This is February?!?

Scolty and Clach na Ben from the Hill O'Fare.

We've been having sunny days -- temperatures of nearly 50 F / 9 C! Amazing -- so I've splurged a bit on the walks today and yesterday -- taking the long route up and around Scolty yesterday, and today walking up the Hill O'Fare (1545 ft.) which is just to the northeast of Banchory.I'll share some photos while I catch you up on the rest of life...

Bothy on the northeast side of the Hill O'Fare.

Sunday, took advantage of the student discount to hear a wonderful string quartet at the Woodend Barn -- the Navarra quartet. The violinists and viola player all from the Netherlands -- they named themselves after a bottle of wine enjoyed at a birthday party for the the first violinist!

I'm continuing to enjoy the evening dinner / bible studies with the 20's group -- we are in Hebrews, which is handy, as the first four exegetical articles that I'm due to write for the Presbyterian Outlook are in Hebrews!

Next week I am down to Durham from the 18 - 26 -- seminar paper on that first Monday is exactly on target for my current research -- get to stay with friends Sarah and Andy in York for the weekend -- second paper is on ecology and eschatology, presented by my secondary supervisor -- and then an overnight in Edinburgh on the way back home to visit friends. Doesn't get much better than that!

One of my favourite signs around here!

Of course, had I paid any attention to it,

I would have missed a lovely walk!

Happy Birthday, Mo!

The results are official -- with 100% of precincts reporting, your generous spirit and great sense of humour has resulted in a landside decision for your re-election as the incumbent spouse to my brother and sister / aunt / Mom / daughter to the rest of his crazy family!

Happy Birthday, Maureen -- glad to see you looking so thrilled.

We are too! Love, Laurie

Lent: Journey back to Pleasure

Lent begins today, of course. I love Lent. Advent used to be my favourite season in the Christian year, but Lent has supplanted it. I like this season of focus -- abstinence -- prayer -- getting beyond so much self -- hoping for grace to transform the deep places.

The first two days of this week felt like I was getting ready for a long trip -- Lent and holidays are similar that way -- I clear the decks as much as possible so that when I return, I'm not terribly behind on everything. And since the practices this Lent are shaping up to support a more focused and prayerful dedication in two specific areas (the next phase of thesis writing & foundational work in our Childrens' ministry), there were a number of details to be settled in the other arenas of life in preparation: house and cupboards and fridge cleaned out -- the second tier "to-do's" done -- a post Easter family trip to finish arranging -- Durham travel to be booked -- a "fat Tuesday" serving of chocolate log at the Black Faced Sheep ...

With Lent just around the corner, there was an article in the weekend edition of the Times that caught my eye -- it was titled "Abstinence: the science of pleasure." The article itself wasn't so interesting -- too much science and not enough pleasure! But it reminded me to be intentional rather than habitual in my fast this year -- to pay attention so that the "how" and the "why" of fasting held together...

One Catholic prayer for Ash Wednesday speaks about "the quiet remembrance of our need for redemption" -- this is why some sort of fast has, each year, become central to my lenten observance. In my experience, lenten fasts are relentless -- 40+ days of the quiet, physical reminder that I am in need of redemption -- liberty from the ways of self, and the ways of the world.

"Fasting is the amplification of prayer. It clears our perception from the confusion of worldliness. It reminds us that our souls utterly depend on the Word of God: not just Scripture, but the whole ministry of the Holy Spirit. And so we happily fast, because fasting is the way to live abundantly and in liberty."

And just a few minutes ago I was reminded of one reason that I choose to fast over the course of Lent. (It's easy to forget, especially since I'm a bundle of food cravings during the day -- the dangers of desk work in my own home.) A few minutes ago, I was warming my hands on a mug of Miso soup -- which was such a pleasure, both to hold and to sip.

This in turn enlivens me to the other pleasures in this wee cottage that I pass over, like taking pleasure from the sight of my fire springing back to flame after I've re-opened the draft -- or the pleasure of 4 clear glass votive candle holders arranged in a simple line across the centre of my dining room table. Not to mention the pleasure -- at the outset of a lenten journey -- of tasting a bit of the fruit of my destination: redemption from the numbness of excess.

Ridge Walking from Finzean ...

Bryonie and I set out late morning to take a short walk along the ridge of low hills between the Feugh valley and the valley of the Cattie Burn (high point is Tom's Cairn, below, 310 metres), then grab lunch at Finzean Farm Shop.

Well ... ...

The day was so gorgeous, and the walking so great that we decided to carry on along the whole ridge, down to the shooting greens and along the Dee to home. 9+ miles later, we're having the last of the Turkey soup at my cottage before driving my car back to our starting point and ending the afternoon enjoying a chocolate torte and coffee at the farm shop!

Days like this in great company, in an incredible countryside, with a friend up for an extended hillwalking adventure -- makes it hard to imagine ever leaving this part of the world. Here are a few shots from the day (most will expand if you click on them).

Trail from the top of Corsedardar hill over the ridge to Tom's Cairn.

Potarch Bridge in the Valley of the Cattie Burn (east of us).



Right: Clachnaben in the centre far distance with the Feugh Valley (west of us) in the foreground.

Timer Shot, first try ...

Close... but not quite fast enough ...

Middle distance -- that's the ticket!

Shuna waiting for us at the gate when we decided to carry on. The photo is looking across lower slope of Glack's Hill (behind the nearest clump of gorse on the left) to the Shooting Greens (far bump of trees with the clear cut out of them, still on the left). Scolty is obscured beyond the Shooting Greens, and Auchattie is on the far side of Scolty!

Snow frozen on the side of one of the Scots Pine.

Finishing out the walk alongside the Dee -- Yesterday was the first day of the salmon fishing season -- note the hardy fisherman on the left bank!

Ice on the Dee.

Ann Forecasts Snow...

and I've learned to listen to Ann (my landlady).

Sure enough, it is swirling snowflakes outside my window -- brisk and wonderful walk up Scolty -- the wildlife are out when it snows, hawk and birds and a couple of deer today! -- so great to be enjoying that without the monster cold that nearly laid me out the first half of this week -- Monday and Tuesday were dire. Although I can declare the year of soup (2007) a success.

Why? Because I've been able to improvise 3 different turkey soups from the stock made on Tuesday after roasting an 8 pound bird on Monday (experiment to see if it is more economical that way. It isn't.) But roasted turkey and roasted veggies and homemade stock for soups is wonderful comfort food this time of year. [You may note the inconsistency between 2007 (year of soup) turkey victory and the fact that a mere 4 posts past I declared 2008 the year of vegetarian recipes. Sigh. All things in moderation...]

Wednesday opened with clear skies -- couldn't resist taking the top of Scolty, views from Lochanagar all the way to the North Sea -- even though it meant hard work for the sinuses and being a bit late for Peter who called in to share his Florence sketches before moving to London. Wonderful works -- it's always so fun when Pete's home. I'll miss our conversation about art and life and Sweeney Todd. And as Peter leaves, Nicola is home from Nigeria -- also calls in on Wed. to share stories. Amazing the work being done in the health clinic she was visiting there. It was a balm to hear good news stories out of Africa in the midst of the horrible events in Kenya just now.

Yesterday was Pauline seminar day at Francis Watson's home (where we are meeting during the winter) -- great discussion -- and other than that, things are pretty quiet, slipping into February -- looking forward to an early Lent -- and enjoying the snow.

Happy Birthday Patrick!

Happy Birthday, Patrick -- Spelling Bee Champion of the World!

I wish I could have been there to cheer you on!

I love you, Auntie Laurie