November 6, 2015 by kimicalreaction - 7 Comments

Instant Grat Instagram: “It’s Bloody Brigadoon!”

I had all kind of plans for a post today but work exploded and the writing thing never happened.

However…

Thankfully, there’s my phone, Instagram and lots of great memories.

These particular ones are from the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games and Gathering of Scottish Clans last July.

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Beautiful North Carolina mountains and amazing skies.

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Grandfather Mountain and 50,000 Scots and “wanna-Scots”

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Highland dancers warming up

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Tossing the sheaf!

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Sheepdog trials – herding ducks!

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Flags from 80 Clans and 15 Scottish Societies!

“Not the bee upon the blossom,
In the pride o’ sunny noon;
Not the little sporting fairy,
All beneath the simmer moon;
Not the poet, in the moment
Fancy lightens in his e’e,
Kens the pleasure, feels the rapture,
That thy presence gi’es to me.”
― Robert Burns

July 10, 2015 by kimicalreaction - 6 Comments

Three Things Thursday: July 9, 2015

My contribution to to the lovely Nerd in the Brain’s weekly show-n-tell of happiness all come from our wonderful first day at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in North Carolina.

It’s both one thing and many things, so I’ll try to narrow it down to three themes – I may cheat and show you more than one picture for each category, if you don’t mind.

Music – lots of gorgeous fiddle and mandolin, spiced with flutes, drums and fabulous harmonies:

Sheepdog Trials (my weakness, I could watch them all day):

The Torchlight Ceremony recognizing all 120 Scottish Clans and Societies in attendance:

And I will bonus you some gratuitous “Men in Kilts.”

Thank you as always, Nerd in the Brain, for letting me share my happies!

July 9, 2015 by kimicalreaction - 6 Comments

Scots Wha Hae: Tales from the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games

We are in picturesque Linville, North Carolina for the 60th Annual Grandfather Mountain Highland Games.

These are our stories.

My husband is producing the digital media and drone camera footage for the 4-day event, and I was happily able to tag along as his PA (production assistant).

We’ve been to lots of Scottish festivals before in Georgia, but it’s the first time we’ve ever attended these games and they are looking to be a pretty big deal.