Hello to all from North Carolina!

Well, I finally went and did it. Ordered a kilt.

If you care to bear with me, I'll tell you about it. If not, well, you already know the best part.

Thursday took the GMC Safari into the shop for an oil and filter change and tire rotation. My son was off from school yesterday (Friday) and I took off from work. Set the alarm for an hour earlier than usual, went out into the cold and did the animal chores (chickens and goats). Then my wife, son, and I set off on a road trip!

Left from a little west of Chapel Hill, drove to Ashville to pick up my daughter (sophmore at UNC Ashville) and continued on to Franklin, NC. After driving 280 miles, we pulled up outside the Scottish Tartan Museum. Met with Matthew Newsome and some of the guys at the gift shop and museum.

Had a most positive experience. Everyone pleasant, knowledgable, never let it show how silly our questons probably were. {A Mr. Taylor showed us through the museum part (after he got back from his coffee break). I was especially interested in his discussion of how the Scots interfaced with the Cherokee in those parts.} Well worth having enough time to explore both the shop and museum - We spent a total of 3 hours there!

Yeah, Yeah, sure, sure. Get back to the kilt!

Anyway, here's the deal. Both my son and I were measured for and ordered one of Matt's 4yd box pleat kilts in the Watson Ancient tartan. 16oz Lochcarran Strome Range. My son Zac is having his pleated to stripe (yellow) and mine is being pleated to sett. Of course due to my girth and the need to have enough pleats, my 4yder will be more like a 5yder.

Then the ladies. They are getting below the knee kilted skirts with box pleats hand tailored by Matt to the sett. Again Watson Ancient tarton but this time in 10oz Lochcarron Reiver Range.

Picked up some hose, some traditional garter ties, a Buzz Kidder Rob Roy Sporran. Drooled over those fancy Nova Scotia sporrans they sell, the Black Knives, etc. etc. My wife picked up a Watson scarve (dtr. already had one). Son found a lapel pin with the Scottish flag on one side and the Confederate Battle flag on the other. All in all my pocket is considerably lighter.

So after being picked up off the floor after paying Matt, we headed home. Dropped the girl off back in Ashville. Total time spent from our door to our door 13.5 hours, and 560 miles. More animal chores. Quite the day. Well worth it I think. Everybody had a good time and learned a lot. Now the worst part begins, the waiting! Possible time frame? 12 weeks if I'm lucky.

Anyway, will let all know when they are finished. Hope to get some good pics. Thanks for reading.

Matt