Shipping Alert!

The U.S. Post Office seems to be moving slower than usual this holiday season. If you are ordering something for Christmas please place your order by the end of the day December 20th. Even then, I'm not sure we can guarantee delivery by Christmas, but we will get your package shipped as quickly as we can!

 

12 Days til Christmas

We've created our own version of the Twelve Days of Christmas! For expediency sake we're just going to present the last verse here.

Happy Holidays!

On the twelfth day of Christmas my True Love gave to me:
Twelve Scottish Claymores
Eleven Pirate Windsocks
Ten Welsh Fleece Blankets
Nine UK Tote Bags
Eight Irish Lanyards
Seven English Patches
Six Wooden Swords
Five Scottish flags
Four License Plates
Three British Scarves
Two Pocket Knives
and Christmas Songs by Carl Peterson

 

Wooden Spoon - Mountains of Mourne

If you listen to The Village on XM Satellite Radio you may have heard "The Wooden Spoon" singing Mountains of Mourne. The Wooden Spoon was a folk music trio from the 1980's. The singer is our own Carl Peterson! You can find his lovely recording of Mountains of Mourne on his album These Are My Mountains.

To learn more about Carl Peterson go to his website at www.carl-peterson.com.

 

Holiday Shipping

The holidays are fast approaching!

To ensure delivery to the USA, by December 25, please place your orders by December 20 and select Priority Mail shipping! We will do our best to get your packages to you on time!

 

Holiday Songs

For a great CD of Christmas and New Year's Eve songs check out Carl Peterson's We Wish you a Merry Christmas and a Guid New Year. Eighteen favorite songs in the beautiful warm voice of Scotsman Carl Peterson. Click here to hear samples and order this wonderful CD.

Includes A-Soaling, Deck The Halls, Jingle Bells, Silent Night, The Holly And The Ivy, A Guid New Year, Auld Lang Syne and many more! A great background for your holiday celebrations.

Christmas Songs CD!

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today is Thanksgiving Day in the USA. Originally a harvest festival, it is a day to gather with family and friends to give thanks and show gratitude for everything to the smallest thing.

So, thank you to family, friends and all our great customers!

 

Fleece Blankets (update)

The Scottish Lion Rampant Fleece Blankets are back in stock! Yeah! Unfortunately, the St Andrews Cross Blankets are back-ordered. Sigh. We are working on it and hopefully we will soon have all the blankets back in stock.

Fleece Blankets

 

New ! Powder Horns and More

We now have Powder Horns. These are great replicas made of authentic horn, in an early American Frontier style. No two powder horns are alike! They come in two sizes (10" and 14") and two color styles, a lighter brown/white and black. For more images and to order click Powder Horns.

We also have a new folding pocket knife. Dubbed the Scottish Heroes knife, the knife handle has images of Wallace, Robert the Bruce and Bonnie Prince Charlie. The knife has a 4" blade and comes in a wooden presentation box. A great gift for your favorite Scot! For images and to order click Scottish Heroes knife.

 

New Oval Stickers

We now have a new style of Oval Sticker! These stickers are 4 ½" wide and 3" tall. They have the country flag, waving, as the background. A very bright and attractive sticker!

The stickers are only $2.50 each and available with Scotland Royal Standard, Scotland St Andrews, Ireland Tricolour, Union Jack, Wales flags. You can order the Stickers Here.

But wait! You can also get these same designs as Magnets! Only $4.50 each for a flat magnet. You can order the Magnets Here.

 

Gadsden and Culpepper Bandanas

We once again have the Gadsden Flag and Culpeper Flag bandanas in stock!


These are 22" square and made of a polyester/cotton blend. You can find these and other Bandanas Here!

We have also added 12"x18" flags of the Gadsden, Culpeper and First Navy Jack! These flags are available on this page.

All of our Gadsden, Culpeper and First Navy Jack flag items can be found here!

 

Foxburg Scottish Festival!

We attended the first Foxburg Scottish Festival last weekend and it was great!! The festival was for the benefit of the Allegheny RiverStone Center for the Arts (ARCA).

The weekend started with a Ceilidh on Friday night. It was outdoors in an area that formed a natural amphitheater. The performers were bagpiper Johnathan Shegog, singers Carl Peterson and Bob Murdoch and fiddler Melinda Crawford.

The fun continued Saturday at the RiverStone Event Center. There was Scottish food and crafts, sheep herding dogs, clans, athletics (caber toss, wheat sheaf toss, hammer and stone throws), highland dance demonstrations, children's events, carriage rides through RiverStone Farm and the MacDonald Pipe Band of Pittsburgh provided the essential bagpipe music through out the day.

Kudos to Art and Pat Steffee, who hosted the festival on their premises, Drew Orient, director of ARCA, Kathy Shepherd who organized the clans, Dave Strunk who organized the athletics, Carl Peterson who helped organized the entertainment and vendors. Last, but far from least, are the numerous committee members and volunteers who made the festival a success.

