The Great Haggis Feast

[slick]

quick message from Merlin:

For Christmas I want some chaps

[katladyd]

Slick, consider yourself lucky, Kimba wants a horse!

[cassiesmom]

text from Cassie:

Hi Meowm
We are on Mackinac Island and it is gorgeous! Have to go cos more kitties are arriving!
Lubz,
Cassie

[phesina]

The gang got back this afternoon, after dropping Traveler off at the airport. They've just headed off to Real Seafood for dinner. Haggis Day is tomorrow!

They can't say enough about what a wonderful time they had! Such a beautiful place.. Fresh air, lots of sunshine, lots of water full of fishies to watch... and horsies! All around!

Carriage rides, buggy rides (and just WHO was that that jumped into a buggy with Nelson?).. And Bob and Elmer and Taccoa, to demonstrate that Cerebellar Hypoplasia doesn't have to keep you from doing what you want to do, all rode bareback!

Traveler had a wonderful time being part of carriage teams, pulling romantic two-cat buggies.. (and his word is mum on just WHO rode in which buggies). And all the Mackinac Island horsies now have their very own USC blankets to keep them warm come winter!

During the trip back, I'm told Traveler just went on and on about what a PERFECT, IDEAL place this was... No nasty-smelling fume-belching metal moving things, just horsies getting things done and getting people where they want to go. He wonders, WHY CAN'T L.A. BE RUN LIKE THIS????? He plans to start a petition drive when he gets back home.

The kitties strolled around the wraparound porch of the Grand Hotel (longest in the world!), napped on the porch railing, strolled around, ran, romped in the grass, explored the island, watched fishies in the water..

Last evening they put on a show for the local residents and other visitors, first with a Celtic piping and dancing performance which awed the crowd and moved them to tears. Then the square dancing began, with Nelson calling and Merlin and Sparkler starting the first square, and then everyone, feline and human, joined in on the fun!

They'll be talking about this on Mackinac Island for years!

Now the kitties are having a relaxing seafood dinner, and then they'll be all set for the festivities tomorrow! Even more fun coming... stay tuned....

[phesina]

And MoFF, your kitties have gotten a catnip horsie for Frankie! They wanted to get him a box of Mackinac Island fudge, but they remembered that chocolate is bad for kitties.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

And MoFF, your kitties have gotten a catnip horsie for Frankie! They wanted to get him a box of Mackinac Island fudge, but they remembered that chocolate is bad for kitties.

He will be thrilled. He loves catnitp and wouldn't like chocolate any way.

I have no clue who Nelson took for a ride but don't think it was Angel. It was mentioned that he had a little heart throb before he even met her at her birthday party. The mystery deepens.

[momcat]

Pat, Please tell Traveler to post his petition here on PT. I definitely will sign it for him and I'm sure many others will too.

Groucho and Inka called a short while ago. Everyone looks great in their kilts, tartan collars, and sunglasses. They said the staff of the Haggis In A Hurry Shoppe World Headquarters have been busy cooking and preparing for the official Haggis Feast. Inka said the food smells wonderful and the lead chef has been explaining the cooking process step by step. Any kitty that wants to know the process is welcome in the kitchen area and the staff is having a lot of fun with them. Inka also said a few of the kitties have been taking notes and plan to try and make their own haggis at home. She wouldn't say who the kitty chefs are so Meowmies beware!

There is a slight problem though. While they were practicing for the after feast music concert, a string on Groucho's fiddle broke. Nobody knows where they can get a replacement and he's very upset about it. Ming offered to give Groucho a string from his harp but it wouldn't fit. Right now Cassie and the Catmobile driver are on the GPS looking for a store that sells fiddle strings. I do hope they can find one! Phesina, do you know of any place they might try?

Groucho did say the lady kitties went shopping this morning in search of something appropriate for Frankie.

The feast will be starting late this afternoon and knowing these kitties it should go well into the wee hours.

[phesina]

Here's just the place for a new string for Groucho, if Cassie and the driver haven't found it already: Shar Music in Ann Arbor. Look at all the strings they have! Whichever one Groucho's heart desires is here - http://www.sharmusic.com/Shop-Shar/Strings/

But... I'm sorry to say.. I just got home and started catching up here at about 5:20pm.. and it looks like they just closed, at 5pm : http://www.sharmusic.com/Pages/Shar-Retail-Showroom/ ...

I'm so sorry! I hope Groucho did manage to get there today.

If not, Shar's will be open tomorrow (Sunday) noon to 4pm, if Groucho wants to pick one up before they leave, so he'll be all set for the next gig. He can also contact Shar's Customer Service people later or order the string to be shipped. Or I can pick it up for him and mail it home to him.

Maybe today he can just purr in the tones that string would be making?

[phesina]

Meowmie here again: The Great Haggis Parade was this morning!

The Haggis in a Hurry Shoppe float, featuring a giant haggis, led the way.. followed by the world-renowned kitty bagpipers and dancer performing on another float, and the Catmobile right behind .. then by vast crowds of Scottish students in native garb from U-M and Eastern Michigan U. (next-door in Ypsilanti, and today's football opponents).. and all the other haggis enthusiasts from all around, not to mention all the kitty fans!

The parade began at the southeastern end of the U campus, wound through the central campus, then downtown, and on out to the football stadium.

