Scottish DNA/ Scottish slavery

Most people think that the people in scotland have mostly Scots, Celtic, Viking, and Irish blood, that is not true. Scotland apparently is one of the most diverse places on earth. There is a huge gene pool in Scotland! There is African, Arabian, south-east Asian and Siberian ancestry in Scotland! A bunch of scientists tested DNA to determine a genetic root of Scottish people. What they found is that there is 100 different groups of male ancestry from across Europe and other places, and more than 150 different types of female DNA from Europe, Asia and Africa. Isn't that cool?? That means that people all over the world came to Scotland. Maybe they took journeys, and decided Scotland was the end of their journey (since they can't exactly travel further), or maybe because of the slave trade. It makes me curious, do I have African or asian blood in me somewhere? Do I have an ancester that was a slave?

What is funny about thinking that someone in my family tree was once a slave, is that I already think that. I am Catholic, and I've heard the story of moses getting the people out of egypt, and it always says to treat strangers and slaves well because your people were once slaves, and strangers in a strange land. Though my family was probably not jewish during that time, I've always felt a part of that story. There are tons of songs about how Scotland hates slavery, like "slaves lament" by burns or "Scots wha hae" when it says "See approach proud Edward's power -Chains and slavery" and "Who's so base as be a slave? -Let him turn, and flee."
 slaves lament

While we are on the subject of slavery, did you know that alot of white scottish people were sent to colonial america as slaves? The judges of Edinburgh Scotland during the years 1662-1665 ordered the enslavement and shipment to the colonies a large number of rogues and others who made life unpleasant for the British upper class.The early ancestors of the Scots, Alba and Pics were enslaved as early as the first century BC. Varro, a Roman philosopher stated in his agricultural manuscripts that white slaves were only things with a voice or instrumenti vocali. Julius Caesar enslaves as many as one million whites from Gaul. According to these resources, Scots-Irish have been enslaved longer than any other race in the world’s history. Most governments do not teach White Slavery in their World History classes, I know I never have before. Children of modern times are only taught about the African slave trade, which I don't think is fair. If you only learn about african slavery, then african children start to think that they were the only ones ever to have their ancestors enslaved, so of course that would distrub them, it might make them think their race is inferior. It might even make them hate people for being white.

Anyway, I got a little off topic with all these things, back to genetics. They found that 1% of all Scotsmen are direct descendants of the Berber and Tuareg tribesmen of the Sahara, a lineage which is around 5600 years old. Image that, alot of Scottish people are actually african. I guess if you believe that every human started from Africa then that isn't too much of a surprise, but it blows my mind!

With all this talk about Scottish people having african DNA, it makes you wonder where all these people came from. There is a legend that the people of Scotland came from egypt (considering their DNA, maybe its true!) According to the legend, King Tutankhamen's half-sister, Princess Scota, fell out with her family and fled to Ireland and then Scotland, thereby giving the country its name. Some say the alignment of the Lamb and two nearby islands closely mirrors the layout of the pyramids at Giza, near Cairo, not to mention the three main stars in the Orion's Belt constellation.

Other legends say that she sailed from Egypt to Ireland with her sons and an army, intent on avenging the death of her husband who had been killed at the hands of the Irish. She died on Irish soil and is said to be entombed in Gleann Scoithin, Kerry (now Foley’s Glen). Some time later a group from Ireland called Scotis sailed north, settling in what became known as Scotland, keeping their name with them. The discovery of two Egyptian sailing ships in a Yorkshire Estuary, dating to around 1400 BC supports this theory, as do other archaeological findings in Scotland, including Egyptian faience beads dating from the same period. There are actually alot of stories about egypt, scotland, and their migrations, but I can't be sure which one is used the most until I do more research.

Royal Stewart DNA was confirmed in 15% of male participants with the Stewart surname. They are directly descended from the royal line of kings. Scientists believe comedian and presenter Fred MacAuley's ancestors were slaves, sold at the great slave market in Dublin in the 9th Century.They said MacAuley's slave ancestor was taken by ship to the Hebrides and had an affair with his owner's wife, thereby intruding DNA into the MacAulay line.

This discovery could change Scotlands history! Until recently, it had been believed that farming arrived incrementally in Scotland, around 3,000 years ago, by a process of slow and gradual adoption, by women, of new techniques. But their recent DNA research suggests that it arrived quickly via young male immigrants from what is now Germany.These young men, brought new techniques with them, planting grass-derived crops that could be turned into porridge and fed to young children. This new improved food production reduced the period, that the hunter-gatherer mothers had to devote to breast-feeding, and thus increased their fertility. This led to a population explosion. That shocks me, who would have thought that porridge helped the people of Scotland become numerous and the people they are.



