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• QOTD for Sunday, 24 June 2018 -- Lady-Jane, Sun, June 24 2018, 4:43:14
  This will just be a fun week of the things Jamie says in MOBY.
  
  The following quote is taken from Written in my Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon,Ch. 23 "In Which Mrs. Figg Takes a Hand," Copyright (c) 2014 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved.
  
  
  “Claire?” exclaimed Pardloe, standing up again. He had been drinking from the decanter and still held it carelessly in one hand. “My brother’s wife?”
  
  “She’s no such thing,” Jamie said crossly. “She’s mine, and I’ll thank someone to tell me where the devil she is.”
  
  
  
  

  Last edited by author: Sun, June 24 2018, 11:46:53   Edited 1 time.
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  • I am really looking forward to the interaction between the Fraser’s, the Murrays and the Greys. It’s interesting how many saved lives are among them: Jamie saved John, Hal saved Jamie, Claire saved Hal, John saved Claire, Ian saved William, William saved Rachel.......... I can’t think of any more but they sure have a lot of history already! Can’t wait to read the funny Jamieisms 😘 (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sun, June 24 2018, 15:44:49
  
  

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• QOTD for Saturday, June 23, 2018 -- CindyG, Fri, June 22 2018, 21:28:58
  The following quote is taken from Written In My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon, chapter 61, “A Viscous Three Way.” Copyright 2014 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved.
  
  “I was afraid to use the forceps, for fear of puncturing his eyeball. So I spread the lids of John’s affected eye with the fingers of my left hand, wedged the fingertips of my right as deeply into the eye socket as I could, and squeezed.
  He made a shocked, strangled sort of noise, and Jamie gasped but didn’t drop the mirror.
  There are not many things in the world slipperier than a wet eyeball. I tried to squeeze as lightly as I could, but there was no help for it; a light pressure merely allowed the eyeball to pop out of my fingers like an oiled grape. I clenched my teeth and tried again, gripping harder.
  On the fourth try, I managed to get a sufficient grip as to allow me to try to rotate the eyeball in its socket. I didn’t quite manage it, but at least got a better idea of how it might go.
  Five minutes later, John was trembling like a blancmange, hands clenched tight on the rails of the cot, Jamie was praying under his breath in Gaelic, and all three of us were drenched with sweat.”
  

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  • “There are not many things in the world slipperier than a wet eyeball.” In the middle of this awful description of trying to maneuver an eye fix, Diana throws in a matter-of-fact quote from pragmatic Claire. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sat, June 23 2018, 5:32:50
  • And I have no idea of just how it is that a blancmange trembles🤨 (NT) -- Swarl, Sat, June 23 2018, 10:11:58
    • Is it kind of like pudding with a skin on it that wobbles when you carry it? I should have looked up blanc mange first, but I think it’s a dessert. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sat, June 23 2018, 11:05:15
      • It is. Imagine Knox blocks or old jello (NT) -- kgp, Sun, June 24 2018, 4:09:30
  
  

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• QOTD for Friday, June 22, 2018 -- CindyG, Thu, June 21 2018, 22:05:10
  The following quote is taken from ECHO IN THE BONE by Diana Gabaldon, chapter 89, “Ink-Stained Wretch.” Copyright 2009 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved.
  
  “The bullet had entered his intestine but had not encysted. Instead, it remained embedded but mobile, not able to leave the body but moving enough to irritate the lining of the intestine, which was badly ulcerated. After a quick discussion with Denzell Hunter—who was so fascinated with the novelty of examining a person’s working insides while they lay unconscious that he could barely keep his mind on the business at hand, exclaiming in awe at the vivid colors and pulsating throb of live organs—I had decided that the ulceration was too extensive. To excise it would narrow the small intestine dramatically and risk scarring—constricting it further and perhaps obstructing it altogether.
  We’d done a modest resection instead, and I felt a twinge of something between laughter and dismay at the recollection of Lord John’s face when I severed the ulcerated segment of intestine and dropped it with a splat on the floor at his feet. I hadn’t done it on purpose; I’d simply needed both my hands and Denzell’s to control the bleeding, and we’d lacked a nurse to help.”
  

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  • I can imagine John's face! (NT) -- kgp, Fri, June 22 2018, 12:04:37
  • This was one I had to suspend disbelief. Four years ago DH had a ruptured bowel and ALL that goes with it. Resectons, ostomy, tracheotomy, more resections, removal of part of bowel (though I’m pretty sure they didn’t drop it) and long, long recovery. I thank God for modern medicine. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sat, June 23 2018, 5:27:00
  
  

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• Quoters Needed -- Judie, Thu, June 21 2018, 18:57:10
  .
  .
  Hi, gang,
  
  We have two more weeks with quoters and then we need some more folks.
  
  I've posted all of July and August at the bottom of the page - which of you lovelies can fill in those spots? :)
  
  Come on, it's fun! :)
  
  Judie
  

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  • I can do the week of July 8th (NT) -- Wee, Fri, June 22 2018, 4:23:11
  • I can take the next week. (NT) -- kgp, Fri, June 22 2018, 12:05:48
  
  

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• QOTD for Thursday, June 21, 2018 -- CindyG, Wed, June 20 2018, 22:17:10
  The following quote is taken from The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon, Chapter 36, “Worlds Unseen.” Copyright 2001 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved.
  
  “I needed to be quick, and I was. The preparations had taken hours; the operation, no more than a few seconds. I seized one spongy red tonsil with the forceps, stretched it toward me, and made several small, quick cuts, deftly separating the layers of tissue. A trickle of blood was running out of the boy’s mouth and down his chin, but nothing serious.
  I pulled the gobbet of flesh free, dropped it into the basin, and shifted my grip to the other tonsil, where I repeated the process, only a trifle more slowly in consequence of working backhanded.
  The whole thing couldn’t have taken more than thirty seconds per side. I drew the instruments out of Josiah’s mouth, and he goggled at me, astonished. Then he coughed, gagged, leaned forward, and another small chunk of flesh bounced into the basin with a small splat, together with a quantity of bright red blood.
  I seized him by the nose and thrust his head back, stuffed pledgets into his mouth to absorb sufficient blood that I could see what I was doing, then snatched a small cautery iron and took care of the largest vessels; the smaller ones could clot and seal on their own.”
  

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  • When I got my tonsils out, about 58 years ago, I was in the hospital for 3 days. Yesterday my nephew got his removed and he was on,y out if the house fir about three hours! Modern medicine has gone back on some treatments. claire’s quick work is being done today. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Thu, June 21 2018, 4:29:05
  • Ugh, I was 8 when I had mine removed. I said to my parents afterwards "I can swallow!" They didn't realize how bad they were swollen; I didn't either. I feel for Josiah (NT) -- LadyBelle, Thu, June 21 2018, 8:38:07
  • My nephew had a tonsillectomy that went South in a big way. We didn't know he had Von Willibrand's, which is a clotting problem. He almost bled out, and was in a coma for 11 days. He's fine now (husband, dad, fully employed, but did have some problems in school afterwards. Of all the scenes in the book, this is the one that gave me the worst willies! (NT) -- Janet, Thu, June 21 2018, 11:40:58
  
  

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• QOTD for Wednesday, June 20, 2018 -- CindyG, Tue, June 19 2018, 21:18:40
  Today's quote is from Written in My Own Heart's Blood, by Diana Gabaldon, chapter127, “Plumbing.” Copyright 2014 by Diana Gabaldon. All Rights Reserved.
  
  “LIKE PLUMBING, MEDICINE is a profession where you learn early on not to put your fingers in your mouth. I smelled my next patient coming and was reaching for the jar of soft soap and the bottle of raw alcohol before she came through the door. And the instant I saw her, I knew what the problem was. . . .
  Vesicovaginal fistula and rectovaginal fistula. I’d known that from the first moment; I just didn’t know how bad they might be or how far up the vaginal canal they’d occurred. A fistula is a passage between two things that ought never to be joined and is, generally speaking, a bad thing. . . .
  Not a matter of life or death, but revolting, uncontrollable, and bloody uncomfortable, too. Sophronia’s inner thighs were swollen, a bright, patchy red, the skin macerated by the constant wetness, the irritating fecal slime. Like a permanent diaper rash, I thought, suppressing a deeply visceral urge to find Mr. Bradshaw and make a few fistulas in him with a blunt probe.“
  

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  • When “making love” is anything but. I really applauded Mrs. Bradshaw for trying to help Sophronia; they were both victims. And I wish Claire could give Mr. Bradshaw a ton of fistulas. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Wed, June 20 2018, 4:31:50
    • Me, too (NT) -- kgp, Wed, June 20 2018, 5:06:34
  • My mom was an OR nurse, so discussions of the day's surgeries were commonplace at our dinner table. It never lessened my appetite, either for the meal or the details of an operation. However, the description of this girl's condition drew an emphatic "ICK!" from me. (NT) -- DianaH, Wed, June 20 2018, 6:49:03
    • I know. She was so sad and pathetic and so helpless and hopeless. As Claire described what was going on in her body, it made me cringe with how horrible the pain would be. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Wed, June 20 2018, 18:12:13
  
  

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• QOTD for Tuesday, June 19, 2018 -- CindyG, Mon, June 18 2018, 21:07:27
  The following quotation is from Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon, chapter 12, “The Return of John Quincy Myers.”. Copyright 1997 by Diana Gabaldon. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 1997.
  
  “I breathed in slowly, matched my rhythm to the audible snores. Above the reek of brandy and the faintly nauseating aromas of food, I could smell the earthy odors of his body; stale sweat, grimed skin, a small tang of urine and the copper scent of blood. To another, they would have been offensive, but not to me, not now.
  This body was. No good, no bad, it simply was. I knew it, now; it was mine.
  They were all mine; the unconscious body in my hands, its secrets open to me; the men who held it, their eyes on me. It didn’t always happen, but when it did, the sensation was unforgettable; a synthesis of minds into a single organism. And as I took control of this organism, I became part of it, and lost myself.
  Time stopped. I was acutely aware of each movement, each breath, the tug and pull of the catgut sutures as I tightened the inguinal ring, but my hands did not belong to me. My voice was high and clear, giving directions instantly obeyed, and somewhere far away, a small watcher in my brain observed the progress of the operation with a remote sense of interest.
  Then it was done, and time began again. I took a step back, breaking the link, and feeling slightly dizzy at the unaccustomed solitude.
  ‘Done,’ I said, and the hum from the spectators erupted into loud applause. Still feeling intoxicated—had I caught drunkenness by osmosis from Myers?—I turned on one heel and sank into an extravagant low curtsy, facing the dinner guests.”
  

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  • I am dying to see this when season four is aired! John Quincy Myers is a great character. Thanks Constance and Cindy for highlighting Claire’s medical treatments. They’re such a huge part if who she is and so interesting to see how she manages with what’s at hand. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Tue, June 19 2018, 3:28:02
  • Several things about this scene always intrigued me. One, that while the food smells may have nauseated Claire, the bodily ones did not. Secondly, how she becomes connected with the patient, two bodies, one sense of being. (NT) -- DianaH, Tue, June 19 2018, 10:06:17
    • Smell is such a big part of the books - good and bad. I can almost feel it when she describes some, I have a sensitive nose. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Tue, June 19 2018, 10:14:22
  • I was going for gross medical moments, but this particular passage from this scene just explains why Claire does it all so well. (NT) -- CindyG, Tue, June 19 2018, 11:18:29
    • You’re spot on with gross 🤭 ! (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Tue, June 19 2018, 13:26:34
  
  

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• QOTD for Monday, June 18, 2018 -- CindyG, Sun, June 17 2018, 20:49:38
  The following quote is from Voyager by Diana Gabaldon, chapter 60, “The Scent of Gemstones.” Copyright 1994 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved.
  
  “I tried the other eye, and nearly dropped the candle. Sure enough, there was a small, transparent filament, moving under the conjunctiva. I gagged slightly at the sight, but controlled myself, and reached for the freshly sterilized knife, still holding back the eyelid.
  ‘Take him by the shoulders,’ I said to Geilie. ‘Don’t let him move, or I may blind him.’
  The surgery itself was horrifying to contemplate, but surprisingly simple to perform. I made one quick, small incision along the inside corner of the conjunctiva, lifted it slightly with the tip of the needle, and as the worm undulated lazily across the open field, I slipped the tip of the needle under the body and drew it out, neat as a loop of yarn.
  Repressing a shudder of distaste, I flicked the worm away. It hit the wall with a tiny wet splat! and vanished in the shadows under the cheese.”
  

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  • I kind of always hoped the loa loa worm in the eye was an urban myrh. But if Diana wrote it, it HAS to be true! 😳 (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Mon, June 18 2018, 4:38:12
  • Of all of the times that I have various biology classes, studying parasitology has always had a big ick factor! It's fascinating, yet creepy! (NT) -- Piper-Mom, Mon, June 18 2018, 9:02:47
  • Blech!! (NT) -- DianaH, Tue, June 19 2018, 10:07:02
  • It really is true! And you can watch this for a modern version of what Claire did: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4L5JytG9Tw (NT) -- Gail A, Wed, June 20 2018, 21:38:48
  
  

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• QOTD for Sunday, June 17, 2018 -- CindyG, Sat, June 16 2018, 21:09:14
  The following quote is taken from Dragonfly In Amber by Diana Gabaldon, Chapter 12, “L’Hopital Des Anges.” Copyright 1992 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved.
  
  “The vessel was brimming with a yellow fluid—urine, undoubtedly. I was mildly surprised; without chemical tests, or even litmus paper, what conceivable use could a urine sample be? Thinking over the various things one tested urine for, though, I had an idea.
  I picked up the vessel carefully, ignoring Sister Angelique’s exclamation of alarmed protest. I sniffed carefully. Sure enough; half-obscured by sour ammoniac fumes, the fluid smelled sickly sweet—rather like soured honey. I hesitated, but there was only one way to make sure. With a moue of distaste, I gingerly dipped the tip of one finger into the liquid and touched it delicately to my tongue.
  Mary, watching bug-eyed at my side, choked slightly, but Sister Angelique was watching with sudden interest. I placed a hand on the woman’s forehead; it was cool—no fever to account for the wasting.“
  

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  • I have the same answer as yesterday 😉. I love reading about Claire’s sometimes unusual but effective, medical treatments. But tasting pee makes me “choke slightly” too! (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sun, June 17 2018, 13:23:32
  • An early diabetes test. ;) (NT) -- Piper-Mom, Mon, June 18 2018, 8:59:23
  
  

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• QOTD For Saturday June 16, 2018. The following quote is taken from Written In My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon, Chapter 83,"Sundown " copyright 2014 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved -- Constance (Healing and Medicine), Fri, June 15 2018, 21:08:14
  
  
  "Good", I breathed. "Denzell- when you've finished ... pack the wound with cheese."
  
  Used to me as he was, this still made Denny's jaw drop. He glanced from me to the cheese, plainly thinking that fever must have set in with unusual speed and severity.
  
  "Penicillin," I said, swallowing and waving a hand at the cheese. My mouth felt sticky from the laudanum.
  
  "The mold that makes that sort of cheese is a species of Penicillium. Use the stuff from the veins."
  

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  • As much as I admire and love reading about Claire’s adapting her knowledge of medicine to use what’s at hand in the 18c, this one gagged me. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sat, June 16 2018, 4:27:30
  • Thanks for your quotes this week! And they were a perfect lead-in to what I had planned for this next week. (NT) -- CindyG, Sat, June 16 2018, 8:11:47
  • Great week! Thank you! (NT) -- kgp, Sat, June 16 2018, 10:56:22
  • Interesting, but icky! :) (NT) -- Piper-Mom, Sat, June 16 2018, 11:57:01
  
  

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• QOTD For Friday June 15, 2018 The following quote is taken from ECHO IN THE BONE by Diana Gabaldon Chapter 50, "Exodus" Copyright 2009 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved. -- Constance, Fri, June 15 2018, 8:44:32
  
  
  He said something under his breath in Gaelic. I couldn't tell if it was an observation of the imminent prospect before him or whether he was commending his soul to God. In either case, he lifted his kilt.
  
  "What do you mean you need help?" I asked, eyeing him. He made a small, urgent noise indicating that I should continue, so I did.
  
  "What are you thinking?" I asked after a moment, fascinated.
  
  "I'm not thinking. "
  
  "Yes, you are; I can see it on your face."
  
  "Ye don't want to know." Sweat was beginning to gleam across his cheekbones, and his eyes had gone to slots.
  
  "Oh yes, I do-oh, wait. If your thinking about someone other than me, I don't want to know."
  
  He opened his eyes at that, and fixed me with a look that ran straight up between my quivering legs. He didn't stop.
  

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  • He's thinking about ME, Claire. ;) (NT) -- DianaH, Fri, June 15 2018, 12:12:29
    • Whoo Hoo Diana!!! One hot mamma 😍 (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sat, June 16 2018, 4:28:41
  • Hee hee! Funny and sexy! (NT) -- Piper-Mom, Sat, June 16 2018, 11:58:36
  
  

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• QOTD is for Friday June, 15, 2018. The following quote is taken from ECHO IN THE BONE by Diana Gabaldon, chapter 50 "Exodus", copyright 2009 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved -- Constance, Thu, June 14 2018, 22:14:25
  
  
  "Could you speak to her husband, do you think?" I asked Jamie, who had just come in at sunset to tell me that he'd seen her trudging in circles round and round the big cistern near the parade ground, counting under her breath.
  
  "D'ye think he hasn't noticed that his wife's going mad?"
  
  "If he hasn't, I think he'll no appreciate being g told. And if he has, " he added logically, "What d'ye expect him to to about It?. "
  

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  • Valid points (NT) -- DianaH, Fri, June 15 2018, 12:10:40
  • I had forgotten this part. (NT) -- Piper-Mom, Sat, June 16 2018, 11:59:41
  
  

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• he Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon, Chapter 93, "Choices" copyright 2001 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved. -- Constance (Healing and Medicine), Thu, June 14 2018, 7:46:19
  "Sassenach," he said softly.
  
  "What? " I would like ye to touch me... without hurting me. Just once before I sleep. Would ye mind Much? I stopped and drew breath, terribly disconcerted at the realization that he was right. Caught up in the emergency and worry of his condition, everything I had done to him during the day had been painful, intrusive, or both.
  
  Brianna, Roger, Marsali, Jemmy- all of them had touched him in gentleness, offering sympathy and comfort.
  
  And I- I had been so terrified at the possibility of what might happen, of what I might be forced to do, that I had taken no time, allowed no time for gentleness.
  
  I looked away for a moment, blinking until the tears retreated. Then I stood and walked over to the bed, bent, and kissed him, very softly.
  

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  • Sorry my message good cut off. Today's quote is for Thursday June 14, 2014. The quote is taken from The Fiery Cross (NT) -- Constance, Thu, June 14 2018, 7:51:36
  • During the hustle and bustle, it's nice to take a quiet moment. (NT) -- Piper-Mom, Thu, June 14 2018, 7:54:28
  • So sorry ladies.That's 2 days in a row I put the wrong year. (NT) -- Constance, Thu, June 14 2018, 7:54:48
    • But you had the right day! I always have trouble keeping track of what day it is. (NT) -- CindyG, Thu, June 14 2018, 9:01:55
  • I lovve that Jamie can feel so free to ask this of Claire. There is never any hesitancy in asking what they may need. (NT) -- LisaW, Thu, June 14 2018, 8:41:22
  • Claire the nurse had to step aside for Claire the wife. This was so sad, Jamie just needing some comfort. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Thu, June 14 2018, 18:33:59
  
  

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• QOTD For Wednesday June 13, 2013. The following quote is taken from The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon, Chapter 10 "Grannie Bacon's Gifts", copyright 2001 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved -- Constance (Healing and Medicine), Wed, June 13 2018, 7:00:32
  
  And I had given yet another version of my own sermon on the Mount, preaching the gospel of nutrition and hygiene to the assembled multitudes.
  
  "Blessed are those who eat greens, for they shall keep their teeth," I murmured to a red-cedar tree. I paused to pull off a few of the fragrant berries and crushed one with my thumbnail, enjoying the sharp, clean scent.
  
  "Blessed are those who wash their hands after wiping their arses, " I added, pointing a monitory finger at a blue-Jay who had settled on a nearby branch. "For they shall not sicken." The camp was in sight now, and with it, the delightful prospect of a cup of hot tea.
  
  "Blessed are those who boil water," I said to the Jay, seeing a plume of steam rising from the small kettle hung over our fire.
  
  "For they shall be called saviors of mankind."
  
  "
  

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  • And we are still preaching this gospel of basic nutrition and sanitation (NT) -- kgp, Wed, June 13 2018, 7:38:58
  • I enjoyed this passage. I also liked it when she would dip her tools into the kettles of boiling water and bless them, before using them. She was sterilizing and the unknowing folks thought she was just giving a blessing ritual. :) (NT) -- Piper-Mom, Wed, June 13 2018, 8:22:55
  • I'm sorry I haven't been here to follow your week, I did love how she handled this (NT) -- LadyDuBois, Wed, June 13 2018, 16:01:54
  • Aaah, the blessingly restorative properties of a cup of tea! Savior of mankind indeed! (NT) -- DianaH, Thu, June 14 2018, 7:48:16
  
  

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• Outlander is coming to NY Comicon October 6th. Caitriona, Sam, Sophie and Richard! -- CarolSR, Tue, June 12 2018, 19:12:34
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• QOTD is for Tuesday June 12, 2018. The following quote is taken from Dragonfly In Amber by Diana Gabaldon, Chapter 20- La Dame Blanche. . Copyright 19992 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved. -- Constance (Healing and Medicine), Mon, June 11 2018, 20:34:25
  
  "All healing is done essentially by reaching the ... what shall we call It? the Soul? the Essence? say, the center.
  By reaching the patient's center, from which they can heal themselves. Surely you have seen it, Madonna. The cases so ill or so wounded that plainly they will die- but they dont.
  Or those who suffer from something so slight that surely they must recover, with the proper care. But they slip away, despite all you can do for them."
  

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  • . (NT) -- Judie, Mon, June 11 2018, 20:54:33
  • This is so true. Constance, do you have a theme? These are soul searching quotes. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Tue, June 12 2018, 9:51:22
  • Interesting thoughts. I feel that is pretty true. (NT) -- Piper-Mom, Tue, June 12 2018, 10:42:03
  • My theme is Healing and Medicine (NT) -- Constance, Tue, June 12 2018, 21:22:14
  
  

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• QOTD For Monday June 11, 2018. The following quote is taken from Dragonfly In Amber by Diana Gabaldon, chapter 12- L'Hospital Desert Angel. Copyright 1992 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved. -- Constance, Sun, June 10 2018, 22:40:53
  
  Mother Hildegarde laughed. "Well,we take what God sends us though occasionally I wonder whether He sends them to us only in order to keep them out of greater trouble elsewhere.Still, the bulk of our physician's are better than nothing. - even if only marginally so.You" and the teeth flashed once more, reminding me of a genial draft horse-"are a great deal better than nothing, Madame."
  
  "Thanks."
  

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  • High praise from Mother Hildegarde. Although her time at the hospital probably did keep Claire from getting into (more) trouble. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Mon, June 11 2018, 2:46:16
  • Mother Hildegard gained a great healer with Claire, and Claire found a purpose for her time in Paris, a bonus for both of them. (NT) -- DianaH, Mon, June 11 2018, 7:57:19
  • She sees Claire's talents! (NT) -- Piper-Mom, Tue, June 12 2018, 10:43:17
    • Girl Power 👍 😉 (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Tue, June 12 2018, 14:14:43
  
  

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• QOTD For June 10, 2018.The following quote is taken from Written In My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon. Chapter 145. Copyright 2014 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved -- Constance, Sun, June 10 2018, 7:41:23
  "I am not a state of war, and you are not my army!"
  
  He began to speak,then stopped short, searching my face, his eyes intent.
  
  "Am I not?" he said quietly.
  
  I opened my mouth to reply but found I couldn't. The birds had comeback, and a gang of house finches chattered at the foot of a big first that grew at the side of the clearing.
  
  "You are," I said reluctantly, and, standing up, wrapped my arms around him. He was warm from his work, and the scars on his back were fine as threads under my fingers.
  
  "I wish you didn't have to be."
  

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  • I've only read MOBY once. Can someone remind me when this was? (NT) -- DianaH, Mon, June 11 2018, 7:47:20
    • It’s the very last chapter, when Jamie had returned from killing Claire’s rapist. Claire was very conflicted about the revenge - “she didn’t need an army” - but came to realize, in those times, she did. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Tue, June 12 2018, 9:49:04
      • Ah, now I remember. Thanks, Kathy! (NT) -- DianaH, Wed, June 13 2018, 6:45:38
  
  

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• QOTD for Saturday, 6/9/18 -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Fri, June 08 2018, 19:22:08
  I see that I have been creative with the dates. Oops. Ah well. One of my mottoes is Don't sweat the small stuff. Am I good at listening to my own pearls of wisdom? Ummmmm. Sometimes.
  
  I'm cheating a bit and using two quotes. The first one is a continuation of the William-Ian Dance of Acceptance. I think that neither of them wishes to be or is happy about being connected by blood. The second one is such a great example of William's Good, True Heart that I have to post it. It's my favorite William-moment, I think.
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  
  The following quote is taken from 'An Echo In The Bone,' by Diana Gabaldon, Chapter 61, "No Better Companion Than The Rifle." Copyright c 2009 by Diana Gabaldon. All Rights Reserved.
  
  
  William's face didn't change but seemed somehow to solidify. Ian watched it in fascination. He'd seen Uncle Jamie's face do the exact same thing, many times, and knew what it meant.
  
  "Here?" William said.
  
  "Aye, here." He inclined his head toward the American camp. "There, I mean."
  
  "I see," William said calmly. "When you see her again, will you give her my kindest regards, then? And her brother, too, of course."
  
  "Oh... aye," Ian said, thinking, Like that, is it? Ye're no going to see her yourself, and she'd have nothing to do wi' a soldier anyway, so think again! "Certainly," he added, belatedly aware that his only value to William at this point lay in his supposed role as messenger to Rachel Hunter, and wondering just how much that was worth.
  
  "Thank you," William's face had lost that look of iron; he was examining Ian carefully, and at last nodded.
  
  "A life for a life, Mr. Murray," he said quietly. "We're quits. Don't let me see you next time. I may not have a choice."
  
  He turned and left, the red of his uniform visible for some time through the trees.
  
  The second quote (I know...I know...can I blame it on some mental defect? "Can't follow rules"....is that an acceptable diagnosis?) is taken from 'An Echo In The Bone,' by Diana Gabaldon, Chapter 6, "Long Island." Copyright 2009, by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved.
  
  The man was clearly dead, shot through the head. Mouth and eyes sagged half open and his body felt strange, heavy and flopping. He wore a militia uniform of sorts; William saw the wooden buttons, with PUT burnt into them. That meant something, but his dazed mind made no sense of it. Gently laying the man back in the grass, he rose and went to fetch his sword. His knees felt peculiar.
  
  Halfway to the spot where his sword lay, he stopped, turned round, and came back. Kneeling down, cold-fingered and hollow-bellied, he closed the man's dead eyes against the rain.
  

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  Replies:

  • Two good ones Betsy! Is William going ot be your theme? (NT) -- LadyDuBois, Sat, June 09 2018, 8:04:31
    • It’s mostly the interchanges between William and Ian, with a couple of random quotes stuck in. (NT) -- Betsy BFS, Sat, June 09 2018, 19:23:42
  • I have really enjoyed your quotes this week. I already love Ian and taking some time to read individual parts about his interaction with William is helping me like William more. I hope you have a wonderful gathering with your family and I’m sure the OCD woman will be overwhelmed with the love in your home and not even see dust bunnies! How is your knee? (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sun, June 10 2018, 6:54:32
  • Anyone who is a friend of dust bunnies is a friend of mine. And that is final. Thanks for the week of William. (NT) -- Swarl, Mon, June 11 2018, 18:11:06
  
  

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• QOTD for Friday, 6/7/18 -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Thu, June 07 2018, 18:30:59
  Friday? Holy moly, it's Friday! On Saturday, David and I are driving to Boston, which we HATE and dread, to pick up daughter no.3, our 8 y/o granddaughter, our 8 y/o grandson, our new DIL and our 2 new grandchildren. On Monday, more daughters, sons, DIL, and a 2 y/o grandson will be here, too.
  
