Happy Presidents Day: No MOP Chat Tonight

MOP Chat will be canceled tonight in observance of the Presidents Day Holiday in the United States.  We hope you have a wonderful night and we'll see you next week!

Welcome Sophie Skelton aka BRIANNA!

Droughtlander Book Suggestions

Just came across the article Addicted to Outlander? 11 Books to Read During the Long Wait for Season Two by Caitlin Kleinschmidt.  I am already a Bronze Horseman nut...but am thrilled to find a few more suggestions to tide us over for the next couple months!

Bree Watch 2016

MOP'S TOBIAS TUESDAY!

Cait, Tobias and Sam Talk to Access Hollywood about Season 2

Happy Birthday Diana Gabaldon!!!

Could this woman BE more stunning???  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DG!!! :)

If You Love Outlander, You MUST Watch AMC's TURN

I am very seriously toying with the idea of creating My Turn Purgatory, y'all.  THAT...is how good this show is.  (As if I didn't wax on about it in our latest video??)  Please take 4 minutes and 54 seconds out of your life and watch this. Not only does it show scenes from the series, but it also EXPLAINS who many of the main characters are (just for you, Tracey) and shows the actors giving quick rundowns on their characters and their plot lines.

Bottom line...if you are an Outlander fan, you really must be watching Turn, Washington's Spies.

ENJOY...and let me know what you think!!

PS - NO, I don't work for AMC!!  I just really, REALLY love and support this show!  :)

MOP Video: A Very MOP-py Holiday!

Wallapop Jamieisms!

SPOILER ALERT:  Do not read unless you have read Dragonfly in Amber!

Saw this post on Wallapop this morning and giggled my - ahem - HONEY POT off!!  First I thought, "JAMIE!"  Then I looked closer and thought, "Winne the Pooh?"  LOL!!  I think I may have to have this.  Can you imagine??  I show up at someone's door and say, "You're selling this gem??  Haven't you read Dragonfly in Amber??"  ;)

MOP Chat Canceled Tonight

Hey y'all!  We hope you all had an amazing holiday weekend!!

Feel free to talk amongst yourselves, but we will not be able to join you in MOP CHAT this evening. Tracey FINALLY got Star Wars tickets...and I am away on vacation with the fam.

SIDE NOTE:  We have a very special surprise coming VERRA SOON.  Hint:  It involves Carol, Tracey, and a whole lotta holiday cheer.  :::insert laughing so hard, I'm almost crying emoji here:::

Outlander 2016 Golden Globe Nominations: MOP Breaks it DOWN!

THREE GOLDEN GLOBES nominations for OUTLANDER on Starz!

Best Television Series – Drama

Outlander

Best Performance By an Actress in a Television Series – Drama

Caitrona Balfe, Outlander

Best Performance By an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television

Tobias Menzies, Outlander

OUTLANDER Starz Season 2 Teaser Trailer

CANNOT STOP WATCHING THIS!!!!

CYBER MONDAY: 15% off Select Items in the Official Outlander Store!

 CYBER MONDAY ALERT!!!

Visit the Official OUTLANDER Store  and get 15% off select official OUTLANDER merchandise!!  TODAY only!!

Biggest Kindle Daily Day of the Year at Amazon!!!

CYBER MONDAY ALERT!

Save up to 85% off over 800 books today with Amazon's

Biggest Kindle Daily Day of the Year!

A Princess for Christmas on the Hallmark Channel

It's that time of year again!!  Click "View all showtimes" on the Hallmark Channel webpage for A Princess for Christmas to find out when you can watch Sam Heughan in a totally adorable role as the hunky Prince Ashton.

Pop.Lander's Outlander Pop! Photography on Instagram

Just finished tonight's Monday's Outlander  Chat and heard about something fun and new in Outlanderville in tonight's discussion!

HOW TOTALLY CUTE is Outlander Pop! Photography (@pop.lander) on Instagram???

You MUST GO NOW and check this out!!  So adorable!!

Prayers for France

Last Call: Droughtlander Photo Contest at Outlandish Observations!

Last call for the Outlandish Observations Droughtlander Photo Contest!!!  Whatcha waitin' for???  Get those photos and send 'em to Karen, STAT!!!  :)

HAPPY 6TH BIRTHDAY to MOP!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY My Outlander Purgatory!!

I started waxing on about Outlander six years ago today...and here I am still doing it!!   Where does the time go?!?

I was going to post a video of a piper playing Happy Birthday...but I decided Stuart Mackenzie was much more apropos of the antics and hijinks Tracey and I have enjoyed over the years. :)

Cameron's and HP and Proclaimers, oh MY!

OK so this just happened in my car...

I had just gotten some sausage rolls, meat pies and bridies from my favorite Scottish market...and 500 Miles came on the radio.  A big bag of Scottish goodness...HP in the cup holder...Proclaimers on the radio...

It was like the Scottish Perfect Storm!  :) 

Last Minute Scottish Halloween Costumes

The following costumes are STILL available on Amazon Prime, for one or two-day delivery...if you or your significant other are considering dressing as some cool Scots for Halloween this weekend:

Drinkin', Partyin' Scottish Dude...

