GRACEVol. 23. No. 10 N OctoberTES 2007 Clanjamfry 2007 lanjamfry 2007 was a Whaley, and storyteller, Mary mances on the Dance Stage, Music huge success! From Ann Lucas were the rest of the Stage, and in the Heritage tent ran Friday night’s ceil- warm-up acts to the featured band, smoothly, the weather was perfect, idh to the Dinner on Legacy. the food was good and plentiful, Cthe Grounds after the Kirkin’ of the wares presented by vendors the Tartans on Sunday, there was Saturday’s 5-K race preceded were unique, and the dunking something for everyone. the opening of the Fair. Perfor- booth was a very popular place! The many clan tents were informa- Although Clanjamfry is an Getting the grounds ready at tive, as were the demonstrations, outreach program of Evergreen Evergreen Presbyterian on Friday particularly the border collies Presbyterian Church’s recreation before Saturday’s Faire. herding the sheep! Bodega, from ministry, MSSI members were Scotland but touring North Ameri- busy helping behind the scenes as ca this year, presented a wonderful well as performing on center stage. concert to top off the day.
The Ceilidh on Friday eve- The church was full at the ning was well-attended as well as Kirkin’ of the Tartans on Sun- being very entertaining. Piping day morning—many enjoyed the was, of course, heard throughout touching service, while some were the weekend, but the Wolf River there in anticipation of the tons Pipes and Drums never sounded of food to enjoy at the Dinner on better than at the Ceilidh. Those the Grounds immediately after the (cont on pg. 2) in attendance were enchanted by service. They were not disappoint- the sweet sounds of the Snowden ed. We’re not sure how Evergreen Elementary School Chorus, which will top this year’s Clanjamfry, but proved to be a wonderful contrast our sources assure us that they’re to the pipes. Exhibition dancing, already working on it! group dancing, a vocalist, Andrew
Memphis Scottish Society, Inc. Board President Secretary John Schultz...... 754-2419 Mary Clausi...... 753-9494 [email protected] [email protected] Vice President Members at Large Sue Malone...... 385-1938 Mary Ann Lucas...... 725-1879 [email protected] [email protected] Janet Mandanna ...... 323-7873 Treasurer [email protected] Tom Lewis ...... 861-6640 Sammy Rich...... 272-7159 [email protected] [email protected]
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SCOTTISH CONNECTION If you thought only historical as “oor Kate”, just a home-town girl Scotland’s Hogmanay Live this past things were Scottish, be disabused who made good. December. Coincidentally, he has of that opinion: three of the hottest Dave Sneddon was the 1st winner appeared in concerts with both K. T. new rock stars have a Scottish Con- of BBC UK’s Fame Academy (their Tunstall and Dave Sneddon. His best nection. equivalent to American Idol) in 2002. known songs (really contemporary K. T. Tunstall, who penned “Sud- His biggest hit is “Stop Living the ballads) are “These Streets” (about denly I See” which was featured in Lie” from the album Seven Years Paisley), “Last Request”, and “Jenny, the film The Devil Wears Prada, was – Ten Weeks which rose to #5 on the Don’t Be Hasty”, in which Nutini, at raised in Fife. She started the festival UK Albums Chart. He was born and age 18, woos and wins an older woman now known as Acoustic Edinburgh raised in Paisley and attended the of 23. Och, a braw lad! and has wowed audiences and critics University of Glasgow. So, next time the snotty adolescent alike with her roguish-but-insight- Paolo Nutini -- now there’s a in your life casts some age-ist grief ful lyrics and exuberant delivery of name you’ll never find in Tartans For your way, just lay out some factoids vocals and guitar. Her popularity Me, but he is seriously Scottish. His on K. T. Tunstall, Dave Sneddon, exploded about 3 years ago in spite of mother is Scottish, and his father’s or Paolo Nutini and their Scottish being considered too old then to enter family, though of Italian extraction, Connection. pop music, at the ripe old age of 27, immigrated to Scotland back four and despite her physicist dad advising generations ago. He also hails from Dave Sneddon her to “get a proper job”. Her albums Paisley, where he had expected to go include the prize-winning Eye to the into the fish & chips shop started by his Telescope (named after activities with grandfather and still run by the family. her dad) and the current chart-topper His interest in music came from the Drastic Fantastic. To her family, still Scottish folk songs he learned from in Fife, and neighbors she’s known his grandfather. He has appeared live on BBC Radio Scotland and BBC
