A (Claire Fraser) Life Made in Miniature

OK y'all - so get over to stuff.co.nz and check out this article about Sandra Monk. Ms. Monk apparently makes miniature models... and recently made one based on OUTLANDER!!

Working on a 1:12 scale model of a medieval mill, Ms Monk said it is influenced by Diana Gabaldon's historical romance Cross Stitch in which the heroine journeys back in time from her 1943 life as a nurse, to the early 18th century, where her skill and knowledge brings help and comfort to those in need. 

In this medieval mill the two floors reflect the miller's two personas. Upstairs is the "switched-on" woman of 1943; downstairs, the 1743 apothecarist's dispensary.

I am DYING to see this. Dying. And it's in New Zealand. And I live in New Jersey. And do you know where that is? That is one heckuva long way from New Zealand...I'll tell you that.

For all of you New Zealanders, it's going to be on display in April... the info is in the article!

Sooooo.... since I canna see it in person, I emailed the website that hosted the article and asked if they took any photos (doubt it because they'd most likely be shown) or if they could give me contact info for Ms. Monk so I could contact her myself and beg to see some photos and maybe - with her gracious permission - put them on the site.

Cross your fingers, Sassenachs!

Books for Valentine's Day

Ooooh - check out this article at Examiner.com regarding what to read for Valentine's Day. Our very own Outlander is mentioned... but also a book I am now considering reading. Check out what Jesse Coffey has to say about Beyond the Highland Mist by Karen Marie Moning:

"the first of a series of Highlander tales with a little Celtic mythology thrown in for good measure. And with anything Scottish born in the highlands being really hot right now, you can't go wrong with this one. The main character of Hawk is being urged to marry but no woman has ever tickled his fancy--until Adrienne is whisked out of her time and drops in his world. Definitely a page turner. And if you can't find that one specifically, try one of the other six in the series. They're all romantically spectacular!"

We were just talking about "what romance to read next" last night in chat... so I'm happy to have the suggestion!!

Greetings from Purgatory

A few things....

1) Great Outlander chat tonight - thanks to everyone who came out!  Especially Lesley from the UK who came at 2:30 AM!!!

2) Chat will be canceled next week - Monday, February 14th.

3) A bunch of us were discussing Twilight tonight... and I came across one of the more amusing posts from MyTwilightPurgatory. If you are a Twilight fan and you saw the Eclipse film, you may find yourself having a little giggle. This blog post is based on commentary from Tracey, our cousin Jenn D and myself... on our way home from seeing Eclipse (for the 2nd or 3rd time)... and I just laughed heartily out loud whilst re-reading it.

4) God bless Jamie Fraser. (Just had to add that.) 

Outlander Chat Tonight

Yo Yo! Outlander chat tonight - 9PM Eastern - Hope you can make it!

Runrig

My Outlander Purgatory friend, Jackie, sent in this fabulous song - "Pog aon oidhche earraich" - by a band named Runrig from Scotland. It's absolutely beautiful. Make sure you head on over to youtube and listen to more of their songs, too!

Outlander Chat Tonight

Outlander chat tonight - 9PM Eastern - Hope you all can make it!

Claire Fraser: Down for the Count

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have read Dragonfly in Amber.

So Jamie and Claire just had "Holy Shit Moment #1" when they thought Alexander Randall was Frank. Poor Claire. First Jamie comes out of the big lunch...giving her shit for being sick with the baby HIS loins impregnated her with... and then he gets all "Oh I'm sorry... I'm just worried about you".  I was dying to be a third party in that conversation and walk up and say "Yeah. Um, Jamie? Just curious... was it just that you felt bad for Claire? Or maybe was there a little embarrassment wrapped up in there too, hmmmm?"  If a man ever gave my ass shit for having morning sickness because I was pregnant with HIS child... I'd clock him. Even if he WAS worrit about me. Sheesh.

OK so then - here comes Alexander RrrrrrAAAHHHNNNdal (as Davina says... oh how I LOVE her!) and they both see him... and Claire temporarily bites it right there on the spot. It was like "Jamie, I'm fine, I just....wha...who....ohhhhhhhh shitttttttt.... ZZZZZZZZZZZZ....oh Hi Frank....wait, what?" I swear to god that part makes me have an attack of nervous angina - and a bit of a giggle fit - all at the same time! I guess it's because it's a reread/listen...and I know it's not Jack Randall. Thank the lorddddddddddd it's not Jack Randall!!!

For now. Muhhahahahahaha!

6 Nights in Scotland for $699

So every week I get an update from Travel Zoo of their top 20 deals. And every week I check for a deal for Scotland....and every week I'm disappointed.

Until this week.

6 nights in Scotland in Spring for $699 (from NYC). Two nights in Edinburgh, two nights in the Highlands, two nights in Glasgow. WITH a rental car and round trip flight. You cannot beat that deal with a stick, lads and lassies.

Oh Dougray... I Canna Hear Ye, Lad!

On this, Robert Burns' birthday...I BEG you UKers and Irish to listen to this. I can only imagine how fantastic it is. Why must I imagine? Because I am in the US and I get an error that says "not available in your area" when I try to listen! I'm sure you guys over there willna find it as exciting as I would because you get to hear this accent on a daily basis. LOL But still. He's reading Burns. Le sigh...

Happy Birthday, Robert Burns!