Hands-On Learning

Both Phil and I think it's important for us to keep our minds active by learning new things or learning more about subjects we already are interested in. You can see how assiduously he applies that in today's blip, which shows him in the whisky garden at the 18th Skagit Valley Highland Games & Celtic Festival in Mount Vernon, about half an hour's drive from our home.

Led by Simon Brooking, a Master Ambassador with Laphroaig & Ardmore, participants paid a small sum to taste three Scotch whiskies -- Laphroaig 10 year, Laphroaig Quarter Cask, and Ardmore Traditional Cask -- and also Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey. Simon was informative and entertaining, and Phil thoroughly enjoyed his presentation! (I opted for one of the other educational offerings, a talk in the Celtic Culture Tent about the Chisholm, Sinclair, and Stewart clans.)

The two-day event also offered a very cute baby to admire, a Highland dancing competition, several workshops and demonstrations, sheepdog trials, Scottish country dancing, athletic events, Celtic harpers, fiddlers, spinners and weavers, Gaelic singers, folk bands, athletic events, a wide variety of vendors, Ceilidh dancing, pipe and drum competitions (this youth band, warming up, is for all the Portland blippers -- they did very well in the competition!), and of course, the most glorious part of all, the massed bands -- only a portion of which you see here -- at the end of the day.

The Skagit Valley Highland Games & Celtic Festival is masterfully organized and run by the Celtic Arts Foundation, with the help of many dedicated volunteers. We joined CAF earlier this year, and look forward to taking part in other outstanding events like this one!

(Phil's view of the event is here.)