  I have never ever been a Martha Stewart-type person. I have developed the very handy ability to pretend that I LIKE living in a dust bowl. I ENJOY my dirty windows. I'm PROUD of all the clutter-- it's a sign of a talented intelligent woman who is too busy Doing Good Stuff to clean. I keep the bathroom clean and the kitchen clean (if you sneak a peek at specific times of the day) and if you call with a week's warning, I will try to pick up. If you want a freshly-vaccuumed floor, you can find one Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:30 AM. That's just before the children who I care for arrive. At 10:05 the floor is back to it's normal level of chaos-- papers/toys/books/legos/painting material/mud/crayons/glitter/dress-up clothes/old high heals/riding toys/ 242 hard-wood building blocks/ a full set of musical instruments that fit a child's hand (what in heaven's name possessed me to think we needed 3 sets of maracas and four drums with cymbals?)/ all things involving having happy kids-- Oh, I should add every board game known to humankind and 7 apple-boxes full of childrens' books. And puzzles. Lots and lots of puzzles.
  
  In self defense, I should explain how our house came to be. It started out as a tiny (REALLY tiny) very old box. Small kitchen, small living room downstairs and three tiny bedrooms upstairs with one closet that housed a toilet, your basic yard sale Lucky Find sink and that was it. David had an accident and had to go to court. We had a small amount of money that we thought was $1.000.000. David said he was using the money to put on an addition. I said How can he do that? He had never even built a doghouse before. Next day I came home from work and there was a large doghouse sitting under a tree in the side yard. There, said David. There's a doghouse. I'm building our house. Which he did, and it is still standing! However, he didn't know how to build closets so we don't have any. I'm a professional stacker-upper.
  
  Saturday I welcome my new daughter-in-law to our happy home. My "we're meeting for the first time and I hear that you're a neat-freak and a bit of a germ-a-phobe" new Daughter-in-Law. She will be here for two weeks, unless she faints and then runs down the hill to the nearest motel.
  
  We heat with wood. Now, wood is the warmest heat there is but it is unbelievably dusty and grimy. There are cob webs everywhere. All the plants....we have LOTS of plants....have a winter's worth of dust on every leaf. The entire HOUSE has a winter's worth of dust on it. We have an open ceiling, sort of a cathedral ceiling but without the charm. I can't reach the eaves to sweep them. It sort of looks like a jungle of vines except the vines wave and stick to your head when you walk under them.
  
  Into this lo-ver-lee doghouse of a home we will be happy to bring Kim and her two kids. I am happy to say that I actually found sheets to fit the mattresses we rounded up. Some of them even match!
  
  Wish me luck. I think, with the proper number of valium, I'll keep my shrieking to a minimum.
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  
  The following quote is taken from "An Echo In The Bone,' by Diana Gabaldon, Chapter 56, "While Still Alive." Copyright c 2009 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved.
  
  I rapped William sharply on the wrist with my knuckles and he let go and took a step back. My head was spinning again-- not least from the very peculiar sensation of being embraced by a total stranger whose body felt so familiar to me. He was thinner than Jamie, but--
  
  "D'ye owe me a life or not?" Not waiting for an answer, Ian jerked a thumb at me. "Aye, then-- it's hers."
  
  "Hardly a question of her life," William said, rather crossly, with an awkward nod in my direction, acknowledging that I might have a possible interest in this discussion. "Surely you don't suppose we kill women?"
  
  "No," Ian said evenly. "I dinna suppose it at all. I ken verra well that you do."
  
  "We do?" William echoed. He looked surprised, but a sudden flush burned in his cheeks.
  

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  Replies:

  • Betsy, your house sounds like a real home. When people talk about having floors that you can eat off, I casually mention that you can at my house; there are plenty of crumbs there! But despite the cat clawed furniture and bits of hay tracked in from the barn, people are at home there. That room is called the living room for a reason. (NT) -- DianaH, Fri, June 08 2018, 8:08:33
  • I recommend long, slow breaths in and out, followed by, "May you be happy, may you be safe, may you be loved, may you be at peace" repeated as needed, for yourself and your DIL. Your home sounds like my grandparents home, full of love, energy, and good times. (NT) -- Janet, Fri, June 08 2018, 11:44:18
  • I am facinated in William's often naive nature. To counter that is Ian's extensive experience and knowledge which sometimes comes as a surprise to me. Both of them are very intuitive-- in quite different ways-- but I think it's plain that they both swam in the same gene pool. (NT) -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Fri, June 08 2018, 18:33:30
  
  

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• QOTD for Thursday, 6/8/18 -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Wed, June 06 2018, 21:14:22
  I've developed a facination and a huge love of reading about the relationship between Ian and William. Ian figures out who William's sire is early on, when they meet for the first time on the Ridge. I just love the scene when Ian looks at one and then the other and puts it all together. But they really don't have any relationship at all until their adult years. I think one of the reasons I find it so marvelous is because I grew up as the only girl and then as an adult found I had a sister. As adults, the relationships of newly-found siblings evolve in a bit of a different way than they do as children but they certainly DO evolve! At least that has been my experience.
  
  Ian and William act so much like siblings it makes me laugh. They drive each other crazy! But when push comes to shove, they both rise to the occasion. I'm interested to see where the two of them find themselves in the next book.
  
  Just in case you wonder if my sister and I have any sustained relationship, Yes, we do. There is a strong bond that strangely enough feels like we have been together since day one. We're close enough to be able to get annoyed because we have the certaincy that we stand on a rock-solid base together. When things are tentative it's too dangerous to allow the negative emotions to creep in.
  
  So here we are. Watching these two wonderful young men as they find their seats at the table. I love them both dearly. They both make me laugh and they both break my heart. Just like my children.
  
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  
  The following quote is taken from 'An Echo In The Bone,' by Diana Gabaldon, Chapter 56, "While Still Alive." Copyright c 2009, by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved.
  
  
  "Let her go!" William barked.
  
  "The devil I will," Ian replied hotly. "YOU let go!"
  
  
  Mrs. Wellman's little son was on his feet, staring round eyed and openmouthed into the forest.
  
  "Mama,Mama! INDIANS!"
  
  Shrieks rose from the women near us, and everyone began a mad scramble way from the forest, leaving the wounded to their own devices.
  
  "Ah, bugger!" Ian said, letting go in disgust. William didn't, jerking me with such force that I crashed into him, whereupon he promptly wrapped his arms about my waist and dragged me a little way into the field.
  
  "Will ye bloody leave go of my auntie?" Ian said crossly, emerging from the trees.
  
  "You!" said William. "What are you--well, never mind that. Your aunt, you say?" He looked down at me. "Are you? His aunt? Wait!--no, of course you are."
  

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  Replies:

  • I just love watching the relationship between Ian and William evolve, although I do feel bad for William losing Rachel to Ian. (Not that I think Rachel and Ian shouldn't be together, I think they are both good for each other). I hope William is able to find his own happiness. (NT) -- TheresaB., Thu, June 07 2018, 3:26:42
    • I wonder if William will end up with (I can’t remember his name - the Grey son we think is dead)’s widow. There seems to be a little foreshadowing. I am REALLY glad Rachel picked Ian. 😍 (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Thu, June 07 2018, 4:18:38
  • I agree with you Betsy. As much as I love Roger and Bri, I’ve never looked forward to reading about them the way I do for Ian and his various relationships. How wonderful for you and your sister that you found each other, and better yet, have that special relationship. I do think William will embrace his “new”family once he has time to settle down and digest it. The fact that the Grey brothers hold Jamie in such esteem will have to help. And could you think of a better cousin than Ian?!? (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Thu, June 07 2018, 4:16:04
  
  

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• QOTD for Wednesday, 6/6/18 -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Tue, June 05 2018, 21:35:00
  Oh Happy Day...Oh Happy Daaaayy...When children go, And stay away. They taught me how, to scream and yell, and say some words... much worse than hell... You know how it goes.
  
  Some day, SOME DAY, I will have a plan in place that actually HAPPENS as I arranged. Not today. Not any day in the near future, either.
  
  My favorite phone call: I answer my phone, hear barfing and gagging in the background (why this needed to be a FaceTime call, I'll never know....) and I see a face across the room talking to every one else in the room (their room, not mine) except ME. Then a question comes from across the room (what do we do for three vomitting children? Give them all buckets say I. Lots of arguing between the two adults in the room (their room, once again. Not mine.) Apparently my idea about buckets wasn't what they were looking for. They had already been to the doctors, to urgent care, and to the school nurse. Now it was MY turn to get ignored. So I get to listen to all sorts of discussion, arguing about how to get a child who can't swallow/won't swallow pills to do just that. All of my suggestions are ignored. More sitting and listening. And listening and sitting. Perhaps it's a comfort to have Gummy on the phone, ready and waiting, for what? I don't know. But I'm ready. And I've waited. After 32 minutes of saying not much (although, I did manage to contribute three suggestions, none of which could be tried. Why? I dunno.
  
  *I must add, you All know how much I love my kids and grandchildren. I adore each and every one of them. They all know it, too. But they drive me CRAZY at times!*
  
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  
  The following quote is taken from 'An Echo In The Bone,' by Diana Gabaldon, chapter 60, " Deserter Game, Round 11." Copyright c 2009 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved.
  
  
  "Who are you and what are you--Good God, where did YOU come from?" William the soldier nstared into Ian's face, and Ian thanked God briefly for the fact that his other wrist was immobilized by Denny's chain, for otherwise William would be already dead. And he didn't want to have to tell Uncle Jamie THAT.
  
  "He has come to help me escape, Friend William," Denny Hunter said mildly from the shadows on the ground behind Ian. "I would take it kindly if thee did not hinder him, though I will understand if thy duty compels thee."
  
  William's head jerked, looked wildly round, then down. Had the circumstances been less dire, Ian would have laughed at the expressions-- for there were a great number of them, run through in the course of a heartbeat--on it. William closed his eyes for an instant, then opened them again.
  
  "Don't tell me," he said shortly, "I don't want to know." He squatted beside Ian and, between them, they had Denny out in a matter of seconds. Ian took a deep breath, put his hands to his mouth, and hooted, then paused a moment and did it once again. William stared at him in mingled puzzlement and anger. Then Ian ducked the point of his shoulder into Denny's midriff and, with William heaving, got the doctor onto his shoulders with little more than a startled grunt and a slight clanking of fetters.
  
  William's hand closed on Ian's forearm, and his head, a dark oval in the last traces of light, jerked toward the woods.
  
  "Left," he whispered. "There are latrine trenches on the right. Two pickets, a hundred yards out." He squeezed hard and let go.
  

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  Replies:

  • I’m starting to like William more. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Wed, June 06 2018, 4:06:42
  • William will be just fine - he has Jamie's nature and John's nurture - with all of that, he's bound to be a good man! (NT) -- lori v, Wed, June 06 2018, 4:27:23
  • You are a wonderful granny - sometimes we kids aren't ready to hear the wisdom of our mothers. And I love how this quote fits right into your life. Ian makes me laugh out loud in this book, and I love seeing more of William. (NT) -- LadyBelle, Wed, June 06 2018, 8:09:33
  
  

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• Quote of the day for June 5, 2018 -- Judie, Mon, June 04 2018, 21:03:36
  Posting for Betsy - some rascal faeries put a bunch of space in her post - so we're just redoing it. :)
  
  -------------
  
  I'm quite tired tonight (my head has hit the keyboard four times so far. No unidentified middle-of-the-night screeching nor racing willy-nilly waving rolling pins or bats, brooms, lead pipes, detached wooden apprendages or other note-worthy articles of defense to write about either. Thank goodness. Sooooo, onto the QOTD!
  
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  
  The following quote is taken from 'An Echo In The Bone," by Diana Gabaldon, chapter 37, "Purgatory." Copyright c 2009. All rights reserved.
  
  
  Murray glanced up at him thoughtfully.
  
  "I suppose ye're verra stubborn?"
  
  William stared at the Scot, put out at this remark, thoough in fact he had been told repeatedly, by friends, relatives, and military supervisors, that his intransigence would one day kill him. Surely it didn't show on his face!
  
  "What the devil do you mean by that?"
  
  "It wasna meant as an insult," Murray said mildly, and bent to tighten the knot of the impromptu bandage with his teeth. He turned away and spat out a few threads. "I hope ye are-- because it'll be a good distance to find ye help, and if you're sufficiently stubborn as not to die on me, that would be good, I think."
  
  "I said I don't propose to die," William assured him. "And I don't need help. Where--are we anywhere near Dismal Town?"
  

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  Replies:

  • I love Ian’s attitude. So matter of fact, and let’s just get the job done. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Tue, June 05 2018, 3:31:00
  • These 2 young men are part of my keen desire for the next book! Not to mention the gaggle of middle-aged women who are about to upend the lives off their menfolk. (NT) -- Swarl, Tue, June 05 2018, 5:29:29
  • Because Frasers are "stubborn as rocks." (NT) -- DianaH, Tue, June 05 2018, 6:57:13
  • Fraser to the core! (NT) -- Piper-Mom, Tue, June 05 2018, 9:42:13
  
  

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• QOTD for Monday, 6/4/18 -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Sun, June 03 2018, 22:24:32
  Good evening, morning, afternoon, and whatever time it is wherever you are,
  
  I live in a very rural area, the kind where everybody who ives on our five mile hill knows everybody else, what kind of car and/or truck they drive, which of them speed W-A-Y too fast on this hill; the kind of place where most of us have a bit of land (at least five acres) and the rest have hundreds of acres. We have many kinds of animals here. The sounds of different animals and birds are ever-present.
  
  Last night I went to bed fairly late and just as I snuggled in, sinking into the bed, feeling myself beginning to turn to mush, I heard the most horrible noise I have ever heard in our woods. It sounded like a young woman screaming in a high pitch, on a screeching level. Or an animal being cought in a trap and being slashed by another animal. It went on and on and on. Now, in the summer months our cats go prowling at night. All I could see in my mind was one of my kitties being tortured. I ran outside...it sounded as if it was coming from the edge of our Very Large Lawn or just inside the woods. It was two AM and there was no way I could ignore it. I had decided it wasn't a human sound but some poor animal being tortured. Trapping is allowed here but only in designated and our land isn't one of those places.
  
  I went out onto our porch and called both of my kitties to come in. Then I I took off running across the uneven ground, full of pot holes. "I'm coming Kitties! Help is on the way !!!!!" Hmmmm...here I am running into the woods at 2 AM, with nothing in my hands to rescue my critters or to protect myself. I spun around (honest. I spun!) and raced back to the house to arm myself with a deadly weapon. "Here I come, kitties! Have no fear...I am armed now!" With a rolling pin. Both cats were sitting on the doorstep waiting for me. I kept running but I was losing my adrenaline with each step. Before I actually reached the edge of the woods, rolling pin waving high, I began to think it all through just a little bit. I'm not terribly logical at 3:00 AM. I turned and unobtrusively headed to the house. The screeching had stopped and I like to think whatever it was out there had been intimidated by the image of a lithesome Warrior Woman zooming toward them, armed to the teeth with a rolling pin.
  
  This morning I asked my BIL, who knows everything about everything about the flora and fauna of our land here, what it could have been. I performed my Very Best Imitation of the bone-chilling screeching. It was a bear. Looking for her cub.
  
  My rolling pin is back in the cupboard where it will remain until the next time I make pie crust. I'll take a baseball bat when my defensive skills are called upon..
  
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  
  The following quote is taken from 'An Echo In The Bone,' by Diana Gabaldon, Chapter 37, "Purgatory." Copyright c 2009, by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved.
  
  
  William gave him a narrow look, but the man was not practicing upon him. He was nearly as tall as William himself, but thin as a coachwhip, his dark-black hair was slicked back with bear grease. He looked competent , but not one to inspire fear.
  
  The man was studying him with an interest equal to his own. William coughed and cleared his throat, then extended a hand. "Your servant , sir. I'm William Ransom."
  
  "Oh, I know ye well enough," the man said, a rather odd note in his voice. He put out his own hand and shook William's firmly. "Ian Murry. We've met." His eyes traveled over William's torn, disheveled cloths, his scratched, sweating face, and his mud-caked boots. "Ye look a bit better than the last time I saw ye-- but not much."
  

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  Replies:

  • Dear Betsy - I can see you dashing toward the woods to face unknown danger to save your babies. I love the interactions between Ian and William. (NT) -- kgp, Mon, June 04 2018, 4:26:33
  • Betsy, you are hilarious. But don't be going out there late at night with your knee! Don't want you to fall down and hurt yourself! And bears!? STAY INSIDE! :) (NT) -- Judie, Mon, June 04 2018, 11:17:43
    • David's comment about my attempt at heroism: "Betsy, This is not your finest hour. Where do you come up with your hair-brained ideas?" Bah, harumph. (NT) -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Mon, June 04 2018, 19:17:06
      • “Not your finest hour”. What a carefully phrased husband criticism. 🙄 (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Tue, June 05 2018, 3:28:59
  
  

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• QOTD for Sunday, 6/3/18 -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Sat, June 02 2018, 22:11:27
  Hello, Lally Folk from Far and Wide,
  This is a busy week for me so I don't have the time to spend to blather on (and on).
  
  I do want to ask a question, though. Do you have any child's book that you just can't read? Nana Upstairs and Nana Downstairs by Tomie dePaolo renders me unable to read, I sob so. What a happy memory of a tender family moment, children sitting in my lap and at my feet, listening to Mama as her nose runs down her face and she sobs and hiccups and blubbers to beat the band. It was a minor miracle to get them all gathered in one place, no one armed with weapons of mass destruction, none of them trying to wiggle away, all listening quietly. A real Norman Rockwell picture. And there's Mama in the middle, swimming in tears and snot. This picture of perfection lasts a total of two seconds. They all act like picking up that book for Mama to read was a secret signal that pretty soon they could run away and commit unspeakable mayhem because Mama has been rendered useless. Oh, I miss the good ol' days!
  
  The second book is The Pout Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen. When I get to the Pout pout part, my dentures start to rattle. By the time I get to the Blub Blub BLUB part, my teeth fall out. This is a true story. Honest.
  
  I did have a theme for the week but it fell apart. I can't find the second quote. I've been searching for days and I will admit that I get a mite distracted while I'm reading, getting side-tracked about a hundred times a day. I'll read something that triggers a different memory and there I go.... chasing a different idea, forgetting what it is I'm looking for. It's a great way to do a mini-re-read but it's not too focused. At all. The end result? I have a theme but only two quotes. After they're used I have no idea what I'll be doing. It'll be a surprise, to me especially.
  
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  The following quote is taken from 'Drums of Autumn', by Diana Gabaldon, Chapter 25, "Enter a Serpent." Copyright c 1997, by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved.
  
  
  "Ian," said Jamie, between his teeth. "Stop blethering this instant, and tell me straight what ye've wi' the lad. Ye've not shot him by mistake, I hope?"
  Ian looked offended at this slur upon his marksmanship.
  "Of course not!" he said."Perhaps you would be good enough to tell me the whereabouts of my son at this moment?"
  Ian took a deep breath and visibly commended his soul to God.
  "He's at the bottom of the privy," he said."Have ye got a bit o' rope, Uncle Jamie?"
  

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  • This always makes me laugh; I even used it as a theme for my Lallybroch Christmas ornament one year. I’m very interested to see the relationship between William and Ian develop more now that William knows they’re cousins. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sun, June 03 2018, 5:54:21
  • I'm quite happy with the word 'blethering' It is so useful. ;-)) (NT) -- swarl, Sun, June 03 2018, 13:56:40
  • One of those moments that made me laugh out loud! (NT) -- Piper-Mom, Mon, June 04 2018, 9:29:52
  • This whole section was such a laugh out loud part. Loved it. And Betsy, blether and blather away, we're just happy to be on the boards with y'all! (NT) -- DianaH, Mon, June 04 2018, 10:35:34
  
  

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• QOTD and Bulletin Board for Saturday, June 2, 2018 -- Piper-Mom, Sat, June 02 2018, 7:47:39
  Today's quote is from Written in My Own Heart's Blood, by Diana Gabaldon. Copyright 2014. All Rights Reserved. Chapter 7: The Unintended Consequences of Ill-considered Actions.
  
  "Jamie shoved through the brush, heedless of ripping brambles and slapping branches. Anything that got in his way could get out of it or be trampled.
  
  He hesitated for no more than an instant when he reached the two horses, hobbled and grazing. He untied them both and, slapping the mare, sent her snorting into the brush. Even if no one made off with the extra horse before the militia let John Grey go, Jamie didn't mean to make it easy for the man to get back to Philadelphia. Whatever must be dealt with there would be done much more easily without the complications of his lordship's presence."
  

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  Replies:

  • What a mess! So happy that Jamie is not dead, but there sure is a lot to,be worked out. It always strikes me that Jamie doesn’t “blame” Claire, but Lord John will pay dearly. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sun, June 03 2018, 5:56:46
  
  

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• QOTD and Bulletin Board for Friday, June 1, 2018 -- Piper-Mom, Fri, June 01 2018, 7:58:55
  Rabbit, Rabbit!
  
  HAPPY WORLD OUTLANDER DAY!!!
  
  Today's quote is not from Outlander, but continuing on in Written in My Own Heart's Blood. By Diana Gabaldon. Copyright 2014. All rights Reserved. Chapter 6: Under My Protection.
  
  "The bell of the Presbyterian church two blocks away rang for half-two, and my stomach echoed it, reminding me that - what with one thing and another - I hadn't had any tea yet.
  
  Jenny had had a bite with Marsali and the children but declared herself equal to dealing with an egg, if there might be one, so I sent Mrs. Figg to see whether there might, and within twenty minutes we were wallowing - in a genteel fashion - in soft-boiled eggs, fried sardines, and - for lack of cake - flapjacks with butter and honey, which Jenny had never seen before but took to with the greatest alacrity."
  

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  Replies:

  • For anyone interested, Outlander ebook is available for $1.99 from Amazon, Apple iBooks, Google, Barnes. & Noble. (NT) -- CindyG, Fri, June 01 2018, 8:24:07
    • I got mine! :) (NT) -- DianaH, Fri, June 01 2018, 10:38:21
  • It would be nice to have someone else deal with the daily tasks of putting a meal together, particularly in those times, when everything takes more time and effort to accomplish! (NT) -- DianaH, Fri, June 01 2018, 10:40:16
    • And such a new experience for Jenny, being waited on! Diana describes some of these simple meals so well it gets MY stomach growling 🥞 😋 (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Fri, June 01 2018, 18:17:08
  • In honor of Workd Outlander Day - how did Outlander change your life? One big one, among many for me, was using the Internet. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Fri, June 01 2018, 18:19:55
    • I gained so many friends, that I wouldn't have otherwise. (NT) -- Piper-Mom, Sat, June 02 2018, 7:39:58
  
  

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• QOTD for Thursday, May 31, 2018 -- Piper-Mom, Thu, May 31 2018, 18:14:52
  This quote is from Chapter 5: The Passions of Young Men. Written in My Own Heart's Blood. Diana Gabaldon. Copyright 2014, All rights reserved.
  
  "While fascinated to hear about William and the dramatic circumstances under which he had just discovered his paternity, Jenny's true concern was for another young man.
  
  "D'ye ken where Young Ian is?" she asked eagerly. "And did he find his young woman, the Quaker lassie he told his da about?"
  
  I relaxed a little at this; Young Ian and Rachel Hunter were - thank God - not on the list of fraught situations. At least not for the moment."
  

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  Replies:

  • I am very anxious to read mores about Rachel and Ian. They are both so special, and outwardly different, but true soul mates. Her quiet strength is so perfect for him. And Claire’s (and Jenny’s for that matter!) influence let him see the depth and appeal of a strong, smart woman. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Fri, June 01 2018, 18:13:02
  
  

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• QOTD and Bulletin Board for Thursday, May 31, 2018 -- Piper-Mom, Thu, May 31 2018, 8:40:09
  Oh fuuuuudge!!! I ran out the door this morning to get to work for a meeting and forgot to grab the book on the way out the door! So... book quote will be later today. Sorry!!
  
  In the mean time, here is something I found on History.com relating to North Carolina in 1775. "The Mecklenburg Resolutions reject the power of the British in North Carolina"
  
  
  
  On this day in 1775, the committeemen of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, meet and respond to news of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first battles of the American Revolution, with a series of 20 patriotic resolutions.
  
  This meeting gave rise to a lasting historical myth better known than the event itself. In 1819, the Raleigh Register published a document that it claimed was the Mecklenberg Declaration of Independence from May 20, 1775. Controversy continues regarding the declaration’s authenticity, but it is likely that the so-called declaration was a misdated and edited version of the resolves that were actually recorded on May 31.
  
  The so-called Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence printed in 1819 contained five resolutions. The first charges, That whosoever directly or indirectly abetted, or in any way, form, or manner, countenanced the unchartered and dangerous invasion of our rights, as claimed by Great Britain, is an enemy to this County, to America, and to the inherent and inalienable rights of man. The second resolution dissolved Mecklenburg County’s ties to the Mother Country and removed all allegiance to the British Crown, which had shed the innocent blood of American Patriots at Lexington. The third resolution declared the Mecklenbergers, a free and independent people. The fourth and fifth resolutions dissolved the power of all British appointments and called every officer in the county to resume his former command and authority until a more general and organized government be established in this province.
  
  The myth of the May 20, 1775, declaration is deeply entrenched: North Carolina’s state seal and flag bear the dates May 20, 1775, and April 12, 1776. April 12, 1776, was the date of the Halifax Resolves, with which the North Carolina Provincial Congress empowered its delegates to the Continental Congress to vote in favor of independence from Britain. Despite the continued popularity of the Mecklenburg Declaration in popular lore, the less emphatic set of 20 resolves issued on May 31, which suspended crown authority in North Carolina without overtly declaring independence, are the only ones confirmed to have existed by contemporary documents.
  

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• QOTD and Bulletin Board for Wednesday, May 30, 2018 -- Piper-Mom, Wed, May 30 2018, 9:10:11
  Today's quote is from Chapter 4: Don't Ask Questions You Don't Want to Hear the Answers To. Written in My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon. Copyright 2014. All Rights Reserved.
  
  In the woods, an hour's ride outside Philadelphia.
  
  "John Grey had been quite resigned to dying. Had expected it from the moment that he'd blurted out, 'I have had carnal knowledge of your wife.' The only question in his mind had been whether Fraser would shoot him, stab him, or eviscerate him with his bare hands.
  
  To have the injured husband regard him calmly and say merely, 'Oh? Why? was not merely unexpected but... infamous. Absolutely infamous"
  

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  Replies:

  • I forgot how great the titles are! I’m loving your quotes and realize I need a reread. Up until ABISSA I can quote entire passages, but for some reason I haven’t reread the last three as many times. And I never get me enough Lotd John 😏 (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Wed, May 30 2018, 17:02:20
  • Oh John, such a question to be sure, "How will Jamie kill me?" :-0 (NT) -- DianaH, Thu, May 31 2018, 6:41:45
  • This was quite possibly the last thing Jamie ever expected to hear from John. (NT) -- kgp, Thu, May 31 2018, 7:08:00
  • I must confess.... I still haven't actually read MOBY. It's on my TBR pile, along with other great books. *blushing* (NT) -- Piper-Mom, Thu, May 31 2018, 8:42:25
    • Well you’re sure doing a good job quoting something you haven’t read! I guess it proves, “you can open an Outlander book anywhere and find a special quote.” (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Thu, May 31 2018, 13:52:48
      • Yep. :) (NT) -- Piper-Mom, Sat, June 02 2018, 13:37:02
  
  

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• QOTD and Bulletin Board for Tuesday, May 29, 2018 (Wow! Where has the month of May gone?!) -- Piper-Mom, Tue, May 29 2018, 8:47:24
  Today's quote is from Chapter 3: In Which the Women, as Usual, Pick up the Pieces. Written in My Own Heart's Blood. By Diana Gabaldon, copyright 2014. All rights reserved.
  
