We all found something to ingest here. I chose iced tea.
I don't know anything about Celtic, or even Gaelic, culture. I never even saw Braveheart. I'll keep commentary to a minimum.
Say what you like about bagpipes ...
Seriously, say what you like.
This was a surprisingly moving performance. Bagpipes are great outdoor instruments. And, rich with tradition that I know nothing about.
 |
| Disapproving Bagpiper disapproves. |
 |
| Hurling |
 |
| Hurled |
 |
| Cousins in the labyrinth. |
 |
| Check out that arm pudge. Now look at the baby. |
37 comments:
Crazy—had no idea Flagstaff had such things. I believe that the lady is tossing the caber, albeit not perhaps a full-sized one (i.e., the caberette).
Come to the cabarette, old chum. Thanks for the name - I was stumbling around with curling? hurling? rutabaga? Free association gone wild here.
Well, you learn something new every day...
I was set to say "tossing, not hurling" and, while searching for an appropriate example of what I thought was "camber toss," learned that's apparently a misnomer. See "caber toss" here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caber_toss
And, I also thought it was strictly an event for male participation!! Makes me hurt just to consider hefting one of those! :)
Very cute cousins!
But I think it is hurling. Now you need to take Spud over to Scotland and Ireland for some on the spot education into Celtic. Great knot tying. Superior crosses.
Well, we did discuss a trip to the Channel Islands; once we're that close we could just *urp* boat on up.
http://www.veg-world.com/recipes/haggis.htm
Here's a vegan haggis recipe, Roxanne! You could make it as a "gag" gift for someone...
Um, ya. In spite of my Scots heritage (third generation, so at this point I don't think it much matters, although being parsimonious did come naturally) there are a few words regarding bagpipes that do come to mind. "Outdoors", is a good one. Along with perhaps "Up on a hill, far far away"?
And then there's Haggis. Tried it once. That's all I got.
Although, a wee lass tossing a caber? That is kinda dead sexy I suppose.
Bob, this makes me laugh. When I read "dead sexy" I either heard Sean Connery or Fat Bastard.
GAG gift! LLOL!
Haggis. It's what's for dinner.
Love the tongue in the labyrinth. I do like bagpipes but I've never heard that many of them all at once. Could get loud.
We just had the Ithaca Celtic Festival June 29th.
Could hear the bagpipes on the golf course at Newman.
Take care Duckie :)
Looks like lots of fun!
Haggis $6.50!! I'm sure the line was too long to wait for it!
Cool. Bagpipe music is so poignant.
Had to look up what haggis is and wish I hadn't. I thought maybe it was Celtic for Haagen Das.
We passed up the festival. Doesn't look like we missed much.
So are you getting as tired of the rain and clouds as we are??
Haggis is an acquired taste but, done properly, it is quite good albeit very rich. I've only had it in Scotland and that's the ONLY place I'll dine on it with, of course, neeps and tatties. Here's a link about a Burns Night Supper, which includes haggis. http://www.visitscotland.com/about/robert-burns/supper The haggis is actually piped into the dining room by a piper . . . it's quite the ritual. There's also nothing like stepping out of the flat at night and hearing a lone piper in the distance through the clouds and mist. It is a beautiful and haunting experience . . . Yep, I'm married to a Scotsman and have spent time in that Bonnie Land, which I consider my second country. :)
Gayle, people order it for that reason. Once.
I keep trying to remember that this is very good for fire fighters, but I'm done, too.
Kim, they played Amazing Grace, and it was touching.
Nancy, I was too impatient, so I let other people enjoy it for me.
Chuck & Anneke, I had a good time.
Thanks, Anon! The Ithaca Anything Festival would be good to see right now.
Sandie, this is what makes bagpipes a great outdoor instrument. I once heard a single bagpipe played indoors and one of my livers dissolved.
Hoo boy, Jan. Good thing neither of us believes that.
I would have had iced tea too. Haggis makes me shudder.....
Unlike haggis, though, I adore bagpipes. Such a rich, unique sound!
Nothing more disconcerting than a disapproving bagpiper.
You didn't even mention the kilts. It's all about the kilts!!! :)
I'll skip the haggis though. But bring on the kilts!
Did you get to see the Wicked Tinkers perform? Great music, way fun to watch these wild men (& occasionally get pulled in...). I've gone to this every year, this year was the first year I didn't--but I was up in Flag on Sat. & a friend & I dropped off her son at the festival--so, ships crossing in the night, I guess, Roxi! Or day, maybe, would be more correct.
