Top O' The
Morning To All,
Ce'ad Mi'le Fa'ilte
100,000 Welcomes
Happy October, can you believe it… Where did the summer go? We are having some nice weather here still
in Western WA, not sure what means for this winter, so get your holiday orders
in now while we have plenty of stock and the weather is good!
We have
some great new gifts and some old tried and true ones. Why not buy a Personalized
item or a Celtic pendant. Or you can check out our Jewelry pages
to discover all the wonderful items we have available.
We want to offer this great Shopping Deal to you from today until
Halloween. $5.00 off your order now at the Celtic Attic, just enter code
5off in the coupon field at checkout. Plus get a candy bag & a
wee GIFT FREE with each and every order.
Here is the
deal of the month at the Celtic Attic. The Leprechaun's Pot of Gold is
now available for FREE in PDF format. That's right, FREE. We
have decided to give you this gift so that you might be inspired to start your
own business or just read about how we started ours! Just click on the
link below for more information and then email kc@celticattic.com to get your free copy.
Irish Wit & Whimsy
SLAINTE!
Good health!
(Pronounced Shlan-tah)
CEAD MILE FAILTE!
One hundred thousand blessings! (Pronounced
Kade-mee-lah-fall-cha)
Bits & Pieces of my Celtic Heart
As a kid I remember my grandfather calling to my mother to
get on the piano and start playing his favorite songs… It would always begin
with “in the garden” and end with “O Danny Boy”… She would play, he would hum,
then break out his guitar and they would both sing. Then they would start all over again and drag me and my grandmum
into the action. Pretty soon the whole
house was alive with the sound of Piano, Guitars and singing…
Celtic Candy Quotes
“I have a dream”
and it came to pass.
Follow your heart
as dreams may not last.
And if they do
they slip away so fast.
So hold the dream
and follow your heart.
A dream will come true
if you believe it to!
Kristin Olsen
Tasty Foods & More
Christmas
Punch a la Shirley
1 can
orange juice 1 quart
1 can
pineapple juice 1 quart
1 can
apricot nectar 1 ping
1-quart
rye or bourbon
Combine
above, let set in refrigerator. When
ready to use add 1-quart club soda and ice.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Tips N
Hints - Songs from the Old Country
Irish Recipes
Irish Travel
Scottish Recipes
Scottish Travel
Welsh Recipes
Cornwall Recipes
Cornwall Myths & History
Celtic History & Myth
Celtic Attic Free Giveaway
Removal Policy & KC's Notes
Advertising
TIPS N HINTS: Songs from the Old Country
WHISKEY ON A SUNDAY
COME DAY, GO DAY
(Glyn Hughes)
Come day, go day
Wish in my heart it were Sunday
Drinking buttermilk thru the week
Whiskey on a Sunday
He sits in the corner of old beggar's bush
On top of an old packing crate
he has three wooden dolls that can dance and can sing
And he croons with a smile on his face
His tired old hands tug away at the strings
And the puppets dance up and down
A far better show than you ever would see
In the fanciest theatre in town
And sad to relate that old Seth Davy died
In 1904
The three wooden doll in the dustbin were laid
His song will be heard nevermore
But some stormy night when you're passing that way
And the wind's blowing up from the sea
You'll still hear the song of old Seth Davy
As he croons to his dancing dolls three
Recorded by Irish Rovers
IRISH RECIPES:
Drop by the Celtic Attic's Irish Food section:
http://www.celticattic.com/treasures/irish_food.htm
Check our New Irish Kitchen Section:
http://www.celticattic.com/treasures/irish_kitchen.htm
Irish Chicken-Leek Pie
10-12 inch pie pastry
1 Chicken, about 4 lb*
4 1 inch-thick Slices ham steak
4 large leeks, cleaned/chopped
1 large onion, chopped
Salt and pepper
1/2 tsp Ground mace or nutmeg
2 cups Chicken stock
1 cup heavy cream
*Jointed, chopped, skinned and de-boned and cooked with salt, garlic, sage,
1 stalk chopped celery, and 1 chopped onion.
In a deep 1 - 1 1/2 quart dish, place layers of the chicken, the ham, leeks
and onion or shallot, adding the mace, nutmeg and seasoning, then repeating
the layers until the dish is full. Add the stock, and then dampen the edges of
the dish before rolling out the pastry to the required size. Place the
pastry over the pie and press the edges down well. Crimp them with a fork.
