Stone Mountain GA 2010

Holding court with John Dahl.
We had a long line of members for the Parade of Tartans. I only made it half way round this year and ducked out the back gate!
Family of Nan Hunter who was Sharon's shortbread mentor. Nan passed away earlier this year. Her granddaughter, second from right, has taken over the shortbread tradition.
Hawk Talk.


John Colquhoun who taught school in Jonesboro.
The Hagar ring.
Clan Davidson was next to us again this year.



Rhonda who let us know about The Kandahar Reel.

Jim Kilpatrick, Julia Grant-Adams, Colin Grant-Adams, and myself.

Stone Mountain Dinner

Several years ago (10-15?) we had a dinner with Clan Davidson on the Saturday night of the Stone Mountain Games (GA). In this picture left to right Harry Avery of Alexandria, VA; Bernice Calhoun; Tom Hodges; Judge Marcus Calhoun (Bernice's husband, they lived in Thomasville, GA); Harry's brother Dick Avery of Dallas, TX; Margaret Cohoon. This was held at the Doubletree Hotel near I-285 & Hwy 400. Harry, Bernice, and Marcus have all passed on now. We sponsor a Grade II piping trophy for Marcus and Bernice at the upcoming Stone Mountain games, held every 3rd weekend of October.

Grandfather Mountain 1999

After talking with some others, I'm pretty sure of the year. If you think it's wrong please let me know. Also, feel free to use the comment section of these posts at any time. If it weren't for Sitemeter I wouldn't have any idea if anyone was looking at this most of the time. Just so you know, we've had over 5,000 hits from all over the world since the blogs conception. A lot of people will spot an image on Google and take a gander. A lot of them don't even use the same alphabet we do! Welcome, everyone!
Best friend Richard Halliley (twice President of US Clan Davidson) and I are about dead center in the above photograph.


Some kind of weird weather pattern invaded us that Sunday morning at the Parade Of Tartans. It was chilly, too. Grandfather Mountain, NC in July doesn't usually get weather like this although we have had some cold rains before. It's the elevation that kind of lifts us up out of the "Deep South" for July. We're half a mile up in MacRae Meadow; the peak of the mountain is a mile up. Supposedly the area attracted immigrant Scots and Scot-Irish to settle there because it reminded them of home. My ancestors (also from NC) hugged the coast. Even my MacMillan "Texas Bells" ended up outside of Galveston on the Gulf Of Mexico.
I'm pretty sure this is Stephanie Fox and Danny Potter. Stephanie is a nurse and always works the MacMedic tent at the games. I appreciate that she wears her Colquhoun scarf and takes time when she can to jump in the Parades with us!

Danny, who passed away a few years ago, was a bit of a legend at all the Mid Atlantic games. The Johnson City, TN native had been coming to GMHG since he was a lad when his parents first brought him. Danny parked a well used, small RV right at the place where the shuttle bus lets visitors out. It was known as Fort Potter. I primitive camped at Fort Potter in front of his RV the season before he died, something I told him for years I wanted to do, and have always been thankful I made the effort that year.

Drum Major Jim Thompson.





Color guard of a Scottish American Civil War reenactment group. I think it's a NY regiment.





In the middle is the extended family of T. Randolph Kirkpatrick. They always get their own tent each year and participate in athletics. One of his grandchildren has run The Bear the last several years. On the left is probably Whitfield County (GA) county commissioner Mike Cowan. Mike wears his Air Force jacket and beret with his kilt which looks really sharp. I'm on the right.

...To Absent Friends

Michael Davidson at the 2002 Grandfather Mountain Highland Games Parade Of Tartans:

Michael Davidson, US president of Clan Davidson for nine years, died February 13, 2009. He was only 55. Michael had been president for 9 years. Most of us in the Southeastern Scottish community have known Michael and Elaine for a lot longer than that and were greatly saddened by his passing.
One of the reasons I wanted to make the unplanned trip to Rural Hill was Clan Davidson has their annual meeting there. A young piper from the Loch Norman Pipe Band played the Davidson March at the meeting.
Clan members listening to the piper. Eleanor on the right, who I met just by chance in the campground Saturday morning, works at the games. She gave me a helpful lift in her golf cart to the Colquhoun tent that morning.
After the meeting Richard Halliley, past president of Clan Davidson and interim president now, pours a salute to Michael in a large quaich which was offered to the clan members present.
The quaich used was actually mine, with a Colquhoun crest stamped in the center. This was originally Harry Avery's quaich which I bought from his estate after Harry passed.
Clan Davidson's crest is similar to ours:

A resolution was passed at the meeting that Clan Davidson would purchase a similar quaich and silver tray to be displayed at festivals and meeting. The tray will be engraved with past president's names and other Davidson notables.

Loch Norman (Charlotte, NC) 2009

The 16th Loch Norman Highland Games (subtitled Rural Hill Scottish Festival) was held last weekend outside of Charlotte, NC. I'd had it in mind to make a surprise visit if my herinated disc would allow and I did it! but I'm paying for it this week. It was a great weekend and I'm so glad I went.

The site of the festival is really out in the middle of nowhere. I've seen festivals held in remote places because of a place name or event wither and die, but Loch Norman continues to draw big crowds and be as popular as ever. It's a year round rendez vous for the local population. The site was originally a plantation owned by the Davidson family. Here's what the first house looked like:


Remains of the first house in front of the newer house.


Across the street you can pitch a tent or plant an RV for the event. Here's the Colquhoun Condo:
The campground stretchs out beyond the distant tree line.
Steve and Mary Hudson have set up for us at Loch Norman for several years.




The Hudson's tent is always fun and active.
Becky and Jim Kilpatrick.


Beth Calhoun who'll be at Grandfather with John.




A visiting Gregor.




This is the "targe" Steve and Mary won for Best Clan Tent at the 2001 Charleston Games which they host each September. For some reason, they didn't get credit for it in the published records which Mary is still trying to correct.



Around the field.



Music at Clan Cunningham.
Flag Burning Service.
The Beer Tent was supplied by Carolina Brewery


The Gathering is quickly counting down towards the event in July!
The music tent which rocked all weekend!
Ed Miller
Clandestine

One of the big draws year round for Rural Hill is that it's an historic working farm. I wished I'd found out the name of this calf. I first met the calf as a visitor in back of our clan tent.

Later back in the barn.



Sharon & I attended the first several Loch Norman Games. Jack Mobley of Clan Davidson made up a sign back then that warned Colquhouns and several other clans that they couldn't be caught unattended near the cattle and sheep fields (tongue in cheek reference to a history of cattle stealing). I was directed to a couple of different places to look for a sign, but I couldn't find one left. I have a copy of the original somewhere and will post it when I find it.
A hand cranked corn husker.





Big bold rooster.

Corn crib.

Corn husker again. The kids loved this. As you can see, Rural Hill offers not only the Highland Games, but a hands on participation at a farm recreated from another century.





Spring house or well house?

Blacksmith.







Natural spackel to seal up the spaces of a log cabin.





In addition to the antique farm, there is an Historical Encampment to tour. This is also known as "Who are those lads and lassies over there near the cow pasture?"

Dancing Pig Pottery