  Number 17 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. The residence of Lord and Lady John Grey.
  
  "William had left the house like a thunderclap, and the place looked as though it had been struck by lightning. I certainly felt like the survivor of a massive electrical storm, hairs and nerve endings all standing up straight on end, waving in agitation.
  
  Jenny Murray had entered the house on the heels of William's departure, and while the sight of her was a lesser shock than any of the others so far, it still left me speechless. I goggled at my erstwhile sister-in-law - though, come to think, she still was my sister-in-law... because Jamie was alive. Alive.
  

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  Replies:

  • For a second, I was wondering... who is Lady John Grey? ;) (NT) -- Piper-Mom, Tue, May 29 2018, 8:49:46
  • Love the title of this chapter, and it is oh-so true! (NT) -- DianaH, Tue, May 29 2018, 9:23:39
  
  

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• QOTD and Bulletin Board for Monday, May 28, 2018 -- Piper-Mom, Mon, May 28 2018, 9:02:41
  This quotation is from Chapter 2: Dirty Bastard. Written in My Own Heart's Blood. Copyright 2014, by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved.
  
  "William Ransom, Ninth Earl of Ellesmere, Viscount Ashness, Baron Derwent, shoved his way through the crowds on Market Street, oblivious to the complaints of those rebounding from his impact.
  
  He didn't know where he was going, or what he might do when he got there. All he knew was that he'd burst if he stood still.
  
  His head throbbed like an inflamed boil. Everything throbbed. His hand - he'd probably broken something, but he didn't care. His heart, pounding and sore inside his chest. His foot, for God's sake - what, had he kicked something? He lashed viciously at a loose cobblestone and sent it rocketing through a crowd of geese, who set up a huge cackle and lunged at him, hissing and beating at his shins with their wings.
  
  Feathers and goose shit flew wide, and the crowd scattered in all directions."
  

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  Replies:

  • OOOH, beware an angry young formerly entitled man!!! (NT) -- swarl, Mon, May 28 2018, 9:19:24
  • Can't exactly blame him for being in a bit of a snit at this point (NT) -- kgp, Mon, May 28 2018, 14:10:14
    • Oh, no, that was a well deserved snit. (NT) -- CindyG, Mon, May 28 2018, 20:07:31
  • The Fraser Enraged. We can see who sired HIM!! He MUST be in a good snit....goose shit is amazingly gooey and gross! (NT) -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Mon, May 28 2018, 16:49:53
  • Can you just see this chaos in the street? (NT) -- Piper-Mom, Tue, May 29 2018, 8:48:50
  
  

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• QOTD and Bulletin Board for Sunday, May 27, 2018 -- Piper-Mom, Mon, May 28 2018, 8:48:33
  Sorry, I wasn't sure if I was still on the schedule for this week, or if I had been moved to a later week.
  
  Today's quote is from Chapter 1: A Hundredweight of Stones. Written in My Own Heart's Blood. Copyright 2014 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved.
  
  (June 16, 1778, the forest between Philadelphia and Valley Forge)
  
  "Ian Murray stood with a stone in his hand, eyeing the ground he'd chosen. A small clearing, out of the way, up among a scatter of great lichened boulders, under the shadow of firs and at the foot of a big red cedar; a place where no casual passerby would go, but not inaccessible. He meant to bring them up here - the family."
  

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  Replies:

  • Such a sad beginning. (NT) -- kgp, Mon, May 28 2018, 14:22:47
  
  

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• QOTD and Bulletin Board for Saturday, May 26, 2018 -- kgp, Sat, May 26 2018, 5:21:39
  The following quotation is from Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon. Copyright 1992. All Rights Reserved. Chapter 6. Making Waves
  
  The official, recovering his dignity along with his pomander, stepped in once more, looked closely at the body, straightened up and announced, “Smallpox. The lady is correct. I’m sorry, Monsieur le Comte, but you know the law as well as anyone.”
  
  The man he addressed sighed impatiently. He glanced at me, frowning, then jerked his head at the official.
  
  “’m sure this can be arranged, Monsieur Pamplemousse. Please, a moment’s private conversation . . . “ He motioned toward the deserted foreman’s hut that stood some distance away, a small derelict structure inside the larger building. A nobleman by dress as well as title, Monsieur le Comte was a slender, elegant sort, with heavy brows and thin lips. His entire attitude proclaimed that he was used to getting his way.
  

  Last edited by author: Sat, May 26 2018, 16:29:41   Edited 1 time.
  [ Post a Reply to this Message ][ Edit | View ]
  
  Replies:

  • One of the stories in Seven Stones to Stand or Fall implies that Le Comte is somehow related to Claire. Did anyone feel that? He sure is a very nasty dude, who fits this week’s theme 👺 (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sat, May 26 2018, 5:58:13
    • Yes, that was what I thought as well, Kathy. I also was quite impressed with what REALLY happened when Le Comte was poisoned. (NT) -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Sat, May 26 2018, 15:10:07
  • Great bad guy week (NT) -- LadyDuBois, Sun, May 27 2018, 7:36:12
  
  

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• So I'm actually using this as the SB. I wanted to give a shout out to one of our own, Margy. The amazing Ladies Of Lallybroch have once again brought joy and friendship to another. I am so proud to be a part of this group. Thanks for having me. -- LadyDuBois, Fri, May 25 2018, 3:18:00
  [ Post a Reply to this Message ][ Edit | View ]
  
  Replies:
  • I hate to think how small my life would be without you all. 💜💜💜 (NT) -- kgp, Fri, May 25 2018, 3:52:44
    • Me too! Can you share the latest expression of Lallylove? (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sat, May 26 2018, 4:37:13
      • I'm FB friends with an author in England, she has a border collie that she desperately loves, her first experiences with Flyball were horrendous, I knew Margy was a crack Flyball teacher so I asked her if I could introduce the two of them. Margy said of course and now my friend is over the top happy because she not only found a club that works for her and her dog, but she has also started making new friends. I forgot to mention that my friend is a recent immigrant in the UK and life has been very rough for her. It makes my heart happy that she has found life can be kind. Ladies of Lallybroch are the best friends (NT) -- LadyDuBois, Sun, May 27 2018, 6:52:05
        • That's great! (NT) -- kgp, Sun, May 27 2018, 13:25:48
  
  

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• Quoters Needed -- Judie, Thu, May 24 2018, 18:54:05
  .
  .
  Got any takers? :)
  
  Starting with the week of June 10??
  
  Judie
  

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  Replies:

  • I'm available. Let me know. (NT) -- Constance, Fri, May 25 2018, 10:01:09
  • I can do a week. (NT) -- CindyG, Fri, May 25 2018, 12:13:23
  • AWESOME! Constance - June 10. CindyG - June 17. Do those work? (NT) -- Judie, Sat, May 26 2018, 13:40:47
    • That’s fine. (NT) -- CindyG, Sat, May 26 2018, 18:07:04
  • Perfect for me (NT) -- Constance, Sun, May 27 2018, 9:40:21
  • I can take the last week of June, Judy! (NT) -- Lady_Jane, Tue, May 29 2018, 18:54:46
    • Thanks Jane. I’ll add you to the list! (NT) -- Judie, Thu, May 31 2018, 19:15:06
  
  

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• QOTD and Bulletin Board for Friday, May 25, 2018 -- kgp, Thu, May 24 2018, 16:13:10
  The following quotation if from A Breath Of Snow And Ashes by Diana Gabaldon. Copyright 2005. All Rights Reserved. Chapter 27. The Malting Floor
  
  
  I must have let out a gasp at the sight, for the young man leading my horse paused, lifting his own head skyward.
  
  “Oh,” he said softly. He stared for a moment, then was pulled back to earth by the passage of another horse that brushed past us, it’s rider turning to peer closely at me as it did so.
  
  “Did you have stars like this – Where you came from?” my escort asked.
  
  “No,” I said, still slightly under the spell of the silent grandeur overhead. “Not so bright.”
  
  “No, they weren’t,” he said, shaking his head and pulling at the rein. That seemed an odd remark, but I could make nothing of it.
  

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  Replies:

  • Foreshadowing again, I love it when DG does this (NT) -- LadyDuBois, Fri, May 25 2018, 3:15:55
  • O.k. Again, I have no idea. Was it one of the men who had come thru the stones to save the Indians? (NT) -- Swarl, Fri, May 25 2018, 17:26:37
    • I believe it WAS Donner. At first I thought there was some hope for him, but his self serving, evil side prevailed. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sat, May 26 2018, 4:35:43
  
  

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• QOTD and Bulletin Board for Thursday, May 24, 2018 -- kgp, Thu, May 24 2018, 5:30:27
  The following quotation is taken from The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2001. Chapter 8. The Factor
  
  
  Duncan was accompanied by a tall, thin, elderly gentleman, very neat but threadbare in appearance, his scanty white locks tied back from a high and balding brow. His mouth had collapsed from lack of teeth, but retained its humorous curve, and his eyes were bright and blue, set in a long face whose skin was stretched so tight across the bone as scarce to leave enough to wrinkle round the eyes, though deep lines carved the mouth and brow. With a long-beaked nose, and clad in rusty, tattered black, he looked like a genial vulture.
  

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  Replies:

  • O.k. You stumped me.not easy to do, if I may say so. 😜 who is this? (NT) -- Swarl, Thu, May 24 2018, 6:07:15
  • Arch Bug? Just guessing. (NT) -- CindyG, Thu, May 24 2018, 6:25:12
    • I think so! (NT) -- Susannah, Thu, May 24 2018, 7:43:42
  • Or the Sin Eater? (NT) -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Thu, May 24 2018, 14:34:56
  • Old Arch Bugg (NT) -- kgp, Thu, May 24 2018, 15:59:44
  
  

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• QOTD and Bulletin Board for Wednesday, May 23, 2018 -- kgp, Wed, May 23 2018, 5:42:54
  The following quotation is taken from The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2001. Chapter 2. Loaves and Fishes
  
  “Something was happening on the men’s side of things; the thief-taker’s hands had been untied, and he stood rubbing his wrists, no longer scowling, but listening to whatever Jamie was saying with an expression of wariness. He glanced at us, then at Robin McGillivray, who said something to him and nodded emphatically. The thief-taker’s jaw worked, as though he were chewing over an idea.
  
  “So you all came down to watch the competitions this morning and look for suitable prospects? Yes, I see.”
  
  Jamie reached into his sporran and drew out something, which he held under the thief-taker’s nose, as though inviting him to smell it. I couldn’t make out what it was at this distance, but the thief-taker’s face suddenly changed, going from wariness to alarmed disgust.”
  

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  Replies:

  • Have we a week of scoundrels? DG certainly writes her characters well, whether we come to love them or hate them. (NT) -- DianaH, Wed, May 23 2018, 6:54:36
  
  

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• QOTD and Bulletin Board for Tuesday, May 22, 2018 -- kgp, Tue, May 22 2018, 6:45:03
  The following quotation is taken from The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2001. Chapter 28. Brownsville
  
  
  “The Frenchman waved his hook – which, Roger noticed, seemed to fascinate the women – in a gesture of dismissal.
  
  “That is of no importance,” he said grandly, lifting his aristocratically prominent nose another inch. “I require – that is, we require” – he amended, with a polite nod toward Roger – “to know who you are.”
  
  The inhabitants of the cabin all exchanged confused looks, as though wondering who they might in fact be. After a moment’s hesitation, though, the larger of the two men thrust out his chin pugnaciously.
  
  “My name is Brown, sir. Richard Brown. This is my brother, Lionel, my wife, Meg, my brother’s daughter, Alicia” – that appeared to be the girl in the apron, who had now removed the garment from her head and stood tearstained and gulping – “and my sister, Thomasina.”
  

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  Replies:

  • . (NT) -- Judie, Tue, May 22 2018, 8:52:39
  • Oh boy! (NT) -- Piper-Mom, Tue, May 22 2018, 10:23:23
  • Can there really be 7 loathesome men? They make my skin crawl. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Tue, May 22 2018, 11:58:34
  • I'm lost on this one (NT) -- LadyDuBois, Wed, May 23 2018, 3:21:14
  
  

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• QOTD and Bulletin Board for Monday, May 21, 2018 -- kgp, Mon, May 21 2018, 9:59:14
  The following quotation is from Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 1997. Chapter 62. Three-Thirds Of A Ghost.
  
  
  "Hodgepile was short as well as slight, but held himself more erect than usual in compensation. He walks with a ramrod up his arse. Yes, she thought, watching him with interest as he marched ahead of them. It had to be the man Ronnie Sinclair had described to her mother. How many Hodgepiles could there be, after all? Perhaps she could talk to him when she'd finished with -- her thoughts stopped abruptly as Hodgepile unlocked the warehouse door."
  

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  Replies:

  • Two horrible men two days in a row. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Mon, May 21 2018, 13:23:19
  • Yep, he's a rotten sort of man (NT) -- LadyDuBois, Tue, May 22 2018, 3:15:09
  • UGH! (NT) -- Piper-Mom, Tue, May 22 2018, 10:24:12
  
  

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• QOTD and bulletin board for Sunday, May 20, 2018 -- kgp, Sun, May 20 2018, 7:09:46
  The Following quotation is from Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 1997. Chapter 2. In Which We Meet A Ghost.
  
  "How long have you been in the wagon?" Duncan demanded.
  
  "Since midafternoon." The man rose awkwardly onto his knees, swaying a bit from the effects of the blow. He touched his head again and winced. "Oh, Jaysus! I crawled in there just after the Frenchie loaded up poor old Gavin."
  
  "Where were you before that?" Ian asked.
  
  "Hidin' under the gallows cart. It was the only place I thought they wouldn't be looking." He rose laboriously to his feet, closed his eyes to get his balance, then opened them. They were a pale green in the torchlight, the color of shallow seas. I saw them flick from face to face, then settle on Jamie. The man bowed, careful of his head.
  

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  Replies:

  • Oh, what trouble he will be! (NT) -- CindyG, Sun, May 20 2018, 8:19:29
  • And so starts another chapter in the lives of those we love. I remember when I first read this wondering if this fellow was going to be a good guy or a bad guy. Didn't take too long to figure that one out! (NT) -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Sun, May 20 2018, 10:09:24
  • Oh and he was wily. He immediately saw Jamie was the BMOC and played to him. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Mon, May 21 2018, 3:00:27
  • Too bad he didn't get run over by the gallows cart! (NT) -- Piper-Mom, Tue, May 22 2018, 10:25:22
  
  

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• QOTD for Saturday, May 19th, 2018 -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Sat, May 19 2018, 6:49:53
  Good Morning, Lallypeeps,
  I usually try to post QOTD on the night before but occasiont it doesn't work out. I am sorry and I apologize to those who find it difficult to read when that happens.
  
  I have been having bouts of vertigo all week. To quote Dorothy Parker, What fresh hell is it now? I NEVER used to be sick or debilitated. I had the occasional broken shoulder and cracked patella, but actual illness? Not so much. These days it seems like I find all sorts of weird stuff to fell my plans. What's up with that??? I've never had vertigo before. Oh, I had the occasional bout of the spins after a night of debauchery and depravity (really...it was just after a night of being drunk. The debauchery and depravity are just wishful thinking) but actual vertigo? Ummmm. No. I thought it was tied to an inner ear infection but I had it looked at and that doesn't seem to be the case. Oh well. It just must be my sensitive fragile constitution being unfairly assaulted by some random evil entity. HA! I've never been fragile a day in my life! When I was young, I liked to think of myself as Gwinevere, tall, willowy and strong, (when I wasn't trying to prove that Roy Rogers and Dale Evans were my real parents), but in actuality I had more in common with Brunhilda than with Gwinnie.
  
  So I'm taking this opportunity while I'm not whirling around, which is HORRID I might add, to sit at my computer to type. If anyone has any suggestions on how to deal with this "fresh hell" I'd gladly try them. I have another appointment with my provider on Tuesday so hopefully I can find out an answer or two and put to rest the thoughts that torture my imagination. I STILL think it has something to do with my inner ear. Call it intuition.
  
  
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  
  The following quote is taken from 'Outlander,' by Diana Gabaldon, Chapter 36, "MacRannoch". Copyright c 1991 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved.
  
  MacRannoch was studying the wizened little man, trying to subtract thirty years from the seamed countenance.
  
  "Aye, I know ye," he said at last. "Or not the name, but you. Ye killed a wounded boar single-handed with a dagger, during the tynchal. A gallant beast too. That's right, the MacKenzie gave ye the tushes--a bonney set, almost a complete double curve. Lovely work that, man." A look perilously close to gratification creased Murtagh's pitted cheek momentarily.
  
  I started, remembering the magnificent, barbaric bracelets I had seen at Lallybroch. "My mother's," Jenny had said, "given to her by an admirer." I stared at Murtaugh in disbelief. Even allowing for the passage of thirty years, he did not seem a likely candidate for the tender passion.
  

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  Replies:

  • I know Jenny's words aren't quotes. I don't know how to change fonts (?) and quotations was the best I could do. I tried to find somewhere that would do that but didn't see anything. I wish computers came with written instructions. (NT) -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Sat, May 19 2018, 6:53:37
  • Betsy, I have trouble with vertigo too. It’s horrible, but I live with a sister who has liver disease among a bunch of other problems so I try to keep perspective. I’m pretty healthy otherwise! (NT) -- CindyG, Sat, May 19 2018, 9:06:05
  • Betsy, so sorry you’re dealing with this! DH has had vertigo since he lost hearing in one ear a little over a year ago. Dr. said it might go, might not. It hasn’t and it IS horrible. He uses scopolamine patches that are changed 3very 3 day’s. They help a lot. We’ve had a problem the last two months because there is an industry wide lack of generic patches. So we’ve had to buy the name brand (expensive) but Mike can’t function without them. It might help. Thanks for your Murtaugh quote, he is one of my very favorites. Still waters run deep. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sat, May 19 2018, 9:22:09
  • Some forms of vertigo respond well to 1-2 physical therapy treatments. Since you see your provider soon, ask if he (she) thinks it would help. (NT) -- Janet, Sat, May 19 2018, 10:53:07
  • I loved this part (NT) -- LadyDuBois, Sun, May 20 2018, 5:08:35
  • I remember being startled as well with this revelation. Very interesting..... (NT) -- DianaH, Mon, May 21 2018, 9:19:41
  • Betsy, depending upon what your provider finds (or doesn't find) Tuesday, you may want to get a referral to an ears/nose & throat specialist. I was having a lot of difficulty a few years ago with rather violent dizzy spells, nausea, vomiting, etc. I thought inner ear infection. I was assured it was not and ended up being sent to a cardiologist and a neurologist for multiple tests with no findings. Finally saw an ENT doctor who immediately diagnosed me with Meniere's disease. The key component is a hearing test, which for me was minor, but detectable. Started on a low salt diet to reduce inner ear swelling and I have (KNOCK ON WOOD!) been fine ever since. (NT) -- DianaH, Mon, May 21 2018, 9:26:50
  • I was a bit shocked to figure out that Murtaugh gave those to Ellen. Interesting! (NT) -- Piper-Mom, Tue, May 22 2018, 10:27:44
  • I get vertigo occaisionally and it is usually after being at high altitude from driving over a mountain or after a plane ride. It is called BENIGN PAROXYSMAL POSITIONAL VERTIGO and for me is caused by the sediment in my inner ear canal being displaced by the change in pressure. You can fix it by a maneuver called Half Summersault or Foster Maneuver. Google these names for full information and check with your doctor, but if you only have the vertigo and no other sysmptoms this is easily fixed. The vertigo is horrid if not treated and very disabling, I know. (NT) -- Gail A, Thu, May 24 2018, 21:21:59
  
  

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• QOTD -- Betsy barefootspinner, Fri, May 18 2018, 21:08:25
  I need to post in the AM. See you then.
  

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• QOTD for 5/18/18 -- Betsy barefootspinner, Thu, May 17 2018, 22:54:47
  I’m still on my phone so brief message only.
  
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!€~~,~,,,,,~~~,#~~~~~
  
  The following quote is taken from ‘Outlander,’ by Diana Gabaldon., Chapter 34, “Dougal’s Story”. Copyright 1991, by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved.
  
  While I was occupied with my tonics and salves, he would chat idly with the friends and relatives of the afflicted, taking care to describe the path of our journey toward Beauly. If by chance there were no patients to be seen in a place, we would pause nonetheless for the night, seeking shelter at a cottage or tavern. In these places, Murtagh would sing to entertain our hosts and earn our supper, stubbornly insisting that I preserve all all the money I had with me, in case it should be needed when we found Jamie.
  
  Not naturally inclined toward conversation, he taught me some of his songs., to pass the time as we plodded on from place to place.
  
  “Ye’ve a decent voice,” he observed, one day, after a moderately successfull attempt at “The Dowie of Yarrow “. “Not well-trained, but strong and true enough. Try it once more and ye’ll sing it wi’ me tonight. There’s a wee tavern at Limbaugh.”
  

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  Replies:

  • This was an unexpected side of Murtaugh - a singer?!? But for Jamie, he’d sing for his supper insisting all the money they made be saved to help Jamie when they found him. Too bad everybody doesn’t have a Murtaugh. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sat, May 19 2018, 2:33:57
  • One of the many interesting facets of Murtaugh. (NT) -- Piper-Mom, Tue, May 22 2018, 10:28:57
  
  

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• QOTD for Thursday, 5/ -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Wed, May 16 2018, 19:07:03
  I’ve been dealing with a good bit of vertigo and am writing this on my phone. I’ll skip my usual blathering. Just one very short “Do you remember...”. Does anyone else remember having Air raid drills in school when we were young? Hide under your desk and cover your head under your arms? Now, didn’t that make you feel SO safe? Even then I think I knew it was ridiculous but it’s all we had.
  
  With all that is on the television these days, all the news about everywhere over the globe, everything our kids see and hear at MUCH younger ages than we did, perhaps the naïveté we grew up in wasn’t surch a bad thing.
  
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  
  The following quote is taken from ‘Outlander’, by Diana Gabaldon, Chapter 3, “The Man in the Wood”. Copyright c 1991 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved.
  
  
  There was a sudden whoosh from above, followed immediately by a blur before my eyes and a dull thud. Captain Randall was on the ground at my feet, under a heaving mass that looked like a bundle of old plaid rags. A brown, rocklike fist rose out of the mass and descended with considerable force, meeting decisively with some bony protuberance, by the sound of the resultant crack. The Captain’s struggling legs, shiny in tall brown boots, relaxed quite suddenly.
  
  I found myself staring into a pair of sharp black eyes. The sinewy hand that had temporarily distracted the Captain’s unwelcome attentions was attached like a limpet to my forearm.
  

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  Replies:

  • Enter Murtagh! Not your stereotypical guardian angel but very effective nonetheless. (NT) -- kgp, Thu, May 17 2018, 3:56:06
  • I remember the air raid drills. Also all the Civil Defense information on what to do in case of a nucular attack. Definately had some anxiety then, but usually a fast ride around the block on my two wheeler (no helmet, of course) took care of it. After my mom died, my sister and I found the dog tags we were supposed to wear for identification; why we thought aluminum would survive a blast??? But the good thing was there wasn't "wall to wall" news reporting on what was happening. For news we tuned into Walter Cronkite at 10:00 pm, and his calming voice gave us the facts without editorializing. Just my memories.... (NT) -- Janet (Downey), Thu, May 17 2018, 11:39:43
  
  

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• a breath of snow and ashes -- jeff cook (toilichte), Wed, May 16 2018, 17:11:12
  am wondering if any ladies live in the bullhead city az area. am at my desert house and just finished fiery cross third time thru. but missing snow ashes left at my Vancouver bc home I was wondering if anyone has a copy I could borrow as am not going back to Vancouver till july 1. am a 64 year old male who was given outlander in 2001 and told I would like it. wrong. I fell in love with it and the series of books since just as all you ladies of lallybroch every snippet from the new book first brings me goosebumps and than you usually tears of happiness anyway thank you for letting me post I would give a $50 deposit on book for a two week loan
  

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• QOTD For Wednesday May 16, 2018. The following quote is taken from A Breath Of Snow And Ashes by Diana Gabaldon, Chapter 40 :Bird -Springs. Copyright 2005 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved -- Constance, Wed, May 16 2018, 11:21:08
  
  
  "Greased lightning, " Jamie said with a drowsy air of satisfaction. He was still in bed, lying on his side to watch me dress.
  
  "What?" I turned from my looking glass to eye him. "Who?"
  
  "Me, I suppose. Or were ye not thunderstruck, there at the end?" He laughed, almost silently, rustling the bed clothes.
  
  "Oh, you've been talking to Bree again," I said tolerantly. I turned back to the glass. "That particular figure of speech is a metaphor for extreme speed, not lubricated brilliance."
  .
  

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  • OMG I forgot all about this and burst out laughing when i read it. I love the things Jamie learns from Bri. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Wed, May 16 2018, 13:53:38
  • I love these quiet playful exchanges between Jamie and Claire. I also love the phrase "lubricated brilliance " (NT) -- Constance, Wed, May 16 2018, 17:49:08
    • Yup - whew. 🔥 😍I think Claire and Lord John have the BEST turn of phrases. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Wed, May 16 2018, 17:59:22
  
  

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• Has the rest of the week been taken care of for QOTD? -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Tue, May 15 2018, 12:14:29
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  • No. Please feel free! (NT) -- Judie, Wed, May 16 2018, 4:35:57
  
  

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• QOTD.The following quote of the day is taken from Written In My Own HEART'S BLOOD By Diana Gabaldon, chapter 55, Vestal Virgins. Copyright 2014 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved. -- Constance, Tue, May 15 2018, 9:51:17
  
  
  "... and if he says, 'Oh, God, oh, God, at some point," I advised, "take note of what you were doing, so you can do it again next time."
  
  Rachel laughed, but Dottie frowned a little, looking slightly cross-eyed.
  
  "Do you--does thee--think Denny would take the Lord's name in Vain, even under those circumstances?"
  

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  Replies:

  • QOTD For Tuesday May 15, 2018 (NT) -- Constance, Tue, May 15 2018, 9:53:56
  • .. (NT) -- Judie, Tue, May 15 2018, 10:32:30
  • Oh I absolutely adored Claire’s sex ed class for Dottie and Rachel. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Tue, May 15 2018, 12:32:18
  • Claire is such a great combination of cool auntie and big sister. (NT) -- kgp, Wed, May 16 2018, 4:48:52
  • Girl, under those circumstances, he's not taking the Lord's name in vain; he's praying!! ;) (NT) -- DianaH, Wed, May 16 2018, 7:57:24
  
  

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• I just want to thank everyone who contributed to the Laird’s Ladle. I just made Lady Jay’s Banana Cake, again, and there ar so many other wonderful recipes to try. -- Kathy in PA, Mon, May 14 2018, 14:04:46
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• QOTD for Monday, May 14, 2018 -- CindyG, Sun, May 13 2018, 21:26:29
  The following quote is taken from Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon, Chapter 31, "Quarter Day." Copyright (c) 1991, by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved.
  
  “I caught a strange nonmetallic gleam in the depths of the box, and pointed. ‘What’s that?’
  ‘Oh, those,’ she said, dipping into the box again. ‘I’ve never worn them; they don’t suit me. But you could wear them—you’re tall and queenly, like my mother was. They were hers, ye ken.’
  They were a pair of bracelets. Each made from the curving, almost-circular tusk of a wild boar, polished to a deep ivory glow, the ends capped with silver tappets, etched with flowered tracery.
  ‘Lord, they’re gorgeous! I’ve never seen anything so … so wonderfully barbaric.’”
  

