Volume III Issue No. 3 Beth’s Newfangled Family Tree Section A August 2009 Rob Piland honored by Early American Life You’ll see R.E. Piland Goldsmith’s at many East- ern Seaboard highland games. If you haven’t seen his beautiful jewelry or met this charming family, just look for the Clan Home tartan on the front of his booth. Rob Piland’s work was recently chosen by Early Ameri- can Life magazine to be included in their 2009 Directory of Tradi- tional American Crafts. Also, several pieces of his jewelry were photographed for a layout in the August 2009 issue which should be available now in Barnes & Noble stores. The photos were taken at Gunston Hall Plantation (www.gunstonhall.org) and it was very ex- citing to see Rob’s work in such a beautiful, historical setting. Please consider picking up a copy if you see one! From the Early American Life website: ”The Directory of Traditional American Crafts is an honor bestowed on a handful of artisans who work in traditional media, styles, and crafts, an award that singles out their work as the best now produced in America today. Each year a jury of museum curators, collectors, and other authorities selects the work of the top traditional crafters working in America to be honored and listed in the Directory, which appears in Early American Life magazine.” For more information or to subscribe please visit the Early American Life website: www.ealonline.com If it weren’t for Philo T. Farnsworth, inventor of television, we’d still be eating frozen radio dinners. Beth’s Newfangled Family Tree Section A - JohnnyAugust 2009 Carson Page 1 Please tell everyone about Beth’s Newfangled Editor, photographer, etc. Beth Gay-Freeman, LOK, FSA Scot <[email protected]> 102 Lakeside Drive Family Tree! Walhalla, SC 29691 No postage, no subscriptions, Webmaster no strings at all...just read, Alastair McIntyre, KTJ, FSA Scot maybe print...and enjoy! <http://www.electricscotland.com> New issues the first of Masthead Designer each month at Tom Freeman, KR, FSA Scot this site! <[email protected]> Your Scottish and Be notified when a new Genealogical news BNFT issue is ready! Free! Just visit is always welcomed! http://www.electricscotland.com/maillist.net Send to [email protected] http://www.electricscotland.com/bnft Miss Narra sez: It never ever pays to fight with a skunk. Even if you should win, you lose. Page 2 Beth’s Newfangled Family Tree Section A August 2009 A letter from your editor... A way to help our country that doesn’t cost anything... If you are old enough to have lived self. Friends report that games attendance through “down times” or “sagging economies” is up all over the country. you might have noticed that at the beginning * Vendors, who are almost never happy, of one of these crises the television report- are happy. Clans report sign-ups for new ers, the radio reporters, the magazines and memberships are on the rise. the newspapers all have one thing in common. * My friend, who lives in Chattanooga, They tell us all that “bad times they are Tennessee reports that her husband - a pat- a’coming.” tern maker at an aluminum plant - is working If folks read and hear these things of- on Saturdays and Sundays on overtime. ten enough, they start to believe it and de- * My real estate lady who is handling cide to wait on that new car or having the the sale of my house, tells me that in the house remodeled or replacing old appliances past few months, her business is booming. or any of a bazillion or two of things that, Lots of folks listing houses, lots of folks had they not been frightened by the doom buying houses. and gloom they have read or heard about. * Everytime we go to one of the larger I’m just a regular old redneck cities around Walhalla - Greenville, Ander- girl...nothing fancy. I’m more at home on the son, Seneca - and down into Atlanta and fur- back of a good Quarter Horse than sitting ther afield, we see the parking lots at malls here at the computer. However, I do have a and restaurants and stores filled to the brim. brain that every once in awhile, thinks. In restaurants, folks are filling every table. Why don’t we try something? It’s easy, In stores, folks are leaving with shopping it’s free and takes almost no time. bags filled to the brim. Here are some good things about our I remember my mother and grandmother economy that I know today: * Attendance telling stories of The Great Depression in at Highland Games is UP. Way back the first the 1920s and 1930s. Folks, we don’t have of the year, the folks at the Northeast anything like that today. Florida Highland Games held in Green Cove