Lavender Lace Celtic

Monday, 19 March 2012

This day started like any other.

It began raining in the evening. We teased Amanda about getting home from George & Vanessa’s house next door just before it began. We all sat down in mine and George’s room to watch television. The program kept getting interrupted by thunderstorm warnings and tornado watches. The electricity went off. It came back on. Hail and a hard rain came down on our metal roof.

Suddenly it stopped.

Then we heard the roar. “Get to the closet!” I yelled. The girls and I headed there. I turned and saw George heading toward the kitchen. “Get your ass over here!” I screamed. Surprisingly, he trotted back toward us. Just as he reached us, something hit the side of the house and buckled the roof and top of the wall. “GET DOWN!” We held to each other and our dog, Oso, squeezed between us all.

I was lifted up. I flopped like a shaken dog’s toy. The tornado was roaring and screaming at the same time – like a jet engine. I screamed back. Something big and very heavy hit my left side. I thought, “This is what it feels like to die in a tornado.” But, strangely, that thought did not scare me. Then I hit the ground. I reached out my fingers and found the back of Kelsey’s jeans. I realized I was under a large tree limb and I could see stars. I was alive! The house was gone. Completely. I began calling for George, Kelsey and Amanda. Oso came up and began licking me. Everyone answered. I tried to get up. Kelsey and I pushed the tree limb off and thought my leg was broken. It was raining on us. We managed to get up and go to the motor home. Why is that step so low? Amanda was already inside on the couch. Kelsey told her to move to the bed as she helped me up the step. “Someone needs to go check on George & Vanessa! Call 9-1-1.”

It all happened so quickly. The tornado had tortured us for about 20 seconds and then left. It left a clean concrete slab, a pile of broken furniture and a grateful family behind.

The local volunteer fire department came. We know one of the guys, Junior. He sits behind me while they assess our injuries. I see blood on the couch. It’s not mine. “Amanda! Are you hurt?” “Yes,” she answers, “I cut my butt”. Come out here. The back of her pajama pants are torn and there’s a lovely gash at the top of the back of her thigh. I begin growing faint. Losing consciousness. Breathe deep.

The ambulance shows up. They put those collars on Amanda and I and load us onto back boards for the trip to the hospital. George is going to ride in the front seat. He insists he’s okay.

We get to the hospital and we are inspected. The nurse cuts my clothes off and gets me a gown. I am filthy. Coated with sand and my hair … it’s gross. In fact, it’s full of feathers? I begin picking feathers and grass and twigs out of my hair. I find out later that one of the ducks from our pond had bashed into the back of my head. I keep trying to brush the sand off my face. Many x-rays and a CT scan later, I was being stitched and stapled all over my left side and had no broken bones. Amanda receives 16 staples on her posterior. I am crying. We had no homeowners insurance. When we talked to State Farm, they had told us the home had to be 90% complete before they would insure it. Well, it wasn’t. Also, George has Medicare and Amanda has Medicaid, but I am uninsured. We are going to be homeless and in debt for a long time. We will have to find an apartment to live in.

George is wheeled into my room in a wheelchair. Both his ankles and his head are hurting. X-rays show no breaks on any of us.

Georgie and Danny show up. Georgie tells about losing the front half of his house and grabbing Vanessa’s arm as she goes flying in the direction of the tornado. He pulled her behind their couch and laid on top of her. The dog, Pup-Pup, jumped on top of them. We are amazed we are still alive.

Danny tells us that their motorcycle club and the news crews are already at the house. In fact, while Amanda and I were being loaded in the ambulance for the ride to the hospital, they had been showing up.

We finally leave the hospital at about 5 in the morning. The drive home seems to take an eternity. We’re so tired, we see the pile of rubble, but head straight to the RV for some sleep. Kelsey and Oso are sleeping over at Danny and Roberta’s.

The next morning, we get up. I hurt so badly that I just hobble over to my former doorway and sit on the slab. A truck drives into the driveway and a couple roll down the window. “We’re going to McDonalds. How many are you?” “Four,” I answer, “Thank you so much!” It’s the first I have thought of food. I see the hutch of my china cabinet impaled on a piece of the steel framing from our house. Just then, Kelsey and Oso come walking up. She and I hug and begin crying. “We are so blessed!” This is the first time of numerous times we will repeat that phrase over the next few days.