 

More on Foxburg Scottish Festival

You can find Foxburg just 3-4 miles from Exit 45 of Route I-80 in Pennsylvania.

Here is their web-site with more information on the activities planned Foxburg Festival website.

Can't wait!! Hope to see you there!

 

Scottish Festival - Foxburg, PA

The first ever Foxburg Riverstone Scottish Festival will be held on Saturday August 15th 2009! The festival will take place at Riverstone Farms Event Center, in Foxburg. There will be clan gatherings, traditional pipe bands, dancing, traditional songs and fiddling and athletic demonstrations. Lots of food and fun for the family. General admission - only $5.00 per person. Children under 12 free.

If you're anywhere near the Pittsburgh area you won't want to miss this inaugural event. In case of rain the festival will be held indoors in the Event Center's 2 acre arena.

On Friday evening August 14th there will an outdoor Ceilidh along the Allegheny River in Foxburg. Beginning at 7:00pm join us for an evening of traditional song and music by Carl Peterson, Bob Murdoch, fiddler Melinda Crawford and more.

Come join us for a great Scottish weekend!

 

New Products Available!

We continue to restock, following the fire earlier this year, and now have several new products added to our catalog. Tote Bags, Kitchen Sets, Mini Banners and Scarfs.

The Tote Bags are heavy canvas with canvas handles and a great flag design. These are generously sized and great for shopping or carrying your stuff to the beach! Browse Tote Bags.

The Kitchen Sets include a Canvas Apron, Pot Holder and Over Mitt. They make a great gift for your favorite chef or BBQ'er! Browse Kitchen Sets.

Mini Banners are 3" x 4" fringed flags that can be hung from a window with a suction cup hook (which is included). Hang in the house or in your car! Browse Mini Banners.

Finally, the scarfs are lightweight 100% polyester, 60" long and 8 ½" wide. They look great as an accent with any outfit. Browse Scarfs.

 

Happy Canada Day!

Canada Day (French: Fête du Canada), is Canada's national day celebrating the anniversary of the July 1, 1867 enactment of the British North America Act of 1867, which united Canada as a single country of four provinces.

This day marks the joining of the British colonies of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Province of Canada into a federation of four provinces (the Province of Canada being divided, in the process, into Ontario and Quebec) on July 1, 1867.

Oh, Canada
The true north, strong and free.

 

Father's Day & New Lower Flag Prices!

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there! Including my own dear Dad who, I'm happy to say, at 83 is still healthy and active.

We've lowered the prices on our 2'x3' and 3'x5' polyester flags. The 2'x3' flags are now only $5.95, and the 3'x5' flags are only $7.95!

2'x3' Flags $5.95

3'x5' Flags $7.95

 

Shipping Rate Increase

Well the United States Post Office is raising their rates again. As much as we hate to do it, we have to raise our shipping costs to keep pace.

But we prefer to keep the price of our products as low as possible, and add the shipping cost, rather than raising the price of the products to attempt to cover the shipping costs.

Nevertheless, since most of our products are of relatively low weight, we find that the USPS still has lower rates than other shipping companies.

 

Spring and Festival Season

April is already more than half over! Yes, I've been busy (haven't we all)! No new products recently, just our normal great selection of flags and flag gift items as well as some great Scottish and Irish music.

If there's something specific you are looking for please let us know and we'll try to get it for you. If you are from a clan or organization contact us about quantity discounts.

It's looks like spring is finally arriving here in Pennsylvania, and the festival season has begun. We were at the Scots Irish Heritage Festival in Lexington, Virginia early this month, and will be at the Scottish Festival in Bridgeport, West Virginia on May 2nd. Then the Colonial Highland Gathering in Fairhill, Maryland on May 16th.

Come out and see us!

 

Celtic Music now Available

Once again we have CDs available from Martha Clancy and Ellen Tepper. Some beautiful music featuring the Celtic Harp. You can learn more about these lovely CDs on the Celtic Harp page.

 

Tartan Day coming April 6th

National Tartan Day will be here agin on April 6. The anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath (1320) has been used by numerous groups and societies throughout Canada and America to celebrate their Scottish roots.

On December 19th 1991, in response to action initiated by the Clans & Scottish Societies of Canada, the Ontario Legislature passed a resolution proclaiming April 6th as Tartan Day, following the example of other Canadian provinces.

America followed suit on March 20th 1998, when Senate Resolution 155 (S.Res. 155), proposed by US Senate Republican majority leader Trent Lott, was passed unanimously.

So it's official! Celebrate your Scottish roots, or just celebrate! See our Tartan Day Gift Package. A red plaid bandana and a CD of Bagpipe music for only $5.00!

 

St David's Day & Square Root Day

St David's Day, honoring the patron saint of Wales, was March 1st. Yes, we missed it! But nevertheless...

David is a native of the country of which he is patron saint (a rarity in the British Isles). He became renowned as a teacher and preacher, founding monastic settlements and churches in Wales. David died 1 March circa 589. Celebrations of this day generally involve daffodils, leeks, parades, musical and sporting events. Wales flags and gift items can be found on our Wales web page.

