Love this post Beth…..you paint quite a picture. A notable sea crossing even today in Scotland but so far my drams have been accepted and the crossings quiet! However, I still always keep some poetry up my sleeve….
I wonder if there could be a tie between the blue men of Minch and the Fugates of Troublesome Creek in Kentucky. The Fugates were an insular clan that settled in Kentucky in the 1820's and were notable for their blue skin. Eventually it was found to be a treatable genetic condition, but that wasn't until the 1960's. They were popularized in the novel "The Book Women of Troublesome Creek" but the characters in that novel were based on real, blue people.
And a followup re what I am guessing is naturalised Flax plant. Lovely photo.
We have native Flax plants here in Australia and In NZ (Aoeterora) and Norfolk Island. All different species, but Maori people used their plants for quite a lot of fibre and medicinal purposes.
There was for some time a local Aus production of European Flax and several mills. But ceased.
Thanks for correcting my hasty wild botanical miss-guess.
Will have to study harder to pass Scottish Flora 101 ! But my memory of Scotland having a substantial flax/linen and linseed industry for a very long while, at least was correct. And see there have been proving trials to look at feasibility of re introducing.
Should have realized as it looks nothing like a native plant called the Flax Lilly, that grows so easily in my garden. And my memory of NZ FlaxSuper hardy; spreads by clumping but also when seed pods form and disperse into 100s of tiny seeds that find even cracks in concrete and thrive.
And the fibre is from the prepared leaves
And possibly better natural fibre product for Aus environment than cotton which is controversial due to the high volume of water needed and extracted from our wonderful but poorly cared for inland water way, the Murray-Darling. (Gov darling related to my father via his maternal line; so his full name was John Ernest Darling Behan. He rarely admitted to the Darling and we only found out when he got his passport done. And turns out he was teased a bit and called "Ernest Darling" on the rugby field. Not really a wise thing his cousin said as by yr12 jack was about 6'2" and big at about 14st or more).
Also my preference for shirts in our blistering and/or humid summer.
Enjoyed learning about bog cotton as I have my breakfast of porridge oats, black tea and a red grapefruit. Already warm now.
Yesterday was hot at about 36 C still in the late day still but a colossal storm, with lightning and rain an a nice drop to about 22 C but more the reduction in humidity.
All the best and hope this is not too much (let me know if it is).
Thanks for the mental stimulation and exploration, Antipodean Behan.
Hello Beth, and as always you remind me powerfully of old exciting journeys.
Crossed The Minch (Upper and Lower) quite a few times on several trips via the stern and precise Cal Mac, and think I told you of a story of a rough and with a few turn arounds, but eventual docking on Skye. Closest I have been to being seasick, but not.
And told by fisher folk that I befriended many stories of The Blue Men, over poached salmon and whisky and late in the evening. Also about Selkies. A nice ABC (our FTA Gov't broadcaster) TV production of a Scottish boy/selkie in maybe WA setting, when my kids a bit younger, And on one trip, bought three Harris Tweed jackets (lucky I had a deep L frame back pack and traveled lightly. I still fit mine , but my two friends eventually didn't, but their sons did.
Ah what amazing stories and memories! I absolutely love the mythology of northern Scotland, especially selkies. Love the Harris Tweed jackets too! Thanks for commenting, glad you enjoyed this one.
I find Scottish mythology fascinating and very colorful. I flew to the Outer Hebrides. After reading the post , makes me feel like I should return but crossing the Minch. Who knows who I’ll meet !
I would love to cross the Minch too! Excited to fly to the Outer Hebrides soon but there’s something about getting the boat across. Such an ancient pilgrimage!
Love this post Beth…..you paint quite a picture. A notable sea crossing even today in Scotland but so far my drams have been accepted and the crossings quiet! However, I still always keep some poetry up my sleeve….
Aww thank you, so glad you enjoyed this one! Loved walking to Stoerhead and looking out across the Minch. I'll need to hear some of that poetry then?!
