Minnesota Scottish Fair and Highland Games 2007

[billmcc]

Somebody please take a camera and get a few pictures of this event. Pictures of the Frugal Corner, Stillwater Kilts and Celtic Croft booths would be nice.

[Kilted-Marine]

Walked out of the house this morning at 5:45 and left the camera sitting in the kitchen counter. It was a great event. Made some new friends and had some fun. The kids are the most fun though. The girls from Bent Needle Design had an excellent wedding display with one of their hand made dresses. The do fantastic work and would recommend them to anybody looking for a dress or scottish dancer wear. Laura and Sammi are both a riot to talk to. The Author of the Scottish love stories (not Romance-I was corrected) was next to us and a very fine lady. We traded her a Minnesota State tartan Shawl for a signed book for my wife.
Next year we are going to have some smaller size kilts waist. More 26, 28, 30 sizes and we are going to get two spaces.
We had one elderly gentleman that was wearing his kilt with his Navy petty Officer 1st class shirt, (It looked pretty sharp), the white dress one. Of course me being a Marine, I had to harrass him but then gave him a great deal on a rabbit fur sporran because he did not have one.
There was a vendor behind us selling lemon chicken sandwiches and pork chop sandwiches-They were GREAT.
Saw one Marine wearing the Leather Neck Tartan, I wish i had worn mine but , After gaining (a few Pounds) it is a little tight.
We are talking about doing the event in Wisconsin the end of April.
Anyway..after standing up all day.. I must get to bed.

[brandycr]

Maybe we will get pics tommorro

[Fedgunner]

It was a great day!
I was the poor sod carrying the clan MacMillan banner in the parade.
The Crofts were hustling every time I looked in, Gerry (SWK)was better in person than he is on the phone.(no mean feat that!)
The Frugal folks were very friendly and quite busy.

As always I was blown away by the hearding demo.

This was he first time I took my grandchildren to the Fair/highland games. I couldn't have asked for a better day.

Personal Highlights:
My grandson wore an X Kilt in Crye multicam.
My son-in-law now owns and wears a SWK Blackwatch.
I spent way too much, but I only got two kilt hangers and a cheap belt buckle.

Did I mention my family had a fantastic day?

[Kilted-Marine]

And we did give away a Rabbit Fur Sporran with belt to the lucky lady who came up and said "SEMPER FI", She was even nice enough to let her man select the one he wanted and he was very thankful also.

Wow were we ever busy, as Fedgunner mentioned. And thank you for noting our friendlyness... we came to sell things but wanted to have a good time doing it.

One Funny story - While we were getting ready to pack up a gentleman and his wife came walking by..him in his kilt with no shoes or hose.. I jokingly said to him.."and this is why Scotsmen don't gamble, your lucky you didn't lose your kilt too"
They stopped to talk and I told him I had a pair of hose for him. He told me that he didn't have any money on him (a true Scot that). I said no, I am not trying to sell them to you I will give them to you. So as I am digging out the hose we had packed up, his wife noticed we had some Minnesota State Tartan Shawls still sitting on the table along with a few other things. She started shopping and those free pair of hose cost him almost $100. She said as they were getting ready to leave, "see, your nice to my husband and you make a sale."
I gave him another pair of hose before he left. I just hope he stays away from the card table...

Semper Fi

[McMurdo]

Well it sounds like you all had a wonderful time. I too would like to see some pics, all these stories are making me wish the Fergus games were here, but I suppose they will come soon enough.

[jrival]

I can't believe I lived in Minnesota for 8 years and never knew there was a highland games there If anyone there was from Duluth.....HI!

[escherblacksmith]

it was a great deal of fun, I didn't get there until almost 2pm. got to see the end of the caber event and the sheaf and 56# for height contests.

I am a little disappointed that there weren't more bands, but looks like they are trying to get sanctioned so more bands will be coming out, if that is the case.

Still, good time had by all, I have some pics, didn't occur to me to take shots of the resident booths . . . I'll see about posting them.

[LadyGriffin]

I was the lucky lass that got the Rabbit fur sporran from The Frugal Corner.

Very nice people there and a good selection. I did not get to the fair until a half hour after it opened and was shocked that no one had taken him up on his offer! I did have to run to the car to change into my kilted skirt to collect it though. <G>
My man was helping do some last minute set up near by so was able to come and pick out which one he wanted. He was VERY pleased and suprized.

I was also eyeing the budget bagpipes you guys had. He has hinted that he would like me to try to learn the bagpipes. Perhaps a set of smallpipes or parlor/fireside pipes for me. GHB are a bit loud for me at close range.
Does anyone here know much about the pipes and could answer a few questions? (or direct me to where I could go?) I do not want to take up space on this forum as it is for kilted issues.

Thanks again to the The Frugal Corner for the wonderful sporran!

Julie

p.s. The Minnesota Scottish fair has a good deal for those that are willing to put in a few hours help, anytime from the day before to the day after. A good cause and fun, too!

[billmcc]

Does anyone here know much about the pipes and could answer a few questions? (or direct me to where I could go?) I do not want to take up space on this forum as it is for kilted issues.

Julie,

You learn to play the bagpipes using a practice chanter. There are a few threads about learning to play the bagpipes in the General Celtic Music Talk section of the forum. Several X-Markers are bagpipers, including myself, and we would be happy to answer your questions.