Happy Hogmanay!

Check out this fantastic blog post from Paul Bommer on Hogmanay.  It explains Scottish custom of being the first-footer - the first person over the threshold in the new year.  My husband's mother (who's father was from Paisley) always insisted my husband and his brothers and sisters come back into the house with a gift after they'd been out on New Year's Eve.  She'd leave a basket of oranges at the front door so they could take one and carry it over the threshold.  Gotta love Scottish customs.

Monarch of the Glen in 2013

Make 2013 the year that you finally watch Monarch of the Glen !

It's like a huge, steaming pile of Scottish goodness, dropped directly into your lap!

The Wee Man

I canna WAIT for this film.  Not only is John Hannah in it...but some of you will remember Martin Compston as Ewan on Monarch of the Glen.  He's tremendous and seems to be playing a seasoned, gangster, grown-up version of the same character in The Wee Man!

MOP Character Contest Entries Coming Shortly

I am just now going through and reading all the entries via email, along with the names of everyone who sent them...and can say that I am somewhat floored.  People I expected to ham it up, didn't...some I wouldn't have expected...did!

I am going to post all of the entries soon. If you do NOT want your name to be printed along with your entry, please email me again and let me know.

We are SO doing this again, soon!

PS - Another male Outlander fan...I love it!  You need to come to MOP Chat one of these days, mister! :)

Outlander Chat Tonight

Outlander Chat tonight.  9PM Eastern.

The My Outlander Purgatory Character Contest WINNERS

I am so excited to announce the winning entries of the My Outlander Purgatory character contest! 

But first...let me tell you how we picked the winners.  Tracey and I each picked 8 entries...and then compared notes.  Interestingly enough, 5 out of the 8 were a match.  Of the 5, we each picked 3 and compared notes...and all 3 were the same!  We each picked an "honorable mention" as well.  

Let me just say that every single one of those entries was tremendous.  I wish they could all be winners...because they were so well thought-out.  Whether they were longer and more descriptive...or a quick one-liner, we really enjoyed them all...and hope you did, too!

And now...for the winners of the MOP Character Contest (drumroll please): 

WINNERS (3):

• I would want to be Claire, not only because she has Jamie, but because she has the best genes ever. The woman does not age! She still has a nice arse at 47 (Joe Abernathy would tap that), and I am telling you, that is nearly impossible! (At least it is in my gene pool-- our arses make it until about 18 and then wave their white flag at old man Gravity.) She's also a career woman in a time when there was no such thing, knowing the healing properties of every plant in the 18th and 20th century, from Scotland to North America. Yeah, there are some negatives-- body lice, battles, strumpets trying to steal her man, and Frank from 1948-1966, to mention a few-- but having a devoted, warm, supportive, and sweet man like the Lord of Lallybroch by her side, an impressive, century-spanning resume, and a great body into her 50s... there is no other choice for me.

• I would love to be the girl who gave Jamie his son....Geneva Dunsany. I think of her and wondered what the relationship would have been between them if she had lived. I am certain Jamie would not have been able to stay away from his son, especially in those years after he was released from his bond. Geneva wanted Jamie. He was gentle with her when he bedded her and even though she was a wicked wee bizum, I would fantasize that with the birth of the baby things may have been different between them. So, yea, I would be GenevHO, if only for that one night..... sigh.

• I'd be Donas, so I could have Jamie riding me all day!

HONORABLE MENTIONS (2):

• I would be Frank because then at least one of us would be able to answer the question "What did Frank know?"

• I'd be Frank. 'Cause I'm a bit of a douche.

I find it verra interesting that both honorable mentions are about Frank.  Always 2nd best, poor guy!

Now that we know the winning entries...let's find out who the winners are!  If you are one of our 3 winners, please comment below and let us know who you are.  Also - send me an email at carol@myoutlanderpurgatory.com, letting me know what (1 credit) audio book you want from audible.com...and what email address to send it to. 

I will post ALL entries after we find out the winners...and it's up to the rest of you whether or not you want to come clean about who you are!! :)

Thanks again to all who entered; we've had a blast.  Something tells me I'll be running another contest again verra soon!

MOP Character Contest has Officially Ended

Thanks to all who entered the My Outlander Purgatory Character Contest!

The three winners will be posted this Monday, December 17th!

Last Day for the MOP Outlander Character Contest!

OK Lads and Lassies...this is the last day to enter the My Outlander Purgatory Character Contest...for the chance to win a free Audiobook on Audible.com!

LOVE the entries so far.  It's going to be ridiculously hard to choose.  Tracey and I will be hashing it out this weekend...and I'll post the winners on Monday.

I've been thinking about my own answer...which I have not posted yet.  There are different ways to look at this.  Who is the most interesting?  Who would I love to play?  Who does everyone love the most?