Make a small hole in the center. Roll out the scraps of pastry and form a
leaf or rosette for the top. Place this very lightly over the small hole.
Brush the pastry with milk, and bake at moderate heat, 350F, for 25-30
minutes. Cover the pastry with damp greaseproof paper when partially cooked
if the top seems to be getting too brown. Gently heat the cream. When pie is
cooked, remove from oven. Carefully lift off the rosette and pour the cream
in through the hole. Put back the rosette and serve. (This pie forms a
delicious soft jelly when cold.)
IRISH TRAVEL:
Name: Killarney National Park
Location:
Ireland
Date
Established: 1932
Size: 41
square miles (106 square kilometers)
Did You
Know?
•
Ireland's Top Peaks Killarney National Park is home to Ireland’s tallest mountain
range, the irresistibly named McGillycuddy’s Reeks. The peaks top out at over
3,280 feet (1,000 meters).
• Lake
Land Killarney is famed for its beautiful lakes, which cover about a quarter of
the entire park. From their shores rise mountain slopes, cloaked by notable
forests like Tomies Wood. One of Europe’s only remaining pure yew woods can be
found across 60 acres (25 hectares) of the Muckross Peninsula. Together these
trees make up some of Ireland’s largest remaining stands of old forest.
• Native
Deer Red deer have lived in Ireland since the last ice age and now survive only
within the refuge of the park. Local waters are home to salmon and trout, and
water-loving birds like cormorants thrive in the park.
• Dinis
Island Dinis Island is home to Dinis Cottage, a historic lodge and charming
tearoom. Walkers and cyclists can reach Dinis by crossing the Muckross
Peninsula or meandering along the lakeshore some 3.7 miles (6 kilometers) from
Killarney Town. Boats also dock here and return to the boathouse near Muckross
House.
• Mansion
and Farms Muckross House and Gardens is a major cultural attraction within the
park. The 19th-century mansion was once owned by a member of the Guinness
family and has hosted notable guests, including Queen Victoria. Muckross
Traditional Farms, near the house, allows visitors to explore working farms and
the traditional way of life as enjoyed in these parts in the 1930s. The farms
are closed from November to March.
• Ancient
Apparition Ross Castle, on the shores of Killarney’s lower lake, was
constructed in the 15th century by O'Donoghue Mór. Legend says Mór rests still
under Lough Leane, but rises once every seven years on the morning of May 1 to
circle the lake on a white horse.
• Gap of
Dunloe Those with time and a thirst for adventure may attempt the Gap of Dunloe
trip. This trek begins on a boat (visitors can bring bikes aboard), which
leaves from Ross Castle and crosses Lower and Middle Lakes on its way to Upper
Lake and Lord Brandon’s Cottage. Seven and a half miles (12 kilometers) on, by
cycle, foot, or pony and trap, lies the Gap of Dunloe—a U-shaped example of
glacial breach carved by ice more than 1,640 feet (500 meters) thick.
• Annals
of Innisfallen Innisfallen Island, visible from Ross Castle and reachable by
tour boat, is an ancient center of monastic study where King Brian Boru is said
to have studied. It was here that a treasured record of early Irish history,
the Annals of Innisfallen, was penned between the 11th and 13th centuries.
How to Get
There
Killarney,
an Irish tourist mecca, is on the park’s northeast border, and walkers can
enter opposite St. Mary’s Cathedral. Those arriving by car or bus may use
entrances on the N71 auto road. Many visitors rent a bike in Killarney Town and
take to the network of paths. Horse-drawn jaunting cars can also be hired in
Killarney Town or in Muckross.
When to
Visit
The
spectacular gardens of Muckross House, with their treasured rhododendrons, peak
between April and July.
How to
Visit
Lakes
cover about a quarter of the park’s area and are the source of much of its
beauty, so consider getting out on the water. Boat and covered waterbus trips
can be taken from Ross Castle and Dundag in Muckross with stops at notable
spots, including Innisfallen Island.
SCOTTISH RECIPES:
SCOTCH COLLOPS
Thin veal slices
1 tbs. butter
1 c. stock
peel of 1/2 lemon, grated
pinch of mace
3 tbs. wine
beurre manié (nut of butter rolled in flour)
6 pickled oysters or 6 pickled mushrooms
1 egg yolk
1 tbs. cream
salt to taste
pinch of nutmeg
Pound veal slices well.
