Free Range

A Quaint Scottish Highlands B&B On Wheels

by Pamela on May 1, 2012

In Aviemore, in Inverness-shire (that’s in the Highlands of Scotland) you’ll find a yurt, a bothy and a Beer Moth — all three of which are places to stay on the grounds of Inshriach House, and are available on what looks like the UK equivalent of HomeAway, Canopy And Stars. They’re all tiny cozy accommodations, but the Beer Moth — a room built in the bed of an antique fire truck — is an especially interesting home base for your Highlands hill walking adventure. It only sleeps two, starting at £60/night — two night minimum.

All photos via Canopy and Stars.

(via Laughing Squid)

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They Grow Up So Fast

by Pamela on April 23, 2012

in Family,Fun & Games,Media,Photography

Dutch filmmaker and photographer Frans Hofmeester documented the growth of his daughter, Lotte (12), and his son, Vince (9), from baby-hood to present day via the touching time-lapse videos below.

Lotte Time Lapse: Birth to 12 years in 2 min. 45. from Frans Hofmeester on Vimeo.

Vince Time Lapse: Birth to 9 years in 2 min. from Frans Hofmeester on Vimeo.

I especially love the way the boy makes faces and puts toys in front of the camera during a certain time period, while the girl doesn’t. Stereotypical, but definitely true in my household — the boy part, anyway.

(via LaughingSquid)

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Always A Parent

April 18, 2012 Austin

I lay by the side of the road, deep gash in my knee and bike on top of me. My first thought is of my 3-year-old son, who has been riding with me. I remember at one point trying to get myself upright, struggling for breath a little as I was contorted and trying to [...]

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Adventures In Raw Milk

March 17, 2012 Food & Drink

When we decided to move here from NYC, we made the conscious decision to skip the suburbs. For various reasons, the city wasn’t practical for us, so we decided to take it all the way and live in the country. Yes, it’s a bit different than living in Brooklyn. One of the advantages, I hoped [...]

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2 Acres = Self-Sufficiency Potential

March 16, 2012 Current Affairs

One Block Off the Grid

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Difficult Ends, Fresh Beginnings

March 1, 2012 Family

It’s now been a little over two weeks since my father passed away. The little things are the most heartbreaking. I pulled out an onion to make dinner the other night, and recalled that I’d bought the bag of onions for the week I planned to spend cooking for my father. As I had headed [...]

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Scenes From a Terminal Illness

January 31, 2012 Family

At 3:30 a.m., there’s no problem getting an elevator quickly at MD Anderson Cancer Center. I walked through the empty hallways with a Celsius thermometer in my pocket, not knowing anything at all about the Celsius scale except that 38 degrees marked the point at which my Dad had to go to the emergency room. [...]

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Finding Beauty In Unusual Places

January 10, 2012 Design

I mentioned before the gorgeous artwork on the walls at MD Anderson Cancer Center. I’ve frequently been captivated by this painting of Enchanted Rock as I’ve negotiated the hallway outside Elevator F. So I thought I’d share it in these virtual pages so you can absorb its peaceful aura. Even if you’re fortunate enough to [...]

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Alternative Living Spaces: School Bus

January 5, 2012 Alternative Living Spaces

I’ve written before about folks adopting untraditional living situations to find balance in their lives. Here’s another interesting example: an Austin couple who deliberately lives in a renovated school bus called “Rosie,” which is parked in a friend’s back yard. (Pictures)

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Day By Day

December 10, 2011 Family

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston is a surreal place. Walking in the main entrance, it’s not unusual to see two patients chatting in their lobby, each with their own rolling IV pole connected to an arm. More than once, I’ve seen someone walking out of the parking garage, rolling along an IV pole with [...]