I think I have my answer.  It won't be nearly as interesting as most of yours...but I'll post that on Monday, too.  :)

Whisky Cookie Recipe

Anonymous left this on a previous post...but I thought it warranted a repost!  Thanks, Anon!

Whiskey Cookies

1 lb. butter, softened 

2c. powdered sugar (sifted) 

1 egg yolk 

2 generous shots whiskey 

4 c. flour 

Beat butter until fluffy. Add ingredients in order given. Drop by 1/2 tsp. full onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Place pecan, candied cherries, chocolate jimmies, colored sugars or dip half in chocolate and sprinkle with fine crushed nuts. Bake in 350 degree oven for 25 minutes. Watch for cookies to brown around edges. Makes 8 dozen and they freeze well.

Lifescapes: Scottish Moors

I listened to Lifescapes: Scottish Moors nonstop while reading the Outlander series...and figured I'd link to it during the holidays.

Get this - Amazon has it listed for $47.89 new!  I guess they don't make it anymore??  (The Bronze Horseman fans are thinking "Tatian's Table" right about now.)  If you're buying it for yourself, they do list it for $3.25 used.  Not a bad deal.

SCOTLAND: The Autobiography - 2,000 Years of Scottish History By Those Who Saw It Happen

Look at this gorgeous book!

I am ordering this for myself and telling my hubby to wrap it up!

"A vivid, wide-ranging, and engrossing account of Scotland's history, composed of timeless stories by those who experienced it first-hand. Contributors range from Tacitus, Mary, Queen of Scots, and Oliver Cromwell to Adam Smith, David Livingstone, and Billy Connolly. These include not only historic moments--from Bannockburn to the opening of the new parliament in 1999--but also testimonies like that of the eightyear- old factory worker who was dangled by his ear out of a third-floor window for making a mistake; the survivors of the 1746 Battle of Culloden, who wished perhaps that they had died on the field; the breakthrough moment for John Logie Baird, inventor of television; and, the genesis of great works of literature recorded by Conan Doyle, Stevenson, and the editor of Encyclopaedia Britannica. From the battlefield to the sports field, this is living, accessible history told by crofters, criminals, servants, housewives, poets, journalists, nurses, politicians, prisoners, comedians, sportsmen, and many more."

Post scriptum:  I JUST BOUGHT IT.  Absolutely amazing book...beyond words.  If you get a chance, read the story, "Jacobite Orphans, 1746" by John MacDonald.  It sounds like something right out of a Diana Gabaldon book.  Just grabs you "right here".  

Christmastime Bannocks

Something about this time of year makes me want...no need...bannocks.  So yesterday, I made some and centered a gathering around them!  I had some friends over for quiche, coffee cake and the aforementioned bannocks.  I served them with not only strawberry and blueberry jam...but also apple butter and lemon curd.  You don't even KNOW how good they were.

Holy COW those things are scrumptious.  I posted the recipe a while back before I made them for my Outlander party with my book club.  

If you haven't yet tried them, lorddddd get out there and make some!

Attention MOP Contest Entries!

The entries are already coming in!  To those of you who have already entered, we have a request.  To avoid discrepancies about who sent the winning entries, please cut and paste your entry to an email and send it here (contest@mypurgatory.com.)  This email will be read *after* we've picked the winners.

Already enjoying the entries!!  Keep 'em coming!

Outlander Chat Tonight

Outlander Chat tonight.  9PM Eastern.

My Outlander Purgatory Character Contest!

Lads and Lassies!  I give you...the first ever...My Outlander Purgatory Character Contest!

Three lucky winners will be awarded the audio book of their choice from Audible.com!

So what's the contest??

If you were an Outlander series character, who would you be, and why? 

A few simple rules...

• To enter, post your answer under this post as a comment.  Please post comments anonymously.  (Just sign out and sign back in as "anonymous" before you post.  NO NAMES!)  :)  THEN - cut and paste your entry and email it here (contest@mypurgatory.com). (That way, we will have proof the entry came from you when we are finished judging...AND I can post everyone's entries on the blog.)

• Contest ends Friday, December 14th at Midnight.  Winners will be announced Monday, December 17th. 

• Entries will be judged by Carol and Tracey and will be based on originality!!  Also - length of entry does NOT matter.  One sentence or ten sentences...it's up to you!

• Audiobook credit (1) will be sent to you by Carol, via email. 

The Minister's Cat

Went to see a local production of Scrooge: The Musical last night...and thought of all of you when they performed "The Minister's Cat".

Here's one I found on Youtube.  Giggle.

Happy Anniversary Tracey!

Just want to throw out a very special Happy Anniversary to my Outlander Mentor and sister, Tracey...and her awesome hubby, John.  Woot!