LifeScapers

Loch Ness Highland Coos 🧡

Come Away to Scotland May 8-15, 2026
And Make Yourself at Home at The Hollies

On the Scotland Expedition we'll spend our days exploring the countryside and engaging with locals. But there will be plenty of time to relax at home as well.

We'll settle into The Hollies, a beautiful Victorian villa on the sea. Off the front hall is a living room with sea view and behind that, a games room with pool table and big screen t.v. Across the way, French doors lead from the kitchen/dining room onto a terrace that overlooks the loch. It's a lovely place to enjoy a coffee in the morning or a glass of wine after a day of exploring. In the garden there is a bbq, fireplace, ping pong table and boules court.

All bedrooms are ensuite and several overlook the water. The owner is a musician and has named each room after a Scottish band. They even come with their own soundtracks so you can further your cultural education while you're there.

The Expedition begins in just one month but there is still space for you if you'd like to join us. Everyone who has been says they'd look forward to coming again.

Spontaneous Adventures Are The Best Kind -
It's Not Too Late to Join The Scotland Expedition
Departing May 8-15, 2026 from Glasgow

Sometimes spontaneous adventures are the best kind. When you get the call, feel a buzz of excitement, and respond with an instant (and liberating) Yes!

This is your call to say yes to the Scotland Expedition. A small group, women only, adventure to the less travelled south coast.

One of the places you’ll visit is Torrisdale Castle, on the Kintyre Peninsula. You’ll travel the long and winding road of Beatles fame, with the Mull of Kintyre on the horizon. Paul McCartney’s family farm is just down the way.

After a tour of the castle grounds, you can try your hand at making your own botanically infused gin at the estate's Beinn Tuirc Distillery. Your recipe will be kept on file so when Christmas comes around you can order your own blend for all your friends at home.

The cost for the expedition is $5,500 CAD and includes, accommodation, all activities and most meals. Reach out and claim your spot.

It's Not Too Late to Join the Scotland Expedition!

There is so much turmoil and ugliness in the world right now. We need to reminded every now and then to step back from it all and take some respite. Rural Scotland is the perfect place to get away from it all, and refresh your spirit with peace and beauty.

From May 8-15 I'll be hosting a small group of woman on the Scotland Expedition. Our base is a beautiful restored villa on the sea in the coastal village of Tighnabruaich. From here we'll explore the territory by land and by sea, ake a little art, make a little gin, learn a little Gaelic, swim in the sea. It's not too late to join us. There is still a spot open for you. It will be grand.

Cost: $5,500 CAD includes accommodation, all activities and most meals.

Come Away to Newfoundland

I just read that Travel and Tour World has declared Canada to be the world’s safest travel destination in 2026. Berkshire Hathaway has rated it among the top five for safety. I may be biased but I’d also rate it at the top of the charts for wild beauty.

From August 15-22, 2026 I’ll be leading a small group expedition to the spectacular west coast of Newfoundland. There are still two spots open.

Why not leave the cares of the world behind and come away with us. It will be wonderful!

Let this be your reminder that you can control how you show up every day.

You can choose to be kind when it’s hard.
You can choose to care when it’s easier not to.
You can choose to love people fully, even in an imperfect world.

That’s how things start to change.

Not all at once. But one person at a time.

Your Heart Could Use a Vacation

The world is too much with us; late and soon,
Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;
Little we see in Nature that is ours;
We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!

-William Wordsworth

A few weeks ago I received an email from my friend Abbey, inviting me to go sailing with her in the British Virgin Islands. The invitation was last minute. It wasn’t in the budget. It felt a bit indulgent. But my heart leapt at the thought of it.

It’s been a long and miserable winter. Wars and rumours of wars, the rise of autocracy, the breakdown of international diplomacy… it's all weighed heavily on my heart and I've spent entirely too much time doom scrolling. As if such vigilance could somehow influence the outcome of decisions made far outside my sphere of influence.

On March 8th I boarded Sea Runner II and sailed away from it all. Each morning I rolled out of bed and dove off the back of the boat for a swim. Enjoyed a leisurely breakfast, climbed to the upper deck to watch the sail unfurl, leaned into the wind. Later on I’d do a little snorkeling, walk along a white sand beach, clamber over giant boulders. Watch the sun set and the stars appear. For a few days I disconnected from the wider world and was fully present to the moment. I rested and renewed my mind.

The week passed too quickly and soon enough it was time to disembark from the Sea Runner and return to regular life. Just after touching down at the Toronto airport my phone rang. It was a nurse from my mother’s long term care residence saying that Mom had been wandering at night and had an altercation with another resident. She would need to be sedated in the evenings now.

I set down my belongings to take the call and walked away without my purse. I soon realized this and backtracked in search of it but it was not to be found. I couldn’t remember my son’s phone number so had to ask a stranger if she would text him to come from Hamilton and pick me up. Once home I was on the computer filling out a lost and found report and freezing my phone and bank accounts. Cam had a set of my car keys so I set out to drive back to Toronto and check the airport lost and found in person. On my windshield I found two tickets and a tow warning for parking on the street. Apparently the neighbour across the road had lodged a complaint.

Two bright spots in my homecoming. First of all I was able to recover my purse which had been turned into the Lost and Found untouched.But even better, I was able to move through all of the chaos in a very Zen state of mind. Without stress or negative emotion. The circumstances of my life had not changed. The world was still with me. But I was different. My short time away had restored me to myself.

An Invitation to Join The Scotland is Expedition in May

When I received Abbey’s invitation there were so many reasons to say no. It wasn’t in the plans. It wasn’t in the budget. But my heart knew what I needed and I trusted its wisdom. I’m so glad I did.

Now it’s my turn to issue an invitation. I will be leading a small group of women on an expedition in May. We’re headed to the village of Tighnabruaich, on the less travelled south coast of Scotland. We’ll make our home in a beautiful restored Victorian Villa on the sea. Explore the forests, cruise the Kyles of Bute, swim in the sea, make a little art, make a little gin, visit a castle or two and meet with many locals to share their experience of living in this part of the world.

If your heart leaps at the invitation, it’s not too late to join. At the time I’m writing this post there are 2 spaces still available. Reach out now and one of them could be yours. The dates are May 8-15, 2026. The cost is $5,500 CAD for a single ensuite and includes transportation from Glasgow, accommodation, all activities, and most meals. I would love to share this adventure with you.

with creativity and imagination,
Darlene

The world is too much with us; late and soon,
Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;
Little we see in Nature that is ours;
We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!
- William Wordsworth

When I read the news or my Facebook feed these days I feel the heavyness of it all and resonate with the words of poet William Wordsworth. His response was to spend some time by the seaside to restore perspective. I think it’s medicine that still restores the soul today.

In a few weeks I’ll be leading a small group expedition to the less travelled cost of Scotland. Guaranteed to refresh your mind and spirit and ground you again in what is real and nurturing. The details are below. Two spaces are still open. We’d love to have you join our company.

I needed this.

Thinking about something is not the same as doing it.

Get out of your head and start taking action.

It doesn’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to have all the answers. Just start.

Save this post for the next time you need the reminder 💛

Try not to let self-imposed limits hinder your sense of exploration and curiousity. Enjoy life's simple pleasures when you can.



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