Don and I woke up surprisingly early (about 7:30) considering how late we went to bed (around 1). We emptied the dish drainer and dishwasher from our dinner party last night and shuffled around each other putting things away. Don put coffee on, got dressed, and went for the paper while I got stuck in to the Washington Post Sunday Magazine crossword for November 26th (thanks to Pat Kay). After Don returned, we both sat at the dining table (he with the Sunday paper) listening to choral music.
From where I sat, I could see out both the utility room window and the patio doors. As dawn crept closer and closer, the light on the hills grew pinker and pinker. Finally, I simply couldn't stand it any longer. I grabbed the camera and went out in my goonie (nightgown) and robe to snap this photo of the Melville Monument and the northwestern hills minutes before actual sunrise.
Sunrise was at 8:45 this morning and sunset will be at 3:30, fewer than 7 hours of daylight as we have a few more days before the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, especially at our lattitude. It's another cold but crisp day with much less frost than yesterday. Don and Gordon are at St. Fillans playing their Sunday game and have plans to get together tomorrow morning as well. I'm just enjoying a lazy Sunday after all the prep for last night.
We had a lovely evening last night. In answer to my query, my dear friend Karen sent me a tip for making the potato pancakes ahead of time and reheating them in a hot oven for 5 or 10 minutes just before serving. (The secret is to drain them on a wire rack over paper towels but not directly on the towels and to leave them on the rack through the waiting and reheating process, removing the towels before they go back in the oven, of course.) It worked a treat and gave me the chance to spend more before dinner time with our guests.
The food was very well received, beginning with Don's salmon mousse. Very little of the brisket was left (enough for Don to have a sandwich), not a single latke was left, there is a dollop of sour cream, some applesauce, some cranberry relish (which we'll refreeze and take to the Sutcliffes to go with the turkey at Christmas dinner), and 4 green beans! Everyone seemed to enjoy everything we served. (We skipped the cheese and biscuit course because, tradition or not, it would have been too much.) It was nice to repair to the sitting room for coffee, truffles, and brandy. As always with the 6 of us, there was much conversation and lots of hearty laughter.
Now I'm going to pour my second cup of coffee and look at the paper. We recently acquired a CD of the Dunedin Consort doing a variety of choral pieces which is delightful so that's what I'll put on the stereo.
Reunited at Prestwick Airport
Upon my return from Aix-en-Provence
About Me
- Lynn
- In September 2003, my husband, Donald, and I moved from Bethesda, Maryland, to the Highland village of Comrie in Perthshire. It was the fulfillment of a dream that we have nurtured since our first trip to Scotland in 1986. Beginning with October 1, 2003, each month I have written the Highland Line to family, friends, former colleagues, and acquaintances who were interested in following our adventure. Donald is a consultant/teacher in distance education and an avid golfer, although he hadn't played until he began taking lessons in 2003. I am a quilter, specializing in smaller art quilts rather than traditional bed-sized quilts, although I sometimes make one of those as well. We have four daughters back in the States and 6 grandchildren. We make two trips to the States each year to visit with them and as many friends and relatives as we can manage to squeeze in. Welcome to our dream come true.
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