The World According to Linda

New Location with Wordpress for Celtic Story's site

2010-11-10T07:40:00.000-08:00

I have been working on a new site location for my connect to the world and yesterday finally got the time to do a few transfers of info to the new realm.

From this day forward look for me at the following site:

www.celticstory.com/b/

The new site has a better look and many more options than I could provide here....
Hope to see or hear from you soon !!

Cheers,
Linda

Autumn -Holidays-And a Shift in Perspective

2010-11-09T09:16:00.000-08:00

As the weather shifts so do my thoughts and actions in the daily grind of life.
This time of year I spend reflecting on all that has come across my path during the year.
In the old Celtic Tradition my years tend to go from Autumn to Autumn. One year has just ended and another starts.
Samhainn (Halloween) being the end of the old. Each year starting like a child's life begins...with quiet reflection, limited activity and inner thoughts and growth.
Weather turns grey and there is little guilt involved, staying inside and lazing around. These things are near impossible when the sun is calling out to all species to frolic carefree while they can.

The wild days of Spring and Summer will be back soon enough.

I will be CLOSED at the Shop on Thanksgiving Day and the shop will be open for the Thanksgiving Day Weekend shopping as usual at 10am.
I have no plans this year for the holiday other than one....
I have not eaten turkey for 3 years running and have a hunger for it now. So I will be cooking up a bird in my house for the smell of it and the subsequent feast.
I trust you will all have a great feast of your own!

All the Best to you and those that care for you!

Linda
PS. I am sorry I left the Beltane story hanging...I have not had the time, energy or inspiration to go on with it...
that could soon change now, ... with things slowing down a bit.

Event for the Northwest-Celtic Style.....

2010-11-02T08:12:00.000-07:00

What: Community Celtic Concerts off the Commons, 2^nd Saturday of the month

When: Saturday, November 13, 2010, 7:30pm

Where: Winona Grange #271, 8340 SW Seneca St, Tualatin 97062

Who: All ages

Cost: $10, 6 for $50

Featured artist November 13: Peter Yeates

Notes: Doors open 6:45PM, no alcohol allowed

S & Á Irish Entertainment and events in Tualatin - Celebrating 4 years

Sam Keator and Áine Doherty are excited about starting live concerts here in Tualatin from October – May! We hope that many folks, families of Tualatin and the immediate area, will enjoy our selection of different bands this season. Currently we are presenting concerts in Portland but want to share these great types of shows here in our home town of Tualatin!

The first concert will be Saturday, November 13 with world known Irish singer, PETER YEATES. Peter is a veteran singer/songwriter/guitarist from Dublin Ireland. He has toured the United States and Canada extensively and has also performed in Germany Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Romania, Russia, Mexico, Bermuda, Korea and his native Ireland. Peter now resides here in the Northwest.

Throughout the years, Peter has toured with some notable musicians Including James Kelly (Planxty, Patrick Street), Noel Hill (Planxty), Tommy Hayes (Stockton's Wing) and accordion player Paddy O'Brian. During the early 80's he was a member of "The Old Triangle", a group twice voted top Irish folk act. In 1989 he and former "Touchstone" fiddler Eddie Parente formed the much acclaimed Celtic/Rock Sextet "The Full Shilling" He has recorded two albums with this band.

Peter has toured as an opening act for the "Kingston Trio" and the "Limelighters". Bob Shane of the Kingston Trio called him "one of the best opening acts I have ever seen. He really primed the audience for us." He has appeared at the Milwaukee Irish Fest, the North Texas Irish Fest and many other Irish and folk festivals in this country and abroad. He was a featured artist on National Public Radio's "Mountain Stage".

Peter has ten albums under his belt, three of which are solo. His album "Back in the Middle" was produced by Billy Oskay, founding member of "Night Noise" and has been receiving rave reviews. Several of his compositions have been recorded by other artists.

Contact information, Sam Keator

Website - www.sandairishentertainment.com

Email - sam.keator@frontier.com

Phone - 503-691-2078

Holiday Season Events Around the Northwest

2010-11-02T08:06:00.000-07:00

What: Irish Christmas in America - The Show

Where: Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland

When: Friday, November 26, 2010, 7:30PM

Who: All family, community, Holiday entertainment

Cost: $22/$28 adv, $27/$33 Day of show, www.boxofficetickets.com

Notes: Starting the six annual, 15 show tour here in Portland, the only show in the NW

Press: www.irishchristmasinamerica.com/press/

Interviews are available directly with Oisin Mac Diarmada by contacting Sam Keator to arrange time and date

Celebrating its sixth year, the hugely popular holiday show “Irish Christmas in America” tours throughout the USA with some of Ireland's top traditional artists. This fascinating performance features Irish music, song, dance and stories of seasonal Irish traditions. An accompanying CD, “Irish Christmas in America,” is also now available.

2010 Show

Produced by Oisín Mac Diarmada of award-winning Irish group Téada, the atmospheric Irish Christmas in America show once again features top Irish singer & accordion-player Séamus Begley in the 2010 touring line-up. After an incredible reaction from audiences during the 2009 tour, Séamus Begley from West Kerry, rejoins a host of top musicians and dancers on stage for an engaging performance rich in history, humour and boundless energy. He will joined for the National Geographic show in Washington DC on December 10th by Kerry vocalist, Éilis Kennedy. The magic of the Irish harp and uilleann pipes from leading exponents Gráinne Hambly and Tommy Martin augments the rhythmic pulse of Brian Cunningham's stunning old-style Irish dance.

This family-friendly performance features evocatively-sung Irish ballads and holiday carols, lively fiddle tunes and thrilling Irish dancing. Narration brings to life ancient customs and stories, while evocative photographic images provide a backdrop of rich historical context. Take a memorable glimpse into the enchanting spirit of Christmas, as some of Ireland’s finest traditional artists bring you on a distinctively Irish journey during the holiday season of 2010.  

Show Origins

The holiday show was first conceived in 2005 by Oisin Mac Diarmada of Téada, a renowned fiddle-player from County Sligo. Past tours have featured such stellar guest vocalists as Karan Casey, Cara Dillon, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Cathie Ryan and Michael Londra. Mac Diarmada enthuses about the program as a way to bring traditional and often unknown Irish customs to the States. "One of the most heartfelt themes of Irish Christmas is emigration," says Mac Diarmada. "Music was a way that people stayed close to home."  A sparkling tradition among holiday events, Irish Christmas in America is a special show to see this season.

“Captivating” Irish Music Magazine “Lively and reflective...a powerful evocation of the season” Folk Wax

 “A celebration of family and good times at the winter season” Gather.com

 Performance Venues 2005-2009 include * Cerritos Performing Arts Center Los Angeles CA * The Dana Center Manchester NH * National Geographic Live! (5th consecutive year) Washington DC * Fox Theater, Tucson AZ * The Egg Albany NY * Annenberg Center Philadelphia PA * Kimo Theater, Albuquerque NM

Individual Biographies 

Oisín Mac Diarmada – producer/fiddle

From Co. Sligo, a part of Ireland famous for its rich fiddle tradition, Oisín Mac Diarmada, is widely regarded for an individual and subtle stylistic approach to Irish fiddling. In 2003, following the release of his solo album, ‘Ar an bhFidil’ (On the Fiddle) on the Green Linnet label, the Irish Echo’s Earle Hitchner called him “one of the most gifted and creative traditional fiddlers playing today.” A graduate in Music Education from Trinity College Dublin, Oisín went on in 2001 to found Téada, currently one of Ireland’s best-known internationally touring bands, and currently is pursuing postgraduate research studies in the area of “Political Identity and Movement to Music” 

Séamus Begley – vocals/accordion 

Séamus Begley comes from one of Ireland’s most musically acclaimed families. He is known for his sean-nós (“old style”) singing, hailing as he does from the Irish-speaking region of West County Kerry. Equally brilliant on the accordion, Séamus plays with astonishing energy and spontaneity, belting out jigs, slides and polkas with rapid sprays of ornamentation. Begley has won numerous awards including Best Folk/Celtic Duo at the 2009 Ireland's Music Awards. “Begley’s voice is buoyant…a joy” says The Irish Times.

Gráinne Hambly – Irish harp/concertina

Gráinne Hambly from County Mayo in the West of Ireland is an internationally recognised exponent of the Irish harp. In 1998 she completed a Masters Degree in Musicology at Queen's University Belfast, for which her main research topic was music collections and the harp in 18th-century Ireland. Since then, Gráinne has toured extensively throughout Europe and the United States, giving concerts, workshops and masterclasses, and has performed with ’Irish Christmas in America’ since 2005.

Tommy Martin – uilleann pipes/whistles 

Originally from Dublin, now resident in St. Louis MO, Tommy’s rare musical talent and experience has brought diverse performances throughout the world varying from tutoring in New Zealand to performing with Riverdance in New York to recording with past members of rock band "Thin Lizzy". In January 2004 Tommy had the honour of performing a newly composed piece of music with the Chicago Virtuosi Symphony Orchestra and presently performs with the hit show, ”Celtic Woman”.

Tristan Rosenstock – narration/bodhrán

From Glenageary in Co Dublin, Tristan's bodhrán playing encompasses a distinctive musical sensitivity, evident on a number of recordings and tours with which he has had involvement in recent years. Prominent in Dublin musical circles, Tristan has also completed a Masters in Film & Television Studies from Dublin City University, and presently combines freelance media work alongside performing with Téada.  

Brian Cunningham - dancer

 Brian Cunningham is one of the most exciting sean-nós or 'old-style' dancers to have emerged from Ireland in quite some time. At 23 years of age, he has won all the major dance competitions in Ireland, and was honoured with an invitation by the President of Ireland to perform during an Official State visit to Japan and South Korea in 2005. Brian has appeared on Ireland's most popular television show, 'The Late Late Show' with vocalist Seán Keane, and currently produces his own show in Ireland called ’The Cunningham Sound’.

Radio Interview from Seattle's KEXP Sept. 2010

2010-11-01T09:12:00.000-07:00

Linda on KEXP.mp3
10049K Play Download

A promotion from 67 music- Battlefield Band-from Scotland-NW Tour

2010-11-01T07:54:00.000-07:00

The Amazing Battlefield Band from Scotland is coming to the Pacific Northwest and will perform in Portland at The beautiful Alberta Rose Theatre on Sunday, November 14th , 2010 at 8pm. Tickets are only $25 and can be obtained here. This is a rare appearance and is not to be missed!
67 Music is assisting in promoting the show- we’ll be there getting interviews and videos. To that end, we’re launching our “Battlefield Band Giveaway Contest“! Each week, leading up to show day,we’ll be giving away BB goodies, with a different contest each week where that last week’s winner will pick up their prize in person at the concert. A random winner will be chosen each Sunday up to show day.
Here’s all you need to do this week: This week it’s a twitter campaign! Seek us out on twitter (@67Music) and look for our tweets that specifically mention “Battlefield Band Contest”- that’s your cue! Re-tweet that for your entry! Re-tweet as much as you like & often to increase your chance to win! We’ll choose another random winner next Sunday & notify you. The following week we’ll have a different test for you! Have fun & good luck!!

Hope you're one of the winners!

Cheers,
Linda

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Samhainn- The Celts Great Festival (Halloween)

2010-10-28T20:20:00.000-07:00

The End and the Beginning of the Year, when the veil thins between the two worlds. The gates open and your ancestors walk the earth. Soon the traditions became....The day when Christians would pray for the dead, stuck in Purgatory, where souls would linger, suspended between heaven and earth. Prayers would urge their forgiveness for the souls and their swift ascent to heaven. Now, ...we greet the ghouls, ghost and goblins on the doorstep with a smile and handful of candy.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!

A good single malt for a good price-Scot-Whisky at Dooger's in Seaside

2010-10-25T20:55:00.000-07:00

Hello again,

For 3 years now Dooger's has kept a bottle of 12 yr. old of the MacAllan in the backroom with my name on it.
Prior to this you could only get the drink if you happened to accompany me into the restaurant.
As of a couple of weeks ago, (when the new menu came out) it is now available to the public...for a very good price.
So next time you're in Seaside and are looking for not only a real good meal...but a decent dram of good whisky too....stop in at Dooger's and tell them, ..."Linda sent me!"

The winds are whipping and it's been hailing and raining all day...makes it easy to stay inside and work on desk projects.

All the Best to you,
Linda

Now that things have quieted in my life

2010-10-07T08:11:00.000-07:00

This has been a very brisk year for me. So many strange occurrences in my life have taken place.

But now, things are quieting and I'm beginning to have a clear mind and path for going forward.

My house guests (of 14 months) have moved out (about 8 weeks ago), and now that the house is tame and calm...the Muse is starting to awaken in me again. Writing is slowly moving to the forefront and old projects that need completion will be on the slate of "things to do".

If you have a particular item (from the shop) that you'd like to purchase through the mail....I am open to taking orders from this site, and posting them out (for your convenience). I will have more time to make a trip to the Post office for posting items. The important part in all this is for you to be able to describe the item to me well enough for us to make it happen...and the availability of stock is key as well.

My son had set up a Wordpress site for this blog to shift into....and I will be working on that throughout the slower months...(now if I can just remember all the details of 'how to do this" ).

I once again had 9 inches of hair cut off and no one has noticed...'cause my hair is so long on a regular basis...it would take a shaven head (I suppose) for a reaction from the friends and public....which is not likely to happen...as it is my back has been a bit colder than normal. ha, ha,ha.

The wind is blowing like crazy here and has been for about 12 hours. Looking forward to this weekend...and lad that used to work for me when he was bot a sapling of a teen...is coming back into town. I will be attending a Pirate party in his honour....r-r-r-r-r-r-r-g.

Cheer the now,
Linda

My reading glasses have gone missing!

2010-09-27T08:24:00.000-07:00

On Sunday 26th Sept around 1:30pm...someone in my shop picked up my readers from the display case top and took them with them. If you have them could you please ship them to:

Celtic Story
PO Box 1011
Seaside, Or 97138

I purchased these in Scotland last year...and really like them.

Cheers,
Linda

Seattle here I come...

2010-09-14T08:29:00.000-07:00

I'm making the final preparations for the Seattle Tour 17th-20th Sept.
Here's the schedule so far:

17th Sept. 7pm
Caledonian & St.Andrews Society of Seattle
Lake City Presbyterian, 3841 NE 123rd St., Seattle
Free and Open to All
Piper, refreshments, and a raffle of a plaque from Scotland
with the Declaration of Arbroath statement. (Value $70.00)
I'll be speaking about the book: The Warriors and Wordsmiths of Freedom
and signing.
18th Sept. 7:30am - Interview with Mike McCormick on KEXP
Community Forum Program

http://kexp.org/programming/progpage.asp?showID=7&1413=40433.25-1&96=40433.25-1&20=40433.25-1&256=40433.25-2

Here is KEXP’s home page:

http://kexp.org/

18th Sept 5pm - Third Place Books

17171 Bothell Way NE, Lake Forest Park, WA

Piper & Dancer

I'll be speaking about the book and book signing

19th Sept. 6pm - Sorrento Hotel

900 Madison Street, Seattle, WA

Fireside Chat and Whisky Tasting

This is the only ticketed event: $30.00 (includes a signed copy of the book and whisky tasting)

for tickets go to:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/122218

or call for reservations: by calling (425) 820-6829 talk to Diane or Gail or leave a message and they'll make sure your ticket is waiting at the door.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

The shop will be closed until 23rd Sept.

Sept. 11th Radio Interview 10am Pacific time

2010-09-07T08:36:00.000-07:00

The following link can be use to hear my interview on WPKN in Bridgeport, Conn. next Saturday at 10am.
I will be talking about my book amongst other things in Scotland.

Sat. Sept 11th 1PM EDT. It can be heard live over the Internet at www.wpkn.org.

Hope you tune in.

Cheers, Linda

Celtic Coffee Shop Opens

2010-09-03T17:54:00.000-07:00

A couple from Scotland came in the shop today. The woman's cousin _ George K. Black has just recently opened a Celtic Coffee Shop and Deli, in Mukiteo Washington. Congratulations George!!!!!
The best of Luck in your new venture!

Below is a link to his website:

http://www.celtic-coffee-deli.com

Cheers,
Linda

The Warriors and Wordsmiths of Freedom - Seattle - Speaking Tour

2010-09-01T18:29:00.000-07:00

The clock is ticking and I'll be off and away to Seattle soon for the speaking tour about my book and Scotland.
I'm very much looking forward to this week of events and will be looking for familiar faces in the crowds.

On Sept. 19th at 6pm I will be at the Sorrento Hotel on Madison. Check out their website (quite nice) This is the only ticketed event.
Brown paper tickets are available for $30.00 which includes a signed copy of the book and a Whisky Tasting as a Fireside Chat Event.

If you plan on buying at ticket at the door, ---- please call
Book it Northwest at (425) 820-6829 to reserve your ticket.
(This way we can make sure to have enough whisky on hand as well, don't want to run short, LOL!!).

The interview with Mike Kara "Eye on the Nation" covering 'How to plan your Trip to Scotland' went very well.
And can be heard on the Internet if you wish to take a listen ... just Google the program name, scroll down to where the segments are listed and click away.

I'll be back in the shop Thurs. thru Mon. 10am - 2pm...
this week.

Hope you all have a safe and wonderful holiday weekend.

All the Best,
Linda

Shop Closed 25th Aug.thru 1st Sept.

2010-08-25T22:12:00.000-07:00

It's been a great Summer season. The weather here has been mild...sometimes too mild and overcast...but even a grey day at the beach is a good one.
I've had brilliant experiences greeting the holidaymakers and trusted long time customers over the months.
Thanks to all that have stopped in !

Now is the time for me to take a bit of a break myself.
I will return to the shop(in a much refreshed state) at 10am on 2nd Sept.
Over the Labour Day Weekend I will be at the shop:
Thurs., Fri., Sat., Sun. and Mon. 10am-2pm

The following week 9th - 12th shop hours will be Thurs. through Sun. 10am - 2pm

Then the shop will be closed because:

I will be in Seattle on a speaking engagement tour 16th - 20th dates for public venues listed in prior blog.
I hope to see you there.

Then back in the shop 23rd and on a Thurs. -Sun. schedule for the remainder of the month.

I trust this finds you well and enjoying the summer and all it has to offer.

All the best,
Linda

Upcoming Speaking Tour of Seattle-Sept. 17th,18th & 19th 2010

2010-08-12T07:31:00.000-07:00

For those of you that have not yet made it into the shop this summer...
I will be in the Seattle area speaking about Scotland and my book : The Warriors and Wordsmiths of Freedom

The first event will be sponsored by the Caledonian and St.Andrew's Society of Seattle Sept. 17th @ 7pm
Lake City Presbyterian, 3841 NE 123rd St., Seattle. Free and open to all. (tables will be provided for Clan and Celtic Assoc. for information and hand-outs.) Book sales by Elliot Bay books. Refreshments will be provided.

Sept. 18th at Third Place Books @ 5pm
17171 Bothell Way NE., Lake Forest Park, WA.

Sept. 19th @ 6pm at The Sorrento Hotel for a Fireside Chat and Whisky tasting.
900 Madison Street, Seattle
($30.00 ticket includes an autographed copy of the book and whisky tasting available at Brown Paper Tickets site below)

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/122218

Hope to see you there....

Linda

A Heartfelt Thanks

2010-08-06T16:06:00.000-07:00

To all that expressed their condolences on my uncles passing.

I'm back in the shop and 3 orders came in whilst I was away.

For the woman that was looking for the Cat and the Moon pillbox...I have 4 in just now...but don't know
how long they will last.

The sterling and enamel jewellry is in from the Celtic Realm.
As well as new Irish shirts and sweatshirts. The flags are here and found an unusual one (that I'd only seen in shops in Scotland).

Thanks again for all your concerns and well wishes.

Cheers,
Linda

**Closure Notice

2010-07-30T07:41:00.000-07:00

Dear folk,

Unfortunately my uncle passed away on Weds this week.
His funeral has been scheduled for Weds. 4th August. and I will be attending it (out of town).

The Shop Will Be Closed on the 4th (weds.) and 5th (thurs.) of August because of this and I plan (barring any complications)..
to be returning to the shop on the 6th and open regular hours....as regular as they get at Celtic Story.
(Remember if you want to see me ...get to the shop before 2pm).

