This story is oh so beautiful. I felt myself teetering on the edge of the world as I read it. And then your mystical conclusion, and perhaps guidance all along the way, took my breath away. “I felt like she had sent me to this place: a place where women are acquainted with their wildness, and where children might find their mothers even after they’ve gone.”
It means the world to hear this from you—*all* of your reflections are so beautifully expressed that I'm left with my heart in my throat after reading them, and this one was no exception. Thank you so much 🥹
Abby, thank you so much—I questioned whether or not the timing was right for publishing it, given everything going on in the world. So it's especially meaningful to know that it landed at the right time for you. ❤️
Thanks so much, Skylar—that means a lot coming from you! I've been obsessed with your photos/adventure tales from both Washington and Europe ever since I stumbled upon them. 🤗
I have a Mamiya 6 loaded with Portra 400 that comes on every trip…the foldable lens is amazing. But I’ve started bringing my Canonet QL17 GIII + Ilford Delta 400 too, because black and white on 35mm is such a nice combo.
Maddie 😭 This was so gorgeous, so special, both the words and the pictures. This was such a treat after almost two weeks of a horrid cold. (I’m slowly making my way through all that I missed.)
I felt as if I were right next to you, white knuckling the passenger grab handle on the thinnest of roads, marveling at all the sheep and wide open spaces. What a talent!
I am so wildly impressed at you taking the wheel. I so love your brave spirit. Neist Point Lighthouse looks like a dream.
THE SELKIE GIRL story 🥹 I have no doubt your mama sent you to that exact magical place.
“a place where women are acquainted with their wildness, and where children might find their mothers even after they’ve gone.” Immediate huge tears at that gorgeous line, gifting me with hope and wonder. I’ll be thinking about that line for days and days. What an adventure! What a post!!! It felt like a hug around my heart from a most cherished friend. Thank you, thank you.
That salad looks delicious!!! Carmalized leek and potato pizza?! I’ll take it!!! 😍
Jenovia, I'm sending you a (belated, virtual) bowl of chicken soup...cold and flu season is absolutely brutal, and I'm so sorry it found you! I'm glad these stories and photos of Skye could keep you company in your recovery. ❤️
Your comments never fail to make my day, but this one especially felt like a big virtual hug—in part because I could *totally* imagine you accompanying me in the passenger seat for this particular adventure, oohing and aahing over all of these magical places...which I know you'll be experiencing for yourself before too long! 🤩
this is so beautiful, Maddie. those last lines felt like finding home (despite the treachery of the earlier roads - you are a daredevil!). going to also send a little high five to your bf for being so supportive of the connections to this place. <3
So beautiful, Maddie! I am so impressed you did the driving alone... when I was a freshman in high school, my parents took my siblings and me to Greece, and I thought we were going to die multiple time navigating the single-laned two-way roads snaking up treacherous mountain sides. Your photography and story telling is so captivating. Thank you for sharing. I'm listening to Ina's memoir and loving it... she narrates it, and it's just such a treat. Off to watch your latest pizza video :)
Thank you so much, Ali! My heart’s in my throat reading your account of the roads in Greece…honestly, they sound even more harrowing than the ones in Scotland ☠️
PS: just pulled another fabulous-looking loaf of your sourdough bread out of the oven and can hardly wait until it’s cool!
Your writing is extraordinary. I felt like I was on the trip with you! (Although if I was, I probably would have gotten carsick with all the twists and turns of the road.)
Chris, I can’t even begin to describe how awful the roads were…! 😵💫 But your kind words (about the memoir and pizza both) have genuinely made my day. Thank you, my friend!
What a gorgeous story! Right now I'm quite fascinated with how seeds spread. I ripped up my garden to prep it for winter (well as 'cold' as it'll get here in FL anyway) and lo and behold zinnia plants popped up everywhere!
Wow wow wow. I have chills. During my last trip to the Isle of Skye. I stood on the cliff face, gazing into the endless sea through curtains of horizontal rain and wind, with Kilt Rock gushing in my periphery, and I thought to myself, "I'm standing at the edge of the world."
