Let the Season Begin …
It is 9:40 am and I am sitting in a tent at the Rideau Acres
Campground in Kingston, Ontario at the Kingston Scottish Festival … the first
of the season. Where is the sunshine the
weather network promised? I am comforted
by the blue sky which hopefully means NO RAIN!
But the wind is fierce, my tent is a sail that promises to fly away sometime
today … and I am freezing!!!
All the sights and sounds of the games are here … there have
been pipers practicing the same songs since before 7 am this morning, a drummer
has been drumming on the corner of my table for the past 20 minutes, and the
dancers’ families have pitched their tents as the dancers stretch in
preparation for their solos and group numbers.
I love to see everyone in kilts … and wonder if it
is true what they say is worn underneath … and the kids who live in both worlds
with Aeropostale shirts, sandals and kilts.
Being the first of the games, there are the squeals and hugs of seeing
someone you have not seen since last September and the chatting to catch
up. And, dare we forget the latrines
that we have also missed all winter … or the bugs.
The games have a life of their own … a community within a
city. I had to borrow nails from
someone to hold down the tent and lent someone else a crate because she needed
a “wee stool”. Everyone is eager to lend
a hand to help put something up or watch over things while you run to get
lunch. And, age has no
significance. Children of 5 and 7 are
encouraged to “do their best” as are the adult competitors, some who have been
competing for over 50 years.
Many people have begun to wander by and I know they are just
waiting until their child, spouse, friend, parent competes or performs. Some are stitchers and will pick something up
to do while they wait. For them I have a
full line of Textile Heritage kits that come complete with everything from the
tassle to the ribbon. Some are my
regular customers … now my friends. I
will show them all of the new kits and patterns, especially the Anne of Green
Gables and Military kits. And others are
appreciators and soon to be stitchers. I
will show them the L’il Stitchies, designed for beginning stitchers of all
ages.
If you will be at one of the games coming up, send me your
wish list and I will put your order away so you are not disappointed. I rarely bring more than 1 of anything. If going to a Scottish Festival is not
something you have considered, why not check out the list of where I will be
this summer … where else will you see someone throw a telephone pole … in a
kilt?
Let the Games begin …
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