New Double Jones--Dutch Friendship Tartan

[ForresterModern]

For about the last 6 months I have been trying to order and waiting to recieve a large section of 16oz Dutch Frindship Tartan, only available from ordering through their webpage, which is in Dutch, a language I do not speak. My wife being full-blooded first generation Dutch-American of naturalized dutch parents doesn't speak a word of the language except for a couple of recognizable curses so she was no help, and her parents are too old to help much either. Finally, through several emails and phone calls in broken english we got the deal sealed and the tartan ordered, which had to be woven by Lochcarron----seems that the web site does not keep it in stock. Jones, jones jones, two and a half months go by before its arrival, interestingly duty free, directly from Lochcarron. Beautiful fabric---amazing, mesmerizing, like when I first looked upon Maple Leaf or Isle of Skye.

Anyway, I had gotten together with Ron (Riverkilt) on the order as it seems he has some dutch heritage in his lineage and was itching for this particular tartan as well, cut of a length for him and got his on its way to Kathy Lare, and mine on its way to Bonnie Heather Greene. Mine is destined for a tank, with an extra yard and a half sent for my son's first real kilt. Besides the family tartan that was the only one my wife really wanted to see him in, seeing as he is genetically half Dutch and only his surname Scottish border family. But there is more. This also comes from the near finalization of my Foster/Forster geneology, which it seems actually starts in Flanders in the Low Countries back in the 9th Century, where my forebears were Counts of Flanders appointed by the Merovingian kings (Dagobert and all that) for many generations. The Forester name subsequently coming to England and Scotland as a prominent part of William the Conqueror's entourage during the Norman Invasion, which resulted in knighthood and numerous southern Scottish and northern English land grants. The knight stayed and the family fluorished throughout the Borders for centuries (Bamburgh, Atherstone, Corstorphine, Torwood, Stirling regions).

Anyway, to make a long story a wee bit shorter, I am honoring that low country heritage by having Bonnie Heather Greene make matching Dutch Friendship Tartan kilts for my son and myself, which will match a silk scarf my wife has in the same tartan pattern and colors. And I kept an additional nearly 3 yards of tartan for another kilt for the boy when he outgrows this first one, so the tradition can continue.

So after a jones for the tartan, there is now a double jones for the kilts for myself and my boy.

jeff


ps. Bonnie just upgraded her webpage recently to include some testimonials and a photo gallery, that just happen to include some photos of some familiar faces, namely mine and Tyger's. I would recommend anyone else who has some of Bonnie's work to send her photos and your comments for inclusion.

www.bonniekilts.com








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