Recipe Exchange is Open for Business!

So if you are interested in tasting the flavors of the Games again--request a recipe or submit one to me at brenda@writeitdown.org. I'll try to get them posted as we go. Here's the first request:

Cucumber Salad

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup rice vinegar

1 tsp. kosher salt

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

2 small cucumbers

1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion (optional)

Combine sugar, vinegar, salt, and pepper flakes for the dresing in a bowl; set aside.

Cut cucumbers in half lengthwise, then scoop out the seeds with a spoon. Discard seeds. Slice cucumber halves into thin slices to make a yield of 2 - 2-1/2 cups. Toss with onion slices and dressing until well coated. Chill salad until ready to serve. Can be prepared up to an hour ahead.

Brenda's notes: (This is what I add to a recipe since the kids all say I change stuff and don't advise). I don't de-seed my cucumbers, but I do buy either English cucumbers or use small (one to one and a half inch diameter) cukes so the seeds aren't so wet. I usually don't cut them in half. I make it in advance and it keeps well, I think, up to 2 or 3 days. I have even added new cukes to the brine the next day to stretch, but the flavor diminishes. I have only used the red onions once, but that may have been the day you ate it :-). I usually slice the cucumbers in my food processor so they are really thin, but some people like them a little thicker. This reminds me of the cucumber salad my mom made when I was a kid--my dad ate it up, but as kids we turned up our noses. I love the Asian flavor--reminds me of a seaweed salad at a Sushi restaurant.

Hope you like it--the recipe came from Cuisine at Home, a cooking magazine.

The 2011 Robert James Madden Highland Games

Mark your calendars--the 2011 Games are set for July 10, 2011. Become a follower on this Blog to keep up to date on the news as we get closer to the big day next year, or send your email address to brenda@writeitdown.org to get the latest news on the Games. If you would like to receive a postcard with the official schedule next year, send your information to Brenda Griebahn, 3590 Utah Ave NE, Iowa City, IA 52240. See you all then!

Closing Notes for the 2010 Games--What a Great Day!

The 2010 Robert James Madden Highland Games are now at an end. What a great turn-out and we had lots of new fun, in addition to the great competition in the Heavy Events. Thank you to everyone who came and made it a great day:

All the Great Competitors

All the Ladies who entered the Baking Contest

All the people who brought food to share for the Breakfast--the best ever!

The Men who helped set up the Heavy Events field

Jake Joseph for being the Official Scorekeeper and Caber Judge

Everyone who helped clean-up

Everyone who helped with the Wee Bairns and Knee-Hi Highlander Games


The Winners of the 2010 Games are:

The Stone Throw Greg Smith

The Caber Toss Dave Chisholm

The Ladies' Sheaf Toss Erin Joseph

The Men's Sheaf Toss Greg Smith

The Youth Foot Race Hannah Swanson

The Ladies' Foot Race Erin Joseph

The Men's Footrace Dave Chisholm


Men's All-Around Champion Greg Smith

Well done!!

What about Rain?

Oh yeah, in case it rains--The Fun Still Happens! We may switch some things around a bit- but we will still have Church, Breakfast and then do whatever we can. Kind of like Football--we just watch out if there is a threat of lightening and then stay inside until it passes.

48 Hours to Games!!

Well, Loyal Clansmen, The Games are almost here. Just one more post before the 2010 RJM Highland Games will commence and then we can talk about what FUN it was!

For those who will be here early, we will be having a short worship service at 9:00am, with songs and prayer. Bob Madden is in heaven with His Savior Jesus now, and we want to spend a short time together worshiping the God of the Universe, as we enjoy the company of our family and friends and spend the day enjoying His beautiful and awesome creation of earth and sky.

I also want to remind everyone that we want to have a fun and SAFE day. We are having a gathering of friends and family, and this is our home-- it is not a public venue. Please remember to be careful when you are walking around the Farm. There are holes and low spots and wild beasts, like biting bugs and spiders, and we have seen 4 legged creatures of an odorous kind wandering around since we have corn in the field this year. Please watch out for small children, as well as large adults, when we are camping and singing around the bonfire, because fire can be dangerous. If you are competing in the Heavy Events, please use Good Sense to protect yourself from injury and over-exertion. It is July at the Farm, so expect to be hot if you don't sit in the shade and keep hydrated. Wear sun-screen. If there are signs up with directions, please read them for parking and camping locations.

I get really excited about our Highland Games and I personally want everyone who comes to have a great time. I'm looking forward to seeing all of you. Mòran taing!

Heavy Event Rules

The Stone Throw Similar to our modern day shot put, the men will see who can toss a 20 lb. stone the farthest. The field is marked with paint and the stone is measured where it lands, not where it may roll. The stone is held with one hand with the stone resting cradled in the neck until the moment of release. Each participant will have three tries, including fouls, with all contestants rotating through the line-up three separate times. A spinning or glide technique may be used, but the throw line may not be crossed at anytime during or after the throw. Crossing the line will result in a fault for that throw and the throw will be a foul.

