The Bagpipes Meet the Backwoods

As many of you know, Kyle and I are taking a trip to Scotland this spring for a friend's wedding. Long story long, we went to Jamaica for our honeymoon in November 2008 and met another couple at our resort from Scotland, Fiona and Russel, who got engaged while they were there. (see below pic from our honeymoon) We kept in touch and met up with them for a long weekend vacation in Orlando last May. (Check out The World is Flat posting) We were honored later that summer to receive an invitation to their wedding ceremony in Edinburgh on April 17th, 2010. We couldn't say no.

Here is the link to their wedding location. Pictures are found if you click on "gallery" on the right hand side of the home page. Gorgeous. http://www.dundascastle.co.uk/index.php

Bottom line - we are attending a traditional Scottish wedding in a Scottish castle, my husband will join the rest of the male guests in a traditional kilt (don't worry, many, many pictures will be taken,) and we will be staying the night in the Buttercup room of the castle. Are you kidding me?!?! I mean, I always thought I was a princess, but are we living in a fairytale?!?!

So, I'm actually telling you this story for a reason. In order to get ourselves pumped up for our trip to Scotland ... we attended a performance at the Walton Arts Center by the Band of the Irish Guards and Scottish Military Pipes and Drums this past Friday. Our only shot at soaking up some Scottish flavor in Arkansas so we had to jump at the chance.

Kyle even took after his father-in-law and bought his first CD after hearing a live performance. He only has another 1,492 to go to achieve "Bill Mulhausen status" ... my Dad would be proud. :)

The show was amazing and we were inspired to spend part of our weekend finalizing plans for the trip - booking flights from Scotland to Ireland and back to England ... and renting a car to tour whisky country and visit the little town of Ochiltree, where Kyle's Grandma Mary took her last trip before she passed away. We need to do some more research, but Kyle apparently has ancestors that are buried there. Kyle does have that scruffy Scottish look about him, doesn't he?!?! Just wait until you see him in a kilt!!!