Monday, November 30, 2015



History Lessons 

Could you survive 200 years ago, being "yourself"? Nancy M Guillory dug deep to find out!




By Nancy McGehee Guillory for OutlanderHomepage Originals.


 (This was written for http://nancymguillory.com a year ago. Nancy has of course finished all of the Outlander novels to date.)

I’m currently reading the sixth book in Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander novel series, which begins by chronicling the adventures of a WWII nurse thrust back in time to 18th century Scotland, then progresses to the perils of living in colonial North Carolina. While I am enjoying the beautiful love story that develops, and the historical perspective of characters with foreknowledge, I can’t help but imagine, and wonder, how I would fair if I suddenly found myself in a similar predicament, thrust back two hundred years from my present time, like Claire Randall. While survival would be my primary objective, especially dependent on my location (Louisiana in 1815), I’d have to consider the importance of knowing American history, and what harm might possibly come from intentional, or inadvertent alterations to the known course of history.








Survival first, and foremost, I’m a practical person, and I know my limitations, so living without toilet paper, much less actual flushing toilets might take some getting used to, but I’ve spent enough time in the woods to manage. Thank God I know what poison ivy looks like. Personal hygiene was not a top priority for many folks living in the 1800″s. A bath or wash consisted mainly of splashing strategic anatomical points with water from a basin, although some did lather up weekly/ monthly with hand-made soap. I’m a good swimmer so making use of the nearest body of water wouldn’t bother me, as over the years of camping, I’ve braved the most frigid temps in order to bathe. I might end up blue, with hypothermia, but at least I wouldn’t stink until after I died. Shelter, and food wouldn’t be that major a hurdle either, as I am also quite capable of hunting, fishing, and gathering, building a lean-to, and starting a fire, with limited resources. Common sense, naturally, would lead me to make my way to the nearest populated area, but that is where I’d likely meet my demise, considering my personality, and the social constraints of the eighteenth-century.





I’m no women’s libber, but I would definitely rankle at the submission expected of women two hundred years ago, as my virtues are pretty much non-existent. The first problem would concern the feminine fashions of the day, which might look lovely in movies, and on TV, but the idea of being squashed in a corset, and covered damn near head to toe in powdered wigs, and woolen homespun makes my skin crawl. Buckskins might not be much cooler, but they’d certainly be less restrictive, albeit scandalous, but scandalous would be just about anything I said or did considering moral conviction back then. I’m an adaptive creature, with a keen sense of self-preservation, but being none too subtle, or patient, dealing with the ignorance, superstitions, and religious practices of that period would sooner than later find me labeled a witch, and burned at the stake (I doubt seriously I'd be as lucky as Claire and have a  hunky man like Jamie Fraser to rescue me).

Taking that into consideration, I think my best course of action, should I be unable to return to my own time, would be to take an entrepreneurial stance, and open my own saloon/brothel. Female professions being limited for the time, notice I did not mention school marm/mistress, scullery maid, or performing domestic work of any sort. Perhaps I’m too honest about my true nature, but the truth is I have a keener knowledge of whiskey and whoring than I do snot-nosed school kids, or scrubbing floors. I suppose I could always get adopted into a local Native American tribe, as a last resort, seeing as I’m more prone to being a pagan than the Presbyterian of my upbringing, I should fit right in. I’d just have to remember that’s a short-term alternative considering the U.S. Governments then attitude towards, and shameful treatment of its indigenous tribes. Of course, I could just tell my adopted red brethren what was going to happen, and not to trust any pale faces, particularly Indian Agents bearing gift blankets contaminated with small pox. But would it be ethical to change history? Would whole generations cease to exist because the course of history was altered? Are the lives of a few or perhaps many worth such a gamble, and what would be the ripple effects of such action? Is history predestined? Is deviation from its course even possible? Honestly I likely wouldn’t have time to even give a flip about anything other than staying alive and healthy, especially if I’m busy running a whorehouse, or tanning hides for my new tepee!





It’s fun to fancy with the idea of time travel, especially, if like Claire, one gets to watch history unfold while meeting people from the pages of one's high school text books, gaining first hand knowledge of what really transpired, and perhaps even taking part in the actual event(s). But, wait a minute. We experience history, even create it every day we are alive. Unless you could knowingly save a loved one’s life, why return to what’s already been done and recorded, when we are given the opportunity to make our own history right here and now? If time travel were possible, would returning to the past, especially with the intent to change the outcome of a specific event, be “playing God”? As painful as my losses have been, would changing what happened cause even more heartache not just for myself, but for everyone involved? I suppose it’s like that Peter, Paul and Mary song, If I Had a Hammer, that tells of all the good things that could be done, if only they had a hammer to do them with. Well, where past history is concerned, I don’t have a hammer.  I only have memories, and personal knowledge that in most cases I did the best I could and where I didn’t, it can’t be changed nor undone, and I wouldn’t even if I could. I wouldn’t change a single second. Why not? Because it’s part of my history, important lessons learned, albeit some harsh and bitter, but still pieces of my personal history, that fit somewhere into the space and time of all history, validating my existence. Besides, God obviously has much more in store for me, more history to be witnessed and experienced, which gives me hope for my future, a sense of impending adventure, and excitement. Lord knows after 49 years, I’ve got some fantastic tales to tell, yet I look forward to maybe one day telling my great nieces, and nephews, “No, that’s not how it happened. I know, because I was there.”