Hot, Bare-chested Scottish Dude who's probably going to end up at Drinkin', Partyin' Scottish Dude's killer party after he finishes Highland dancing at the Bachelorette party...








"WTF Scottish Dude" who's miserable because his wife made him dress up fancy and go to his in-laws'.  He secretly wishes he could be at Drinkin', Partyin' Scottish Dude's house, innocently flirting with Hot, Bare-chested Scottish Dude's leftovers...

 






"WTF Scottish Dude's Wife" who is constantly checking to make sure he is still talking sports with her father and hasn't snuck out to go to Drinkin', Partyin' Scottish Dude's house to flirt with Hot, Bare-chested Scottish Dude's leftovers...







Laoghaire's Ho-bag Scottish Friend who is trying to get with Hot, Bare-chested Scottish Dude.









Hot, Bare-chested Scottish Dude's Fiance who has no idea he is dancing at night, in addition to working at the mill, to pay for the overpriced engagement ring her mother insisted she's entitled to.




There ya have it!!  Go check 'em out!!!  :)

The Bastard Executioner: Droughtlander Methadone

I have become extremely hooked on a new show by the awe-inspiring Kurt Sutter called The Bastard Executioner.  It takes place in 14th century Wales, and those of you who love English rule period pieces (and don't mind some blood and gore) will love it.

And let's just say there may be a certain massive redhead named Lee Jones who may help to fill the Jamie Fraser void over the next few months.  He happens to be the lead character who is fighting to save his country from English atrocities (sound familiar?)...and to say he reminds me of "Exile Jamie" at times is an understatement.  Just look at those cat eyes!!

The yummy Stephen Moyer (True Blood "Sookayyy!") and the hella-cool Katey Sagal (Mother of all mothers on Sons of Anarchy) are also leads on the show and are both very different from their characters on True Blood and Sons. SO different that you will forget all about Vampire Bill and Gemma Teller Morrow and completely lose yourself in the story.

Another lead is the plainly beautiful Flora Spencer-Longhurst...a virtual unknown (in the US) who is beyond realistic as the Baroness Lowry and is referred to by most characters as "Lady Love." The show's make up and costumes department - as well as casting directors - should all be given Emmys...because this woman is so authentic, she looks like she stepped right out of a medieval painting.  And they might as well give her one as well...because she's so believable, you can't take your eyes off her during every moment she's on the screen.

Note: the show takes a few episodes to really get under your skin, so make sure you watch a few before making up your mind.  It's on FX on Tuesday nights at 10PM Eastern.

And let me know what you think!

Scotland Fever: The Bay City Rollers are BACK

I just sat in my car in the driveway, much longer than necessary, listening to the Bay City Rollers' "I Only Want To Be With You." I found myself straining to hear the slightest whisper of a Scots accent and delighting in the little up swoop whenever they sang "what you doooo."

(I never thought to do this as an 8 year old, bopping around my house and singing their songs at the top of my lungs with my sisters, mind. Tracey and I will gladly give you a repeat in our next video.)

The fact that the Bay City Rollers are touring again brought a wee bit of warmth to my wame, that is for sure.  Tracey, Third sister, Jill and I will no doubt buy tickets if they show up in NJ/PA.

(Eric Faulkner was my absolute fave.  What about you?

Belinda, Westmoore Pottery, and Other Such Fabulousness

It has taken me WAY TOO LONG to properly THANK longtime MOP friend, Belinda...for sending me the most amazing gift on the PLANET, yo...

Do you remember the glasses Claire, Jenny, Jamie and Ian were drinking from at Lallybroch??

How could anyone forget, really...when Jenny was being all bitchy sweet to Claire...and making her feel so awful welcome.  ;)

I - in typical Carol fashion - raved about them to Tracey in a MOP video...and told the world I MUST HAVE THEM.

And Belinda MADE MY DREAM COME TRUE!!!

Belinda's awesome friend, Mary Farrell has a Pottery shop called Westmoore Pottery in Seagrove, North Carolina...and sells STUNNING glasses like the ones shown here.

Per Belinda:  "She does a lot of work for Old Salem, which is near our precious Fraser's Ridge, where I know Claire did her shopping, therefore, having pottery that looks very similar to Mary's."

These are one of a kind pieces, y'all...so I don't know what she has in stock in the store these days.  You'll just have to stop in - or go to her website - to find out!

And this isn't just your average pottery shop.  Mary runs amazing events like 18th century cooking demonstrations in her shop's large fireplace.

So my sincere thanks go out to Belinda...for being such an amazing participant at MOP over the years.  It's kindof scary to jump into this blogging thing...but sometimes people come along and "hang out" with you online and discuss the books/show...and giggle at your videos, and the next thing you know, YEARS have passed...and it's still so much fun to blog about all things Outlander.

Thank you, Belinda, for being so incredibly generous and sending me something I will treasure forever.  :)

Outlander Starz: Season one - Volume Two

Have you ordered Outlander: Season One - Volume Two yet????  