"It was in sweet Senegal that my foes did me enthral,
For the lands of Virginia,-ginia, O:
Torn from that lovely shore, and must never see it more;
And alas! I am weary, weary O:"
(slaves lament)

--JSparrow

My heart is in the highlands

I went to maine a few days ago on vacation with my mom and sister. My mom knows someone that lives up there. We drove around acadia national park, which was beautiful. There were mountains everywhere. For lunch we ate at Jordon pond. The resturant was amazing, there was an amazing view of the pond and mountains. Everyone had their dogs, and people who were not eating at the resturant were walking around or relaxing in the shade. We had popovers which are light, hollow rolls made from an egg batter. They tasted good with butter and jam. For lunch I had crab cakes, and then for dessert I ate blueberry crisp, yum.

I imagined that the view from outside was similar to the way the highlands would look. There were mountains all around us, but at the same times the sky was wide. There were all sorts of trees too, and the air was easy to breath. Even the wind felt nice on my skin. As I looked around me the song "My heart is in the highlands" started playing in my head. The version of that song I learned is the pur version, so I also know the song in scottish gaelic. It was a nice lunch.

Gaelic Chorus] Tha mo chridhe 'sa Ghàidhealtachd, Chan eil i mu Dheas, Tha mo chridhe 'sa Ghàidhealtachd, air toir nan dàmh clis. A' ruagach nan aighean, 's a'leantainn nan grèidh, Ged dh'fhaigainn a' Ghàidhealtachd, is ann tha mo dhèidh. [1] Farewell tae the Highlands, farewell tae the North The birthplace of valor, the country of Worth. Wherever I wander, wherever I rove, The hills of the Highlands forever I love. [Chorus] My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here My heart's in the Highlands, a-chasin' the deer. A-chasin' the wild deer and following the roe, My heart's in the Highlands, wherever I go. [2] Farewell tae the mountains, high covered with snow Farewell tae the straths and green valleys below. Farewell tae the forests and wild hanging woods, Farewell tae the torrents and loud pouring floods. [Gaelic Chorus] Tha mo chridhe 'sa Ghàidhealtachd, Chan eil i mu Dheas, Tha mo chridhe 'sa Ghàidhealtachd, air toir nan dàmh clis. A' ruagach nan aighean, 's a'leantainn nan grèidh, Ged dh'fhaigainn a' Ghàidhealtachd, is ann tha mo dhèidh. [Chorus] My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here My heart's in the Highlands, a-chasin' the deer. A-chasin' the wild deer and following the roe, My heart's in the Highlands, wherever I go. [Chorus (coda with alternating voices)] My heart's in the Highlands, Tha mo chridhe 'sa Ghàidhealtachd, My heart's in the Highlands, Tha mo chridhe 'sa Ghàidhealtachd, My heart's in the Highlands...!

[Gaelic Chorus] Ha muh Khree-ya sah Ghay-ul-tuKHk, xChahn yale ee moo yess, Ha muh Khree-ya sah Ghay-ul-tuKHk, Air torr nahn DAHV khleesh. Ah roo-gackh nahn AY-yun, Sa-a lyan-tee-een nahn GRAY, Ge-et GHA-geen a Ghay-ul-tuKHk, iss awn ha muh yay. (Jordon Pond Maine) [Gaelic Chorus] Ha muh Khree-ya sah Ghay-ul-tuKHk, xChahn yale ee moo yess, Ha muh Khree-ya sah Ghay-ul-tuKHk, Air torr nahn DAHV khleesh. Ah roo-gackh nahn AY-yun, Sa-a lyan-tee-een nahn GRAY, Ge-et GHA-geen a Ghay-ul-tuKHk, iss awn ha muh yay. Ha muh Khree-ya sah Ghay-ul-tuKHk, Ha muh Khree-ya sah Ghay-ul-tuKHk

We also went to a folk song festival. There were all kinds of folk music from all over the world, and they were playing all night. When we got there they were playing songs from apalachia which sound alot like scottish folk songs with a little bit of american country mixed in, and a lot more banjo and fiddle. There was an old guy clogging (a dance with irish and scottish roots), and buck dancing by the singers. While I waited in line for some food, I noticed a guy wearing a kilt, and you know that just made my night. There were also alot of booths set up at the festival, which was fun. We also went to a bunch of shops at bar harbor (ba-ha-ba as the locals call it) At one of the shops we went to I found Scottish breakfast tea, and loving both anything Scottish, and tea, you know I had to get it. Along with the tea I got some Wild blueberry honey in a small, cute container. I should have gotten one of those honey dispenser sticks too, because a spoon doesn't fit in the container, but it was like ten dollars! The honey is delicious, sweeter than wild flower honey. I haven't tried the tea yet, but I probably will today. I also got a hair barret at another shop. The design on it is a silver braid, and I love it. The only problem is getting it on my head, I can do other peoples hair, sure, but my own is a  bit of a challenge.

