Today's Procrastination Project: Organics

My floors need to be cleaned.

So instead, I'm distracted by an NPR interview with Cindy Burke -- Seattle author who has written a book on when to buy organic. http://www.amazon.com/Buy-Not-Organic-Healthiest-Earth-Friendly/dp/1569242682/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-5797425-9291647?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1182602952&sr=8-1

And the result of comparing her conclusions to other web based research is a list for myself that I also decided to post on the soul food page http://www.howeburnnotes.blogspot.com/.

Post a comment if there is something to be corrected / added!
Now I need to go clean my floors ...

P.S. -- As predicted by the BBC weather, today is FREEZING. Well, not really. But it is still overcast and in the 50's ... sigh.

Weather Forecast

Spring was promising -- do you know, I went entire weeks in April and May without having to light up my little stove? But ever since we rolled into June, it has been overcast, wet and cold. To quote Bill Bryson, it is like living in tupperware -- with the lid on.

So this morning I'm thinking, "surely this can't last -- maybe checking the weather report will cheer me up." Mind you, up until now I only hear the reports on the radio in the morning -- just before I hit snooze. And temperatures like "16 degrees" don't mean anything to me.

But my BBC weather bookmark comes up in Farenheit. 16 is only 60. That's the high. All week. For 2 days out of the five day forecast, the best we're going to get is 60. Except for Saturday. Saturday it is a high of 11 and low of 4. That's a high of 51 low of 39. THIRTY NINE degrees FARENHEIT. The recommended temperature for refrigerators is 40 degrees farenheit.

So here in Scotland in June, we are not only living in tupperware -- we've been slipped back into the fridge...

The next generation...

I preached this morning at the West Church on Romans 7 -- it was a real delight to be in the pulpit again. They sometimes put the sermons on podcast, so I'll give a link if so. Which reminds me -- My sister in law, Kamrin, sent me this photo of my nieces. Rebekah (the one at the pulpit) had set up the plant stand and bible and was preaching in the open air, with her older sister Hannah waiting her turn in the wings! Preach it, little sister!

Where is "Durham" Again?

Because that is where my supervisor, Francis Watson, has accepted a research chair -- and where I will be transferring my registration in the fall of 2007!

http://www.dur.ac.uk/theology.religion/

Fortunately, this doesn't involve a move away from Banchory. Prof. Watson and his family won't actually move to Durham until Sept. of 2008, and after that those of us "trailing students" get one trip a month re-imbursed to go South for supervision. Should be stimulating, actually, to have the chance to participate in seminars within the Durham Biblical Studies department. They have some amazing people.

The Ever Evolving Thesis ...

seems to have settled into 1 Thessalonians -- a development with which I'm well pleased! I was officially moved into full Ph.d. status at my annual research review. This is a detail that I hadn't paid a whole lot of attention to before landing over here. One is admitted as a Master of Philosophy candidate "with a view to transfer" to Ph.d. The transfer is dependent on sufficient progress in the first year, generally the completion of one chapter and an approved thesis outline / plan. Frankly, I've felt a fish out of water all year in this academic context, so it was a huge relief to be transfered to full status, and to be told by Francis on Monday last that my thesis plan looks "very promising". So this summer, I'm researching chapter two, and working on my German translating skills...

Our first Thursday Dinners...

... ended for the summer this past week. We had also started meeting on the 2,3,4 and occasional 5 Thursday for lunches to go a little bit further into our own areas of research -- and more importantly, as it turned out -- what it was in our lives that got us to this point, and what is keeping us alive in heart and spirit while we pursue our Ph.d.'s. The friendships and encouragement from this group of women has proved essential this year!

Back: Lo, Barb and Amie. Front: Kristianna, me and Caroline. We were missing Carrie for our last dinner -- she's in the States with the boys just now.

June is for Visitors ...

Uncle Terry and cousins Alison, Kristin and Ian

So June is a pretty fun month for visitors. Pam Proske, an elder from University Pres. was here the first Saturday in June to tour about the countryside in the wee Ka. Last week the cottage converted to youth hostel once again for Uncle Terry (currently on a 6 month Sabbatical in Paris) and my 3 cousins, Ian, Alison and Kristin. We had a BLAST -- took them to every last castle within reach and a few out of reach -- even toured one of the distilleries on the Whisky Trail (now that's a sharp piece of marketing...).

Cambus O'May bridge -- Edinburgh Castle and fountain in Princes' Street Gardens-- Craigievar Castle -- and the always impressive Dunnator Castle (though the cuz's spent as much time watching all the little bunnies in their cliffside warrens as touring the ancient castle grounds! :-)

In a couple of weeks Kate Watkins, a friend from Seattle, will be up for a few days before attending a Pepperdine Summer school course in London -- we'll see which sites she's up for...

Travels with Barb and Amie

Myself, Barb and Amie at Loch Leven Castle, Kingdom of Fife.

So Barb has been at Aberdeen for a 6 month research leave from her Ph.d. program in the States. This means that Barb is on the fast track to see as much of Scotland as possible.

I have a car.

This means that I am Barb's friend.

And Barb always agrees with me. This means she is my friend.

(Running joke from a first-Thursday dinner, when Carrie stated that she agreed completely with what I had just said, to which I jokingly replied "And that is why you are my friend." At which point Barb makes the under-her-breath-yet-somehow-audible comment "Note to self -- if you want to remain Laurie's friend, always agree with her in public.")

Waiting for the ferry at Loch Leven.

