Greetings to all from snowy north Idaho.

My name is Tony Hayes and I have been visiting Xmarks casually while doing Scottish research for my wife of 30 years. She is to put it lovingly, a "Scottish Mutt", including Wilson, Scott, Fordyce, and many other branches who I can only find a reference to as 'Scotch/Irish'.

However, it is now time to get serious. Plus, while lurking around to get the jist of things, I discovered (while following one of Oddern's threads-mange takk) that the valley (Valdres) my Norwegian grandfather emigrated from is home to one of the historical 'Norske' tartans in the STA. Hence my avatar.

My father was an upholsterer and mother sewed gloves commercially, so I am well acquainted with needle and thread. I received TAOK from Santa this Christmas and am starting on the same journey many of you seem to have.

So many tartans and so little time.

I look forward to all your company, sharing your knowledge and potentially meeting some day.

Tony Hayes

"Old enough to know better and too old to care"