. You might be thinking I did pretty well, narrowing down the photos from the previous year by early February. And that would be good, if only these photos were from 2015. Actually, they're from June 2014 to June 2015, our second (non-calendar) year in Scotland. Yep, it actually took me seven months to get around to these.

Anyone wanna lay odds on how long it takes me to compile our third year photos?

Hiking on the Trotternish Peninsula on the Isle of Skye
Hiking is one of our favorite activities, though it's more challenging when encumbered by a toddler. Here, Kate and Jackson enjoy the view on the Trotternish Peninsula on the Isle of Skye.
On the beach in St. Andrews, Scotland
On the beach in St. Andrews, during one of five trips we made to the fantastic city during our first two years in Scotland.
Face painting
It's an alligator, but Jack decided it was a dinosaur. Because toddler.
Narrow lanes of Anafiotike in Athens, Greece
Kate and Jackson exploring the narrow lanes of Anafiotika, at the base of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece.
As you might expect, Kate and Jackson get the bulk of my attention when I'm behind the lens. Actually, only if they're agreeable, or if I catch them unawares.

Kate and Jackson skiing
While visiting Kate's family in Colorado, Jackson got his very first chance to ski.
Resting in Kilmartin Glen
Taking a breather while exploring the prehistoric sites in Kilmartin Glen, Scotland.
At the Edinburgh Zoo
We watched some monkeys groom each other at Edinburgh Zoo . . .
Mock bug-eating at the zoo
. . . so Jackson had to groom and eat the bugs in Kate's hair.
Baking cookies
Baking cookies on Valentine's Day. Could I have made this more like a Betty Crocker advertisement?
Mattie at Jedburgh Abbey
Few dogs in the world were more loved than Mattie; I still feel her loss keenly. Click on this link to see her adventures in Scotland.
Mattie was a full-fledged member of our family. Jeez, do we miss her.

Other family members get roped in to my photography, too. In our second year, we had visits in Scotland from my parents, as well as one of Kate's sisters and her family. We also spent three weeks back in the States, which has been our only trip home during our first three years abroad.

I'll even throw in a couple of photos with me in them since, as Kate reminds me, I'm part of the family and should make an occasional appearance in our pictures.

Cup and ring marks on a stone at Clava Cairns
My sister-in-law, Rachel, helps draw your attention to this cup and ring marked prehistoric stone at Clava Cairns in Scotland.
Oh!
"Oh!" says my niece, Rosalie.
Hiking atop the Quairaing on the Isle of Skye
Enjoying the view atop the Quiraing on the Isle of Skye.
Nana at home in the States
My mom, whom Jackson calls "Nana," at home in North Carolina. Looking pretty good for an old broad who'll turn 70 this month.
Jack in a hat
Jack in a hat, after watching a performance of The Cat in the Hat at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Sledding in Colorado
If only she had seen this sign, perhaps my niece, Macie, might've fared better.
Off to the races
A race back to the car in freezing temperatures.
I'm also beginning to take a few photos of strangers and passersby, though since I have no journalistic reason it feels a bit intrusive, particularly if I publish them online. But, hey, if they're performing in public, they're fair game.

Wearing a kilt in Glasgow
Some Americans seem to think Scots walk around in kilts all the time. Nope. Make no mistake, if someone walks around in a kilt it's a performance of some kind, even if just for attention.
Performance art in Dryburgh Abbey, Scotland
One of several dozen white-robed performance artists strode mysteriously around Dryburgh Abbey in the Scottish Borders.
Horse crash at the Blair Castle International Horse Trials
This harrowing horse crash resulted in a broken leg for the rider. Check out the full sequence of the horse crash, which took place over six seconds.
Horse jumping at the Blair Castle International Horse Trials
A more scenic view of horse jumping at the Blair Castle International Horse Trials, with Blair Castle as the backdrop.
Military band at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
A military band performing at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
Bagpiper at the Three Sisters in Glencoe, Scotland
A busking highlands bagpiper at the Three Sisters in Glencoe, Scotland.
Enough about all these random people. Let's finish off this collection of almost favorite family photos with pictures of, well, actual family.

Posing in front of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece
Posing in front of the Acropolis in Athens.
Chocolate tasting at Skelligs Chocolate on the Kerry Peninsula, Ireland
It was a big hit to stop for a chocolate tasting at Skelligs Chocolate on the far western tip of Ireland. We bought a ton of this excellent chocolate.
A snack at Krispy Kreme
A North Carolina delicacy.
Lunch break in the fields above Helensburgh, Scotland
After visiting Charles Rennie Mackintosh's famed Hill House we took a hike in the hills above Helensburgh, Scotland. Here, a pause for lunch.
Kate and Jackson on a boat
On a boat from Iona to the Treshnish Isles to see puffins.
Jackson posing within the Kenmare Stone Circle in Ireland
Sometimes, even Kate takes pictures. Jackson reclined in the Kenmare Stone Circle in Ireland.
Hiking through The Whangie in Kilpatrick, Scotland
Hiking through The Whangie in Kilpatrick, Scotland.



Want to see more? Here are the favorites from our first year in Scotland:


 http://www.coloringwithoutborders.com/2014/07/favorite-photos-of-places-we-visited.html


Favorite photos of places we visited our first year




 http://www.coloringwithoutborders.com/2014/07/nearly-favorite-photos-of-places-we.html

(Nearly) favorite photos of places we visited our first year




 http://www.coloringwithoutborders.com/2014/06/favorite-family-photos-of-our-first.html

Favorite family photos of our first year in Scotland




 http://www.coloringwithoutborders.com/2014/06/nearly-favorite-family-photos-of-our.html

(Nearly) favorite family photos of our first year in Scotland




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