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  Replies:

  • I wonder if later, when Claire learned where the bracelets had come from, she thought back to this moment and realized that was a fitting description of both the gift and the giver?! ;o) (NT) -- lori v, Mon, May 14 2018, 4:15:04
    • I think so. Claire and Murtaugh had a deep connection and I’ll bet he was glad that Claire had them. I don’t think he ever stopped loving Ellen though. (NT) -- Kathy in PS, Mon, May 14 2018, 14:01:53
  • Wonderfully barbaric - so descriptive! (NT) -- DianaH, Mon, May 14 2018, 8:30:12
  • When I found out where they had come from and who had made them it underscored the depth of Murtaugh's character. He's one of the people in the book that I have always wanted to know more about. He's like a forest pool, dark and deep and fathomless. He's a Very Special Person to me. (NT) -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Tue, May 15 2018, 12:11:28
  
  

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• QOTD For Sunday May 13, 2018. The following quote is taken from The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon, Chapter 13 "Beans And Barbecue". Copyright 2001 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved. -- Constance, Sun, May 13 2018, 0:34:07
  
  "Did I ever think to thank ye, Sassenach? " he said, his voice a little husky.
  
  "For what?" I said puzzled. He took my hand, and drew me gently toward him. He smelled of ale and damp wool, and very faintly of branded sweetness of fruitcake.
  
  "For my bairns," he said softly. "For the children that ye bore me."
  
  "Oh," I said. I leaned slowly forward, and rested my forehead against the solid warmth of his chest. I cupped my hands at the small of his back beneath his coat, and sighed. "It was...my pleasure. "
  

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  • Happy Mothers Day to all (NT) -- LadyDuBois, Sun, May 13 2018, 4:47:04
  • Ahhhhh....... a perfect quote for today. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sun, May 13 2018, 4:54:47
  • Lovely quote for the day, thank you! (NT) -- DianaH, Mon, May 14 2018, 8:28:39
  
  

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• QOTD For Saturday May 12, 2018. The following quote is taken from The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon, chapter 36 Worlds Unseen. Copyright 2001 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved. -- Constance, Fri, May 11 2018, 19:50:34
  
  "Wherever did you think babies came from?" I demanded, after a certain amount of enlightenment regarding eggs, sperm, zygote, and the like, which left Jamie distinctly squiggle-eyed. He gave me a rather cold look.
  
  "And me a farmer all my Life? I ken precisely where they come from," he informed me. "I just didna ken that... er... that all of this daffery was going on. I thought... well, I thought that a man plants his seed into a woman's belly, and it...well...grows. " He waved vaguely in the direction of my stomach." You know--like...seed. Neeps, corn, melons, and the like. I didna ken they swim about like tadpoles."
  

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  Replies:

  • Heeheeehee, Jamie is so cute sometimes (NT) -- LadyDuBois, Sat, May 12 2018, 4:10:09
  • I love when Diana writes about the different thinking between the 18th and 20th century’s. You’re right Lady D., Jamie - for all his “warriorness” has a very sweet side. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sat, May 12 2018, 4:48:53
  • "Daffery" 😂 (NT) -- kgp, Tue, May 15 2018, 4:12:09
  
  

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• We need a quoter for next week folks. -- Judie, Fri, May 11 2018, 12:16:41
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  Replies:
  • I can do tomorrow's quote (NT) -- Constance, Sat, May 12 2018, 17:48:04
  • I’ll take Monday,but I’m traveling the rest of the week. (NT) -- CindyG, Sat, May 12 2018, 19:53:04
  • Thanks ladies. (NT) -- Judie, Mon, May 14 2018, 19:05:07
  
  

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• QOTD for Friday, 5/11/18 -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Thu, May 10 2018, 20:01:55
  Do you know those silly but fun "tests" that always pop up on Facebook? The ones that say "What kind of Dust Bunny are you?" or "What does how you hang the towel roll say about you?" I never take those quizzes. First of all, I can already tell you what it's going to tell me and secondly, in the past, each time I took one of those things I would be inundated with advertisements for all SORTS of things. My Facebook page was squashed flat under the weight of all the unsolicited quizzes, computer-to-computer salespeople (who are ten times more obnoxious than the door-to-door kind), and I found that 75% of my "friends" list contained people I didn't know or barely knew at all and certainly NEVER accepted. Besides, I don't need a Facebook Quiz to tell me how old I am. I already know. Older 'n dirt. Proud of it, too!
  
  Does anyone remember The Howdy Doody Show? It was a personal favorite of mine for a good part of my childhood. Howdy Doody was a marionette (unless my brain has been redirected to some space that is previously unknown) and had a wonderful cast of characters. One of the episodes was about the show's cast discovered BookLand and had a wild and wonderful time. I was enthralled! At the end of the show someone told the kids in the audience that anyone could find BookLand by repeating 'Skoob era nuf'-- that's books are fun---three times while turning around counter clockwise. I spent my entire summer twirling around repeating Skoob era nuf three times. Each time I would open my eyes and find myself right in the same boring yard in front of the same boring house and across the street from the same old Yucky Sheila Beth. I twirled counter clockwise, then clockwise then both together one after the other, first one way then the other, then the first way again. I repeated skoob era nuf in every way possible. Softly, loudly, silently in my head; i tried every combination I could think of and several that I couldn't, turning, skipping, hopping, crawling...if you can think of any possible way I tried it. All summer. In the front yard. Most of the houses in my neighborhood had dads that were alcoholics, none having found AA yet, and moms that were so busy with their own crazy children they didn't even notice me. There I'd be, every day, failing each time but determined that I WOULD find the right combination and I'd be sucked into BookLand, Nirvana, Heaven. I never even left the yard. It was a long summer but a passionate one.
  
  
  I can still be seen, when the moon is hidden and the night is dark, out in the edge of our woods, twirling and whispering Scoob Era Nuf three times while I twirl three times. I'm more discrete now.
  
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  
  The following quote is taken from 'Outlander,' by Diana Gabaldon, Chapter two, "Standing Stones". Copyright c 1991, by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved.
  
  
  "Oh?" I was still amused, but beginning to be curious. "Am I going to meet a tall dark stranger, or journey across the sea?"
  
  
  "Could be." Mrs. Graham had caught my ironic tone, and echoed it, smiling slightly. "And could not. That's what's odd about your cup, my dear. Everything in it's contradictory. There's the curved leaf for a journey, but it's crossed by the broken one that means staying put. And strangers there are, to be sure, several of them. And one of them's your husband, if I read the leaves aright."
  

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  Replies:

  • Great quote. Amazing tea leaf reader, I say. (NT) -- Swarl, Fri, May 11 2018, 4:55:47
  • Anybody else amazed at the difference in reading this for the first time and how you read it now? (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sat, May 12 2018, 4:50:10
  • The first time I read this, I thought, "Well Frank kind of IS a stranger, as they've been apart so long. And when Mrs. Graham read Claire's palm and said the marriage line was broken and asked her if she was a bigamist, hmmm, what? Ha, ha, keep reading; you ain't seen nothing yet! (NT) -- DianaH, Mon, May 14 2018, 8:26:57
  
  

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• QOTD For Thursday May 9, 2018. The following quote is taken from Dragonfly In Amber by Diana Gabaldon, Copyright (c) 1992 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved. -- Constance, Wed, May 09 2018, 19:45:01
  
  Chapter 6 : Making Waves
  
  "I want to protect ye, Sassenach-spread myself over ye like a cloak and shield you and the child wi' my body. " His voice was soft and husky, with a slight catch in it. "I would do anything for ye...and yet...there's nothing I can do. It doesna matter how strong I am, or how willing; I canna go with you where ye must go...nor eve help ye at all.
  
  And to think of the things that might happen, and me helpless to stop them...aye I'm afraid, Sassenach."
  "And yet"- he turned me toward him, hand closing gently over one breast-"yet when I think of you wi' my child at your breast...then I feel as though I've gone hollow as a soap bubble, and perhaps I shall burst with joy."
  

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  Replies:

  • Please forgive me. I put the wrong date for this post. It should be May 10, 2018 (NT) -- Constance, Wed, May 09 2018, 19:57:40
  • So like Jamie to want to protect Claire, and frightened with the knowledge that this is one area that he can do little to help. (NT) -- DianaH, Thu, May 10 2018, 10:35:04
  • When I had given birth to our first babe, I remember lying in bed nursing this wee miracle of life and seeing a different look on David's face, one I had never seen before. I could tell he was in Awe, but there was a touch of envy mixed in, too. I asked him if that was what he was feeling and with some embarrassment he admitted that, yes, he was feeling a bit of envy that I could provide something for our daughter that he couldn't. There was some wistful longing for a set of boobs that he had never seen before, too!! (NT) -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Thu, May 10 2018, 17:35:49
  
  

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• QOTD for Wednesday, May 9th, 2018 -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Tue, May 08 2018, 21:36:52
  I have just spent 2 1/2 hours, something that I just never do anymore, searching Facebook for a specific memory and I can't find it anywhere. I know it's somewhere in the Facebook Closet because they asked me this morning if I wanted to share it. I did, but not today. I went back this afternoon and it was gone. GONE. I want the damn thing. It's MINE, for heaven's sake. Apparently, Facebook doesn't want to play with me anymore because they've hidden my memory in some dark, hidden closet. Bah Harumph.
  
  Now, I know my limits on Facebook and the rest of the computer. Limits? That's a very gentle way of saying I know almost nothing. And every time I figure something out and start to know what keys to push to get me where I want to be, EVERY TIME, they stick some damn upgrade on my phone and my desk top and mess me all up again. I never click on any upgrade. I know better. I did a few times (back in the dark ages of the Humiliation of Betsy) and apparently I downloaded horrid stuff that took my daughter three days to fix. So, my Memories on Facebook are buried somewhere I will never find.
  
  When we got our Very First Computer, many years ago, I was told to be careful. We had four kids, all teenagers, and it was easy for them to find porn sights. I was also told to NEVER EVER turn the computer off except through the steps I needed to take, mostly closing stuff down. If I did there was a good chance the computer would burn out for good. Ok. I won't.
  
  David was working nights at the time as was I. One night when he was working and the kids were all home and asleep, I decided to see how easy it was to find porn. It only took three clicks and I landed amid some impressive stuff. I kept clicking whatever sounded like the worst sight. I don't recall all that I visited. Somewhere around two AM my computer froze. I was rollicking in Amy's Anal Paradise and I couldn't get out. I tried everything. No go. Amy was having the time of her life and I was is deep deep shyte.at 4:30. I was beginning to panic. What if the kids got up and Mama was dancing around trying to hide the computer screen? Oh no no no no!!! David would come home from work and would find me reading porn while he was working to support our family. He would feel so betrayed. Could we ever overcome his devastation? Worse, what if David came home from his 12 hour shift and found me on first name basis with Amy? He would be Really Really excited! I was searching to spice up our sex life!! WOOHOO!!! He could count on passionate lively rollicks as soon as the kids left through the door each day. OH HELP, I was tired enough as it was--I worked full-time nights, too, and I carted the children here there and everywhere so they could play soccer, basketball, dance -ballet, modern, and tap, softball, field hockey, play practice, baseball, lacrosse, and some stuff I have forgotten. Now, I am thrilled and quite fulfilled with our intimate life. AND I WAS TIRED. VERY TIRED.
  
  Finally at 5;00 AM, in total and all-encompassing panic I unplugged the computer. No one had told me yet to push "control-alt-delete" and it would turn the machine off. I didn't care if I had burned out the computer and ruined it. It had cost us something way beyond our ability to replace but I didn't care. I couldn't be found prancing about with Amy. I just couldn't. I took a deep breath and that cord was ripped out of the electric outlet. Guess what. I had been led astray. If I didn't shut the computer off in just the right way, it made no difference.
  I'm not that inept anymore.
  
  
  
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  The following quote is taken from 'An Echo In The Bone', by Diana Gabaldon, chapter 31, "A Guided Tour Through The Chambers Of The Heart", Copyright c 2009 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights Reserved.
  
  
  I put two fingers on my chest and waited for the pulsing in my fingertips to equalize with the pulsing of my heart. Slowly, almost dreaming, I began to pass through my body, from crown to toes, feeling my way through the long quiet passages of veins, the deep violet color of the sky just before night. Nearby I saw the brightnes of arteries, wide and fierce with crimson life. Entered into the chambers of my heart and felt enclosed, the thick walls moving in a solid, comforting, unending, unitterrupted rhythm. No, no damage, not to the heart or to its valves.
  I felt my digestive tract, tightly knotted up under my diaphragm for hours, relax and settle with a grateful gurgle, and a sense of well-being flowed down like warm honey through limbs and spine.
  

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  Replies:

  • Another story from the wonderful world of Betsy. :D (NT) -- Judie, Tue, May 08 2018, 22:09:47
  • Claire's ability to calmly assess any medical situation, even her own, is such an amazing talent - her gift for certain. And yes, more lovely and lively tales from Betsy!!! :o) Those of us who aren't very tech savvy have all faced that humbling moment when the child becomes the expert - my first set down came when my youngest was about 4. Whilst watching me do my best to "happy accident" my way around the computer, he said to me in all seriousness, "Momma, you don't mouse very well" - as if I didn't already know that! (NT) -- lori v, Wed, May 09 2018, 3:48:54
    • A fellow lame mouser! I'm not alone. (NT) -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Thu, May 10 2018, 17:22:03
  
  

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• QOTD For Tuesday May 8, 2018 - The following quote is from Drums Of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon, (c) copyright 1997 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved -- Constance, Mon, May 07 2018, 17:45:21
  
  
  Prologue
  
  I've never been afraid of ghosts. I live with them daily, after all. When I look in the mirror, my mother's eyes look back at me;my mouth curls with the smile that lured my great-grandfather to the fate that was me.
  No, how should I fear the touch of those vanished hands,laid on me in love Unknowing? How could I be afraid of those that molded my flesh, leaving their remnants to live long past the Grave?
  Still less could I be afraid of those ghosts who touch my thoughts in passing. Any library is filled with them. I can take a book from dusty shelves, and be haunted by the thoughts of one long dead, still lively as ever in their winding sheet of words.
  Of course it isn't these homely and accustomed ghosts that trouble sleep and curdle wakefulness. Look back, hold a torch to light the recesses of the dark. Listen to the footsteps that echo behind, when you walk alone.
  

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  • I love all the prologues. They both warm and chill me. They absolutely set the "feel" for each book. "my mouth curls with the smile that lured my great-grandfather to the fate that was me." Who writes this stuff? No one else that I can think of. (NT) -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Tue, May 08 2018, 8:38:11
  
  

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• QOTD for Monday, 5/7/18 -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Sun, May 06 2018, 21:20:51
  Hello to all Lallybrochians,
  
  It feels like forever since I did QOTD. It hasn't been forever, but it sure has been awhile. it's good to be "Back in the saddle agaaaiiin'.
  
  I'm still deep in physical therapy, which I fondly refer to as a visit to the Spanish Inquisition. Apparently, my range of motion isn't quite what is expected, even though I adhere to my home exercises (well. mostly...probably 90% compliant, which I think is pretty good) and I push myself until I could scream. And each visit to the Inquisitors begins and ends with pain. "Tell me when it's too much." That's PT code for juuuust a little further and hold it there so I can measure the angle of your knee. Now, it's MY idea that we can't ALL be at the head of the class. Someone needs to hold up the tail end so there's a range of success stories. Why can't that be me??? I volunteer to be the caboose. Isn't that noble of me?
  
  SHIFT IN THOUGHT PROCESS:
  
  We have several animals. Two of them are cats. I believe they have conspired to drive me out of my mind. Even farther than I already am. I haven't seen any money being exchanged but I'm sure when my back is turned, they use cat-speak and share Stories of Betsy Teetering on the Precipice. Whichever of them has caused me to lean the furthest over the edge wins the game and the cat-money. No, I haven't actually SEEN the money changing place, but I HAVE seen them givng each other high-fives. Bah harumph.
  
  I have a measuring and cutting mat that I use when I sew. It's the perfect place to use the templates and to cut out what I am working on. Each and Every time I take the mat out and spread the fabric, preparing to trace the pieces for cutting, at least one of them jumps right in the middle of it all, stretches out as far as he can to cover as much of my work as is possible, and promptly falls asleep. Now, this is NOT the only flat, uncluttered space. I admit to being a bit scattered, to having beautiful pictures made with Elmer's Glue as the only medium, piles of papers needing attention and toys covering many stages of development everywhere.....there really ARE many places in the sun that are flat, clear of clutter, and begging to be lounged upon. What is it that acts like a fog horn drawing these demonic creatures to immediately, as soon as I have set up my work area, jump in the middle? There's no shoo-ing, either. I have to pick up each lump of kitty, who has suddenly become a floppy blob with no bones, and persuade them that this area is NOT kitty-property. It takes four or five removals of these determined demons until I manage to get the Boneless Blobs to the door and gently boot them out. My reward for all my tolerance? Some sort of recently disemboweled, decapitated, now unrecognizable dead "thing" that is placed right where I put my foot when I leave through the door.
  
  Oh how I love all my animals. They just warm my heart. Bless their little picked (pronounced pi-cked, short "i"....it's a Maine thing) heads.
  
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  
  The following quote is from 'An Echo in the Bone', by Diana Gabaldon, Chapter 31, "A Guided Tour Through The Chambers Of The Heart', Copyright c 2009, by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved.
  
  
  "It came to me, quiet but sure, that I knew. I had glimpsed the abyss often, over someone's shoulder as they stood on the edge, looking down. But I had looked once, too. I knew the vastness and the lure of it, the offer of surcease.
  
  I knew they were standing now, side by side and each alone, looking down.
  

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  Replies:

  • Dearest Betsy, Though we have never met, and I am mostly a lurker, I adore your "ramblings" and feel as if I know you a bit through them - your posts are always such a delight :o) I have never had to go through physical therapy myself, but watched my Mom navigate it more than a few times - your description is very accurate. Sending you warm wishes for strength, endurance, and fortitude as you go through the rest of it. And while I have a doggie, I know what you mean about animals insisting on their place in your business. When I want to crochet is just when Tucker thinks he needs to be smack dab in the middle of my lap - once I put my yarn aside, he's done with me - until I pick it up again! ;o) Thanks for being an awesome quoter and an all around lovely person! (NT) -- lori v, Mon, May 07 2018, 4:33:49
  • Betsy, I too am a lurker, but I'm also a physical therapist....know that they only have your best interests at heart, even if they give you pain. From your description I'm thinking total knee; flexion is so important, you really need to get beyond 90 degrees so you can sit, gent in/out of a car, and not be a menace to those around you. 100 is better, and 110-120 is the best. As for animals, my cats used to love to "help" me knit. And get their hair into everything!!! They've gone over the rainbow bridge and won't be replaced; they'd probably outlive me! (NT) -- Janet (Downey), Mon, May 07 2018, 12:33:38
    • My sweet Janet, I owe you an apology. I have utter faith in the skills of my therapist.>>>>>>>>>>> -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Tue, May 08 2018, 9:59:18
  • Darling Betsy, another mostly lurker waving from the sidelines. I feel your pain. Been there, done that and literally have the t-shirt from the Chamber of Horrors, aka the therapy facility. Keep at it my girl, it is so worth it. It took me 6 weeks to show much progress and by the end of the course of treatment Curse-You-Kevin - my therapist- was satisfied that I was fine and could continue my exercises at home on a less torturous schedule. That was two years ago. I'm not running marathons or hiking the Appalachian Trail, but then I wasn't doing that before the surgery so why expect miracles. But I can walk for a mile or more (sometime with a cane), go shopping, climb stairs and ladders, and do most if the things I want to do. Not bad for a 71 year old biddy. Love your stories, and your QOTD offerings. Sending you big hugs and healing Lallyvibes. (NT) -- Adele, Mon, May 07 2018, 17:20:58
    • Thank you for the encouragement, Adele. I'm plugging at it and make gains, PAINFUL gains, but gains. (NT) -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Tue, May 08 2018, 10:01:41
  • Betsy, I know you love your PT, I've been told that many times (my teenage patients called me the Queen of Mean, then invite me to their graduations!) We are the only people in the world who say "I really like you, but I hope I never see you again." and it's a good thing! Hang in there, 102 is great. (NT) -- Janet D. (Downey), Tue, May 08 2018, 12:11:37
  
  

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• Reminder: The Kirk -- Judie, Sun, May 06 2018, 20:23:08
  .
  .
  Hey, gang.
  
  The Kirk is pretty quiet these days, but we do have people stop in from time to time.
  
  There is a new post in there so please take a look. Thanks. :)
  
  Judie
  

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  Replies:

  • Thanks for the heads up, Judie. (NT) -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Sun, May 06 2018, 21:23:00
    • Judie, I can't get logged in to the Kirk. I know the password (I think). (NT) -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Sun, May 06 2018, 21:55:56
      • False alarm. (NT) -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Sun, May 06 2018, 22:06:56
  
  

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• Quotes this week -- Judie, Sun, May 06 2018, 14:34:47
  .
  .
  BetsyR is still recovering from her hip surgery so she asked if she could do half the week, which is what is happening. I believe she'll be doing tomorrow and then she will tell me what other days.
  
  Once I know what days need a quoter, I'll let you all know so someone can volunteer.
  
  And don't forget we need someone next week. :) And other weeks........
  
  Thanks.
  
  Judie
  

  [ Post a Reply to this Message ][ Edit | View ]
  
  Replies:

  • I can do some quotes. Let me know when (NT) -- Constance, Sun, May 06 2018, 16:44:22
    • Hi, Constance. Do you want to do Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday? (NT) -- Judie, Sun, May 06 2018, 20:27:03
  • Thankyou for taking over. Not one but 2 beautiful quotes!!! (NT) -- Swarl, Sun, May 06 2018, 16:57:40
  • Hi Judie. You had emailed me and told me Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Did I goof? (NT) -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Sun, May 06 2018, 19:32:06
    • Nope - that is great - you are on tomorrow. :) (NT) -- Judie, Sun, May 06 2018, 20:16:38
      • I sent you a couple of emails. :) (NT) -- Judie, Sun, May 06 2018, 20:17:32
        • Did you get my answer when you asked if I had received your card? I answered that yes, I did. (NT) -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Sun, May 06 2018, 21:25:39
  • Yes, I will be glad to do Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday (NT) -- Constance, Sun, May 06 2018, 23:16:53
    • Thanks, Constance! :D (NT) -- Judie, Tue, May 08 2018, 22:10:10
  
  

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• QOTD For Sunday May 6, 2018 The following quote is taken from The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon, copyright 2001. All rights reserved -- Constance (Love), Sun, May 06 2018, 7:47:03
  
  
  Chapter 32:Mission Accomplished
  
  "For my sake," he said firmly, addressing the air in front of him as though it were a tribunal.
  "I diana want ye to bear another child. I wouldna risk your loss, Sassenach," he said, his voice suddenly husky. "Not for a dozen barns. I've daughters and sons, nieces and nephews,grandchildren--weans enough. "
  He looked at me directly then, and spoke softly.
  "But I've no life but you, Claire."
  

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  Replies:

  • Constance, you’ve picked beautiful quotes that illustrate the deep, deep love Jamie and Claire share. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sun, May 06 2018, 10:29:35
  
  

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• QOTD for Sunday, May 6, 2018 -- Lady Linda, Sun, May 06 2018, 7:40:21
  The following quote is taken from Written in My Own Heart’s Blood by Diana Gabaldon, chapter 1, A Hundredweight of Stones, Copyright © 2014 by Diana Gabaldon, All Rights Reserved.

  
          He stood for a bit, not thinking anymore, just listening to the fussing of wee birds in the grass and the breathing of the wind among the trees. Then he sighed deeply, squatted, and touched one of the cairns.
  
          “Tha gaol agam oirbh, a Mhathair,” he said softly. My love is upon you, mother. Closed his eyes and laid a scuffed hand on the other heap of stones. The dirt ground into his skin made his fingers feel strange, as though he could maybe reach straight through the earth and touch what he needed.
  
          “Help me ‘wi this, Uncle Jamie,” he said. “I dinna think I can manage, alone.”
  
  
          This scene with Ian just broke my heart.
  

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  Replies:

  • (NT) -- Judie, Sun, May 06 2018, 7:44:00
    • (NT) -- Judie, Sun, May 06 2018, 7:46:36
  • Me too. He is such a man, a warrior - with such a huge heart. He has been through way too much in his young life. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sun, May 06 2018, 10:27:45
  • Ian -- Constance, Sun, May 06 2018, 10:51:14
  • Poor Ian. His grief mixed with his determination to step up to the responsibility of being head of the family in Jamie's absence. (NT) -- Constance, Sun, May 06 2018, 10:56:06
  
  

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• Hi All, I said I would help Betsy this week, but I’m swamped. Can someone fill in for today? -- Swarl - so sorry to bail on you good people., Sun, May 06 2018, 5:44:26
  [ Post a Reply to this Message ][ Edit | View ]
  
  Replies:
  • Happy to pitch in. (NT) -- Lady Linda, Sun, May 06 2018, 7:37:13
  
  

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• QOTD For Saturday May 5, 2018 The following quote is taken from Written In My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon, copyright 2014 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved -- Constance (Love), Fri, May 04 2018, 19:57:16
  Chapter 145: And You Know That
  
  "Ye lost your parents young, mo nighean donn, and wondered about the world, rootless. Ye loved Frank"- his mouth compressed for an instant, but I thought he was unconscious of it- "and of course ye love Brianna and Roger Mac and the weans... but, Sassenach- I am the true home of your heart, and I know that."
  
  He lifted my hands to his mouth and kissed my upturned palms, one and then the other, his breath warm and his beard stubble soft on my fingers.
  
  "I have loved others, and I do love many, Sassenach- but you alone hold all my heart, whole in your hands, " he said softly. "And you know that."
  

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  Replies:

  • An absolutely wonderful week of amazing choices - thank you so much for sharing them. This love that J & C share is most definitely one for the ages!!! (NT) -- lori v, Sat, May 05 2018, 3:51:28
  • Such a beautiful relationship - it’s not all hearts and flowers - but the ability to totally give oneself, and be open about with your partner is truly a huge part of their story. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sat, May 05 2018, 4:36:15
  • How lovely (NT) -- LDB, Sat, May 05 2018, 5:32:05
  • Thanks for a great week of great quotes! (NT) -- CindyG, Sat, May 05 2018, 19:06:39
  
  

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• QOTD for Friday May 4, 2018. The Following Quote is taken from ECHO IN THE BONE by Diana Gabaldon, Copyright 2009 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved -- Constance, Thu, May 03 2018, 18:42:25
  
  Chapter 79: The Cave
  
  "Have ye ever been in the slightest doubt that I need ye?" he demanded.
  
  It took roughly half a second of thought to answer this.
  
  "No," I replied promptly.
  "To the best of my knowledge, you needed me urgently the moment I saw you. And I haven't had reason to think you've got any more self-sufficient since. Whathe on _earth_ happened to your forehead? Those look like tooth-" He lunged across the desk and kissed me before I could finish the observation.
  
  "Thank ye," he said fervently, and un-lunging, whirled and went out, evidently in the highest of spirits.
  

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  Replies:

  • I love that he needed Claire's reassurance. I do wish he had let her treat the tooth marks, though. (NT) -- kgp, Fri, May 04 2018, 6:42:55
    • I can’t remember, what were the tooth marks from? (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sat, May 05 2018, 4:32:34
  
  

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• QOTD For Thursday May 3, 2018- The following quote is taken from A Breath Of Snow And Ashes by Diana Gabaldon Copyright 2005 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved -- Constance, Wed, May 02 2018, 20:14:17
  
  Chapter 66 - The Dark Rises
  
  "It's a great comfort, " he said at last, "to see the sun comes up and go down. When I dwelt in the cave, when I was in prison, it gave me hope, to see the light come and go,and know that the world went about its business."
  
  He was looking out the window, toward the blue distance where the sky darkened toward infinity. His through the moved a little as he swallowed.
  
