Shop hours Update

Update May 8th.....

Because of an emergency the High Tea for Mother's (that I was to perform at), has been canceled in Sutherlin. So I will be open Thurs the 8th and Friday the 9th.
Still closed Sat and Sun. this week so I can see my Mum.
Slainte,
The Bard


I will be closed from May 9th through May 14th.

I've a performance and a trip to see the folks
for Mother's day.

All the Best, see you on the 15th back in the shop.

The Bard

Scotland's Past and the Present View

Recently when I had a disagreement with someone that has little knowledge of the
Celtic past history, they responded to me in a way I've grown tried of hearing.

In essence the response was:

The thing that brought the Celtic Nations to their demise was the constant "infighting" that they're so well known for.

I replied: You're not going to get hung up on that drivel that the oppressive ranks of invaders tried to use to further the misunderstanding of what was really going on during those periods of history, ... are you?

1. The Celtic Nations never did come to a 'demise', they are still up and running now,
or their would be no Ireland or Wales or Scotland today. And they've survived all thrown at them for many thousands of years.

2. The Celts believed that their leaders were "the first among equals", the ranks of the clans were involved in the choice of leadership, if those leaders moved against their own, they would cast them out and choose another to lead them. These ideals are where your modern day democracy grew from.

3. The Celtic Clans believed that each of their land holding and people were "a realm" onto itself. Most of the disputes down through the years were one clan moving against another because of disagreements, border disputes, treachery of one sort or another, etc, .... this is not infighting.

4. "Infighting" would be disputes happening constantly within the one clan against others of their same kith and kin.

5. These clansmen and women, of different clans commonly would band together with each other to fight common foes.

6. Don't use historical events from a realm you know little about, to justify your actions in the modern world, and present circumstance.


And that's how I feel about that.

The Bard

Shop Hours and Tartan Day in Seaside Update

Greetings one and all.

As of the 13th of April I will be open at the shop in Seaside
the following hours:

Thurs., Fri., Sat., and Sun., 10am-? usually leaving sometime after 3pm.

Sorry about the shift from Monday to Thursday but more customers need the Thurs. open
to them.

The first Tartan Day Event in Seaside went off without a hitch. It couldn't have been more like Scotland itself. Standing at the beach side with the winds whipping and a light mist flowing through it, ...the sound of the Pipes swirling 'round and the
Saltire (St.Andrews) flapping madly all at once.

After a much shortened 'out doors' presentation we all piled into the Shilo Resort
hotel, and continued on, but this time with fire blazing, whisky and food flowing.
The Pipers took turns shrilling out tunes, and a great time was had by both staff and
those gathered.

Hope to see you soon at the finest beach on the coast.

Linda

Scotland's Homecoming 2009

If you're thinking about returning to the land of your fathers, or have a deep interest in Scotland....next year is the time to take that feeling and turn it into action.

Scotland is throwing a year long celebration, and calling home all those that have birth, descent, or a keen interest in the history, mythology, and folklore of this ancient land.

The Homecoming starts on Jan. 25th, 2009, which marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of the 'Bard of Scotland', Robert Burns. The events will continue through Nov. 30th, which is St. Andrews Day.

The biggest event during this time will be a World-wide All Clan Gathering and Games,
at Holyrood Park (at the base of Arthur's Seat, the bottom of the Royal Mile). On the dates of July 25th and 26th, clansmen and women will gathering from all over the globe for these festivities.

So come one and all, ....haste ye back to Scotland ....and all the wonder there.

The Bard

Shop Hours for the Spring

Starting March 3rd I will be open:

Fri., Sat., Sun., and Monday

10am-3pm or later ... if busy.

Hope to see you soon !

Linda

The Warriors and Wordsmiths of Freedom

"The freedom that we take for granted today,
came to us by the sacrifice and endurance of those
that came before. That freedom and the democracy that
grew from it, was over 500 years in the making."

The book, (title above), that I wrote and will be released in June/July of this year,
follows the thread of this dynamic, in the history of democracy.

From William Wallace and Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Independence
in Scotland (13th century) to George Washington and Thomas Jefferson and
the Revolutionary War in America. The foe was the same as were the issues;
hinged on the ideals of the 'rights of man', their liberties, the belief that these were given to mankind at birth, and could not be usurped or stripped away from them by either church or state.

The book is easy to understand, and includes folklore and interesting snippets
about Scotland and America, and the personalities pinnacle to the events covered.

I will post more later on this.

All the Best,
The Bard

Update on Life

The release date of my book has been moved to June 2008.
And can be seen, with a brief description on Amazon.

A link to it is now in the sidebar of this site, under
Books I Recommend.

It's been quite an experience writing about this 500 year
period of history, when democracy found it's way into the life
of humanity. And I believe, a timely subject, with the upcoming
elections. It's always great to review the things, that have brought
us to the path we walk today and the ideal of democracy is no different.

I'm filling the shop with new stock for the upcoming St. Patrick's Day
celebration and the approaching Spring time in Seaside.

The shop will be closed Feb.29th - March 6th

All the Best,
The Bard