Thank you for your understanding and support.

Cheers,
Linda

Change for this year

2010-07-24T08:21:00.000-07:00

For the past 5 years I have been leaving the shop and town to attend a Game and perform on the weekend of the 20th August.

This year I will be at the shop that weekend and be leaving on the 27th and 28th August instead.
This weekend is the Hood to Coast Run weekend...and frankly I'll be glad to get out of town at that particular
time.

Last year at this time I was in Scotland...so I hope to see you here this year!

All the Best,
Linda

Och Weel !!!!!!

2010-07-10T07:26:00.000-07:00

I rarely make a mistake when it comes to obtaining merchandise for a customer...but I recently did so. Here is the story and I hope the woman in question is reading this and will make contact with me so I can remedy this.

You came into my shop a couple weekends ago. You had your heart set on a ring...but I didn't have the correct size for you.
You were looking for a size 5 or 7 in this ring. I taped the ring style to the piece of paper with the details of your name and phone number on it. I ordered the rings you required...and when they were shipped to me I took the ring (that had been taped to the paper) back to the shop....and evidently threw the piece of paper in the trash bin...drrr.
I spent 2 days digging through the trash both at the shop and the house...with no results.
This is a situation which shows once again ...that I am human and make occasional mistakes.

I have your ring if you contact me we can work this all out....there is an email address at the right hand sidebar here. Please email me if you are the ONE.

Sorry for the mix-up.

Cheers, Linda

New stock on the shelves today

2010-07-02T08:34:00.000-07:00

For those of you that were waiting for the shipment of Claddaugh Rings and Pillboxes along with other great jewellry items from the Homeland ...
are being placed on the shelves today.

Because of the Monday Holiday....I will be in the shop on Mon. for a few hours....
And

CLOSED ON TUES AND WEDS- ------- THIS WEEK ONLY

Sorry about the caps but I wanted to make sure everyone would note that.

Next week I'll be back to Weds. thru Sun. 10 am - ?

It is my sincere hope that you will all have a great 4th of July Holiday

Cheers,
Linda

New Stock in shop

2010-06-29T06:56:00.000-07:00

Dear Folk,

I will be placing stock on the shelves of the shop this week and more arriving next.

This week the Hand-Painted glass panels and boxes and such have arrived, and I will be putting them out starting this Weds. For you few that have been waiting for their arrival...
the Robert Burns and Wallace things are in the mix.

The shipment of jewellry including Claddagh rings, crosses and such are being despatched today and should be on the shelves by next weekend (I don't think they'll be here until after the weekend is over.)

There was a couple from outside Oregon (Montana was it?) that have been waiting for the "What Not" containers...and they are on the way and should be here soon. (If you like to contact me to rec'v one to replace the one you lost....please do so through the email address at the right sidebar of this site.)

Things are moving very fast this time of year so if you have interest in any of these items please come to the shop soon...before they are gone.
New stock should be arriving every week...
Hope to see you soon.

Cheers,
Linda

Shop Hours Update

2010-06-23T07:53:00.000-07:00

Hello Folk...

I have added Weds to the days the shop will be open.

Weds., Thurs., Fri., Sat., and Sun. 10am- ?
I leave sometime after 2-3pm depending on how busy it is and how much energy I have.

This Sat. Anton Emery will be playing music in the shop, at noon and 2pm.

Hope to see you soon!
Linda

Anton Emery to be Interviewed on KAST-Michael Desmond Show

2010-06-14T16:07:00.000-07:00

Anton Emery will be playing in the shop (Celtic Acoustic Guitar)

Celtic Story
407 Broadway
Seaside, Oregon
on
26th June
at Noon and 2pm.
(he will have his CD's available for purchase as well.

Before that event on this Weds.
June 16th Anton will be interviewed on KAST radio
at 4pm.
So tune in and hear his story...then come along to the shop on the 26th
to hear and see him play.

Should be great fun!

Cheers,
Linda

Beltane Night- The Story of Nan con't...(Part 6)

2010-06-13T17:48:00.000-07:00

" Actually my name is Nancy .....but everyone calls me Nan."
"I really like that...Nan...it's straight forward and to the point. My name can be either a girl or a boy's name...but it is traditional in my family for the first born son to be named Gillian...it's after one of my distant ancestors that saved our people from a treacherous lord in our lands many centuries ago... or so I've been told..." he looked very thoughtful like he was replaying an experience from his childhood in his head.
They had almost come to the edge of the woods. Nan glanced away from Gillian (to give him time to think) looked into the woods, and for a fleeting moment thought she saw some one or some thing dart behind a tree.
She must have reacted because Gillian immediately said, "What's wrong?"

"Oh I thought I saw something move on the edge of the tree over there.....", she pointed.
"It was probably nothing." She looked at him and smiled. Then looked back toward the woods...hoping to see it again? Or was she, really hoping that she'd see nothing...
Gillian turned toward to the wood edge and said ...
"Or maybe, ... it was one of my FAMILY members spying on US!" , loud enough for anyone close by to hear. Suddenly there was a rustling sounds in the woods, like someone moving deeper into the trees very quickly.
He looked at her sheepishly.

"Family members? Spying....why?"

"It seems when ever we move or I find a new friend my family has to know everything about what I'm doing...it's quite annoying to me." he shook his head and his face flushed slightly.

"Oh...never mind...my family is quite nosey too...I guess it's because they care about us...eh? I'll be questioned by them sooner or later too about every move I make outside their watchful eyes." she giggled and looked into his bright blues eyes. He looked into hers and his face softened and he smiled.."yeah, ...I suppose your right."

They fell into a long conversation and walk for what must have been hours, along the edge of the woods and soon were at the base of the hillside where the bonfires were the night before. It was nearing dusk, Nan was facing the woods and Gillian had his back to it as he talked about things in general. Where he'd been, what he'd learn and experienced and such.

Nan started to see strange flickerings of tiny lights inside the now darkening woods. One here and another darting in and out of the trees over there. Then two or 3 in a group flying around at eye level, ... against the dark between the trees, they really shone bright, for being so small. Gillian must have seen her distraction, stopped talking and turned around to look.
"I didn't think we had fireflys here...I never seen them before..." she said unconsciously almost under her breath.
He saw something too, but didn't let on. Then looked at the horizon and the now setting sun.

Gillian said, "Oh dear.... look how late it's gone. I should start to walk you back now. My parents will be asking for me soon, I have a family meeting tonight, we need to discuss our individual tasks for Spring."

His face flushed slightly again as he turn with her to head back to her croft.
His evening of blissful alone time outside his normal circumstance, was quickly coming to an end...
'How am I ever going to explain my family to her?....' he thought, 'well I suppose it will come to me when I need it.' He fell into a deep thought.
As they walked on...
Nan was now thinking about her own family and how much she had grown very fond of Gillian in such a short period of time. She kept looking up at his beautiful hair and eyes than down at the ground. Her head was swimming in thoughts. They both were silent for the longest time as they made their way back.

As they approach the bottom of the last knoll suddenly they started to talk very fast and desperately like they were trying now to make up for the lost time, knowing their time together was quickly coming to a close.

"When do you think we can see each other again?" Nan said with a slight sadness in her voice.

"I don't know...I will have shed loads of tasks handed to me tonight. It could take me days....maybe weeks to complete them..." he shook his head and said again, "...I don't know..."

Nan looked very, very sad while he was saying this, and looked down at the ground....for a minute Gillian thought she could be crying.
"It won't be that long..." he didn't sound very convincing...but still held on to the hope that this would brighten her thoughts...it did little to help.

"I'll have loads of chores too for the next wee while, meself...it's just that time of year isn't it? So, ....how long to you think it will be?" she was trying hard, not to sound to needy.

He wanted with all his being to comfort her, ... he put his hand gently under her chin and raised her face up, look into her eyes again. and said, "And, .... once the hard work is done I'll have more time...and...."
He stopped mid-sentence looked far away, then back at her with the grin of a little child.

"Listen,...I have a brilliant idea..." he grabbed her by the shoulders and said, "Why don't we leave each other notes and communicate that way and until we can meet up again?" he was feeling a bit clever now and pleased with himself, he smiled broadly.

"But, where could we put them...we'd have to have a spot to leave the notes...right?" she was excited at the prospect of this....it was all ....a bit romantic. A secret meeting place....just her sort of thing.
They chatted about this furiously and came to an agreement.
Each day they would write a note and answer the others note...they would leave them in the crook of a bottom branch in this ancient Rowan tree, under the moss that grows there. This old tree grew alone on the moor...close to where they had first met. So with their plans lay firmly down they parted that night...
he gave her a light kiss on the cheek and she was off to her home where her parents waited.

She was still in a dreamy state when she opened the door to her house.

Beltane Night- The Story of Nan con't...(Part 5)

2010-06-02T09:37:00.000-07:00

Nan's mum called for her to come to the table for their evening meal. They were having her favorite meal ...venison (back strap) medallions with Juniper berries and Bramble sauce.
A stag had been stuck in a bog and broke his leg just the week before. Her father had shot it to 'put it out of it's misery' and brought in home to hang up and process. And though it wasn't an 'official' time to 'hunt' ..it was necessary ... and 3 local families were very pleased to have the meat after the long Winter. Her father having made the kill and butchered the prize ... kept the tenderloin meat for his own family.
Even with all this ...Nan sat there with a dreamy-far-away look in her eyes and just poked and played with the food, taking an occasional bite here and there.

Her parents looked at each other with a questioning in their eyes but not speaking a word. Finally her father said,
"What's on yer mind Nan? You seem to be quite preoccupied in deep thought..."

Nan snapped back from her "away state" focused on her father face, then her mum's and answered,
" Oh....I'm just thinking about all that has happened in the past day or two."
'Well she wasn't speaking any untruths....was she?' And her parents just assumed that she was thinking about her herbs and such, ...and maybe they'd just let it be.
As her father looked at her again with some concern, she decided that she wouldn't take any chances of further investigation on his part. She started to eat her food very fast...she shoved the last bite into her mouth and got up to clear her plate. Still chewing the last bit she said,
"I'm just going out to the shed for awhile to check on things and leave for my walk from there." and as she made her way to the door she said, " It was a great dinner mum, thank you, ..and you to Da!"

Her parents looked at each other, knowing that this was a bit of an odd behavior, but shrugged it off and continued to enjoy their meal.
She got through the door and outside before they had a chance to say anything.
She breathed a sigh of relief as she walked to the shed.
'I'll just turn the roots and stay here until he comes into sight.'

In what seemed to be a lifetime she turned the roots and tidied things up in the shed. Then she saw Gillian walking toward the croft, on the horizon. She knew her father was outside now....but luckily he was on the other side of the house cutting wood and stacking peat to bring into the house for the fire.
She made haste to leave, grabbing a coat that she had hanging in the shed and slipping out unnoticed.
'If I can just get over the wee hillock fast we'll be out of eyesight.....why do I feel this need of secrecy ?...It's all a bit exciting....'

The City of Seaside is Gearing Up for the 4th of July Fireworks Display

2010-05-22T09:04:00.000-07:00

Last year by a strange quirk of fate the Vancouver, Washington fireworks display was canceled and the media re-directed the crowds to Seaside. Even some of the bands showed up and marched in the parade down Broadway.
After living in Seaside for over 20 years, I have to say, ....I was really impressed.
There was a steady stream of traffic coming into town all day. People were parking where and when ever they could. It was brilliant, ...a 'Woodstock' gathering atmosphere filled the the air.

I know that many of you have come here in the past and enjoyed the Fireworks. And for such a small Coastal Town, Seaside has always been able to 'rise to the occasion' and consistently 'outdo the year before' and create a spectacle well worth the viewing.

The Fireworks Fund request came this week.

If you would like to make a contribution please forward your cheque (check) to:

Fireworks Fund
C/O Seaside Chamber
PO Box 7
Seaside, Oregon 97138

Any amount from one dollar to one hundred...or more would be greatly appreciated and help in the creation of this years' Celebration of Independence, the Freedoms we share, and the Founding of this Nation!

Cheers,
Linda

Beltane Night- The Story of Nan con't...(Part 4)

2010-05-19T09:59:00.000-07:00

Nan woke early the next day, with Gillian on her mind. She had a quick bite to eat, and made her way to the shed, to sort through and process all she had gathered the day before.
As she entered she saw the goods that she had hastily laid out on the shelves. She took a deep breath and got started.
She gathered up the herbs and made small bouquets then she straightened the stems to equal lengths and bound them up with strips of rags to hang up-side-down from the rafters to dry evenly.
With this automatic mindless work she had plenty of time to ponder the experience of the night before and think about Gillian.
How strangely he just appeared when she was preoccupied...and how quickly he disappeared. But, with all the questions she may have about him...she had to admit she couldn't wait to see him again. In fact ...she felt a bit tingly when she turn her thoughts to him ....those blue eyes of his....and his pleasant voice. Oh dear...what was going on in her head? She'd never had much thought about men in general...she'd spent her days so immersed in her work to help others. But now ....
"Shake it off....shake it off girl" ...she said to herself out loud. And turned her attention back to the task at hand.
She divided the roots into categories and laid them out, where they wouldn't touch each other, on the wooden shelves, these would have to be turned everyday for even drying and to keep mold from setting in. Her father had left the gables peaks opened so the breezes could blow through and help air circulation for this drying process. So she placed the dampest roots at the top shelves and less damp further down.
"His eyes are different then I've seen before....they're so blue and bright...almost otherworldly....beautiful...beautiful blue...one could almost get lost in the depth of them ...." she sighed deeply with a lost, dreamy look on her face. Blankly staring into the distance and fading into another realm herself, ...
then suddenly a cawing crow in the distance snapped her back. She shook her head slightly and whispered to herself, "Get a grip girl!"
Trying to concentrate on the task in front of her, she continued her struggle between drifting into thoughts about him and tumbling back to reality until all work was done.

She finished up by 11ish in the morning and went back to the house, ...by way of walking through the fields in the opposite direction, mindlessly walking as she thought about Gillian and their meeting this night.

Her mum saw her aimlessly walking around and called for her. Nan made haste to the croft.
She spent the rest of the day helping her folks with the daily tasks and counting the minutes passing as the sun peaked and started to make it's descent into the late afternoon.
She spent most of the rest of the day in her room thinking. She had told her mum she was going out that evening with someone she had met...her mum assumed it was a gal friend and never questioned it. In turn Nan offered no more information to her.

Live Music comes to Celtic Story ....

2010-05-19T09:22:00.000-07:00

Recently a Celtic Music firm - 67 Music- made contact with me and asked if I would host some of the musicians at the shop....

So ....on June 26th at Noon and 2pm
Anton Emory will be here playing Acoustical guitar
with a stream of Celtic Music.

Hope to see you soon...
All the best,
Linda

Back at it....

2010-05-15T09:22:00.000-07:00

I returned on last Weds. and have been in the shop.

The Whitehorse Mother's Day High Tea was a success ...but with less attendance than the past events.
There seemed to have been a conflict this year with another event happening elsewhere that saw many of the Scot Society members taking to the road as opposed to staying close to home. (Let's just hope this is not a trend for the future.).

While I was gone a shipment of exclusive (to my shop) Scottish designed sweatshirts arrived at my doorstep.
I took them to the shop on Thurs. and they have been selling ever since.
One design has the word Scotland with the St. Andrew's Cross flag in the center.
The other has two intertwined dragons of differing blue tone with the word Scotland.

I am working on a speaking tour of the Seattle area for Sept.

So far I have 2 confirmed dates:

The Caledonia and St. Andrew's Society of Seattle are sponsoring my event on 17th Sept.
Which is US Constitution Day with a special meeting at:
7pm
Located at:

Lake City Presbyterian Church
3841 NE 123rd St., Seattle, Washington

For those of you the head-up the Clan Assoc. of the NW....we are respectively inviting to set up tables with information for your Clans in the front foyer. (Tables will be provided).
I will be bringing Visit Scotland materials for the Clans and the general public as well as my books available for signing, provided by the Elliot Bay book shop.
Music will be provided by a local Pipe Band

The next day 18th Sept. I will be at :

5pm-with talk and music and dancers.
Location:

Third Place Books
17171 Bothell Way NE
Lake Forest Park, WA
It is my understanding that there is a food court at this establishment.

I will keep you posted on other developments and will be posting more information about events this season...so stay in touch.

Cheers,
Linda

White Horse Coffee in Sutherlin-Mother's Day High Tea Event

2010-05-03T08:30:00.000-07:00

I will be heading south in a few days to attend this event, put on each year by the Douglas County Scots Society.
This year I will be the MC for the event, no doubt a history lesson, some poetry, and a few good stores will be part of that as well.
This is a great event, and the White Horse will have a grand fare of food laid out as well as some very good musicians.
My son has said he will run my shop on Sat. and Sun.....this will be the first time the shop has been open for Mother's Day in quite some time...(I've been leaving for this event since 2005 and usually have the shop closed up.) The agreement (between he and I ) is....if it doesn't have a price and he doesn't know the price...then he can't sell it. Fortunately he ran the shop last summer whilst I was in Scotland promoting my newly released book:
The Warriors and Wordsmiths of Freedom
and he is fairly well versed in the operation and the pricing of the merchandise. So all should go well...but there's always the outside chance that there is some item that has no sticker on it and he may be stumped.

I will be back and in the shop on the 13th.

All the best,
Linda

Beltane Night is here....

2010-04-30T16:10:00.000-07:00

Beltane is now here and many in Scotland are already on the hills with bonfires lit.
Groups are actively banishing the memory of the dark times of Winter and welcoming the Sun, in hopes of a fertile season to come.

So if you feel the urge to stomp the ground or howl at the moon...this may be your ancient Celtic mind....
so light a fire and dance around for awhile and you'll feel much better.

All the best,
Linda

Beltane Night and an Upcoming event performance

2010-04-29T07:34:00.000-07:00

Beltane Night is fast approaching and my story is not complete.

This year the story of Lindella, Nan and the Faeryfolk will continue through the season...until the telling is done and the story come to a close. This will remove the deadline and give me more time to give it the justice it deserves.

I will be leaving for the Douglas County Scot Society Mother's Day High Tea event in Sutherlin on May 8th.
My son MAY be running the shop in my absence...but he just recently hurt his neck in a fall and is the process of healing. We'll see if he's up to running the shop when the time comes. I'll be out of town for a few days ...to see me mum and do the gig.
See ya soon.
Linda

The Battle of Dublin- 23rd April 1014

2010-04-23T07:47:00.000-07:00

Dublin ... 996 years ago the Norse and the Warriors of the Celtic Realm under the leadership of Great King Brian Boru prepared for a giant battle in Dublin. The Norse had been launching their advances from the Isle of Man. Boru spent many weeks gather the best strength of men to take the Norse on in Battle.
Boru lost his life, but not on the battlefield. (For the whole story check previous posts.)
In 2014 the 1000th Anniversary of this battle will be seen.
Not a bad time to head over to Ireland to see the events that will unfold.

Linda

Just a Note of Interest- about William Wallace and his Brother Malcolm

2010-04-16T07:53:00.000-07:00

Recently...as has happened many, many times in the past...
someone came into the shop claiming connection through ancestry to William Wallace or his brother Malcolm.

I have been in contact with the Society of William Wallace in Scotland.
And just as a refresher course here....
there is no documented proof of any ability of ancestry coming from William Wallace's family...even if it is through his brother Malcolm.

Keep in mind that there were more than just one family of Wallaces in Scotland.

Cheers,
Linda

Part 3 of the continuing story for Beltane Night

2010-04-15T08:01:00.000-07:00

Many tasks would need to be done when she returned home with her gathered herbs and roots. She started ponder over the list of things she'd still need to do before the day was done.
She would have to separate the different items into groups and lay the herbs out in bundles to be strung upside down and hung from the ceiling for drying. The roots would have to be separated and laid out individually for drying as well.
Nan had a special shed that her father had built for her for this purpose. Open rafters where the herbs could be hung and long shelves lining the walls for the herbs to dry on. She visualized how she would do her work and where each of these found things would be placed.
While deep in thought about this and walking as fast as she could toward home...she passed to closely to a huge bramble and got her bulging sack caught on a twist of bramble thorns. She tugged at the sack to release it, gently at first with no success, then a bit harder, still no good. So she leaned the weight of her body into it a tugged as hard as she could...this time it let loose...but not without first tearing the sack. Some of her twigs and roots spilled out onto the ground (now become moist with the dew falling).