  "It gives me the same feeling, Sassenach, " he said, "to hear ye rustling about in your surgery, rattling things and swearin' to yourself." He turned his head, then, to look at me, and his eyes held the depths of the coming night.
  
  "If ye were no longer there-- or somewhere--" he said very softly, "then the sun would no longer come up or go down."
  

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  Replies:

  • Jamie is so simple, but eloquent, when he tells Claire how much she means to him. Your quotes are full of “sigh” moments 😌 (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Thu, May 03 2018, 3:55:36
  • I always feel so akin to Claire when I read about her "swearin' to yourself". *g* I love the the imagery in this quote as well as Jamie's simple words. (NT) -- Marcie, Thu, May 03 2018, 5:01:20
  • Thank you for all of these lovely quotes. I wish my DH spoke to me like this, but I do know I have his love just the same. (NT) -- DianaH, Thu, May 03 2018, 6:41:49
  • Looking at my DH this morning at the breakfast table, rumpled and croissant crumbs just hit the floor, hmmmm... he is no Jamie but love him to bits. (NT) -- TeriB, Thu, May 03 2018, 8:19:57
  • The Ridge -- SuzyW, Fri, May 04 2018, 14:31:17
    • Me too! That’s why I’m so excited for season 4. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Fri, May 04 2018, 17:01:38
  
  

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• QOTD For Wednesday May 2, 2018. The following quote is from Drums Of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon - copyright 1997 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved -- Constance (Love), Tue, May 01 2018, 19:22:38
  
  "Not then. There are things worth dying or starving for -- but not words."
  
  "Maybe not those words."
  
  He turned to look at me, features dim in starlight, but the hint of a smile visible on his mouth. "Ye know of words that are?"
  
  The gravestone had his name, but no date. I could stop him going back to Scotland, I thought. If I would.
  
  I turned to face him, leaning back against the window frame."What about -- 'I love you'?"
  
  He reached out a hand and touched my face. A breath of air stirred past us, and I saw the small hairs rise along his arm.
  
  "Aye, " he whispered. "That'll do."
  

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  Replies:

  • Aye, that'll do just fine. <3 (NT) -- DianaH, Wed, May 02 2018, 6:43:01
  • DOA -- Constance, Wed, May 02 2018, 23:14:06
  • Drums Of Autumn- Chapter 7 (NT) -- Constance, Wed, May 02 2018, 23:16:47
  • Oh yes, that will do. TY for your choice of quotes. (NT) -- Marcie, Thu, May 03 2018, 5:04:07
  
  

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• Mornin -- Judie, Tue, May 01 2018, 0:30:12
  .
  .
  A little music to brighten your day. :)
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzXNdLVZs3k
  
  Give it a try. Nice cheesy video from 1983, too. :D
  

  Last edited by author: Tue, May 01 2018, 0:30:53   Edited 1 time.
  [ Post a Reply to this Message ][ Edit | View ]
  
  Replies:

  • With stunning animation! Good morning, rabbit, rabbit (NT) -- kgp, Tue, May 01 2018, 2:18:38
  • A real throwback. I enjoyed it.Thanks. (NT) -- Marcie, Thu, May 03 2018, 5:09:15
  • Skipping about this sunny morning to the music of Al Jarreau - what a smooth voice he has - miss him. Great song to get me moving this A.M. - thanks Judie, more please. (NT) -- TeriB, Thu, May 03 2018, 8:08:46
    • Judie, maybe you could be the morning DJ for Lallybroch, post a wake up and get it in gear kind of song for each morning. Try it for a week - it would be fun! (NT) -- TeriB, Thu, May 03 2018, 8:11:50
      • Oh yes, please! We finally have weather that matches this song.🤗 (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Thu, May 03 2018, 12:56:26
  
  

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• QOTD for May 1, 2018 The following quote is from The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon, copyright 2001. All rights reserved -- Connie (Aging), Mon, April 30 2018, 19:58:45
  IN Honor of Jamie's birthday today:
  
  Chapter 58 : Happy Birthday To You
  
  "This is a morning my father never saw," Jamie said, still so softly that I heard it as much through the walls of his chest, as with my ears."The world and each day in it is a gift, Mo Chridhe- no matter what tomorrow may be."
  
  I sighed deeply and turned my head, to rest my cheek against his chest. He reached over gently and wiped my nose with a fold of his shirt.
  
  "And as for taking stock," he added practically, "I've all my teeth, none of my parts are missing, and my c..k still stands up by itself in the morning. It could be worse."
  

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  Replies:

  • Happy Birthday, Jamie!!!!! Woo hoo! (NT) -- Judie, Tue, May 01 2018, 0:23:36
  • Happy birthday to our favorite Highlander! (NT) -- kgp, Tue, May 01 2018, 2:11:52
  • As we get older and older and creakier in the morning, I think of this quote often and am grateful for what still works! Anybody think it’s karma that Jamies’s birthday is today and Sam’s was yesterday? If you have any belief in astrology, they certainly are kindred spirits and Sam is truly just right for bringing Jamie to life onscreen. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Tue, May 01 2018, 5:37:58
  • Happy belated birthday to both Jamie and Sam. I can't help but think of how well Sam captures Jamie. Even down to the involuntary finger movements. He really nails the part. (NT) -- Marcie, Thu, May 03 2018, 5:14:16
  
  

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• QOTD for Tuesday May 1, 2018- The following quote is from Voyager by Diana Gabaldon, copyright 1994 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved. -- Connie (Love), Mon, April 30 2018, 18:14:50
  Chapter 37:What's In A Name
  
  "For so many years," he said, "for so long, I have been so many things, so many different men." I felt him swallow and he shifted slightly, the linen of his nightshirt rustling with starch.
  
  "I was 'Uncle' to Jenny's children, and 'Brother' to her and Ian.'Milord' to Fergus, and 'Sir' to my tenants. 'Mac Dubh' to the men of Ardsmuir and 'MacKenzie ' to the other servants at Hal water. 'Malcolm the printer,' then, and 'Jamie Roy'at the docks."The hand stroked my hair, slowly, with a whispering sound like the wind outside.
  
  "But here," he said, so softly I could barely hear him, "here in the dark, with you... I have no name."
  

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  Replies:

  • . (NT) -- Judie, Tue, May 01 2018, 0:24:01
  • Such a relief for him to let his guard down and relax for a small time (NT) -- kgp, Tue, May 01 2018, 2:10:52
  • For both of them. What a beautiful thing to have such a relationship. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Tue, May 01 2018, 5:34:45
  • It's such a special gift to be in a place where he can trust and relax with Claire. Enjoyed this quote. (NT) -- Marcie, Thu, May 03 2018, 5:17:01
  
  

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• Article on Sam running a marathon -- Judie, Mon, April 30 2018, 2:07:03
  .
  .
  Darn, I wish Voy would have little previews, like Facebook. It would sure spice things up around here. :)
  
  Anyway, here is an article on Sam running a marathon yesterday.
  
  https://etcanada.com/news/323052/caitriona-balfe-cheers-on-outlander-co-star-sam-heughan-as-he-runs-stirling-marathon/
  
  Nice.
  

  [ Post a Reply to this Message ][ Edit | View ]
  
  Replies:

  • Didn’t read this article yet, but our paper’s birthday listing says Happy Birthday to Sam! (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Mon, April 30 2018, 8:04:41
  
  

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• QOTD for Monday, April 30, 2018, Connie. The following quote is from Dragonfly In Amber by Diana Gabaldon, copyright 1992. All rights reserved Chapter 45- Damn All Randalls -- Constance (Love), Sun, April 29 2018, 20:34:43
  "What is it love?" I whispered.
  "Jamie, I do love you."
  "I know it," he said quietly.
  " I do know it, my own. Let me tell ye in your sleep how much I love you. For there's no so much I can be saying to ye while ye wake, but the same poor words, again and again.
  
  While ye sleep in my arms, I can say things to ye that would be daft and silly waking, and your dreams will know the truth of them. Go back to sleep, Mo duinne."
  
  I turned my head, enough that my lips brushed the base of his throat, where his pulse beat slow beneath the small three-cornered scar. Then I laid my head upon his chest and gave my dreams up to his keeping.
  

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  Replies:

  • He is so young to,have such deep thoughts and be able to express them so well. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Tue, May 01 2018, 5:33:29
  • Jamie always has the right words. He is the KING of MEN. *g* Because his creator/writer is a woman. LOL I feel badly that I sometimes judge my poor DH by "Jamie" standards. Hahaha. (NT) -- Marcie, Thu, May 03 2018, 5:25:54
  
  

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• QOTD for April 29, 2018, -- Constance (Love), Sat, April 28 2018, 18:13:49
  The following quote is from Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, Copyright 1991. All rights reserved.
  
  Chapter 27- The Last Reason
  
  "When I asked my da how ye knew which was the right woman, he told me when the time came, I'd have no doubt. And I didn'the.
  
  When I woke in the dark under that tree on the road to Leoch,with you sitting on my chest, cursing me for bleeding to death, I said to myself, 'Jamie Fraser, for all ye canna see what she looks like, and for all she weighs as much as a good draft horse, this is the woman.'
  

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  Replies:

  • Didn’t you just start loving Jamie even more when he said this? Talk about a back handed compliment! I really hope Diana has enough time to write Brian and Ellen’s story. The little bits we see of Brian make me want more. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sun, April 29 2018, 4:09:40
  • Great pick. (NT) -- LadyDuBois, Sun, April 29 2018, 5:07:05
  • A sweet moment! (NT) -- kgp, Sun, April 29 2018, 14:00:28
  
  

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• QOTD for Saturday, April 28, 2018 -- CindyG, Fri, April 27 2018, 20:20:11
  The following quote is from The Outlandish Companion by Diana Gabaldon, “Prologue.” Copyright (c) 1999 by Diana Gabaldon, all rights reserved.
  
  “What is it that people find interesting about the books? For a long time, I replied (honestly), ‘Beats me,’ but after years of getting letters and E-mail, I now have some idea of the things readers say they like.
  Many of them enjoy the sense of ‘being there’; the vicarious experience of another place and time. Many like the historical aspects of the books; they enjoy (they say) ‘learning something’ while being entertained. Many like the sense of connection, of rediscovering their own heritage. A good many enjoy the curious details: the botanical medicine, the medical procedures, the how and why of daily life in another time. But by far the most common element that people enjoy in the books is simply the characters—readers care for these people, are interested in them, and want to know more about them.
  So, this companion is intended for the readers: a quick reference for those who don’t necessarily want to reread a million and a half words in order to refresh their memories as to Who or What; a source of information and (maybe) insight on the characters, a companion for those with an interest in backgrounds and trivia; an auxiliary guide for those with an interest in the eighteenth century and Things Scottish, and finally—a brief glimpse into the working methods of a warped mind.”
  

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  Replies:

  • Great week! Thank you! (NT) -- kgp, Sat, April 28 2018, 8:54:26
    • That’s for sure! I’ve enjoyed digesting the prologue in smaller bits. I’m constantly amazed at Diana's mind and it’s very interesting to hear her thoughts and how she created this world. I have the second Companion but haven’t even cracked it yet. Has anyone read that -or parts of it?. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sat, April 28 2018, 13:45:02
  
  

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• QOTD for Friday, April 27, 2018 -- CindyG, Thu, April 26 2018, 21:27:48
  The following quote is from The Outlandish Companion by Diana Gabaldon, “Prologue.” Copyright (c) 1999 by Diana Gabaldon, all rights reserved.
  
  “A number of people had been following the pregnancy argument, and so when I posted my ‘piece’ in the library, they went and read it.
  Several of them came back and left messages to me, saying (in effect), ‘This is great! What is it?’
  To which I cleverly replied, ‘I don’t know.’
  ‘Well, where’s the beginning?’ they asked.
  ‘I haven’t written that yet,’ I answered.
  ‘Well… put up more of it!’ they said.
  So I did. Let me explain that I not only don’t write with an outline, I don’t write in a straight line. I write in bits and pieces, and glue them together, like a jigsaw puzzle. So whenever I had a ‘piece’ that seemed to stand on its own, without too much explanation, I’d post it in the library. And gradually, people began to talk about my pieces, and to ask me about the book that was taking shape. Eventually, they said to me, ‘You know, this stuff is good; you should try to publish it.’”
  

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  Replies:

  • Thanks Cindy for posting the story behind the books. And thanks to DG for not writing in a straight line! Who lives in a straight line? Nobody. Think of all the influences, as DG says "the bits and pieces" that shaped your journey to who you are today. Definitely not a straight line. (NT) -- TeriB, Fri, April 27 2018, 8:14:26
  • *Like* (NT) -- LadyDuBois, Fri, April 27 2018, 11:10:51
  
  

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• QOTD for Thursday, April 26, 2018 -- CindyG, Wed, April 25 2018, 20:13:36
  The following quote is from The Outlandish Companion by Diana Gabaldon, “Prologue.” Copyright (c) 1999 by Diana Gabaldon, all rights reserved.
  
  “Some eight months along in this process I found myself one night having an argument with a gentleman in the Literary Forum, about what it felt like to be pregnant. He asserted that he knew what this was like; his wife had had three children.
  I laughed (electronically) and replied, ‘Yeah, buster. I’ve had three children!’
  To which his reply was, ‘So tell me what you think it’s like.’
  Now, among the fragments of the story that I had so far was one short piece in which a woman (Jenny Murray) tells her curious brother (Jamie Fraser) what it feels like to be pregnant. Since this piece seemed to sum up the experience with more eloquence than I could manage in a brief posted message, I told my correspondent that I had a ‘piece’ explaining the phenomenon, and that I’d put it in the Literary Forum Library.
  Most conversations on CompuServe forums are public; that is, posted messages are visible to everyone, unless they’ve been marked as private (in which case, they’re visible only to the participants). Anyone may enter a ‘thread’ (a series of bulletin-board-like messages and replies on a given topic) as they like.”
  

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  Replies:

  • I love her response. He may have been a very attentive husband but you don't really understand unless you've carried another person in your body. (NT) -- kgp, Thu, April 26 2018, 6:28:56
  • It's true; pregnancy is best understood from "the inside." When I was pregnant with my DS, an extremely active, alien-type baby, one night I put DH's hand on my wildly gyrating belly. He snatched it away, saying "Whoa, that's wild!" "Yeah, sweetheart, you ought to feel it from the INSIDE!" :D (NT) -- DianaH, Thu, April 26 2018, 7:50:40
  • DG's 'thread' has been woven into a tapestry of novels! Thanks you DG! (NT) -- TeriB, Thu, April 26 2018, 8:02:33
  
  

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• QOTD for Wednesday, April 25, 2018 -- CindyG, Tue, April 24 2018, 21:06:28
  The following quote is from The Outlandish Companion by Diana Gabaldon, “Prologue.” Copyright (c) 1999 by Diana Gabaldon, all rights reserved.
  
  “The next stop was plainly the Arizona State University library, where I went the next day. I began my research by typing SCOTLAND HIGHLANDS EIGHTEENTH CENTURY into the card catalog—and one thing led to another.
  I had not the slightest intention of telling my online acquaintances in the Literary Forum what I was up to. I didn’t want even the best-intentioned of advice; I wanted simply to figure out how to write a novel, and was convinced that I must do this on my own—I’d never asked anyone how to write a software review or a comic book script, after all, and I didn’t want anyone telling me things before I’d worked out for myself what I was doing.
  So I didn’t say anything. To anybody. I just wrote, a bit every day, in between the other things I was doing, like changing diapers and writing grant proposals.”
  

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  Replies:

  • A welcome change from writing grant proposals; Men in kilts over review panels any day. (NT) -- kgp, Wed, April 25 2018, 1:51:47
    • Oh my yes! This reminds me of Claire “knowing” what she was meant to be. That gift was in Diana and she listened to it, thankfully for all of us (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Wed, April 25 2018, 3:22:47
  
  

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• QOTD for Tuesday, April 24, 2018 -- CindyG, Mon, April 23 2018, 21:01:55
  The following quote is from The Outlandish Companion by Diana Gabaldon, “Prologue.” Copyright (c) 1999 by Diana Gabaldon, all rights reserved.
  “Enter another accident. I rarely watch TV, but at the time I was in the habit of viewing weekly PBS reruns of Doctor Who (a British science-fiction serial), because it gave me just enough time to do my nails. So, while pondering the setting for my hypothetical historical novel, I happened to see one very old episode of Doctor Who featuring a ‘companion’ of the Doctor’s—a young Scottish lad named Jamie MacCrimmon, whom the Doctor had picked up in 1745. This character wore a kilt, which I thought rather fetching, and demonstrated—in this particular episode—a form of pigheaded male gallantry that I’ve always found endearing: the strong urge on the part of a man to protect a woman, even though he may realize that she’s plainly capable of looking after herself.
  I was sitting in church the next day, thinking idly about this particular show (no, oddly enough, I don’t remember what the sermon was about that day), when I said suddenly to myself, Well, heck. You want to write a book, you need a historical period, and it doesn’t matter where or when. The important thing is just to start, somewhere. Okay. Fine. Scotland, eighteenth century.
  So I went out to my car after Mass, dug a scrap of paper out from under the front seat, and that’s where I began to write Outlander; no outline, no plot, no characters—just a time and a place.”
  

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  Replies:

  • It's always best to start at the beginning :) Good morning Lallybroch (NT) -- LadyDuBois, Tue, April 24 2018, 4:45:56
  • Divine inspiration 😆 (NT) -- kgp, Tue, April 24 2018, 6:49:35
  • This reminded me a bit of the story of how J.R.R. Tolkien started "The Hobbit." He said he was correcting papers at Oxford and the line "In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit." He decided he had to keep writing to find out what a hobbit was. (NT) -- DianaH, Tue, April 24 2018, 7:43:02
  
  

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• QOTD for Monday, April 23, 2018 -- CindyG, Sun, April 22 2018, 21:07:12
  The following quote is from The Outlandish Companion by Diana Gabaldon, “Prologue.” Copyright (c) 1999 by Diana Gabaldon, all rights reserved.
  
  “So… what kind of novel should this be? Well, I read everything, and lots of it, but perhaps more mysteries than anything else. Fine, I thought, I’d write a mystery.
  But then I began to think. Mysteries have plots. I wasn’t sure I knew how to do plots. Perhaps I should try something easier for my practice book, then write a mystery when I felt ready for a real book.
  What was the easiest possible kind of book for me to write, for practice? (I didn’t see any point in making things difficult for myself.)
  After considerable thought, it seemed to me that perhaps a historical novel would be the easiest thing to try. I was a research professor, after all; I had a huge university library available, and I knew how to use it. I thought it seemed a little easier to look things up than to make them up—and if I turned out to have no imagination, I could steal things from the historical record.
  Okay. Fine. Where to set this historical novel? I have no formal background in history; one time or place would do as well as another.”
  

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  Replies:

  • That's hilarious--she didn't think she knew how to do plots. (NT) -- Susannah, Mon, April 23 2018, 4:04:23
  • Oh yes, and clearly NO imagination!!! ;-) (NT) -- DianaH, Mon, April 23 2018, 9:39:40
  • I was reading this recently and wasn’t sure how many LOLers knew the story behind the story, so I thought this would make a good week of quotes. (NT) -- CindyG, Mon, April 23 2018, 9:52:50
  • Yes, good quote theme. And her story is a story in itself! So glad she found a scrap of paper to start writing. What a magical ride it has been. Thanks DG! (NT) -- TeriB, Mon, April 23 2018, 10:17:19
  • I appreciate her access to a huge university library. Her attention to detail is one of the things I really like. (NT) -- kgp, Mon, April 23 2018, 10:45:29
  
  

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• Quoters needed -- Judie, Sun, April 22 2018, 14:08:36
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  Replies:
  • I can take the week of May 20 ☺ (NT) -- kgp, Sun, April 22 2018, 15:55:23
    • Awesome. Thank you. (NT) -- Judie, Sun, April 22 2018, 18:09:38
  
  

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• QOTD for Sunday, April 22, 2018 -- CindyG, Sat, April 21 2018, 21:03:43
  The following quote is from The Outlandish Companion by Diana Gabaldon, “Prologue.” Copyright (c) 1999 by Diana Gabaldon, all rights reserved.
  “At this point in my life, I had a full-time job with the university, I was writing part-time for the computer press, and I had three children, ages six, four, and two. I’m not sure quite why I thought this was the ideal time to begin writing my long-intended novel—mania induced by sleep deprivation, perhaps—but I did.
  I didn’t intend to show this putative novel to anyone. It wasn’t for publication; it was for practice. I had come to the conclusion—based on experience—that the only real way of learning to write a novel was probably to write a novel. That’s how I learned to write scientific articles, comic books, and software reviews, after all. Why should a novel be different?”
  

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  Replies:

  • Obviously it was the ideal time ☺ Lucky for us. (NT) -- kgp, Sun, April 22 2018, 4:06:15
  • Little did she know how little practice she actually needed (NT) -- Wee, Sun, April 22 2018, 5:44:21
  • What’s that saying about getting a job done? Give it to a busy woman? She had a gift just waiting to be unleashed. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sun, April 22 2018, 5:59:22
  
  

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• QOTD and Bulletin Board for Saturday, April 21, 2018 -- kgp, Sat, April 21 2018, 4:23:50
  The following quotation is from The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon. Copyright 2001. All Rights Reserved. Chapter 45. If It Quacks . . .
  
  
  
  “Mrs. Fraser!” Dr. Fentiman glared at me in irritation, his wig fallen half askew over one ear. “Do you go, please, and cease interfering! I am greatly occupied, and have no time to indulge your fancies. You, sir – remove her!” He waved a hand at Ulysses and turned back to the bed, shoving his wig into place as he did so.
  
  “Why, you little –” I choked off the intended epithet, seeing Ulysses take an uncertain step toward me. He clearly hesitated to remove me bodily, but it was just as clear that he would obey the Doctor’s orders in preference to mine.
  
  Trembling with fury, I swept around and left the room.
  
  Jamie was waiting for me at the foot of the stair. Seeing my face as I descended, he took my arm at once and led me out into the yard.
  
  “That – that –” Words failed me.
  
  “Officious worm?” he supplied helpfully. “Unsonsie sharg?”
  

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  Replies:

  • I've always loved the word "Officious". (NT) -- LadyDuBois, Sat, April 21 2018, 4:34:14
    • Yes, it immediately brings a picture of a stuffed shirt male to my mind. Sexist I guess, but men seem more officious than women to me. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sat, April 21 2018, 5:39:50
  • I had to look up unsonsie sharg to see if it meant anything or was just a good Jamie insult. All google references were to,the books! It’s been used a couple times and even cites a comment from Swarl from an older discussion. How cool! I do think it’s a Jamieism. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sat, April 21 2018, 5:44:58
    • Onsonsie = unpleasant, treacherous, troublesome, mischievous, unattractive, slovenly, untidy. Sharg = a stunted, starved-looking person; a short bow-legged man; an impudent man. Dictionary of the Scots language (NT) -- kgp, Sat, April 21 2018, 12:36:28
      • Sharg is also a disease in sheep causing weakness and emaciation (NT) -- kgp, Sat, April 21 2018, 12:38:53
      • I love it. I love it. Onsonsie Sharg!!!! From now on, wretched people beware of Swarl's invective. whoohooo. (NT) -- swarl, Sat, April 21 2018, 13:19:08
        • They shall cower before you! (NT) -- kgp, Sat, April 21 2018, 13:22:31
  • Update: my friend is at home now, released from the hospital yesterday, and is doing really well. (NT) -- kgp, Sat, April 21 2018, 17:36:18
    • I’m so glad to hear that and hope her healing continues to go well! Thanks for the true meaning of unsonsie sharg 👍 (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sun, April 22 2018, 6:01:29
    • Yay! That's great news. (NT) -- SueW, Sun, April 22 2018, 17:54:26
  
  

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• QOTD and Bulletin Board for Friday, April 20, 2018 -- kgp, Fri, April 20 2018, 5:35:22
  The following quotation is from The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon. Copyright 2001. All Rights Reserved. Chapter 43. Flirtations
  
  
  
  “What on earth have you been doing?” I sniffed at the breast of his coat, frowning. “You smell terrible! Like –”
  
  “Manure,” he said, sounding resigned. “Aye, I know.” His arms relaxed.
  
  “Yes, manure,” I said, sniffing further. “And rum punch” – he hadn’t been drinking rum punch himself, though; I had tasted nothing but brandy when he kissed me – “and something awful, like old sweat, and –”
  
  “Boiled turnips,” he said, sounding more resigned. “Aye, the maid servant I was telling ye about, Sassenach. Betty, she’s called.” He tucked my hand into the crook if his arm, and with a deep bow of acknowledgement toward the crowd – who all applauded, damn them – turned to steer me toward the house.
  
