Spring is in the air finally

There is a bird feeder near one of the cottages. Since most of the snow has melted this week, there are more and more birds around. Peter and I stood for only 3-4 minutes watching and saw at least 10 birds. These were so colorful and pretty against the grey, dreary backdrop.
Peter took this one near the big garden. The plants are starting to bud and you can see more and more flowers popping up through the ground. The garden is really big, and produces alot of the veggies and fruits that we serve here to guests. Margaret, from Ireland, is a great cook and makes all her own jams and things. We eat very well...

ice and snow...

This is one of my favorite pictures, ducks walking on the ice! There are so many birds and animals becuase our snow is so late this year. When you walk outside or go for a run, you can run on fresh snow and hear birds chirping. It is really an odd combination.
These icicles were over 10 feet long and took ages to melt. At one point the biggest crashed down and luckily no one was below!

a pretty spot

This is one of my favorite spots. This is just down a hill from the main house. There are always animal tracks and bird here to watch. I can't wiat for the summer. It is a peaceful spot.

Things are going well here. We leave tomorrow to go to Surrey to Pierrepont, the center we were at in 2003 doing NETS. There is a team conference and we get to go. I am looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting the other Ellel teams.

I am still enjoying the office work. It has been very busy getting ready for things here, so I am really looking forward to having a bit of a holiday. I am sure we will show you pictures when we return.

God is really doing alot here. We have had two different people who were healed physically recently! One has been to the doctor and he was amazed...so exciting!

wishful thinking

this is NOT what our sky looks like now. It has been grey and overcast for weeks, it seems. Aside from the snow (which we enjoyed) the weather for the past month has been horrid! Rainy and dreary. This sky is record that there has been days of blue here, rather than grey...it is just few and far between. Peter took this picture whilst on a bike ride.

whilst...who uses that word? British people do..alot. takes a while to get used to, but it kinda grows on you!!!
Hope your sky is blue and cheerful!

sad news

Tragedy! Our snow is dissappearing...Peter and I went out for a run today and the snow has turned to slush. And the snow man we built lost its head...very, very sad.

But, on the other hand, flowers are pushing through and starting to bud. Who knows if we will have more snow.

We are enjoying things here; the days are getting very busy with different courses and retreats. I have worked in the office for 3 weeks now and am getting more comfortable with my tasks. Our team is a bit short staffed, so we all do a bit of everything...cleaning, wash-up, organizing, answering phones....anything! If anyone is bored and wants to come help, just let me know! :}

Peter's camera work

These are two of Peter's handiwork with the camera.

The first is Ben Rinnes, the tallest point near to us. It is usually covered in snow. One of the guys who works here lives on the base of Ben Rinnes, and during our recent snowfall, could barely get to work.

The bottom one is a view from a hill near to us, facing Glen Livet.

Auchodun Castle

Erica came to visit!! We met Erica at NETS in England before we got married. She has become one of my closest friends, and I was so excites when she took the bus up from Manchester to visit!. The three of us went to this castle ruin about 6 miles from Blairmore. Becuase the restoration work was not done, we could not get very close, but is was beautiful, set apart on a hill.

let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!

For the last week, we have had so much snow!! It has snowed on and off continuously. Peter and I had a chance to go sledding and we also built a snowman! I have not seen this much snow since I was a child.

This is a small building in front of the main house, built in 1880. There is a small bench and windows all around for a beautiful place to sit...in the summer!