Hi! My name is Wendy, and I live in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia with Mr. C, my husband of twenty-eight years. Our ‘kids’ are two rescue dogs – a Chiweenie named Lauriston and a mixed breed named Ruby, who is blind.
I suppose you could say I live a rather quiet, simple life; small maybe, but meaningful. I am an introvert and a homebody by nature. I enjoy getting my hands dirty in the garden, reading, writing, photography, British television shows, and baking. Baking bread, teaching myself to sew, and learning to sail our 32′ sailboat are my current pursuits.
The one part of me that defies my typically reclusive nature is my desire to travel – especially to the place that holds my heart above everywhere else – Scotland.
The first time I visited Scotland, I fell deeply in love. Pure and simple. From the land to the history to the people, I connected with the country on a soul level. It really defies logic how passionately I feel. If I had to pack up and move anywhere else tomorrow, without hesitation, it would be there!
I began this blog in 2017 because I realized that I possess a fair amount of knowledge about Scotland that might interest other would-be travelers (actually, I just needed an outlet for all of my pent-up enthusiasm!) Mr. C and I have visited Scotland several times, and Lord willing, we will continue to do so. Because our trips are long, we can experience a great deal more than most tourist visits allow. We are especially partial to the off-the-beaten-path places you won’t find in your guidebooks.
In this blog, I mainly focus on Scotland (although I sometimes write about my other travels). I have developed an interest in Scottish history, so I always try to give my readers some background information when I write about historical sites. Topics I regularly write about include castles and estates, gardens, churches and cemeteries, stone circles, and historical/literary figures and their works. I love whisky, and sometimes I like to try my hand at cooking Scottish recipes, so you’ll find some of those things here too.
If you would like to get in touch with me, please email me at myplaidheart17@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you!
I’m so thrilled that you popped in today. I hope that you will visit again soon and that this blog will inspire your own travels in some way.
Cheers,
A few things to note:
All posts and photos (unless otherwise noted) are the property of me – Wendy – at My Plaid Heart. The use of either is prohibited without written request and approval.
All opinions are my own. I don’t get paid for any endorsements.
I do my very best to provide accurate information for my readers, but if you think you have come across a mistake or inaccuracy, please do not hesitate to let me know!
Wendy … Cheers to your love for the land. A question …. Any Scot in your heritage?
Thank you so much for following. 🙂 I’m not positive about the heritage. My mom was a Stewart but beyond her father’s name, I do not know anything. My father’s side hails from Northumberland, England, so it is possible from his side as well. I would love to do the ancestry thing and dig deeper.
So it seems it’s more your mere fascination with the land and culture … and that’s ok. 🙂
When I first saw your picture you resembled my ancestors, some from Bristol England and some Scotland ..William Farr! The Stewart last name is on my mothers side…I’d definitely suggest doing ancestry.com!!! Thank you for enlightening me that there’s a small town name FARR!
Thanks for your comment, Bernice! How interesting that you see a resemblance. I did finally do Ancestry a couple of years ago, and learned that I am 26% Scottish and also have 26% heritage from England/North Western Europe. 7% comes from Ireland.
There are two places in Scotland called Farr. The area we stayed in Strathnairn, and also a hamlet in Sutherland on the north coast!
Hi Wendy, your passion for Scotland leaves an impression that eventually you will be a guide for Scotland in true sense with a collection of beautiful pics with their tag line and description covering all the dimensions thereof.
Your awesome profile pics portrays you as a casual but dynamic traveler which must be aligned with your spirit to travel as an adventurer with a camera.
Wish you all the best!
That is so incredibly kind of you to say. What a nice complement! Thank you very much for stopping by and commenting. 🙂
Hello Wendy! Hope the passion of visiting the amazing places, clicking stunning pics, extracting the information from the history and disseminating the experience in the bunch of words, expressions wrapped up with sentiments and emotions will be in momentum as usual. Wish warm regards to all nice efforts!
I belong to Bihar, India. The capital of the state Bihar is PATNA. On 22nd March 2018, there was a celebration locally known as Bihar Day to remember the day of formation of Bihar in 1912. I came to know from the news and a small video clipping that Scotland too has a place named as PATNA which has historical association with the capital of Bihar, PATNA.