"Oh...hell's bells" Nan said under her breath as she put down the sack and started to gather up the spilled items and place them through the top opening. She sat down, removed the ribbon she'd had her hair tied back with and started to repair the hole in the bottom by tying it up with the ribbon. She could feel the moisture of the dew soaking through the back of her dress as she finished ans stood up....and there right in front of her face was a young blond haired man, with sharp blue eyes....not more than 3 inches from her face.
She gasped and stepped back..."Oh...I didn't see you there!"

"Oh...well I've been standing here for awhile watching you fix your sack. It looks quite heavy....may I help you by carrying it for you?" his face almost glowed he was so handsome.

Nan didn't know what to say ...still in shock from their first encounter.
"I don't remember ever seeing you here before....who are you? ....I mean ...I'm not one to take help from a stranger...and I don't know you."

"I am Gillian, ...there ...now you know me."and with that he picked up her sack and threw it over his shoulder and started to walk.

Nan unconsciously walked along side him and felt a bit dreamy every time she looked into his eyes, ....they were so blue.

"This sack is really filled to the brim and heavy...what is in here?" Gillian laughed.

"Herbs, twigs and roots for medicine....for the local people and their livestock. I needed to gather them today for the spring and summer season. Where do your people live?"

" Oh....here and there....we have a few homes here in the Highlands and move when the weather is right for one or the other. How did you learn about herbal lore ?"

"There was a woman here in the Glen that I would go with when she gathered her herbs and such when I was really young...she was a good friend of my mum's and I learned everything she had to teach me ....before she passed away...that was about 2 years ago. The rest came from books that I bought when we'd go into Inverness to buy supplies. I guess you could say I've been at this most of my life. Just something that I happen to be good at."

They talked and walked and before she knew it...she was at the edge of her parents field. darkness had fallen long before...but she hadn't notice. When they stopped there at the field's edge, suddenly she realized how late in had become. You could plainly see the blaze of the bonfires on the hillside and hear a low rumbling of music and laughter.
Gillian set down the heavy sack, "Well...here you are...safe and sound. But...you still haven't told me your name."

Nan's face flushed a bit with the abrupt realization that she didn't want this night to end, "I'm Nancy....but everyone calls me Nan."
She cast her eyes down so he couldn't see what she was thinking.

"Well, Nan...I would very much like to see you again. This has been very pleasant talking and walking with you, ....can we meet again?"

So the 2 stood and talked for a little longer and arrange to meet up again the next day...at evening time ...2 hours before dusk.

Nan bent over to pick up her sack...said "Good bye" and turned to walk home. Seconds later she turned again to look one more time at him as he walked away....but....he was no where to be seen. Nan shrugged this off ... thinking it must be a trick of the darkness.

End Part 3

Original First Portion of Beltane Night Story

2010-04-09T08:21:00.000-07:00

For those of you that wish to read the first installment of this continued story...
look at the previous post Sept 2009 (fourth post down) where the story has been converted into one stream
for ease of reading. Next segment to the 2010 story of Nan and the faeryfolk will come next week.

Cheers,
Linda

Part 2 of the continuing story for Beltane Night

2010-04-03T07:55:00.000-07:00

Part 2

Then, ... mum paused to drink some more wine, went to the bottle to pour more for herself and into Lindella's glass.

"I remember hearing this story many times in my youth....."

Lindella's father looked up from his book and fixed his eyes on his wife as she started the story.

"The weather had been fairly good for some time before your Nan set out that day.
She had been waiting for the right conditions in the air and the soil for her herb and root gathering.
There had been no rain for just the right amount of time and the soil should be dry and loose enough for the roots to slip out of the soil without damaging their delicate nature when fresh.
She woke up very early that day, the sun was not even above the horizon. But, there was just enough dim light for her to start her journey. Nan had marked the plants bearing the roots she needed back in the Autumn when the whole plant could easily be found and identified. She had waited patiently through the wet and cold weather for this day, but this was late in the season and Beltane Night was just hours away so she would have to make haste to get this done.
She bundled up her sack and some food and drink to carry with her and headed out before the birds had woke up.

The dew was still covering the ground as she made her way, about a mile from her home to the first of the marked areas to start her work. By the time she arrived the sun was breaking the horizon and the birds were chirping away and swooping around her in their mid-air dance.
She worked as fast as she could to fill her sack only stopping once as the sun was high in the sky to eat and have some tea she'd brought along that day. She even ate faster than normal so she could get back to her quest, still having much to do and more grounds to cover.

Nan had been on the open moor gathering herbs, roots, and various unusual items for the better part of the mid-afternoon.

Some of the roots needed to be dug now before the sap started to run upwards to create the new growth of Spring. This would be the last time these particular types could be brought in to dry and store this season. She had wander very far in search of this root and would need as much as possible for the treatment of new lambs for digestive vitality and a salve for the cows udders.
This same root would help young infant with colic, sparing the parents from the woe of hearing their newly borne child crying because of stomach problems. There had been many a time, she'd had to advise women that were feeding their child with her own milk, that they would have to 'stop eating haggis for awhile'. The ingredients would have an effect on not only her digestive system but ...that same problem would be passed on through the milk to the babe.

Before she realized she had wandered many miles from the croft and even farther from the hills beyond, where she could see the bonfires had already been lit, the flames looked golden in the still dimly lit sky. At the sight of this she suddenly realized darkness would be upon her soon.

She gathered up her last root and shoved it into the clothe sack she'd been filling all day, now heavy with herbs, roots, and twigs. Nan threw the sack over her shoulder and started her trek toward home.
Nan hurried along the heather clad pathway working her way back to her home.
She was quite pleased with herself and the amount of medicinals she had gathered that day. She hummed an old tune while she made her way home."
End Part 2

Beltane Night the Story of Nan

2010-03-16T17:49:00.000-07:00

As promised here is the beginning of the continued story of Lindella:

Part One:

Lindella sat a bit dumbfounded, waiting for her mum to start.
Her mum got up and poured 3 glasses of wine, handed one to her husband, then walked back to
the place where Lindella sat by the fire and handed a glass to her. She stood with her wine in hand
and took a large, long drink...looked at her daughter and took a deep breathe.

" Long ago when your Nan was not quite as old as you are now, I think she was 18...this long saga
started. You see, ... your Nan had a gift that was given to her at birth, ...she was 'a sensitive' as we called it back then...she had second sight.
Her mum had noticed it when she was only 5 years old, when she cried for an hour
after her mum had a local woman over for tea. She was inconsolable in this weeping that started up as soon
as the neighbor woman had left the house. Try as she may to get her daughter to tell her what was troubling her and causing this upheaval of emotion, Nan just cried on and on.

Suddenly as her mum rocked her in her arms and stroked her hair, Nan sobbed these words,
" I really like Una !'
(for that was the neighbor's name).
"I really like Una too...so why weep over friendship?"
"I'm weeping for the loss of her friendship..." Nan said
"What ever do you mean by that?" her mum asked.
" Una is leaving us tonight, and we'll never see her again..!"
"Oh ....is she to move away? She never mentioned that to me."
'No", Nan said very frustrated because her mum didn't understand and she had to explain it..." she's going to heaven to see her mum and sister."
"What? Don't be silly girl..she's healthy as a horse and we will see her in the morning!" This reaction is of course the normal thing a parent would do given that the child was young. But,thinking that it was nothing, there was a lingering doubt that remained...how did Nan know that Una's mother had already passed away? (After all Una was no more than 29 yrs old herself). Well, maybe she had mentioned it ...but I know she'd never would have mentioned her baby sister dying, ...it was a tragedy in the village and no one ever mentioned it. The child had wandered into the moor and stepped on by a highland cow, at the age of 3. This all happened long before Nan had been born. But, she still tried to shake it off and think maybe the child had heard something somewhere.

The next day her mom found all Nan had said had come to pass, and she started to listen a bit more keenly to what ramblings came out of this child's mouth.

Nan's life continued to be a bit unusual compared to the norm, but most all flashes of insight or premonitions happened within the confines of their own home and fields. Nan became fascinated with wildlife and herb lore, naturals remedies and spells. By the time she was but 18 yrs. old the local residents were relying heavily on the knowledge that your Nan had accumulated and she became quite famous throughout that region of the Highlands as a 'Wise Woman'.

Then came Beltane Night in her 18th year, from that night on Nan's life took a very strange turn indeed.

End Part One

The Beltane Story

2010-02-23T09:17:00.000-08:00

For those of you that have shown interest and have made the request...
I am giving thought to the continuing story of Lindella, and will pursue writing (in segments) the
story leading up to Beltane celebrations again this year.
Sorry it's taken so long to get back to this...but life has had a few bumps in the road the past few months.

Re-reading last year story is my next task....maybe you'd like to do so as well.

The rains are back ...so there more time in the house ...for pondering.

Hope life is well for you all.
Cheers,
Linda

Glencoe Memorial-Hillsboro, Oregon

2010-02-14T07:28:00.000-08:00

Yesterday there was (as there is each year) a Memorial Service for the Massacre of Glencoe that took place in Glencoe, Scotland 13th Feb. 1692.
I was unable to attend because of the needs of my shop.
Two very good friends (Jim and Pat McClean) placed stones at the Cairn there,
to honour of my Father and David R. Ross.

They wrote and said: (about the stones)

Names and dates were put on them with a fine felt pin and then covered with clear varnish. Jim said a few words about David and your Dad.
It is a tradition for the MacDonald's to place a stone at the Cairn for those that had passed from this world in the year proceeding the Memorial. And I'm am very thankful to have friends that can be there for me in this manner. Jim and Pat are very good souls indeed! And you can meet them at the Highland Games in the Northwest, by visiting the Clan MacLean tent.

My son opened his shop, "Seaside Beads", yesterday and took his initial plunge into the wacky world of retail in a coastal town. Next time you're in Seaside...make sure to stop by and see him. Hopefully he won't look so tired by then. He had just taken over the location at the beginning of the month and has pulled many 'all nighters' to get the doors open, by this weekend.

My friend Jimi McRae (aka Jimi the Piper) is in Beijing, China...piping in the Chinese New Year! Hope he's staying warm...and having a great time of it. I think this is the 3rd time he's been hired on to do this.

New stock is arriving at the shop each day now...and I'm making ready for the season (which starts with this weekend for me) and St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner...I can smell the Corned Beef and Cabbage already!

One of the 'local haunts' on Ave "U'' here has been taken over by new owners. It used to be Goose Hollow...now is Harbour Bites. But, unfortunately they have no Guinness on tap like the Goose people did.
So (as far as I know) Dundee's downtown is now the only game in town to serve up the Guinness on draught.
Bummer for all that like to partake in the dark amber waterfall of this nutritious libation. (I've already expressed my feelings about this with the new staff on Ave "U".) Having options in life is a very good thing.

Well, time to make ready to greet the day!

Cheers,
Linda

Shop Hours for the Upcoming Holiday Weekend

2010-02-07T08:37:00.000-08:00

Dear Folk,

I am in the process of bringing new items in for the upcoming season. New arrivals each week.
First up is Presidents Weekend and St. Valentine's Day. Then off and running for the Shamrocks
with St. Patrick's Day. The clothing range for the Irish is being produced now and should be arriving soon.

This weekend I will be open:
Thurs. thru Monday
10am-2pm (or later if it is busy)

The 1st (unofficial) Visit Scotland Centre in the USA-located in the back portion of the shop is now open!

Visit Scotland has sent the new 2010 Travel Planners, Ancestral booklets (with a map of where the
Clans of Scotland had the land holdings), Maps of Scotland (wall size), and many other items of interest.
These are the essentials needed for planning your upcoming trip to the Homeland.

I have started to fill the walls with information about history and sites to see and experience.

Onward and upward into 2010!

Hope to see you soon!

Slainte,
Linda

Attention: All Who Love a Good Concert

2010-01-28T06:58:00.000-08:00

Jim Malcolm is a personable and very talented folk musician from Scotland
who has fans in many countries. His recordings are heard often on Fiona
Ritchie's National Public Radio show, Thistle and Shamrock. You can sample
his music on his informative web site www.jimmalcolm.com and on U-tube.
These concerts are great fun and are held in cozy, intimate venues.

Tickets are $18. Reservations are required and payment is at the door. Cash
and exact change are appreciated. Checks are accepted but plastic is not. If
you reserve and then must cancel, please notify me as soon as possible
because Jim's past concerts have all sold out and there might be a waiting
list. Thanks.

Friday Feb. 5 in Forest Grove
Door at 7:00, music at 7:30
BJ's Coffee Co. 2834 Pacific Ave. in Ballad Towne Shopping Center, west
side Food and drink service available before start and during the break.

Sunday Feb. 7 in S.E. Portland
Door at 6:30, music at 7:00
Private house concert at 6333 SE Scott Dr. See internet map. Home is near SE
Stark and 62nd.

Reservations and information: lynx3@verizon.net or 503-357-2947

O wad some power the giftie gie us To see oursel's as ithers see us! It wad frae monie a blunder free us. And foolish notion; What airs in dress and gait wad lea'e us, And ev'n devotion!

2010-01-20T11:10:00.000-08:00

The line above is from Robert Burns': To a Louse, (on seeing one on a Lady's Bonnet, at Church).

January 25th is Burns Night, to celebration the 251st anniversary of the birth of the great poet of Scotland!

This (above) is one of the many 'most quoted' lines from the vast writings of the man.
To think that such a powerful and thought provoking line as this ...is tucked into a poem about a louse (single of lice) making it's way onto a bonnet of a fair lady is astonishing!

It is said that the words of a poet brings change to the world. Poets tends to say, eloquently, the things that others ...only think.
This man, born 2 and half centuries ago has had a lasting effect; not only on Scotland and her people ...
but throughout the world.
I have often said.."I started to read Burns at the age of 8, ... and started to understand it when I was 30!"

Someone, quite young, asked me last year, "Who was Robert Burns?"
I replied, "He's the one that wrote that song, ...that you sing on New's Year Eve every year!"

So if you have a chance, ...seek out the local Burns Night Supper Event and raise a glass to honour and celebrate the man! Scots wha hae...!

Cheers,
Linda

Burns Night Supper Event

2010-01-09T08:50:00.000-08:00

Sorry about the late posting of this.

There will be a Burn's Night Supper in Roseburg, Oregon... at the Douglas County Fairgrounds on Jan 16th.
No host bar at 5pm
Buffet Dinner at 6pm

$27.00 each

For more information please contact Deb Rutter at (541) 672-9396

Dear folk I normally have more posts about events like this ....but this year...seeing the tradgic death of a friend in Scotland has taken alot of my time this week. Working on Obituary for him with news agents back in Scotland.

Things should mellow out after the Memorial on Monday.

Cheers, Linda

David R. Ross - Author, Historian, Biker, and Scotland's Favoured Son

2010-01-07T08:31:00.000-08:00

ALL MEN DIE ...BUT NOT ALL MEN REALLY LIVE !

Yesterday when I opened my laptop I was faced with a very sad report from my
publishing house in Edinburgh.

My good friend and fellow author David R.Ross had passed away at his home
on 2nd Jan. 2010 from a heart attack at the age of 51...to be 52 in Feb.
( I wrote about him in my book) He was a major 'mover-and-shaker' in Scotland and...
I don't know what Scotland and many individuals like myself will do without him.

He has written many books about Wallace, the Bruce, Bonnie Prince Charlie...and the like..
the most recent being one on The Black Douglas ...James the Good.
He had just completed another book about great woman in Scotland and sent it to the publisher, this Autumn.

He was scheduled to leave his home today (Jan 7th) to tour Florida...no idea if anyone there has been notified yet.

Everyone thought it was 'just' a rumour...then confirmation came in yesterday early.

Spent the day crying and drinking whisky.

You see David and I had set out to do the same thing...promote Scotland in America (though he was much further ahead in the game than myself ) we had agreed that he would take the East Coast and I would take the West Coast and we'd meet somewhere in the middle. LOL!

With his passing I feel quite alone now....

He was the Convener for the Society of William Wallace in Scotland and was the single-handed force in organizing all of the events that have taken place in these past couple of decades since the Parliament vote was passed.

Oh Me! Who can fill his shoes?

He was a huge man and had had trouble with his heart ever since he was in preparation for the Walk for Wallace in 2005, (preparation started 4 years before). He walked 450 miles in the same 19 days it took Wallace to be transported to London for execution in 1305, and did this on the 700th Memorial to the capture and murder of Wallace by the English.

Each time I saw him he would mention his health....but strangely ...it seemed to me ...he had been pushing quite hard this last year and a half...
though now it seems that maybe he knew his time was short and he was trying his best to complete what he had set out to do....free his nation and ....education of the masses here was the key to that.

The memorial for him will be on Monday next....I won't be able to go....some times I hate where I live just because of the logistics of it all. Most of the time I love my home, my town, my country, ...but, ... this is one of those times where I wish I lived in Boston so I could just hop the plane and be there.

Sorry I'm dumping all this at your doorstep...but I thought you...being who you are would not only care to know but would understand my ramblings about it.

Thankfully I saw him at my book launch in Stirling. And it occurred to me yesterday that we (this core group of people that have been working for Scotland since
we first 'became' the core group in 1997) ....we all sat down 'together' for the first time since 1997 and had lunch at the book event...it was brilliant to all be there at once
talking away about what we were each up to and planned to do in the near future.

That day when David first saw me ...he was sitting on a ledge of a wall inside or a table ...he called he over grabbed me with his massive arms ...and pulled me in...he then wrapped his legs around my legs while hugging me tight and wouldn't let go, ... while he talked into my ear telling me all the things that 2 people that have know each other for quite some time say to each other. We stayed in this clutch for 15-20 minutes. And ....I so cherish this now.
He spoke about his heart and his health at that time as well.

Once when we spoke through email this Autumn he was still on the East Coast at the time, he spoke of being tired and "just wanted Home".
I'm glad for David that he was home when he passed. He'd always said when I die...take me home to Scotland if I am not already there.

I had been re-living the Wars of Independence at the mark of the 700th Anniversary for each event.
Starting with the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1997...the Falkirk, the Death of Wallace, the Coronation of Robert the Bruce, ....next is the 700th of the Battle of Bannockburn 2014...but this time David won't be there...he's always been there....the Wallace Day march in August...and all the other pinnacle events....where we would 'run into each other'. If he has it within his power he will be at Bannockburn in 2014....like he was in 2006 for the Bruce's Coronation event. I'll be there....and I'll be looking and watching for any sign of him.

David, ....you are sorely missed now...but the void you have left in your wake, I fear will not be fully understood for many months to come.

Rest easy my friend, ...you deserve it....for all you've done for Scotland ...your beloved Homeland ...and the rich history you single-handedly kept in the forefront for the people today.

Linda MacDonald-Lewis

The New Year is Calling ....Hogmanay's Coming

2009-12-21T08:43:00.000-08:00

Another year is quickly coming to a close, though many of us are still working on the preparation for Christmas, including myself.
Christmas is fast followed by the New Year's Eve celebrations around the world. One of the largest of these will be taking place in Edinburgh - " Hogmanay ".
As the folk (that hold to auld traditions ) head home after the celebrations, ...they will lock their doors. These doors will not be opened for any but....a tall handsome man carrying a bottle of spirit with him...(though in today's world...it could be a woman as well), ...only then, ... will they be welcomed into the house to share in the bottle (no doubt) and this is called "Firstfooting". The first to have footing into your hoose for the new year, ...bringing with them good fortune and well-being in the form of friendship and libation to bring the New Year in ...the proper way.....sounds great doesn't it?

This time of year is for reflection, ...reflection of all the things that have come to pass in the last year and the influence it has all had on each of our lives. To say good- bye to those people and things that have forever passed from our lives and to welcome all those things that are lurking in the future for us.

