Ceud mìle fàilte…everyone. If I’m not mistaken and please correct me if I’m wrong, I believe that means a hundred thousand welcomes. Before I get to our featured post, I just want to thank everyone for all the wonderful birthday wishes. I had a great day and Mum agreed with me that the celebration should continue through the end of the month. We both feel like celebrating a birthday shouldn’t be limited to just one day. Still wondering why we didn’t start at the beginning of the month, but glad for the 11 days of additional merrymaking and treats.
Wilson: Why, you ask, did I open with a Scottish expression? Well this last weekend, the sheepdog rescue participated at a local Celtic Festival and today’s pics are all from that festival. It was a hot day in Elizabeth, Colorado (approximately 60 miles southeast from our house) but Mum was up for helping out with other volunteers for our first Celtic Festival participation and what a fun one it was. But as we typically do, we are joining those pups from Adventures of the LLB Gang for their weekly blog hop.
Wilson: While I didn’t attend in person, my breed heritage was with everyone in spirit. We had a couple of Old English Sheepdog ambassadors who attracted a steady stream of visitors who stopped by our tent.
The Mum: It was a fun event and while it was hot, we had a nice tented area providing shade which made it seem cooler. When I arrived for my shift, I was greeted by a bag pipe and drum parade. It was such fun to hear and watch them perform. My latent Scottish DNA smiled at their precision and enthusiasm. Young and old all looked like they were having a great time displaying clan banners and marching to the pipes.
Wilson: Bet you’d never seen so many kilts, have you Mum?
The Mum: Nope, sure hadn’t but everyone seemed to enjoy it and everyone was very friendly. One visitor told me this Celtic Festival has been going on for the past 20 years! I could only wonder how I’d missed it? I knew about the big one in Estes Park that will happen in September but had never heard about this one.
Wilson: Are you planning on attending that one since the rescue has signed up to participate?
The Mum: Not sure yet. It’s a bit of a drive and I’m not sure I want you to be left alone all day. We’ll see.
Wilson: I know you spent some time checking out some of the 4-legged attendees while you were there. Just look at this array of Scottish Highland cows.
The Mum: Those cows were huge and the owner told me their meat is renowned for being exceptionally lean (around 90%), quite tender, and very flavorful, often boasting lower fat and cholesterol levels—and higher protein—than many conventional commercial beef breeds. They are a hearty breed as well.
Wilson: What’s with these creatures?
The Mum: You know me…I just love taking photos of critters. It was great fun seeing all these guys at the festival. It was such fun hearing the Llamas making their humming sounds–they’re so cute. I even saw a Scottish Deerhound but that fellow never did get up from his nap and I checked on him a few times. I think he was just a bit overwhelmed since his tent as on the end where all the rescues were located and right next to some noisy St. Bernards. This fella knew just how to deal with the heat. Deerhounds are similarly sized to Greyhounds, but are larger and more heavily boned, with a rough coat. They were bred to hunt deer and are similar to but a bit smaller than Irish Wolfhounds and are a majestic breed.
Wilson: Say didn’t your daughter consider getting one of those guys before settling on Irish Wolfhounds?
The Mum: Yes, I think they did consider them but ended up with the Wolfhound and have raised several Wolfhounds since seeing them at the Estes Park Celtic Festival many years ago.
Wilson: Sounds like quite the day enjoying all things Celtic. Glad it was a fun event, Mum. Also I’m grateful I didn’t have to go. Not sure I’d be all that keen listening to bagpipes and dealing with all the rescue dogs near the tent. But you guys deserve kudos for getting the word out about the sheepdog rescue and for selling a few things to benefit the rescue. You met a lot of people who were interested in the two dogs in foster care so that’s a good thing. All and all, great job, Mum. And what fun animal pics you managed to capture. Well that’s it from us. Stay cool if you can but keep your eyes open for opportunities to check out slices of nature. We hope you have a wonderful weekend. Slán (goodbye).
What a fabulous Celtic festival Monika! So lovely to see the Highland Cows there too and such an adorable Scottish deerhound 😍 Wishing you and sweet Wilson a blessed weekend and much love to you all 🥰❤️🐾 xxx
Many thanks, Xenia. It really was a fun event that I was thrilled to capture slices of Scottish culture. wilson and I hope you and precious Bria have a lovely weekend.
That is a cute cow. Have a nice weekend.
Thank you. They are huge fuzzy creatures that’s for sure. We hope you have a wonderful weekend.
That looks like it was so much fun, love all the animals!
Thanks. It was a fun event. It was so much fun watching the cultural aspects and the animals all made me smile. Here’s hoping you have a wonderful weekend, Lisa.
Being 1/2 Scot, I enjoyed your post, Monika. Celtic festivals are fun for sure. Thanks for sharing.
