What's in a Name?

We've had a lot of questions about our name. What does it mean?  Where did it come from?  Why do you choose it?  And my favorite: how do you say it?

Well here we go :) 

Tapsalteerie is an old Scots word meaning "topsy turvy" or "a confused state or manner".

Many have heard the word in a Burns poem called Green Grow the Rashes which is often sung by Celtic/Scottish singers.  Dougie Maclean sings a particularly good version.

There is also a kennel that raises Irish Wolfhounds by the same name and a folkband too... we, of course, have no affiliation with either... but it is interesting to see what comes up when you Google it.

When we were trying to come up with a farm name we kept finding a good name only to find out that there was already a localish farm with that name.  We tried RoseHill, Thistle Run and Thistle Fields before I finally, in a fit of frustration, flipped open a book of Scottish poetry to the glossary and there Tapsalteerie popped right off the page and I knew it was the perfect name.

So why would I name our farm topsy-turvy?  Because it perfectly describes us.  We are constantly in a state of confusion :)  From having horses who ignore electric fences to sheep that ignore established rules of sheep behavior... our farm is anything but normal :)  but we wouldn't have it any other way :)

It's fairly easy to pronounce.  tap·sal·teer·ie or for more phonetically:  tap sell teary or just click here to hear it