| 8/23/2008 |
Quechee Scottish Festival The Quechee Scottish Festival was another first time experience for us. From what the many people stopping by our tent told us, this was the first time Clan MacLellan had been to these games for some time. Although it is usually very hot at these games, we were very lucky to get a warm day with a constant light breeze. The games took place on the Quechee polo grounds which is located in a beautiful picturesque valley. We again had many friendly people visit us throughout the day, including many MacLellans, and our homemade shortbread did not last long. The historic highlanders put on some great demonstrations of different time periods in Scottish history, and the athletics were great fun to watch as well. The highpoint of a wonderful day came when Jamie McLellan and his beautiful wife and daughter stopped by the tent. They are from Glasgow Scotland and were on holiday in the states and just happened on the Quechee festival. I have never met a MacLellan from Scotland, so needless to say it was a thrill. Jamie and his family are some of the most charming and friendly people I can remember meeting, and I was delighted to have a chance to visit with them. The closing ceremonies were small but very enjoyable. We plan on returning again next year. Think On! |
| 6/28/2008 |
Western Massachusetts Highland Games This was the first time we attended the Western Mass Games, and I'm told it is also the first time Clan MacLellan has been represented at these games. It was a hot day with always the threat of rain, but we never felt a drop. Of course that would only have made it more like Scotland. We had a couple of MacLellans stop by the tent to say they were very happy to finally see the MacLellan Clan tent at the games, and that they are now planning on joining the Clan. We always meet new and old friends at all the games we attend. We met Brian Cooper from Clan Donald and his fiance who are very charming people. We also saw our good friend Stuart MacPhersen who we hadn't seen since last year. I had my share of Bridies, and we had plenty of homemade shortbread to go around. I even got the seal of approval on my shortbread from Beverly Duncan of Clan Donnachaidh, where the original recipe came from, when she tasted some. The day ended with a wonderful freindly ceilidh. We look forward to returning next year. |
| 4/5/2008 |
National Tartan Day Proclaimed We attended Tartan Day ceremonies last year in Augusta, ME. It was a small but enthusiastic turn out on a cold day, but the hope was that some day it would be nationally recognized. Well yesterday that hope became a reality, thanks to all the people who worked so hard to achieve the goal. Finally our Scottish heritage is recognized fully in America! On April 4th President Bush proclaimed April 6th 2008, National Tartan Day. We plan to proudly wear the tartan tomorrow and every April 6th to help celebrate the wonderful addition to our national calendar. |
| 9/21,22,23/2007 |
New Hampshire Highland Games-at Loon Mountain What a great time we had at the New Hampshire Highland Games. It was the best weather for all three days anyone could remember. My wife Deane and I hosted the Clan MacLellan tent again with our Northeast Regional Director Bill Chellis and his wife Joan. Friday night we attended the Tartan Dinner Dance where they had an address to the Haggis and pipers as well. The Brigadoons put on a fine show for the gathering and there were plenty of dancers. The crowds broke all records on Saturday and we had lots of MacLellans stop by the tent. We have pictures of some on the photos page. My sister Mary joined us for the opening ceremonies, so there was a loud cry from the MacLellans when our clan name was called. The massed bands were thrilling and numerous and when they played Scotland the Brave we were all very moved. The athletics are always exciting and did not disappoint this time. We did not get a chance to see the caber toss because of duties at the tent, but many of the other events were just as rousing. The Kirkin-O-The Tartans on Sunday was attended by a very large number of people and the service was very nice with a great deal of humor thrown in. The shortbread recipe I got from Scott Duncan of Clan Donnachaidh was again a big hit. We made two large batches and there wasn’t even a crumb left at the end of Sunday. By all accounts this was one of the best New Hampshire Highland Games at Loon Mountain to date. We look forward to next year. Think On! |
| 8/18/2007 |
Maine Highland Games This was the first time my wife and I helped to host a games with our Northeast Regional Director, Bill Chellis. Bill is a true Scotsman and a wealth of knowledge. He is also quite the story teller. We had many friendly people stop by the tent and I did my best to keep up with Bill helping them find information about Scotland and their history. It was a downpour when we arrived to setup, but it turned out to be beautiful weather as the day progressed. The opening ceremonies were a little confusing and delayed, but turned out to be very moving as usual. The athletics were very exciting with all of them leading to a very loud crowd response. |
| 7/21/2007 |
Glasgow Lands Highland Games Another great weather day, but we did have some real blow away gusts of wind. The opening ceremonies are a bit different at the Glasgow Lands games. We were piped on to the parade grounds as usual, but after all the clans gave their mottos and war cries a dirk was raised and all the clans shouted the cries together. This was to show the crowd what it would of sounded like if you were on the wrong side of the battle. We met some more great people and a couple of real characters. One was an author named Frank Verderber. He wrote "The Blandford Chronicles". He entertained us with scottish lore of the area. I made the shortbread that Scott Duncan had given me the recipe for and it was a big hit at the tent. |
| 6/30/2007 |
Round Hill Highland Games We had some more beautiful weather for the Round Hill Games. We saw many friends from the Southern NH games and met many friendly people. Round Hill is one of the oldest games in the country. This was the 84th annual games. They had our motto and history wrong in the program, but they were very apologetic and cordial to us. It's a very family oriented gathering with games and road races designed for participation by all. They even had a caber toss for the wee ones, which turned out to be little more than small branches but great fun to watch. The opening ceremonies were a bit confusing and unorganized, but the highpoint was having all the pipe bands march between the assembled clans. It was an amazing amount of pipe bands for such a small games. Stuart MacPherson just got back from the old country and had many great tales to tell. Norm MacInnes was in Scotland at about the same time and they believe they crossed paths and didn't even know it. Scott Duncan of Clan Donnachaidh gave me a recipe for shortbread which I plan to make for the next games. |
| 6/02/2007 |
Southern New Hampshire Highland Games It was the first time my wife and I had hosted the Southern New Hampshire games. It was beautiful weather. Sunny but a little on the hot side. Compared to the torrential downpours the year before, the heat was welcome. We met some great people as well as many MacLellans. The opening ceremonies were very moving. A lot of proud Scots displaying their tartans and voicing mottos and war cries. Stuart MacPherson of Clan MacPherson was getting ready for another trip to Scotland. This will be his fourth. Norm MacInnes of Clan MacInnes is getting ready to travel across the pond as well. |
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