By outlanderTVnews

Factory Entertainment’s ‘Outlander’ Merchandise Now Available

Posted on November 27, 2015 by Sarah Ksiazek

Great for the Holidays

OutlanderTVnews

We saw these products on the floor of San Diego Comic Con in July, and now they are available for you to purchase. Factory Entertainment offers five different Outlander items for purchase, and they are not ridiculous in price.

The items are a notebook set, notecards, metal flask, pop-up notecards, and a lithograph set .

Head over to Factory Entertainment to see details on each and to purchase them.

Sunday, November 29, 2015

We are Live Tweeting from The Pipes of Christmas event NYC, 
Saturday, December 19th 2015
In conjuction with our contributing blogger LIZ MERCADO, OUTLANDER HOMEPAGE will be covering all the Festivities and writing up all the details....

LIZ MERCADO AND GILLEBRIDE MACMILLAN AT LAST YEAR'S EVENT








The Pipes of Christmas Concert in NYC December 19th 2015 is approaching with
an excitement for the upcoming Holiday season, Then we hear the best announcement about it, that Bear McCreary will serve as Honorary Chair for the event...

Here are a few promotionalines details:





Clan Currie Society presents :
The Pipes of Christmas
Our 17th Annual Celebration
Dec 19, 2015



Answer the Call of the Pipes and Drums!

Two performances at 2 and 7 PM!

"One of New York City's Top Ten Holiday Events"
- NYC Top Ten

"The musical experience was thrilling"
- Classical NJ Magazine

"A majestic seasonal experience"
- The Star Ledger

"a soul-soaring mix of traditional holiday and sacred music performed by brass, string and percussion, Celtic instruments and the Highland pipes interspersed with Holy Scripture and the poetry and literature of Celtic heritage."

- Adventures in the Endless Pursuit of Entertainment

From the bold sounds of the pipes and drums, and the harmonious blending of brass, strings and percussion, to the poetic and lyrical words that complement them, The Pipes of Christmas is a festival for the soul. The concert features the music of Christmas accompanied by a selection of readings taken from the Celtic literature of Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.

Highlights of the 2015 concerts include a tribute to legendary film composer, Sir James Horner and a world premiere song from Alexander McCall Smith Prize winner, composer James Hind.

Honorary Chairman include Outlander composer, Bear McCreary and Celtic Life publisher, Marcie Macquarrie.

Proceeds from this annual fundraising concert benefit music scholarships established with leading Celtic arts programs at universities and colleges in the US, Canada and Scotland.

Our Largest Company Ever!

Featured performers include James Robinson, Mhairi Calvey and Andrew Weir from Mel Gibson's "Braveheart", fiddle champions, Paul Woodiel and Calum Pasqua, "Riverdance" piper, Christopher Layer, guitarist Steve Gibb from "Jersey Boys", cellist Sarah Hewitt-Roth, Scottish Country Dance aficionado Susie Petrov, bassist Mark Verdino, the Solid Brass ensemble, organist William Peek, Scottish Gaelic Mod Champion harpist Jennifer Port and the Kevin Ray Blandford Memorial Pipe Band of Redlands, CA.

Performances at 2 and 7 PM.

The Pipes of Christmas is made possible through the generous support of Edinburgh Napier University, Celtic Life Magazine and the Grand Summit Hotel. Additional support provided by the Classic Malts of Scotland.

"The Best of the Pipes of Christmas" CD available at www.cdbaby.com.

Performances also in Summit, NJ (one block from NJ Transit Station) on Sunday, December 20 at 2 and 7 PM. Tickets at www.pipesofchristmas.com.


Don't delay - concerts sell out quickly!

Categories: Folk,Other,World Music

Click to purchase tickets

http://tix.smarttix.com/Modules/Sales/SalesMainTabsPage.aspx?ControlState=1&DiscountCode=&SalesEventId=4560&DC=






Advent


Outlanderhomepage does not usually post Religious articles since so many are so different in belief, we like to stay neutral for everyone to be comfortable.

This beautiful piece struck me this morning. I am not a practicing Catholic but I remember my dad, who is, participating in Advent with the candles every weekend, when I was growing up.

Every religion has a time on their calendar for patience, reflection, redemption and contemplation. My husband does this in the Jewish faith also.

Sometimes I feel like Claire, through the later Outlander series, watching family members at different times in life practice their faith, so to me, this seems both similar and familiar, it moved me.