Melt butter in skillet, brown veal slices.
Add stock, lemon peel, mace, wine; simmer gently for 20 minutes.
Thicken with beurre manié; add oysters or mushrooms.
Beat egg yolk with cream, salt, nutmeg.
Stir in, heat up, but do not reboil.
Serves 2.
SCOTTISH TRAVEL:
Castle Hill, Edinburgh, City Of Edinburgh, EH1 2NG
http://www.edinburghcastle.gov.uk/
World famous icon of
Scotland and part of the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh World Heritage Site.
This most
famous of Scottish castles has a complex building history. The oldest part, St
Margaret's Chapel, dates from the 12th century; the Great Hall was erected by
James IV around 1510; the Half Moon Battery by the Regent Morton in the late
16th century; and the Scottish National War Memorial after the First World War
The castle
houses the Honours (Crown Jewels) of Scotland, the Stone of Destiny, the famous
15th century gun Mons Meg, the One O' Clock Gun and the National War Museum of
Scotland.
In
addition to guided tours provided by the castle stewards, there is an audio
guide tour available in eight languages. The audio tour takes the visitor on a
tour around the castle, explains its architecture, and tells its dramatic
history. This guide is available in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian,
Japanese, Russian and Mandarin.
The Crown
Jewel shop in the Royal Apartments offers exclusive lines of specially designed
jewellery.
A courtesy
vehicle (provided by the Bank of Scotland) can take visitors with a disability
to the top of the castle. Ramps and a lift give access to the Crown Jewels,
Stone of Destiny and associated exhibition; and ramps provide access to the war
memorial. For those with impaired vision, there is a free Braille guide and
hands-on models of the Crown Jewels with Braille texts.
WELSH RECIPES:
Pice Bach
1 lb Plain flour
1 tsp Baking powder
1 tsp Mixed spice
4 oz Margarine
4 oz Lard
6 oz Caster sugar
4 oz Currants
2 Eggs
Milk
Sift the flour, baking powder, and mixed spice; rub in the margarine and
lard; add the sugar, currants and beaten egg. Mix in Milk to make a stiff
dough and roll out ¼" thick. Cut into 2" rounds and bake on a hot
griddle
until golden brown, after about 4 minutes on each side.
Makes approximately 8 servings.
WELSH HISTORY:
What we call national costume is based on the peasant costume of the
eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. In common with other European
countries, the dresses and accessories which are preserved on festival days
and to impress the foreign visitors have little claim to originality apart
from the color and applied patterns devised by the girls and women of the
locality.
(drawing) Welsh girl in the costume of part of Gwent, southeast Wales
The Welsh national costume was really the common dress of the peasant, the
farm servants and cottagers and was designed for hard wear. Two hundred
years ago however the advent of the industrial revolution heralded the end
of home-made cloths so only the patterns and a few of the idiosyncrasies of
the localities have survived today.
Because Wales was isolated geographically from the rest of Britain, many of
the individual traits of costume and materials were retained long after they
had died out in the rest of the UK.
Part 1 of 3
CORNWALL RECIPIES:
Cornish Buttered Lobster
The long coast of Cornwall is touched by the Gulf Stream making its warmer
waters ideal for lobsters to flourish. A good-quality lobster deserves to be
served simply, as in this recipe, so that the full flavor of the flesh can
be enjoyed.
INGREDIENTS: Lobsters - 2 each weighing about 700g (1 lb) split into halves,
Lemon juice, Butter - 75g (3 oz), Fresh breadcrumbs - 4 tbsp, Brandy - 3
tbsp, Double cream - 3 tbsp, Cayenne pepper - a pinch, Cucumber twists,
lemon slices and dill sprigs - to garnish.
COOKING: 1. Discard the stomach, the dark vein that runs through the body and
the spongy gills from each lobster. Remove the tail meat. Crack open the
claws and remove the meat. Scrape the meat from the legs with a skewer.
2. Cut the meat into chunks, then sprinkle with lemon juice. Remove and
reserve the coral, if present. Remove and reserve the soft pink flesh and
liver separately.
3. Scrub the shells and place in a low oven to warm. Melt 25g (1 oz) of the
butter in a small frying pan, add the breadcrumbs and cook until brown and
crisp.
4. Melt the remaining butter in a saucepan, add the lobster flesh and gently
stir until heated through.