I canNOT believe you drove yourself around those insane roads! I'm so proud of you and in awe of your bravery. I very much believe you were guided by your mom and I'm so very glad you ventured out into that magical, magical land.
I love that I probably stood in the exact same location as you, just separated by a few years. I can picture this scene—with you in it!—down to the smallest detail. ❤️
Also: thank you for understanding how terrifying the "driving alone" part of this story is 😅 As you already know, this trip wouldn't have been nearly as amazing without the insight and guidance you shared before I left!
Oh Sheila, I'm so excited for you! I visited after peak tourist season, and I'd make the same decision again...fewer crowds (and fewer midges) made for an extraordinary experience. Have *so* much fun!
We’re a little restricted by my husband being a teacher so we’re usually travelling in peak season. But perhaps if we can get to the uk pre uk school holidays it’ll be a little out of season. Thank you ☺️Scotland is so beautiful I’m sure we will enjoy whenever we go!
To be honest, is good weather ever a given in Scotland 😆 but summer gives more possibility! We were in the lakes this summer and it heavily rained for two out of four days and drizzled for one haha.
This story is oh so beautiful. I felt myself teetering on the edge of the world as I read it. And then your mystical conclusion, and perhaps guidance all along the way, took my breath away. “I felt like she had sent me to this place: a place where women are acquainted with their wildness, and where children might find their mothers even after they’ve gone.”
It means the world to hear this from you—*all* of your reflections are so beautifully expressed that I'm left with my heart in my throat after reading them, and this one was no exception. Thank you so much 🥹
This is beautiful and perfect and just what I needed to read right now. Thank you, Maddie, for sharing this experience and these words with us.
Abby, thank you so much—I questioned whether or not the timing was right for publishing it, given everything going on in the world. So it's especially meaningful to know that it landed at the right time for you. ❤️
Maddie, this was so, so beautiful to read and makes me want to go on a contemplative, restorative, meaningful trip to somewhere beautiful!
Amelia, thank you so much—I want this so much for you, too! 🤞
Wow what a beautiful story and fantastic pictures! Also those tiny roads are terrifying!
Thanks so much, Skylar—that means a lot coming from you! I've been obsessed with your photos/adventure tales from both Washington and Europe ever since I stumbled upon them. 🤗
also what camera and film stock are you using these days??
My favorite question!
I have a Mamiya 6 loaded with Portra 400 that comes on every trip…the foldable lens is amazing. But I’ve started bringing my Canonet QL17 GIII + Ilford Delta 400 too, because black and white on 35mm is such a nice combo.
What about you?!
Oh man that's so kind and generous of you to say, I appreciate it. The feeling is mutual of course, and also nice to find another PNW dweller around!
Maddie 😭 This was so gorgeous, so special, both the words and the pictures. This was such a treat after almost two weeks of a horrid cold. (I’m slowly making my way through all that I missed.)
I felt as if I were right next to you, white knuckling the passenger grab handle on the thinnest of roads, marveling at all the sheep and wide open spaces. What a talent!
I am so wildly impressed at you taking the wheel. I so love your brave spirit. Neist Point Lighthouse looks like a dream.
THE SELKIE GIRL story 🥹 I have no doubt your mama sent you to that exact magical place.
“a place where women are acquainted with their wildness, and where children might find their mothers even after they’ve gone.” Immediate huge tears at that gorgeous line, gifting me with hope and wonder. I’ll be thinking about that line for days and days. What an adventure! What a post!!! It felt like a hug around my heart from a most cherished friend. Thank you, thank you.