People begin showing up with jugs of water, canned goods, clothing, ice, two teenaged girls showed up with a bag of shoes. Chainsaws are roaring. I’m on the telephone with my parents and our automobile insurance company. All four of our vehicles had sustained damage. Raul and Cecilia Moralez, who live a half-mile down the street and don’t know us from Adam, come and offer us the use of their guest house! Two of our grandsons and the father of one shows up to help. They bring a suitcase loaded with toiletries from their mom!

We find out that two metal companies have stepped up … one to donate the metal for our walls, and another sold us the metal for our roof for a penny! I hear that electricians are coming and a rumor of kitchen cabinets.

Cleanup is constant. Amanda and I can be of no assistance because of our injuries and feel useless. I lost my wedding ring and engagement ring along with everything else in the storm. Glass and mirror shards are everywhere.

Thursday, George and Kelsey are back working at the property early. Our cars are picked up and a rental car is delivered. Kelsey comes back to get me and when we drive up, George asks me if I would marry him again. When I answer, “Of course!”, he says, “Then I guess you can have this,” and puts my wedding ring on my finger! Again, I’m in tears! That afternoon, the Southern Baptist Texas Conference shows up with a huge crew and they work like fiends! An enormous amount of stuff is burning and metal is being separated for recycling. Jewelry, both private and from my business, is being found constantly. Late that day, someone finds my engagement ring!

Electricians work all day Friday and Saturday and get new meters and boxes installed along with floodlights. Wiring is being run underground. As someone is using the trencher across Danny’s field he runs into a nest of killer bees and I find out why I’ve seen the horse suddenly begin running when she was quietly grazing just a moment before! The trench remains unfinished. On Saturday, storage pods were delivered and we began putting our belongings into one.

We move the RV to the pole and plug it in. Now our guards at night will have air conditioning! We had to have guards because there were a few looters coming in. In fact, a trailer-load of our new roofing material has been stolen.

Sunday was declared a day of rest. But people showed up anyway. The rest of our belongings filled up the pod. Everything is stained, muddy and some may be trashed, but we will sort though it later.

UPDATE: May 2012 – We are still in Raul and Cecilia’s guest house. We suddenly realize that my husband, George, is acting like he has had a stroke. We rush him to the VA hospital to discover that he has a hematoma as the result of the bump in his head suffered during the tornado. Neurosurgery to drain the blood is necessary. He is recovering now.

We hope to have the windows in soon. When Georgie’s house repairs were finished, our volunteer help stopped. We try to get a little done every day. We cannot work long, the days get very hot very early! We are also paying as we go … building TWO houses in six months is not my idea of fun.

I have just been accepted at an event here in my new state. The Austin Celtic Festival will happen the beginning of November. I sure hope to be able to provide enough product. I’ve also applied to a festival that happens the end of September and am still waiting to hear whether I’ve been accepted or not. If you live in Texas, be sure and check my event calendar on my website. I list all events I am aware of, whether Lavender Lace Celtic will be there or not.

Dearest Friends,

Lavender Lace Celtic has been traveling the southeast since 2007, having fun meeting new people, making friends, sharing our love for the Celtic heritage and, just maybe, making a little money to keep me in my jewelry-making habit! We have loved seeing return customers and our many vendor buddies! Camping and working hard, weathering storms, floods, product loss and freezing or burning temperatures and economic woes. We have worked hard to establish a reputation of quality, honesty, cheerfulness, and punctuality. It has been a ride we would not trade for the world. If you are reading this note right now, we want to reach out and give you a {{GREAT BIG HUG}}!

Reading the paragraph above sounds like we are quitting … rest assured WE ARE NOT QUITTING! We ARE, however, leaving the southeast.

Sabrina’s husband (Kelsey’s dad), George, is retiring. We own land in San Antonio and are finishing up our new home there. We will be moving in November.

Lavender Lace will be opening a tiny sticks-and-bricks store in their new area and they will continue to do Scottish Games and Renaissance Fairs in their new state. Rest assured, Lavender Lace Celtic will always remain as close to you as your web browser! Our commitment to you and our reputation will never waver.

