I soooo need to live in Scotland

Reminds me of Scotland. The daylight hours are almost the same too...doesn't get dark until ridiculously late in summer, gets dark ridiculously early in winter. The rain patterns in winter are nearly identical, as you say. Can't attest to the summer, haven't spent summer in Scotland. Our only visit there was during the winter.

I'm seriously considering getting my hands on some heather seeds and strewing them about. All I can find are seeds for white heather so far, and I'd like purple, too. [edit: correction, the seeds I've found are for bothe white and lavender, but I have to buy a whole case of 25 packets for 55 pounds sterling (NOT!). I will reimburse any UK TNHer who sends me heather seeds. Hey, that's an idea, has TNH ever tried a seed swap/exchange program?]

Anhata
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Your Family's General Store, Naturally

I can't say I have particularly noticed heather seeds for sale, but next time I am in town I will look for them. I'll happily send them to you if I can find some

It's not always legal or ecologically wise to transfer seeds between ecosystems, even similar ones. If you haven't found the "right" kind of heather locally, there may be a reason. Unless you know for sure it's okay, remember to call your ag extension office to check. This is a sensitive issue in California so I've been made ultra-aware of it!

I know they sell African Heather round these parts, whatever that is. I'll look into it.

[Update: Heaths and heathers are sold and planted all around the west coast: WA, OR, and CA, including Calluna Vulgaris or Scottish Heather. So it's not an invasive or undesirable species. Found a purveyor of plants at www.heathsandheathers.com., but they're a bit pricy.]

Anhata
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Your Family's General Store, Naturally

I am new to this site, and found it by looking for Heather from Scotland. They have heather here but it is not the same as if it came from Scotland. (So my Grandmother Campbell says). I would love to do an exchange for some Sage or something from Southern Utah.

I admire Dougie MacLean, and he does these. His album Tribute, which I do not have, but crave, is mostly Burns' poems. I'll have to keep an eye out for the ones you mentioned.

Anhata
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Your Family's General Store, Naturally

now, that's good stuff.

Anhata
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Your Family's General Store, Naturally

The name strikes a chord in my memory, but I can't nail it down. I think I may have read something of his in school, but I can't think which poem it would be, I don't think it was Biddie Brown. Now I have to look through all his poems and see if I recognize one. Thanks alot.

Bonnie website, m'dearie, an I thankee.

Anhata
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Your Family's General Store, Naturally

Deepy, madly, truly. Went all over the city and to The Castle twice. Loved. Every. Second. (Have the Edinburgh Edition of Monopoly, too, not that that's apropopos of anything.) We were there a few weeks before Christmas and it wasn't any colder than where we lived in the States. The thing that got me was that you had to dress for the cold because you walked everywhere, but then when you go into the shops, they're heated to about boiling point. Then step out again into the cold. Maddening. I even heard them talking about how the shops were too hot on the news.

Tried to talk DH into transferring to the UK branch of the company he worked for at the time. He thought about it then decided no. To this day I regret not moving there.

We went all over Scotland, too, in a rental car. Stopped briefly in England at Housestead's Fort since I wanted to see Hadrian's Wall, and the rest of the trip was back through Scotland. It was amazing. Best vacation I've ever had. Ever.

Sorry, I just can't wrap my head around anyone not wanting to go back! But then I didn't freeze!

Anhata
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Your Family's General Store, Naturally

I love trivial pursuit! Everything I know is trivia! Dr Zillah, on the other hand has REAL knowledge too. I just have snippets of useless information

...of being a vast wasteland of useless knowledge at least once a week.

I get about 5 phone calls in the wee hours each year from drunken friends or family who need to know something RIGHT THAT SECOND.

The last one was a group of female family/friends calling from a bar in Seattle at 2am my time to ask who the first President Bush's running mate was. Someone lost $50 when I knew.

I really don't know why that kind of stuff sticks in my brain at the expense of useful things, like where my car keys are, or my bank balance.

But my husband won't play anymore unless I'm on his team.

I also won $50 in high school in a "general knowledge" contest.