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Note: Isabella was still alive when her granddaughter Mary with husband Tom Thomson and son Ian visited her by taking the train from Inverness to near Cromarty in 1909.
Here are some memories of Isabella written by Mary: "I think my grandmother understood me much better than my mother did. I had a great mass of red hair down to my waist and this was no source of pride to me for I seemed to get nothing but jeers and taunts about my fiery mop. However Grandmother would never admit that my hair was red. 'Nonsense', she would declare, 'you have golden hair and never you mind what the rest say. It is lovely.' She also compared me to her one good-looking daughter - the youngest and only a few years older than I was. If I was red, she was dark - dark curly hair, beautiful eyes and, to my mind, a real beauty. I just couldn't swallow that I resembled her but Grannie would have it that I did. She never saw me but she thought of her Flora.
I wish my grandmother could have told me of her young life but some way in those far off days we never did know how the older generation lived and struggled. A pride kept them quiet. Even in her old age she never knew more than the luxury of sitting by a small fire and eating the plainest of fare. My aunt was no cook. Her porridge was the very worst I ever tasted. I don't think she could even make a cup of good tea but Grannie bore it all without a murmur. I liked going to see them but the food was so bad it was a treat to get back home to better fare.
The last time I visited them I was married and had a little boy. It was a hot summer day in June 1909 Along with Mother (Annie MacKenzie MacDonald) we went to Granny's - part way by train. A piper cheered us on our way. We found the way terribly long. Everyone at Granny's seemed exactly the same as two years ago. Mother was feeling badly and had to go to bed soon after we arrived. Jeannie's tea did not help; it was vile! John and Tom went up on the hill. Tom and I went for a walk the next morning. We passed a Runie Cross in a field by the road. A woman told us it was in memory of a king's son. Hugh Miller mentions it in his "Schools and School Masters". Climbed a hill and the sea was on one side and the Rossshire hills away on the other.
We went to Evanton to visit John and Ina and the bairns, Lizzie and Bella. (John Urquhart and Ina Junor were married in Jan 1901. He was a middle-aged shoemaker who had a business of his own in the village and owned his own house and garden.) Splendid tea - boiled fowl. Tom and John went to the Black Rock. Next morning he - Tom - went with the boys to measure it. 80 ft. Looked at Fyrish with many a longing glance. I'm afraid I'll never climb it again. Tom and John went to Dingwall and took the train to Strath and then came down to Fodderty and went up to Junors' croft. Only Johnny home. Tom walked all the way back to Evanton.
On the way home stayed in Inverness a few hours and then went on to Petty.
Middle of July 1909 - Annie Fraser got ring from John MacIvor. Flo came to visit - looking much fresher than either of her nieces. Sarah came for a visit and we had Flo, Miss MacIvor and Annie Fraser for tea. Annie came an hour late for an evening - John MacIvor not with her. Tommy (was he a MacIvor?) had not got 1st prize for running and had got drunk. Next day he was fined 2/6 for disturbing the peace and was away to Australia.
Here is another excerpt written by Isabella's granddaughter Mary: My grandmother had a large wall clock with a long pendulum that went swinging back and forth. You could certainly hear it going. I was not present at my grannie's funeral but all her six sons and four daughters were there in the room after the service. The old clock had stopped during grannie's illness and all were startled and shocked to hear the clock start up again and ring the hour. I never did hear if it kept going.
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