It goes like this to begin with…
There was an old gent of Carrbridge,
With intentions to sail on the Minch,
Not finished yet but readying for my next crossing!
I wonder if there could be a tie between the blue men of Minch and the Fugates of Troublesome Creek in Kentucky. The Fugates were an insular clan that settled in Kentucky in the 1820's and were notable for their blue skin. Eventually it was found to be a treatable genetic condition, but that wasn't until the 1960's. They were popularized in the novel "The Book Women of Troublesome Creek" but the characters in that novel were based on real, blue people.
Oh how fascinating! I’ll look into that, I love the weaving of mythology with actual history, communities and/or conditions. Thank you!
And a followup re what I am guessing is naturalised Flax plant. Lovely photo.
We have native Flax plants here in Australia and In NZ (Aoeterora) and Norfolk Island. All different species, but Maori people used their plants for quite a lot of fibre and medicinal purposes.
There was for some time a local Aus production of European Flax and several mills. But ceased.
The plants in the photos are bog cotton, indigenous to the UK and found especially on moorland in Scotland!
Thanks for correcting my hasty wild botanical miss-guess.
Will have to study harder to pass Scottish Flora 101 ! But my memory of Scotland having a substantial flax/linen and linseed industry for a very long while, at least was correct. And see there have been proving trials to look at feasibility of re introducing.
Should have realized as it looks nothing like a native plant called the Flax Lilly, that grows so easily in my garden. And my memory of NZ FlaxSuper hardy; spreads by clumping but also when seed pods form and disperse into 100s of tiny seeds that find even cracks in concrete and thrive.
And the fibre is from the prepared leaves
And possibly better natural fibre product for Aus environment than cotton which is controversial due to the high volume of water needed and extracted from our wonderful but poorly cared for inland water way, the Murray-Darling. (Gov darling related to my father via his maternal line; so his full name was John Ernest Darling Behan. He rarely admitted to the Darling and we only found out when he got his passport done. And turns out he was teased a bit and called "Ernest Darling" on the rugby field. Not really a wise thing his cousin said as by yr12 jack was about 6'2" and big at about 14st or more).
Also my preference for shirts in our blistering and/or humid summer.
Enjoyed learning about bog cotton as I have my breakfast of porridge oats, black tea and a red grapefruit. Already warm now.
Yesterday was hot at about 36 C still in the late day still but a colossal storm, with lightning and rain an a nice drop to about 22 C but more the reduction in humidity.
All the best and hope this is not too much (let me know if it is).
Thanks for the mental stimulation and exploration, Antipodean Behan.
Hello Beth, and as always you remind me powerfully of old exciting journeys.
Crossed The Minch (Upper and Lower) quite a few times on several trips via the stern and precise Cal Mac, and think I told you of a story of a rough and with a few turn arounds, but eventual docking on Skye. Closest I have been to being seasick, but not.
And told by fisher folk that I befriended many stories of The Blue Men, over poached salmon and whisky and late in the evening. Also about Selkies. A nice ABC (our FTA Gov't broadcaster) TV production of a Scottish boy/selkie in maybe WA setting, when my kids a bit younger, And on one trip, bought three Harris Tweed jackets (lucky I had a deep L frame back pack and traveled lightly. I still fit mine , but my two friends eventually didn't, but their sons did.
Cool Post.
Ah what amazing stories and memories! I absolutely love the mythology of northern Scotland, especially selkies. Love the Harris Tweed jackets too! Thanks for commenting, glad you enjoyed this one.
I find Scottish mythology fascinating and very colorful. I flew to the Outer Hebrides. After reading the post , makes me feel like I should return but crossing the Minch. Who knows who I’ll meet !
I would love to cross the Minch too! Excited to fly to the Outer Hebrides soon but there’s something about getting the boat across. Such an ancient pilgrimage!