It is my sincere hope that each of you have a wonderful Christmas, ...and a very Happy Hogmanay!
( NOTE: If you happen to stumble in my direction...in the wee hours of the moring on the 1st day of 2010,
and you happen to have a bottle in your hands, ...I prefer a good single-malt to any another libation!)
LOL!

Happy Holidays,
Linda

The Royal Mail - bless 'em

2009-12-15T08:56:00.000-08:00

I know we like to poke fun at the mail carriers, and this is not just a local phenomenon but world-wide.
This time of year with all the posted cards and packages, all mail carriers have their backs up against the wall trying their best to make deliveries in a timely fashion.

Scotland with it's remote lay-out and small villages dotting the landscape has been (no doubt) a challenge down through history. But, that hasn't seemed to hindered the mail getting through.

I once sent a package to a business in Inverness. I didn't have the completed address ...but had been assured by people down through the years ...that it shouldn't matter!

So I addressed it this way:

Harley's Pub and Grill
(upstairs) on the High Street
above a local dress shop
Inverness
Scotland UK

2 years later I stopped by the Pub and there was the sign I'd sent them next to the mirror behind the bar.
The local carriers (no doubt) knew exactly where I intended the package to go. And had probably had a pint or two in the establishment down through the years themselves.

Another remarkable thing in Scotland is...
you can "Ride with the Royal Mail".

If you need to go to a remote area that no public transportation travels to...you can (with proper notification)
go to the local Post Office and request riding out to the area with the local Postman (woman). If you arrange it so you can normally hitch a ride back in a few days. Brilliant!

This is a very good way to have a "public service" actually serve the public, save petrol, and...
the postman know everyone and most everything going on in the local area, ...so your tour will be very informative in local lore.
So if you're ever in an area in Scotland where you'd like to venture out farther... but don't know how to get there... check with the Royal mail and see if they can help you out.

Happy Trails,
Linda

"Once in a Blue Moon" ....

2009-12-08T09:28:00.000-08:00

We've all heard that expression but many don't know what it means.

A Blue Moon is when 2 Full Moons fall within one calender month.
That would be the case this month. There was a Full Moon on the 2nd...
and another will come on the 31st.

This month (Dec.21st) also will see in the celebration of Auld called Winter Solstice.
This was one of the significant events with the Pre-Christain Celts.
It was seen (and is still seen by many that practice "The Old Ways" today)
as the day of the Death and Rebirth of the Sun (The birth of the Sun (son) sound familiar?)

Later it would be called 'Yule' or the Yuletide.

The Full Moon following this Winter Solstice celebration is considered to be the most powerful Full Moon of the year for ancient rituals.

This day (Winter Solstice) is of course the day that is the shortest in daylight and the sun is the lowest in the sky.
On the next dawn with the rebirth of the Sun, the days begin to grow longer and the sun slowly grows stronger, until we reach the Summer Solstice (the longest day of the year).

Candles, bonfires, and torches were lit to welcome the Sun back to the Earth and all those good things that come with it...the melting of snow and frost, warmth, light and the promise of a fruitful and prosperous Spring and Summer for all.

Another fact ...brought to you by...
Linda

Christmas Shopping

2009-12-03T08:00:00.000-08:00

Dear Folk...

It's turning cold and the snow is soon to fall...or so they say on the news programs....

If any of you have a need for goods from the shop and can't make the trip...feel free to contact me through the
email address at the sidebar. If you know what the item is and it's possible to ship it out to you I would be willing to do that.
Also...if you are planning a trip to the coast (and th shop) on a day that is when the shop is not open ...
just contact me through this same email address....and we can make an appointment to meet up at the shop.

The Homecoming Events in Scotland have now come to a close for the year. And what a year it was!!!!

The next big event will be in 2014...with the 700th Anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn, should be a hoot.

Back on the American Homefront...Burn's Night Supper's are just around the corner...Jan 25th.
I will list as many event venues as I can find, over the next weeks.

I trust you're all staying warm and healthy.
All the Best,
Linda

Holiday-Thanksgiving Weekend-Sale

2009-11-23T09:09:00.000-08:00

Dear Folk,

I will be at the shop on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday this weekend, for your Christmas shopping needs.
I will open as usual at 10am and continue through the day until 3pm or later....Sunday I may leave earlier if
the crowds are light.

I do never run sales in the shop ...but this year I would like to have a customer appreciation sale...
Mention this site and receive 10% off of your purchase. (But, you'll have to remind me of this...no doubt I'll
have a "semi-coma brain" induced by the tryptophan coursing through the veins from the mass amounts of turkey and other fine foods spread out on the table that Thursday.

I sincerely hope You will All have a Mighty Good Time with Friends and Family this Thanksgiving!

And I'd like to thank-you all for your never-ending support over the years...and for the years to come.
I've had a great time in the shop, ...as I hope you have.

All the Best to you...
and those that care for You!

Slainte,
Linda

Northwest Events - Irish Music et al....

2009-11-21T20:20:00.000-08:00

Heads Up here's some venue you may want to see.....

Come celebrate the timeless magic of Celtic Yuletide with our Boulding family midst a grand array of Northwest talent. Three generations come together in this brilliant festival of Irish music, dance and storytelling to bring joy and warmth into the heart of winter.

Order your tickets today! See the complete schedule below.

Now spanning over three decades, Yuletide comes alive when Tara Academy's award winning Irish Dancers and juggler extraordinaire Thomas Arthur join Magical Strings on stage. Our virtuoso violinist and daughter Brittany, who has just moved back from NYC will offer a stunning solo. You'll hear the magnificent Irish flute and vocals of Hanz Araki, be mesmerized by Colleen Raney's sparkling voice and Mark Raney's poignant songs and warm humor. You'll be transported to the Celtic lands with the haunting pipes of Tom Creegan and by the stories and fresh harp and dulcimer music from Philip and Pam's recent journey to Ireland and much more-get inspired, join the procession, and kindle the light of Yuletide!

This coming Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 7 & 8 you can hear Brittany perform as Concertmaster with the Bellevue Philharmonic at the Meydenbauer. It is wonderful having our daughter back in Seattle and seeing her frequently perform with the Seattle Symphony; she is also the new Concertmaster of the Auburn Symphony.

Philip will be in Spokane at Inland Crafts, November 6-8. For those of you in the Spokane area, come visit the booth and see our gorgeous new harps, and pick up a copy of our newest CD "Best of Magical Strings - Dances and Dreams", a 2-CD set that richly encompasses thirty years of Magical Strings music.

Celtic Yuletide Concert Schedule for 2009

Shoreline: Sunday, Nov. 29, 3:00 pm, Shorecrest Performing Arts Center, 206-417-4645

Olympia: Friday, Dec. 4, 7:30 pm, Saint John's Episcopal Church

Kent: Sunday, Dec. 6, 3:00 pm, Kent-Meridian Perf. Arts Center 253-856-5050

Portland: Saturday, Dec. 12, 7:30 pm, 1st Congregational Church

Bellevue: Monday, Dec. 14, 7:00 pm, Theater at Meydenbauer

Tacoma: Friday, Dec. 18, 7:30 pm, Urban Grace

Seattle: Saturday, Dec. 19, 3:00 pm, University Christian Church

Mt. Vernon: Monday, Dec. 21, 7:00 pm, The Lincoln Theater, 712 S 1st Street, 360-336-8955

Tickets for Olympia, Portland, Bellevue, Tacoma and Seattle can also be purchased by phone at 800-838-3006

We look forward to seeing you at one of our concerts!
Pam and Philip Boulding

WWW.MAGICALSTRINGS.COM

Changes for the Better

2009-11-11T08:34:00.000-08:00

My son is presently working on this posting site...which will soon have a different look and appeal...
or so I'm being told.
I am one who doesn't like abrupt changes in life, ...more into a slow evolution of things.

I just typed in the World According to Linda in the google search bar and the new site came up in the search.
It looks a bit white and stark but has many options for a better overall navigation (or so it will be in the future).
And it has the same postings as here but doesn't list the contact info and links yet...this will be remedied hopefully today or tomorrow.
If you find this (new) site and wish to come back to this one...if you click the "Home" word it brings you back here...
I'm confused.... are you?

With this new site there will be an authors page and I'll be able to separate the catagories of Events, Folklore,
Poetry, Shop Hours and the like....that's the theory anyway.

I really don't understand all this...but do comprehend the "idea" of it. Not my forte!
That's where the son comes in...he is the Internet Expert, and has been working hard at this for some time now.
Also in the works is a much requested On-Line shopping site...(still in the works) which will make it easier for those of you that live outside the NW...to be able to get product from my shop, without having to physically travel here...that's the theory anyway.

When he first set-up this site for me years ago...I had the same approach...cautiously I went forward.
At first I had no idea what to blether on about 'on the blog', I felt like I was exposing myself to the world...like a flasher..LOL!
But slowly I came to understand that it was a great avenue to be able to keep the public informed on events and tell stories ...etc. So I expect these new changes will be approach by me in the same fashion.

I hope this is not confusing for you...(like it is for me)..I am assured by the man (my son) that all will be for the best and I'll get the hang of it eventually. Fingers crossed, he will be right.

The sun is shining in Seaside...and all is right with the world.
So onward and upward....

Cheers,
Linda

Update on Shop Hours for the Fall and Winter

2009-11-04T09:31:00.000-08:00

I will return to the shop this weekend and have knocked the hours down to
Friday 10am-3pm
Saturday 10am-3pm
Sunday 10am-2pm

Hope to see you all soon....

Cheers,
Linda

St. Andrews Day Celebration

2009-10-31T07:44:00.000-07:00

St. Andrews Day Celebration

Date:        Mon. 30th Nov., 2009

Location: The Fa Fa Gourmet
Chinese restaurant and karaoke bar

Address: 11712 NE Fourth Plain Rd     Vancouver, WA     98682.

Time:        Gathering from 6pm or 7pm, and go until the bar closes.

Everyone Welcome.... All Clans... All Communities... All Societies

If you got Tartan Apparel or Kilt... wear it !!!!

Come celebrate Scotland and it's patron Saint :St Andrew

All Pipers, Singers, Storytellers, Fiddlers, Tin Whistlers, Guitarist etc.
welcome (tips only...for the songs or tunes).

In Memorium-Archie E.MacDonald- My Father-My Hero-My Strength

2009-10-30T08:10:00.000-07:00

On Oct 20th 2009 my father passed from this world. I was on a visit to my parents house when this happened.
I've just returned home and am trying to adjust back into my world after spending almost 2 weeks there.
It's nice to be in my own surroundings again. As has been the theme this year...my son has steadfastly been there for me in my time of need, to take over my position at the counter of the shop.
I will return to the shop next weekend ...until then my son is running the shop Fri., Sat.and Sun.

My apoplogies for my silence here on this site, ...

Linda

Update and Contact Information

2009-10-15T18:36:00.000-07:00

Please note the 'contact address' in the sidebar. This is a new feature that give the readers and my customers a
direct line of contact.

It's time to take a wee break ( and a deep breath), from the onslaught of the busy season and book launch events. Over the next few weeks the shop hours will be pared down a bit. Always there at 10am but the days will vary from Thurs. to just Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. closing when I need to. (maybe after 2pm or 3pm).

Cheers,
Linda

The Warriors and Wordsmiths of Freedom: the Birth and Growth of Democracy

2009-10-09T08:15:00.000-07:00

The following is an article I wrote for the website "Panalba" for the World-wide All-Clan Gathering and book launch events in Scotland this July.
I recently found this on someone's blog site and thought you may enjoy reading it as well.
___________________________________________________________________________________

The Warriors and Wordsmiths of Freedom: the Birth and Growth of Democracy
Linda MacDonald-Lewis 07/20/2009 05:56 AM

The following is an article by the author including excerpts from the above book released this month world-wide available soon on Panalba.

‘It's a woman who wears the mantle of being the progenitor of the Scots people. Scota was her name...'

In the far reaches of Scotland's history... before the Picts and the Scots became one, before Christianity or feudalism set in ...there was a theme of equality, rights, freedom, and choice.
Skatha (Scota) taught the young men of Ireland, including Cuchulain, the skills of being a warrior, from the Isle of Skye. As for the Picts, the other cultural people who inhabited Scotland's shores, their system of inheritance and of rule is believed to have been passed through the line of women. Within this Scots/Pictish culture, many stories have been passed down of female warriors, leaders and advisers.

There never seemed to be a question of "man or woman" in this early history. Ability outranked gender. Equality, choice and consideration of others rights, in the race and social structure, was the result. This basic foundation of equality was a difference that would go on to influence history for many centuries to come.

Many, to this very day, will say, ‘the feudal system of rule reigned over the Middle Ages throughout the Western world.' But in Scotland, the clan systems that descended from the Celtic and Pictish tribes still held the power. Within this realm, the chiefs were not ‘rulers' in the feudal sense, but were considered to be the ‘first among equals'. There was a bloodline connection between the chieftain/chieftainess and the people they viewed as their clan. Not so in the feudal world, where through treachery or war the throne could and often did fall into the hands of a foreign power.

Those same clans were once again to rise up as late as the 1600s and 1700s, to bring their ‘chosen king' back to the throne. They all carried within them, in their hearts and their spirits, that long-held belief in equality and the rights that each person is given at birth.'
The Jacobite Rising is often held out as being fueled by the struggle of Protestant vs. Catholic, which can be misleading. On further study we see many Jacobites were in fact Protestant and Episcopal not struggling to bring back their King (James Stuart) because he was Catholic, but because he was the choice of the people, the ‘chosen king', ...their "rightful king". (Such was the circumstance of those souls the MacIains, on that fateful morning 13 February 1692, known as the Massacre of Glencoe.)
And these Jacobites were not just in Scotland, but throughout Ireland and England as well.
When the Jacobite Rebellion failed at Culloden Moor, many say, this defeat brought about "an end of the Scottish Clans and their way of life". Still, many left Scotland's shores for the Colonies of North America, seeking the right to live in peace and freedom. (Hugh Mercer, was at Culloden with Bonnie Prince Charlie's army and later died on the battlefield in the fight for Independence, at the Battle of Princeton. ). The reasons for fighting on both shores were much the same, ...the ideals surrounding rights of man.

These ideals of basic rights for all go back through millennia; the right to be involved in the choice of leadership, the code of ethics contained within the code of Highland hospitality, and the general way of life. And these same ideals, held fast by the Scots, have helped to deliver up to us, our freedom.
The freedom that we take for granted today was given to us by the sacrifice and endurance of those that came before. This freedom, and the democracy that grew from it, was over 500 years in the making.

This book will take you from the days of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Independence in Scotland, to the days of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson and their fight for freedom in America during the Revolutionary War. Follow the thread from Scotland to America, and come to understand how important one ended up being to the other.
We will see how and why a ‘wordsmith' (writer) in Arbroath, Scotland, created a document in 1320... and the influence it had 450 years later, and thousands of miles away, on a new people, in a new land.'

The similarity between these two documents: The Declaration of Arbroath and the Declaration of Independence did not happen by chance. Both reflect the basic beliefs the race of Scots carried with them no matter where they travelled. These beliefs, held fast by the Scots people, influenced all those that came in contact with them, like the later "Wordsmiths of Freedom"...George Buchanan, John Locke, and Thomas Paine. And, can also be seen in the statement made by George Washington below, as compared to the most famous quote from the Declaration of Arbroath.

For so long as a hundred of us remain alive,we will never submit ourselves to English dominion.We fight not for glory nor riches nor honours;but only and alone we fight for freedom,which no good man gives up,but with his life.
DECLARATION OF ARBROATH, SCOTLAND 1320

If all else fails, I will retreat up the valley of Virginia, plant my flag on the Blue Ridge, rally around the Scotch-Irish of that region and make my last stand for liberty amongst a people who will never submit to British tyranny whilst there is a man left to draw a trigger...
GEORGE WASHINGTON AT VALLEY FORGE, WINTER 1777-78

The book launch for 'Warriors and Wordsmiths' will be held at 11am, Wednesday 29 July at the Smith Art Gallery and Museum, Dumbarton Road, Stirling FK8 2RQ, please RSVP to 01786 471917 or to museum@smithartgallery.demon.co.uk .
LINDA MACDONALD-LEWIS lives mostly in Seaside, Oregon and has dedicated herself to teaching America about Scotland. She visits Scotland frequently, and in 2005 she represented the USA at a conference on William Wallace at the Smith Art Gallery and Museum, Stirling, Scotland.
Linda is a Life Member of the Clan Donald Lands Trust in Scotland and is currently the Convener for the Clan Donald-USA, Pacific Northwest Region. She often performs at Highland Games and gatherings as a poet, historian and storyteller.

DunCarron Motte and Bailey Fort

2009-10-08T07:55:00.000-07:00

This is a project a friend of mine back in Scotland has been working on.
Take a look, soon I hope to have information on this project in my Information Centre at the Celtic Story shop in Seaside.

Duncarron – A fortified village of Scotland
The Clanranald Trust is currently building a full-scale replica of an early Medieval Motte & Bailey Fort. This will be typical of the Scottish Clan Chief’s residence throughout the earlier part of the last millennium.
Duncarron is situated in Carron Valley Forest to the East of the Carron Valley Reservoir. Access to the site is via the B818 Denny to Fintry Road. The B818 can also be reached via the Tak-ma-doon road from Kilsyth to Carron Bridge.
Click here - DunCarron Location, for a map view of the project location.
The village settlements were based around a ‘Bailey’ (the Clan Chief’s home and Clan meeting hall), which was usually built on or beside a ‘Motte’ (a natural man made mound). The level of fortification surrounding the Bailey and any other associated buildings depended upon various aspects including, the wealth & size of the Clan, the fort’s location and the strength of other local Clans or aggressor forces.
An authentic medieval working community atmosphere will be created, where groups, parties and individuals can participate in and view a range of activities, typical of the period.
This development will be used as the physical base for the Trust, working with local education authorities, community & theatre groups, national tourism industry, etc. Through participation with these groups, the Trust will create a unique opportunity for promoting Scottish heritage & culture through interaction, providing educational benefits to school children, students and the general public. Promoted as a popular tourist destination, the raised profile of the area will also benefit the local tourism sector economy.
Generating enthusiasm towards historical culture will be achieved through the provision of a complete interactive learning environment, incorporating national curriculum requirements, with hands-on experience, craftwork, self-sufficiency agricultural methods, ongoing building maintenance and the general living skills typical of the people of these times.
This will be a living-working village where people will produce arts and crafts by traditional methods from their workshops. Every effort will be made to utilise clothing materials similar to the times, and Staff and Volunteers will be in period dress.
To add further to the atmosphere, the Fort will offer banquets for weddings and special occasions, events and other activities. It is also expected that the authentic appearance of the Fort will create demand for its use as a location for film productions and period dramas, etc.

Those who are trying to contact me

2009-09-26T08:32:00.000-07:00

Dear treasured customers...

for those who are trying to contact me :
We are working on setting up a contact email address for my customers.

But this will take some time.

Presently the only contact option is to comment on this blog...
but you must leave an email address in the comment...
because it has a "no-reply" in place of your return email address on the comment.

The choice is yours...
if you wish for me to reply to your comment leave your email address in it.

Sorry for the inconveinence ...this will be remedied soon.

Cheers,
Linda

Shop Hours Update

2009-09-25T17:11:00.000-07:00

It seems that I have injured my ribs.

So I will be in the shop.... for as long as I can, this weekend.

10am to ????? Sat. and Sun.

Cheers,
Linda

Flags return to Celtic Story

2009-09-23T10:12:00.000-07:00

I just placed a flag order and they should arrive by next week.
I will have both Scotland flags, (Saltire and Lion), 3 Ireland flags ( Orange and Green, Ulster, and Erin go Braugh), Wales, and the Isle of Man.

If you have yet to see the new Thistle Wall Plaque this is a must see for all of you that are of the Scottish persuasion.

Best to you,
Linda

Beltane Night Story (Combined Version) from the title Lindella and the Faeryfolk

2009-09-15T19:27:00.000-07:00

( This is a short story that was posted (originally) in 6 Parts throughout the month of April 2009 leading up to the celebration of Beltane Night (May Eve). It has been reformatted
in one stream for the present reader. I intend to continue the story of Lindella and her life ... so stay tuned .... to see what twist and turns her future holds.)

