How Long Does It Take To Dry Out a Tent in Scotland?

Here is our tent, set up in the backyard, trying to dry out.

Here is our tent, getting rained on every day.

Here is the cover for our tent. It got relatively dry on the clothesline.
I brought it in after it sat out in the one day of sunshine,
in hopes it would dry out the rest of the way in the house.
The cords were still damp.

After the next day of sunshine I brought the tent in to dry.
I wasn't going to risk my good fortune of a mostly dry tent.
After two days it still wasn't dry.
We put it back outside today, in the sun and the breeze,
hoping to get it dry.
We brought it back in a short time later,
when the clouds started rolling in.
Maybe someday it will be dry!

On another note, Jake is doing alright. He is struggling with the decisions he has to make. Now that he has had a second seizure, it increases his chances of having another one by 70 - 80%. Poor kid. I wish I was there to make things better!! Ha ha, if that would actually work I would be on that plane in a second! Since there is nothing I can do I guess I will stay in Scotland.

Jake - Round 2

Well I got the phone call I was hoping to never get again. Jake had another seizure yesterday. The phone rang and it said INTERNATIONAL on the caller I.D. I assumed it was one of my kids. I said hello and the voice on the other end says,

"Is this Mrs. Farnsworth?"

"Yes, it is."

"This is the Orem Fire and Ambulance. We have your son Jake with us. We want to ask you a few questions."

My heart sank, "Did he have another seizure?"

"Yes."

Aw heck! Jake was at UVU doing some Surveying for his Surveying Class (as in engineering surveying) and had the seizure outside on a sidewalk.

This is what your face looks like when it hits the pavement!

I don't really have any of the details, since he doesn't remember anything. Poor kid. We had just celebrated his 6 month anniversary of him being seizure free on May 1st. Thankfully I have my ANGEL OF A DAUGHTER to call on. I mean every word of that. I called Snortney up as soon as I hung up with the paramedic and told her Jake had a seizure. The first words out of her mouth were, "I'm on my way." I know it can't be easy for her to be "mini me" with two little kids but I am sooooo very grateful she is there for her brother. She has always been very protective (sometimes translates into bossy) of her brother. She dropped off her little guy at his other grandmother's house and took the baby with her to the E.R.

Jake, once again, can't drive until he sees the Neurologist. Snort has been trying to get an appointment set up so he and she can go meet with the doctor. The hospital didn't run any test on Jake since he had that battery of tests done recently with the last seizure. Jake said he probably got lax in taking care of himself since he hadn't had any seizures in 6 months. This kid, I am afraid, is going to have to be very careful in taking care of himself. He has a girlfriend so he has been staying out late with her, has an early morning (7 a.m.) class and was working more hours. The cows have been getting out, causing him problems and I suppose the jet lag from his trip here didn't help matters either. Court is taking over the responsibility of the cows until he gets on his feet again. Read her blog - she went swimming in the canal trying to get the two bulls back where they belong! What a COWGIRL! Anyway, I don't know what the outcome for Jake is going to be. I am sure Snort will keep everyone posted. I cannot express deeply enough my gratitude for my girl. I would be insane over here if I didn't have her picking up my duty as a mother! Bless her!

This pose is just for me! Jake always seems to have a sense of humor no matter how sucky his situation is. I think he should have drawn an "X" over both his eyes to make the picture complete. Say a little prayer for him, please.

Surviving the Storm - Corrour Bothy

The powers to be decided that the YM camp out was a go. They sat in the car for an hour or so waiting for the rain to stop blowing sideways. Set the tent up in the rain. Slept pretty good. Hiked a hike that was supposed to be maybe 6 miles . . . ended up about 15 or 16. Hiked through some sun, rain, bogs, rocks and hills. Survived with a few blisters and some sore muscles. Got home around 10:30 p.m.

I took this picture yesterday when the rain started.
You really can't tell how bad it was coming down.
It was raining in sheets, sometimes sideways.

Here is our tent trying to dry out.
Every piece was soaking wet, although Bud stayed dry in it.

Now I know why Scottish people have clotheslines -
to dry out their tents!

Bud found me some pictures on the internet of where they went.