Today is also Square Root Day! That's right, the date is 3/3/09. Get it?! 3 is the square root of 9! Hallmark has plenty of time to prepare cards to celebrate the next Square Root Day which will be Apr 4, 2016.

Have a great day!
 

Fire!

On Wednesday February 11, we had a fire at the darachweb offices. No one was hurt, but one corner of the building experienced major damage. There was smoke damage throughout the building.

The Fire Marshall, after much investigation, has declared the cause of the fire "indeterminate". A very frustrating result!

On the bright side, while sorting through the damage we have discovered some products, almost miraculously, survived the fire. These are available on our website, and as we restock, new items will be added.

Thank you all for your kind words and support! You make the whole process so much more bearable. Please visit darachweb.

 

St David's Day, March 1st

Saint David (or Dewi Sant, as he is known in the Welsh language) was a Celtic monk, abbot and bishop, who lived in the sixth century. During his life, he was the archbishop of Wales, and he was one of many early saints who helped to spread Christianity among the pagan Celtic tribes of western Britain. He is the patron saint of Wales.

To celebrate, all of our Welsh flags and flag gifts are on sale for 20% off! Check it out on the Wales Flag page.

 

Robert Burns Birthday

Robert Burns was born, 250 years ago today, on January 25th, 1759 in Alloway, Ayrshire, Scotland. He was the eldest of seven children of William Burnes and Agnes Broun

Across the world Burns is regarded as the national poet of Scotland. In his short lifetime he wrote more than 500 poems and songs. His writings were romantic, political, bawdy, satirical and so much more. He wrote in the Scots language, and also in English and Scots dialect, accessible to an audience beyond Scotland.

There was a lad was born in Kyle
But whatna day o' whatna style
I doubt it's hardly worth the while
To be sae nice tae Robin

Robin was a rovin' boy
Rantin', rovin', rantin', rovin'
Robin was a rovin' boy
Rantin', rovin' Robin

Our monarch's hindmost year but ane
Was five-and-twenty days begun,
'Twas then a blast o' Janwar' win'
Blew hansel in on Robin.

On this day let us raise a toast to "The Immortal Memory of Robert Burns".

 

Burns Supper: Songs and Poems

Robert Burns wrote over 500 songs and poems during his short lifetime. No Burns Supper is complete without singing the songs and reciting the poetry of Burns.

The supper is usually preceded by Burns' Address to a Haggis. This noted production was composed with little forethought within a fortnight after the poet's arrival in Edinburgh, and was printed in the pages of the Caledonian Mercury, December 20th, 1786. You can find the full text, as well as a translation Here

At a Burns Supper you might also hear My Love is Like a Red Red Rose, There was a Lad, Coming Through the Rye, Ye Banks and Braes, and perhaps even a recitation of the great narrative poem Tam 'o Shanter.

The traditional end to any Burns Supper is the singing of classicly Scottish song Auld Lang Syne. Burns claimed to have written only two stanzas of this song (verses 2 and 3), while the others verses were from an old song. Nevertheless it's sentiment is timeless.

Songs of Robert Burns CD, sung by Carl Peterson.

Burns Supper: Neeps and Tatties

Haggis is traditionally served with "Neeps and Tatties", but at a Burns Supper, since the Haggis may be served separately, the Neeps & Tatties will be served with the main dinner.

Tatties are mashed potatoes. Neeps are traditionally mashed rutabaga (called swedes in Scotland), but if necessary turnips can also be used. The Neeps and Tatties are mashed and served separately.

If you mix the Neeps and Tatties together and add some onion you have a dish called Clapshot, which is said to have originated in Orkney.

The name rutabaga comes from the Swedish "rotabagge". Some claim the vegetable is native to Sweden, but others think it was introduced to Sweden, possibly from Finland or Siberia, in the early 17th century. From Sweden, it reached Scotland (where it is called a "Swede"), and from there it spread to the rest of Great Britain and to North America.

Neeps and Tatties are a delicious side dish to accompany the Haggis and your Burns Supper.

Visit the Robert Burns page of our website for Gift Packages and more information about Robert Burns.

 

Burns Supper: Cock-a-leekie Soup

A Burns Supper, or any good Scottish meal, will often begin with Cock-a-leekie soup.

This is a traditional soup whose use was first recorded in the 16th Century. The main ingredients of the soup are chicken broth, chicken and leeks. Cock-a-leekie can also contain prunes, potatoes, herbs or Scotch whisky. As with any soup, there are many variations.

It has been suggested that the reason for the addition of prunes was to increase the nutritional value of the broth, back in the times when the broth had to stretch over many meals. They do add a rich, deep flavor that you don't get with any other fruit or vegetable.

Sir Walter Scott in St. Ronan's Well says: "Such were the cock-a-leekie and the savoury minced collops...."

Visit the Robert Burns page of our website for Gift Packages and more information about Robert Burns.