Alot of Scottish people live in the North, people tend to migrate to places that they are used to. Maine, Canada, new hampshire, massachusetts, those places have some mountains, similar weather, oceans, all the stuff that Scotland does. Appalachia=mountains, so alot went there too. Its funny when you hear the scottish music from nova scotia and they are talking about how they miss Scotland. There is a song called "caledonia" like that, and in the song someone says "if I were to become a stranger, know that it would make me more than sad, Caledonia has been everything I've ever had. It makes me think about my family when they came here. I know my Great grandma Margaret Duncan, she left her husband because he wouldnt come with her. Margaret had a scottish accent and would say "There is a moose in the hoose" instead of "there is a mouse in the house." She sang "Roaming in the gloaming" constantly in her nursing home. She told my mother I had beautiful hair. The one thing that Margaret Duncan never did was go back to Scotland, and I wonder if she ever missed it.

I for one, would miss my home terribly if I left. I would miss the scent in the air, the plants, the way thesun shines, everything. It seems to me that alot of people who immigrate to a new country spend the rest of their lives trying to get used to it, and missing their old countries. The cycle doesn't really end until the grandchildren it seems. If Margaret knew "My hearts in the highlands" I wonder if she would have sung it too when looking at something that looks especially scottish.

10 Scottish moments

Scottish moment #1: I looked in the mirror a few days ago, and I thought about whether I was ugly or not. It has always been told to me that beauty is about the character and morals, not just the physical. I thought about the physical though, like I have a really round face, a big forehead, my hair makes no sense, my skin is red in some places and pale in others...you know I could go on. I thought about if an asian girl came to me complaining about her eyes, I would think she was ridiculous, because her eyes don't make her ugly, she has them because she is asian. I thought about a black girl telling me that she is ugly because of her skin, which is crazy, because she is african, its just who she is. Then I looked at myself, and I really thought about my face. I'm not completely Scottish, my forehead is Cherokee, my round face is German, but all my physical traits come from the people in my family tree. My face looks this way because of who I am. So then a thought came to me "I'm not ugly, I'm Scottish, and that is beautiful." Strange, obviously I knew I was Scottish, but I suddenly understood that I had been comparing myself to the many italians that live near me, and the hispanics that work with me, and the asians in korean dramas I watch, which is ridiculous, because I am none of those things. I am Scottish.

Scottish moment #2: I went to the mall with my friend Gabby once. I had fun with her, she is quiet, clever, and independent in a way I respect. She was also in the colorguard, and collects knives and swords. We went into different stores and tried on tons of clothes just for fun. I had so much fun that night! I felt like I had such an amazing friend, I sitll do, but she has a boyfriend, you know? Anyway, that night I bought a black and white checkered scarf. For a while after I forgot about that scarf, then I couldnt find it. Turns out my sister had it in her closet. Well, I took it back. It is almost thick enough to be a shall if I wanted it to be. When I put it across my shoulders, or around my waist I feel like I am a scottish woman in the olden days. It a beautiful, light scarf, and the design is nice not preppy or anything like that. My scarf is my tartan until I get a real one from the highland games.

Scottish moment #3: Different names for Scotland!
Caledonia--the latin name given by the Romans derived from the Pictish tribe Caledonii

Alba--the Scottish Gaelic name for Scotland

Pretanikai Nesoi--Greek seafarer Pytheas, who as early as 300 BC refers to the islands Pretanikai Nesoi (meaning "Pretanic Islands"), which Scott claims is based on the native name for Britain Ynis Prydain, which literally means Picts' Island.

Pictland--The Vikings, upon landing in the north of Scotland at the beginning of the 9th century, called the country Pictland.

Pryten--Britons spelled the Irish name "Cruithni" (Pict) as Pryten

North Britain - Official name used in the Highland clearances

Scotland - comes from the Scotii clan from Ireland who settled in Dalriada

Scottish moment #4: I work a a fast food resturant, I'm a new employee! Last night a bunch of the workers were speaking spanish. I couldn't understand them. So today I went crazy trying to learn as much Scottish gaelic as I could. What I wanted was to make them think they weren't the only ones that could speak behind a persons back. I wanted to learn the words so well that I could make the mistake of saying them in gaelic instead of english. Then I realized that I didn't care if people spoke spanish infront of me instead of english. Plus I had nobody to speak this language to. Still, I made flashcards, so I'm going to learn.


Scottish moment #5: I created a cd for the little cd player near my bed. It is called "Oidhche mhath" which means goodnight. On it I have a bunch of soft scottish folk songs that I have collected over the last few cds. I fell asleep listening to them last night.

