SOUTH QUEENSFERRY

We drove out to South Queensferry to hike on a trail alongside the Firth with a good view of the bridges. This is  The Forth Bridge, a train bridge built in the 1800's, but it still looks very impressive.

You can see the Queensferry Crossing in the background. We can even see it from near our home.

The village of South Queensferry is very quaint. Unlike Edinburgh, they keep their red phone booth painted!

This is a street in Edinburgh, taken fromt he bus. I thought the clouds were especially pretty. 

With the bin workers on strike, but city is looking pretty dirty!

This is Dumbartin Castle. We stopped to see it when we went on an errand for the mission office, checking out a flat.

We took Aaron out to lunch one day.

Edinburgh by bus is still the best way to see it, even though we can drive again now. Charles had a really hard time passing the driving test. They make it very difficult to get a UK drivier's license.

This is Princes Street Gardens. It was interesting to watch the gardener/artist working on the flower beds. He had to lay on a ladder to keep from stepping on any of the flowers.

Katy keeps us updated with pictures of this little guy, who we haven't met yet. 

She also sent this picture Addy made out of dog fur from their dog haircuts. I think it looks very realistic!

I love this beautiful picture Kelsey sent us from Madelyn's blessing day. I wish we could have been there! I love the setting she chose- at the temple. Very sweet.

Here is the group of indoor kickball players from FHE. I barely escaped serious injury when a ball hit me in the head. Fortunately, I somehow got my arm up in time, but it knocked my fitbit off!

 

AUGUST- BIRTHDAY ETC.

We went to the Royal Mile Saturday, hoping to see some street acts from the Fringe Festival.

Charles gave me a nice little celebration for my birthday.

It's crazy in town this month. Every time we go, there are more people.

Here is view from the top of the bus.

We only saw one streeet performer, but he was pretty good at juggling with fire.

 

More of August

It seems ike we are scaling down the cows. It's just so much easier! This one is at Gullane Beach. We rode the bus over there.

Last time we went was a cold, windy day, but this was a nice warm one, iwth people out enjoying the sun. It was only warm by Scotland standards, but not by California standards.

Our friend, Andrew, who moved back home to Romania, is meeting with the missionaries there.

Charles is having some trouble passing the driving test, so we enlisted the help of our friend Andrea. She is very patient and happy to help us out.

We played Ultimate Spoons for the FHE activity. It got pretty wild!

This is a beautiful picture of Kelsy with Madelyn.

Evan is almost 18, and quite a handsome boy. Gunner likes posing too!

WE missed Avery's baptism,, but we're so happy she chose to do it!

Bella, first day of school.

Tessa, first day of homeschool Kindergarten.

Lucas is having homeschool preschool. Abby is very ambitious!

Grandson, Owen, on his blessing day.

Katy and Paul have quite a posterity already! This is a picture of family who joined Kelsey and Jake on Madelyn's blessing day. 

 

AUGUST second week

I love the clouds here. They are so pretty!

We spent some time in the city, and it's getting really crowded because of the Fringe and the Military Tattoo. August is a busy month here!

There are shows of every kind going on in every venue in the city.

FHE this week was board games, ping pong and snacks. It was pretty low-key, but seemed to be enjoyed by all who came.

It's fun to see the activity on the canal. We walk by it often and recently we've seen canal boats, kayaks, and swans.

Evan is almost 18, and quite a handsome boy!

Audra's first day of high school and seminary!

Kelsey with her baby, Madelyn.