They hiked to the hut in the back ground.
Enlarge the picture to see it better
It is called Corrour Bothy. They crossed at the bridge.

A picture of the bridge over the River Dee.
This is in the Highlands near Ballater.

Corrour Bothy
A bothy is a sheep herders hut.

P.S. Bud got an email today (5/18) saying the hike was actually 20 miles! Bud also told me I could tell you that one kid from Edinburgh got to the top and couldn't go any further. He laid down and started crying. Turns out he had been in the hospital for meningitis two weeks earlier. Mountain rescue had to come and get him. Two other leaders also had to be helped down with the help of mountain rescue.

Camping with the Young Men

Bud is supposed to go camping tonight with the Young Men in our ward (church). All 3 of them! It is actually a multi-stake activity. He just sent me this email -

Three weeks of rain set to fall in just 36 hours

Weather warning for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire

By Lynn Kernan
Published: 15/05/2009

WEATHER WARNING: Rain was set to batter Aberdeen.

A SEVERE weather warning was today issued for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

Up to three weeks’ worth of rain was predicted to fall in the Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire area in just 36 hours in some parts of the area.

And gale-force gusts are expected to batter the Grampian region.

The Met Office today warned persistent rain would fall across the Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire with places like Ballater and Braemar to be worst affected.

Forecaster Nigel Bolton said: “Eastern parts of Scotland are to get some very wet weather indeed.

“Not only are we looking at heavy rainfall but also strong winds as well with gusts up to gale force in parts of Aberdeenshire.”

The weather alert was issued today warning that outbreaks of rain could be “severe” and “persistent”.

Parts of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire were forecast to be hit with up to 60mm of rain.

Winds were expected to reach up to 50mph, while the temperatures are to remain low at around 8C to 10C (46F to 50F).

The wet weather was to replace a dry, warm spell that Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire has enjoyed over the past few weeks with temperatures hitting 18C (64.4F).

Mr Bolton said the UK was to be hit by the wet spell and expected it to last until tomorrow.

“The whole of the UK is very unsettled at the moment,” he said.

“The rain will continue through the whole day and overnight and it doesn’t look as though it is going to stop raining until the end of tomorrow.”

They are supposed to go to Ballater. One of the hardest hit areas. Hmmm I wonder if it will get canceled. Whether it does or not won't affect me . . . I will be in my nice Sleep Number bed, sleeping blissfully! ( I hope they cancel! I'm not that cold hearted!)

New Tooth

Well my little pudgy granddaughter has her 1st two teeth.
She got the first one the day before she left Scotland,
had the second one when she got home.

The only problem is that she loves to chew on her fingers and thumb.
She has bitten herself several times
and can't quite figure out why it hurts!

I probably should let Snort blog about this,
but I am giving her first choice
of all our vacation pictures to blog about.
She claims that she is working on one right now.
Can't wait!

Swine Flu

It looks like this poor pig on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh

is worried about getting Swine Flu!

A Few More of My Favorite Things . . .

I know I have used that title before, but it is still true!

Jake at Loch Ness

Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness

Such a happy baby! I love that face!

A Highland bull!

Time for a bedtime story with grandpa.

Siblings!!

Cannons - the favorite thing of the trip for a boy.
Stirling Castle

We have worn him out . . .

and her too!

A cold and windy day at Dunnottar.

Snortney at Dunnottar

Jake on the ruin wall at Dunnottar.

Dunnottar in the distance.

Chillin' at the Paris airport.

Stone Circle at Easter Aquhorthies

Jake sacrificed at the stone circle!

The men in my life.

The stone circle at Loanhead of Daviot

The Pictish Maiden Stone

Do you see a trend? A climber!

She loves her uncle.

Happy dad and baby.

Elgin Cathedral

Like Mother Like Daughter!
Snort hates when someone says that!

She hates the British baby food! Bleck!!
Cauliflower, cheese, potato, carrot, and peas.
It stunk!!

I love having my little family visiting in Scotland.
I just wanted to show you a few of my favorite people!

P.S. Bud thought I should add some pictures of the real Highland cows.

They are like the sheep dog of cows!

The babies sure are cute though.