The Haggis in a Hurry Shoppe of course had free samples all along the parade route and in the stands at the stadium, and they have the concession stands covered too. The Shoppe itself has been mobbed all day since it opened before dawn this morning, and they have a tent in front to be able to serve more customers. They'll be open all night tonight too!

Back to the football game: As usual, the pipers and dancer led the teams out onto the field and played the National Anthem before the game started. They performed the Halftime Show, as always. The Catmobilers of course had the whole luxury box area at the top of the stadium.

After the game ended (U-M won 31-3 ), the Catmobile and other True Haggis Aficionados headed for Gallup Park, where the festivities continue with musical and dancing performances and celebrations of all sorts, and a Giant Haggis Cookout with feasting for all and plenty of Glenfiddich to wash it all down.. There are tents with all kinds of cat beds for those who would like to camp out at the park and/or spend some private time with their sweeties, and canoes available, and all kinds of birdies and wildlife to watch!

I will be heading back out there myself to join in the fun as soon as I finish this update.

Who knows how late the party will last, or how long I'll last for that matter, since I tend to crash out early.. All the better to get ready for whenever the exhausted Catmobilers return tonight or tomorrow morning.

Incidentally, what an absolute PLEASURE it was to have Traveler as a guest too the other night.. What utterly delightful company he is.

Though it's too bad a horse can't use a litter box like cats can. Then again.. when I think that through.. maybe it's better they don't. I hate to think of scooping that box!

Then again.. cleaning up a bathroom after it's been a horse's stall all night is not a chore I want ever to repeat.

And I must say it certainly was ...different using a cat's litter box myself! (The cats insisted I scoop it after each use, too.) Fortunately I had gotten in a package of Baby Wipes to use as best I could for personal hygiene.

Well, stay tuned, haggis fans..

[katladyd]

Oh, I dont want the cars here to go away! I love driving! Plus, there are several million commuters on our roads every day. Talk about a different kind of pollution if it were all horse driven! I love Traveler and all, but L.A. is not Mackinac Island. Who would clean all that stuff up? Mac still thinks they named the island after him. Silly boy!

[phesina]

Well, the Catmobile is on its way, taking kitties to the train station or the airport or all the way home. My seven are fast asleep in little heaps around the apartment.

What delightful company they have all been! And they all had a FABULOUS time and were saying we should do this every year.

Now I'm going to go collapse in a heap for a while.

ZZZZzzzzzzzzz,
Meowmie

P.S., Good point, katladyd, about just the CHANGE of pollution type rather than the removal of pollution if motor vehicles were to be banned in Los Angeles! No doubt this will become a hotly-debated issue in California once Traveler starts tweeting about it.

[momcat]

Got a call from Groucho. He said while the kitty musicians were practicing yesterday, several students from the university were watching and listening. One student who is a music major saw Groucho's string break on his fiddle and the look of tremendous disappointment on his face. She ran to the music building, grabbed a new string, then helped him replace it and tune it properly. The situation was resolved in a matter of minutes. The student, who is from Aberdeen Scotland, got a round of applause from the kitties and many kitty kisses for saving the day. Thank you, kind and thoughtful student!

The Haggis Feast was super! Inka said the food was sooo tasty and there was plenty for everyone. A few of the guy kitties wanted to bring a "kitty bag" home for Frankie. The crowd loved the performance by the PT Kitty Bagpipe Quartet and our Scottish dancer didn't miss a beat. Groucho said the stadium really rocked when it came time for square dancing, nobody sat it out. Don't know what time the festivities ended, Groucho wouldn't say.

Pat, I have a message for you from Groucho and Ming:
"Hi Auntie Phesina, Thank you so very much for letting us know where to get new strings! We both realized we should carry extras just in case. This morning all of us musicians went to the shop, even the bagpipers. The people at the store helped us find the best harp and fiddle strings so now we have an ample back-up supply. They were also very impressed with the bagpipe quartet saying they'll add their CD to the store's inventory.
Purrs and Kitty Kisses,
Ming and Groucho"

[phesina]

Oh, that's so nice that that student fixed up Groucho's fiddle for him, just in time!

And I'm glad the musicians were able to get over to Shar Music and stock up on strings for backups. Pets and skritchies back to you, Groucho and Ming!

I may go check that store out myself, even though I'm not a musician.. From its web site, it looks like quite a place. I'd never heard of them before; I did a search on "violin strings ann arbor," and Shar's came up first. If nothing else, I can watch for when the pipers' CD comes in!

I'm glad the Catmobilers had such a good time. I think people will be talking about this in Ann Arbor for a long time!

And I hope Frankie enjoys his little catnip horsie from Mackinac Island and the other souvenirs his big brothers and sisters bring home to him. I'm sure he can't wait to go on his first Catmobile trip!

[phesina]

According to my sister:

"Word on the street says that the Haggis in a Hurry family of companies is planning to build Haggis Huts with drive-through windows around the country, so the Catmobile can snack on the run wherever it goes."

Won't that just be fantastic, Catmobilers?!

She also told me that since Nelson got back home, he has been lying around resting up with a kitty-smile on his face! He STILL is not letting on who his buggy-ride companion is.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

My gang are all home and napping. Frankie loved his horsie and slept with it. He shared his 'goodie' bag with Grandma and Chester so they could enjoy some of the Haggis too. They all send a big thank you to the cats for thinking of them.

According to the travelers they all had a wonderful time. Still not clue as to who Angel has a crush on though. Those cats can sure clam up when they want to.