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.

Recent photography

It has been a wonderful summer here so far. 

So much time spent out of doors,

at Scottish festivals, parades, the lake

and just generally enjoying nature.

Here are my favorite shots from the past month.

(Click each image for a larger view.)

Classic cars

I love classic cars. 

Who doesn't?

 

I especially love when I have my camera

when we come across them.

(Be sure to click the images for a larger view.)

This beauty was in a Memorial Day parade.

Check out the flags reflecting in the hub cap.

We see these cute little cars every year

at the Bonnie Brae Scottish Festival in New Jersey.

When we were leaving our hotel on Sunday morning,

we noticed classic cars were pulling into the parking lot.

Our favorite was this VW truck, but the rest were pretty cool too.

The parades of summer

Nothing like a small-town parade on a holiday weekend.

We typically have at least five to march in

both Memorial Day and July Fourth weekends.

They are busy, hot and extremely tiring

but part of life with multiple bagpipe bands.

Can never get enough of fire trucks, tractors,

flags, children, vintage cars, horses, the military

and, of course, pipe and drum bands.

Our busy parade season is now over.

There is always next year.

Busy Fourth of July weekend

Happy Independence Day!

That is an American flag at the end of a bagpipe.

It symbolized how we will celebrate

the birth of our country this weekend --

with a pipe band competition and four parades.

We will also fit in a wedding reception,

pool party and, hopefully, multiple firework displays.

Hope your weekend is as celebratory!

Wearing o' the green

Our St. Patrick's celebrating started a little early this year.

Between the members of my family who pipe and drum,

we were in four different parades last weekend.

I went to two with my camera -- in Utica and Albany, NY.

Here are some of my favorites. The rest are here. Sláinte!