  ~~~~~~~~~
  I have to laugh at the image of Claire sniffing his coat like my dog does if I've been out and encountered other dogs.
  

  Last edited by author: Fri, April 20 2018, 5:44:27   Edited 1 time.
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  Replies:

  • Isn’t that the truth! And they don’t like it when you’ve been “unfaithful.” (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Fri, April 20 2018, 6:05:48
  • Sniffing out the truth! The horses do it too... (NT) -- DianaH, Fri, April 20 2018, 11:34:09
  • Tess gets truly indignant it I have been playing with another dog (NT) -- LadyDuBois, Fri, April 20 2018, 11:39:04
  
  

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• QOTD and Bulletin Board for Thursday, April 19, 2018 -- kgp, Thu, April 19 2018, 4:58:14
  The following quotation is from The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon. Copyright 2001. All Rights Reserved. Chapter 43. Flirtations
  
  
  
  “Have ye spoken wi’ my aunt?”
  
  “Ah . . . no,” I said, feeling guilty. “Not yet. I was just going . . . oh -- you said there was another problem. What else has happened?”
  
  “Christ, I’d nearly forgot her. One of the slave women’s been poisoned, I think.”
  
  “What? Who? How?” My hands dropped from my hair as I stared at him. “Why didn’t you tell me>”
  
  “I am telling ye, am I not? Dinna fash yourself, she’s in no danger. Only stinking drunk.” He twitched his shoulders irritably. “The only difficulty is that perhaps it wasna her that was meant to be poisoned. I’ve sent Roger Mac and Brianna to look, and they’ve not come back to say anyone’s dead, so maybe not.”
  
  ”Maybe not?” I rubbed the bridge of my nose, distracted from the extant worries by this new development. “I grant you alcohol is poisonous, not that anyone seems ever to realize it, but there’s a difference between being drunk and being deliberately poisoned. What do you mean --”
  
  “Sassenach,” he interrupted.
  
  “What?”
  
  “What in the name o’ God have ye been doing?” he burst out.
  

  Last edited by author: Thu, April 19 2018, 5:14:25   Edited 1 time.
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  Replies:

  • Gotta go look it up, but my first thought is the beauty mark patch Philip Wylie left on Claire’s cheek when he tried to kiss her? (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Fri, April 20 2018, 4:08:25
  • Yes, what HAD she been doing? (NT) -- DianaH, Fri, April 20 2018, 11:31:54
  
  

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• QOTD and Bulletin Board for Wednesday, April 18th, 2018 -- kgp, Wed, April 18 2018, 6:36:47
  The following quotation is from The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon. Copyright 2001. All Rights Reserved. Chapter 42. The Deasil Charm
  
  
  Jamie turned, lips pursed to enjoin silence, and beckoned to her that the coast was clear. She followed him quickly across the landing and outside, letting out her breath in relief as the arrived on the path unobserved.
  
  “What were you doing there in the first place, Da?” she asked. He looked blank.
  
  “In the kitchen garden,” she elaborated. “How did you find Betty?”
  
  “Oh.” He took her arm, fetching her away from the house. The walked casually toward the paddock; innocent guests bent on viewing the horses. “I was just havin’ a word wi’ your mother, over by the grove. I came back through the kitchen garden, and there the woman was, flat on her back in the shit heap.”
  
  
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  
  ”havin’ a word” wink-wink, nudge-nudge :D
  

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  Replies:

  • 'havin' a word'. hmm. That is a new way of referring to a particular action. I missed this lovely exchange. thanks for picking it out!! (NT) -- swarl, Wed, April 18 2018, 8:43:48
    • Me too. I didn't remember all this converation between Jamie and Bri or how involved she was. I remember, of course, the "word in the grove" and Betty, but forgot all about Bri. Lovely da and daughter moments. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Wed, April 18 2018, 9:08:41
  • I'm sure Claire's "words" included a few squeaks. groans, and ahhhhh's (NT) -- LadyDuBois, Wed, April 18 2018, 11:18:31
    • Yeah! Those “noises” she makes 😍 (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Thu, April 19 2018, 4:18:42
  
  

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• QOTD and Bulletin Board for Tuesday, April 17, 2018 -- kgp, Tue, April 17 2018, 7:22:36
  The following quotation is from The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon. Copyright 2001. All Rights Reserved. Chapter 42. The Deasil Charm
  
  
  
  “Well, it does occur to me that if yon Betty drank part of a cup of rum punch and was laid out like a fish on a slab, then I should like to find whoever drank the first part of it, and see if they’re in a similar condition.” He raised one brow at her. “If the punch was drugged, then likely it was meant for someone, aye? I thought perhaps you and Roger Mac might look around for discreetly for bodies in the shrubbery.”
  
  That aspect of the matter hadn’t struck her in the rush to get Betty upstairs.
  
  “All right. I should find Phaedre or Ulysses first, though, and tell one of them that Bettys sick.”
  
  “Aye. If ye speak with Phaedre, ye might inquire whether yon Betty is an opium-eater as well as a bibber. Though I will say I think it unlikely,” he added dryly.
  
  “So do I,” she said, matching his tone.
  

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  Replies:

  • Like like like. 😏😏😏 (NT) -- MISS MICHELE, Tue, April 17 2018, 7:41:16
  • So good. I'm enjoying your picks so far (NT) -- LadyDuBois, Tue, April 17 2018, 10:28:47
  • It just hit me how Diana weaves mysteries through most of her stories. The Lord John books all have them, but focusing on this chapter made me realize this is one too. Another Outlander light bulb goes on. I’m so glad to hear Liz’s surgery went well and my prayers are continuing as she recovers. It made me smile when you said she is a nurse - that could be a very good thing, or a very bad thing. Hope the staff respects that and works with her, and hope any not-so-great nurses get some on the job training from her 🙄 (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Wed, April 18 2018, 4:39:18
    • They love her. The nurses in the step down unit want to keep her. (NT) -- kgp, Wed, April 18 2018, 6:34:40
      • I am so glad!! Nurses rule! Good ones are priceless. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Wed, April 18 2018, 9:05:24
  
  

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• QOTD and Bulletin Board for Monday, MApril 16, 2018 -- kgp, Sun, April 15 2018, 18:18:55
  The following quotation is from The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon. Copyright 2001. All Rights Reserved. Chapter 42. The Deasil Charm
  
  
  
  With a few close alarms and near misses, the managed to get Betty up to the long attic room she shared with the other female house servants. Jamie, panting, dumped her unceremoniously on one of the narrow beds, then wiped his sweating brow on his coat sleeve, and, long nose wrinkled, began fastidiously to dust manure crumbs from the skirts of his coat.
  
  “So, then,” he said, a little grumpily. “She’s safe, aye? If ye tell one of the other slaves she’s taken ill. I suppose no one who matters will find out.”
  
  “Thanks, Da.” She leaned close and kissed his cheek. “You’re a sweet man.”
  
  “Oh, aye,” he said, sounding resigned. “My bones are filled wi’ honey, to be sure.”
  

  Last edited by author: Sun, April 15 2018, 19:11:53   Edited 1 time.
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  Replies:

  • This scene actually gives me an idea for a theme week some other time. This week I'm a bit distracted -- my best friend since Junior High is having a surgery for breast cancer tomorrow morning; single mastectomy and reconstruction. I'm going to the hospital to wait with her DH during the surgery. Bless her - I saw her yesterday and she's being very positive about the whole thing. I cry every time I think about it. Keep Liz in your prayers if you will tomorrow - thanks... (NT) -- kgp, Sun, April 15 2018, 18:23:24
    • Great quote kgp. Prayers for your friend's quick recovery. (NT) -- LadyDuBois, Mon, April 16 2018, 3:13:38
      • In pre-op she was telling everyone their jobs and double checkingthe med lists. She's a nurse. (NT) -- kgp, Mon, April 16 2018, 5:22:30
    • I's a day late, but I'll surround her with good energy. I'll send a bunch to you, too, Karen. (NT) -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Tue, April 17 2018, 16:38:16
  • (((Liz, husband, kgp))). I hope by the time you read this, Liz is out of successful surgery. I’ll keep her in my prayers. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Mon, April 16 2018, 4:13:21
    • Thank you (NT) -- kgp, Mon, April 16 2018, 6:58:29
  • Her surgery went well. I hope to be allowed to see her this afternoon. (NT) -- kgp, Tue, April 17 2018, 7:48:00
  
  

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• QOTD and bulletin board for Sunday, April 15, 2018 -- kgp, Sat, April 14 2018, 16:32:13
  The following quotation is from The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon. Copyright 2001. All Rights Reserved. Chapter 42. The Deasil Charm
  
  
  Jamie took the cup from her, frowning. He inserted his nose into the cup and took a deep sniff, then stuck a finger into the liquid and put it in his mouth.
  
  “What is it?” she asked, seeing his face change.
  
  “Punch,” he said, but ran the tip of his tongue back and forth across his teeth, as though to cleanse it. “With laudanum, I think.”
  
  “Laudanum! Are you sure?”
  
  “No,” he said frankly. “But there’s something in it beyond dried currants, or I’m a Dutchman.” He held the cup out to her, and she took it, sniffing furiously. She couldn’t make out much beyond but the sweet, burned smell of rum punch. Perhaps there was a sharper tang, something oily and aromatic . . . perhaps not.
  
  “I canna say whether she’s drugged, or only drunk – but I dinna think she’s dying.”
  

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  Replies:

  • Dead drunk :D (NT) -- LadyDuBois, Sun, April 15 2018, 6:29:28
    • Not quite yet, but it’s coming......... I couldn’t remember if this was Betty, so I went back to read it. What I had forgotten was that it was Jamie and Bri that found her, not Claire. I was impressed with Bri’s powers of deduction. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sun, April 15 2018, 7:43:48
  
  

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• QUOTE OF THE DAY for April 14th is taken from Chapter 6 of A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabladon. Copyright 2005, all rights reserved. -- Wee, Sat, April 14 2018, 5:07:43
  
     "Tell him Godzilla stories," she said firmly. "It's make-belive anyway. I'll draw him pictures."
     "He laughed at that.
     "Christ, you do and they'll be stoning ye for trafficking with the devil, Bree. Godzilla looks like something straight out of the Book of Revelation--or so I was told."
     "Who told you that?"
     "Eigger."
     "Who...oh," she said, going into mental reverse. "Reggie? Who's Reggie?"
     "The Reverend." His great-uncle, his adoptive father. There was still a smile in his voice, but one tinged with nostalgia. "When we went to the monster films together of a Saturday. Eigger and Regor--and ye should have seen the looks on the faces of the Ladies' Alter and Tea Society, when Mrs. graham let them in without announcing them, and they came into the reverend's strudy to find us stamping round and roaring, kicking hell out of a Tokyo built of blocks and soup tins."
  

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  Replies:

  • I love how so many of the men in these books step up to be fathers, including the Reverend. (NT) -- TheresaB., Sat, April 14 2018, 5:25:11
  • I’ve really enjoyed your quotes this week, Wee. Is your theme about the special relationship between fathers and sons? (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sat, April 14 2018, 6:51:33
    • It was just some of my favorite moments with children (NT) -- wee, Sun, April 15 2018, 4:43:59
  • What a lovely memory for Roger (NT) -- kgp, Sat, April 14 2018, 7:31:08
  • Sweet week, thank you (NT) -- LadyDuBois, Sat, April 14 2018, 12:54:35
  
  

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• QUOTE OF THE DAY for April 13th is from Chapter 28 of Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. Copyright 1991 all rights reserved -- Wee, Fri, April 13 2018, 2:50:50
  
  
  
     "He roared 'Damn you, Jamie! Can ye no cry out? You're grown now, and I dinna mean to beat you ever again, but I want one good yelp out of ye, lad, before I quit, just so I'll think I've made some impression on ye at last!'" Jamie laughed, disturbing the even movement of his pulsebeat.
  
     "I was so upset at that, I straightened up and whirled round and yelled at him, "Weel, why did ye no say so in the first place, ye auld fool! OUCH!!'
  
     "Next thing I knew I was on the ground, wi' my ears ringin and a pain in my jaw, where he'd clouted me. He was standing over me, panting, and wi' his hair and his beard all on end. He reached down and got my hand and hauled me up."
  

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  Replies:

  • Sure, Jamie, and that was wise calling your Da an "auld fool" while he's giving you a thrashing. Maybe got a bit more than you expected, lad! (NT) -- DianaH, Fri, April 13 2018, 7:03:11
  • It seems weird today to be reading about strapping at the fence or being clouted upside the head for sassing back, but that’s how we grew up (I’m almost 63). It didn’t kill us, kind of united we siblings (5) against the horrible injustices visited upon us by our parents. But it did make clear the offense and we mostly never did it again, so who knows? For sure though, Jamie absolutely chose the wrong time to smart mouth Dad! (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sat, April 14 2018, 6:39:13
  
  

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• QUOTE OF THE DAY for April 12th is from Chapter 37 of Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon. Copyright 1992, all rights reserved -- Wee, Thu, April 12 2018, 4:17:38
  
  
     I caugth a movement from the corner of my eye, and turned my head sharply.
  
     "Fergus!" I said.
  
     Kilmarnock turned in the direction I was looking, and saw Fergus. The boy carried a large stick in one hand, with a casualness so assumed as to be laughable, if it weren't for the implicit threat.
     "Don't trouble yourself, my lady Brock Tuarach," said Lord Kilmarnock, after a brief glance. "You may depen upon my son to defend himself honorable, if the occasion demands it."
  

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  Replies:

  • You'll put someone's eye out with that stick!! (NT) -- DianaH, Thu, April 12 2018, 6:28:52
  • I forgot this. (NT) -- Piper-Mom, Thu, April 12 2018, 7:04:02
    • Forgot? I don't even remember (NT) -- LDB, Thu, April 12 2018, 12:54:58
      • Wasn’t it in France when they went to see Philip Wylie’s horses? Fergus wasn’t having any of the rich kid’s attitude (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Thu, April 12 2018, 15:04:02
      • It's during the duel between Dougall and Jamie. Fergus takes advantage of the "parabola" to knock the other kid unconscious. (NT) -- wee, Fri, April 13 2018, 2:37:34
  
  

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• QUOTE OF THE DAY for April 11th is from Chapter 89 of THE FIERY CROSS by Diana Gabaldon.Copyright 2001, all rights reserved -- Wee, Wed, April 11 2018, 4:55:50
  
  
  
  
     She made a small noise deep in her throat and stretched luxuriously. She arched her back, pushing her backside up in a way that convinced Roger that the course of wisdom was to fling back the quilt, roll on top of her, and achieve his goal in the ten seconds flat it was likely to take.
  
     He got as far as flinging back the quilt. As he raised his head from the pillow, a round, pale object rose slowly into view over the rim of the cradle, like one of the moons of Jupiter. a pair of blue eyes regarded him with clinical dispassion.
     "Oh shit!" he said.
     "Oh chit!" Jemmy said, in happy mimicry.
  

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  Replies:

  • Great hump day quote!!! (NT) -- Swarl, Wed, April 11 2018, 6:20:11
  • Natural birth control 😂 (NT) -- kgp, Wed, April 11 2018, 10:24:50
  • Hahahahaaaa! (NT) -- LadyDuBois, Wed, April 11 2018, 11:37:28
  • Hahaha.... I can just see it in my mind!!! :D (NT) -- Piper-Mom, Thu, April 12 2018, 7:05:25
  • This one is so real to me because we have a picture of our first born doing just that. Mike had built a beautiful pine cradle so we could keep our baby close. She was a robust, breastfed (go Bri!) totally bald baby - everybody thought Sarah was a boy. So she was out of the cradle by the time she could talk, but that sweet, smiling moon peering over the edge was an exact fond memory. (NT) -- Katy in PA, Thu, April 12 2018, 15:07:57
  
  

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• QUOTE OF THE DAY for Tuesday, April 10th is from Chapter 52 of A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon. Copyright 2005, all rights reserved -- Wee, Tue, April 10 2018, 5:11:26
  
  
  
      Jamie reached up and fielded a passing firefly, holding it for a moment cupped in the dark hollow of his hand, where it flashed on and off, the cool light seeping through his fingers. Far off, she heard a brief snatch of her mother's voice coming through an open window; Claire was singing "Clemintine".
      Now the boys--and Roger--were howling at the moon, though it was no more than a pale sickle on the horizon. She felt her father's body shake with silent laughter, too.
  

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  Replies:

  • A sweet moment. I'm guessing your theme is 'raising boys' (NT) -- kgp, Tue, April 10 2018, 5:38:07
  • These small moments are what make the Books so rich. (NT) -- DianaH, Tue, April 10 2018, 7:02:20
  • Lovely moment (NT) -- LadyDuBois, Wed, April 11 2018, 1:50:22
  • It’s these moments that I’m so looking forward to in the next book. The family reunited and living on the ridge. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Wed, April 11 2018, 3:58:54
  • Special moments! (NT) -- Piper-Mom, Thu, April 12 2018, 7:06:37
  
  

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• QUOTE OF THE DAY for April 9th is Chapter 35 of An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon. Copyright 2009, all rights reserved -- Wee, Mon, April 09 2018, 4:06:20
  
  
  
  
      When William was sixteen, his father had caught him and a friend engrossed in the pages of his friend's father's copy of Mr. Harris's notorious guide to the splendors of London's women of pleasure. Lord John had raised an eyebrow and flipped slowly through the book, pausing now and then to raise the other eyebrow. he had then closed the book, taken a deep breath, then told the boys to fetch their hats.
  

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  Replies:

  • Torn between thinking John is a very understanding and cool parent to shock at bringing his son and his friend to a brothel - without consent of the other parents, no less. But Jamie didn't think it overly odd that Fergus took Ian off to Second Mary at that age. Can't judge historical behavior by current standards, I guess. (NT) -- kgp, Mon, April 09 2018, 4:58:36
    • I felt the same way about this! It reminded me of a father finding a Playboy magazine under his son's bed... but then to take said son to a brothel!!! :O (NT) -- Piper-Mom, Mon, April 09 2018, 8:07:38
  • If I remember, didn’t John take them to a “respectable” brothel so they could “learn” the true pleasures of giving and getting pleasure in “that way”? What a Dad! (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Mon, April 09 2018, 5:00:02
    • He took them to Nessie's. (NT) -- kgp, Mon, April 09 2018, 7:52:13
  
  

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• QUOTE OF THE DAY is from Chapter 33 of THE FIERY CROSS by Diana Gabaldon copywrite 2001. All rights reserved -- Wee, Sun, April 08 2018, 5:40:31
      With a certain amount of forethought, Mrs.Bug, Brianna, Marsali, Lizzie, and I made up and enormous quantity of molasses toffee, which we had distributed as a Christmas treat to all the children within earshot. Whatever it might do to their teeth, it had the beneficial effect of gluing their mouths shut for long periods, and in consequence, the adults had enjoyed a peaceful Christmas. Even Germain had been reduced to a sort of tuneful gargle.
  

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  Replies:

  • Worth the sticky fingerprints on every surface (NT) -- kgp, Sun, April 08 2018, 6:13:06
  • DH and I were just talking about molasses being considered a sweet and both agreed it doesn’t even come close to chocolate. But I can see the benefit in this case 😉 (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Mon, April 09 2018, 4:55:23
  • I laughed when I read this the first time! It still makes me chuckle! (NT) -- Piper-Mom, Mon, April 09 2018, 8:14:07
  • Whatever it takes... (NT) -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Tue, April 10 2018, 17:06:32
  
  

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• QOTD for Saturday, April 7, 2018 The following quote is taken from Written in My Own Heart’s Blood by Diana Gabaldon, chapter 1, A Hundredweight of Stones, Copyright © 2014 by Diana Gabaldon, All Rights Reserved.

  -- Lady Linda, Fri, April 06 2018, 16:51:37
          He stood for a bit, not thinking anymore, just listening to the fussing of wee birds in the grass and the breathing of the wind among the trees. Then he sighed deeply, squatted, and touched one of the cairns.
  
          “Tha gaol agam oirbh, a Mhathair,” he said softly. My love is upon you, mother. Closed his eyes and laid a scuffed hand on the other heap of stones. The dirt ground into his skin made his fingers feel strange, as though he could maybe reach straight through the earth and touch what he needed.
  
          “Help me ‘wi this, Uncle Jamie,” he said. “I dinna think I can manage, alone.”
  
  
          This scene with Ian just broke my heart.
  

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  Replies:

  • It broke my heart not only because of this scene, but because in the rapid fire turmoil of the last book and Claire's grief I had forgotten that Jenny was also presumed dead. (NT) -- kgp, Sat, April 07 2018, 4:37:46
    • So did I! Ian is such a man, but his heart still holds that sweet, earnest young man who loved his mother (and others ) so much. He has so much strength, gained through hardship, but not without compassion. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sat, April 07 2018, 5:02:26
  • Such a touching moment. Ian is one of my favorite characters (NT) -- LadyDuBois, Sat, April 07 2018, 4:58:21
  • I'm not sure if I could ever have had the inner strength to do this. Ian is an amazing man whose heart ranges from Fierce Warrior to vulnerable wee child. I just can't imagine losing two of the most important people in my life and continuing on, creating cairns amidst my mourning. Saddly, too many these days are doing just that. Then agin, I think it has ever been thus. (NT) -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Sat, April 07 2018, 5:23:16
  • NON-QUOTE QUESTION: Can any of you suggest a site that sells good quality children's books? I'm looking for Anne of Green Gables, which I can find all over the place, but most have less than quality illustrations. Any suggestions? (NT) -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Sat, April 07 2018, 5:47:16
    • Quality used books at abebooks.com might have something (NT) -- kgp, Sat, April 07 2018, 12:45:27
      • Bookfinder.com is a way to search bookstores all over the world. (NT) -- Gail A, Sun, April 08 2018, 10:05:32
  • . Font fairy hoping to end the italics. (NT) -- Font Fairy 🧚‍♂️, Sun, April 08 2018, 6:58:40
    • Second try. (NT) -- Font Fairy 👹🧚‍♂️🧚‍♂️, Sun, April 08 2018, 7:02:29
  
  

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• QOTD for Friday, April 6th, 2018 -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Fri, April 06 2018, 5:42:55
  Good Greetings to All of Lallyland,
  
  I drooled. I DROOLED. I think it stained the corners of my mouth like nicotine does after a lifetime of smoking. And I blathered on and on, about some of my more "colorful" exploits in life. I think I remember the nurses laughing and saying Does your husband know all this? Yes, of course. I blather everywhere, not just in this fog. But we don't talk about them. He has his own tales. And I THINK I may have eyed the cute anesthesiologist but forgot to hunger just in my mind. I THINK I was saying it all out loud.
  I also screamed. It seemed like all night, but David says it was off and on. Moaning, punctuated by screams.
  I've gone "under the knife" many many times in my life. I know what surgery feels like. It's certainly not fun, not comfortable, painful even. I know how it is to come "to" in recovery, having someone say "It's all over, Betsy. Everything went perfectly," and mumbling, eyes closed, Who cares? I'm still nestled in the Fog. Thanks, now leave me alone until I ask for medication.
  
  BUT I HAVE NEVER DROOLED.
  
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  
  The following quote is taken from "Written in My Own Heart's Blood," by Diana Gabaldon, Chapter 94, 'The Sense of the Meeting'. Copyright c 2014 by Diana Gabaldon. All Rights Researved.
  
  
  Rachel sat still as stone, face bleached as bone and her eyes on Ian, burning. But she said nothing.
  
  Neither did she move, but something moved in her; I could see the knowledge of it cross her face, and somehow her body changed, straightening and settling. She was listening.
  
  We all listened with her. And the silence kindled slowly into light.
  
  There was a faint throb in the air then, not quite a sound, and people began to look up, called from the silence. A blur appeared between the benches in the front, and a hummingbird materialized, drawn through the open window, a tine blur of green and scarlet hovering beside the coral trumpets of the native honeysuckle
  
  A sigh came from the heart of the church, and the sense of the meeting was made clear.
  
  Ian rose, and Rachel came to meet him.
  

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  Replies:

  • I love this 💜💜💜 I've never had major surgery (knock on wood) other than a tubal ligation or colonoscopy I've not had to wake up in recovery. It sounds horrid. Hugs to you, Betsy - I'll bet you made the team's day. (NT) -- kgp, Fri, April 06 2018, 6:51:37
  • I've not had any surgery or procedures except a colonoscopy, but my brother had major surgery last year. I was at the hospital to provide moral support to my SIL and niece and was "backstage" while the staff got Tom ready. He has already had some "joy juice" and was feeling pretty spunky. At one point he announced to the gathered nurses, docs & technicians, "Hold it; everyone just stop!" My SIL froze, wondering if my brother was going to call off the operation. Then he continued, "If anyone thinks they are going to sneak a peek while I'm under anesthesia, you better realize that there is a $20 under cover charge for the privilege!" Raucous laughter and not a few saucy remarks followed. Tom relaxed and continued to hold court until it was time to head to the OR. He came through with no difficulties, but didn't remember much of his "pre-show entertainment." (NT) -- DianaH, Fri, April 06 2018, 12:21:08
  • Oh Betsy, if it took putting you under to drool, that’s not so bad. I’ve been drooling in my sleep over the years, as DH delightfully likes to tell me. I just hope that knee starts feeling better! And for your quote, this was one of the most heartfelt, honest marriages I’ve seen, I absolutely love Ian and am beyond happy that he found Rachel, a perfect mate for him. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sat, April 07 2018, 4:57:22
    • One of the reasons I picked this quote is because the basis of both Native spirituality and Society of Friends is quite close. There are obvious differences, but both are about "going within", learning to Hear the silence. Also, Ian and Rachel are the perfect couple IMHO. (NT) -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Sat, April 07 2018, 5:33:40
  
  

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• I wonder if Benedicta Grey Stanley knows that John is homosexual? Has anyone ever asked Diana? -- kgp, Fri, April 06 2018, 4:15:00
  [ Post a Reply to this Message ][ Edit | View ]
  
  Replies:
  • Of course. She is his mother. We watch. We see. We measure how we reveal our knowing. That is what it is to be a mother of adults. (NT) -- Swarl, Fri, April 06 2018, 6:24:10
    • I like “bibbling humdinger”. 🤪👌🏿That is a new one to me.😎 (NT) -- Swarl, Fri, April 06 2018, 6:26:51
    • She certainly knew an "affair of the heart" sent him to Ardsmuir. (NT) -- kgp, Fri, April 06 2018, 6:52:57
    • I agree. And I think John knew that she knew, but back then it couldn’t be spoken of. Even between Mother and Son. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Fri, April 06 2018, 15:03:58
      • P.S. I think Hal and Minnie knew too. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Fri, April 06 2018, 15:05:07
  
  

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• QOTD for Thursday, April 5, 2018 -- CindyG, Thu, April 05 2018, 8:39:14
  The following quote is from The Outlandish Companion by Diana Gabaldon, “Prologue.” Copyright (c) 1999 by Diana Gabaldon, all rights reserved.
  
  “Well, it was all an accident, is what it was. I wasn’t trying to be published; I wasn’t even going to show it to anyone. I just wanted to write a book—any kind of book.”
  

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  Replies:

  • A happy accident for all of us LallyLanders! (NT) -- DianaH, Thu, April 05 2018, 9:08:57
    • Indeed it was. (NT) -- LadyDuBois, Thu, April 05 2018, 11:42:13
    • My sentiments exactly! 😉 (NT) -- CindyG, Thu, April 05 2018, 20:31:51
  • It must be an odd thing to be an author and have all these other people inside your head clamoring to tell their side of the story. She's mentioned missing a step on the stairs because a scene was working itself out in her head. (NT) -- kgp, Thu, April 05 2018, 12:11:54
  • Thinking of all the things that have flowed from Outlander just boggles my mind. I can’t even imagine the loss if Diana hadn’t taken the leap of faith to follow her dream of being an author. A personal life altering thing for me because of Outlander was using the internet and going to Scotland. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Thu, April 05 2018, 12:43:03
  
  

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• QOTD for Wednesday April 4, 2018 -- Kathy in PA -- Kathy in PA, Wed, April 04 2018, 3:30:13
  
  "Are you sure - ?" I began dubiously. "Oh!"
  
  He was already applying the half-liquid ointment, with more enthusiasm than dexterity, but the fact of his enthusiasm was more arousing than skill might have been.
  
  Having a small amount of oil of peppermint vigorously applied to one's private parts was a rather novel sensation, too. "Make that noise again," he said, breathing heavily in my ear. "I like it."
  
  
  I chose this mmph quote because after all these years, Jamie is still enthusiastic and Claire still makes "those noises." As they prepare for battle they use their physical connection for centering and strength.
  

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  Replies:

  • From Written in My Own Heart's Blood Chapter 65 "Mosquitos" by Diana Gabaldon Copyright 2014 (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Wed, April 04 2018, 3:34:24
    • Did it just get warm in here? (NT) -- LadyDuBois, Wed, April 04 2018, 10:39:27
  • "Get the sensation!" Peppermint oil is potent stuff (NT) -- kgp, Wed, April 04 2018, 12:15:34
    • Are you speaking from experience? 😉 😍 💥 (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Wed, April 04 2018, 12:48:03
      • I think I'll say "My, what a great quote!" and then just sit here with a grin on my face. (NT) -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Wed, April 04 2018, 15:53:48
      • Quick, I need a diversion! 😶 er, em . . . Look! A bibbling humdinger! (NT) -- kgp, Wed, April 04 2018, 20:21:44