During this time of our transition, we will strive to get orders out to you as soon as possible. Christmas delivery will be guaranteed on orders received before 10 December.

We love you all and will miss you with all our hearts!

Sabrina & Kelsey

Lavender Lace

P.O. Box 2158

Lytle, Texas 78052

http://www.lavenderlaceceltic.com

Greetings from Irmo, South Carolina!

Like schoolchildren, Lavender Lace gets a couple of months break in the summertime! Even Scots aren’t crazy enough to hold games here in the Southeast in July or August … seriously! The heat came early and with a vengeance this year. I cannot even imagine what it will be like in August – notoriously the hottest month. I pray daily for rain and the fleeting relief it brings from the blazing temps.

I will be using this time to design and create new items for my customers. Ideas are, even now, bouncing around in my head! I have had some folks contact me with specific requests that I need to fill, as well. I need to get these ideas on paper and onto the workbench!

But first … It is time to revamp my workspace! It has become a repository for all the where-shall-I-put-this stuff that finds its way into our lives. Slowly, my work area has shrunk as this stuff has crowded its way across the room. I anticipate this taking some time and definitely some energy! As I expand my knowledge and training in the jewelry business, I need more and more storage and workspace.

I plan to set up a small in-house “store” with some store displays one of my stepdaughters was kind enough to supply me with. This would be a “By Appointment Only” store. I prepare, also, to set up some small displays in salons and spas in the area.

Watch for further news on those.

These smaller displays feature mostly non-Celtic jewelry, in order to appeal to a wider audience. Sales are, after all, required to feed my jewelry-making habit and perpetuate my business!

In the immortal words of those Bartles and James guys, “We thank you for your support!”

I hope to have a presence at the Carolina Renaissance Festival this year! I am keeping my fingers (and toes!) crossed it works out! You will be the first to know!

I am currently searching for a “for a paycheck” job. I thought I had found the perfect one, but too much experience and not enough degree separated me from that dream. Now, I am looking at maybe teaching some classes and going to work for a temporary agency.

Our last three Scottish games for this year:

Appalachian Celtic Festival and Highland Games – September 3& 4 in Ringgold, Georgia

Charleston Highland Games – September 17 in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina

Scotland County Highland Games – October 1 in Laurinburg, North Carolina

If you send me your address in an email either at lavenderlace1@gmail.com or private message me on our Facebook page, I will send you a postcard with a discount offer you can use at our booth or online!

Well, that’s it for now … off to make more jewelry!

Slainte!

Sabrina Robertson (and Kelsey too!)

Father’s Day is upon us! Is Dad a knife collector? Swords capture his fancy? You have got to visit our website at www.lavenderlaceceltic.com and see the huge collection of Sgian Dubh, swords, knives, and other great items. You need to get your Scots on with a knife for your stocking!

Did I tell you about Savannah? Long day! We left Irmo in the wee hours and drove down to Savannah for the day, then drove back that night. Slept all the next day! Ha! We had a GREAT helper, thank goodness! Who made our packing go SO much faster and let us get on the road that much sooner. Eric was introduced to Haggis and Grits, which he enjoyed but would have enjoyed more had they been hot! The Bethesda Boys Home – enough cannot be said about how beautiful it is there! If you get a chance, you really need to mark your calendar to go next year the first Saturday in May.

Lavender Lace went this year for the first time to the Smoky Mountain Highland Games in Maryville, Tennessee. Now, these games were just moved from Gatlinburg where they had been for the last 30 years! The crowds were triple what they had been in Gatlinburg, is what they tell us! The site at Maryville College was perfect for these games! We spent the weekend in a gorgeous mountain cabin owned by a dear friends’ family and we absolutely cannot thank them enough. John and Eric were both a big help to us and it’s amazing how much faster packing goes with many hands!

June!

The year is halfway over! Graduations! Weddings! The looming summer heat! Well, it all can’t be great.

June finds Lavender Lace Celtic at only two games – and both the same weekend! Clover, South Carolina on the 11th will find Marji at the stadium there representing Lavender Lace! Please go by and say hi to Marji! She will have a tent this year and, hopefully, won’t get sunburned like she did last year.