Paolo Nutini - left GRACE N TES Grace Notes is the official publication of the Memphis Scottish Society, Inc. It is published monthly. Like the Society itself, the credo of Grace Notes is “to foster education and promote understanding of things K.T. Tunstall Scottish.” If you have something of interest to readers of this newsletter, please submit a typewritten manuscript to the editorial staff. If the article or notice is very brief (30 words or fewer), just use the telephone. Grace Notes will accept and publish good quality photographs (preferably black and white; no Polaroids, please). The deadline for all submissions is the second week of each month preceding the month of publication. Please include a self-addressed stamped envelope with each submission, if you want the material returned. Editorial Staff Mary Ann Lucas - [email protected]...... Editor, (901-725-1879) Sammy Rich - [email protected]...... Publisher, (901-272-7159) Gavin Anderson - [email protected]...... Circulation Editor, (901-682-5485) Melissa Gibson - [email protected] ...... Line Editor, (901 299-3170)
Please address all correspondence to: Grace Notes The Memphis Scottish Society, Inc. to foster education and [email protected] promote understanding of P. O. Box 241934 things Scottish Memphis, TN 38124-1934
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WE DO SAMHAIN RIGHT!
We Scots (whether wee or braw) be help on Saturday, October 27th at D I R E C T I O N S T O sure know how to observe the Celtic Agnes Starks’s Pottery Studio, 12675 STARK POTTERY STUDIO New Year. To whit: Donelson Road in Arlington. See Take I-40 East towards Nashville. The program for our October Mem- Directions to Stark Pottery Studio. Take exit 24/25 onto the frontage bers’ Meeting on the 2nd Monday in From 5:30 till 10:00 pm we will eat road, pass the Millington exit. Go October (10/10/07) will be “Haints and drink and converse and play and next to exit 25 New Airline Road/TN of Scotland”, presented by Elaine sing and dance and generally do our 205. Bear right (south) for 1.3 miles. Meece with the help of some ghoulish best to scare ourselves silly. Dinner Turn left at East Donelson Road. Go fiends, that is,friends , including Bill will be a partial pot luck, with hot 0.7mi to 12675 Donelson Road. Look Crump, Mary Ann Lucas, and Sammy dogs, smoked sausages, condiments, for sign and banners! 25 minutes Rich, among others. If you plan to drinks and tableware provided by from Poplar Plaza! If lost call 901- have dinner, be sure to make your the club. Be guided by the following 867-9240 or 901-458-2354. See also reservations on or before Thursday, suggestions (according to initial of [email protected] or October 4th by contacting 901-757- your last name) for your part of the 4200 or www.memphisscots.com. potluck: A thru G – desserts, fruits, www.starkpottery.com . Note: the old phone number and nuts; H thru L – chips, dips, appetiz- email addresses WON’T work for ers; M – side dishes, slaw, salad; N Whiskey Tasting reservations anymore (!), so contact thru R – non-hot-dog entrees; and S only 757-4200 or the website. thru Z – buns (no, not those buns: St. John’s Episcopal Church will Next, our Samhain (Halloween to buns for the hot dogs). Prizes will be host a Scotch Whiskey tasting on the Sassenachs amongst us) Party will awarded for Best Costume and Best Thursday Evening November 8th.. Jack-o-Lantern. . Several single cask, single malt varieties are to be available for So, this bird walks into a store...... tasting. The seventy-five dollar ticket includes a Scottish cocktail A seagull in Scotland has developed the hab- buffet with an assortment of various it of stealing chips from a neighborhood shop. salmon recipes and bridies. The en- tertainment will include Brenda Ma- The seagull waits until the shopkeeper isn’t looking, and then walks into the store and guire on the harp and Ric Clausi on grabs a snack-size bag of cheese Doritos. the pipes. Contact Seldon Murray for more information at 753-6565. Once outside, the bag gets ripped open and shared by other birds.