Lindella and the Faeryfolk

Chapter One

Beltane Night

This Beltane Night...

She had stayed at the Beltane Fire too long.
But, .... she didn't care. She had a great time, and everyone she'd known for years was there.
Everyone accept her parents, of course; and a few others in the local villages that were just like them.
'They'... all just stayed at home, stuck in their old Calvinistic view and the restrictive world of 'their chosen religion'. They'd have nothing to do with the 'Old Ways' of Pre-Christian beliefs of the Celtic Realm, ... like Faeries, Magic, the Old Gods, nature's omens or other "superstitious things".

Their views never did have much affect on her and how she chose to see the world; but when it came to her Mum's mum ..'Nan', it was a different story. Her Nan had always seemed to have a depth of understanding the world, that her parents and their religion lacked. There was a mysterious magical current running through the way her Nan looked at things, that spoke to her as a young child, and still intrigued her now as a young woman.

Chance would have it, that her parents were open minded enough to not put their own opinions and views of this, on to her. The young woman attributed this to her Nan's influence on the family, and how much respect her mother, had for her own 'Mum'. It was Nan herself, that had chosen her name,before she had come into the world .... 'Lindella', (a modernized version of the name for the Ancient Celtic 'Serpent of Wisdom' ). She was Nan's first and only granddaughter, from her own daughter and as she often said, "she had an ancient right, to do so".
Nan was very wise indeed, respected by all that knew her and by those that had only heard of her.

"Besides," .... Lindella thought, ...she was 22 years old, and "could make her own decisions about life; and live with the ramifications that would come from those choices, ... whether good or bad." Or so she had been told, .... for all these many years by both her parents, .... and her Nan. ....."

Every year, since she could remember, the locals would gather on the eve before that day of May 1st, ...hours before dusk, and head up the hillside to set a blaze, the Beltane Night's giant bonfires. Each of the villagers carried huge baskets of food and drinks, filled to the brim, blankets of tartan pattern (usually from the clan of that particular family), and musical instruments of every sort known to the Highlands. The crofters that had livestock, brought them along as well, to be driven between the bonfires in an 'act of purification', - to drive out any evil or disease that had set into them, from the (now dwindling), winter's dark and wild ways. Heading for the high ground the locals would make this seasonal migration, leaving the lower landscapes behind, so the Faeryfolk could have the freedom of movement, without any interference from the human beings, that would stay in the hills until dawn. It was common knowledge that the Faery Host would move across the land that night each year. And any one that cared for their own life would not dare to come in contact with them.

This year Lindella had been home from University, and decided to head up with the rest of them, for the first time. She was very happy she'd made the choice to go. Her only mistake was, to ease her mother's worry about it by, blurting out...." I'll just go for awhile ....okay? And I give you my word that I'll be home before dusk.....alright mummy?" The fatal part was saying she'd "give her word", or she would have stayed on til dawn, once she got there.

Regardless, .... the time had now come, for her to leave this grand scene, celebrating Rite of the Coming of Spring, and make her way back to the only home she'd ever known, and the comforts that had always been there for her. After all.... she 'had' given her mother 'her word', and anyone in the Highlands knows by the time they're 5 years old ....."that a man's Word is his Worth" as her father would always say...."you can justify killin' a man but you canna EVER justify breaking your word ....".
So sadly, she said her goodbyes, to all her life-long friends, and off she went down the hill.

Singing softly to herself, she half-danced, half-skipped, with her arms swinging gently and a twirl mixed in now and then. With the blaze from the fires lighting the sky and the music still strongly filling the air, she drifted down the hill to entered the woodland path that would lead to the open moors, ... and home.
She softly sang the lyrics from the music being played at the celebration; although now it was in a slightly fading volume, she could still hear the cries of jubilation occasionally rising above it.
And, she was still feeling 'right good' and had a glow from the mead that greeted her as she arrived and the drinks of whisky from the flasks, that followed throughout that early evening.
A carefree energy from the Gathering still pulsed through her body along with that of the golden liquid spirits.

Giggling slightly, while she walked, and recalling some of the interactions of that night, from those around her , that she knew very well, having grown up with them, in the village.
Like when Callum asked Katie if she'd like to 'Go Maying with him'. Katie's face went flush in a deep red as she lowered her head and looked up at him with her bright blue eyes through the wisps of her ginger hair, then slightly shook her head with a quiet "no, but thank-you". She was slightly embarrassed by this public display of affection from Callum.
Funny thing is...(Lindella laughed to herself) they both disappeared over the hill about 30 minutes later, not to be seen for quite some time after. When they had returned; they were looking a bit wrinkley and rosey cheeked. Everyone knew what they'd been up to, even though the couple thought they were being stealthy. But the locals took comfort in knowing they would marry sooner or later so ... all of those gathered there, just turned a blind-eye to the evenings interactions between most of the young adults present there.

Now, as the sound of the music and laughter was fading away fast, she again felt that maybe she had stayed at the gathering for too long. But it was so easy to do, most everyone from the surrounding villages were there, and there they would stay until tomorrow's sunrise. It already could be later into dusk than she knew, the fire was so bright at the gathering that she never even noticed, actually she'd not given it a thought at all.

As she emerged from the woods, ...
she stopped temporarily there, where the moor spread out in front of her, surveying the land and her route home.
Then, ... stepped from the woodland path onto the open moors and suddenly realized how late it was. Well into dusk, and the sun would set before she got home if she didn't hurry.
She knew this land like her own face, but given the night coming on so fast, it was a fact, that was hard to keep in mind. Their croft was just beyond the second knoll and within 2 miles, but from where she walked now it seemed more like embarking on an long ocean voyage.
This was after all ..... Beltane, ... she quickened her step, and started a rhythmic stride.
The sun was low on the horizon, and casting a strange red colour everywhere. The ground under foot was still a bit soggy from the heavy rains three days ago, combined with the dew falling now. A strange mists was rising up from the lowest lying ground of golden shade, (no doubt a optical trick from the setting sun) she thought to herself.

As she walked on, with long stride and fast pace, Lindella's eyes started to play tricks on her. She thought she saw movement out of the corner of her eye. She whipped her head toward the movement but there was nothing there. Again the movement, ....but still she saw no reason for it. She soon grew tired of the strain on her neck from turning back and forth trying to catch whatever it was that she thought she saw. So she just quickened her step and kept her eyes on the path toward home.
After what seemed to be a lifetime she finally was close to the bottom of the first knoll. Suddenly she heard a horse whinning off in the distance, which stopped her trek, and she stood there straining to hear it again and get a fix on where the sound actually had come from. She didn't know anyone that had horses here in this area. Then shrugged it off to be a horse that had got loose from the celebration to make it's way back home. Lindella made her way up the first knoll, with what seemed to be some difficulty. She had walked this path many times in the past but, ...her legs felt so heavy tonight. Again she shrugged this off, attributing it to the whiskey still pulsating through her veins, and pushed on.

As she crested the top of the first knoll, her grandmother's face popped into her head. Nan was smiling, the way Lindella always remembered her, bright eyes twinkling and a deep and ancient wisdom flowing through them.
Lindella started her descent down the other side of the knoll, now eager to reach her home.
She could no longer hear the sounds of the Beltane celebration and a feeling of being totally alone, shot up her spine. She turned and could barely see the bonfire light through the tops of the trees.
' ...at least Nan's here with me', she giggled to herself, .... then there was a sudden flow of fear and a flood of warming in her chest,...'well then, ....I'll just have to hurry along', and she walked a bit faster. Or was it a swift falling forward, .... now with it being downhill, and feeling the alcohol a bit more, from fast clip to the knoll and the hard uphill climb so far.
Trying to distract herself from this feeling of impending doom, she forced her thoughts back to what had taken place earlier. Soon the first knoll and half her journey were behind her. But now the sun was sinking low, and her shadow was long and quickly fading into the darkness of the heather clad path. Then she thought she heard a horse whining in the far distance, again and strained to hear more....
"..it couldna be" she thought and picked her speed up even faster. The break in her cavalier attitude was just enough to make her shudder ever so slightly. All of a sudden she saw her Nan in her head again, from when she was young.

Soon her grandmother voice started to match the beat of her walk, in the words that she didn't need to think of right now. But nevertheless, they sounded off loud and clear. Spinning inside this head of hers, that was already a bit tipsy.
It was like her Granny had decided to hitch a ride under her cranium, and a lesson would come of it, for her, ... like it always had.

'Why now?'...she thought, ...'not here,.... not now!'
But it came on anyway...

" Never go out on Beltane Night to cross the moors alone..."

Nan said this with a very serious tone and now no smile was on her face. Lindella's heart skipped a beat and started to pound hard.

"...the Faeryfolk come out at dark, to dance around the Rowan."

Now her mind was surely playing tricks on her, ...or was it the alcohol ? 'I haven't thought of this old nursery rhyme in years..of course I've never been out on the moors after dark on Beltane either, ...and I am all alone.'
Lindella quickened her step, ... 'or,....am I ? '

"Stay inside, lock the doors and sit down by the fire,
leave the Wee Folk to their ways... and their own desire"

Nan eyes always grew darker and darker as she spoke the next few lines, and this time was no different.

"When seasons change and Beltane comes, ....then moves the Faery Host,
from Winter's Quarters cross the moors, to their fresh Springtime Post."

She moved faster and faster, now at the base of the second knoll, 'when I crest this hill I'll see my house' she tried to think of anything else,
but her Nan's voice kept pushing through and the rhyme continued...

"If ever a woman, man or child, should dare to catch a glimpse, ...
a curse will fall upon their heads, ...from these mischievous imps."

She tried to swallow hard so her heart would go back and pound away, in her chest, instead of her throat.
This once harmless verse of her Nan's, ... had suddenly become much more sinister than she had ever recalled from her childhood, but still her Nan's voice raged on...

" Some lose their sight, some lose their hair, a strong man lost his mind,
a woman once went barren... and, .............that lad; we never did find."

Finally, ...the base of the knoll....
On she moved as fast as she could, trying not to think of anything ....accept her goal. Just to get home, ...where ... she was beginning to now believe she should have stayed.

The 2nd knoll was steeper and harder to climb then she'd ever experienced, and her breathe was well laboured by the time she reached the top.

"What the" ...her vision was blurred a bit but she could swear she'd seen a flicker of lights in the heath below, about halfway between the back of her house and the 3rd knoll beyond.

She rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand and brush her hair back, squinting to look again.
But ...couldn't find a thing there, ....'I must be losing my mind.....it's got to be fear-induced...all this'.
The more she remembered the more frightened she became, coupled with the fact that she'd had herself a fair share of whisky, ....didn't help much. She stumbled a bit, but never lost speed.

'What was I thinking staying out so late...' Again she thought she saw those lights but this time made a conscience decision to ignore it.
'Oh, ... what was I thinking....I been told these tales my whole life, ....so now .....am I destined to be one of those tales myself ... told to those, .. that come after?'

She thought she heard a very strange music in the distance, not like that of the ceilidh but different.
Not losing any of her furious pace, she strained to hear better, and moved, to distance herself from it at the same time, but it just seemed to get louder.....'Otherworldly...that's the difference, ...faery music....oh no!...it can't be! ...
Then thinking she might find some relief somewhere she thought, 'Now....what was, ... the rest of the rhyme?...'
The result was, "you canna throw your granny off a bus"....she shook her head and got a flood of frustration, resulting in a flash of warmth and no doubt red, ....in her face.
This was only met with her Nan's face coming back, as clear as if, she were right there, ... in front of her. A stern look on her face, and looking deep into Lindella's eyes, ...
followed by her voice:

" So never go out on Beltane Night to cross the moors alone,
You may just see a faery, ....and be...the last you've ever done."

So listen to your Nan, ....granddaughter and grandson,
And never go out ... on Beltane Night ...to cross the moors ... alone."

The darkness was much thicker now, ..'it can't be much farther', as she crested, and started the downhill side of the second of the knolls. Now she could see the lights, in window of the croft, where the parents and safe comfort awaited her, soft plumes of peat-smoke wafted up from the chimney. But the air felt dead and heavy, like before a huge gale would blow.
Then she thought she saw movement in the heather just up ahead, she was afraid to move,...and afraid to stop, so she walked on slower and more cautiously. 'It must have been a sheep', she comforted herself, and picked up her speed, a little again.

Suddenly the wind came up...blowing warm from one direction and cold from the other, growing stronger and stronger. She tried to brush the hair from eyes time and time again ,but it didn't help much.
Then....she thought a bug had flown close to her ear with and whirling sound and just as swiftly realized that was no bug. 'But what? ...bagpipes?....No...this can't be'...but this time there was no denying it...it was there in the distance, ... with the tick-tick-tick and clicketty-clack of the ancient bones being played along with them. Unconsciously, she slowed her pace, ...enchanted by the music itself, ... she strained to hear it, in it's full beauty, ... above the overpowering sounds of the wind still whipping from one way then the other. How much time had passed?...Like coming out of a fog, ... she realized she'd slowed her pace, ... she almost bolted forward, ... back into a faster clip..

'Come on girl...you can see your goal...just get to it..' she almost running now, but at the same time too afraid to reach a full speed.

Nan had always said, "If you don't want to be chased....try, ... to never run, ... no matter how frightened you are!"

These words swirled through her head as she focused;... fighting the urge, to speed up more, slowing her pace so she would never quite reach the stage of galloping, the only thing she really wanted to do just now. Sweat now slowly making it's way over her brow toward her eyes. She could feel the salt of them, ...Or ... were those tears, ... induced by the wind maybe, ....or by fear?
As her foot finally hit the flat ground, her perspective changed and she thought there was movement there again, but this time directly in her path (which, of course was the shortest distance between her and home.)
Between the tall thistles and the darkness and the blurred tearful vision, ....her ability to really focus on anything now, ... was almost impossible.
It wasn't bad enough the pounding of her heart beat so fast it was more like a hum, but what she saw next almost stopped it. Passed her home... in front of the 3rd knoll, ...there .... was the distinct string of twinkling faerylights, moving forward toward her home.

She gasped then whispered between her breathes, ..."the Faery Host Procession", ....she stood there dumbfounded ...
Somewhere in her brain, she tried to measure the distance between where the lights were, ... where she was, ... and how she could beat them, to the front door of her sanctuary, ....she mindlessly looked down at her feet. 'They're not moving....' then it hits her....' I'm not moving!'

She bolted forward, then once again remembered and scolded herself ...'DO ... NOT.... RUN!!!!!'
A second later....'To hell with that....I'M RUNNING!!'
Lindella ran ...she ran...like her life depended on it....which it did!
Nan's face appeared in front of her, shaking her head with her eyes turned down. Lindella literally ran right through this spectral vision, like splitting through a mist.
The sound of horses, whistles, bones, pipes, fiddles, and .....(is that ...the rumblings of voices raised in celebration ? )...all filled her head.

'Just a few yards now...' she thought, 'I'm going to have a heart attack..... Where is mum surely she's heard my running...felt the screaming out ...my panic, ...'

Then, ... finally, ...she was there at the door...she frantically reached for the door handle, ... struggling to open it ...
then just as she rushed through it ...she saw a torchlight and the small hand holding it....she darted inside, and slammed the door behind her.
Leaning against it and trying to catch her breath,....huffing deep and hard...heart pounding away, like mad and pulsing through the whole of her body, ...now that she'd stopped her furious run.
She felt such relief when she saw her mum standing facing the fire, without turning toward her she said, "Lindella....You're late!"
Her father sitting in his chair looked up from his book, with a calm, but concerned look. When her mum turned around, Lindella was almost struck with fear again, because she looked so much like her Nan, at that very moment.

"I know!", Lindella almost yelled out while still gasping for air, "and you don't know how very ... sorry I am about it!"

Then her Mum softened her voice and said calmly,
"So ....you saw them ... then?", and she came forward to comfort her only daughter., she wrapped her arm around Lindella's shoulder, and said, " Lock the door... come inside, " she gestured toward the chair,
" ...and sit down by the fire."
Her words hung in the air like a dead weight, ...all three of them just looked at each other, in shock, ...each of them knowing it was a line from the old Beltane Night rhyme.

Her mum shook it off and said, "Och weel, ...here, ... drink this..." She reached for her glass of wine on the table and handed it to the younger,
" and calm yourself."
Lindella was trembling so, she sloshed some wine onto the floor when first grasping it.
Lindella took a long gulp draining the glass of wine into her shaking body. Took a deep breath, and looked at her mum's face.
At that moment, she also saw a bright movement pass the window just over her mum's shoulder, ... it drew her attention.

She made her way passed her mum to the window, ...and there she saw it...
the whole parade of faeries moving, dancing and prancing, in a winding stream, some holding torch lights. Pipers, drummers, fiddlers, playing, dancing and singing, and not a single foot actually seemed to be touching the ground, but floating slightly above it. The wind whipping not around them but some how with them, faeries of every size and shape and age; were there passing right before her.
All being led by a beautiful almost glowing man and woman each on their Faery steeds, each decked out in the finest costumes Lindella had ever seen ...both faery and horse glittering in the torch lights.
She whispered under her breath, ...."The Queen and King of the Feary Host..." and as they passed by the window of the croft, the Faery Queen turned and looked right into Lindella's eyes, and smiled sweetly and winked, then bowed her head graciously to her.
Lindella was dumbstruck at this.
She turned to her mum, ... eyes wide in her amazement and she almost whispered, "Mummie ...are you seeing this ?"

"Seeing what, ..dear ?" her mum responded in a dreamy unconnected way.
" I always wondered ..." still in this far-away tone, " but I never had the nerve to take the chance...and see it all for myself."
And she looked up toward the ceiling, like in a dream state, and said ...
"Your Nan was a remarkable woman, ..ya know...", then she turned and looked deep into Lindella's eyes, ..." you'll always see "them" now.... "
Then she turned away, again as if looking into nowhere and added, in a low mystical voice like Nan's itself, ...
"Even when they're not there, ....you'll be looking, ...always looking..... And ...always surprised ...when you do see them, ... for the rest of your life."

"How do you know this mummie ?" Lindella had never heard her mum speak this way before, it was like she'd slipped into another realm, right before her eyes.

"It was the same for your Nan, ...ya know." as she moved to her daughter with an "all-knowing" look in her eyes, ... "That's why she made up that rhyme for us long ago, ...so we'd be spared from being the next."

"The 'next'..?" Lindella, couldn't comprehend how this night could get ant stranger...but had a feeling in the pit of her gut, ...that it was about to.

Then her mum stepped back to, in front of the fireplace, and stared into the flames, "Come here dear and sit down next to me." She motioned to the chair, Lindella came over and took her place there.
"It's time that I tell you, ...." as she said this she seemed to have tears in her eyes. Then she turned and looked so lovingly at her daughter's upturned face.
"To tell you, ...just, ... who your Nan really was, ....who I am, ...and my dear, ....who you are."

Lindella looked from her mum to her father, "What ?"

Her father smiled sheepishly and raised his eyebrows, ... then raised his book back up slightly covering his face, to formally back out of this particular situation and to let his wife handle it on her own. In a ...'her family-history-not-mine ' attitude.
Lindella turned back to her mum at the fire and said, "What do you mean, ... mummy ? "

Her mother took a deep breath and look at Lindella like she was a little child once again, ... to start her story.

From this night forward, ...Lindella's life would never be the same.
The events that had unfolded on that Beltane Night, changed her view of life forever.

It, of course, changed her future, but amazingly ....
it also changed her past.

The End...

or was it?

KAST AM RADIO-Michael Desmond Show

2009-09-15T18:04:00.000-07:00

The KAST staff have now listed the recent DEZMO ZONE (on which I appeared) in their on-demand web pages. If you care to take a listen.

Click this link to listen, you will have to register on their site

I was recovering from a severe ear infection and some of my words fade at the beginning or end.
This is the second time I've been on this show and this time Sept. 8th was just after my return from Scotland. Hope you enjoy it.

Linda

New Links on the Sidebar of Site

2009-09-12T07:27:00.000-07:00

I'm in the process of updating and expanding this site for the convenience of the readers.
Over the next few month you will see many changes, hopefully you will explore and enjoy.

