Bagpipes (and drums) are our life

We've spent most of the last nine summers.

involved in the pipe band community.

That's half of the time we have been parents as our oldest

is now 18 and heading to college.

That's him, third from left, playing snare for Oran Mor,

one of only a few Grade One bands from the United States.

My piper just turned 14 and has been playing for about 4 years.

He's the tall one in the back.

And our newest competitior, is the 10yo tenor drummer.

He's the one with the wild hair in the center.

And here is the youngest who is six.

He has time to decide which instrument he wants to play,

but for now he is a banner carrier.

Love a man in uniform

Did you know husband gets together

with his buddies and they play dress up?

Takes a bold and brave guy to not only wear a kilt

but also add the full regalia that comes

with being a Scottish pipe band drum major.

Helps to have facial hair too.

These are photos from our last two trips
to New Hampshire Highland Games
held each September at Loon Mountain.

On their way to the world championships

Tired of bagpipe band photos yet?

This past weekend I traveled with my oldest son

back up to Ontario, Canada for the
North American Pipe Band Championships.

His band came in 5th out of 7 Grade One bands

but they did top the other American competitors.

Today, my husband accompanies the band to the
World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland.

You can catch their Grade One qualifying round here,
Saturday, August 13th around 10 am Eastern.

 Good luck to Oran Mor and all the other bands!

Music on the mountain

I spent a week earlier this month at "band camp."

Invermark College of Piping and Drumming to be exact.
 In a Great Highland Pipe Band,
you have your choice of playing the bagpipes or
the snare, tenor or bass drums.

If you can't learn in the Scottish Highlands,
the mountains of the eastern US are a good substitute
(although there are Invermark sessions in Scotland too).

I brought my  own instrument along -- my camera.
Here area my favorite shots from the week away.
(Click each image for a larger view.)