(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 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, during one of five trips we made to the fantastic city during our first two years in Scotland.

It's an alligator, but Jack decided it was a dinosaur. Because toddler.

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.

While visiting Kate's family in Colorado, Jackson got his very first chance to ski.

Taking a breather while exploring the prehistoric sites in Kilmartin Glen, Scotland.

We watched some monkeys groom each other at Edinburgh Zoo . . .

. . . so Jackson had to groom and eat the bugs in Kate's hair.

Baking cookies on Valentine's Day. Could I have made this more like a Betty Crocker advertisement?

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.

My sister-in-law, Rachel, helps draw your attention to this cup and ring marked prehistoric stone at Clava Cairns in Scotland.

"Oh!" says my niece, Rosalie.

Enjoying the view atop the Quiraing on the Isle of Skye.

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, after watching a performance of The Cat in the Hat at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

If only she had seen this sign, perhaps my niece, Macie, might've fared better.

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.

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.

One of several dozen white-robed performance artists strode mysteriously around Dryburgh Abbey in the Scottish Borders.

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.

A more scenic view of horse jumping at the Blair Castle International Horse Trials, with Blair Castle as the backdrop.

A military band performing at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

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.

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 North Carolina delicacy.

After visiting Charles Rennie Mackintosh's famed Hill House we took a hike in the hills above Helensburgh, Scotland. Here, a pause for lunch.

On a boat from Iona to the Treshnish Isles to see puffins.

Sometimes, even Kate takes pictures. Jackson reclined in the Kenmare Stone Circle in Ireland.

Hiking through The Whangie in Kilpatrick, Scotland.

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





Favorite photos of places we visited our first year






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






Favorite family photos of our first year in Scotland






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

Monday Exposure: Ha'penny Bridge

The Ha'penny Bridge spans the River Liffey in Dublin, Ireland.

Erected in 1816 after a year's construction, the Ha'penny Bridge is the oldest iron bridge in Ireland and one of the very oldest such bridges in the world. Its graceful elliptical arch shines as one of the symbols of Dublin.

The builder of the bridge, William Walsh, had been given an ultimatum by the city. His seven ferry boats crossing the River Liffey leaked water and portended doom for passengers. Walsh could choose between repairing his decrepit boats, or building a pedestrian bridge across the river.

He chose the latter.

Three delicate arches span the top of the bridge, capped by lantern-like lamps.

To compensate Walsh the city offered him £3,000 for ending his ferry boat business. Even better, they granted him a 100-year lease on the bridge. As the city's only pedestrian crossing, the bridge and its lengthy lease gave Walsh a monopoly on foot traffic across the river.

His ferries had charged half a penny, and Walsh decided to charge the same for crossing his bridge. This was a safe bet. The city had retained a condition, for one year, allowing it to abolish any toll to cross the bridge if the citizenry of Dublin found the toll to be "objectionable." Since he hadn't changed the cost to cross, the citizenry made no objection.

Hence was born the Ha'penny Bridge.

The bridge remained as the sole pedestrian-only crossing of the river for 183 years, until Dublin erected a Millennium Bridge. Over time, the Ha'penny Bridge accumulated advertisements, bad lighting, strange paint, and rust. Finally, in 2001, the city refurbished the bridge. It was restored to its original glory and returned to its original off-white color.

The half-penny toll proved a durable feature. Though it was raised for a while to a Penny Ha'penny, the cost eventually dropped back down to ha'penny. The toll is now long gone, as are the turnstiles.

When it first opened in 1816, roughly 450 people crossed the bridge daily. Nowadays, it's estimated 30,000 cross Dublin's iconic bridge every day.

During its refurbishment, more than 85% of its railwork was retained, as well as 98% of the total iron of the bridge.

Back from Ireland, more to come soon

We've just returned from a nine day trip to the Republic of Ireland. And we're in the midst of a three week visit from Nana and Grampa Bill.

In other words, it's busy 'round these parts.

Celtic cross in Ireland.

Spring and summer are hectic months for us, with visitors and travels every few weeks. Between our trip last week and the middle of September, we'll host a series of visits from family and friends, and we'll travel internationally to at least five or six countries, as well as take a few journeys within the U.K.

Planning time, hosting time, and travel time take a big chunk from my blogging time. I know how you miss me; don't despair. I'll be back to blogging in the next week or so.

For now, I bid you sláinte mhaith ("good health" in Irish Gaelic). More to come soon.