It has been great fun touring about with Barb -- along with another friend, Amie, and recently Kristianna as well, we've explored the kingdom of Fife (I don't know why the county containing St. Andrews gets to refer to themselves as a kingdom...) -- taken the boat out across Loch Leven to the castle that once held Mary Queen of Scots --

scrambled up the Linn of Dee -- and we will travel over to the Western Isles in early July.

He is Risen!

Easter was WONDERFUL this year! Lent had been a rewarding journey personally, so I was looking forward to Easter Sunday.

The Beckers rode their bikes out on Saturday (Scot and Carrie and sons Matthew and Adam), when I abandoned them to go to a "fancy dress" dinner party in my "lbd" (little black dress).

Easter morning Beckers, Barb and I had a special brunch (portabello mushroom Strata recipe from Macrina's bakery), then off to worship in the sunshine by the riverside, followed by hot cross buns in the church halls before the Easter service at East Church. I gave the childrens' message, as I've been doing every since Lent began. Talking about Jesus' hands being shown to Thomas, we began by finding the man in the church with the biggest hands -- much to the delight of his son Matthew, Scot won that one ...

And to top it off, we celebrated Easter lunch out in the garden!
A feast of roast lamb, roasted veggies and other greek delicacies --

Christos anesti! Alithos anesti!

After a river walk with the Brodies -- with the added excitement of a dried bramble thorn going all the way through one of the fingers of Scot's abnormally large hands,

it was coconut cake with raspberries and lemon cream filling and white chocolate frosting (another Macrina's creation!).

Haddows (Mary and Steven -- below -- Mary is minister of the East Church) joined us, and friends the Mechies came up the road as well -- we laughed SO HARD (deciding at one point that my super power is the "eleventh hour flash of brilliance").

The frivolity came to a halt when I suggested to the Mechies that maybe we should call it a night since the boys were trying to go to sleep in the other room -- only I didn't say that. I said "I think it's time that you all leave." The Scottish don't -- as a general rule -- kick people out of their homes. It was one final source of great amusement before they did, in fact, make their exit.

(I saw Christine Mechie at the supermarket two days ago. She brought it up again -- with a laugh - and the comment "we'll be eating off of that one for a long time...")

The rest of us finished our evening with a wee dram of whisky and a discussion of standing stones, among other things that we love about Scotland. It was a fine day.

Spring Walks

So let's throw in a few other walks along the way this past spring ...


One near Aboyne with the Brodies, Fiona (scientist posted out in Nepal), and Barb (friend from Uni.).

Now -- you'd think from these photos that we always have blue skies here in Kincardineshire. And for the most part this winter that has been true. Seattle has had it much worse.

But wait for it...

June feels like March ... with more clouds ... sigh.

Another walk -- this one up Scolty on Easter Monday.

My cottage converts effortlessly (hmmm) into a youth hostel! We had a family of 4 and 2 girlfriends from Uni. spending the night on Easter. I walked up the road and slept at the Brodies...

Back: Scot and Matthew. Front: Aimie, Barb, me, Adam and Carrie.

This is my buddy Matthew ...

Oh -- and Birthdays too!

I did manage to turn 40 this year! Spent the birthday weekend in London with my sister Sherry and my Mom and Dad -- we had incredible weather and a fantastic time together!

Some highlights: "Bangers and Mash" for birthday dinner at the Windsor Castle pub in Nottinghill. ** The really, really lovely and thoughtful cards and gifts my brothers and their families sent over for me ** Walking all over London in amazing weather, along with the views from the "London Eye" ** Seeing "Lion King" (well, maybe only a highlight for me...) ** River cruise on a hot day down to Greenwich ** Having that much time with my sister and my folks.

Pub Grub on my 40th!!

Mom enjoying a bit of special attention ...

Weddings, Weddings!!

Traveled to France in April to celebrate Teresa and Fabrice's wedding -- the French put on a pretty impressive day! It was especially wonderful to see family there. Also traveled to London in May for Lance and Claire Brodie's wedding -- a great weekend staying with Leanne Banks and Jeanine King in turn...

Distracting Mike up in the hills...

Bryonie and I had the job of keeping Mike busy on the day of his surprise ceilidh -- we walked two corbits (those are hills over 2500 ft. high but not quite 3000 ft. so not Munros). Glorious day...

Ceilidhs ...

There have been three ceilidhs since last we wrote. .. a Youth Fundraising ceilidh (above, in March) for the trip to Seattle this fall ... A surprise Birthday Ceilidh for Mike Scott's 60th birthday (below, end of May) ... and a local ceilidh for St. Ternan's Day. That was just last weekend -- couldn't hold a candle to the church organized ceilidhs, and so it doesn't warrant any photos!

Mike Scott dancing with his wife Margaret ...

With Cate Mechie, who was 8 or 9 when I moved home to Seattle...

Mike surrounded by his kids and grandkids!

Wildlife...

Every walk introduces new sights -- this day in March it was two Pheasant cocks fighting -- another day a massive brown dog was off leash and coming straight toward me up the path -- it wasn't until it finally veered off 30 yards in front of me that I realized it was a deer! See alot of those and bunnies of course too...

Staying Put in March

So did I mention we were still getting snow in March? Here are a few photos of the cottage (mine is the smaller one to the left. The house on the right is my landlady, Ann.) That's my "study window" in the photo on the right --the bay window that overlooks the garden and fields. And below are a few shots from one of my Scolty walks in March ...

On to Barcelona

After the symposium it was on to Barcelona for a brief visit to cousin Teresa and her husband Fabrice.

They were super hosts to myself, Fabrice's Mom Monique (did I mention that Fabrice is French? As is his mother...) and my Aunt Audrey! (She's not french, but she was visiting.)

Treated to a Paella dinner!

With Audie at our first stop, a bar with views over the city!