So, what was my idea to help things Springs, Florida had to turn away over 1500 along? It’s pretty simple. cars because the parking lots were full! Make your own list of good things you * Attendance was up at Loch Norman in see out and about. Add my list to your North Carolina, The Glasgow Highland Games list...and maybe email that list to a few in Lucas, Kentucky, The San Diego Highland friends and ask them to add good things they Games on the left coast...Grandfather Moun- know about....and if enough of us do that, tain Highland Games and The Greenville (SC) some of the fear will subside and we can go Highland Games...games where I saw for my- Continued on page 6 Beth’s Newfangled Family Tree Section A August 2009 Page 3 Page 4 Beth’s Newfangled Family Tree Section A August 2009 Scots love California’s Central Coast October has become a favorite month for people agility; sheep-herding dog demos; Scottish military re- of many Celtic persuasions to “gather beside the sea- creators Bydand Forever who will march to black side” at Seaside Park in Ventura. The Seaside High- powder precision military maneuvers from a storied land Games will return for a sev- past; the High- enth year to the Ventura County lander Warriors Fairgrounds this October 10th and of an earlier and 11th 2009 for another rousing Fes- romantic age tival of all things Scottish. Many where edged favorite Celtic/Irish/Scottish enter- weapons were tainers including Eric Rigler & Bad king—and ex- Haggis, Alex Beaton, the Wicked pertly demon- Tinkers, Highland Way and strate their use; America’s favorite Celtic Spring will and, forward to be there! Ventura’s own Claddagh today, a huge Dance Company will take the stage Darts Tournament periodically over the weekend. staged by the The pageantry will be non- Ventura County stop from Saturday noon’s Grand Dart Association. Parade and Opening Ceremonies The SHG to a final Massed Band Farewell at Food Court Games Closing on Sunday night. stands ready to Your youngsters will want to spend satisfy with great all day in the very entertaining Scottish/Celtic Children’s Glen and you will find food and drink. plenty of shopping bargains among Whether it’s the forty-plus Celtic Vendors! bangers and mash Eighty clans with several new ones or hot dogs and this year. beer—all is there If there is dance, there must for your enjoy- be music and, in addition to the three stages for our ment. star-quality entertainers will be bagpipers and bag- Rounding out your day, don’t forget to view the pipe bands, the Ventura British Brass (as fine a brass beautiful British car collection and please help our Yel- band as you will find anywhere), the Scottish Fiddlers low Ribbon America & The America’s Heroes Foun- of Los Angeles and the Celtic Arts Center Gaelic Choir. dation by contributing in any way you can. We are Gaelic Language classes, Genealogy seminars with Beth dedicated to supporting our country through this wor- Gay and a study of the art of Scotch Malt Whisky— thy organization even as peace is being sought on many with samples! Saturday will end in a blaze of glory fronts. Come to the Seaside Games for some happy with a FREE CELTIC ROCK CONCERT featuring hours at a bargain fare ($12 to $18 adults, $10 to $17 Bad Haggis, the Tinkers and Highland Way from five senior & military, $3 children). until about eight pm. BE THERE!! For further information see seaside-games.com The giants—the SAAA Highland Heavies—will or call John & Nellie @ 818-886-4968.ighland amaze you with their physical feats of strength and HeaviesH www.seaside-games.com Beth’s Newfangled Family Tree Section A August 2009 Page 5 Positive thoughts, continued from page 3 ahead with plans we’ve been afraid to bring My friend in Australia has a marvelous to fruition. When that happens, things will motto on her coat-of-arms, “Trust and Go get markedly better. Forward.” My own Arms have my motto, We live in the greatest nation on earth, “Shirk Not the Impossible Task.” My friend The United States of America. How can we and I use each other’s mottos all the time. be afraid? You can use these too...and they do help! Just look about your own world and you’ll see some good things. Make a note of all the Clan Gregor Society things you see that indicate that our economy Established 1822, Edinburgh, Scotland Sir Malcolm MacGregor of MacGregor is coming back and thriving once again. 7th Baronet of Lanrick and Balquidder, I’ll bet you’ll be surprised at the num- 24th Chief of Clan Gregor ber of good things, positive things you’ll find Great Lakes, New England, in your own city and neighborhood.