Each year the birthday of Robert Burns, Scotland's national bard, is celebrated all over the country with a Burns supper and gathering. The traditional food of the Highlander is always the main course. His history is read or told and his poems are recited and the lads and lassies are toasted. It is great fun with the bagpipe music and all. Here are Barbara Haywood and Kenny Miles in Barb's kitchen the day of the party, getting ready to haul all the food over to the party site.

This is Barbara Haywood, our activities chairperson. She and I and Bob pealed and cut up 6 turnip, and 6 bags of potatoes. This is the haggis before it is cooked.

These are Scottish turnips. We fed 50 people on 6 of them. The traditional meal for the Burns supper is Haggis ( made from sheep stomach and other such ingredients), Neeps (turnips, mashed), and Tatties (mashed potatoes). Huge numbers of these goliath turnips are grown in the Highlands. They feed the cows and sheep on them in the winter as well as being a staple for the people.

A Photo of all the officials of the evening. We got to be in it because of Bob being the Branch President. Brother Kirk in the business suit gave the rendition of Robert Burn's poem "Tam o Shanter". It was amazing to hear it done in the real Scottish tongue.

The Ross Acadamy, built in 1911, was the lovely old building in Halkirk where we held the Burn's supper and party. I will be speaking at the Garden Society on the last Monday of February. They want to know all about my gardens in Oregon and about family preparedness.

The Piper, Ernie Budge, comes over from Lybster every year to Pipe for the Burns supper, free of charge. He just loves piping and having his photo taken. He plays beautifully. I love bagpipe music!

Here the officials are addressing the haggis with old Highland Gaelic language and making a toast to their national dish (at least it is in the Highlands).It was a speech of adoration and respect to the dish which had sustained their countrymen for ages.

Here is the haggis, cut open and oozing out its rich aroma, ready to be eaten. The knive next to it is a dirk, and used ceremonially in the cutting of the haggis.

I had to document that Elder Watson really did eat his haggis neeps and tatties. He cleaned his plate, eventhough he said he would never eat haggis.

The bagpiper is entering with the "bearer of the haggis " behind him. This actually occurs before the "addressing" of the haggis and cutting it open.

The men and boys wore kilts. We were all supposed to wear some kind of tartan. It is one occasion each year when the men come in full regalia