Kelsey and I will be the 11th and 12th in Blairsville, Georgia for the Highland games there. Beautiful setting! We hope we do well here, as well!

The remainder of June, July and August will find us twiddling our thumbs, and (hopefully) making product. We are still a very hand-to-mouth company. We make money at an event, we can afford to purchase materials to make more product for sale at an event so we can afford to purchase materials … well, you get the idea. Actually, we have two more events to pay vendor fees for this year yet.

I encourage you all to go and look at what we have available on our website. We would love to expand our offerings there, but cannot afford the higher hosting fees associated with a larger online store! Yet ANOTHER Catch-22! www.lavenderlaceceltic.com

I’ll write again in August and let you know what will be coming up in September! You can do a little “reading ahead” and check out our calendar on the website!

Off to pack the RV!

Sabrina & Kelsey

Tartan Day South on April 2nd was a HUGE SUCCESS for this brand-new event! An amazing number of people came out and spent the day eating Scottish treats, tracing their Scottish roots, and cheering some large men in “skirts” tossing heavy things! For many of those responding to my extremely informal poll, this was their very first Scottish festival and they were impressed! Donovan and his crew did an excellent job and the Historic Columbia Speedway was an excellent location! My one request for next year is to keep the winds below 20mph! We were experiencing gusts of 35mph! Lavender Lace had two tables full of product blow over! After a long day of catching and replacing tipped-over displays, the tables were just it. We decided to pack it in and leave a bit early. Many vendors were in the same situation. We are so sorry to have had to do that and heard from some late-arriving friends that they missed us! Be sure and mark your calendar to attend Tartan Day South the first Saturday in April next year! Watch www.tartandaysouth.com for updates.

We have been doing so well so far this year, that we are going to have to work extra hard to be caught up in time for Rural Hill Scottish Festival and Loch Norman Highland Games (okay, they are just going to have to shorten that name!) the weekend of April 16 and 17. This will be our second year vending at RSHF&LNHG (dang!) but I’ve lost track of how many times we went as “attendees” before we began this business and got in there as vendors. This was very well attended last year and we look forward to it being even better this year. This is just a fun time and the “Calling of the Clans” on Friday night is something to be experienced (bring a jacket)! Oh, and if you are campers, that’s a whole other party! Check it out: http://www.ruralhillscottishfestivals.net

Three weeks after Rural Hill (etc.) you will find us in Savannah for the Scottish Games there on May 7. The event crew put on a great show there at the historic Bethesda Home for Boys. Picturesque oak trees and Spanish moss cover the grounds of this park-like setting. Maybe you can find a dish of Haggis and Grits! http://www.savannahscottishgames.com/Welcome.html for more information on this event.

Keeping up the pattern of events for us this spring, May 21 & 22 will find Lavender Lace Celtic in Maryville, Tennessee, for the Smoky Mountains Highland Games (formerly Gatlinburg Scottish Festival and Games). http://www.gsfg.org/ We are so grateful for all our friends and customers and want to especially thank some special friends for offering us the use of their mountain cabin for that weekend! We are SO grateful!

June 11th is that day we perform some Lavender Lace Celtic magic and clone ourselves! Really, a good friend of ours, Marji, will be manning the Lavender Lace table at the Clover Scottish Games at the Clover Memorial Stadium. www.cloverscottishgames.com Go by and say hi to Marji and make sure she is keeping up her sunscreen application!

While Marji is hard at work in Clover, Kelsey and I will be in Blairsville, Georgia on the 11th and 12th. www.blairsvillescottishfestival.org This is just a gorgeous location! Meeks Park is naturally beautiful and they are making lovely enhancements every year. This is our last show until September and we enjoy it so much there! We camp just up the mountain at Trackrock and the scenery there is lovely too.

Well, that is all for now. I’m off to make jewelry and pack up the RV … Kelsey and I will see you at the event near you!