By DIANA GABALDON

ADVENT is a time of waiting, and of preparation. Of contemplation—of what is past, and what is to come. During Advent, we make wreaths, made of leaves or evergreens, with four candles, and we light one candle for each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas.


Today is the first Sunday of Advent. May your candle burn quiet in the dark, and may you be at peace.


PROLOGUE (from WRITTEN IN MY OWN HEART’S BLOOD)

In the light of eternity, time casts no shadow.

"Your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions." But what is it that the old women see?

We see necessity, and we do the things that must be done.

Young women don’t see--they are, and the spring of life runs through them.

Ours is the guarding of the spring, ours the shielding of the light we have lit, the flame that we are.

What have I seen? You are the vision of my youth, the constant dream of all my ages. Spark to my tinder.

At the brink of war again, I am a citizen of no place, no time; no country but my own...and that a land lapped by no sea but blood, bordered only by the outlines of a face long-loved.


Diana's wreath for Advent



Friday, November 27, 2015


Season two sneak peek from Starz
















Outlander Cast Appearances, sightings and fan pics from the month of November 


Season two




















OUTLANDERHOMEPAGE ORIGINALS 
by Nancy McGehee Guillory 




The Fabric of Love
"Love is the fabric which never fades, no matter how often it is washed in the water of adversity and grief." Anonymous

I found this quote the other day, and it truly hit home. It reminded me of my parent's marriage and how, through some of the most difficult life events, they stuck together, worked together, to make it through catastrophes that would have ripped apart weaker unions. Their love was a very tightly woven fabric, durable, yet warm, and cozy, made into a well-worn patchwork quilt, that covered and protected our little family of four, and still continues to provide comfort long after their parting this world. I too had a love like my parents, with my beloved late husband, Moe. Real, true love is rare, like fine fabric, each uniquely woven, and I am convinced that is one of the reasons I have connected so closely with Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander novels, because that quote also reminds me of her portrayal of the love shared by Jamie and Claire Fraser.


The fabric of love isn't always as well spun, or sewn together as we might hope for it to be, and often times it is pulled apart when two people aren't able to weave together their individual threads. Sometimes, the weaving process can be interrupted by one partner's selfishness, or fears, and incompatibility, much like the broken bonds between Claire and Frank. Like some fabrics, some loves are only put together well enough to last for a few seasons, coming apart with each extended use. Frank and Claire are a good example. Their fabric wasn’t intended for long term use, but only to serve each other’s purpose for the time each needed. In order for the fabric of any love to last, the threads have to blend and mesh, and form a tight pattern, like a neatly woven woolen plaid, that can endure the tests of long wear. It might fray around the edges, but will never unravel, because true, abiding love doesn't balk at frayed edges, or rough patches caused by wear and tear. Instead it pulls the threads that binds it's cloth together, and repairs the damage due to necessity, because in Jamie’s time, marriages, like one’s plaid, were mended, and not tossed aside.


The fabric of love comes in a large variety of textures. Some like Jamie and Claire’s are practical, and heavy duty, capable of offering enduring warmth and protection, strengthened by leftover tatters of loss, scraps of shared heartache, bound tightly with trust, laughter, and hope. They can also be light and airy, soft as silk, sheer as gauze, while others are as tenuous as a spiders web, gossamer filaments, thin and flimsy. What matters most is how the threads are put together to create the fabric. The fabric of love is not made from jealousy, or spite. It cannot be woven from disrespect, or spun from deceit, and disloyalty. The fabric of real, abiding, love can only be created from threads of honesty, respect, loyalty, commitment, shared hopes, dreams and goals. Each weaver must be willing to give, sacrifice anything and everything, to insure the quality of the cloth, weaving together their hearts and souls, holding nothing back until both patterns are eternally bonded together, enmeshed into one solid design. It is not an easy, or quick process, but a wholly committed lifelong endeavor. 
When I think about it, each of Diana’s novels are a fabric of love, as the characters and their stories are woven together to create a tapestry of epic love, history, and adventure. Having lived such a love as Jamie and Claire’s, even for just a short five years, I identify with them, as a couple, not just as individuals. Also like Jamie and Claire have done for Brianna and Roger, my parents set an example of what true love is, while just like the Frasers, and MacKenzies, they weren’t sickeningly lovey-dovey.

Outlander itself, and all the books that follow suit, are very like a favorite blanket, which is why I enjoy re-reading these books over and over again and the same can be said for the television series, which never gets tiresome with re-watching. Although bad things happen, resulting in both physical and emotional pain and suffering, the love between two people folds together, patching their wounds, darning their rips and tears, then tenderly, carefully, wiping away the smudges and stains left by tragedy and heartache. Once the damage has been assessed, that love begins re-stitching with faith what seemed irreparable, into a new piece of fabric, ready for whatever comes next in the quilt of Jaime and Claire’s lives.