Beauchamp Challenge: Letters from Home

Haroo Sisters! 

A man in a black suit just made a special delivery of two very dusty letters.  He said they have been sitting in his firm’s vault for more than 200 years.  Of course, like our namesake, Claire, we Beauchamps were quite intrigued by the cryptic messages contained in the letters.  Although the Beauchamps are quite adept at solving puzzles, it looks like we won’t have time to solve these.  So, we call out to our Mackenzie, Murray, and Frazer sisters for a wee bit of help in deciphering these ancient letters. 

This challenge focuses on Parts 5 and 6 of Drums of Autumn.  As with all Highland Games challenges, the maximum possible points one can earn is 10.  But, ye can earn them by completing a combination of the following puzzles.

Letter One:  Word Search Forever
You get 1 point for every three words found, for a maximum of 7 points for this game.

August 1767

Dearest Bree-

You’ll love to know that I am doing fine.  Jamie and I have started to get settled.  We're in America now.  It is beautiful!  I wish you could see it.  Coming from the 20th century, we forget that there so many folks have tread the same soil before us.  Sorry dear, this is probably beginning to sound like a history lesson.  In the short weeks since our arrival, we have met many people, some of whom remind me so much of the lovely folks back in our your time.  I would love to list them by name here, but you remember your American history -– with my British accent, they likely think I am compiling a hit list of sorts.  So I will just list them with a few identifying letters and ask that you find them in the grid.

All my love, Momma.


People we have met:
1. A __ __ M
2. B __ __ __ N __ __
3. C __ __ __ R __
4. D __ R __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (2 words)
5. __ __ N C __ __
6. __ __ __ Q U __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (2 words)
7. __ I __ N __
8. __ R __ __ K __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (2 words)
9. __ A __
10. __ A __ __ __
11. J __ __ __ S __ __
12. __ __ __ G W __ __ __ __ __ __ (2 words)
13. __ __ __ G F __ __ __ __ __ (2 words)
14. M A __ __ __ __ __ [Corrected - Should be 7 letters]
15. __ __ __ S __ __ __ __ __ __E __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (2 words)
16. __ __ __ __ R A __ __ __ (2 words)
17. M R __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (2 words)
18. __ Y __ __ __
19. __ __ L L __ __ __ __ __
20. __ __ __ __ __ __ __ C H
21. S __ __ __ E __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (2 words) [Corrected - Should be 17 letters]

Click on the image to see the full Word Search for printing

Letter Two:  Crosswords,  Je T’aime

You get 1 point for every two words found, for a maximum of 6 points for this game. 

August 1767

Dearest Daughter-

Bree, darling (oh, how I miss saying that to you).  I hope you are doing fine and that you have continued to work hard at your studies.  I thought to tell you a bit about our travels, about the people we've met and the things we've seen.  You should see your Great Aunt Jocasta's place.  It is a wonder to behold.  I can only hope that it has been restored just like Mount Vernon, yet to be built, will be, so that you can see it.  Time is short and once again, I think it prudent to exercise some caution.  I do draw attention to myself just being me.  I do not need my words to add fuel to the fire.  With your methodical mind (so much like your father) I thought you would enjoy a bit of a crossword.  I've offered a few clues to the people and things we have seen and ask that you find them in the crossword grid.  Until I can write again.

Je t'aime, Momma 

ACROSS
5. This first law says nothing is lost only changed
7. A gentle giant
9. Claire's primitive "colleague"
10. What is the prayer Jamie said?
11. Freedom
12. A relative of the Planet of the Apes actor, perhaps? [2 words]
DOWN
1. This aged "Scottie" was given a renewed life [2 words]
2. No such thing as rape among them
3. Saint Paul's solution to unseemly lust
4. Nothing is lost, only changed
6. What is the postman's name?
8. Its green stage can "cramp" anyone's style

Click on the image to see the full crossword for printing

As with all the other challenges:

• 1 bonus point goes to each of the first 10 perfect (i.e.m 10 points) submissions
• 1 point each goes for the first submission (early bird) and the last before the deadline (sneaker)
• 5 points to the winner 

We hope you enjoy the challenges.  Happy Independence Day! Remember, as Claire does with these letters to Bree, home is where the heart lies.

MacKenzie Challenge - The Outcome!

Lasses! I am SO proud that so many of you participated in the MacKenzie challenge - WOW!! There were 45 lasses eligible to play (Clan MacKenzie issued the challenge, so we couldna play) and out of that group, 31 rose up to the challenge we issued. 18 of those 31 earned a perfect score. BRAW JOB, LASSES!!

The answers:

1. Jocasta Cameron

2. Governor Tryon

3. Edwin Murray

4. Phillip Wylie

5. Pollyanne

6. Ulysses

7. Lieutenant Wolff

8. Andrew MacNeill

9. Billy Murchison

BONUS: TULACH ARD!! (What else could it be?!)

Beauchamp: 6 perfect scores were received from Bree, Ealasaid, Eilis, Imogene, Muirne, and Sineag. Additional responses were received from Caroline, Elspeth, Isobel, Lady North Facing, Morven, Nemetona, and Siusan.

Fraser: 7 perfect scores were received from Fiona, Isla, Jeannette, Jocasta Walkley, Nannag, Phaedra, and Vika. Additional responses were received from Airlie and Julienne.

Murray: 5 perfect scores were received from Bea, Caireann, Mordag, Tammy, and Zella. Additional responses were received from Caena, Eileen, Marsali, and Toireassa.

If you sent in your challenge and dinna see your name above, please let us know so we can adjust your clan's scores.

Our earlybird award goes to Vika of Clan Fraser. Her response was received at 3:11am on Friday, June 25th. That was quickly done, lass! And our sneaker award goes to Elspeth of Clan Beauchamp. Her response was received at 11:58pm on Wednesday, June 30.

There are two special awards going to Nemetona Beauchamp and Jeannette Fraser for noting that TULACH ARD is the battle cry of Clan MacKenzie - LOL! You have both earned an extra point for your clan!

A bonus point also goes to Mordag Murray for lighting a fire under her clan and increasing clan participation by 50% in the last hour!!!

All sisters with a perfect score



went into the hat,


and the name that was pulled by DD was...

BREE BEAUCHAMP!!!

Congratulations, Bree! You have earned an additional 5 points for your clan!

The Score:

Beauchamp: 93 + 4 bonus + 1 sneaker + individual winner = 103
Fraser: 76 + 5 bonus + 1 earlybird = 82
Murray: 61 + 4 bonus = 65

Congrats to all of our participants - on to the next!

Respectfully submitted,

Seonag MacKenzie

ETA: changed scoring to reflect bonus points for first perfect 10 scores. Beauchamp received an additional 3 bonus points; Fraser received an additional 4 bonus points; and Murray received an additional 3 bonus points. The overall scores have been adjusted accordingly.

Apologies!!

~Seonag