Monday, October 24, 2011

A Little Halloween Treat



Daniel Radcliff reads an excerpt from Susan Hill's The Woman in Black.  He's staring in the movie adaptation of this ghost story, which will be in theaters in February 2012. (We're not even going to go into how much I'm looking forward to this...)

ANYWAY, the idea behind the video is to inspire you to write your own short ghost story and submit it HERE.  The winner will get a trip to London to The Woman in Black premiere, Dan-Rad will read your story which will become an exclusive extra on the DVD release of the film and you'll score some cool swag. So...get creative and creepy!

Sunday, October 16, 2011

A Sunday Funny

For the H.O.P.S.F.

The iMidget


A VillaDiva Product

Lazy Sunday Afternoon






 

Highland Games 2011 - Part Six

There were several of these harps standing around in the woods surrounding the demonstration tent.  Quite a beautiful instrument.  


Yeah, I have about 20 or so shots of 'parts of the harp.'  I got a little 'arty-farty' about it.  Shut up.  They're pretty!

Finally it was time for us to move on to retail.  And as we both enjoy commerce, LibraryDiva and I were in our element.

 LibraryDiva and her little buddy.

I spotted the biggest fashion "DON'T" of the day...and since we were surrounded by men in skirts this chick had to really work for it.  But honestly...look at that!  And she was proud of them! 

Did I mention yet that they day was just abso-freaking-lutely perfectly beautiful??
Well, it was!

LibraryDiva picking up some new cooking tips to try.
Good luck, Carl!  You'll need it!

Highland Games 2011 - Part Five

 Clan Irwin.
Sounds like an accountant.
Just sayin'.

The Games opens with a parade of the clans into the main events field.  They all carry their clan name and tartan and then the banners are displayed throughout the remainder of the Games. 

Oh look!  More country dancing.



  Actual Scotsman.

 Plastic Scotsman.

 Scottish harp demonstration.


Highland Games 2011 - Part Four

At about this point in the day LibraryDiva was literally bouncing up and down and demanding to "go and see the Coo!"
 
The Highland Coo.

Highlands are known as a hardy breed due to the rugged nature of their native Scottish Highlands, with high rainfall and strong winds.  Their hair provides protection during the cold winters and their skill in browsing for food enables them to survive in steep mountain areas. They both graze and browse and eat plants which many other cattle avoid.

This one is named Scarlett. 

 And another shot of the crowd.
But this time they are downwind from the Coo.
A convenient place to leave the kids while Mom and Dad wait in the beer line.
And feel each other up in public.
Happened a lot.
Seriously.




Oh look, it's LibraryDiva.  Right in the middle of my picture.
Yeah, it was at this point that she decided that she needed to be in more of the pictures.
So...

...she made sure she was.

 Ah, Clan Buchanan.
They have one of the the most easy to recognize tartans.
It's bright yellow, bright red, and black.

Highland Games 2011 - Part Three

Good morning!  I've skipped out of today's enforced activity - a trip to the apple farm - to finish posting the pictures from yesterday's activity.  See the sacrifices I make for you people?  And do you even appreciate it???  (LIE TO ME!)

Scottish Country Dancing demonstration/instruction.
That's right!  You too can learn to dance in a circle while wearing a kilt!

"Now, half of you walk to the left!"

The dancer at the center of this photo was the topic of conversation between LibraryDiva and myself for several minutes.  And no, I'm not going to tell you why! 

Another look at the crowds, but this time it's the crowds under the trees.  This event is quite sprawling, and it can be fantastically muddy.  Thank goodness it didn't rain the day before!

"Now hold hands and walk to the left!"


Okay, yes, I mock.  But truthfully country dancing can be quite lovely to watch...and the historian in me sincerely appreciates the fact that the participants are helping to keep part of their culture's past alive in modern times.

We continued to wander through the collection of booths and displays and came upon a woodworking booth.  The smell from this booth was amazing!  The fresh cut wood and resin...and just...aaaahhhhhh! And we got to meet the artisan herself.

Artisan made pottery, with hand drawn motifs.
Slightly overpriced for my taste...

...but pretty.  Very pretty.

Highland Games 2011 - Part Two

Now, you may be asking why I've divided this post up into so many parts.  Well, that answer is easy...trying to upload 59 pictures at one time will make Blogger explode.  At least, that's what I've come to believe.  Anyway, back to the pictures!

The Family of Bruce International.

These are the descendants of Robert I (the Good) - Robert the Bruce - King of Scots.

Now, while far from the first King of Scotland, Robert I is the most well remembered.  For ten years (1296 - 1306), Scotland had no King of its own. The Scots, however, refused to tolerate English rule; first William Wallace and then, after his execution, Robert the Bruce fought against the English. Bruce and his supporters killed a rival for the throne, John III Comyn, Lord of Badenoch on 10 February 1306 at Greyfriars Church in Dumfries. Shortly after in 1306, Robert was crowned King of Scots at Scone. His energy, and the corresponding replacement of the vigorous Edward I with his weaker son Edward II, allowed Scotland to free itself from English rule; at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, the Scots routed the English, and by 1329 the English had agreed by treaty to accept Scottish independence.

See that?  You just learned something...again! 

 MacBean!

A handmade tartan brooch/rosette.
Traditionally worn on a coordinating sash.

Yeah...I totally bought this one for LibraryDiva as a birthday/Christmas present.
And yes, she already knows about it so I'm not spoiling the surprise.

Up next, all the pretty pieces of stained glass...which really don't need an explanation.