The seagull’s shoplifting started early this month when he first swooped into Your 2007 membership expires the store in Aberdeen, Scotland, and helped himself to a bag of chips. Since then, he’s become a regular. He always takes the same type of chips. on Sunday, September 30. To re-new membership send in Customers have begun paying for the seagull’s stolen bags of chips because dues of $20 per family, $17 they think it’s so funny per individual, $10 for military or student. Note: this year the membership rosters are being built from scratch: they will not be carried over from last year’s roster, so only those who send in their dues will appear on the roster.
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Samhain party games
In some districts, when the fire middle of the floor.) Each of them by the hand, a great deal of noise is was smouldering low, the ashes were is provided with a bake-board, about the consequence. The beats, however, collected and laid in the form of a two feet square, which they hold on are not irregular nor destitute of an circle. Round the circumference a their knees. The woman who toasts agreeable harmony; especially when stone was placed for each person the cakes, which is done on a girdle they are accompanied with vocal present. If, before morning, any suspended over the fire, is called the music, which is frequently the case. stone was injured or removed, it Queen or Bride and the rest are styled Great dexterity is necessary not only meant that the person it represented her maidens. These are distinguished to beat out the cakes with no other was fey and doomed to death before from one another by names given instrument than the hand so that no another Halloween. them for the occasion. She who sits part of them shall be thicker than next to the fire, towards the east, is another, but especially to cast them About 8 or 10 days before St. called the Todler. Her companion on from one board to another without Luke’s Fair (for they were baked at no the left is called the Hodler; (these ruffling or breaking them. other time of year) a certain quantity names are descriptive of the manner ‘The toasting requires consider- of oatmeal is made into dough with in which the women so called perform able skill, for which reason the most warm water and laid up in a vessel to their part of the work. To toddle, is experienced person in the company ferment. Being brought to a proper to walk slowly like a child. To hodle is chosen for that part of the work. degree of fermentation and consis- is to move about more quickly), and One cake is sent round in quick suc- tency, it is rolled up into balls, pro- the rest have arbitrary names given cession, so that none of the company portionable to the intended largeness them by the Bride, as Mrs. Baker, is suffered to remain idle. The whole of the cakes. With the dough there is best and worst maids, etc. is a scene of activity, mirth, and commonly mixed a small quantity of The operation is begun by the tod- diversion. sugar and a little aniseed or cinnamon. dler, who takes a ball of the dough, The baking is executed by women forms it into a small cake, and then Dookin’ for apples (Does this only, and they seldom began their casts it on the bakeboard of the hodler, sound familiar?) work till after sunset, and a night or who beats it out a little thinner. This Place a large tub, preferably two before the fair. A large space of being done, she, in her turn, throws wooden, of the floor, and half fill the house, chosen for the purpose, it on the board of the neighbor; and it with water. Tumble in plenty of is marked out by a line drawn upon thus it goes round from east to west, apples, and have one person stir it. The area within it is considered in the direction of the course of the them around vigorously with a long as consecrated ground; and is not by sun, until it comes to the toaster, by wooden spoon or rod of hazel, ash any of the by-standers to be touched which time it is as thin and smooth or any other sacred tree. with impunity. A transgression incurs as a piece of paper. The first cake Each player takes their turn kneel- a small fine, which is always laid out that is cast on the girdle is usually ing on the floor, trying to capture on drink for the company. named as a gift to some well-known the apples with their teeth as they This hallowed spot is occupied cuckold, from a superstitious opinion go bobbing around. Each gets 3 by six or eight women, all of whom, that thereby the rest will be preserved tries before the next person has a except the toaster, seat themselves from mischance. Sometimes the cake go. Best to wear old clothes for this on the ground in a circular figure is so thin as to be carried, by the cur- one, and have a roaring fire nearby having their feet turned towards the rent of air, up into the chimney. so you can dry off while eating your fire. (The fire was formerly in the As the baking is wholly performed prize!
