Get Well Soon, Aunt Helen!!!

Aunt Helen - our favorite Outlander fan - is in the hospital. :(  Please keep her in your prayers and send some healing Claire Fraser vibes her way!!

The FOUR verses of The Star Spangled Banner

The Star Spangled Banner

(By Francis Scott Key 1814)


Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Outlander Chat Tonight

Outlander CHAT tonight! 9PM Eastern. Tracey will be late (like, verra late) but I will be there on time!

New William Lawson's Commercial

Yum! I've never seen this one!  Look at his cat eyes! 

Rob Roy

Oh. My. God. Am I the only person in the Outlander universe who hasn't seen this film? It's spectacular!! It's set in the early 18th century Highlands. The landscape is not to be believed. And I just watched a scene between Liam Neeson and Jessica Lang that was Jamie and Claire perfection!! OK, OK... one or two of the lead accents aren't perfect (pronounced "pairrrrrfect") but there are enough true Scots talking in this film to make you giddy for a week.

GO. RENT. THIS. FILM!!!

PS - Oh my god - they just threatened Rob with "The Tollbooth"!!! 

How the SCOTS Invented the Modern World

My Outlander Purgatory bud, Stephanie sent in this AWESOME book suggestion and said it was "something we could all appreciate; Himself included." I have to agree!

Best. My Outlander Purgatory Video. Ever.

I just laughed right out loud in my kitchen when I saw this. And might I say, we usually take our parents to a nicer restaurant for their anniversary... but we had short notice this year. Oy. It looks like we're in Sizzler! Tracey was calling the decor "Early American IHOP". LOL! Enjoy!

PS - I FORGOT to mention!  The restaurant was a house that was built in 1780... and is called Willie's Tavern!! Apparently a fellow built it for his son when he returned from the Revolutionary War!  Run and tell THAT... Homegirls! :)

Outlander Chat Tonight

Outlander CHAT tonight! 9PM Eastern y'all. I am looking forward to a little Philly discussion - aka ECHO discussion - and anything else you feel like talking about! See you then!

Philadelphia Freedom

SPOILER ALERT: Ye may not wish to read this post if ye havena yet read An Echo in the Bone.

So the kids were off from school this week... and what better place to visit but the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. BEN Franklin, to be exact.

Now - I didna take the Liberty Bell tour... (I have a few times in the past) but I did get some decent shots of Ben's likeness...and some things that may interest ye.

And please note the name of the fellow who made the bust of Benjamin Franklin. One James Earle Fraser. Mmm hmmm.

Just click the pause button if you want to read the notes about the sculpture and tea set!

No Official Chat Tonight!

Sorry y'all for the late notice - Tracey and I won't be able to be at chat tonight. Tracey has a meeting and I am enjoying a visit from PattzR and The Bagipe Dancer (aka our Mom and Dad) - and would feel pretty rude blowing them off for an hour when they're only here for one night!

Please feel FREE to use the chat room anyway! We don't have to be present!!