That salad looks delicious!!! Carmalized leek and potato pizza?! I’ll take it!!! 😍
Jenovia, I'm sending you a (belated, virtual) bowl of chicken soup...cold and flu season is absolutely brutal, and I'm so sorry it found you! I'm glad these stories and photos of Skye could keep you company in your recovery. ❤️
Your comments never fail to make my day, but this one especially felt like a big virtual hug—in part because I could *totally* imagine you accompanying me in the passenger seat for this particular adventure, oohing and aahing over all of these magical places...which I know you'll be experiencing for yourself before too long! 🤩
Thank you, Maddie ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥🫂🫂🫂
this is so beautiful, Maddie. those last lines felt like finding home (despite the treachery of the earlier roads - you are a daredevil!). going to also send a little high five to your bf for being so supportive of the connections to this place. <3
So beautiful, Maddie! I am so impressed you did the driving alone... when I was a freshman in high school, my parents took my siblings and me to Greece, and I thought we were going to die multiple time navigating the single-laned two-way roads snaking up treacherous mountain sides. Your photography and story telling is so captivating. Thank you for sharing. I'm listening to Ina's memoir and loving it... she narrates it, and it's just such a treat. Off to watch your latest pizza video :)
Thank you so much, Ali! My heart’s in my throat reading your account of the roads in Greece…honestly, they sound even more harrowing than the ones in Scotland ☠️
PS: just pulled another fabulous-looking loaf of your sourdough bread out of the oven and can hardly wait until it’s cool!
Your writing is extraordinary. I felt like I was on the trip with you! (Although if I was, I probably would have gotten carsick with all the twists and turns of the road.)
I hope you turn this into a memoir.
(The pizza looks great too 😀)
Chris, I can’t even begin to describe how awful the roads were…! 😵💫 But your kind words (about the memoir and pizza both) have genuinely made my day. Thank you, my friend!
You bet!
“a place where women are acquainted with their wildness, and where children might find their mothers even after they’ve gone.”
Ohhhh, Maddie. ❤️
I'm so glad to know that this line touched you, Erin! 💕
It did! Beautifully written.
Thank you *so* much!
Such a beautiful and meaningful visit to the Fairy Pools! I've got to get to the Isle of Skye, and also to read Ina Garten's memoir ASAP!
Can't wait to hear about your own recent travels...I'm guessing I'll be living vicariously through you too, my friend! 🥰
What a gorgeous story! Right now I'm quite fascinated with how seeds spread. I ripped up my garden to prep it for winter (well as 'cold' as it'll get here in FL anyway) and lo and behold zinnia plants popped up everywhere!
Sarah, I love this! I've had a similar experience with lilies—isn't it magical?
Gorgeous Maddie ❤️
Thank you, my friend! 🤗
Beautiful, Maddie. Just lovely, lovely. xo
Thank you, my sweet friend! 💕
Wow wow wow. I have chills. During my last trip to the Isle of Skye. I stood on the cliff face, gazing into the endless sea through curtains of horizontal rain and wind, with Kilt Rock gushing in my periphery, and I thought to myself, "I'm standing at the edge of the world."
I canNOT believe you drove yourself around those insane roads! I'm so proud of you and in awe of your bravery. I very much believe you were guided by your mom and I'm so very glad you ventured out into that magical, magical land.
I love that I probably stood in the exact same location as you, just separated by a few years. I can picture this scene—with you in it!—down to the smallest detail. ❤️
Also: thank you for understanding how terrifying the "driving alone" part of this story is 😅 As you already know, this trip wouldn't have been nearly as amazing without the insight and guidance you shared before I left!
Isle of Skye is on my bucket list and we’re hoping to do it next year! This has got me even more keen!
Oh Sheila, I'm so excited for you! I visited after peak tourist season, and I'd make the same decision again...fewer crowds (and fewer midges) made for an extraordinary experience. Have *so* much fun!
We’re a little restricted by my husband being a teacher so we’re usually travelling in peak season. But perhaps if we can get to the uk pre uk school holidays it’ll be a little out of season. Thank you ☺️Scotland is so beautiful I’m sure we will enjoy whenever we go!
That just means you'll have absolutely gorgeous weather when you visit—which definitely isn't a given in shoulder season! 😂
To be honest, is good weather ever a given in Scotland 😆 but summer gives more possibility! We were in the lakes this summer and it heavily rained for two out of four days and drizzled for one haha.
Your photos are absolutely gorgeous — and the story, poignant 🥲
This means the world to hear from you, my friend!
❤️