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Clanjamfry 2007
How many MSSI members can you identify in these pictures?
www.memphisscots.com Grace Notes October 2007
Plan Ahead to the MSSI Scholarship/Grant THIS MEETING: stand by for Fund. Contact Board Member- the announcement of a different at-Large Sue Malone 385-1938 location. So, whether you for more information. celebrate the Winter Solstice, In lieu of our regularly scheduled Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Set aside the dates of Saturday, Monthly Members’ Meeting on Hogmanay, or New Year’s November 1 and Monday, the 2nd Monday of December Eve, mark your calendars now. December 10. (that would be the 10th, BTW), Contact Board Vice President Our annual St. Andrew’s Day we will hold our annual Winter Mary Ann Lucas 725-1879 for tea will be held on Saturday, Holiday Party. It will feature the more info or to volunteer to November 1st at Crumpets customary aspects – a gala pot help. Restaurant on Highland from luck (featuring your best holiday 2:30 till 4:00 pm. There will be a recipes), an exchange of $5 limited number of tickets, owing gifts, a collection of children’s to the wee size of the setting. gifts for the USMC’s Toys- Those tickets will run in the for-Tots campaign, music, and neighborhood of $25 and include dance – and maybe a surprise a full cream tea (we would call it or twa. WE WILL NOT MEET “a high tea”), use of the facility, AT THE HOLIDAY INN FOR and entertainment. Proceeds go “KILTS NOT REQUIRED” 1st Wednesday Collection”. Bagpipe music will Scotland Awards in 2005, will be The following appeared in the fill the museum’s plaza from 6 to 7; screened at 7:30. The museum’s September 28th The Commercial the local trio Scotch & Soda will Brushmark Restaurant will be open Appeal Playbook, entitled “KILTS perform from 6 to 9 in the Rotunda. for a themed dinner created by Chef NOT REQUIRED”: A cash bar will supply “Tartan-tini Wally Joe. Call 544-6255 for dinner “The 1st Wednesday party, from 6 cocktails” (martinis made with reservations. to 9 p.m., at Memphis Brooks Mu- scotch, perhaps), while at 7 Jennifer “Admission to 1st Wednesday is seum of Art heads to the Highlands Sargeant (from Memphis College of free to museum members; $6 for for festivities inspired by “Wrapped Art) will lead a tour of the exhibit. The others. Tickets available online at in Splendor: An Exhibition of Pais- Scottish filmNight People, winner of www.brooksmuseum.org or at the ley Shawls from the Permanent the Audience Award at the BAFTA door. Call 544-6209.” Genealogical itch that you can’t quite reach? Well Oct. 12-13, may well be Michael R. Bradley, Historian, Research Trips; Genealogical your cure. The Tennessee Genea- Teacher, Author will speak on Goldmine, The Records of Old logical Society (TGS) is hosting a “How Shall We Understand Settlers Organizations and then Genealogy and History Fair over History? Friday Oct. 12 at 6:30. The US Federal government: the two days with guest speakers, Reservations must be in hand by 13 Underutilized Research Re- dinners, vendors. This is a good noon, Thursday October 10. Then sources. way to gain new insights on how to on Saturday at various times the Dinner on Friday night is $12 extrapolate some more history of speaker shall be Paula Stuart- for nonmembers and the seminars your family or how one should go Warren for four different sessions: are $25 for nonmembers. Mail to: about acquiring that information Tho’ They Were Poor, They May Tennessee Genealogical Society, for the novice and expert alike. Have Been Rich in Records; The PO Box 381824, Germantown, Guest speakers include Dr. Art of Successful Genealogical TN 38183-1824. www.memphisscots.com Grace Notes October 2007 Calendar of Events