As i too write a travel blog about the places in India, and am preparing to write an article on PATNA, I request you to visit the Scotland, Patna and publish an article thereof, and share me with there pics as i will mention the Scotland, PATNA in my article with the courtesy of your pics. My blog is:
https://seth-traveldiary.blogspot.in/
Wish you in cheerful moments!
Hi Pravin! Thanks for your wonderful comment. What a neat association between Scotland and your home country of India. I had not heard of Patna, Scotland before. I just did a quick Google search and it is located in East Ayrshire, a region of Scotland I have yet to visit. I won’t be visiting Scotland this year but perhaps I will be able to add that stop to my itinerary in the future. I look forward to reading your article. Thanks again for your comment!
hi
this is Prakash from India. loved ur blog and I m also from Bihar.
hope to connect with Pravin soon for his experiences of life.
I hope he is a good guy.
keep the good job going.
Prakash, thank you so much for your comment. I’m so thrilled you took the time to read. 🙂
Hello Wendy, a sense of excellent and remarkable attitude “life must have depth rather than long” prevails as i come across your blog which has extended its horizon to cover all aspects of Scotland viz., architecture, beauty of nature, delicious food habit, etc. of Scotland with their history and pics with tag line. I salute the energy level, curiosity, writing & photography skill, and time management you possess and above all to share with all of us. I wish Wendy be blessed with more skill to exploit full creativity potential!
How surprise it is – an interest to read history and literature of Scotland transformed Wendy into a complete journalist!
The earlier black & white profile pics with cap was much compatible with the blog subject matter, i believe. Cap adds an moving dimension in your personality which is more closely associated with your hobby. Moreover, the landscape on the backdrop of the pics also suits. My opinion.
A flavor of love and affection is exhibited in the Title Tag Line “the Scotland remains close with the heart of Scotland girl — a strong bond with the country they belong” Quite fascinating!!
Thank you, Wendy!
Thank you very much, Pravin. I’m so glad you are enjoying the blog. I do certainly enjoy writing it. Scotland is a very beautiful country. I hope one day you’ll have the chance to visit!
Hi Wendy! I am so glad I came across your blog. Scotland was my first love! We went there a few years ago and, like you, I still remember everything. 🙂 I’m excited to read your posts! — amor
Thank you so very much! It’s always nice to meet others who have the same affinity for Scotland. It is truly a remarkable country and it makes me so happy to share my passion for it. Thank you for reading my blog! 🙂
I share your love of Scotland Wendy, even though I’m a sassenach 🙂
I’ve travelled around much of the country, but much to my frustration, I’ve only managed to cover a few pages on my own blogs – but at least I have the privilege of reading yours.
You have a wonderful way with words and your photographs send me straight back up there.
Thanks for following my wanderings, and I’m more than pleased to be following yours.
Thank you for such a nice compliment. I’m glad to have met up on here. Always so nice to meet a fellow lover of Scotland. 🙂
Hi Wendy, Although born in the UK, I’m almost ashamed to admit I never visited Scotland or Ireland. I certainly ‘pounded’ much of the UK and Wales and many countries abroad over the years though. I do understand your passion, although
mine is for Wales. My mother was Welsh and. during WW2 I was evacuated there as a child and grew to love it. You have such a charming, engaging and natural way of writing which – I feel – says a lot about your personality. Husband and I have had truly ,lovely Scottish friends and I fully understand the draw. It’s a beautiful country.
Where do you live in the US? Now ancient, we are retired in Spain. Recommended! Cheers. x
Joy, thank you so much for your compliment. It is truly one of the nicest I have received! 🙂
I don’t think there’s any shame in not having visited Ireland or Scotland. If you’re like me, you find something you love and stick with it. I would very much like to visit Wales one day. I understand there are more castles there than anywhere else in the U.K. And the scenery looks every bit as breathtaking as Scotland!
Spain sounds lovely. What led you to retire there? I live in Virginia in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I am blessed to live in such a beautiful place. 🙂
There’s quite a few good stone circles in Dumfries & Galloway (just across the ‘channel’ from where I live now. My Mum and me used to go to visit a lot of them – they’re usually up on atmospheric moorlands and suchlike. The Dumfries & Galloway circles are a bit special in that they nearly always have a large central stone.