That makes me very happy. Glad I was able to appeal to the Scot half. 😉 It was a fun event with loads of smiles and good cheer from all we encountered. Here’s to a terrific weekend. Stay cool if it’s possible.
Beautiful and interesting animals, here. I haven’t seen a Scottish Highland cow before. Shaggy little guy. Good luck at the next event if you go. If I lived closer, I’d volunteer to watch Wilson.
Thanks, Dan and what a terrific offer to watch Wilson. He said he was all in. Those highland cows are pretty amazing. And not particularly little. They’re huge and you sure wouldn’t want to be on the wrong end of those horns. That said, their meat is extremely lean and have that melt in your mouth quality. We hope nyou have a pawtastic weekend. Stay cool if you can.
8 years and still going strong! A belated happy birthday to you!
Thanks so much! Yeah, he still acts like a puppy! 😂
What wonderful photos – that looks like a fabulous festival. Reminds me of so many things I remember about our long-ago trip to Scotland. Loved the bagpipes and learning about family tartan designs and the wonderfully welcoming and friendly people. They call those amazing cows “kews” – and to this day that’s what we call the cows around here. LOL Thanks for sharing a wonderful occasion with all of us!
Hugs, Pam
Thanks. It was such a delightful cultural event. I loved watching the various clans wearing their respective tartans. Those cows were so impressive. I’m so glad I went to take it all in. We hope you have a wonderful weekend, Pam.
Wow, you sure had as great time there at the Celtic Festival. Loved seeing all the various pups, and we here pups would be like the deerhound, just sleeping and waiting for the hots to go away!
Petcretary said hooray on seeing the drummers at the parade…she collects military drummers…,has over 300 of them…it’s part of her heritage from way back in the early to mid 1700’s in The Netherlands.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend, stay cool and hydrated.
We loved all the photos and your comments on the festival. Lucy especially liked the deerhound. She thought he would be comfy to cuddle up with and take a nap.
Wilson, you were looking great as usual; I hope you got to make some furry friends out there. I hope you and your family have a good weekend,
Wilson, glad to hear that birthday celebration has been approved through the end of the month. This festival pictured here looks like a great celebration of culture, which of course included supporting a great cause as well. It sounds like those Llamas stole the show for The Mum. But don’t worry, I am sure you make tons of sounds that tickle her more. Have a great weekend!
Lulu: “So many fuzzy and furry things to pet! Our Dada wouldn’t even know where to start! Although he would probably get sidetracked by that orange kilt outfit along the way …”
We have had a few amazing, cool, days but now the extreme heat and humidity are coming back. UGH! Mom says we promote our breed everywhere we go since most have never seen a GBGV and they want to know all about us. Too bad you didn’t get to go with your Mom but it sounds like you are more of a stay at home type. We love being out and about. Have a good weekend!
I’m with Wilson. Birthdays should last all month long 🙂
Wonderful critter shots! My cousin has two Irish Wolfhounds. Beautiful beasties. So the Scottish have their version with the Deerhounds! Love it. 🙂
Wilson doesn’t do these shindigs, eh? Too noisy, methinks?
Have a marvellous weekend!
What a fun event. I’m glad you shared pictures.
That sounds a super event….despite the heat.
ooh what a wonderful event… we wish we could be there with you… happy furryday and a happy weekend
It was such fun to see Celtic culture. And the animals were a bonus. Have a wagnificant weekend!
I’m glad you had a grand Birthday day Wilson and let the celebrations continue! Those were all fun critters to see. Have a fabulous weekend!!!
Thanks, Terry. It was a terrific event and loads of fun were the norm. The Highland critters were a bonus. Enjoy a pawtastic weekend.
Bagpipes, highland cows…alpacas and puppies?? Sounds like the perfect day!!
It really was. It was quite the event and the wide variety of animals (both two and four legged 😂) made it quite wonderful. Have a marvelous weekend!
All the critter photos are a delight. Those people wearing Scottish garb had to be very warm!!
I think the women had it worse than the guys with their full length dresses. At least the guys could ‘air out’ their legs. No one complained about the heat (other than yours truly 🤣) probably because they were all enjoying the festival. Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.
Yeah those big dresses – way too warm!
Great animal pics. That alone was worth the trip!
Exactly! I love it when I encounter animals and these were all so exquisite and sweet. I haver a love affair with Llamas. They make this wonderful humming sound that just tickles me. Here’s hoping you have a fantastic weekend!
Loved the critter pics, looks like it was a fun event despite the heat. Good getting the word out about the Rescue, too! Have a splendid weekend!
Thanks, Eliza. I thought so too. We met such nice people, it’s always good to promote the rescue. You never know who’s going to be your next foster, adopter or volunteer. 🤞🏼 Enjoy a lovely weekend.