And I'm not even a piper!

**Panache** · 16th November 07, 06:17 PM

Today I stopped by Cost Plus Imports and saw that they had a display of inexpensive nutcrackers dressed with the attire of a few different countries. They had Spain, France, Germany, and (with a little digging about the display) Scotand! Not having a kilted nutcracker for my collection I purchased the wooden bagpiper and took him home. Removing him from the box I saw that his "pipes' was a small cloth bag with 4 short gold plastic tubes sticking out the top in a row. I shook my head. Oh well it was just a decoration, so I put it on top of my desk. A little while later I walked by and regarded the figure again. No chanter. No reed. Just a cloth bag with 4 short drones (?).

Sigh

It just wouldn't do. As an X Marker I have standards...

I took off the bag opened it, removed the gold tubes and went to work. I fashioned three tall drones out of a dowel and strung together with a gold cord, fashioned a simple mouthpiece (out of a pick up stick), and turned one of the golden tubes into a chanter with a couple of painted holes. I sewed up the bag to a better shape and put it back on the doll a gave the fellow a belt buckle while I was at it.

I set him back ontop of my desk and felt satisfied...

...until I noticed that his cap was missing a torrie.

Sigh

X Marks the Scot can be a bad influence...

Cheers

Jamie

**McMurdo** · 16th November 07, 06:21 PM

That is one of the best Nutcrackers ever. I sadly only have one of my own, wonderful improvements by the way, now get the poor chap a toorie.

**ccga3359** · 16th November 07, 06:21 PM

Somebody certainly seems to have a lot of time on his hands. I have a Canadian nutcracker at home, she's gonna wonder where I've been the last few weeks and why I have wheat in my hair...