5. Warm the brandy in a ladle, ignite with a taper and pour, still flaming,
over the lobster. When the flames have subsided, transfer the lobster to the
warmed shells and keep warm in a low oven.
6. Pound the liver and pink flesh. Stir into the cooking juices with the
cream and cayenne pepper. Boil briefly, until thickened, then spoon over the
lobster.
7. Sprinkle the fried breadcrumbs over the top. Quickly garnish with the
reserved coral, if available, cucumber twists, lemon slices and dill sprigs.
CORNWALL MYTHS & HISTORY:
SAINTS
If it is said that the Devil had no wish to enter Cornwall, since he didn't
want to be made into a pasty or a saint. Cornwall is justly proud of its
Saints, who were mostly Irish missionaries in the 4th and 5th centuries,
many, it is claimed, from noble backgrounds. Their extraordinary exploits
have been enshrined in folklore, not least the miraculous means by which
some of them arrived here! The Saints of Cornwall are legion and the vast
majority of them gave their name to towns and villages throughout the
County. St. Austol, still revered in Brittany from whence he came, St.
Germanus, a lawyer in ancient Rome, St. Cubert, probably the Welsh saint
Gwbert of Cardiganshire and many more left their indelible mark on Cornwall,
not only in its placenames but also in its rich tapestry of folklore.
St.PIRAN
Legend tells us that St. Piran the patron saint of the tinners, sailed here
on a millstone. Originally it had been tied around his neck and he had been
cast into the Atlantic by people jealous of his power to heal and work
miracles. As he was thrown off the cliff there was a bolt of lightning and a
terrible crash of thunder, but as he reached the sea the storm suddenly
abated, the sun came out and St.Piran could be seen seated peacefully on the
millstone which was now floating on the surface of the water. It bore him
safely across to Cornwall and he landed between Newquay and Perranporth at
Perran Beach, to which he gave his name.
Piran built himself a small chapel in Penhale sands and his first disciples
were said to be a badger, a fox and a bear. He lived a good and useful life,
surviving to the ripe old age of 206!
It's claimed that a huge skeleton unearthed near Perranzabuloe (St.Piran In
The Sands) could be his, and the remnants of his chapel were discovered in
the sand during the last century, but sadly they have now been reburied to
protect them from vandals.
St. MAWES
St.Mawes was the tenth son of an Irish king and his name is revered not only
here but in Brittany too, where he is known as St.Maudez and, possibly
St.Malo. His stone chair is still preserved in the wall of a house in St.
Mawes village. One day, so the legend goes, he was sitting there preaching
when a noisy seal came out of the sea and interrupted him with its barking.
After a while he became impatient, picked up a large rock and threw it at
the animal. It missed, but legend tells us that the rock still remains where
it fell, wedged on top of the Black Rocks halfway across Falmouth Harbour.
St. PETROC
St. Petroc, who gave his name to Padstow (Petrocstow originally) and several
local villages (Little Petherick,Trebetherick) arrived by more conventional
means, but to a hostile welcome. Landing at Trebetherick, he asked some
unfriendly locals for a drink and they refused him. Undeterred, Petroc
simply tapped his staff on the ground and a spring of fresh water appeared.
The hostile group were instantly converted to loyal disciples. After his
death his relics were taken to Bodmin to be housed in an ivory casket
decorated with brass and gold, where they remained undisturbed until
1994,when the casket was stolen from the church by thieves. Fortunately for
the people of Bodmin who were distraught by the theft, the thieves were
apparently unable to find a market for one of the most priceless reliquaries
in Britain, and it was recovered shortly afterwards and returned to its
display case in the church.
St. LEVAN
Close by Land's End lies the church of St. Levan. Levan was an enthusiastic
fisherman and on his return from fishing trips would sometimes rest on a
rock at the south side of the church, to the left of the porch. It is said
before he died he decided to leave a reminder of himself for future
generations, and so he struck the rock with his fist and split it open. The
stone bears a prophecy, for St. Levan is supposed to have prayed over it and
pronounced that when a packhorse with panniers astride it can be ridden
through the split in the stone the World will end. Fortunately the fissure in
the rock has not widened sufficiently for that to happen yet!
St. NEOT
St. Neot was known as The Pygmy Saint, for we are told that he was a mere 15
inches high - possibly a tall story! He used to spend much of his day
immersed up to the neck in his well during his devotions. Neot had a strange
way with animals and birds and worked miracles with them, as depicted in the
beautiful stained glass window of his church in the East Cornwall village
named after him.