Scottish moment #6: I learned recently that "my bonnie lies over the ocean" is a Scottish folk song, not an american folk song. I should have known that by the word bonnie, but it never crossed my mind, I mean I learned it as a little kid. What is more, it is about Prince Charlie who escaped on a boat. Funny enough, I have tons of songs about Prince Charlie, I just haven't gotten to his part of history in my SCotland book. All I knew about him was what I heard in folk songs, which is that he was on a boat in the ocean at one point. Cooler (for me at least) is that it is another one of those songs that is a code song. It is made to sound like one thing to disguise what it is really saying. Instead of sounding like a song supporting the Prince, it sounds like a love song.

Scottish moment #7: the schedual for loon mountain is up!!!!!!!! There is highland dancing chamionships, piping and drumming championships, fiddle chamionships, highland athletics, country dances, parades, harps, food, crafts, seller stands, story telling, historic encampments, seminars, and tons of other things that I don't know/can't figure out what they are.

Scottish moment #8: Before my school cut it so they could raise funds for a new building, I was captain of the colorguard. For the people that don't know what colorguard is, it is spinning flags, sabers, and rifles, it takes alot of bruises and technique to do the flips right. Lately, when I go on the computer, I put my saber on my shoulder, or on top of my head, and it stays there no matter what I do. As much as I would love to say I am just amazing at balance, the truth is, the saber is weighted. Still, it feels nice to have that saber on your shoulder and know that you are in complete control of it. It makes me feel skilled! Whenever I have the saber near me I am reminded of the sword dance that highland dancers do, and I ALWAYS have my saber balancing on me.

Scottish moment #9: I saw this video on youtube <3
Scottish accent stuck in an elevator

Scottish moment #10: My father was making devilled eggs one day. I was in the kitchen on a chair, and my little brother came over to sit on my lap. I started singing the chorus to "sound the pibroch" and he started singing along with me. He had alot of fun with it. I put the song on youtube after a while, and we sang along there. Alot of my family members get annoyed with my constant scottish folk songs, but my little brother embraces them. He is the first person in my family to really sing with me (besides my mom who sometimes hums them).

The feeling in me is constant, it follows me everywhere I go. I feel like I am connected to people. I feel like I am connected to a land. I feel like I am connected to a language. I feel like I am flying through the air with feathers of tartan. When I am lonely, there are the stories, when I am tired there are the lullabys, when I am bored there is something to learn, when I am excited there are the dances, when I am confused I know that at least there is one part of me that can't be debated, and when it all fills me up I know why a culture is important. I have obsessed over cultures, languages, traditions, beliefsc etc. all my life, but I never really knew or felt why it was important. Now I understand alot. I understand things that I didn't even know could be understood. Maybe I am just stuck in my own little Scottish fantasy, but that is okay, because it is getting me through some realities that are hard to face.


--JSparrow

Thistle

The definition of a weed is "A wild plant growing where it is not wanted and in competition with cultivated plants." So if I say that I like weeds, doesn't that not make them weeds? To me a weed have always been a plant that needs a little more than other plants (thus they took nutrients from other plants) and I could never find anything bad about that. My mother is the kind of person who, if I ever say that dandilions are pretty, will say "its weed" as if that changes its beauty. Weed or not, a plant is a plant, calling one a weed is like calling a child a nuisance, and one of the first things I learned as a child was making fun of people is terrible, but making-fun of them for something they can't help is evil.

The thistle is the emblem of the Scottish nation, it is also a prickly-leaved, pink or purple-flowered weed. And you know what? I like that the thistle is simple, common, and yes, a weed. If it weren't those things, I'm not sure I would appreciate it as such an emblem. Imagine something that people call/consider a weed being put on kilts, crests, and jewlery all over Scotland as something to be proud of.

The legend of how this plant became the emblem is that  an invading Norse army was attempting to sneak up at night upon a Scottish army's encampment. During this operation one barefoot Norseman had the misfortune to step upon a thistle, causing him to cry out in pain, thus alerting Scots to the presence of the Norse invaders. You go thistle! Simple a plant as it was, it protected its people using what it had been given.

--JSparrow

A Tartan, A Plaid, A Kilt

I am by no means an expert about tartans, I'm actually really ignorant. However, I still want to cover this subject as best I can because it is HUGE when talking about Scottish culture. So, I'll start. A tartan is a pattern of criss crossed bands in multiple colors that are on kilts. Tartans were associated with districts of Scotland becasue the weavers would make a design in the local taste and with local dyes. Tartans weren't associated with certain clans until mid-ninteeth century, which I found surprising.

Where I am from, tartan patterns are everywhere, especially on winter scarves. Tartans are on boxes of shortbread cookies, in ribons during christmas, on short summer dresses, on headbands, the insides of purses, on sweatshirts, shoes, button-up shirts, you name it. The tartan designs I see all over america are simple designs that aren't associated with Scotland and remind me of preppy people. I'm a very plain dresser alot of the time, but I most certainly am not preppy in any way, shape, or form, so I have never really worn tartan designs. The real tartan designs, the ones that are unmistakably on a kilt somewhere in the highlands, those ones are beautiful, but the simple ones on a whole mess of different objects are just annoying.

