Scottish Culture
Scotland is one of my favorite countries. The first time we went there, we took three-year-old Megan. I’d just found out I was pregnant before we left. Little did I know then that our son, Ian, would attend university there, first in St. Andrews and then in Edinburgh. So, I have spent a good bit […]
15 Fun Facts about Scotland Read More »
I sat down today to write this week’s blog post about the Roman ruins we found in The Netherlands last week. Then the doorbell rang, and Widgit, the dog, went crazy. He usually barks, but this time he was excited. Opening the door, I saw four local children dressed in the robes of the magi.
In researching the final book in the MacKay Mystery series, I delved more into the relationship between the Native Americans and the Highlanders arriving in the colonies. I had always heard these two cultures identified similarities in each other and worked well together, often intermingling. But I had no research to support these theories. Google
Highlanders & Indians Read More »
Have you ever attended a local fall festival? This week marks Lughnasadh, the fourth of the ancient Celtic quarter festivals celebrating the year’s passing. Ancient cultures divided the world into light and dark: day/night, summer/winter, sun/moon, and so on. It helped them understand life and the natural world around them. They began the year with
Celebrating Lughnasadh Read More »
The other day, my landlady showed up with a bucket of currants. Don’t get me wrong; I love currants. But what was I to do with a bucket load? I froze most of them in small batches in freezer bags by first spreading them out on a tray in the freezer for twenty minutes. But
Well, to wrap up the Scottish this month, I decided to follow the pattern from last month and finish with well-known Scottish artists. As with the Irish, I sadly lack knowledge here. I almost changed the topic but decided I should learn something about them. Charles Rennie Mackintosh has always been a favorite of mine.
Mackintosh and More Read More »
Continuing with the Scottish theme this month, I am thrilled with this week’s topic; Scottish authors. Many of my beloved favorite writers are on the list. So, in chronological order, let’s dig in. William Dunbar (1459-1520) The oldest name I found, Dunbar was a poet working in the court of King James. His works were
Welcome to the next installment for Scottish Month. The Scots have long been known for their discoveries and innovations. I googled Scottish inventions, and when I copied the list from just one website, it was ten pages long… So, this week, I am injecting a bit of humor into my look at items invented by
You may have noticed I’ve been making a big deal of Tartan Day. Why? What is it? National Tartan Day was designated by proclamation to be held on April 6th each year to recognize the contributions of Americans of Scottish descent. The holiday originated in Nova Scotia, Canada, where it was proposed in March 1986.