Sabrina Robertson

Lavender Lace Celtic

March … already. We are in Florida, enjoying great weather and super friends! Our first weekend, at the Pensacola Renaissance Fair, was wonderful! We arrived the Thursday before, threw our stuff down, tent up, and set up camp across the fairgrounds. A brief shower and then the weather cleared … we had some good winds as a front moved through, but nothing we couldn’t handle. Saw some old friends at the Fair (Hi, Pixie!) and made some new ones! We also made the decision to increase the size of our shop for next and subsequent years.

Because of the date change, Sabrina celebrated her birthday during the Fair this year! Celebrated by having a burger at What-a-burger with George and Amanda! There are no What-a-burgers in South Carolina. Thank you, everyone, for the birthday wishes!!! (((HUGS))) to you all!

Lavender Lace is excited about the fair eventually moving out to Robertsdale, Alabama (about 25 miles from where it is now). We went out there to check out the progress on the new place and discuss our building plans with the owners, but THAT didn’t pan out. We are very disappointed we were unable to connect with the Pensacola Ren Fair people. We had spent a great deal of time on our store plan! There are some friendly neighbors out there, though! Sabrina was traveling alone in her motor home and pulling a trailer. Several of the roads around the new site are dead ends. Not a good combination. Adventure on the road! Combine that with the inability to connect with the people we went through all that to see, and, well, let’s just say a cup of coffee and breakfast at Cracker Barrel is a good way to chillax and regroup!

The winds died down while Sabrina was “chillaxing”, and the remainder of that leg of the journey was uneventful.

A BIG part of the reason we want to drive down for the Pensacola Ren Fair every year is that Sabrina’s parents live in Fort Walton Beach and it is an opportunity to combine pleasurable business and pure pleasure! Because Robertsdale did not work out as planned, a lot more time than was originally planned is being spent here. Kelsey caught up with us and is currently enjoying her position as Granddaughter. Sabrina hopes to catch up with some old buddies while in town.

We made camping reservations in Panama City and will be leaving Fort Walton Beach on Monday. Four days on the beach! Cannot wait! Then we move to Grace Presbyterian Church for the Panama City Highland Games on Saturday, March 12. We are praying for good weather and big crowds!

Unfortunately, after we leave Panama City, it will be a quick visit with Sabrina’s sister, Brenda, because of work and volunteer commitments back home.

As you look at our calendar at http://www.localendar.com/public/lavenderlace1 you see that our next event is the first weekend in April. Go to www.tartandaysouth.com for event schedules and other information on the First Annual Tartan Day South, being held in Columbia, South Carolina. Originally, there was to be another event the same weekend, but the museum has decided to cancel that for this year.

Well, the RV is packed and we are ON THE ROAD!

Slainte!

Sabrina & Kelsey

Lavender Lace Celtic

Hello everyone!

A long, strange winter?  Is it me, or has there been an awful lot of snow this year?  I know we here in Columbia have had 3 significant snowfalls this year, when we are usually lucky to get 1 small one, if that, each year.  It was freezing in my workroom and I confess, I did not work out there as much as I should have!  Now, I am playing catch up to get ready for the new season coming up fast!  Here's a quick overview of the current status of our upcoming year:

Lavender Lace begins our new season the last weekend in February (my birthday!). My husband, younger daughter, Amanda, and I will be going to Pensacola, Florida, for a Renaissance Faire. They have to leave me after the weekend to return home. I’ll be alone for a week or so, then Kelsey’s spring break begins and she will join me in Florida. We visit her grandparents for a few days, go camping on Panama City beach and then have a Scottish Festival there in Panama City on March 12 before heading back home.

Tartan Day is going to be different this year. Still the first weekend in April, but it will be at the Columbia Raceway. The museum will be the site for some aspects, but not all. I’m not sure of the details, but I’ll post the information on my website as I learn more.

The middle of April (15-17) we will be in North Carolina at the Rural Hill Highland Games.  Love this one!

May 7th is the Savannah Highland Games -- such a beautiful location!  Hoping to get some "Haggis and Grits" again this year!  YUM!

May 21st will find us at Marysville College near Gatlinburg, Tennessee. I hope my sister, Brenda, can join us for that weekend!  This will be our first year here, so wish us luck!