We have added links to some of the sites that may have interest for those that wish to learn more about travel to Scotland, sites mentioned in my book, or items carried in my shop.
Eventually we ( my son and I) will be working on providing a on-line shop, for those that would like to purchase items they've seen in the shop or heard about from friends...this is something that has been asked about for years. This should be a great addition for those of you that live outside of the Northwest and can not easily return to shop for items for themselves or gifts for others. Please be patient these things take some time.
We are also looking at the possibility of separating the section of the blog site into categories for better ease in searching out stories, news, history etc.

But for the now ...please check out the new links to sites ...like Visit Scotland, Historic Scotland, Gilmerton Cove etc...

I'm still keen on gathering Printed Materials and Information from the Clan Assoc. and Scot and Irish Assoc. from around the nation and the world for the Information Center in the shop location in Seaside. If you know anyone who would like to send things to me please make them aware of it and connect them to me. materials are starting to come in and will continue throughout the Fall and Winter months as we work on having all of this put together for the first of the year.

I hope you are all well!!
Linda

The Warriors and Wordsmiths of Freedom: the Birth and Growth of Democracy

2009-09-11T07:56:00.000-07:00

In July (the month the book was released) the website called:

Booksfromscotland featured my book as The Book of the Month.

More recently the "Introduction' to the book has been put up in full at this location.
If any of you, (that haven't bought the book) want to take a look, to get an idea
of what the book is all about, just drop into the website and take a look.

My son did such a great job whilst I was away the stock was really at a low state
when I returned. That has been remedied. Not only have I brought in the "old standbys" like Claddaugh rings, earrings and such, but have stone plaques, and ceramics.
And I have added a new line of mini-replicas of Pictish Standing Stones and Celtic Crosses by an artist in Scotland and they are remarkably detailed like I've never seen before. A new line of pewter pendants of Pictish/Celtic designs too.
Decals and stickers are on the way, ...including the ever-popular Pogue Mo Thon !!!

The Shop Hours for the Autumn Season are now:

Thurs., Friday, Saturday and Sunday 10am - 5pm.

Classic Car Show this weekend...the sun is beaming down and it's supposed to be Hot (above 75 ) here.

Now that I've recovered a bit from the wild and wacky Summer Season, ...I hope to start posting here more often. And will get back to that story about Lindella and Beltane Night in the months to come.

Hope to see you soon!

All the best!

Linda

Scotland and Ireland Information Center to Open

2009-08-30T07:31:00.000-07:00

I will be opening an Information Center in the back portion of my shop.
It will include information about Scotland, Ireland, USA Clan Assoc., and the like.
I will be working at this through the Autumn and Winter months.

Any and all Clan organizations, St. Andrews Societies etc ....that have printed materials that will help the public become more familiar with what they have to offer to the public are urged to ship materials to:

Celtic Story
PO Box 1011
Seaside, Oregon 97138 USA

or stop by the shop and bring them in.

Materials are starting to accumulate now and I'm very excited to finally be able to offer this service to the public. So send in your brochures, fliers, applications etc. and let the public known where and how they can contact you.

Cheers,
Linda

Visit Scotland-at Celtic Story in Seaside

2009-08-20T07:27:00.000-07:00

Whilst on my sojourn in Scotland, ... Visit Scotland contacted my publishing house (Luath Press Ltd) and asked me to act as an Ambassador for distribution of information about Scotland. Since I spend my days doing this already, it will be an easy transition to adding the Visit Scotland items to the mix.

My son and I are in the process of opening up the back portion of the shop as an information center. Visit Scotland has sent 3 boxes of info and bags, that are in the shop.
I carried some of it with me to the Highland Games in Winston to pass around there. (NOTE* I came back with none of these items...the public demand and response was grand.) Within this info is (what they used to call "the Vacation Planner") ...now called 'Homecoming' in honour of this year being The Homecoming in Scotland.
Within this booklet there is information about the rail system, ferry system, and a map of Scotland. It also covers each area in Scotland and what unique things they have to offer the traveller. There is also in a separate booklet, .. an Events Calendar of all the Homecoming events taking place in Scotland this year. (Homecoming.. continues through November 30th which is St.Andrews Day.)

I am honoured, to be able, to better connect the people here in America and Western Canada to Scotland's shores. So next time you stop by ask about the Visit Scotland information, you won't be disappointed!

Back in the shop...much do to...to put it to rights after being gone so long. My son did a great job in my absence and I hope that you enjoyed his company. I have heard nothing but good reports from those that took the time to come in and meet him.

I'm glad to be back "at it". And look forward to seeing you all in the days to come...lots to tell about my trip.

Until then, ... I am,
Yours Aye,
Linda

Douglas County Scot Society Highland Games

2009-08-13T05:53:00.001-07:00

I will be at the following games performing this weekend:

DCSS Highland Gathering and Games
Aug.14th-16th at River Bend Park in Winston, Oregon.

There is a free concert on Friday night.
And I will be performing on Sat. and Sun. on the Main Stage throughout the day.

These are great game to go to if you have a chance.
My son will be in the shop in my stead so drop by to see him and look around if you're in Seaside. I'm still a bit jet-lagged from my recent return from Scotland but should be up and in full swing by next week and back in the shop. Many tales to tell about my sojourn to Scotland and what happened there ...the Global gathering in Edinburgh, ...my book launch events, ...and the filming of an upcoming movie called "Wicker Man" based on a book produced by my publishing house in Edinburgh.

Hope to see you soon!

PS my son and I are kicking around the idea of starting up an on-line shop for some of the goods from my shop. I'll keep you posted.

Cheers,
Linda

Hello from Edinburgh

2009-08-01T01:00:00.000-07:00

I finally figured out how to reach my blog dashboard to post a blog for all of you.
I sit here now in my guest house on Mayfield Gardens, about one mile (though most say it's farther) from the Royal Mile.

The Gathering was last weekend and it was both brilliant and at times a bit frustrating.
130 Clan Assoc. had their tents set-up on the field at Holyrood Park. Surprisingly I never saw the Clan Wallace and ran into many from America, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand of that ilk that were in pursuit of the Clan Wallace tent, feeling very frustrated that they could not locate them. When I came across those souls I recited my Eulogy For William Wallace to lighten their attitude, in doing so ... I now have a stack of business cards with a note on the back to send a copy of the poem to them.

My book launch in Stirling at the Smith Art Gallery and Museum was a grand success. I was able to meet up with some old friends like David R. Ross, (author, performer and the historian of the Society of William Wallace), and Lin Anderson (also an author).
Dr.Elspeth King (curator of the Smith) had arranged for a local Piper R. MacDonald to pipe everyone in and he joined in the Lecture Hall with the rest of the ranks. Bruce Crawford MSP along with Mr O'Brien (former Provost for Stirling) were there to introduce me and the book.
Tea and biscuits were served before the event and lunch followed where I was able to have a long chat with friends and associates.

My brother Jeff and his daughter Tara had (after some difficulty) come into Edinburgh on the 24th 5 hours late because of a problem in Philly with US AIR. (frankly everyone that I know who has ever flown with this airline has had one problem or another). Luckily KLM came to their rescue and gave them a free ticket to reach their required flight to Amsterdam in order to reach their destination of Scotland... better late than never ... and their bags were with them as well.

I was able to meet-up with and enjoy some time with those that had come in from the Northwest to attend the Gathering and most now are in the Highlands with their prospective Clans having their tours.

I also have met up with my good friend and Piper of high acclaim, ....Jimi (the Piper) McRae. On the Monday following the Gathering Jimi came by the Guest house and gathered me up (along with his son Brodie ... who is growing like a weed and nearly as tall as Jimi now). Off we went to Arthur's Seat to trek up the hillside in the Commemoration to the Mutiny of the MacRaes in the 1700's. After we piled back into the car and headed north to the Battlefield of Sheriffmuir.
What a day it was!!!!! Blessed with sunny weather as well...which I could use a little of just now as the rain is teeming down as I type this.

I have 2 more days here at this guest house before going to stay with a friend in the Pentland Hills (just below Edinburgh).
So friends off I go and I will give you another report and story of my adventures on my return to America.

I trust everyone is enjoying their Summer.

All the Best,
Linda

Update for the Summer in the shop

2009-07-07T16:25:00.000-07:00

Hello to all and I hope you are having a great summer.

This will be the last post for awhile.

Starting next week 7/12/09 the shop will be open the following days and hours:

Sun. and Mon. 10am-5pm

Tues.and Weds. CLOSED

Thurs. 10am - 5pm

Fri. and Sat. 10am - 7pm closing sometime between 5pm and 7pm depending on how busy it is later in the day.

My son will be running the shop in my stead for the time whilst I am out of country.
Please stop by and help him know he's doing a great job. He's been helping me out for a few weeks now...and I'm proud and amazed at what a quick study he is, when it's come to learning the shop merchandise, prices, and how to help those who ask...how to trace their names to a Scot or Irish root.
One more great example of the fruit not falling far from the tree ...eh?

I'm leaving for Scotland on the 19th July, to do Book Launch Events and attend the World-wide All Clan Gathering in Edinburgh on the 25th & 26th July at Holyrood Park.

On the 27th July I will meet up with the Clan MacRae and head up Arthur's Seat to commemorate a MacRae Mutiny led by none other than my good friend Jimi McRae (aka Jimi the Piper). Then off to Sheriffmuir where a Jacobite Battle in Nov., 1715 took place.
I wrote briefly in the recently released book about this battle and it will be my first time to visit this battle site. What better way to experience this ...than to be among those descendants, from the Scottish warriors that took the field all those years ago....in an effort, to return their own chosen King back to the throne.

I will return to home on the 10th August....and barring any complications...
I plan to be at the Douglas County Scot Society Highland Games in Winston, Oregon
on 14th-16th. (Though depending on the severity of my jet-lag I may not arrive until the 15th.)

I will.... as many have asked me to ..."to kiss the very ground of Scotland" for you!

I will be in the shop for partial days until Sun. this week, ... then will take time to prepare for the trip.

All the Best to You and Those that care for You!
Linda

Amazon woes

2009-07-01T07:43:00.000-07:00

There seems to be a major problem with Amazon.com in reference to ordering my book
The Warriors and Wordsmiths of Freedom.
The site not only has old info and the wrong price of the book (which should be $9.95) but ....

Even on my own link to the book on the sidebar of this site....it says that it's "not available from this seller" and refers the public to other sellers that have the book available for as high as 30 plus dollars...for crimenny-sake!

I am currently in contact with the publisher in Edinburgh and they are trying to get this all worked out.

Until then you can buy the book at Amazon.co.uk. the price of the book is 6.99 in pounds...but if you have paypal or other electronic payment ability it should nae matter...because they will automatically convert the currencies for you.

Sorry about this strange GLITCH it should all be worked out soon.

Or...if you fancy a trip to the beautiful north coast of Oregon....
the "official book launch for the USA" is this weekend in my shop in Seaside...
a Piper (Jason) will be playing "off and on" (as to not blow the neighbors away)
on Saturday- from around 11:30pm until around 3pm. I will be around to discuss the book and sign for those of you that are interested.
And don't forget the brilliant Fireworks display that takes place in Seaside each year.
So come celebrate Democracy and Freedom in Seaside!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers,
Linda

Event Notice

2009-06-20T16:03:00.000-07:00

I will be on KAST-Radio- Micheal Desmond Show
4pm-5pm June 25

The subject will be Scotland of course... and
I'll be talking about the book

The Warriors and Wordsmiths of Freedom:
the Birth and Growth of Democracy

Cheers,
Linda

4th of July Weekend - Book Launch Event - Seaside

2009-06-17T07:25:00.000-07:00

On the 4th of July I will have a Bagpipe player at the shop, playing throughout the day, and 'officially launch' The Warriors and Wordsmiths of Freedom.

I will be there from 10am - 3pm (or longer) signing books and chatting with the public about the book.

Seaside is a great place to come celebrate the 4th and the Freedoms that we all enjoy in our modern lives. Fireworks display on the beach starts up at dark (around 10pm) and is always a crowd pleaser.
The shop is filling up with unusual goods from Scotland and other Celtic realms, (many have never been seen on the West Coast of America before).

My son is taking off for a rafting trip and will be gone most of this week and part of early next week. Because of this the hours for this week will be back to the old schedule....Thurs-Sat. 10am-3pm, and Sunday 10am-2pm. Closed Monday.

After the week is over we should be on the Summer Hours of Thurs.-Saturday 10am-5pm
closed Weds. and only open from 10am-2pm on Sunday. This new expanded schedule should help the public have a wider window to come into the shop.

I'm busy with promotion of the book and will be interviewed by a local newspaper today. Hopefully there will be radio, newspaper, and TV interviews and discussions to follow.
I am to leave for Scotland on 19th July and be gone through 10th August.

I have a scheduled book launch in Scotland on 29th July, (11am) at the Smith Art Gallery and Museum, in Stirling. If you happen to be in Scotland I hope you'll come join us. A local MSP (Minister of Scottish Parliament) Crawford is to be there to speak as well.

I will be attending the World-wide All Clan Gathering at Holyrood Park in Edinburgh on 25th & 26th July. And I am very excited about being able to meet and talk to clan members from all over the world.
There a huge line-up of great talent from Scotland to play that weekend... like Dougie MacLean, The Red Hot Chili Pipers, etc...

Upon my return I have been asked to perform at the Douglas County Highland Games and Gathering on 14th August-16th. (Although I'm not sure how I'm going to 'pull this one' with having just got off the plane late at night on the 10th...och weel...hopefully the jet-lag won't be too severe.

My son will be at the shop and running it in my absence, every day he accumulates more info about the Celtic realm and is becoming quite good at fielding questions put before him. So make sure to come by and see him whilst I'm gone.
The arrangement for him to be here in my stead is for the benefit and convenience of my customers.

All the Best,

Linda

THE BOOKS ARE HERE !!!!!!!!

2009-06-08T17:28:00.001-07:00

The shipment of books the Warriors and Wordsmiths of Freedom are now available in the shop.

The "official" release is not until the 4th of July, when national promotion will be done.

But if you want to assure getting one, and beating the crowds of the holiday weekend come in before.

Or just click on the sidebar link "Books I Recommend" and it will take you to the Amazon site, (listed under the heading "My Writings").

All local bookshops should be able to order and receive this title now, as well.

I will be available to sign copies of the book, on Thurs.-Sun. but will leave some signed copies each day for when I'm not around.

Thanks for your patience, I know we've all been waiting quite some time for this.

All the Best in Life to You,
Linda

Summer's Almost Here

2009-05-30T07:27:00.000-07:00

The temperature are rising and the town is starting to fill up on a more regular basis.

The new stock I've been bringing in from the Homelands, has been selling so fast, it's a bit of a shocker. I'm very happy with the response. The new items have never been sold on the West Coast of America before, I'm happy to say. One of the vendors...I've been trying to contact for 5 years, ...and now finally have their stock as well.

I have been meeting some very grand people, and still connecting with those that hadn't realized the shop had re-opened.

I love this time of year!!!
My veg garden is looking strong, and (unlike last year) I do believe I'll have a good amount of product this season, to help keep me healthy and happy. And I won't have to fight the crowds at Safeway for my food.

There has been increasing requests for me to continue the Lindella story that I started to post in April called "Beltane Night". So when the dust settles in my life, ...I will begin to pen the next chapter, and after editing (this time) I will begin to post segments again...(Mind this may take awhile to get going.)

I have been told by my publisher in Edinburgh that the book "Warriors and Wordsmiths" has finished the printing phase and will be shipped out shortly...arrival at my doorstep could take awhile depending on the 'way of transport' selected. I will keep you posted.

Off to ready myself for the shop.

Cheers,
Linda

PS. We have a new expanded Shop Hours schedule (but I can't remember it completely),
I will post it soon. Generally...we will be CLOSED on Weds., but opened from 10am til around 5pm All other days, (Except Sundays when I will open at 10am and duck out at around 2pm if it's not busy). Cheerio! Hope to see ya soon in sunny Seaside!!!!

The Warriors and Wordsmiths of Freedom: the Birth and Growth of Democracy

2009-05-16T06:48:00.000-07:00

I was emailed by my publisher (in Edinburgh) on Thursday of this week and told that my book has finally gone to the printer in Glasgow. It's scheduled to ship out with about 3-4 weeks after.

The "official" release for the North Americas is on the 4th of July.
If you are interested in purchasing a book without travelling to Seaside:

Send a check or money-order for the book $9.95 plus $3.00 shipping total $12.95 to:
(sorry no plastic cards please, Visa, debit, etc. I don't do that anymore)

Linda MacDonald-Lewis
PO Box 1011
Seaside, Oregon 97138 USA

Include the address you wish to have the book shipped to.
And it will be shipped as soon as available.

Or come by the shop and we'll have a chat and I'll sign the book.
------------------------------------------------------------------
The plan ...( all things considered eh?) I will be leaving for my sojourn to Scotland
on the 19th of July and will be gone for 3 weeks. My son is to run the shop whilst I am absent. Please come in and meet him...he's a delightful guy and is very familiar with the shop and stock, and very happy to be back in Seaside. His plan is to open a shop here within the next year, of his own. Hopefully with his help I'll be able to expand my hours here soon.

Th gig in Sutherlin went well and it was great to meet up with the clanspeople I'd not seen since last August. I had a absolutely wonderful visit with the family as well.

The sun is out for the weekend and I hear... there's a huge Bike-Run to the Beach today. So if you are looking for a weekend of frolicking in the sunshine head West
to Seaside.
Hope to see you soon.

Cheers,
Linda

Event notice

2009-05-08T07:50:00.000-07:00

I will be closed Fri., Sat., and Sunday.
I will be at the Whitehorse Coffee in Sutherlin, Oregon
on Saturday, for the Douglas County Scots Society: Mother's Day High Tea.

And spend the rest promoting the upcoming book and talking with family.

See you next week.

Cheers,
Linda

Irish Connections

2009-05-05T20:33:00.001-07:00

I've often said "The only difference between the Scots and the Irish is...
The Scots knew how to swim."

For those of you of the Irish persuasion there are two active associations in the Northwest (and set up at the Highlands Games and Gathering circuit).

The Clan Cian Society

and The Celtic Irish Families Society of north America.

The Scottish Highland Games are about to start their season, most Clan Associations
attend and have a tent set up for interested persons to stop by and have a chat.

I have been asked a few times this year for clan badges, dirks..etc.. and I usually refer people to their own clan to make the purchases (that are clan specific).

So look for a Game in your area (or stop by the shop and check the events listing),
to find a great day out as a single, a couple or a family.

Bagpipers and drummers, highland dancers, and the large lads that take joy in picking up and tossing 'round heavy, bulky and large objects for a bit of a laugh!
All this and more... help you to step into a different world if just for awhile.

New stock coming in on a regular cycle, into the shop. The theme this year is to bring in ranges from the homelands that many have not seen before.

Hope to see you soon...

(I'll be gone part of this upcoming weekend for an event in Sutherlin for the
Douglas County Scot Society Mother's day High Tea)

Cheers,
Linda

Beltane Night -- Part 6 (con't)

2009-04-28T09:53:00.000-07:00

(Con't from Part 5)

The sound of horses, whistles, bones, pipes, fiddles, and .....(is that ...the rumblings of voices raised in celebration ? )...all filled her head.

'Just a few yards now...' she thought, 'I'm going to have a heart attack..... Where is mum surely she's heard my running...felt the screaming out ...my panic, ...'

Then, ... finally, ...she was there at the door...she frantically reached for the door handle, ... struggling to open it ...
then just as she rushed through it ...she saw a torchlight and the small hand holding it....she darted inside, and slammed the door behind her.

Leaning against it and trying to catch her breath,....huffing deep and hard...heart pounding away, like mad and pulsing through the whole of her body, ...now that she'd stopped her furious run.

She felt such relief when she saw her mum standing facing the fire, without turning toward her she said, "Lindella....You're late!"

Her father sitting in his chair looked up from his book, with a calm, but concerned look. When her mum turned around, Lindella was almost struck with fear again, because she looked so much like her Nan, at that very moment.

"I know!", Lindella almost yelled out while still gasping for air, "and you don't know how very ... sorry I am about it!"

