What I've been up to

I haven't been much in the mood to make blog posts lately or in general do much communication with the non-Iona world...this is due to a combination of being busy, traveling, feeling tired, and still very much searching for my own rhythm in the new life I have here. Today, I thought I would catch you all up on what I have been busy with these past few weeks.

1) A trip to Tobermory has definitely been a highlight of my time on Iona so far! A group of us went to this little town on the far side of the Isle of Mull (Iona's neighbouring island). The day was filled with treats from the local chocolate shop, tea, and a delicious lunch out. It was also pretty exciting to go to the co-op (a 'large' grocery store) to stock up on favorite food items.

 Perhaps the best part of the day was just enjoying the beautiful scenery on the drive there...

And of course our sighting of a sea eagle was another exciting moment:

2) I also celebrated my birthday last month... marking the occasion with loved ones far away over the phone and internet and also spending time with new friends in the resident group.

Here is a sampling of some of the special gifts and cards I received. I felt very loved and appreciated- thank you everyone!

On the day of my birthday, the14th, the resident group headed to Camas, an Iona Community centre on the Isle of Mull. Camas is housed in old stone fishing/mining cottages tucked in a sheltered bay. Electricity is limited at Camas, so we shared a lovely candlelit supper together and gathered in front of the fire chatting and dramatically reading Winnie the Pooh.

3) We also went to Glasgow for 10 days of staff training. I brought my camera along, but never took it out of my suitcase so there are no pictures :(. But it was a really wonderful to be in the city again with the chance to enjoy many different types of food, buildings, people, and places. I ate Italian three times, fajitas twice, and a good amount of carrot cake. After 10 days though, I was really ready to go 'home' to Iona, to have my own little space, a sort of routine, and be once again amoung the sheep and the sea!

Sour Cream

Imagine if you will a plate of cheddar cheese and bacon perogies, a taco, nachos, or a quesadilla. Did you automatically picture the sour white delight alongside?

If you're like me, I suppose you're salivating right now. Sour cream is incredible!

Now imagine, if you will, a year without sour cream...sound nightmarish? I've lived it before when in spain/switzerland and now once again, it seems it is to be the condition of living in a foreign country. Knowing my past experiences with missing sour cream I had even prepared myself for that before leaving Canada. At one point my friend Jodi and I spoke about creating a going away party which was sour cream themed.

Yet, I did not expect my longing to come so quickly or intensly.

The lack of Iona sour cream became aparant to me on Monday after having made Russian beet borscht and then again last night upon trying to eat enchilladas. My longing for that cold, gelatinous, creamy sour dairy product was very intense. As in the past, cream cheese came into both meals as a very temporary substitute. But I will not rest with that...my sister has provided for me a homemade sour cream recipe and its making will be my next highly prioritized goal.