The Caber Toss The Caber is stood upright and hoisted by the competitor, who balances it vertically holding the smaller end in his hands. (Contestants must be able to lift the caber from the ground unassisted in order to compete for safety reasons.) Then the competitor runs forward attempting to toss the caber in such a way that it turns end over end with the upper (larger) end striking the ground first. The smaller end that was originally held by the athlete then hits the ground in the 12 o'clock position measured relative to the direction of the run. If successful, the athlete is said to have turned the caber. Competitors are judged on how closely their throws approximate the ideal 12 o'clock toss on an imaginary clock. See the following link for Caber Toss video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZOeHoyNd6c
Or for complete instructions try: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0z_0jqqZdw&feature=related

The Sheaf Toss-Ladies' and Mens' A burlap bag stuffed with a bundle of straw weighing approximately 16 lbs for men and 10 lbs for ladies is tossed vertically with a pitchfork over a raised bar much like that used in pole-vaulting. Each person is allowed three tries at each height, with contestants who fail to cross the bar without displacing it being eliminated at each progressive height.

The Foot Race Our own special version of the King's Race to choose the fastest runner for sending messages. The race begins at the bottom of the hill, with contestants lining up at the No Parking sign. The course follows up the driveway through the designated markers in the backyard, approximately 700 feet from start to finish. Three divisions this year: Youth, age 10-16; Ladies; and Men.

2009 Winners

The Stone Throw Wes McCorkle 30 feet 1/2 inch
The Caber Toss Josh Griebahn 15 minutes off in 3 turns
The Ladies Sheaf Toss Sarah Griebahn 12 feet
The Mens' Sheaf Toss Zach Griebahn 16 feet
Ladies' Foot Race Julieta Vahanian
Mens' Foot Race Dave Chisholm

All Around Champion Josh Griebahn

Scenes from the 2009 Games

Here are some scenes from last year's games:

The Winning Technique

The Stone Throw Competition

Breakfast is a great time to meet and greet old friends and make some new ones.

The Scottish Breakfast

Oh, we do love to eat! Breakfast will be served at 10:00 on the day of the Games, June 18, 2010. We'll have a hearty meal provided, in addition to the goodies and great tasting food that people bring to share. Look for breakfast meats and pastries, fruit and juices, coffee, tea and some Baked Scottish Oatmeal! Bring your lawn chairs and plan to stay for the day and watch all the competitions from a shady spot, even if you don't plan on participating.

Location, Location, Location!

The Games are held each year at Windy Hills Farm, 3590 Utah Ave NE Iowa City, Iowa 52240. Directions: Take Interstate 80 from anywhere to Iowa Exit 249. Utah Ave is located 100 yards from the westbound exit ramp (turn right) or 250 yards from the eastbound exit ramp (turn left). We are the first driveway on the right, up the hill.

There will be camping available for those who like that sort of thing beginning at 4:30pm on Saturday. We will also have a potluck around the bonfire on Saturday night at 7pm. Bring something to share and we'll have good time "warming up" for the Games!

Heavy Events

This year's Heavy Events will be the same as last year's events--lots of fun and excitement! We will start with the Stone Throw at 11:30, followed by the Caber Toss, the Ladies' Sheaf Toss, and the Men's Sheaf Toss. The Foot Race will be held after the Sheaf Toss and we will have three divisions this year--Ladies, Youth (age 10-16) and Men's.

The scoring for the All-Around Champion in the Men's Division will be the six point system this year. Six points for first place, three points for second place and one point for third place. Ties will receive the same number of points. The person with the most points at the end of the day will be the All-Around Champion.

The rules for each event will be posted this week. Be sure to study up so you know your events, whether you are a participant or a spectator!

Kids Games this Year for the Small Bairns!

Children are a big part of any Clan and we want all the Little Ones to get into the spirit of the Games this year too!

There will be Games for Wee Ones, age 2-5, as well as Games for Knee-Hi Highlanders ages 6-10. We will also have a special division of The Foot Race for young people from age 10-16 to compete in. Be sure to bring your running shoes for that one!

Be sure to come and join the fun!

Pie, Cake and Cookie Bake Contest

This is a great new event for this year's Games. And the great thing is...EVERYONE gets to taste and judge!

The basic rules for people who want to enter the competition are as follows:
1. ALL entries must be baked from scratch--that means no boxed or prepared items can be used in the preparation. So if your recipe calls for a box of pudding or a cake mix, you'll need to find a different recipe that uses cornstarch or baking powder, etc.
2. No hydrogenated oils may be used--that means no margarine or crisco type products.
3. All entries will be eaten at the end of the contest.

Judging will take place at 2:30pm--we will cut small samples of each entry in each category and everyone who wants to be a judge will get one ballot for each category. You sample, you vote, that's it! When the judging is over, we will open up the tables so everyone can enjoy dessert. Contestants can participate in each category. Please bring a whole pie or cake and at least a dozen cookies.

I think this probably would have been Dad's favorite part of the day :-) It should be lots of fun!