Then her Mum softened her voice and said calmly,
"So ....you saw them ... then?"

And she came forward to comfort her only daughter., she wrapped her arm around Lindella's shoulder, and said,

" Lock the door... come inside, " she gestured toward the chair, " ...and sit down by the fire."

Her words hung in the air like a dead weight, ...all three of them just looked at each other, in shock, ...each of them knowing it was a line from the old Beltane Night rhyme.

Her mum shook it off and said, "Och weel, ...here, ... drink this..." She reached for her glass of wine on the table and handed it to the younger, " and calm youself."
Lindella was trembling so, she sloshed some wine onto the floor when first grasping it.
Lindella took a long gulp draining the glass of wine into her shaking body. Took a deep breath, and looked at her mum's face.
At that moment, she also saw a bright movement pass the window just over her mum's shoulder, ... it drew her attention.
She made her way passed her mum to the window, ...and there she saw it...
the whole parade of faeries moving, dancing and prancing, in a winding stream, some holding torch lights. Pipers, drummers, fiddlers, playing, dancing and singing, and not a single foot actually seemed to be touching the ground, but floating slightly above it. The wind whipping not around them but some how with them, faeries of every size and shape and age; were there passing right before her.
All being led by a beautiful almost glowing man and woman each on their faery steeds, each decked out in the finest costumes Lindella had ever seen ...both Faery and horse glittering in the torch lights.

She whispered under her breath, ...."The Queen and King of the Feary Host..." and as they passed by the window of the croft, the Faery Queen turned and looked right into Lindella's eyes, and smiled sweetly and winked, then bowed her head graciously to her.
Lindella was dumbstruck at this..

She turned to her mum, ... eyes wide in her amazement and she almost whispered, "Mummie ...are you seeing this ?"

"Seeing what, ..dear ?" her mum responded in a dreamy unconnected way.

" I always wondered ..." still in this far-away tone, " but I never had the nerve to take the chance...and see it all for myself."
And she looked up toward the ceiling, like in a dreamstate, and said ...

"Your Nan was a remarkable woman, ..ya know...", then she turned and looked deep into Lindella's eyes, ..." you'll always see "them" now.... "

Then she turned away, again as if looking into nowhere and added, in a low mystical voice like Nan's itself, ...
"even when they're not there, ....you'll be looking, ...always looking..... And ...always surprised ...when you do see them, ... for the rest of your life."

"How do you know this mummie ?" Lindella had never heard her mum speak this way before.
It was like she'd slipped into another realm, right before her eyes.

"It was the same for your Nan, ...ya know." as she moved to her daughter with an "all-knowing" look in her eyes, ... "That's why she made up that rhyme for us long ago, ...so we'd be spared from being the next."

"The 'next'..?" Lindella, couldn't comprehend how this night could get ant stranger...but had a feeling in the pit of her gut, ...that it was about to.

Then her mum stepped back to, in front of the fireplace, and stared into the flames, "Come here dear and sit down next to me." She motioned to the chair, Lindella came over and took her place there.

"It's time that I tell you, ...." as she said this she seemed to have tears in her eyes. Then she turned and looked so lovingly at her daughter's upturned face. "To tell you, ...just, ... who your Nan really was, ....who I am, ...and my dear, ....who you are."

Lindella looked from her mum to her father,

"What ?"

Her father smiled sheepishly and raised his eyebrows, ... then raised his book back up slightly covering his face, to formally back out of this particular situation and to let his wife handle it on her own. In a ...'her family-history-not-mine ' attitude.

Lindella turned back to her mum at the fire and said,
"What do you mean, ... mum ? "

Her mother took a deep breath and look at Lindella like she was a little child once again, ... to start her story.

From this night forward, ...Lindella's life would never be the same.
The events that had unfolded on that Beltane Night, changed her view of life forever.
It, of course, changed her future, but amazingly ....

it also changed her past.

The End...

or was it?

Beltane Night -- Part 5 (con't)

2009-04-20T07:48:00.000-07:00

Beltane Night (con't from part 4)

She thought she heard a very strange music in the distance, not like that of the ceilidh but different.
Not losing any of her furious pace, she strained to hear better, and moved, to distance herself from it at the same time, but it just seemed to get louder.....'Otherworldly...that's the difference, ...faery music....oh no!...it can't be! ...

Then thinking she might find some relief somewhere she thought, 'Now....what was, ... the rest of the rhyme?...'
The result was, "you canna throw your granny off a bus"....she shook her head and got a flood of frustration, resulting in a flash of warmth and no doubt red, ....in her face.
This was only met with her Nan's face coming back, as clear as if, she were right there, ... in front of her. A stern look on her face, and looking deep into Lindella's eyes, ...
followed by her voice:

" So never go out on Beltane Night to cross the moors alone,
You may just see a faery, ....and be...the last you've ever done."

So listen to your Nan, ....granddaughter and grandson,
And never go out ... on Beltane Night ...to cross the moors ... alone."

The darkness was much thinker now, ..'it can't be much farther', as she crested, and started the downhill side of the second of the knolls. Now she could see the lights, in window of the croft, where the parents and safe comfort awaited her, soft plumes of peat-smoke wafted up from the chimney. But the air felt dead and heavy, like before a huge gale would blow.
Then she thought she saw movement in the heather just up ahead, she was afraid to move,...and afraid to stop, so she walked on slower and more cautiously. 'It must have been a sheep', she comforted herself, and picked up her speed, a little again.

Suddenly the wind came up...blowing warm from one direction and cold from the other, growing stronger and stronger. She tried to brush the hair from eyes time and time again ,but it didn't help much.

Then....she thought a bug had flown close to her ear with and whirling sound and just as swiftly realized that was no bug. 'But what? ...bagpipes?....No...it cannae be'...but this time there was no denying it...it was there in the distance, ... with the tick-tick-tick and clicketty-clack of the ancient bones being played along with them. Unconsciously, she slowed her pace, ...enchanted by the music itself, ... she strained to hear it, in it's full beauty, ... above the overpowering sounds of the wind still whipping from one way then the other. How much time had passed?...Like coming out of a fog, ... she realized she'd slowed her pace, ... she almost bolted forward, ... back into a faster clip..

'Come on girl...you can see your goal...just get to it..' she almost running now, but at the same time too afraid to reach a full speed.

Nan had always said, "If you don't want to be chased....try, ... to never run, ... no matter how frightened you are!"

These words swirled through her head as she focused;... fighting the urge, to speed up more, slowing her pace so she would never quite reach the stage of galloping, the only thing she really wanted to do just now. Sweat now slowly making it's way over her brow toward her eyes. She could feel the salt of them, ...Or ... were those tears, ... induced by the wind maybe, ....or by fear?

As her foot finally hit the flat ground, her perspective changed and she thought there was movement there again, but this time directly in her path (which, of course was the shortest distance between her and home.)
Between the tall thistles and the darkness and the blurred tearful vision, ....her ability to really focus on anything now, ... was almost impossible.
It wasn't bad enough the pounding of her heartbeat so fast it was more like a hum, but what she saw next almost stopped it. Passed her home... in front of the 3rd knoll, ...there .... was the distinct string of twinkling faerylights, moving forward toward her home.

She gasped then whispered between her breathes, ..."the Faery Host Procession", ....she stood there dumbfounded ...
Somewhere in her brain, she tried to measure the distance between where the lights were, ... where she was, ... and how she could beat them, to the front door of her sanctuary, ....she mindlessly looked down at her feet. 'They're not moving....' then it hits her....' I'm not moving!'

She bolted forward, then once again remembered and scolded herself ...'DO ... NOT.... RUN!!!!!'

A second later....'To hell with that....I'M RUNNING!!'
Lindella ran ...she ran...like her life depended on it....which it did!

Nan's face appeared in front of her, shaking her head with her eyes turned down. Lindella literally ran right through this spectral vision, like splitting through a mist.

Beltane Night -- Part 4 (con't)

2009-04-14T08:10:00.000-07:00

Beltane Night (con't)

" Never go out on Beltane Night to cross the moors alone..."

Nan said this with a very serious tone and now no smile was on her face. Lindella's heart skipped a beat and started to pound hard.

"...the Faeryfolk come out at dark, to dance around the Rowan."

Now her mind was surely playing tricks on her, ...or was it the alcohol ? 'I haven't thought of this old nursery rhyme in years..of course I've never been out on the moors after dark on Beltane either, ...and I am all alone.'

Lindella quickened her step, ... 'or,....am I ? '

"Stay inside, lock the doors and sit down by the fire,
leave the Wee Folk to their ways... and their own desire"

Nan eyes always grew darker and darker as she spoke the next few lines, and this time was no different.

"When seasons change and Beltane comes, ....then moves the Faery Host,
from Winter's Quarters cross the moors, to their fresh Springtime Post."

She moved faster and faster, now at the base of the second knoll, 'when I crest this hill I'll see my house' she tried to think of anything else,
but her Nan's voice kept pushing through and the rhyme continued...

"If ever a woman, man or child, should dare to catch a glimpse, ...
a curse will fall upon their heads, ...from these mischievous imps."

She tried to swallow hard so her heart would go back and pound away, in her chest, instead of her throat.
This once harmless verse of her Nan's, ... had suddenly become much more sinister than she had ever recalled from her childhood, but still her Nan's voice raged on...

" Some lose their sight, some lose their hair, a strong man lost his mind,
a woman once went barren... and, .............that lad; we never did find."

Finally, ...the base of the knoll....

The 2nd knoll was steeper and harder to climb then she'd ever experienced, and her breathe was well laboured by the time she reached the top.

"What the" ...her vision was blurred a bit but she could swear she'd seen a flicker of lights in the heath below, about halfway between the back of her house and the 3rd knoll beyond.

She rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand and brush her hair back, squinting to look again.
But ...couldn't find a thing there, ....'I must be losing my mind.....it's got to be fear-induced...all this'.

The more she remembered the more frightened she became, coupled with the fact that she'd had herself a fair share of whisky, ....didn't help much. She stumbled a bit, but never lost speed.

'What was I thinking staying out so late...' Again she thought she saw those lights but this time made a conscience decision to ignore it.

'Oh, ... what was I thinking....I been told these tales my whole life, ....so now .....am I destined to be one of those tales myself ... told to those, .. that come after?'

Beltane Night -- Part 3 (con't)

2009-04-13T07:59:00.000-07:00

As she walked on, with long stride and fast pace, Lindella's eyes started to play tricks on her. She thought she saw movement out of the corner of her eye. She whipped her head toward the movement but there was nothing there. Again the movement, ....but still she saw no reason for it. She soon grew tired of the strain on her neck from turning back and forth trying to catch whatever it was that she thought she saw. So she just quickened her step and kept her eyes on the path toward home.

After what seemed to be a lifetime she finally was close to the bottom of the first knoll. Suddenly she heard a horse whinning off in the distance, which stopped her trek, and she stood there straining to hear it again and get a fix on where the sound actually had come from. She didn't know anyone that had horses here in this area. Then shrugged it off to be a horse that had got loose from the celebration to make it's way back home.
Lindella made her way up the first knoll, with what seemed to be some difficulty. She had walked this path many times in the past but, ...her legs felt so heavy tonight. Again she shrugged this off, attributing it to the whiskey still pulsating through her veins, and pushed on.

As she crested the top of the first knoll, her grandmother's face popped into her head. Nan was smiling, the way Lindella always remembered her, bright eyes twinkling and a deep and ancient wisdom flowing through them.

Lindella started her descent down the other side of the knoll, now eager to reach her home.
She could no longer hear the sounds of the Beltane celebration and a feeling of being totally alone, shot up her spine. She turned and could barely see the bonfire light through the tops of the trees.

' ...at least Nan's here with me', she giggled to herself, .... then there was a sudden flow of fear and a flood of warming in her chest,...'well then, ....I'll just have to hurry along', and she walked a bit faster. Or was it a swift falling forward, .... now with it being downhill, and feeling the alcohol a bit more, from fast clip to the knoll and the hard uphill climb so far.

Trying to distract herself from this feeling of impending doom, she forced her thoughts back to what had taken place earlier. Soon the first knoll and half her journey were behind her. But now the sun was sinking low, and her shadow was long and quickly fading into the darkness of the heather clad path. Then she thought she heard a horse whining in the far distance, again and strained to hear more....
"..it couldna be" she thought and picked her speed up even faster. The break in her cavalier attitude was just enough to make her shudder ever so slightly. All of a sudden she saw her Nan in her head again, from when she was young.

Soon her grandmother voice started to match the beat of her walk, in the words that she didn't need to think of right now. But nevertheless, they sounded off loud and clear. Spinning inside this head of hers, that was already a bit tipsy.
It was like her Granny had decided to hitch a ride under her cranium, and a lesson would come of it, for her, ... like it always had.

'Why now?'...she thought, ...'not here,.... not now!'

But it came on anyway...

(continued with Part 4 very soon)

Cheers,
Linda

The Scotland Football Jerseys are in the shop

2009-04-09T07:30:00.000-07:00

For those that have been waiting ...the Scotland Jerseys are now in.
There is a limited stock and these tend to go fast. So if you are one of those that
came into the shop during Spring Break and requested one...now is the time to contact me.

I will continue the Short Story about Beltane Night sometime in the next week when I find the time.

Cheers,
Linda

Beltane Night -- Part 2

2009-04-08T07:56:00.001-07:00

(continued from part 1 )

Regardless, .... the time had now come, for her to leave this grand scene, celebrating Rite of the Coming of Spring, and make her way back to the only home she'd ever known, and the comforts that had always been there for her. After all.... she 'had' given her mother 'her word', and anyone in the Highlands knows by the time they're 5 years old ....."that a man's Word is his Worth" as her father would always say...."you can justify killin' a man but you canna EVER justify breaking your word ....".
So sadly, she said her goodbyes, to all her life-long friends, and off she went down the hill.

Singing softly to herself, she half-danced, half-skipped, with her arms swinging gently and a twirl mixed in now and then. With the blaze from the fires lighting the sky and the music still strongly filling the air, she drifted down the hill to entered the woodland path that would lead to the open moors, ... and home.

She softly sang the lyrics from the music being played at the celebration; although now it was in a slightly fading volume, she could still hear the cries of jubilation occasionally rising above it.

She was still feeling 'right good' and had a glow from the mead that greeted her as she arrived and the drinks of whisky from the flasks, that followed throughout that early evening.
A carefree energy from the Gathering still pulsed through her body along with that of the golden liquid spirits.

Giggling slightly, while she walked, and recalling some of the interactions of that night, from those around her , that she knew very well, having grown up with them, in the village.
Like when Callum asked Katie if she'd like to 'Go Maying with him'. Katie's face went flush in a deep red as she lowered her head and looked up at him with her bright blue eyes through the wisps of her ginger hair, then slightly shook her head with a quiet "no, but thank-you". She was slightly embarrassed by this public display of affection from Callum.

Funny thing is...(Lindella laughed to herself) they both disappeared over the hill about 30 minutes later, not to be seen for quite some time after. When they had returned; they were looking a bit wrinkley and rosey cheeked. Everyone knew what they'd been up to, even though the couple thought they were being stealthy. But the locals took comfort in knowing they would marry sooner or later so ... all of those gathered there, just turned a blind-eye to the evenings interactions between most of the young adults present there.

Now, as the sound of the music and laughter was fading away fast, she again felt that maybe she had stayed at the gathering for too long. But it was so easy to do, most everyone from the surrounding villages were there, and there they would stay until tomorrow's sunrise. It already could be later into dusk than she knew, the fire was so bright at the gathering that she never even noticed, actually she'd not given it a thought at all.

As she emerged from the woods, ...
she stopped temporarily there, where the moor spread out in front of her, surveying the land and her route home.
Then, ... stepped from the woodland path onto the open moors and suddenly realized how late it was. Well into dusk, and the sun would set before she got home if she didn't hurry.

She knew this land like her own face, but given the night coming on so fast, it was a fact, that was hard to keep in mind. Their croft was just beyond the second knoll and within 2 miles, but from where she walked now it seemed more like embarking on an long ocean voyage.

This was after all ..... Beltane, ... she quickened her step, and started a rhythmic stride.
The sun was low on the horizon, and casting a strange red colour everywhere. The ground under foot was still a bit soggy from the heavy rains three days ago, combined with the dew falling now. A strange mists was rising up from the lowest lying ground of golden shade, (no doubt a optical trick from the setting sun) she thought to herself.

End Part 2

(Soon to be continued)

Beltane Night

2009-04-06T20:45:00.000-07:00

A short story presented in parts
By Linda MacDonald-Lewis

This Beltane Night...

She had stayed at the Beltane Fire too long.
But, .... she didn't care. She had a great time, and everyone she'd known for years was there.
Everyone accept her parents, of course; and a few others in the local villages that were just like them.
'They'... all just stayed at home, stuck in their old Calvinistic view and the restrictive world of 'their chosen religion'. They'd have nothing to do with the 'Old Ways' of Pre-Christian beliefs of the Celtic Realm, ... like Faeries, Magic, the Old Gods, nature's omens or other "superstitious things".

Their views never did have much affect on her and how she chose to see the world; but when it came to her Mum's mum ..'Nan', it was a different story. Her Nan had always seemed to have a depth of understanding the world, that her parents and their religion lacked. There was a mysterious magical current running through the way her Nan looked at things, that spoke to her as a young child, and still intrigued her now as a young woman.

Chance would have it, that her parents were open minded enough to not put their own opinions and views of this, on to her. The young woman attributed this to her Nan's influence on the family, and how much respect her mother, had for her own 'Mum'. It was Nan herself, that had chosen her name,before she had come into the world .... 'Lindella', (a modernized version of the name for the Ancient Celtic 'Serpent of Wisdom' ). She was Nan's first and only granddaughter, from her own daughter and as she often said, "she had an ancient right, to do so".

Nan was very wise indeed, respected by all that knew her and by those that had only heard of her.

"Besides," .... Lindella thought, ...she was 22 years old, and "could make her own decisions about life; and live with the ramifications that would come from those choices, ... whether good or bad." Or so she had been told, .... for all these many years by both her parents, .... and her Nan. ....."

Every year, since she could remember, the locals would gather on the eve before that day of May 1st, ...hours before dusk, and head up the hillside to set a blaze, the Beltane Night's giant bonfires. Each of the villagers carried huge baskets of food and drinks, filled to the brim, blankets of tartan pattern (usually from the clan of that particular family), and musical instruments of every sort known to the Highlands. The crofters that had livestock, brought them along as well, to be driven between the bonfires in an 'act of purification', - to drive out any evil or disease that had set into them, from the (now dwindling), winter's dark and wild ways.
Heading for the high ground the locals would make this seasonal migration, leaving the lower landscapes behind, so the Faeryfolk could have the freedom of movement, without any interference from the human beings, that would stay in the hills until dawn. It was common knowledge that the Faery Host would move across the land that night each year. And any one that cared for their own life would not dare to come in contact with them.

This year Lindella had been home from University, and decided to head up with the rest of them, for the first time. She was very happy she'd made the choice to go. Her only mistake was, to ease her mother's worry about it by, blurting out...." I'll just go for awhile ....okay? And I give you my word that I'll be home before dusk.....alright mummy?" The fatal part was saying she'd "give her word", or she would have stayed on til dawn, once she got there.

(To be continued soon...)

National Tartan Day Monday April 6th

2009-04-04T07:30:00.000-07:00

National Tartan Day is a date that has been set aside to honour the Scots
in America and around the world. Honouring both the present day Scots and those of the past, that have had such a heavy impact on the formation of this country, and the rights of man. These Scots of the past, reach not only back to those, that had fought so hard in the American Revolutionary War, but all the way back to Good King Robert the Bruce and the Wars of Independence in Scotland. And William Wallace who gave his life for his country and freedom.

The Declaration of Arbroath, signed and sealed on April 6th 1320, is the most pinnacle document ever created in Scotland, (and maybe the world). These words believed to have been penned by Bernard de Linton speaks to the "power" of a nation being that of it's people, (not it's leaders). The later words written in the Declaration of Independence, mirror the ideals set down in this Scottish document from centuries earlier.

So break out your tartan and wear it proudly! Honour your fellows Scots of the past, present, and future.