        • Hey, where'd you get emoji's? (NT) -- LadyDuBois, Thu, April 05 2018, 11:43:34
          • If you use your phone the emojis are there. I have a link for this board on my home screen. (NT) -- kgp, Thu, April 05 2018, 12:15:09
  
  

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• Quoters -- Judie, Tue, April 03 2018, 12:49:40
  .
  .
  Thanks for filling in, gang. Lady Dubois (today), Kathy (Weds), Cindy (Thurs), Betsy (Friday) - I can do Saturday unless someone else wants to.
  
  Next week is Wee; the week after is kgp; the next week CindyG.
  
  Constance - if you can do a full week that would be super - click on "Contact Forum Admin" above and email me with your email address. Let me know which week you can do. If you already know a week you can do you can also post it here.
  
  More quoters welcome. :)
  
  Thanks, everyone.
  

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  Replies:

  • Thanks! Judie, you're the best! (NT) -- kgp, Tue, April 03 2018, 19:03:57
    • No, you're the best! :D (NT) -- Judie, Tue, April 03 2018, 22:32:43
  • Judie, I will do Saturday. (NT) -- Lady Linda, Wed, April 04 2018, 17:54:14
    • Awesome. Thanks, Linda! (NT) -- Judie, Thu, April 05 2018, 16:55:47
  
  

  ---

  
  
• QOTD for Tuesday, April 3, 2018, from Written In My Hearts Own Blood, by Diana Gabaldon Copyright 2014, Chapter 69, Sparrow Fart -- LadyDuBois, Tue, April 03 2018, 9:56:14
  
  
  
  
  It was perhaps four o'clock ack emma. Or before sparrow-fart, as the British armed forces of my own time used to put it. That sense of temporal dislocation was back again, memories of another war coming like a sudden fog between me and my work, then disappearing in an instant, leaving the present sharp and vivid as a Kodachrome. The army was moving.
  

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  Replies:

  • I’m sure Claire never thought she would go through anything like WWII again. And yet there she was, with Jamie heading into a war again. (NT) -- LisaW, Tue, April 03 2018, 10:14:32
    • She thought she was done with it after Culloden. She never guessed they would be in the colonies (NT) -- kgp, Tue, April 03 2018, 12:13:25
  • I'm afraid that as long as there are humans on earth, there will be war of one sort or another. But poor Claire! It's a whole different set of medical mores to deal with, and in a time when there were precious few women physicians. At one time, the females were looked apon as Healers, but those days were long gone by the 18th century. (NT) -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Tue, April 03 2018, 16:49:32
  • This is a non-QOTD thing. I don't know where to put it, so it's here. I'm on the Facebook LOL group, both the "oldies" and the new, huge Gabaldon Fans group.>>>>>>> -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Tue, April 03 2018, 17:17:15
    • Betsy, you can post whatever wherever and I'd be glad to read it. (NT) -- kgp, Tue, April 03 2018, 19:06:09
    • Betsy, it may have been a conversation I started about FB and how people seemed to be going AWAY from FB. Lady Dubois mentioned this place called mewe.com and so a few of us were trying it out. It's bare bones and the whole point I think is that you control your own data and it is not owned by anyone (like FB). It's about as active as these Voy boards, but it's there. Who knows, maybe one day it will come into vogue, but so far it's not getting much action. hahahah So, you possibly saw that thread - so, not hallucinating. :D (NT) -- Judie, Tue, April 03 2018, 22:36:15
      • Hmmmmm...that may have been it, Judie. I didn't really stay and read. Judgemental and narrow-minded. I am so sorry. I didn't even stop to see which group it was. *shaking my head* I need to work on my attitude. Negativity gets us nowhere. (NT) -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Wed, April 04 2018, 16:01:10
    • I hate FB. My other very special Outlander group, Outlandish Voices, moved to FB. I am desperately trying not to get a cell phone and FB kept kicking me off because I couldn’t “verify my account” because I don’t have a cell phone. I am Soooooo glad we still have this place, please stay, everybody!!! (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Wed, April 04 2018, 12:51:13
  
  

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• FYI, I'll post tomorrow's QOTD after 12:00 noon, my typing skills at 5 a.m. aren't very accurate :D -- LadyDuBois, Mon, April 02 2018, 18:30:39
  [ Post a Reply to this Message ][ Edit | View ]
  
  Replies:
  • QOTD -- Constance, Tue, April 03 2018, 12:18:32
    • Hi, Constance - glad you are taking a turn. I love poking through the books and finding little gems. A posting hint - if you are replying to a post you can put up to 500 characters in the 'subject' line and it will show on the page without having to click through. It's only new posts that need you to have a subject, then the rest in ' type your message here'. Glad you are here! (NT) -- kgp, Tue, April 03 2018, 19:11:05
  • QOTD -- Constance, Tue, April 03 2018, 12:24:51
  • . (NT) -- Judie, Tue, April 03 2018, 16:52:21
  • Hi Constance, please take a week - I love to see what quotes other hosers choose. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Thu, April 05 2018, 12:44:38
  
  

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• Quote of the Day for Monday, April 2 -- Judie, Sun, April 01 2018, 16:51:22
  .
  .
  The following quote is taken from Written In My Own Heart’s Blood, by Diana Gabaldon, PROLOGUE. Copyright (c) 2014 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved.
  
  
  
  

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  Replies:

  • She's seen so much war. I really liked this book and the descriptions of the battles from various points of view, but I'm hoping they get some peace. (NT) -- kgp, Sun, April 01 2018, 17:29:42
  • One of my favorite passages (NT) -- LadyDuBois, Mon, April 02 2018, 7:28:26
    • I'll take tomorrow, Judie (NT) -- LadyDuBois, Mon, April 02 2018, 7:34:30
      • Sure thing, Debbie. Thanks! (NT) -- Judie, Mon, April 02 2018, 18:01:22
  • THANK YOU TO LALLYLOVIES!!! This will be short as sitting in a non-reclining chair for any length of time doesn't work. I did need to touch bases with Lallyland and Thank everyone for your kind, heart-warming cards and messages. They all mean much more than you can know. Several years ago a study was done of the effects/non-effects of prayer given prior to, during, and after surgery. I don't know the number of patients involved but it was a large number (1000??) , divided into two groups. One group entered into their surgical experience with no prayer support, the other group had designated prayer circles (patients didn't know which group they were in nor were there any relationships between the patients and the prayer partners). The up shot of the experiment was that the patients who had, unbeknownst to them, been held in prayer healed and recuperated One Third faster than the non-upheld. Both groups, patients and prayers, were cross cultural. (NT) -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Mon, April 02 2018, 8:45:41
    • Judie, I will take Friday's QOTD. A week is too daunting, but one day will help make me feel like I am contributing. BTW--- This surgery is a brutal surgery, I know from seeing several done when I worked in the hospital---this I knew. But so much went wrong, it has been a HUGE nightmare. I won't go into details. But it's been horrid. You all make me smile. (NT) -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Mon, April 02 2018, 8:55:13
      • Oh no, I’m so sorry. Similar situation for my sister. Everybody says it’s a breeze and you’ll feel so much better but it’s not always the case. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Mon, April 02 2018, 11:15:12
      • Sure thing, Betsy. Take care! (NT) -- Judie, Mon, April 02 2018, 18:02:31
    • Sending loads of gentle hugs for you (NT) -- kgp, Tue, April 03 2018, 8:12:14
  • Thanks Judie, I love this prologue too, especially the part that speaks to the strength of women, a vibrant thread through all the books. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Mon, April 02 2018, 11:16:50
  • Judie, thanks for filling in. I’ll take Thursday, won’t be home on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning so I can’t be sure I could do Wednesday. (NT) -- CindyG, Mon, April 02 2018, 16:40:55
    • Wednesday, it is! Thank you. (NT) -- Judie, Mon, April 02 2018, 18:03:07
  • So, Debbie on Tuesday, Cindy on Wednesday and Betsy on Friday. Looking good. :D (NT) -- Judie, Mon, April 02 2018, 18:03:26
    • No, I can’t do Wednesday, but I will on Thursday. (NT) -- CindyG, Mon, April 02 2018, 18:56:02
      • I’ll do Wednesday. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Mon, April 02 2018, 19:33:17
      • Sorry, Cindy - my brain!!!!!!!!! Thursday. Kathy on Wednesday. :) (NT) -- Judie, Tue, April 03 2018, 12:45:05
  • I think this is my favorite prologue; it speaks to me. As "mature" women, we see and do what must be done, like or not, tired or not; we keep the fires burning, both in our hearths and in our hearts. I love "the spring of life runs through them" as it aptly describes my DD. The part about the men fits my DS & DH too! (NT) -- DianaH, Tue, April 03 2018, 9:09:28
  
  

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• Quoters needed -- Judie, Sun, April 01 2018, 14:36:06
  .
  .
  Help! :)
  

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  Replies:

  • Over here! (NT) -- kgp, Sun, April 01 2018, 17:31:56
    • You want another week? :D (NT) -- Judie, Mon, April 02 2018, 18:03:46
      • What the heck (NT) -- kgp, Tue, April 03 2018, 4:14:54
  
  

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• QOTD! -- Judie, Sun, April 01 2018, 14:35:00
  .
  .
  Guess I better fill in since we do not have anyone this week.
  
  The following quote is taken from An Echo In The Bone, by Diana Gabaldon, Acknowledgements. Copyright (c) 2009 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved.
  
  
  
  
  
  The good old days............ :)
  

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  • Nice of her to mention us -- this is a special group (NT) -- kgp, Sun, April 01 2018, 17:19:48
    • Some of the finest axe murderers can been found at Lallybroch (NT) -- LadyDuBois, Mon, April 02 2018, 7:29:38
  
  

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• Happy Easter to some, and Happy Passover to others -- LadyDuBois, Sun, April 01 2018, 7:26:00
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  Replies:
  • And to you and yours 💜 (NT) -- kgp, Sun, April 01 2018, 7:26:55
  • To one and all, however you spend the day, wishing you good health, peace, and contentment! (NT) -- lori v, Sun, April 01 2018, 7:29:10
  • Chag Pesach Sameach, Happy Easter, happy whatever-you-celebrate! (NT) -- LindaT, Sun, April 01 2018, 8:21:31
  • Happy Easter and Happy Passover! (NT) -- Judie, Sun, April 01 2018, 14:17:01
  
  

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• QOTD and Bulletin Board for Saturday, March 31, 2018 -- kgp, Sat, March 31 2018, 5:06:51
  The following quotation is from Lord John and the Private Matter by Diana Gabaldon. Copyright 2003. All Rights Reserved. Chapter 13. Barber, Barber, Shave a Pig
  
  
  
  “Mr. Byrd,” he said, making space for Tom to approach closer. “You are our chief expert on the art of shaving; what can you tell us about this?”
  
  Nostrils pinched against the reek of the corpse, Tom the barber’s son motioned for the lantern to be brought closer, and leaned down, squinting in professional fashion along the planes of the body.
  
  “Well,” he said judiciously, ‘he does it – did it, I mean – regular. More like, someone did it for him – a nice, professional bit of work. See, there’s no cuts, nor yet no scraping – and that’s an awkward bit, round there.” He pointed, frowning. “Hard to manage by yourself, I should think.”
  

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  Replies:

  • Your theme topics are always terrific. Thanks for this week about Tom. DG does these bit characters so well. (NT) -- Swarl, Sat, March 31 2018, 5:23:08
  • “I should think” indeed! Without going to get my book, Tom’s talking about the nether regions, right? I enjoyed your week too. I always love hearing Lord John talk, and this week made me realize how much I love hearing Tom talk too. In different ways, they both have a way with words. And as I write this I think, Diana sure has a way with words. So many characters all with such depth. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sat, March 31 2018, 12:31:06
  
  

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• QOTD and Bulletin Board for Friday, March 30, 2018 -- kgp, Fri, March 30 2018, 6:10:41
  The following quotation is from Lord John and the Private Matter by Diana Gabaldon. Copyright 2003. All Rights Reserved. Chapter 9. Molly Walk
  
  
  
  “It sounds like what goes on at those gentlemen’s clubs in Curzon Street,” Byrd said, sounding faintly puzzled. “I’ve heard ‘em.”
  
  “It is a gentlemen’s club,” Grey replied. With a certain grimness. “For a gentleman of a particular sort.” He removed his hat, and, untying his hair, shook it free over his shoulders; the time for disguise was past.
  
  “Now you must go home, Tom.” He pointed the way, across the park. “Do you see that light, at the end? Just beyond it is an alley; it will take you to the main street. Here – take some money for a cab.”
  
  Byrd accepted the coin, but shook his head.
  
  “No, me lord. I’ll go to the door with you.”
  
  He glanced at Byrd, surprised. There was sufficient light from the curtained windows to see both the dried tears on Byrd’s round face and the determined expression under them.
  
  “I mean to be sure as these sodomitical sons of bitches shall be aware that somebody knows where you are. Just in case, me lord.”
  

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  • As the light dawns, Tom square his shoulders and stands with his man. “Those sodomitcsl sons of bitches” BEWARE!! (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Fri, March 30 2018, 7:47:03
  • A brave, determined man is our Tom Byrd! (NT) -- DianaH, Fri, March 30 2018, 8:26:13
  • I think Tom is quite young here as well -- 15? (NT) -- kgp, Fri, March 30 2018, 10:27:44
    • I was picturing him as mid 20s. But 15 years old back then was a lot more mature than 15 today, generally. There are always those exceptions 🙄 (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Fri, March 30 2018, 12:03:52
  
  

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• QOTD and Bulletin Board for Thursday, March 29, 2018 -- kgp, Thu, March 29 2018, 4:36:01
  The following quotation is from Lord John and the Private Matter by Diana Gabaldon. Copyright 2003. All Rights Reserved. Chapter 9. Molly Walk
  
  
  
  “What in Christ’s name are you doing here?” he said, keeping his voice low.
  
  Tom Byrd appeared not to have heard; his round face was open-mouthed with amazement.
  
  “That bloke come straight up to me and put his pego into me hand!” He stared into his open palm, as though expecting to find the object in question still within his grasp.
  
  “Oh?”
  
  “Yes! I swear as a Christian, he did! And then he kissed me, and went for to put his hand into me breeches and grabbed me by the bollocks! Whatever would he want to do that for?”
  

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  Replies:

  • Surprise, Tom! (NT) -- Piper-Mom, Thu, March 29 2018, 9:35:19
  • I met Jamie, from Scotland, who has a body like Sam's today, and he knew about Outlander. Plus he was as nice as he could be, WoooHooo!!!! (NT) -- LadyDuBois, Thu, March 29 2018, 10:05:36
    • Woo Hoo ! (NT) -- kgp, Thu, March 29 2018, 12:40:49
  • This was so funny. Tom wasn’t disgusted, afraid -just totally bewildered why a bloke would be doing that. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Thu, March 29 2018, 13:05:20
  
  

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• QOTD and Bulletin Board for Wednesday, March 28, 2018 -- kgp, Wed, March 28 2018, 5:21:35
  The following quotation is from Lord John and the Private Matter by Diana Gabaldon. Copyright 2003. All Rights Reserved. Chapter 5. Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
  
  
  
  Trevelyan was growing more livid by the moment. His anger was surely justified, and yet Grey found himself oddly reluctant to hand Tom Byrd over to justice. The boy must plainly have been aware that he was sacrificing his position – and quite possibly his skin – by his actions, and yet he had not hesitated to act.
  
  “A moment, if you will, sir.” He bowed to Trevelyan, and made his way toward Thomas, who was passing through the crowd with a tray of drinks – and not a moment too soon.
  
  “Wine, my lord?” Thomas dipped his tray invitingly.
  
  “Yes, if you haven’t anything stronger.” Grey took a glass at random and drained it in a manner grossly disrespectful of the vintage, but highly necessary to his state of mind, and took another. “Is Tom Byrd in the house?”
  
  “Yes, my lord. I saw him in the kitchens just now.”
  
  “Ah. Well, go and make sure he stays there, would you?”
  

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  • Wednesday already? Lord John, rather than being affronted by a servant overstepping his place is impressed by Tom's loyalty, sacrifice, and initiative. A valuable person to have at your side. (NT) -- kgp, Wed, March 28 2018, 5:24:18
  • Hi IKaren!!!!!!!!!!! (NT) -- LadyDuBois, Wed, March 28 2018, 10:36:25
  
  

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• QOTD and Bulletin Board for Tuesday, March 27, 2018 -- kgp, Tue, March 27 2018, 5:25:04
  The following quotation is from Lord John and the Private Matter by Diana Gabaldon. Copyright 2003. All Rights Reserved. Chapter 4. A Valet Calls
  
  
  
  “Yes, that’s the way of it. I looked very carefully and found no dried blood in the corpse’s hair or on the skin of the face – though the cleansing appeared otherwise rather crude. So no, I am fairly sure the mark was made some little time after the Sergeant had ceased to breathe.”
  
  “Well, it wasn’t Jack what made it!”
  
  Grey glanced at him, startled. Well, now he knew what was disturbing the boy; beyond simple worry at his brother’s absence, Tom clearly feared that Jack Byrd might be guilty of murder – or at least suspected of it.
  
  “I did not suggest that he did,” he replied carefully.
  
  “But I know he didn’t! I can prove it, me lord!” Byrd grasped him by the sleeve, carried away by the passion of his speech.
  
  “Jack’s shoes have square heels, me lord! Whoever stamped the dead cove had round ones! Wooden ones, too, and Jack’s shoes have leather heels!”
  
  He paused, almost panting in his excitement, searching Grey’s face with wide eyes, anxious for any sign of agreement.
  
  “I see,” Grey said slowly. The boy was still gripping his arm. He put his own hand over the boy’s and squeezed lightly. “I am glad to hear it, Tom. Very glad.”
  

  Last edited by author: Tue, March 27 2018, 6:02:53   Edited 1 time.
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  Replies:

  • Tom Byrd - Detective :) (NT) -- DianaH, Tue, March 27 2018, 6:31:30
  • More and more John is realizing he has much more than a valet. kgp, I think John is like you in seeing everyone has a special “gift or grace.” Sometimes I think it still surprises him, like Tom or Nessie, but once he sees it, he acknowledges it. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Tue, March 27 2018, 7:53:47
    • Wow, being compared to Lord John -- I'm blushing (NT) -- kgp, Tue, March 27 2018, 15:28:48
  • Interesting observations! (NT) -- Piper-Mom, Thu, March 29 2018, 9:38:28
  
  

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• QOTD for Monday, March 26, 2018 -- kgp, Mon, March 26 2018, 6:13:17
  The following quotation is from Lord John and the Private Matter by Diana Gabaldon. Copyright 2003. All Rights Reserved. Chapter 4. A Valet Calls
  
  
  
  “What do you think, Tom?” he said, more by way of clarifying his thoughts than because he desired Byrd’s opinion. “If secrecy were a concern, would it not be more sensible th use a weapon? Beating a man to death is likely to be a noisy business. Attract a lot of unwelcome attention, wouldn’t you say?”
  
  “Yes, me lord. I expect that’s so. Though so far as that goes . . . “
  
  “Yes?” He glanced round at Byrd, who hastened his step a bit to come level with Grey.
  
  “Well, it’s only – mind. I ain’t – haven’t. I mean – seen a man beat to death. But when you go to kill a pig, you only get a terrible lot of screeching if you’ve done it wrong.”
  
  “Done it wrong?”
  
  “Yes, me lord. If you do it right, it doesn’t take but one good blow. The pig doesn’t know what hit ‘im, and there’s no noise to speak of. You get a man what doesn’t know what he’s doing, or isn’t strong enough –” Byrd made a face at the thought of such incompetence. “Racket like to wake the dead. There’s the butcher’s across the street from me dad’s shop,” he offered in explanation. “I’ve seen pigs killed often.”
  
  
  
  I like that is starts with John not expecting anything, merely using Tom as a sounding board to test his thoughts out loud. Tom very clearly is a quick one and John adjusts his estimation. It's so easy to dismiss someone based on education level or perceived social status but really I've come to find that everyone has expertise at something. One of the things I've taken from working where I have is that it's best to just assume everyone has an advanced degree in something, formally acknowledged or not.
  

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  • Bulletin Board as weel : Merry Monday, Everyone. I've more or less recovered from the long but amazing weekend though my shoulders still ache a bit. Couldn't practice playing yesterday because my fingers went numb when I raised my arms :D (NT) -- kgp, Mon, March 26 2018, 6:16:06
  • kgp, I agree with your fondness for Tom Byrd; he's a character with more depth than one might expect. And I love your assumption that everyone has "and advanced degree in something, formally acknowledged or not." Underestimate no one. (NT) -- DianaH, Mon, March 26 2018, 6:52:05
  • It is wonderful to assume that everyone has a formal degree. It’s true. Life does that to us all. Thanks for this gem. (NT) -- Swarl, Tue, March 27 2018, 6:05:07
  • Thanks for sharing more about a 'minor' character of the books. (NT) -- Piper-Mom, Thu, March 29 2018, 9:40:53
  
  

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• QOTD for Sunday, March 25, 2018 -- kgp, Sun, March 25 2018, 7:39:19
  The following quotation is from Lord John and the Private Matter by Diana Gabaldon. Copyright 2003. All Rights Reserved.
  
  
  Dear Readers –
  
  I think it’s only fair to warn you that I wrote this book by accident. I thought I was writing a short story about Lord John Grey – one of my favorite characters from the OUTLANDER novels. As it was, though . . . Lord John had other ideas.
  
  Even though I was working – and still am – on the next “big” novel starring Jamie and Claire, lord John’s adventures in London in 1775 kept evolving, growing more complex and fascinating with each page. Set during the time just after lord John has left Jamie Fraser at Helwater as a Jacobite prisoner of war, Lord John and the Private Matter is an interpolation: part of the OUTLANDER series, and taking place within its timeline – but focused on an adventure separate from the lives of the main characters.
  
  So I hope you will enjoy this trip through the darker side of London life in the company of Scottish whores, plumed Huns, reprobate Sergeants, Irish apothecaries, transvestite spies . . . and Lord John.
  
  Slainte mhath!
  
  -- Diana
  
  
  P.S. Hey there, Lovelies - me again. I wanted to focus on Tom Byrd (one of my favorite characters) this week and this bit of forewarning caught my eye; reminding me of Diana's wonderful sense of humor about her characters and how they sometimes choose to tell their own stories.
  
  P.P.S. Consider this the Bulletin Board as well. What's happening these days?
  

  Last edited by author: Sun, March 25 2018, 8:00:44   Edited 1 time.
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  • A get together with the family is on the agenda for today. Haven't been all together since Christmas (though with meet-ups with various family units in between). It's spring break for our school, yet I will not spend one complete day totally at home the entire time. Papers, state testing, and rehearsals for Spamalot - OH MY! (NT) -- Lady_Jane, Sun, March 25 2018, 7:53:01
    • Spamalot is a great show! Fun music. (NT) -- kgp, Sun, March 25 2018, 10:41:59
      • Lady Jane, hope the state testing memorization doesn't show up in your lines for Spamalot! Great fun show, what part do you play? (NT) -- TeriB, Sun, March 25 2018, 11:52:58
  • I’m sure looking forward to Tom Byrd week. His devotion to Lord John is amazing. And Lord John’s gentle tutelage af Tom is typical John, no judgement or ridicule, just gratitude for Tom’s obvious care. I swear if you looked up earnest in the dictionary, there’d be a picture of Tom! (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Mon, March 26 2018, 4:25:39
  
  

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• QOTD for Saturday, March 24, 2018 -- Kathy in PA The following quote is taken from Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon, Chapter 66, “Child of My Blood” Copyright (c) 1997 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved. -- Kathy in PA, Sat, March 24 2018, 13:33:47
  
  "Well, mo nighean, if you are handfast with this man, than you are bound to him; there's no question."
  
  He turned and gave Roger a dark blue stare. "So you'll live here, as her husband. And on September the third, she will choose whether she'll wed ye by priest and book - or whether you'll leave and trouble her no more. Ye've that long to decide why you're here - and convince her of it."
  
  Ye'll live here as her husband, I said. But if ye touch her unwilling, I'll cut your heart out and feed it to the pig. Ye understand me?"
  
  "You think I'd trouble a woman who didn't want me?"
  
  A rather awkward question, given that Jamie had beaten him to a pulp under precisely that mistaken assumption.
  
  He pushed back his stool abruptly and stood up, turned on his heel, and left. Just as quickly, Jamie stood and went after him, sheathing his dirk as he went.
  
  "Treat her badly and I'll rip your balls off and cram them down your throat," Jamie's voice said softly in Gaelic.
  
  Roger didn't have Jamie's air of quiet menace, but his voice rang with sincerity. "Lay hands on me once more, you fucking sod, and I'll stuff your head back up your arse where it came from!"
  
  Brianna's eyes were round as she looked at me.
  
  "Testosterone poisoning," I said with a shrug.
  
  "Well," I said finally, "there are two things they do with it, and one of them is try to kill each other."
  "Uh-huh," she said. "and the other......
  
  Our eyes met with a perfect understanding.
  "I'll take care of your father," I said.
  "Bur Roger's up to you."
  
  
  First I was going to quote the Jamie and Bri reunion, but I KNOW that will be on Starz. Then I wanted to quote when Roger came back from the Indians - I confess, I'm not looking forward to seeing his time in captivity - and wanted to show his abiding love for Bri, his courage and how he had to become an 18th century man.
  Then I remembered this part. I love it because Roger finally stood up to Jamie, which I think helped him in Bri's eyes, and best of all, Claire defined "Testosterone Poisoning." Which I've experienced many times over the years but now I have a name for it!
  

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  • I think this started Jamie developing respect for Roger. (NT) -- kgp, Sat, March 24 2018, 16:41:46
  
  

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• Bulletin Board for Saturday -- kgp, Sat, March 24 2018, 5:59:27
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  Replies:
  • Having a great visit with Lady Dubois- about to head out for an adventure (NT) -- kgp, Sat, March 24 2018, 6:00:19
    • I couldn't have asked for better company, thanks kgp! I'm completely knackered today (NT) -- LadyDuBois, Sun, March 25 2018, 11:26:14
  • Glad you two ladies are having fun. :) (NT) -- Judie, Sat, March 24 2018, 12:45:01
  • Yes! And let's hear about the adventure?!? What fun to meet up with fellow Gabaldonias. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sat, March 24 2018, 13:35:26
    • Last night we had fun exploring around the hotel and made the most of happy hour. Today we joined the throngs on Pennsylvania Ave. Interesting fellow passengers in the trains. (NT) -- kgp, Sat, March 24 2018, 16:39:55
      • Sometimes I’m so slow it scares me 😳. You were at the March! Thank you. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sun, March 25 2018, 4:33:20
  
  

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• QOTD for Friday, March 23, 2018 -- Kathy in PA The following quote is taken from Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon, Chapter 25, “Enter A Serpent” Copyright (c) 1997 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved. -- Kathy in PA, Fri, March 23 2018, 4:26:26
  
  "It was my fault," he said, nobly squaring his shoulders, the better to accept blame.
  
  "I said as how I'd thought to shoot it earlier, but we didna want to waste the powder. And so his Lordship said as how he would fetch his papa's pistol from the saddle bag and deal with the thing at once. And so -"
  
  "Ian," said Jamie between his teeth. "Stop blethering and tell me straight what ye've done wi' the lad. Ye've not shot him by mistake, I hope?"
  
  Lord John coughed politely, forestalling further recriminations. "Perhaps you would be good enough to tell me the whereabouts of my son at this moment?"
  
  Ian took a deep breath and visibly commended his soul to God. "He's in the bottom of the privy." he said. "Have ye got a bit 'o rope, Uncle Jamie?"
  
  There had luckily been enough sewage in the bottom of the pit to break his fall. From appearances, the ninth Earl of Ellesmere had landed facedown. Lord John stood for a moment on the path, wiping his hands on his breeches and surveying the encrusted object before him. He rubbed the back of his hand over his mouth, trying either to hide a smile or to stifle his sense of smell.
  
  Then his shoulders started to shake. "What news from the Underworld, Persephone?" he said, unable to keep the quaver of laughter out of his voice.
  
  
  
  This scene always tickles me. I love the instant understanding between John and Jamie of the literary allusion. No matter how improbable it seems for two young men/boys to battle a rattlesnake in the outhouse, with one actually falling through the hole, Diana makes this whole episode funny and revealing.
  
  William looks and acts like Jamie, Ian realizes it, Claire realizes Ian realizes. Even the title - is the serpent the rattlesnake or Lord John in Claire's Eden? They have not become friends yet.
  

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  • The serpent brought temptation to Eden. If John is the serpent then the temptation is for Jamie. I don't think he consciously meant to provoke a confrontation with Claire (NT) -- kgp, Fri, March 23 2018, 5:22:44
    • And I think Claire logically and fundamentally knew she should never be jealous of John - yet she was....... Because he and Jamie shared such intellect? They could laugh at this without a word passing between them. WAS there anything else??? I am so glad that Claire and John came to "know" (pun intended) and love each other, partly because of their shared love of Jamie. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Fri, March 23 2018, 7:41:59
  • I love this scene! One of my favorite laugh out loud moments. They HAVE to include it on tv, don’t you think? (NT) -- CindyG, Fri, March 23 2018, 8:33:25
    • I sure hope so. It makes me laugh every time too. What do you hope from Drums that makes it to Starz? (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Fri, March 23 2018, 9:01:38
  • This makes me blurt out laughing every time! I must laugh more often at my own predicaments and alleviate my own embarassment - I can be a klutz! (NT) -- TeriB, Fri, March 23 2018, 13:40:26
  
  

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• Bulletin Board for Friday, March 23 -- kgp, Fri, March 23 2018, 3:51:15
  On my way to meet up with Lady Dubois. 😊
  