There are alot of cool tartans out there which are neutral. This means that anyone can wear them, not only people that are in a certain clan. I am certain that clans have alot of rules on who can wear them, they don't want just anyone to wear their tartan, so thats why neutral ones are really refreshing. I know that some believe that the tartan is passed down by the surname, so that the father's tartan is the childs. What is hilarious about that though, is that while both my parents are scottish my father is also Cherokee, and the cherokee believe that a child's history/family relations come from their mother. I lived with the name Gordon on my mailbox long enough, that I can only say I'm on my mother's side. Of course, now that I think of it, my granny was Doris Duncan, and I lived with her for just as long too. Well, I guess I'm at an impasse, this is probably why that rule is there.

Some neutral tartans are these (these ones are older, I'll put more modern neutral tartans down lower so that I can space them out):

Hunting Stewart:               











Black Watch:




 Caledonian:



Jacobite:



They are so pretty I don't want to stop looking at them!
Even with clans though, there are different tartans in their names. For instance, there is the modern tartan versus the ancient tartan. The ancient tartans tend to be softer and lighter in color than modern ones. When I look at different Gordon tartans, I find that they are also split by region, and there is the Gordon red tartan, and the Gordon dress tartan.

I have always loved the complex tartan patterns. The christmas dresses I see sometimes always make me think of my grandpa Gordon, who I lived with for years after my parents got divorced. My grandpa was clearly scottish, I mean, his name was Charles Bruce Gordon, a name which was passed down in hsi family until my uncle chuck who became a preist. My grandpa also had a Gordon crest magnet on his fridge, and a white westy named Duncan Gordon, who I have mentioned a few times. Along with that, my granpa used to make his kids wear kilts or tartan designed dresses every now and then. My mom complained about it to me, she hated to wear them, but grandpa Gordon thought they were cute.

My granpa has a scottish spirit, at least I think so. He wasn't like my strict grandma. Hes cheerful, big-hearted, loyal, and every other thing that you could ever hope for in a family member. He came from chicago, and he used to hang out with the scottish and irish people in the city. I think that is why he has always listened to irish christmas songs like "christmas in killarney." When I asked, he told me I was also irish, something I am not sure if I should believe. My granpa is a funny guy, a trickster who likes to tell kids farfetched tales in order to impress them. He once told me that he did jujitsu as a kid and took down a twenty-eight year old wrestler. He also told me the story of tom sawyer, only in his version he was tom sawyer, I didnt realize it for a couple of years. My granpa is also good at rhymths. He had eight children, and he used to tell each child to make a certain sound or hum a certain melody, and together all of it would sound really cool.

He only has seven fingers because when he was younger he was in some sort of incident. He can shake his hand so fast it is amazing, his hand almost looks blurry, no matter how much I tried I could never copy him. With that hand I also got slapped in the butt a few times when I was little and passed him in the kitchen. My grandpa is old now, close to the end. He doesn't wear his suspenders, his cool hat, clean-cut pants, or say much now, but he still watches things like "mary queen of scots" and other scottish television shows with bagpipes blaring all the way to the living room. Not too long ago he got me and my sister pajama shorts with the Gordon tartan on it, ones that I still love to this day. Until the end he will always be scottish, and I will always think of him when I see a genuine scottish tartan.

Here are some more neutral tartans (these are newer):

Scottish National:














Brave Heart Warrior:


Flower of Scotland:


Pride of Scotland:


Scotland the brave:


Want to look at your own tartans?
Here is tartan finder!! The funnest thing to look at online!
tartan finder

--JSparrow

Great Highland Bagpipes

Most people know about this intrument, its realy distinctive...and loud. I used to think that bagpipes were a little annoying, because they were not only loud, but they had this highpitched sound to them that used to get in my head. Then, at my granny's funeral (Doris Duncan) there was a bagpiper wearing a kilt and everything. I don't know if I had ever really been in the presence of a bagpipe before, I think I had only heard them on TV and in songs, things like that. He played amazing grace, a song that I had heard but didn't know the lyrics too deeply at that time (I found out later, and fell in love). Despite not knowing the real meaning of the song, I loved it, and I love the bagpipe. We were at the grave, and I remmember thinking that I had never heard anything so beautiful. The sound vibrated all around me, in me, and into the sky. He was beautiful playing there too, he stood by an oak tree right where the sun bounced off the leaves. It was like a single voice of hope in the middle of saddness. I was ten then.

That one moment is the only real memory I have of a bagpipe, but its a good one. I later found that celtic woman sings amazing grace and there is an amazing bagpipe part. I like her singing (though her voice is a little too...whats the word? delicate?). Here is a link to the song: amazing grace--celtic woman

When you listen to a bagpipe, you can imagine why it is from the highlands. With all that space, a bagpipe travels far, and the sound just fits with the land. This is random, but there are alot of eagles or some type of bird in scotland, when you listen to some of the songs you can almost see a bird gliding in the sky to the sound.