When someone asks you "why are you wearing that...kilt, tam, ribbon, tie...etc?"

Teach them what 'we' know...this special insight into who we are and why we have the freedoms that we (tend to), take for granted today.

Cheers,
Linda

Jimi (the Piper) McRae's CD's

2009-03-30T16:24:00.000-07:00

I've rec'vd my first of two small packages containing Jimi's new tunes.

They will be available Thurs. of this week. Only got a couple dozen so
if you're keen to buy one, while they're in stock...best do it soon.

This album is a great crowd pleaser. Traditional tunes with a bit of a kick..
delivered in a way that only Jimi can. His skillful Piping is accompanied by a very skillful and equally "jammin' " drummer, Sam Okoo.

Cheers,
Linda

The Celtic Worry Rings-Spinny Rings

2009-03-26T07:52:00.000-07:00

For those of you that have been waiting...the Celtic Spinning rings are on the way to me and should be in by Friday 27th of march.

If you are interested try to react quickly there is a limited supply at this time.

I'll be at the shop Thurs. - Sunday this week. 10am-3pm.

Note : I have been under the impression (from my publisher) that the books would be here by Tartan Day. Well...now I know that will not be the case.
They have decided (back in Edinburgh) that they will print in Glasgow (instead of Canada). This will delay the arrival of the books for release here.
I have been assured that they will forward me a few hundred copies (express) and ship the rest over slow-boat.
This smaller amount should be enough to satisfy those of you that have been waiting.

I have been in contact with my good friend Jimi(the Piper)McRae, back in Scotland.
He sent me a review copy of his new CD (which I have been playing in the shop), and the response as been a bit overwhelming....everyone wants to buy MY ONLY COPY!
So I've arranged to have some sent over and they should be here shortly.
I say shortly...because when relying on the Royal Mail system....there's really no way to predict how long it could take...anywhere from one week to 3 weeks.
If I remember to...I will post when they arrive...
this is a brilliant CD, ...so I think they'll move out of the shop very quickly.

All the Best,
Linda

Dougie MacLean comes to Astoria

2009-03-23T06:58:00.000-07:00

I know this is short notice, but I thought you'd like to know:

Dougie MacLean will be at the Liberty Theatre in Astoria Weds.
March 25th. The concert starts at half 7 pm (7:30pm).

Call to reserve tickets: (503)325-5922
Ticket price ranges from Adult: $25.00 to $17.00 for Children

Cheers,
Linda

A Call for the Wallace Letter to be Returned to Scotland

2009-03-15T08:12:00.000-07:00

In the news in Scotland today a MSP of the Scottish Parliament, Christine Grahame has issued a call for the Wallace Safe Conduct Letter to be returned to Scotland.

Quite some time ago I placed a link to the on-line petition regarding this matter in the side bar of this site.

If you have not signed this petition, ...I would urge you to do it NOW and tell all your friends to as well. We have only gather approx. 700 signatures since I posted this a few years ago, (I cryin' shame that!), and now is the time to show your support.

So go to the side-bar link that says "Wallace Petition" and cast your vote to honour the man that did so much for Scotland and the Freedom of this country as well. (My book will explain more of that).

This year in Scotland is "Homecoming" and there is nothing more befitting than for this artefact to come Home to Scotland as well!

Cheers,
Linda

New Stock in the Shop

2009-03-06T17:21:00.000-08:00

I just received the first order of "large size" sterling rings for those of you that have difficulty in finding them...nice Celtic designs as well.
Earrings and pendants came in with them. And will on the shelves sometime tomorrow.

I made connection with a potter in the Highlands of Scotland and have the first of this product in. Top notch quality and beautiful, Celtic Crosses, Celtic Knot-Tiles, Coasters and Candle holders.

Hopefully I will be receiving new ranges from Scotland and Ireland in a good flow over the next few weeks as we head into the season.

The Warriors and Wordsmiths of Freedom Book Launch Weekend

The book launch is still on for the weekend of 3rd, 4th & 5th of April, in celebration of America's National Tartan Day April 6th, at my shop in Seaside, Oregon.

This year it (Nat'l Tartan day) falls on a Monday. All Scot and Irish are urged to show your tartan (or plaid) on that day. If ya got 'em, ... wear 'em!!!!
So drag out your kilt, skirt, scarf, shawl, necktie, hair-ribbons, or tam, ..dust 'em off, air them out, ....then

Wear 'em Proud!

I have a Bagpipe player that will be hanging out at the shop, and playing off and on, during the book launch weekend (Sat. and Sun.)too.

Cheers to all that have visited the shop recently.
And to those I have not seen in awhile, ...
I trust all is well in your life, and I hope to see you soon.

Slainte,
Linda

A Customers View of the Shop

2009-02-24T08:26:00.000-08:00

I received this from Skott Shaw last weekend and have his permission to share what he wrote with you. Skott and Jodi moved away from the Northwest a few years back so Jodi could further her education. I trust you will enjoy his writing as much as I did.
____________________________________________________________________________________________

When I close my weary eyes and loose the tethers on my mind.
The Traveler flies unobstructed,
unhindered,
and with wild abandon.
It bounces from projects in planning to mundane daily events
but eventually it always returns to a gusty, salty and gorgeous local.
It tiptoes in the salty ocean foam,
sips the sweetness of a White Rocket
and wanders the tourist strew streets.
Coming at last to an unobtrusive little shop.
Many come and go but the aura of this place is intoxicating, irresistible, and hurricane in force.
Inside, all the wisdom and humor of the universe is shared and passed from one soul to another.
It flies around the room bouncing off this trinket and that book filling the newest Grey souls that enter with light and warmth that is impossible to leave or forget.
At the center of that inspiration tempest is a teacher of passion,
a shaman of culture,
a priestess of the spirit,
a clansmen of the wind,
and a person of such power and respect that she outshines the sun.
Time changes in her presence.
One minute you feel the battlefields of old.
Then the next the golden towers of a shining future.
Every soul is captivated and at peace.
And though I must again rein in the traveler
my heart is never far from Seaside and
THE BARD AT LARGE.

Skott Shaw
February 21st 2009

Thanks Skott, for these kind and thoughtful words.

Cheers,
Linda

The Battlefield Band is back playing in the Northwest

2009-02-21T08:09:00.000-08:00

Battlefield Band 2009 US Tour OR and WA dates:

3/6 Eastsound, WA
3/7 Forest Grove, OR
3/8 Bend, OR
3/11 Ashland, OR
3/14 Everett, WA
3/15 Corvallis, OR

Details below:

www.battlefieldband.co.uk

3/6 Fri 7:30PM $24
Orcas Center
917 Mt. Baker Road
PO Box 567
Eastsound, WA 98245-0567
(360) 376-2281
www.orcascenter.org

3/7 Sat 7:30PM $22
Pacific University, Taylor-Meade Performing Arts Center
2043 College Way,
Forest Grove, Oregon 97116
(503) 352-2918
www.pacificu.edu

3/8th Sun
Tower Theatre
835 NW Wall Street
Bend OR 97701
(541) 317-0700
www.towertheatre.org

3/11 Wed 8PM $20-$22
Unitarian Center
4th and C Streets,
Ashland OR, 97520
(541) 535-3562
www.stclairevents.com

3/14 Sat 7PM $25-$50 benefit concert for Habitat for Humanity
Everett Civic Auditorium
2415 Colby Avenue,
Everett , WA 98021
(425) 258-6289
www.habitatsnohomish.org

3/15 Sun 7:30PM $18-$20
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97331
www.cfs.peak.org

If your looking for a good night out, this band is a real crowd pleaser.

Cheers,
Linda

The Great King Brian Boru and the Battle of Dublin

2009-02-15T20:50:00.001-08:00

Clontarf (AD 1014) or The Battle of Dublin, is soon to see the 1000th year anniversary date in 2014.

A passage of the NJAL's SAGA (according to Ronald Williams book 'The Lords of the Isles' published by House of Lochar, Isle of Colonsay, Argyll, Scotland 1997) reads as follows:

Clontarf

I have been where champions battled;
High in Erin sang the sword.
Boss to Boss clashed many shields,
Steel clanged sharp on warriors' helms.
I can tell of that fierce struggle;
Sigurd fell in storm of spears;
Brian fell but gained the kingdom
Ere the blood flowed from his wounds.
********************

King Brian Boru fell during the time of battle, but not on the battlefield.

This is a story that was told to me years back.
And, ...

If it was a truth that was told to me,
then it's a truth I'm telling you now.

King Brian Boru had worked hard and long to gather the needed strength of warriors
for his army, to take on the force of the Norsemen, who had their stronghold on the Isle of Man.
It is said, that it took Boru's men a fortnight to convince him, to not be on the battlefield with them. Although a great and powerful King and leader, they would rather focus on killing their enemy than protecting his life.
Boru, finally but reluctantly agreed, and he made his way up the rise to the hill above the battlefield with his trusted companion Donlan, who had been by the King's side since he was young.
They passed where the bards stood to watch the battle unfold, (so they could document in their stories and songs, who the heroes were, who fell with glory, and who fled the field.)
Boru and Donlan, went through the wood and found a grove, where they pitched a tent so the King could reflect and pray for his people's victory that day.

Every once in awhile he would rise and send Donlan out to see how the battle was going. The third such time, ...when Donlan returned he exclaimed to Boru, "The Norseman's standard has fallen and we no doubt have won the day!"
Boru jumped up and said, "Great! You go, ... and wait for my men, to come tell me of our victory!"
Donlan left his side, and Boru huddled down once again to pray, and be thankful.

It was during this same time, there were many Norsemen fleeing the battlefield, to save themselves. One such man came running out of the wood into the grove. He stopped when he saw the tent...then suddenly recognized the Great King, by his robe and his crown, huddled there in prayer. With his great battle-ax in hand this Norseman rushed forward into the tent...
cleaved the great King's head in half, ...rushed back out...(thinking he heard other Norsemen coming into the grove), and started to exclaim...
"I alone, .. have killed the Great King Brian Boru!!!! Me,... I've done it!" slapping his chest with his fists he repeated this again, then fell silent when, ...
he realized what he'd heard, in fact was Boru's men emerging from the forest.

Donlan was so aghast at the sight of his life-long friend and King; lying there in a pool of blood, ...that he and Boru's men disarmed the Norseman, stripped him of his armour and garments. Donlan sliced open the man's gut, ...pull out part of his entrails, ...
marched him over to a tree, attaching his guts to it, and made him walk around the tree while it disemboweled him. Then they put him to death.

Gruesome yes, ...but not nearly as some things done "in that day and age".

Now the purpose of this story is to show how important the family coat of arms symbols can be.
If you look at the Donlan family Coat of Arms of Ireland you will see a naked man that looks like he's tied to a tree, ...but on closer examination you may actually be able to distinguish that... it's not a rope you see there at all, ... but something quite different indeed.

Shop Hours and Days Update

2009-02-08T08:26:00.000-08:00

Starting:
On the date of 13 Feb. I will be open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10am - 3pm.
I will monitoring how busy town is on Monday and may open for a few hours because of it being a Monday holiday.

The work on the book is going well, and we are still on track for a Tartan day release,
at the shop. I have (tentatively) secured of Piper (bagpipes) to play for the event.
Finger-crossed!

Slainte,
Linda

Glencoe and the Pinky

2009-02-04T10:04:00.000-08:00

In 1689, James Stewart (Catholic) King of Scotland was removed from the throne and fled into exile
with his family. William of Orange (Protestant) had married James Stewart's daughter Mary, and was given the power and the crowns, in both Scotland and England. Many Scots were well opposed to this forced change, in their land and the Jacobite movement to return their 'rightful King" to the throne, got it's start. The loyalties of Scotland now being split by religious belief, also saw battles and grand upheavals, that soon followed.

In the midst of this turmoil, William forced his hand on the Highland Chiefs and demanded that they sign a oath of loyalty to him as their King. This is what eventually led to the Massacre of Glencoe.

It was at this same time, ... that this young Highland man had signed up to be a member of this King's army and the Argyll Regiment. Having a new born son and beautiful wife to support he found himself with little choice in the matter. Work was hard to find and he had little skills, but handling a sword and pistol well, were two he not only possessed, but took pride in. And the pay was a fair amount, that would suit his needs of everyday life.

His first mission with his new found 'work' was to march south with his regiment into the valley of Glencoe.

For the most part he thought that this work would be easy and found no problem in being 'quartered' with the MacIains of Glencoe. They had been very good hosts and each night seemed to bring a round of gambling, drink, good food, stories and songs...not unlike those he'd experience at home with his own kith and kin.

But by the time the end of the first week had come, in their scheduled fortnight (2 weeks) stay, things started to seem a bit strange. There seemed to be some secretive rumblings among the other soldiers that made him a bit suspicious. He tried to shake it off.

Then, in the early hours of Feb. 13th, 1692, his worse fears came to reality.
Orders were read as to the action this regiment was to take on their hosts.
As the others in his regiment moved to take their positions at the homes of the clan members, he went to his superior officer and made an objection to this:

"I can't do this...it goes against everything I was taught as a child... and goes against the code of Highland Hospitality!" he blurted out in his confusion and anger.
(Now in the Highlands of Scotland a code of hospitality was such that if someone came to your door with a death warrant and the host took them in and fed them, and drank with them and showed them the care they would extend to their own...that person could do them no harm.)
The massacre had started and you could hear the shots and screams all around...
this lads commander shouted back at him,
"You will do it! You will go behind the building and dispatch that woman and her young child...and you will come back and show me proof of blood on your sword! Or I will kill you here...where you stand!"

The lad seeing that he once again had little choice, made his way to the croft where the child's cries could be heard.

As he approach he heard the woman quieting the bairn with a Highland lullaby, ...the same lullaby that his wife had sung to their own son the night before he'd left home.
He knew he could not do this treachery. But what was he to do?

He approached the woman and tried to calm her fears. Then said, "I have been sent to kill you and your child, but I can not....I have to show proof of blood on my sword or surely I will be dead before this day is finished. I will make sure that you get safely away, but first I must assure all of our safe escape." Then he pulled his knife, picked up the child's hand and lopped off his pinky.
The mother was screaming the child was wailing, and surely anyone hearing this would think that he was in fact carrying out his orders. He took the finger and squeezed blood onto the sword blade, helped to bind the child's wound and waited there while the woman and child fled for their lives on the route he said for them to take.

He went back to his commander and showed this proof of his act to him.

Many years later this same lad now quite a bit older, was in a Inn Pub having a pint and dram.
The barman had been making small talk with him when he said, "Well you're about the right age and you come from the right region, ...so tell me were you there ...in Glencoe ...during the massacre?"

The lad told his story about what had happened to him on that fateful day.
The barman's face turned white, as he lifted his hand from behind the bar rail and said..."You saved my life and the life of my mum." The barman spread his hand open and there was no pinky finger there. "You sir can have free room and board here at my Inn for the rest of your life!!" And that's where the lad(now man) and his wife spent the rest of their days, at that Inn, where the owner and the sacrifice of his finger had saved all of their lives, from the Massacre of Glencoe.

This story was told to me by an old gentleman in the Highlands of Scotland many years ago. It is a great story of how honour can survive in the darkest time.

The Scots have always tried to share in times of wealth and huddled together in the darkest of times.

Cheers,
Linda

The Massacre of Glencoe 13th Feb. 1692

2009-01-28T12:18:00.001-08:00

The following 'military orders' are presented in the language used by the writer in the 1600's: ( from the book- Slaughter under Trust by Donald J. Macdonald )

"Sir, You are hereby ordered to fall upon the rebells the Macdonalds of Glencoe and put all to the sword under (the age of) seventy. You are to have special care that the old fox and his sons do not escape your hands; you are to secure all avenues, that no man escape. This you are to put in execution at five of the clock precisely; and by that time, or very shortly after it, I will strive to be at you with a stronger party. If I do not come to you at five, you are not to tarry for me, but to fall on.
This is by the King's special commands, for the good and safety of the Countrey, that these miscreants be cut off root and branch. See that this be put in execution without fear or favour, or you may expect to be dealt with as one not true to King or Government, nor a man fit to carry a commission in the King's service. Expecting you will not fail in the fulfilling hereof, as you love yourself, I subscribe this at Ballychyllis, the 12 Feby. 1692.

Robert Duncanson."

These were the orders given to the Argyll Regiment in Scotland by those that meant not only to do drastic harm to this clan, but to make an example of the MacIain's
(MacDonald's) of Glencoe so all other clans would submit to the power of the crown.

This is what genocide looks like, and was/is considered the most devastating thing that ever happened in Scotland's history.

On Feb 13th, (or the closest Saturday to that date), each year Scots around the world meet up, in a Memorial Ceremony to honour those men, women, and children that perished that morning so many years ago.

A more detailed account of what led up to this event, including the journey that the chief of this clan took to assure the safety of all of their members, before the massacre, is included in The Warriors and Wordsmiths of Freedom text due for release in April 2009.

The closest Memorial Ceremony is in Hillsboro, Oregon....check the Clan Donald Pacific Northwest web pages to find out the details, if you wish to attend.

Linda

The Warriors and Wordsmiths of Freedom: the Birth and Growth of Democracy

2009-01-23T18:20:00.000-08:00

What did William Wallace and George Washington have in common?

How were King Robert the Bruce and Thomas Jefferson similar?

What two documents brought the Western World, from the medieval days of feudalism to present day democracy?

How did we achieve the right to pick our own leadership?

And what does a snuffbox have to do with it?

The Warriors and Wordsmiths of Freedom will answer these questions and provide a easy to follow voyage through those historical days. The Scots fight for freedom, not only at home but after their migration across the Atlantic.

The right to choose their leaders.

The basic rights of man.

And the love of their freedom, ..were the motivating ideals that moved this race of men and women to continue the fight, to secure these things regardless of where they lived. The foe and the issues were the same, as was their willingness to stand up against their oppressors with undying faith in their eventual victory.

Written as an introduction to the history of Scotland, this book also encompasses folklore and interesting stories of uncommonly known sites and facts through this period of history to the present day.

Personality traits of key figures in this history are noted, to better explain the motives and actions of these characters, and why history took the turn that it did when it did .

Divided into three parts :

The Wars of Independence (in Scotland).
The Jacobite Risings (in Scotland).
The Revolutionary Wars (in the American Colonies).

The 'Afterword on Democracy' rounds up the history with a statement that brings it all to the doorstep of the reader and the world today.

The text also includes a Chronology of Events, Illustrations.

Soon to be released ....

Burns Night Supper Events

2009-01-21T08:31:00.000-08:00

To George and anyone else that happens to be interested in attending an open-invitation Burns Night Supper...I have found the following event in the
"extended" local area.

Unfortunately all other events I have found thus far, were actually held on the date of Jan. 17th, and have passed. But, on the upside...
This is a fairly new Scottish pub, ...and in the past two years I have heard many good comments on the operation of the place. I've never been there myself,...but have always considered word-of-mouth adverts as the best. If you attend I'm sure you'll have a good time. Who wouldn't (?) on a night where Burns is being quoted, whisky is flowing and Haggis is being served.

Details below:

January 21, 2009

*
Highland Stillhouse 3rd annual Burns Supper

Highland Stillhouse
201 Second Street Oregon City, OR
6:30 PM

Join us for the Highland Stillhouse 3rd annual Burns Supper, Wednesday January 21st at 6:30 pm.

Night will include a feast of "Traditional Fare" with appetizers, a selection of main course, sticky toffee pudding, Atholl brose and of course haggis! An array of Whiskies will be poured for an additional fee of $20. There will be music and pipes throughout the night to accompany our host, Stuart Maclean Ramsay as he delivers the "Address to the Haggis".

$35 per person. Reservations required.

(503) 201-2255 or (503) 201-2241

Or, there's this one....

Robert Burns Scottish Evening

The Celtic Arts Foundation presents:

The 18th annual Robert Burns Scottish Evening, Saturday, January 24, 2009 at Hillcrest Lodge in Mount Vernon, WA. Tickets are $55 each and include a traditional Scottish meal, live entertainment AND Haggis. Please call 360-416-4934 or toll free 1-888-416-4934 for more information. Tickets must be purchased in advance, and are available online using the link below. (Please check out their website)

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