While I've never particularly understood the absolute stupidity of setting off fireworks during fire season...I remind ye of Bach's Rescue Remedy, superb for quelling the natural anxiety animals feel from such absurd displays.
I've just read a couple of fascinating articles on hydrophobic soil...but....I will shut up now.
​Happy 4th!

Anastasia Noble is the most significant 20th century steward of Scottish Deerhounds...& we have her to thank for her astute preservation of this glorious hound. 

Miss Noble passed on at age 88 in the year 2000, leaving a legacy of 185 litters of Scottish Deerhounds, multitudes of champions & countless exports in many countries...thereby cultivating seeds of Scottish Deerhound breeding planet-wide, ensuring preservation of this antiquated Scottish treasure.

Born in 1911 on Christmas Day, she was the daughter of  Sir John Noble a Scot from the ancient Dumbarton & Lanark families. Castle Ardkinglas (at the head of the pastoral Loch Fyne) had been acquired by her paternal grandfather Sir Andrew Noble in 1905 & was to be Anastasia's home (& that of her hounds) until the passing of Anastasia's brother John (at age 60) in 1972. At this time, Ardkinglas passed to John's only son Simon John ("Johnny") & Miss Noble moved to a cottage on the estate.

While many ventures were attempted with the goal of turning a profit to support the massive requirements of the estate...it was oysters that did it! A venture so successful that Loch Fyne Oysters was born & reigns today as supreme.

Anastasia ("Tasia" to her friends) was known for her expressive nature, astute opinions, fine character & for never looking down upon anyone, regardless of their station. If this were not enough, she was also regarded for her fine harness horses (Hackneys) & for being an expert knitter of Scottish kilt stockings! Wow!

In fact, the entire family is one of collectors, preservationists, historians & Scottish antiquarians in general, with Scottish silver being a specialty of the family over several generations.

Ardkinglas Deerhounds will live on forever thanks to the discerning efforts & keen eye of the brilliant Anastasia Noble. Ardkinglas Castle too, shall exist satisfactorily as well, under the tutelage of Simon John's nephew David Sumsion, who inherited Ardkinglas in 2002 when Simon John passed unexpectedly at age 65.

​

This is a waltz composed for Anastasia's 80th birthday...purportedly she danced & danced & danced to this waltz....earning her the moniker "Queen of the Waltz"...