Preorder the Outlander Coloring Book!

Only $10.59 (US) for the Outlander Coloring Book, y'all!

Scottish Bands by Wee Scottish Lass

Not only is this pretty cool info about Scottish bands, but I could listen to her awesome accent all day.  She could be reciting the Scottish Guide to Prairie Dogs, and I'd be riveted! Enjoy!

Is Target an Outlander Fan?

REMEMBER PAOLI!

SPOILER ALERT:  Dinna read if ye havena read An Echo in the Bone and Written in My Own Heart's Blood. 

"The British certainly meant it to be a surprise. They marched in the middle of night and captured all civilians living along their path to prevent word of the attack from reaching the Continentals. The British commander, Maj. Gen. Charles Grey ordered his troops to be quiet under threat of the death penalty. He also ordered that all flints be removed from firearms to prevent accidental discharges, earning him the nickname of “No-Flint” Grey. However, American Gen. Anthony Wayne received a report about the possible attack through a farmer who was at the Paoli Inn. Another local told him that he had been "with the enemy" and had heard British soldiers say they would attack that night. Wayne put out additional pickets and prepared his soldiers to maneuver and possibly retreat from a potentially larger British force."  An excerpt from ushistory.org's Battle of Paoli page.

Today marks the 238th anniversary of the surprise attack of British troops on the Colonial Army during the Battle of Paoli or "Paoli Massacre" during the Revolutionary War.

It is also the anniversary of the day that sparked my visit to the Paoli Battlefield (and subsequent various googling) which resulted in my blogging about The Battle of Paoli...which resulted in Diana Gabaldon seeing my amateur photos and info on the term "Remember Paoli."  Diana later wrote a chapter entitled "Remember Paoli" in Written in My Own Heart's Blood...and mentioned My Outlander Purgatory in the acknowledgments, basically making my life, let alone my year, month or day.

Click here to see those photos and the info from my visit.  And please...

REMEMBER PAOLI! 

MOP Monday Night Outlander Chat TONIGHT

MOP Outlander Chat Tonight - MONDAY NIGHT - at 9PM Eastern!  

Tracey is iffy but I will be there, so be there or be square!!! :) 

Monday Night MOP Outlander Chat TONIGHT

MOP Outlander Chat Tonight - MONDAY NIGHT - at 9PM Eastern! 

Tracey and I are iffy for this evening due to some schedule changes this week...but really want to be there to commiserate Droughtlander with y'all.  So talk amongst yourselves (I'll give you a topic:  Fergus Lamaze is neither Fergus - or Lamaze...discuss!) and at least one of us will be there just as soon as we can.  :) 

*If you receive MOP email updates: This post will most likely show up on your email feed on Tuesday. I apologize for the delay. It seems whenever I post after 2PM, it shows up a day late!  

Outlander POP Figures

OMG Shut...UP!!!  LOOK HOW CUTE THEY ARE!!!!

I have Daryl and Carol from The Walking Dead...but never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I could have Outlander POP figures!!  LOVE!!

A Stroll Down MOBY Memory Lane (SPOILERS!)

Was in my hometown area in PA the other day...and felt compelled to take a few MOBYfied pictures.  :)

New Music for New (and Old!) Readers

Every once in a while I have to stop and promote the Lifescapes Scottish Moors CD from Jeff Victor.  I read the ENTIRE Outlander series while listening to this CD.  I set it to loop and read and read and the haunting sounds seeped through my body and made me feel as if I were there in Scotland with Jamie and Claire.

Trust me; you want this music.   It's almost an out-of-body experience!

MOP Chat Canceled Tonight!

Sorry y'all!  Tracey's on vacation (near the Ridge!) and I have Third Sister Jill visiting with her kids!  We hope you're having a fantabulous week...and we'll "see you" next Monday! :)

Awesome Outlander Book-Reading Newbies

Karen over at Outlandish Observations is running a poll to see how long fans have been reading the Outlander series.  She has run these polls before...but her current motivation?  The Starz TV series!  The show has brought so many new fans to the Outlanderverse...and Karen wants to see just how many TV-to-book fans there are!

MOP Video: Outlander Emmy Nominations 2015

Congratulations BEAR MCCREARY On Your 2015 EMMY Nomination!

Bear McCreary has been nominated for scoring "Sassenach", the first episode of the first season of Outlander on Starz.

Partial audio below.  Listen to full audio on Bear McCreary's site here.

Kristen Stewart + Culloden = Ain't Gonna Happen

Mhairi Calvey
Photo Credit Unknown

Tonight at MOP Chat, we were discussing an upcoming film about Culloden and Bonnie Prince Charlie (rumored to be titled "The Great Getaway.")  Someone mentioned that Kristen Stewart might play a rebel of some sort in the film.

This May 14th article in the Scotsman explains that while Kristen Stewart was considered for the role, the part of FLORA MACDONALD went to Mhairi Calvey.  Calvey is the Scottish actress who - as a child - played the young Murron MacClannough (the little girl whose character grew up to be William Wallace's love interest) in Braveheart.