St. Ia
Like St. Piran, St. Ia, founder of the town St. Ives, arrived by unusual
means. A woman of noble birth, she is said to have floated over from Ireland
on a leaf which she had increased to a huge size by touching it with her
staff.
St. GUNDRED
St. Gundred, one of Cornwall's lesser known saints was, so legend tells us a
very holy and virtuous lady whose father was a leper, though there are no
records of her and she may be confused with the male saint St. Gonand!). It
is said that she lived in a remarkable chapel which stands on the top of
Roche Rock, near St. Austell, tending to her sick father's needs. The Roche
Rock chapel also features in the Cornish legend of "Jan Tregagle" and
is one
of the most curious religious monuments in the whole country. The ruined
chapel of St. Michael stands on the edge of china clay country at Roche,
near St. Austell and is easily accessible by means of a steel ladder screwed
to the rock face.
CELTIC HISTORY & MYTH:
Hail Brighid
Brighid is the Daughter of the Dagda, one of the more universal deities of
the pagan Gaelic world. She is known as the Goddess of Healers, Poets,
Smiths, Childbirth and Inspiration; Goddess of Fire and Hearth and a patron
of warfare or Briga. Her soldiers were called Brigands. Her name means
"Exalted One." She is also known as Brigantia, Brid, Bride, Briginda,
Brigdu, and Brigit. She is said to lean over every cradle. The lore and
customs have continued to this day regarding Brighid, more vividly than all
the other Gaelic deities combined. Brigit is a goddess of fire, smith craft,
childbirth, poetry, water, and healing. She is sometimes seen as a warrior,
spear in hand. She was known as "Bright Arrow," "The Bright
One," "the High
One," "the Powerful One," "Lady of the Shores," and,
because of her
associations with spring, "Brigid of the Green Mantle." It was Brigid
who
was credited with originating Ogham, whistling, and after the death of her
son, the custom of keening for the dead. The Irish Banshees that wail for
the deaths of men are said to embody part of Brigid's soul.
"Brighid of the Mantle, encompass us,
Lady of the Lambs, protect us,
Keeper of the Hearth, kindle us,
Beneath your mantle gather us,
And restore us to memory."
On St. Brigid's Eve a ribbon is place on the windowsill outside during the
night. The ribbon is said to lengthen during the night and is ever after
preserved as a cure for headache.
~ Source: Costley and Kightley, A Celtic book of Days
TIME TO PLUG SOME OF OUR PRODUCTS:
Home Decor: Wonderful products to add a Celtic touch to any
house.
New
Celtic Fairy lotions, made here at the Celtic Attic. Stay tuned for our new fairy product line
launch in April. Fairy wings, Fairy
wands, lotions, bath salts, fairy dust and complete kits for you or your wee lass. Kits include stories of Irish Fairies and
how to find them in the world around you.
Coffee Coaching by Celtic Attic
$25 special – half-hour session
Need a Life or Business Coach? Not sure?
If your local, drop by the mall store in the Holister store
Oct 18th until Jan 15th... Or you can email me to setup a date and time for
your consultation.
Not Local, I can do everything including sending you a
VIRTUAL coffee...
I am affordable, reliable and knowledgeable. I have a degree in Sociology and am a
certified Paralegal and Life Coach.
I have been a business owner for over 20 years. I can help guide you, give advice and solve
problems for your current business. I
can offer resources in computers, accounting, bookkeeping, employee relations and
general business ethics.
Don’t own a business?
Thinking about taking the plunge or want to know what is out there that
you can do from home, just for fun or need to have as your major source of
income? I can help you brainstorm
ideas, offer suggestions and even help you meet other people that have
businesses that can offer you startup services.
Includes: Cup of coffee (value Priceless)
Free
PDF of A Leprechaun’s Pot of Gold Coaching book (value $9.95)
Free
PDF of Celtic Attic Cookbook (Value $8.95)
Brochures,
Literature and information on owning a business
Coaching
Services
We can do classes via telephone or over FB or email. Contact me now... kc@celticattic.com
As Always, Peace
KC and the staff at the Celtic Attic
Remember, if you wish to submit a story, article, thought, and poem or ask
a question for the next newsletter, eMail us by the 20th of the month.
kc@celticattic.com
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