5 Victorian (and other eras) Medicine Bottles

I developed a bit of a fascination with old medicine bottles whilst living in England. At car boot sales (a type of flea market, where people might literally sell things out of their car's boot/trunk), there would often be a few tables set up selling these bottles. Sometimes they'd be ridiculously priced, and I'd walk away, but often, late in the day, the vendors were eager to return home with empty trunks, and I'd be able to talk them into giving me a great deal. I'd talk up the colors, and how they catch the light- I made sure not to let on that I'd actually done a bit of research into the real value of these bottles, particularly in the States.  In England, and I'm sure most of Europe, there are mounds of these in buried tips (dumps/trash facilities), and many people, often retired men, "dig for bottles" as a hobby. Some do it for a bit of income, but most of the ones I ran into did it purely out of fun and a love for the adventure of treasure-seeking. They often were selling them mostly to make space for more!  Anyway, between a few car boot sale trips and a lucky snag of a milk-crate full of them at our auction house, I amassed a bit of a collection. I was just setting some of my favorites on a display shelf when the dogs barreled past in their quest for nuisance-ry (they wanted to bark at something in the backyard), and my bottles shook a bit more than I'm comfortable with, so clearly they will need to find a new spot in this house- one more sturdy and less trafficked by paws.
I was enjoying the sun beaming through them, though, so before I nestled them back in their temporary box I decided to take a few pictures.

This weekend we're hoping to do a bit more exploring, a lot more unpacking, and make some plans for next week, specifically picking up Watson (my Honda Element, in case you're not familiar with my brand of crazy)! I'm pretty excited to have him back, and I know the dogs will be as well!!
I hope your weekend's lovely- anything fun on your calendar?

5 Glen Affric, Scottish Highlands

The title is a bit of a lie. Glen Affric is huge, one of the largest glens in Scotland. and a well-known area for hikers, ramblers (which yes, is just another word for hikers everywhere but GB),  and people just wanting to get away and enjoy some Highland scenery. The lie is because these images are from just one short walk in Glen Affric, and a relatively easy one at that. We only went a few miles (I don't know the exact figure because at one point we left one trail for another without intending to), but that was the intention since we had Max with us.
We returned to an area we'd seen on our previous trip, Dog Falls, since we couldn't properly hike it then due to my having broken ribs at the time.  This time, though, I felt great, and I was excited to get deeper into the Glen and marvel at its beauty.

Our trail went up. Then further up. Then a bit more up.

 We stopped for a bit at this overlook for a break. I'm excellent at finding something I want to photograph right when I'm having trouble breathing from the exertion! 

"Everything the light touches..."

 Max, of course, found a cool spot in the shade. 

The River Affric.  Max gives it four cooled-off paws and a big slurpy drink of approval!

Glen Affric, situated just west of Loch Ness, is a part of the Highlands that has seen many battles and hid many an outlaw. The Caledonian pinewoods here are hundreds of years old, and to stand amidst them, looking out over views unchanged, is a remarkable way to feel simultaneously important and trivial in the course of history. This is exactly why Paul and I both recommend "sightseeing" beyond the cities and the monuments. Those are incredible, valuable experiences, but the true beauty of a place- especially one as seeped in mystery and legend as Scotland- is in its land.

4 Cawdor Castle: Over 600 Years of Mystery and Legend...

but the one of which you're thinking? Nope. Didn't happen.

Anyway. When we headed up to Scotland for one last stolen week away in September, Cawdor Castle was the only sight-seeing place I had on my "must" list. We'd missed it the last time we were in Moray, as it had already closed for the winter, when the family resumes residence.
Fun fact: In my googling just now, I've found that there is a long-going legal battle between the current Earl of Cawdor and his step-mother. Turns out the Dowager Countess (the step-mother) isn't interested in vacating her castle, despite this being a breach of tradition! (From what I've read, though, that tradition is becoming more contentious in recent generations. The whole people living longer, wanting to make a house a home thing. Can't say I'd give up Cawdor willingly!!)

Anyway. I was pretty upset that we didn't get to see "Macbeth Castle" last time, so one day we drove out to visit this tower house. It was dreary, rainy, and glum; classic Highland weather, but after we'd parked the blue skies came out!

Approaching Cawdor from the car park. Entry is a steep £9 per person, but of all the castles that are costly to enter, Cawdor does deliver, unlike others (ahem, Eileen Doanan).

  

The current structure was begun in the 14th century, with the unique feature of having been built around a tree. This tree's wizened trunk is still on display, and has been scientifically dated to have died in 1372, which was approximately when it was denied access to sunlight. Oops.

Clan Campbell claimed Cawdor (say that three times fast!) when twelve-year-old Muriel Calder, the daughter of the 7th Thane of Calder (an older spelling of Cawdor), was kidnapped by the 2nd Earl of Argyll and married to his twenty-year-old son, Sir John Campbell. Apparently this marriage proved harmonious, despite its rocky start.

Drawbridge and crest.

Like most castles that are still residences, photography is not permitted indoors.  There is a fairly comprehensive guidebook, which we of course purchased.  You can see a bit of an interior tour here, on the castle's website. The most interesting feature of Cawdor, by far, is how the old castle, with it's thick stone walls and small, oddly-angled rooms, has been turned into a current home. Tapestries still hang on the walls, both for decor and warmth, tartan rugs and furniture abound, centuries-old weapons act as wall decoration, and small, lumpy beds still beckon, untantalizingly. Artfully mixed in are armchairs, classic in design but clearly offering more lumbar support than their predecessors, family nicknacks that don't qualify as heirlooms (yet), and the occasional family photograph on a side table. The walls are still decorated with large, painted portraits of Campbells past and present. 

Lovely benches built into the garden wall during Victorian times.

The maze is quite fun, although the sudden rain made our traipsing turn into more of a hustle!

The river just below the castle (I believe the River Findhorn?) and the avenue of trees that wraps the maze. 

Footbridge leading from the castle to the Big Wood.

If you're ever up in the Highlands, and Moray specifically, be sure to get to Cawdor- it's a fascinating castle with varied enough history to satisfy anyone's taste!

Oh, and really, that should be "when", not "if". The Highlands should DEFINITELY be on your "places to go" list... after all, Moray is top of my "places to live" list!!