Monthly Archives: September 2013

Faerie Folk

Posted on September 28, 2013 by Kate Cowie Riley

I grew up in Washington Irving country…in the rolling Taconics of New York State, nestled in between the Hudson River and the Housatonic, just west of the Berkshires. My mother taught at Ichabod Crane High School. One of my friends … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancestry, Eco-travel, Ecology, Faerie, Land trust, Scotland, Scottish ancestry, Self drive Scotland tours, Tomnahurich Hill, Travel, Uncategorized, Women Writers | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

The Handfasting

Posted on September 24, 2013 by Kate Cowie Riley

The remains of Dunnottar Castle stand in silent vigil on the Eastern coast of Scotland, just a mile or two south of Stonehaven (a town we like to refer to as the suburb of the little town Cowie, but more on that … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancestry, Dunnottar Castle, Eco-travel, Ecology, Handfasting, Land trust, Scotland, Scottish ancestry, Self drive Scotland tours, Travel, Uncategorized, Women Writers | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Getting Stoned in Scotland

Posted on September 18, 2013 by Kate Cowie Riley

I was standing in the reception area of the National Wallace Monument, waiting for Liisa and Kyle to descend from the Crown. We had walked up the 71 stairs to the room where Wallace’s sword is kept, and I went … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancestry, Eco-travel, Ecology, Edinburgh Castle, Land trust, Orkney, Scotland, Scottish ancestry, Self drive Scotland tours, Travel, Uncategorized, Wallace Memorial, Women Writers | 1 Comment

Heather, Gorse, and Stanes

Posted on September 12, 2013 by Kate Cowie Riley

On the southern slope of a low hill covered in heather and gorse, is an arrangement of about 200 stones that in 22 rows aligned very roughly north-south, and which fan out just a little at the southern end. As … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancestry, Eco-travel, Ecology, Hill o' Many Staines, Land trust, Scotland, Scottish ancestry, Self drive Scotland tours, Sutherland, Travel, Uncategorized, Wick, Women Writers | 1 Comment

Northern Links

Posted on September 10, 2013 by Kate Cowie Riley

The last time I was on Orkney, I was making a video for my father and at one point the camera was nearly blown out of my hand by the ferocious winds. A photo of me standing at the Ring … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancestry, Eco-travel, Ecology, Ferry to Orkney, Land trust, Maes Howe, Orkney, Ring of Brodgar, Scotland, Scottish ancestry, Self drive Scotland tours, Skara Brae, Stromness, Travel, Uncategorized, Wick | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Rowan & Heather

Posted on September 7, 2013 by Kate Cowie Riley

The rain came down in a steady rhythm; I know from my experiences with the Indigenous Peoples of North America that rain on a ceremony is a blessing. I was not bothered by it. Dressed for the weather, we drove … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancestry, Eco-travel, Ecology, Land trust, Scotland, Travel, Uncategorized | 5 Comments

Fair Enough

Posted on September 7, 2013 by Kate Cowie Riley

Over our bountiful breakfast of fruit, yogurt, poached eggs, sautéed tomatoes, potatoes and mushrooms, bannocks, and brown (whole wheat) toast, … I offered the Viking Festival as an addition to the list for the day.  The offer was politely declined.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancestry, Ballachulish, Eco-travel, Ecology, Land trust, Loch Lommond, Overtoun Bridge, Scotland, Scottish ancestry, Travel, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The Best Laid Plans, Gone and Forgotten

Posted on September 6, 2013 by Kate Cowie Riley

I woke up at first light, and the view from sweet Mary Watson’s farmhouse window immediately erased any lingering thoughts of the horrors of yesterday’s travel.  The stress of the turbulence, hunger and fatigue had melted from my body as … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancestry, Eco-travel, Ecology, Land trust, Scotland, Travel, Uncategorized, Whittlieburn Farm | 1 Comment