In June, I have two games the weekend of the 11th. A friend of mine and her daughter take part of my inventory to Clover, SC, for the Scottish Games there, while Kelsey and I travel to Blairsville, Georgia, for a weekend event there.  The Blairsville Games are held at one of the loveliest locations -- we just love it there!

We have July and August off to rest and restock inventory! Last year, we went to Charlotte for an Irish Festival in August – we had lots of fun and made a little money but it was so unbelievably hot we just cannot go back.  It took the better part of a week to get my body thermostat back to normal!

Lavender Lace was just invited to attend a games in Ringgold in north Georgia, the "Appalachian Celtic Festival and Highland Games" on Labor Day weekend -- we're going to check that out this year!

The Charleston Highland Games at Boone Hall Plantation in Mt. Pleasant are on September 17th.  Huge attendance and another great location!  I wish they would make this a two-day event!

October 1st is Scotland County Highland Games in Laurenburg, North Carolina.  We are so happy to be included in this game!  They are now limiting the vendor field and we so are honored to be included in that esteemed group!

October 22nd we will be at Berkeley Park in Hendersonville, North Carolina, for the Foothills Highland Games.  This is a new location and we hope it works out for them and us!

The last show of the season is a big craft show here in Columbia at Jamil Temple the Saturday and Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend.

You already know I list all the games Lavender Lace will be attending on the Calendar link on our website.  You may not be aware, however, that I also list a lot of events that Lavender Lace does NOT attend!  It is a good resource to find those games that you may not be aware are happening nearby.  If you click a game you are interested in, there is website information provided for the game in the popup!

Another announcement:  We now welcome Lord Discover to the realm of Lady Visa and Master Card!

Well, back to my workroom!  We'll see you at the games!

Slainte! (your health)

Sabrina & Kelsey

Lavender Lace Celtic - Purveyors of Celtic Curiosities

The Robertson Family - Proprietress'

http://www.lavenderlaceceltic.com

Facebook: Lavender Lace Celtic

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P.O. Box 386, Irmo, SC 29063

Hey, everyone! Ceud Mile Failte! (a hundred-thousand welcomes!),

I think I can go a few months without seeing turkey now. How about you? Whew! Great food! Great family! Great times!

What a finale to 2010! When we last wrote you, Lavender Lace was looking forward to the last few games of the year. The majority of these last remaining events have been unbelievable!

The second annual Scotland County Highland Games in Laurinburg, North Carolina were absolutely phenomenal! They had WAY over 7.000 in attendance and I believe that every one of those people made a purchase in our tent! Ha! The weather was great, the venue was terrific, and everything went very smoothly for the organizers. Lavender Lace had an unbelievable amount of work to do before the remainder of our events. We continue to hear from many of you and so enjoy your kind words and wishes.

The Foothills Highland Games in Hendersonville, North Carolina, went off (almost) without a hitch. Our tent blew over, but sustained minimal damage and repairs are underway! Windy ... cold ... did I say windy? The typical Foothills games! I understand snow was, like, 20 miles away, but didn’t make it to us! Whew!

We are doing a craft show here in Columbia. Jamil Temple, to be exact. BJ, of Fan-Glasstic, is our tent-mate and Alan, of Anvil Artistry, is to be our neighbor for the day! Saturday, November 27 from 9am to 5pm and Sunday, November 28 from 1pm to 5pm.

***CONTEST*** ***CONTEST*** ***CONTEST***

Become a Fan of Lavender Lace on Facebook! Spread the word to your friends! When we get to 500 fans, we will give away a gift card to one lucky fan! http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=301600634105

Our 2011 season will begin in March. The year will start with two consecutive weekends in Florida. We have family in the area, so we will be combining business with pleasure. We will begin with Pensacola for a two-day Renaissance Faire, a “private showing” for the residents of Theresa Village during our break, and then a trip down to Panama City before heading to Montgomery, Alabama and then back home. We have a nice break to make LOTS of jewelry for next year!

We will be offering some new items next year and hope that you will come see what we have dreamed up now! We will write again in March!

Slainte! (your health!)

Sabrina Robertson Camacho

Lavender Lace Celtic

http://www.lavenderlaceceltic.com

Hey everyone! Failte! (welcome!)