The military uses bagpipes, and its also the instrument of highland dancing!

I learned that there is a solo style that bagpipes are used for called  piobaireachd (pibroch). This is actually really funny to me because I've been listening to the folk song "sound the pibroch" without really understanding what "pibroch" is. Good song by the way, it gets stuck in your head but its nice. This is the chorus:
Tha tighin fodham, fodham, fodham
Tha tighin fodham, fodham, fodham
Tha tighin fodham, fodham, fodham
Rise and follow Charlie
Here is a link to the song: sound the pibroch
Tha tighin fodham is pronounced HA CHEEN FOAM and means "it comes upon me" or "I have the wish."

This instrument consists of a bag, three drones, a blowpipe, and a chanter. (Chanter, another word from folk songs that I didn't really understand!!) A piper blows through the blowpipe into the bag. The blowpipe is usually fitted with a "non-return valve" which prevents the air from coming back out the blowpipe when the piper takes a breath. From the bag, the air passes out through the drones and the chanter, each making a sound.

Here is a link to a group of great pipers: bagpipers

I remmember my father saying he wanted to make my little brother play the bagpipe, kilt and everything. I thought it was a kind of weird wish at the time, and he was only joking, but I known why he would have wanted it. My father is a person who always has a project going on. ALWAYS. Here is just a few of his recent projects...
building a pool
making our own well
making a playground in the backyard
making maple syrup
making the hot tub work on his own (and hooking it u to solar panels on the top of the shed)
building sheds (i think he has like seven)
making atrain go around the kitchen
making fire power the heat in the house (a shed for wood too)
fourwheelers
christmas lights (a huge candycane on the electrical wood thing)
making one remote do everything in the house (hes an electrician)
sending off chinese lanterns
fireworks
going places on a whim
rearranging the driveway
getting cars (his latest a truck from the 1950s)
making fires in the backyard
putting speakers near the pool
making a vegitable garden
getting chickens again (he had them when I was little too)
a camera in the woods to catch pictures of animals
a fort in the woods
a wooden pathway into the swampy area of the woods
trampolean
cooking (especially turkey soup)
making a fence
training the dog
getting people to rent the upstairs

I'll stop now, he does incredicle stuff, and he does it all himself. I don't know how he does it, he isn't exactly the richest person in the world, and his yard isn't even that big, neither is his house. Whats even more amazing is it all works! Ahahaha the point wasn't to go on a rant about him. I just wanted to say that he gets into things like culture (just like me!) so I understand why he said he wanted my brother to be a piper.



--JSparrow

MRI...Scottish Music...?

So, recently I had an MRI of my heart done. Nothing is wrong with me, I'm just diabetic so I agreed to do it for some research that these doctors are doing about the affects of diabetes of the heart. It was an interesting experience, and I was practically waited on like some sort of princess. They asked me what kind of music I would want to listen to during it, and my mom piped up and said Scottish folk music. They looked at me like I was crazy, and I just smiled. I bet nobody has ever requested that before. It was mostly mideval music, they asked me if that was okay. The whole thing was really funny.

One of the doctors tried to relate to me using that interest. He asked me why I liked it. I could have told him a billion reasons. I like it because there is beauty in the worlds, and charm to the melody. I could have told him that the fast music makes me want to dance (and the only dance I am half-way decent at doing is some sort of hopping thing). I could have even told him it makes me feel like I am somewhere beautiful where I belong, with people who are like me and accept me. Instead, I just said that I liked it becasue I liked it. A simple answer with really no depth. He started asking me if I read any scottish literature (thats where I got Laiden's daughter from) and I said no. The only scottish writing-related person I know is Robert Burns, because he wrote many of the folk songs I love. The funny part was, the doctor talking to me about all of these things was asian, (also american, but a full blood asian american)

I've imagined talking to alot of people about Scotland, most of which would most-likely be uninterested in it, but I've never imagined talking to an asian person about it, and having them take an interest in it. Instead, I've imagined talking to asians about korean dramas, japanese manga, anime, dragons, kitsune, geishas, technology, and how china is on a roll right now. When I went to D.C my roomate was a girl that was chinese and spoke little english. Obviously our conversations weren't restricted to cultural stuff or anything, but she taught me a few chinese words, and we ate rice whenever we went to the mall to eat.

What I've come to learn though, is that people are always interested in things that are different than them (unless they are close-minded people). So maybe that is why. I mean, there were tons of other doctors there for me that talked to me, but none of them started a conversation about my interest in the songs other than a comment that it was a unique request. Chances are that one of those doctors was Scottish (can tell by looking) but they didn't seem to care.