I have seen a fair number of stone circles but they have all been in central and northeastern Scotland. My husband and I are planning to spend a couple of weeks in Dumfries & Galloway on one of our next trips.
It’s a lovely part of Scotland and gets some of the best weather. One of the nicest stone circles we saw there was above Creetown.
I’ll make a note of it. Thanks!
I completely understand your love of Scotland, Wendy. From afar it seems a place of mystery and romance. I too have ancestral connections that pull that way. One day I hope to get there too. I look forward to more of your beautiful posts.
Thank you, Wendy. I hope you do get to see Scotland one day. If you enjoy history, architecture, and beautiful scenery, you will not be disappointed!
Hi Wendy, I went to Scotland once, a few years ago, and fell in love with it just like you! Beside the breathtaking landscape, the people seemed out of the world to me, they were kind and warm-hearted in a way that I did not think possible in this day and age! I definitely want to go back, but I postponed it till I could drive “on the other side” of the road, as I’m sure the best places are the off-the-beaten-track ones, and when I went, I relied on buses and public transport, so I didn’t get to see the beautiful places you managed to see! Matter of fact, I thought of looking up some “driving on the left simulation program” to practise on the computer, to train my nervous system/reflexes first!! Sorry for the long message, I share your love for Scotland and look forward to looking at your pictures and reading your stories! Cheers
Sali, thank you! It’s so nice to meet you. 🙂 Scotland is such a magical place. It’s easy to fall in love. I’m fortunate that my husband does the driving when we’re there. Mainly because it costs so much extra to add a second driver to the insurance, and we rent our car for so many days that the charges would pile on. It appears to me that the only really tricky part of driving there are the round-a-bouts. Mainly the ones with two lanes going around side-by-side. If you can ever talk yourself into trying it, I think you’ll find you see the country in a whole different light. 🙂
Same here!Fully agree on Scotland! I remember staying at a hotel overlooking a roundabout and staring out of the window trying to understand how it works but not getting it!! After a lifetime of reflexes in the other direction, it would be quite hard, hence a simulation software (like for those preparing for their driver’s licence in the UK) might be the way to go!
It is, indeed, a splendid country and so are its people!
Take care and stay safe 🙂
Doing a simulated driving school would be great!
Hi Wendy! You have been nominated for the Sunshine Blogger Award! By me! 😊 Find out more here: https://peaceoflife.today/2020/07/27/sunshine-blogger-award/ ☀☀☀☀☀☀
Aww, so sweet of you! Thank you, friend! 😀
You are welcome! 🌞
Hi, loved your blog on the episode of parks and rec where Ron heads up to Scotland and falls in love with it. I was just wondering if you happened to know the name of the pipers tune played whilst Ron recites O were my love yon lilac fair?
Thank you so much! No, I’m sorry, I don’t. Wish I did, though. That is such a fantastic episode!
I really enjoyed your piece on Fordyce (castle). I am a “Fordyce” and I have always wondered what it would be like to visit there. I have traced my family back to the 1500’s and it is amazing to me. I feel very connected to Scotland and I look forward to reading more of your posts when I get time! Thanks for taking the time to share with those wising to know more! I commend you from my own plaid heart!
Carol, thank you so much for your comment. It’s funny, you are the second person this week to write to me about Fordyce. I’m so glad my little article found its way to you!
It’s wonderful that you have been able to trace your family so far back. It’s definitely not an easy thing to do. I have Scottish roots as well, and though I spent a little time on Ancestry.com, I really didn’t get very far. Maybe one day I’ll have to try again when I have more time – or maybe even pay someone to do the research for me! lol
The little village of Fordyce is absolutely darling. I wish we had had more time to walk around. Did you know you can stay at Fordyce Castle? The owners have a few self-catering rental apartments. I don’t think they are in the original section of the castle, but in the building additions and neighboring cottages. Maybe one day you’ll be able to visit the area. Here is Fordyce Castle’s web site…
http://www.fordycecastle.co.uk/index.php
Thanks for visiting. Please stop by and say hi any time! Wendy
Thank you! I learned about the castle a few years ago but there isn’t a lot out there for information, so I really appreciated your post! For now it is on my bucket list. IT looks so cute!
Oh, joy! I came her from Queen Anne’s Lace. What a delight to see your header image. I had 52 head of Highland cattle beasts before I retired again. 😁