Mondays Fridays 6:00 pm Dinner & 7:00 pm Caledonia Chorale 7 pm Dancing: 7:30-10 pm, Idlewild Program: Elaine Meece Church of the Holy Communion, Pres.; 1750 Union Ave, Haints of Scotland Walnut Grove at Perkins, West Entrance 272-7159 for info. 1st, 3rd & 5th Friday Thursday, October 25 Contra Dancing. 278-1216. Board Meeting at Perkins at Thursdays 2nd & 4th Friday 1340 S. G’town Rd.5:30 pm. Sgt.W.K.Singleton Pipes & Drums Scottish Country Dancing. 6:30-8:30 at Bethel Pentecostal 274-1889 Saturday, November 1 Church, Stage Road in Bartlett; Saint Andrew’s Day Tea at call 386-2052 for info. Monday, October 8 Crumpets. Call Sue Malone at Regular monthly meeting, 385-1938 for further informa- Wolf River Pipes & Drums, Holiday Inn Express, Poplar @ tion. Reservations required. 6:30-9:30 at St. Luke’s Lutheran; I-240. Germantown Parkway. 753-9494 Dinner reservation required Thursday, November 8 for info. by October 4th; call 757-4200 or Whiskey Tasting. Contact go to memphisscots.com. Seldon Murray 753-6565. Scottish/Celtic RadioMusic Sundays, 6-7 p.m. “The Thistle and Shamrock” WKNO-FM 91.1 Saturdays, 10 a.m. -1 p.m. “Strands of the Celtic Knot” Robert Campbell, host WEVL–FM 89.9 Sun and Mon 6 p.m. and Fridays, 7 p.m. “The Thistle & Shamrock,” WMAV–FM 90.3 October 4 /Hands On rhythms. Does it all simply boil Old songs provide a lens through down to world music soup, or is which we can view lifestyles and this cutting edge Celtic? Decide Start your holidays off with the workways, now passed into his- for yourself as we circumnavigate St. Andrew’s Day Tea to be held tory, when manual labours filled the the globe with Sharon Shannon, La Saturday, December 1, from 2:30 - day. Hear of horse drawn ploughs, Bottine Souriante, Tony McManus 4:30 p.m. at Crumpets on Highland handloom weavers, coalface work- and other favorites. Avenue. Come join us for a delightful ers and fishing under sail with Dick October 25, 2007/Mythography afternoon in a pub-like atmosphere. Gaughan, Christine Kydd, Ewan Ballads and tunes of Celtic origin Men are welcomed. The event will MacColl, Christy Moore and others. and inspiration lead us on an explo- be highlighted with a full cream tea October 11 /Words Verses Music ration of myth, legend, and mystery and background music. Poetry tells the story this week, November 1, 2007/Soundtracks Please contact Sue Malone, 385- with songs and tunes inspired by From the epic “Rob Roy” and 1938, for further information. There poets’ lives and works. “Braveheart,” to the intimate is limited seating and all reservations October 18 / What in the World? “Songcatcher” and “Heartlands,” must be paid in advance to have a 21st century contemporary Celtic hear the contributions made by guaranteed reservation. The cost will music may take in Balkan tunes, Celtic music to many of today’s cin- be $20 per person. Yhank you, African percussion, and Latin ema soundtracks. Mary C. Copyright 2007 NPR/Fiona Ritchie www.memphisscots.com Grace Notes October 2007
Two lovely lasses dance a fling at Clanjamfry. For more pic- tures, see pages 1,3, & 5.
Next Monthly Meeting - October 8th - Dinner Reservations by 10/04, 757-4200 or online www.memphisscots.com - Holiday Inn , Poplar and I-240; Dinner at 6:00, Program at 7:00. Board Meeting, Thursday, October 25th at 5:30, Perkins @ 1340 S. Germantown Rd.
GRACE N TES The Memphis Scottish Society, Inc. P. O. Box 241934 Memphis, TN 38124-1934
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