It seems to me like alot of white americans have lost their culture. I've felt it before. I mean, how can you not feel it when you are surrounded by centers that help chinese immigrants, and groups trying to better the success of their race in the country? There is no group like that for Scottish people in the USA. Granted, scottish people probably had/have an easier time integrating into america, but it won't be like that forever. White people are now a minority here. So it makes me wonder if maybe someday someone will make a Scottish heritage building or something. Probably not though, its probably too late to do something like that. I'd like to see some more people interested in their culture though, its lonely sometimes, to have something I love that I can't share with someone else. Hopefully the highland games will help me out with that.

Anyway, the point of this wasn't to get all political or anything. I just wanted to say that I listened to Scottish music in the MRI machine for an hour. Fun stuff :)

--JSparrow

Laiden's Daughter by Susan Tisdale

I've been meaning to read a Scottish fiction book for a while, so I came across the Clan MacDougall Series. It was only about two dollars on amazon kindle, which was nice. I really liked this story. The jokes were funny, the relationships were there and the story was clear cut.

In the story, a girl from england gets sold to an earl by her brothers for two sheep. Her mother has been long dead, and she learned that the man she thought was her father wasn't really her father at all. When the earl attempts to rape her, she stabs him and escapes. She ends up in the hands of the highlanders, who are warm, noble, chivalrous, kinds, moral...they are basically everything a person hopes for in a family. While she is with them she learns about her mother, who was also a highlander, and falls in love with a man named Duncan.

Now, before I go on a rant about how I love this book, I want to talk about the name Duncan. It is one of those names that you don't understand until you understand. That probably doesn't make sense so I'll explain it a little more. When I was younger I lived with my grandparents for a while because my parents got divorced. They had a westy named Duncan Gordon (Gordon because that is the family last name). Now, whenever I thought about the name Duncan I always thought of a dog, or a boy was was kind of geeky. My father also wanted to change my little brothers middle name to Duncan, and I thought that was utterly ridiculous, because, like I said, the name Duncan was a weird name. Then, one day I learned that my granny on my dad's side's maiden name was Duncan. I also started learning about the culture, and suddenly the name made sense. At this point, I can't remmember why I disliked the name. The name Duncan, like so many other things about Scottish culture, is something that you don't get, until you go a little deeper into the culture. Anything I thought I wouldn't like about this culture followed the same pattern, once I really looked at it, I ended up seeing the beauty in it. Well anyway, back to the book...

Admittedly, I don't like the cover. I don't really like when real people are on the cover of books becasue it distorts my image of them. There are two covers, and just for the record, I dislike them both. I still loved the book though, so I digress.

Obviously I loved this book for the culture, just like in the movie Brave. There were tartans, there were horses, there was the beauty of the highlands, the beliefs, the clans, the names, and much more. I am proud, however, to say that this book also had a great story. When I was reading the story, I could picture everything happening like a movie. The dialogue was the best, I could practically hear them speaking with an accent, and you know I spoke the gaelic words I knew outloud when they showed up (which was rarely, but thats okay). The main character Aishlinn (love, love, love her name!), was a little annoying in the begining with her insistance that she is plain/ugly. I understand why the author did that, but it showed up so much in the book that I got tired of it. By the end of the book, the girl became the kind of spirited character that I love to read about. She was witty, and a real spit-fire. I can't get enough of those strong female leads, but you know, I'm not against a girl who needs to be cared for every now and then either.

Duncan was charming. The author really showed how a warrior could have a gentle heart. That is something I love about scottish men (or at least how they are portrayed), they care about their women. They are loyal, caring, kind, noble, but at the same time they aren't considered less of a man for that, and they are still fierce on the battle feild. No matter how old they are, they are still hellions, big-hearted, kind, hellions. While the rest of the world seems to be reading things like fifty shades of gray where the man punishes and abuses the woman, things like that tend to make me sick. I prefer the real relationships, the real love, and the fantastic unrealistic man that would do anything for the one he loves. I'm a sucker for happy endings, can't you tell?

THe next one in teh series is callsed Findley's Lass, and it won't be out until december. I can't wait. Honestly, before this book I haven't read a single thing all summer. My focus has been off, and my stress high. I've been getting too distracted, or worried to read. This book changed that, thank god! Now that I've read one I do like, maybe I can get myself to read one that I don't like. Its worth a shot. I'm actually really sad this story is over, because I can't seem to find another like it. I guess thats what makes it a good story though.

I learned two new phrases in this book that were pleasant surprises. In the book the first one was haud yer wheest, but when I google it, it comes up as haud yer wheesht. I'm not sure which one to believe, but they both mean to be quiet/shut up/ hold your tongue. The next phrase I learned was mo chuisle, which means my darling. I think mo chuisle is irish, but I'm not sure. I also learned that a child can be called a bairn. These phrases also inspired me to find a few more phrases like these, so here are a few...