Well, on the calendar, Fall begins September 23rd. But all y’all Southerners know that Fall REALLY doesn’t begin until the end of October … Halloween … right? Whew! This summer is a scorcher! I, for one, am glad it will soon be over!

Okay, the Charlotte Irish SUMMER Fest … can you say HOT? Can you say SUNBURN? Out on a parking lot with NO relief from the heat or any shade! Finally, about 4:00 or so, the sun slipped behind a tall apartment building and we got some very welcome shade. The festival was scheduled to last until 10:00pm, and at 9:00pm, exactly, the wind and rain came! Once we had our product secured, we took our time packing! That rain felt SOOOOO good! We were drenched to the skin by the time we got into the RV. Slept like the dead, we did!

The Charleston Highland Games on the 18th were spectacular! Another hot, muggy day in South Carolina – but, oh, a great time was had by all! Vendors in our area were very close ... so we had to change our arrangement a bit. It was just starting to sprinkle as we packed up. We were more worried about the thunder. We decided to stay an extra night to avoid weather on the road.

October 2nd will find us at the Scotland County Highland Games in Laurinburg, North Carolina. This will be their second year and they have promised not to be caught off guard by the huge crowds again! WOW! What a great time we had last year! We are really looking forward to this one. We are stocking up on items we have not had all year – so come by and see what is new!

For those of you going to the games at Stone Mountain, Georgia in October, be sure and ask the organizers (and anyone else who will listen) where Lavender Lace is! We would love to be in the games there next year! While we are “talking up” Lavender Lace, put in a word for us with the Northeast Florida Scottish Games & Festival in February, too!

Make plans now for November 6th and the Foothills Highland Games in Hendersonville, North Carolina. That is the last highland games of the year here in The South! We always have a great time there.

Lavender Lace will be at the Jamil Temple here in Columbia on November 27 & 28 (I-26, Exit 106A). It is a Christmas craft show and the absolute last personal appearance by Lavender Lace for the year!

*** Announcements ***

Our catalog is now a downloadable .pdf file on our website! YAY! You can print it out for free and peruse it at your leisure. The link is located on the home page about halfway down.

Have you got your special Lavender Lace Rewards Program card yet? Nine purchases will get you a big 25% off your tenth! Please see me to get one of these special cards. Online or catalog purchasers will get a card and a sticker to stick on with each purchase! ***

If you are a Highland games committee member, or know of an event that I do not mention here, please let me know and I will get the word out to my subscribers.

Well, I am off to pack the RV for The Road!

Slainte! (your health)

Sabrina

Hey everyone! Failte! (welcome!)

The summer has zipped by! The kids are going back to school, and though the heat hangs on, we are in anticipation of that first cool evening signaling the return of fall!

This Saturday (August 14th) will find Kelsey and me in Charlotte, North Carolina for the Charlotte Summer Irish Festival. I know, I know, IRISH?!?! But, Celtic is Celtic. There will be no games, but lots of music and dancing! Beer drinkin’ too, I am thinkin’. If you are in the Charlotte area, make your way to the city and you will find us at the corner of 3rd and South Tryon Street in Uptown Charlotte.

Go ahead and mark your calendars now for the 2010 Charleston Scottish Games on Saturday, September 18th at Boone Hall Plantation in Mt. Pleasant, SC. We will be camped out at the nearby KOA for the weekend praying for good weather and cooler temperatures!

I will go ahead and make quick mention of the Scotland County Highland Games in Laurinburg, North Carolina now because it is Saturday, October 2nd. This will be their second year and they have promised not to be caught off guard by the huge crowds again! WOW! What a great time we had! We are really looking forward to this one again this year.

*** Announcements ***

Our calendar is now a downloadable .pdf file on our website! YAY! You can print it out for free and peruse it at your leisure. The link is located on the home page about halfway down.

Have you got your special Lavender Lace Rewards Program card yet? Nine purchases will get you a big 25% off your tenth! Please see me to get one of these special cards. Online or catalog purchasers will get a card and a sticker to stick on with each purchase! ***

If you are a Highland games committee member, or know of an event that I do not mention here, please let me know and I will get the word out to my subscribers.

Well, I am off to pack the RV for The Road!

Slainte! (your health)

Sabrina