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Eugene Irish Festival - Seattle's Rich Hall Leads Scots Gaelic Language & Singing Workshops & Concert, Mar. 1-2

Traditional Scottish Gaelic singer and storyteller Rich Hill, from Seattle, will be presenting a workshop and concert on the weekend of March 1-2, focusing on the Scots Gaelic language and including singing workshops and vocal performances.

Location: Collier House, U of O campus, corner of 13th and University

Saturday, March 1 - Workshops

• Rich will present two language and singing workshops
• 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
• Free to U of O students
• General Community: $10.00 per workshop, or $18 for the whole day

On Sunday, March 2 - Concert

• 7:30 p.m.
• Rich Hill will present a concert in conjunction with Kitchen Ceilidh, a women’s Gaelic a-capella singing group, and Trilogy, voice and harp.
• Free and open to the public

For more information on either event contact, Laura Zaerr at 541-757-8313 or e-mail lauraz@peak.org.

About Richard Hall
Singing in Seattle since 1982, Richard has studied voice with Nancy Zylstra and Jeffrey Francis, and has attended workshops given by Paul Hillierand Laurie Monahan.

Richard currently studies with Margriet Tindemans and performs with the University of Washington's Collegium Musicum and Bones 'n' Drones. As a faculty member of "A Medieval Experience", he teaches early music and dance to students throughout King County.

Richard is also an accomplished performer and teacher of traditional Scottish Gaelic song and is the lead singer for Keltoi, a Celtic band based in Seattle. Keltoi's first recording, Drunk with Autumn, was released in 1994.

Bargain Shopping and the Tingling Saver Sense: The Joy of Being a Capricorn

I'm a frugal man, though I suppose that could just be a euphemistic way to say "tight-arsed cheapskate". In any case, I have always chalked up my sense of frugality, at least in part, to being a Capricorn. I like saving money, but when I do spend money, I spend it well.

We Capricorns have a nose for bargains — an instinct. Mine is very quiet, unless it's needed. It comes when it's called — but it also comes when it knows should be called.

This evening I had to run a couple of errands, and the moment I set out, my saver sense began tingling. "Go to Goodwill," it said. At first I questioned it; I had no need to run to Goodwill. I wanted to run my errands, get back home, drink coffee, blog, and check email. "No," my saver sense insisted, "Go to feckin' Goodwill."

So I did — it was on the way, so it wasn't a big deal.

And I'm glad I did. For ages now, Jodie's been on the lookout for a second-hand crockpot that she can use for dyeing yarn. She needs a fairly big crockpot, one of the 5- or 6-quart sizes. And at Goodwill, by listening to my saver sense, I found her a big crockpot... for $6.

As I type this, she's off knitting with the girls. And her new, bargain-scored crockpot is sitting on the dining room table, complete with a wee red bow.

I can't wait for her to get home. She'll be so happy. Being a Capricorn rocks.

R-G article about Eugene's oldest house hits home

It's weird when you're reading the paper and see a story that's personally relevant to your life. It hits home - in this case, literally. I actually used to live in this house, from 2000-2003. It's a little weird to see it in the paper, but also kinda cool.

Link: History on the home front: The Register-Guard, Eugene, Ore..

Coos Bay: Ocean Uncovers Shipwreck in Sand Dunes

Forget looking for agates or interesting shells on the Oregon coast. How about a shipwreck?

Link: OCEAN UNCOVERS SHIPWRECK TREASURE IN DUNES: The Register-Guard, Eugene, Ore..

"The discovery has quickly become a tourist attraction on the remote beach, despite its inaccessibility to vehicles without four-wheel drive"

Four-wheel drive? Hmm, with my Ural Patrol and its 2-wheel drive, we could go see that too...

Oregon Limericks Contest from Bob Welch

Register-Guard columnist and blogger Bob Welch recently ran a limerick contest for original limericks relating to Oregon. 286 entries later, he announced the winners. My favorite is below — you can see all 286 on Bob Welch's blog.

Link: Limerick loot goes to whale of Oregon tale: The Register-Guard, Eugene, Ore.

The Oregon Coast is outstandin’
But the beach is the best down in Bandon
Where sea stacks and rocks
Crowd the coastline like blocks
Or a chess set some giant abandoned

Risotto with Spinach and Goat Cheese

Ah, risotto — Jodie and I are soon planning to whip up a risotto with some white wine, chicken, mushrooms, garlic and thyme — but this also sounds very, very tasty:

Link: Risotto with Spinach and Goat Cheese - comfort food at cosmicpluto knits!.

My motorcycle is here!

It's been a year in the making, and since November since I ordered my 2007 Ural Patrol, but on Feb. 16, 2008, my Forest Green, shiny new Patrol was delivered to my door. At last! See Ride Three for more info and pictures

At long last - Anthony's a motorcycle owner!

Natalie MacLean gives you 50 ways to keep your lover this Valentine's Day

Trying to pair up the perfect dessert with the perfect wine this Valentine's Day? Fire up Natalie MacLean's dessert and wine-matching tool for some sumptuous – and sensual – combinations.

Or, if you're in a hurry because it's the day before Valentine's Day, skip the tool, print out her top 10 (below) and head straight to the grocery store now:

Natalie's top 10 wine and chocolate matches:

1. Dark Chocolate and Banyuls, France
2. Chocolate-Covered Biscotti and Recioto Della Valpolicella, Italy
3. Chocolate-Orange Cake and Liqueur Muscat, Australia
4. Chocolate with Nuts and Tawny Port, Portugal
5. Milk Chocolate and Tokaji, Hungary
6. Bittersweet Chocolate and Amarone, Italy
7. Chocolate-Dipped Fruit and Icewine, Canada
8. Chocolate Ganache Truffles and Sauternes, France
9. Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake and Framboise, California
10. Chocolate Hearts with Cream Filling and Cream Sherry, Spain

Keep Natalie's wine-matching tool on-hand for dinner too - it has thousands of wines to pair with any dish: meat, pasta, seafood, vegetarian fare, pizza, eggs, cheese and dessert. Hungry - and thirsty - for more? Learn more about matching food and wine with Natalie MacLean's book, Red, White, and Drunk All Over: A Wine-Soaked Journey from Grape to Glass, at nataliemaclean.com.

Volunteers needed for Eugene Irish Cultural Festival (free admission!)

If you are interested in volunteering for one or more 2-hour shiftsduring the 5th annual Irish Cultural Festival, you'll get in for free.  The following volunteer jobs are available:

• Help Setup
• Pickup Donated Food
• Stage Manager
• Instrument Room Checker
• Floaters (help where needed)
• Ticket Sales
• Wristband Checker
• Participant & Will Call Check-in
• Participant Escort
• T-Shirt Sales
• CD Sales
• Temporary Tattoos
• Family Activities/Crafts
• Cleanup

Email Peggy Hinsman at phinsman at gmail dot com and let her know how many 2-hour shifts you'd like to volunteer for (one is fine), the roles you are interested in and times you are available.

Schedule for 5th Annual Eugene Irish Cultural Festival, Mar. 7-8

The final schedule for the Eugene Irish Cultural Festival's daytime festivities has been posted. Check out the schedule for talks and workshops on everything from Irish calligraphy to stone masonry, sea shanties to dancing.

With me and Jodie in the midst of wedding planning with a DIY bent, we just might be taking in some of these calligraphy and drawing Celtic knots classes...