A cadger's curse--a worthless thing A fiddler's biddin--a last minute invitation aff the gleg--off the mark caw cannie--proceed carefully Bou yer hoch--sit down Haud tryst--keep one's word Oot o thocht--beyond belief Steek yer hert--harden one's heart Win ower--fall asleep I won't go too over board with these. --JSparrow

Amazing Braids

I absolutely love braids, especially when I get out of the shower and my mother does one for me. Times like those are precious, and it feels so nice to get my hair braided. This hairstyle is one of the few hairstyles that I cannot get enough of. I went through a phase where I decided to perfect my braiding by practicing on my dolls, and making little ones in my hair. Some of those dolls still have their hair braided, because I just couldn't get enough of it. Now, I'm not even close to being a hair stylist. Honestly, I've never even styled my hair in a technical kind of way, but braids are one of the few things I am really good at. I like to braid my hair at night, and then in the morning I unravel it and my hair gets those nice waves.

One thing that occurred to me recently is that braids exist everywhere.The native americans wore braids. I actually learned how to braid in elementary school while we were learning about native americans. They also wore braid wraps on the ends of their braids, and I have a pair. I went to a museum, and I noticed these strang deer skin wraps. I learned they were braid wraps, and I just had to get them. Its not only native americans that know about braids though, there are braids in tons of cultures. In England, Scotland (this is how I am connecting Scotland to this topic), Ireland, africa, Australia, you name it, they have braided. In australia there is Australian plaiting which braids with kangaroo leather. As for Africa, I know alot of African americans that wear those millions of beautiful little braids. Those aren't the half of it though, there are dutch braids, french braids, swiss braids and braids from the hundreds of other cultures that I haven't mentioned. Braids have been in all of those places, and that isn't even counting the kind of braiding that cultures use to make baskets, designs, or the braided challah bread that jews make.

I got interested, so I started looking up tons of different braids. All of them were so beautiful that I wanted to try all of them, but I am not quite that skilled, or that patient. There are a few major braids that I think other designs were stemmed from. Here they are, aren't they amazing?

The french braid: My cousin did this on my every now and then. She was very good at this one. I love the feel of this one when she was doing my hair. I also wore this one to my fifth grade celebration, and to the memorial day parade for colorguard. French braids were mandatory for those parades, unless your hair was too short. I think they looked good on us.                                                          


The Dutch braid: I never knew about this one, it is one of my favorites. I was so excited to learn about this one.


The herringbone/fishbone/fishtale braid: The girl that sat next to me in history last year always wore this type of braid. She had this natural goldish, reddish brown hair that I was really jealous of. I always wondered how she did it to her hair, funny enough, I wasn't sure it was even a braid.


Basic three strand braid: This is the braid that I normally have. In my opinion it is the easiest to create. Though this one is the more simple of the braids it is beautiful in its simplicity. There are also four or five strand braids that look similar to this one, only more complex.


Twist braid: This one blows me away! It is so fun looking!



I am going to admit now that I have a sort of facination with hair. I already told you that I am not really into styling my hair, but I love hairpieces. Little clips, and things like that are fun to have. I like to add them to my hair when it matches my outfit. I'm not really showy, but I'm not against the showy ones either. I actually have a wooden barret that has a braided/weaved design on it. I found it at a flea market. I had been wanting one forever that it still amazes me that I found it. I love that wooden barret. Just goes to show you, everything comes in time.

I also love haircolor. Personally, I love the color of my hair. It is blondish brown with natural highlights. It is fair, wavy, soft, curly on the ends, but straight on the top. At school I always loved to look at haircolors. One of my best friends has reddish hair that shines in the sun, and I think it is just beautiful. I also love to look at the hair color versus eyecolor. I like to see whether a person's eyes are darker or lighter than their hair. I love the natural hair colors, I don't really like the fake look of dyed hair, but I dyed my hair a few years ago to try it, so I don't judge. It is fun to think that a person's hair color is a result of years of mixing shades. Its interesting to know that everyone with blonde or red hair came from one common ancestor. Another thing that amazed me is that when caucasian kids have blonde hair, and then they grow up and their hair turns darker. I am one of those kids, so was my dad, and most of the people in my family.

Its black hair that I love the most though. Whenever I see someone with black hair, I just think it is so rich and beautiful. I hope that doesn't sound weird or anything, I just really love black hair.

Anyway, Here are some more cool braids:

Swiss braid:


Cascade/Waterfall braid:


Lace braid:


Perimeter braid:


Heart braid:


Ribbon braids:



Combination braids:


Love these designs:





Of course my favorite of all of these braids is a very simple design. It is the cutest hairstyle ever found on a young girl.



Tuig thus’ an t-eathar, 's tuigidh an t-eathar thu.

• Translation: Understand the boat and the boat will understand you.

--JSparrow