Love that little red head, sure gave his mom a run for her money. Baby is so cute too! I think that guy was giving you the stink eye. What nerve lol
I truly enjoy listening to a good bagpiper, especially if he looks good in the skirt. I mean kilt.
Guess I should ask for weekends off next summer so I can attend some of the fun Flagstaff events.
I guess they all looked okay in their kilts, Gaelyn and Brenda, more or less. Next time we'll meet there and you can tell me which do and which don't. You know what they wear under their kilts, right? Yep. Socks and shoes.
Yep, he's usually in turbo, Jo. The baby is mellow, and the piper was definitely giving me side-eye attitude.
Jac, I don't think I saw anyone but the bagpipe brigade. Your friend's son didn't even wave.
Teresa, what kind of sound would he make angry? I'm not ready to know.
Betty, if I were in Scotland, I'm not ruling out tasting the haggis. One bite. For culture's sake. I'm not putting that in my mouth in Arizona, though.
RV, I did love the sound of all of them outdoors. I'm wondering if together they enrich each other. It was so much nicer than one.
What's under the kilts?
Back in the 1980's I was bartending in Maine and the bar was on the basement level of a Holiday Inn
(which is no longer, I think it's a Ramada now)
It was a very small bar and one evening a Gentleman strolled in wearing full kilt regalia and had a set of bagpipes with him. He was the only one in the bar and I asked if he would play something as I had never heard them in person (only in the movies.) He raised one eyebrow and asked If I was sure. "Of course!" I said nonchalantly. "There's no one else here."
He smiled and said 'Well okay...."
He positioned the bag under one arm and began to 'puff up the bag'(?) He had the puffer part in his mouth and his fingers laid upon the Flutie bit and gave me one look straight in the eyes and...
--Have you ever seen a scene in a movie where there is a close up of someone when a 'concussion blast' goes off and they appear to physically move back a pace or two and their hair is blown straight back behind them and they squint their eyes?
...it was a bit like that...
but WOW! Wasn't it beautiful...and as the last note died away, even my lips were vibrating...
Haha, K! That whole story sounds like a sitcom scene. Actually, the bar was full until you said "Could you play something?..."
Next scene shows you sporting blood-soaked ear cotton.
Dragonfly, if you look closely at the second picture, you'll see an example of what's under the kilt ...
...
...
sock and shoes.
About the loudness of bagpipes...that's because they were a military weapon. Seriously. They could be heard above the sounds of battle and were used to direct strategy and hearten the men.
When Bonnie Prince Charles' uprising failed back in the 1700s, the British made it illegal for instruments of war to be in the hands of the Scots...including bagpipes! Instruments of war!
Cool photos, I love those kinds of days. Darling baby photo, too.
Did you peek under the plaid?
Barbara, there are some things I'll do a lot not to see. It was a nice day, for sure.
I can see them being heartening, for sure. Interesting history! Instruments of war! WMD!
Sitcom!!! Good one! It would be like the mad stampede scene in the movie Caspar. Kat and Caspar(has been given 1 hour to be a Real boy)are sharing their first kiss at the halloween party and The clock strikes 10pm...Caspar de-materializes back to wispy ghostness. The crowd hushes in one loud gasp. Mouthes open, frozen in fear...Caspar looks around and sheepishly says a soft "Boo?" and crazy mass exodus ensues...
open to scene in crowded noisy tiny bar
bartender to piper- How about playing us a tune?
Noisy Bar Crowd- Sudden silence...
piper- Sure...
Bar crowd- fast exit...people tripping over each other...furniture upended...martini glass tipped over rocking side to side as the olive slowly rolls over to bump into a the split open arms of a mashed cherry from a spilled manhattan.
pipers bagpipes issues a disheartened wheeze...
scene fades to black
HAHA! Excellent stage direction! You! Martini glass! Let's see some rocking action from you! Olive! Roll!
Nicely tanned arm pudge....
Lol, Nickie! I'll tell the baby you said so.
Roxi...I'm gasping...trying to catch my breath from laughing so hard...
Somebody get her a directors chair quick! I can so see you directing this scene...(tears are rolling down my face)
HAR!
I love bagpipes. Fortunately, I get to hear them often as they are a part of the local university who uses a Scotsman as its mascot.
Post a Comment