A Gathering of the Clan

Representatives of the McPherson clan have gathered here at my prairie homestead for the observance of a Scots Thanksgiving ... well, maybe not a 'Scots Thanksgiving' ... because ... well, you know ... they don't really celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday in me homeland ...


Nana was the first to arrive, so I granted the family matriarch an audience; she was quite taken by my charm, talent, and good looks. With my brindled locks and a finely appointed kilt, Nana believes me to be the handsomest wee laddie she knows this side of the highlands. We spent many an afternoon partaking in some of *her* favorite activites ... belly rubbing and ear scratching ... mine ... not hers ...

Opa was next on deck. He was greeted him with the same warm enthusiasm as Nana had been. I was quite pleased that he made his journey ... as it was high time this Scotsman met that Welshman. Opa brought along his guitar and the house has been filled with our beloved Celtic tunes.



A bit o' the guitar bug has rubbed off on JB. Under the watchful eye of our Opa, the whelp has taken up the guitar. Jeff has spent a lot of time around here these many days and is learning at the knee of an accomplished guitar man. It's wonderful to see the two of them together ... as one passes on his passion to the next in line ...


Uncle Buck arrived on Thankgiving day and brought the clan circle ever closer to closing. With Aunty Roma on the phone from San Diego, the circle was in fact, complete ...

With the McPhersons and Clarks on hand, we shared a lovely dinner with a fine gathering of ten ... turkey, stuffing, et al.

The Hallowed Cluny ...

It appears that mother is quite fond of Halloween. Apparently, it’s one of her favorite times of the year. Yeah, I know … the Kachina dolls on the mantle have been replaced with gourds and ghosts … and there’s that freaky cat standing on the hearth. I’ll fess up ... I gave that cat the stinkeye more than once … only to discover, it wasn’t real.

There has also been much discussion about dressing up and what Mom will ‘be’ for Halloween. Uhm, yeah ... No one cared to let me know that *I* would be called upon to participate in the whole production ...

One day, you’re just a guy, standing around, minding your own business … and the next thing you know you’re the Crocodile Hunter’s sidekick …

Autumn Leaves ...

I have only recently discovered the joys of fallen leaves in the back yard ... the promise that lay in the crunchiness of the leaves makes my little Scottish heart sing.

Today was the day we raked the leaves ... or rather ... mother raked the leaves and I ran like a blue streak with a stream of leaves trailing behind me. Followed very quickly by barking at the rake and scattering the leaf piles ...

And then mummy made the purely amateur mistake of putting her work gloves down ... good luck getting that glove back, Ma ...

The Walking Dude

As we've discussed a few times before, Mom and I are champion walkers. To date, we have walked more than a million steps since July, taken end to end, we have walked so far we have left Nebraska.

Now we just need to find our way back ...

Brown-Eyed Handsome Man ...

A couple of weeks ago, I took the 'rents and visited the farm to meet the new puppies.

Just the other day, Sheryl sent Mummy a picture of one the babies we met that day. Mum is quite taken with the baby. And although he's a fine looking lad, he's no match for uhm ... this guy, here on the right ...

I'll let you be the judge ... You tell me, who's the cutest ???

I Dream of Scotland

Although I'm certain I'm in Nebraska, the last fews days make a wee lad feel like he's returned to his highland home on the moors. It's been rainy, drizzly, wet, and cold ...

If I didn't know any better ...

Well now ... this is new ...

It was a lovely summer and we were looking forward to beautiful Autumn. When this happened ... It's only the 10th of October ... and most of the leaves are still on the maple trees ... So when Mom opened up that back door, I stepped onto the deck rather trepidatiously ... it took more than a little convincing for me to go out and do my thing ...

We'll just consider this my pictorial essay on a Snow Day ...