Category Archives: Ecology

Rocking Stones ~ Clach-Bràth

Posted on June 10, 2015 by Kate Cowie Riley

I was going through some old photographs from when I lived up in the California Sierra Nevada near Yosemite National Park. I had taken a photo of a very large rock that was sitting upon other rocks, but it didn’t look … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancestry, Eco-travel, Ecology, Land trust, Scotland, Scottish ancestry, Travel, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Mountains & Munros

Posted on April 7, 2015 by Kate Cowie Riley

Oftentimes people will talk of “hunting a wild haggis” in the Scottish countryside. They may also talk of “bagging a Munro”. The second statement has a lot more believability than the first. Named after Sir Hugh Munro, 4th Baronet (1856-1919), … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancestry, Eco-travel, Ecology, Land trust, Scotland, Scottish ancestry, Travel, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Nonscents

Posted on February 12, 2015 by Kate Cowie Riley

I wasn’t planning on making any of the travel plans for the trip to Scotland (Alba, pronounced “Al-up-a” in Scottish Gaelic, Gàidhlig) until later on this spring. It was a combination of intuition, boredom in the moment, and excitement for … Continue reading →

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Cross-Quarter Days & Groundhogs

Posted on February 1, 2015 by Kate Cowie Riley

In America, February 2nd is “Groundhog Day”. If you’re not familiar with this celebration, I suggest you watch the Bill Murray movie, Groundhog Day (1993). If you’re not familiar with this celebration, I suggest you watch the Bill Murray movie, … Continue reading →

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Symphonic Scotland

Posted on December 19, 2014 by Kate Cowie Riley

I am starting to plan another trip to Scotland in September of 2015. So, this morning when thoughts and mental pictures of Scotland swirled through my mind as I was waking up, I attributed it to the research I have … Continue reading →

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Tattoo in Scotland (No, not that one)

Posted on December 9, 2014 by Kate Cowie Riley

Of the websites that I peruse often, ScotlandsPeople is one of my favorites. As the National Records of Scotland release information about the various years of valuation records, ScotlandsPeople publishes a bit about the more interesting people. Today, Prince Vallar caught my … Continue reading →

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Hamish

Posted on November 29, 2014 by Kate Cowie Riley

As Kyle and Liisa and I drove up through the Trossachs from Stirling, we took the A84 with a planned stop at the The Trossachs Woolen Mill at Kilmahog, near Callander. We all made good use of the woolen mill shop, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancestry, Eco-travel, Ecology, Land trust, Scotland, Scottish ancestry, Self drive Scotland tours, Travel, Uncategorized, Women Writers | Tagged | Leave a comment

No Horsing Around By the Water

Posted on October 31, 2014 by Kate Cowie Riley

The mythical kelpie is a supernatural water horse that was said to haunt Scotland’s lochs and lonely rivers. One is recorded as being banished by St Columba from the River Ness. The river Conon (Conan) in Perthshire, which can be … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancestry, Eco-travel, Ecology, Land trust, Scotland, Scottish ancestry, Self drive Scotland tours, Travel, Uncategorized, Women Writers | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Scottish Heart Goes to the Red Rocks

Posted on May 5, 2014 by Kate Cowie Riley

In my home country of America, I have had the good fortune to live in some of the most beautiful places in this very large piece of land. For ten years, the 1990’s, I made as many trips from my … Continue reading →

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John Muir

Posted on April 17, 2014 by Kate Cowie Riley

Born in Dunbar, Scotland (April 21, 1838), John Muir was the third of eight children. Muir’s father was both strictly religious and religiously strict. In 1849 the Muirs moved to the US near Portage, Wisconsin. His father made him work hard … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancestry, Eco-travel, Ecology, Land trust, Scotland, Scottish ancestry, Self drive Scotland tours, Travel, Uncategorized, Women Writers | Tagged , , | Leave a comment