Memories of Irish Fest 2005

My thoughts are drifting these days to merry memories of the Estes Park Scottish/Irish Highland Festival. Last year was my first time to go to this huge event. It is our country's largest festival of its kind and is held each year the weekend after Labor Day in Estes Park, Colorado. I am hoping that I will be able to join my Steamboat friends again in a couple weeks for the 29th annual festival.

Here are a few pics from last years event:

Saturday morning parade with pipers piping and drummers drumming, kilts and plumed bonnets, brave steeds bearing medieval jousters. Great time.



Hungry? A meat pie perhaps. These were delicious!



Andy enjoys his new sword.



Brad gets his picture with a Guinness gal at Friday night's Ceilidh (kay-lee, a Celtic New Year's party) while the Marine Band Twentynine Palms drum corp plays in the background.



"Tattoo" - The word means: evening drum, bugle, or piper signal recalling soldiers to quarters. The earliest form of the word is from the Dutch "tap toe" which literally means to "close the tap" of the cask in the barrooms.

The modern version of the tattoo is a parade ground concert of military bands. The tattoo at the Longs Peak Scottish/Irish Highland Festival includes all of the visiting guest bands: the Marine Band Twentynine Palms; 3rd Infantry Old Guard Fife & Drum Corps; Air Force Pipes & Drums of Canada; Celtic cannons; Carol Reed's School of Irish Dance; Head Talk - a drumline; and Dogs of the British Isles.

The Saturday night tattoo at the festival is known throughout the world for its beautiful mountain setting and powerful performances. The massed bands' rendition of "Amazing Grace" was truly a moving experience.

Brilliant Slideshow of Cline Wedding

For anyone that has not checked out Brady and Jeanette's wedding website, you must check out this tender, beautiful slideshow. The song that you will hear in the background is the tune that Brady's dad, Steve composed and played during the ceremony. It is absolutely charming. I feel so blessed to have been able to be there.

Simply click on the title of this entry and it will take you there. Be patient, it takes a few seconds to load.

Enjoy!

A Reason To Celebrate

I couldn’t be happier to announce the engagement and approaching marriage of my oldest stepson, Kip to Jessica Dixon of Lead Hill. Kip proposed to Jessica last Wednesday and gave her a beautiful engagement ring.

Jessica is the daughter of Jeff and Amy Dixon of Lead Hill. She is a Senior at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, majoring in Public Relations.

Kip completes his training at Alaska Vocational Technical Center in Seward, Alaska in January. His focus is diesel/heavy equipment technology.

Kip and Jessica met through mutual friend’s three years ago. Chris and I have loved Jessica since the first time we met her. She is a treasure. She is intelligent, loving and very witty. I wish them all the best for a lifetime.

The wedding is planned for Saturday, May 27, 2006 at the Dixon’s farm near Lead Hill. I just realized, that’s only 9 months from today. ZOINKS!

The Summer of '68

I don't know why I like this snapshot so much but it's one of my favorites. It's a picture of me and my sisters around our kitchen table. I was six years old and had just finished Kindgergarten. Perhaps this was the first day of summer vacation?

I'm sitting next to my oldest sister, Cindy and across the table is my younger sisters, Vonda, in pigtails, and Linda, in red. I'm always amazed when I think that mom had 4 kids in 5 years, almost to the day. Cindy was born 12/16/60 and Vonda, 12/10/65.

Here are some interesting things that happened that month, June 1968:

* June 1 - Helen Keller died in her sleep in Connecticut
* June 3 - Andy Worhol was shot and wounded as he entered his studio by one of his art stuendets
* June 5 - Robert F. Kennedy was shot by Sirhan Sirhan at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles and died the next day
* June 8 - James Earl Ray was arrested for the murder of Martin Luther King Jr. 2 months ealier
* June 29 - In a letter to the church entitled "Humanae Vitae", Pope Paul V condemned birth control
* Median Household Income was $7,743
* Unemployment was at 3.8%
* A first-class stamp cost $0.06
* 31 American troops were reported missing in action in Vietnam.
* Simon & Garfunkel's "Mrs Robinson" hits #1
* Rolling Stones release "Jumpin' Jack Flash"

Have a terrific day!

More Cline Wedding Snapshots

The wonderful trio that entertained us at the reception. They were terrific!


Sparkling Wine over the Nahe. I liked this snapshot.


Steve and his new daughter-in-law. Brady is a chip off the ol' block.


Brothers.


The California couple. James and Dawn Marie Prather enjoy getting the party started.


The Arkansas couple. Chris and I later in the evening. We were thouroughly enjoying ourselves.


Great snapshot of James and Dawn Marie Prather.


Boys behaving badly. Oh what a night!


Wulliman was having a great time and Trixie seemed to be enjoying herself as well.


Jeanette prepares to throw her boquet.

Cline-Dari Wedding

This is a photograph of Brady and his mother. I don't think that I have ever seen Brady as happy as he was on his wedding day. He was handsome and quite Debonair, don't you agree. And Nancee was simply radiant.








The happy couple -- parents of the groom, Steve and Nancee Cline. This photo was taken just minutes before the ceremony began.
















The wedding prayer. I love this picture. I suppose I should have been in quiet comtemplation with the couple as well, but I couldn't resist the photo op.
















Brady and Jeanette leave the church as husband and wife for the first time showered with red rose pedals. I wonder if they will remember this? It was really such an exciting moment.










Mr. and Mrs. Brady Cline with Brady's twin brother Mychilo
looking on. This was outside the church where a brief mini-reception was held. We toasted with sparkling wine the newlyweds.