Katie Carmichael
@kcarmichael.bsky.social
Heritage professional working with Scotland’s ancient monuments. Chaotic life with young kids and too many things on my to-do list. Constantly has twigs in hair.
New additions to the uranium glass collection - spooky vibes.
October 2, 2025 at 12:00 PM
New additions to the uranium glass collection - spooky vibes.
Possibly the best use of a morning off work in quite some time - three hours to learn to make all of these tarts! Thankfully two growing boys are helping to destroy all my work.
September 30, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Possibly the best use of a morning off work in quite some time - three hours to learn to make all of these tarts! Thankfully two growing boys are helping to destroy all my work.
Another yeah, another cake theme done. The party had more smoke grenades and ammunition than I ever expect when I had kids, but as there don’t seem to have been any lasting injuries or burns I’m calling it a win for the day and am off to collapse.
June 27, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Another yeah, another cake theme done. The party had more smoke grenades and ammunition than I ever expect when I had kids, but as there don’t seem to have been any lasting injuries or burns I’m calling it a win for the day and am off to collapse.
Always nice to have a quiet moment at the castle before it opens up for the day - I may be here a lot now but it’s always special!
June 23, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Always nice to have a quiet moment at the castle before it opens up for the day - I may be here a lot now but it’s always special!
Today’s adventure was being allowed to climb down into the dewatered lock chambers of a section of the Forth and Clyde Canal in Falkirk to inspect the maintenance works being carried out - really something quite special!
June 9, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Today’s adventure was being allowed to climb down into the dewatered lock chambers of a section of the Forth and Clyde Canal in Falkirk to inspect the maintenance works being carried out - really something quite special!
The entrance to the secret path is starting to look glorious - always a lovely few weeks when the rhododendrons are in full bloom!
May 25, 2025 at 5:10 PM
The entrance to the secret path is starting to look glorious - always a lovely few weeks when the rhododendrons are in full bloom!
My youngest bought himself a laminator earlier and has immediately made bookmarks for my husband and I, and a checklist of daily events for himself….
May 3, 2025 at 12:35 PM
My youngest bought himself a laminator earlier and has immediately made bookmarks for my husband and I, and a checklist of daily events for himself….
Not a bad day for site visits I must say - lunch with a view!
May 1, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Not a bad day for site visits I must say - lunch with a view!
Emboldened by the veil of mist, an increasingly confident gang of lambs plot their great escape.
April 23, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Emboldened by the veil of mist, an increasingly confident gang of lambs plot their great escape.
One very cool uranium decanter and a glow in the dark plastic Jesus (in joke) - not the usual presents perhaps!
March 30, 2025 at 10:20 AM
One very cool uranium decanter and a glow in the dark plastic Jesus (in joke) - not the usual presents perhaps!
Scotland is not a serious country. 18 and sunnny = THE COUNTRY IS ON FIRE. (I jest, obviously it has been very dry and it’s a real threat….. but still)
March 18, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Scotland is not a serious country. 18 and sunnny = THE COUNTRY IS ON FIRE. (I jest, obviously it has been very dry and it’s a real threat….. but still)
A quick scoot over to Linlithgow this afternoon and was much taken by the spectacular stained glass in St Katherine’s Aisle - installed in 1992 to commemorate the 750th anniversary of St Michael’s church, it was designed by Crear McCartney on the theme of Pentecost.
March 11, 2025 at 4:21 PM
A quick scoot over to Linlithgow this afternoon and was much taken by the spectacular stained glass in St Katherine’s Aisle - installed in 1992 to commemorate the 750th anniversary of St Michael’s church, it was designed by Crear McCartney on the theme of Pentecost.
I came home from work yesterday to find we have a new orchard of pear trees! A local brewer/cider/perry maker had trees but no space, so we’re essentially fostering them. We only had the one vole guard, but he seems to be taking the job seriously at least.
March 11, 2025 at 12:05 PM
I came home from work yesterday to find we have a new orchard of pear trees! A local brewer/cider/perry maker had trees but no space, so we’re essentially fostering them. We only had the one vole guard, but he seems to be taking the job seriously at least.
A glorious day to see some areas of Edinburgh Castle that are currently closed to the public - the Western Defences offer gorgeous views and some lovely historic graffiti is a bonus.
March 6, 2025 at 1:37 PM
A glorious day to see some areas of Edinburgh Castle that are currently closed to the public - the Western Defences offer gorgeous views and some lovely historic graffiti is a bonus.
I think this takes the prize of smallest functional souvenir from any site my kids have been to - fun!
March 2, 2025 at 8:42 PM
I think this takes the prize of smallest functional souvenir from any site my kids have been to - fun!
Annabelle looking fabulously awkward as ever this afternoon. 🐐
February 24, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Annabelle looking fabulously awkward as ever this afternoon. 🐐
Well this is far too exciting for a British person on a Monday morning.
February 24, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Well this is far too exciting for a British person on a Monday morning.
A favourite tree for many this #ThickTrunkTuesday - the magnificent Chestnut at Roslin, sadly another branch down following Storm Eowyn.
February 11, 2025 at 8:26 AM
A favourite tree for many this #ThickTrunkTuesday - the magnificent Chestnut at Roslin, sadly another branch down following Storm Eowyn.
Top marks for wistful contemplation from my eldest, looking across Shinbane Field (named for the bones that continued to be ploughed up centuries on) where the Battle or Roslin is believed to have been at its fiercest.
February 8, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Top marks for wistful contemplation from my eldest, looking across Shinbane Field (named for the bones that continued to be ploughed up centuries on) where the Battle or Roslin is believed to have been at its fiercest.
The evening was dominated by Up Helly Aa - a fairly modern (love the Victorians) but utterly spectacular fire festival which focuses on Shetland’s Viking heritage. Being there is really quite extraordinary as the light and heat from 1000 torches surrounds you.
February 8, 2025 at 9:32 AM
The evening was dominated by Up Helly Aa - a fairly modern (love the Victorians) but utterly spectacular fire festival which focuses on Shetland’s Viking heritage. Being there is really quite extraordinary as the light and heat from 1000 torches surrounds you.
Day two needs to be split into two. The morning saw my friends and loved ones highly doubting ever going on a trip I organise ever again - but fortune favours the brave and all so a hike across a marshy hillside in horizontal rain brought us to Stanydale Temple, an oversized Neolithic ?house.
February 8, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Day two needs to be split into two. The morning saw my friends and loved ones highly doubting ever going on a trip I organise ever again - but fortune favours the brave and all so a hike across a marshy hillside in horizontal rain brought us to Stanydale Temple, an oversized Neolithic ?house.
Our first day was largely spent adjusting to land again and I failed miserably to take many photos - but I did get a few at the lovely Clickimin Broch. Gloriously Iron Age in origin, even if the Victorians got their hands on it.
February 7, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Our first day was largely spent adjusting to land again and I failed miserably to take many photos - but I did get a few at the lovely Clickimin Broch. Gloriously Iron Age in origin, even if the Victorians got their hands on it.
Time to brave the potting shed again - much easier on a sunny day. 🌱
February 7, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Time to brave the potting shed again - much easier on a sunny day. 🌱
Next on the reading list.
February 6, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Next on the reading list.