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  • Oooh, have fun!! (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Fri, March 23 2018, 4:27:35
  • Drinking in Georgetown is a good thing (NT) -- kgp, Fri, March 23 2018, 16:52:57
  • Wow - that is crazy! Have a great time. (NT) -- Judie, Fri, March 23 2018, 19:32:05
  
  

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• Judie, thank you for spring wallpaper. Winter’s hanging tough but it can’t be long now. The butterflies and flowers make me happy 😊 -- Kathy in PA, Thu, March 22 2018, 14:39:43
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  Replies:
  • Thanks, Kathy. I couldn't take that snowflake another day - hahahahaha. (NT) -- Judie, Thu, March 22 2018, 17:20:46
  • So that's why we have an extended winter! All due to the snowflake wallpaper not being changed *g* - maybe next year the winter wallpaper will be changed on Feb 1 to chase away the winter weather! Love the flowers, tendrils and butterflies - all hope for Spring! Yay! (NT) -- TeriB waving from a very rainy day, Fri, March 23 2018, 13:32:41
    • I hope someone reminds me to change it then - hahahahaha. (NT) -- Judie, Fri, March 23 2018, 19:31:45
  
  

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• QOTD for Thursday, March 22, 2018 -- Kathy in PA The following quote is taken from Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon, Chapter 16, “The First Law of Thermodynamics” Copyright (c) 1997 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved. -- Kathy in PA, Thu, March 22 2018, 5:29:17
  
  
  "D'ye believe in signs at all, Sassenach?"
  "What sorts of signs?" I asked guardedly.
  
  In answer, he bent, plucked a sprig from the ground, and dropped it into my hand - the dark green leaves like small round Chinese fans, a pure white flower on a slender stem, and on another a half-ripe berry, its shoulders pale with shade, blushing crimson at the tip.
  
  "This. It's ours, d'ye see?" he said.
  "Ours?"
  
  "The Frasers', I mean," he explained. "Strawberries ha' always been the emblem of the clan - it's what the name meant, to start with............
  
  "It's a rare plant," he said, touching the sprig in my open hand. "Flowers, fruit and leaves all together at the one time. The white flowers are for honor, and red fruit for courage - and the green leaves are for constancy."
  
  My throat felt tight as I looked at him.
  "They got that one right," I said.
  
  He caught my hand in his own, squeezing my fingers around the tiny stem. "And the fruit is the shape of a heart," he said softly, and bent to kiss me.
  
  
  
  
  This is when they found Fraser's Ridge, which is very much like the landscape in northeastern PA. I see the wild strawberries every summer and think of this moment.
  
  What I love about Drums is reading about living on the ridge. How they managed, what they ate, what kind of game they hunted, how they made their homes - I love that time period and to read about it through the Fraser's, their family, their tenants and friends is heaven.
  Again, because of the similarity to where I live, things remind me of the books and the books remind me of things in my life. Diana writes so vividly and engages all the senses.
  

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  • Oh Kathy! I so agree with you. I love reading the details of daily life it’s makes the whole story real to me it brings everything right to my right in front of my face and I can watch which what’s going on my reading her words she said terrific writer and I love reading not just a story but the small every day pieces of life. (NT) -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Thu, March 22 2018, 8:20:39
    • Well it seems that using the microphone rather than writing my message doesn’t seem to work very well for me. Hum. Maybe it’s a sign. (NT) -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Thu, March 22 2018, 8:25:59
  • We have wild strawberries here. I always think of this when I see them. (NT) -- kgp, Thu, March 22 2018, 8:29:36
  
  

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• Bulletin Board for Thursday, March 22, 2018 - say hi, share some news, random thoughts, ... -- kgp, Thu, March 22 2018, 4:37:24
  My dsis is rereading FC and I'm loving her commentary. It's been a while since I've read it other than looking for quotes. The Brownsville crew remind me of the neighborhood factions brewing here. I'm just the Nice Old Lady Who Walks Her Dog - I'm trying to stay out of it.
  

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  • Isn’t it awful - we have a doozy in our neighborhood too. But like you, I remain the old gal, with the old dog, who walks every day. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Thu, March 22 2018, 5:22:00
  • I can still remember going to my first neighborhood association meeting 25 or so years ago - long before we had city-wide recycling in place. Our association wanted to contract with a recycle facility for curbside pick-up. From the heated discussion you'd have thought we were trying to decide the fate of the world! I didn't go back to any more meetings :o( (NT) -- lori v, Thu, March 22 2018, 7:56:28
  • Craziness! The things that people will go to the mat for! (NT) -- kgp, Thu, March 22 2018, 8:28:33
  • Re: dogs - Tamara wants to get a toy poodle. Her cousin has one and it's just adorable. Tamara needs a friend. :) So, one day I may actually be walking a dog for the first time. It will make me get off my arse, that's for sure. (NT) -- Judie, Thu, March 22 2018, 17:22:33
    • Gets me out three times a day (NT) -- kgp, Thu, March 22 2018, 18:37:36
  
  

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• My best friend since we were 12 has breast cancer. Shes opting for a double mastectomy and reconstruction rather than a lumpectomy. I'm feeling lost. I want to wave a wand and make it go away. -- kgp, Wed, March 21 2018, 16:03:33
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  • I am so very sorry to hear your friend's sad new - it's difficult to know what to say or do at such a time. I am sure that just being there to hug, cry, and/or laugh when she needs it will be much more than adequate. Last summer my best friend from childhood died in a motorcycle accident - and although we weren't as close in adulthood, we did still have a special connection, and it's still very difficult to think of her as gone. Your friend is still very much here - celebrate that fact any way and any time you can - sending you gentle cyberhugs as you figure it all out. (NT) -- lori v, Thu, March 22 2018, 4:16:04
  • So sorry. ((((Kgp and best friend))). Hopefully her treatment will ensure full recovery and life after the horrible diagnosis. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Thu, March 22 2018, 5:19:46
  • I'm sorry kgp, cancer sucks (NT) -- LadyDuBois, Thu, March 22 2018, 5:29:57
    • I tear up every time I think of it. She's being very positive about it all in front of people (NT) -- kgp, Thu, March 22 2018, 6:56:32
      • It must be so hard for you, but people say just having a friend like you, who they can let down their guard with, is so important. I'm keeping you both in my prayers. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Thu, March 22 2018, 10:51:45
  • So sorry for your friend. Breast Cancer has touched my life through my Mother and friends, not me personally (yet). As a result, I found the Knitted Knockers organization (knittedknockersusa.org) They provide had knitted breast prostheses to breast cancer survivors free of charge. I've been making them for several years, I'm sure I've knitted over 100. Have your friend check them out; the knockers are 100% cotton, filled with cotton fiberfill, are lightweight, breathable, don't cause heat rash, and don't set off the alarm at the airport like silicone prostheses. I could make her a set if she sends me her address and cup size to jldpt1@gmail.com. That's the email I use for the knockers. Hugs coming your way, Janet (NT) -- Janet, Thu, March 22 2018, 12:10:47
    • Thank you - I will look into that 💜 (NT) -- kgp, Thu, March 22 2018, 13:44:07
    • What a wonderful thing! (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Thu, March 22 2018, 14:35:13
  • Kgp, I'm so sorry your friend is going through this. Having a friend like you will help her more than you know. And Janet, you're doing a great thing! Kgp, there are probably many women available for your friend to talk with about what's ahead, but I'd be glad to chat with her if she wants. Meanwhile I'm sending you lots of hugs! (NT) -- SueW (hoping kgp's friend is soon healthy again), Sun, March 25 2018, 13:20:02
  
  

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• Holy Hannah! -- Judie, Wed, March 21 2018, 16:02:35
  .
  .
  Anyone up for a week of quotes? We're running out.
  
  Also - if you are sick of Facebook or just want to slow it down for a while, why not just come back here and post? :)
  
  There's also a really stripped down version of a social media app like FB called WeMe - www.weme.com - check it out if you are looking for a change. It's a tad confusing because there is chat and a timeline and I'm still figuring it out. KGP and I are over there and Debbie B so far - hey, it's an option. :)
  
  Or just post here.
  
  But, meantime, any quoters? :D
  
  Judie
  

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  • Sign me up (NT) -- kgp, Wed, March 21 2018, 16:04:34
    • Next week - thank you! (NT) -- Judie, Wed, March 21 2018, 17:01:38
      • Got it! (NT) -- kgp, Wed, March 21 2018, 17:48:52
  • I can do the week of April 8th (NT) -- Wee, Thu, March 22 2018, 3:39:50
    • Thanks, Wee. Done! (NT) -- Judie, Thu, March 22 2018, 17:26:24
  • I’m not up to QOTD yet but I’m working hard to get there (NT) -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Thu, March 22 2018, 8:07:51
    • Geez Betsy, you don't even have to do a QOTD - just tell us what's going on in your life!! That's entertaining enough - love you!! mwahh don't have emoji's on the work computer. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Thu, March 22 2018, 10:49:31
      • Yes, Betsy - tell us what's going on these days. :D Always hilarious! I hope you are recovering well. (NT) -- Judie, Thu, March 22 2018, 17:26:59
        • Oh my gosh, I forgot about your knee surgery! How are you? (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Fri, March 23 2018, 3:21:50
  
  

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• QOTD for Wednesday, March 21, 2018 -- Kathy in PA The following quote is taken from Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon, Chapter 2, “In Which We Meet A Ghost” Copyright (c) 1997 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved. -- Kathy in PA, Wed, March 21 2018, 5:55:57
  
  "And where the hell are you, Jamie Fraser?" I murmured.
  
  "Here," came a husky answer. Startled my eyes popped open. He was standing in the stream, six feet away, thigh-deep in the water, his genitals still and dark against the pallid glow of his body. His hair lay loose around his shoulders, framing a face white as bone, eyes unblinking and intent as those of the wolf-dog. Then he stirred and came toward me, still intent, but still no longer.
  
  His thighs were cold as water when he touched me, but within seconds he warmed and grew hot. Sweat sprang up at once where his hands touched my skin, and a flush of hot moisture dampened my breasts once more, making them round and slick against the hardness of his chest. Then his mouth moved to mind and I melted - almost literally - into him.
  
  I didn't care how hot it was, or whether the dampness on my skin was my sweat or his. Even the clouds of insects faded into insignificance. I raised my hips and he slid home, slick and solid, the last faint coolness of him quenched by my heat, like the cold metal of a sword, slaked in hot blood.
  
  Putting aside the thought of laying on a rock - this is one of my very favorite mmmmphh scenes.
  

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  • I agree, Kathy, this scene is HOT! (pun only partially intended) It's not a lot of "insert tab A into slot B", but instead we can feel heat and sweat and the wanting. Quite a Hump Day quote! (NT) -- DianaH, Wed, March 21 2018, 6:57:32
    • I know - it's almost a bodice ripper description, but then "slaked in hot blood" whew....Diana sure has a way with words. Not to mention naked Jamie described so well! (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Wed, March 21 2018, 8:44:22
  • Yes, I think this is one of Diana’s most erotic scenes. Thanks! (NT) -- CindyG, Wed, March 21 2018, 9:39:11
  • My theme is scenes I hope make it on Season 4. How about it, what is your favorite mmmmppphh in Drums? 😍 (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Wed, March 21 2018, 13:12:25
  • The rock under her back is too real for me to enjoy this scene. ouch. (NT) -- swarl - but its well written ;-))), Wed, March 21 2018, 18:13:28
  
  

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• 2-Fer QOTD for Tuesday, March 20, 2018 -- Kathy in PA -- Kathy in PA, Tue, March 20 2018, 4:45:40
  Part one:
  "Let's go" Myers's penis, embarrassed by the attention, had already retreated, peeping shyly out of the bushes. With the patient's long legs raised and spread, Ulysses himself delicately cupping the baggy scrotum away, the hernia was clearly revealed, a smooth swelling the size of a hen's egg, its curve a deep purple where is pressed against the taut skin.
  "Jesus, Lord!" said one of the drivers, eyes bulging at the sight. "It's true - he's got three balls.
  
  And then Claire performs a delicate, successful operation on Jocasta's dining room table.
  
  
  Part two - next day:
  "Astounding fine, ma'am, I thank ye kindly. A mite sore round the privates" - he tenderly patted the area in question - "but a sweeter job of stichin' I've not been privileged to see.
  Mr. Ulysses was kind enough to fetch me a lookin' glass." he explained. He shook his head in some awe "Never seen my own behind before; as much hair as I got back there, ye'd think my daddy'd been a bear!"
  
  He laughed heartily at this, and Farquard Campbell buried a smile in his teacup. Ulysses turned away with the tray, but I saw the corner of his mouth twitch.
  
  Jocasta laughed out loud, blind eyes crinkling in amusement. "They do say it's a wise bairn that kens its father, John Quincy. But I kent your mother weel, and I'll say I think it unlikely."
  

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  • I'm doing somethingn wrong because this part didn't come over with my heading. Trying again.....The following quotes are taken from Drums of Autumn, Copyright (c) 1997 by Diana Gabaldon . Chapter 12 "The Return of John Quincy Myers" and Chapter 13 "An Examination of Conscience" All rights reserved. (NT) -- kathy in PA, Tue, March 20 2018, 4:57:10
  • I listened to this part in the car a while ago. We haven't seen Meyers in a long time. (NT) -- kgp, Tue, March 20 2018, 7:15:17
  
  

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• QOTD for Monday, March 19, 2018 -- -- Kathy in PA, Mon, March 19 2018, 3:36:54
  
  
  
  "What's this?"
  I ran my hand curiously over the box. "Oh, only a wee present."
  He didn't look at me, but the tips of his ears were pink.
  "Open it, hm." It was a heavy box, both wide and deep. Carved of a dense, fine-grained dark wood, it bore the marks of heavy use - nicks and dents that had seasoned but not impaired its polished beauty. It was hasped for a lock, but there was none; the lid rose easily on oiled brass hinges, and a whiff of camphor floated out, vaporous as a jinn.
  
  (I didn't know what a jinn was, so... - 'any class of spirits, lower than the angels, capable of appearing in human and animal forms and influencing humankind for either good or evil.' Good or evil, such a common thread of Diana's.)
  
  
  The instruments gleamed under the smoky sun, bright despite a hazing of disuse. Each had its own pocket, carefully fitted and lined in green velvet.
  "Oh, Jamie! How wonderful!" He wiggled his feet, pleased. "Oh, ye like it?" "I love it!"
  "Twenty four years ago today, I married ye, Sassenach," he said softly. "I hope ye wilna have cause to regret it."
  

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  • my guess of your theme is "Kindnesses" (NT) -- swarl, Mon, March 19 2018, 10:16:59
    • Nope 🤔, but it could be.. I love this quote because only Claire sees Jamie’s ears pink with pleasure or his wiggling toes. The wiggling toes got me because I do that unconsciously when I’m content. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Mon, March 19 2018, 14:10:01
  • Sweet that he remembers. Claire doesn't seem to have a head for anniversaries, maybe because the anniversaries with Frank were either apart due to the war or forced cheerfulness when she was separated from Jamie. (NT) -- kgp, Mon, March 19 2018, 14:04:25
  • Oops forgot to post chapter title yesterday, Chapter 8 "A Man of Worth" (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Tue, March 20 2018, 4:51:31
  
  

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• QOTD for Sunday, March 18, 2018 -- Kathy in PA The following quote is taken from Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon, Chapter 3, “The Minister's Cat.” Copyright (c) 1997 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved. -- Kathy in PA, Sun, March 18 2018, 3:05:41
  Slowing, she pulled off the narrow highway and onto a still narrower road, indicated by a small red-and-white-arrowed sign that read CELTIC FESTIVAL.
  You're a love to bring me all the way up here," Roger said. I didn't realize how far it was, or I'd never have asked." She gave him a brief glance of amusement. "It's not that far." "It's a hundred and fifty miles!" She smiled, but with a wry edge to it. "My father always said that was the difference between an American and an Englishman. An Englishman thinks a hundred miles is a long way; an American thinks a hundred years is a long time."
  Roger laughed, taken by surprise. "Too right. You'll be an American then, I suppose?" "I suppose." But her smile had faded.
  
  Outlander will always be my favorite because it WAS the beginning. For the longest time Drums was second - up until ABOSSA, and then I couldn't decide among Drums and the final three, they're all so amazing. But this week I decided to focus on Drums - I do have a theme - obvious to me, see if you think so! Thank you, Swarl, for helping me with my first QOTD.
  

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  • Good start. I like Bri and Roger. Thank you for taking a week. (NT) -- kgp, Sun, March 18 2018, 6:17:17
    • Thank YOU for taking so many weeks! Starz Roger and Bri made me like book Roger and Bri a lot more. I always had a hard time warming up to them, especially Bri, but seeing them on Starz changed that. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sun, March 18 2018, 17:13:47
  • BTW - I've let Judie know about the troll being back (NT) -- kgp, Sun, March 18 2018, 6:19:04
  • Hey, Kathy in PA, lookin’ good!!! It’s fun to choose a theme. Yes? (NT) -- Swarl, Sun, March 18 2018, 6:54:09
    • Thank you - I knew how to because of you 😘. I always like trying to figure the themes, so I’m trying one. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sun, March 18 2018, 8:28:28
  • I’m glad you’re doing quotes! I’ve always enjoyed it and it’s great to see some newbies. (NT) -- CindyG, Sun, March 18 2018, 10:19:00
    • I love QOTD, so I thought I better step up. It is nice to review the books looking for quotes. Thank you for taking a week too! (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sun, March 18 2018, 17:09:56
  
  

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• QOTD for Saturday, March 17, 2018 -- CindyG, Fri, March 16 2018, 21:42:23
  The following quote is taken from Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, chapter 2, “Standing Stones.” Copyright (c) 1991 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved.
  
  “I cannot really say I lost consciousness, but I was certainly not aware of myself for some time. I ‘woke,’ if that’s the word, when I stumbled on a rock near the bottom of the hill. I half slid the remaining few feet and fetched up on the thick tufted grass at the foot.
  I felt sick and dizzy. I crawled toward a stand of oak saplings and leaned against one to steady myself. There was a confused noise of shouting nearby, which reminded me of the sounds I had heard, and felt, in the stone circle. The ring of inhuman violence was lacking, though; this was the normal sound of human conflict, and I turned toward it.”
  
  And of course this is really when the story begins. ..
  

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  • This made me believe. There wasn’t a beautiful, half naked (with just the right amount of boobage showing), swooning heroine that just happens to be rescued by a stunning, muscle bound Scot in full kilt regalia. I couldn’t stop reading and before I was halfway through, had ordered the next three books and pre-ordered Fiery Cross. Thank you, Cindy, for these fond reminisces. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sat, March 17 2018, 6:46:00
  • Thanks for the week of The Stones!!! (NT) -- swarl, Sun, March 18 2018, 10:15:04
  
  

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• QOTD for Friday, March 16, 2018 -- CindyG, Thu, March 15 2018, 20:44:05
  The following quote is taken from Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, chapter 2, “Standing Stones.” Copyright (c) 1991 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved.
  
  “I could say that my field of vision contracted to a single dark spot, then disappeared altogether, leaving not darkness, but a bright void. I could say that I felt as though I were spinning, or as though I were being pulled inside out. All these things are true, yet none of them conveys the sense I had of complete disruption, of being slammed very hard against something that wasn’t there.
  The truth is that nothing moved, nothing changed, nothing whatever appeared to happen and yet I experienced a feeling of elemental terror so great that I lost all sense of who, or what, or where I was. I was in the heart of chaos, and no power of mind or body was of use against it.”
  

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  • Good morning. There's nothing like that very first time your read Outlander, I still get chills and I've read the books atleast 9 times (NT) -- LadyDuBois, Fri, March 16 2018, 3:07:40
    • I totally agree. When you started your week with the Outlander prologue I immediately got chills. It made me realize the first time I read it I was very casual about it “well sure, so let’s see what happens.....”. Never again. Once you’ve been on the Outlander roller coaster, the rereads just get deeper and deeper in our souls. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Fri, March 16 2018, 5:33:53
      • And with every re-read, you pick up small tidbits, foreshadowings that you missed the previous times. I remember during my second time reading Voyager and coming to the part where Claire picks up the skull from the box of "Fresh Pict Corn." OMG, that's Geillis!!!! I had to call my Mom (who hosed me) right away. DH asked if Geillis was someone we knew. Yeah, sort of... (NT) -- DianaH, Fri, March 16 2018, 6:45:03
        • Oh Yes! My DH asked me "Who are these people you keep talking about?" How do you explain how real these people are? How many other books have you read where the characters are so very real like Jamie and Claire? (NT) -- TeriB, Fri, March 16 2018, 7:27:04
          • None. I think about them all the time, my family that doesn’t live by me. What would Claire do? Don’t throw away that piece of twine or wire - it would be so useful on the ridge! How would Bri solve this?!? I should be as nice as Roger even when I feel like Geillis......... and on and on. Diana truly created a brand new world. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Fri, March 16 2018, 9:34:23
  • I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve read Outlander. I decided to use quotes from it this time around, and started to skim read to pick some. This first section with the stones just screamed out at me (pun intended.) (NT) -- CindyG, Fri, March 16 2018, 7:42:11
    • I love puns 😉 and am totally enjoying revisiting “the beginning”. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Fri, March 16 2018, 9:29:19
  
  

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• QOTD for Thursday, March 15, 2018 -- CindyG, Wed, March 14 2018, 21:15:22
  The following quote is taken from Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, chapter 2, “Standing Stones.” Copyright (c) 1991 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved.
  
  “I had never heard such a sound from anything living. There is no way to describe it, except to say that it was the sort of scream you might expect from a stone. It was horrible.
  The other stones began to shout. There was a noise of battle, and the cries of dying men and shattered horses.
  I shook my head violently to clear it, but the noise went on. I stumbled to my feet and staggered toward the edge of the circle. The sounds were all around me, making my teeth ache and my head spin. My vision began to blur.”
  

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  • Oops. I answered yesterday’s quote before I read today’s. This is where I got hooked. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Thu, March 15 2018, 3:31:50
    • I agree; this is where I thought, "Wait, what?? Tell me more!" I've read some TT novels since, some good, some not. Often they have someone from the past coming forward and playing with the light switch and TV, OK fair enough. But DG depicts everything so clearly - the sounds and smells, as well as the sights. We are transported with Claire, trying to figure out what happened, where we are, and what on earth do we do next? (NT) -- DianaH, Thu, March 15 2018, 7:03:34
      • And try to imagine how I’d manage - NOT - which set up my immediate love and admiration for Claire. Brave and best of all quick thinking. I’m like a deer in the headlights when confronted. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Thu, March 15 2018, 9:33:30
  
  

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• QOTD for Wednesday, March 14, 2018 -- CindyG, Tue, March 13 2018, 22:17:51
  The following quote is taken from Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, chapter 2, “Standing Stones.” Copyright (c) 1991 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved.
  
  “The tallest stone of the circle was cleft, with a vertical split dividing the two massive pieces. Oddly, the pieces had been drawn apart by some means. Though you could see that the facing surfaces matched, they were separated by a gap of two or three feet.
  There was a deep humming noise coming from somewhere near at hand. I thought there might be a beehive lodged in some crevice of the rock, and placed a hand on the stone in order to lean into the cleft.
  The stone screamed.”
  

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  • This is when the story "got me". (NT) -- kgp, Wed, March 14 2018, 13:03:07
    • Yes. I think this chapter is a masterpiece of writing. (NT) -- CindyG, Wed, March 14 2018, 21:16:48
      • Yes! I almost didn’t pick up Outlander when I heard it was time travel, I don’t read SciFi much at all. But when she woke up in 1743 and realized it was not a movie scene, then I was hooked. Because you’re right, it was done so well. So believable! (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Thu, March 15 2018, 3:28:56
  
  

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• QOTD for Tuesday, March 13, 2018 -- CindyG, Mon, March 12 2018, 21:31:12
  The following quote is taken from Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, chapter 2, “Standing Stones.” Copyright (c) 1991 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved.
  
  “They stopped as one, and turned to face the rising sun, standing in the form of two semicircles, with a path lying clear between the halves of the circle thus formed. As the sun rose above the horizon, its light flooded between the eastern stones, knifed between the halves of the circle, and struck the great split stone on the opposite side of the henge.”
  

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  • I loved the way the show depicted the ladies dancing - it was one of the most mysteriously beautiful sights on television ever! (NT) -- lori v, Tue, March 13 2018, 4:20:41
    • I agree lori. Where is my scarf so I can flit about, turn, and dance on. The first day of Spring is next week on March 20. (NT) -- TeriB, Tue, March 13 2018, 18:08:12
    • I love that they include it in the show’s opening. (NT) -- CinfyG, Tue, March 13 2018, 18:16:54
      • I love that my daughter uses it for my ringtone. The movie did portray it so well, much more mysterious and holy than women in bed sheets. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Thu, March 15 2018, 3:30:40
  
  

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• QOTD for Monday, March 12, 2018 -- CindyG, Sun, March 11 2018, 20:21:29
  The following quote is taken from Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, chapter 2, “Standing Stones.” Copyright (c) 1991 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved.
  “‘There ’tis.’ He waved a hand with a sort of proprietorial gesture.
  ‘Why, it’s a henge!’ I said, delighted. ‘A miniature henge!’”
  

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  • You might be delighted by the henge now, Claire, but wait 'til you find out what it can do.... (NT) -- DianaH, Mon, March 12 2018, 7:04:48
    • That’s for sure. I don’t think she ever looked at a henge with delight again. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Thu, March 15 2018, 3:32:56
  • We went looking for henges last time we were in Scotland, especially in the Orkneys. Fascinating places but no Jamie. (NT) -- kgp, Mon, March 12 2018, 7:28:43
    • We hunted for henges during our trip to the UK in September! We found them in Wales, Scotland and England. My favorites were on Angelsey and the Orkneys. Fascinating and so mysterious! (NT) -- SarahK, Mon, March 12 2018, 10:32:51
  
  

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• QOTD for Sunday, March 11, 2018 -- CindyG, Sat, March 10 2018, 20:58:33
  The following quote is taken from Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, Epigraph. Copyright (c) 1991 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved.
  
  “People disappear all the time. Ask any policeman. Better yet, ask a journalist. Disappearances are bread-and-butter to journalists.
  Young girls run away from home. Young children stray from their parents and are never seen again. Housewives reach the end of their tether and take the grocery money and a taxi to the station. International financiers change their names and vanish into the smoke of imported cigars.
  Many of the lost will be found, eventually, dead or alive. Disappearances, after all, have explanations.
  Usually.”
  

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  • There have been moments when taking a train to anywhere else has crossed my mind. (NT) -- kgp, Sun, March 11 2018, 5:15:02
  • Good morning. How appropriate that I should read the very beginning, I've not been here in some time so I feel like it's time to begin again (NT) -- LadyDuBois, Sun, March 11 2018, 5:15:04
  • I once got on an airplane and flew to San Francisco, didn't tell anyone, went museum hopping, ate falafels, and it felt great to run away for 2 days and have my very own adventure. I am a responsible person and connect with friends & family, but not those 2 days! I didn't go thru the stones, but just disappeared for a while. Any one else run away for a while and have an adventure? (NT) -- TeriB, Sun, March 11 2018, 10:01:00
    • Sounds lovely and like something I’d love to do - the only disappearing I ever did was take off for a local State Park and spend the day enjoying it by myself. Was very angry at DH ☹️ (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sun, March 11 2018, 14:20:32
    • I just looked up how much flying to San Francisco would cost. (NT) -- kgp, Mon, March 12 2018, 5:07:22
      • Make a plan, kgp! Do it, then tell us all about it! (NT) -- TeriB, Tue, March 13 2018, 18:03:29
  
  

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• QOTD for Saturday, March 10, 2018 -- kgp, Sat, March 10 2018, 9:35:22
  Still having computer issues - sorry so late
  The following quote is taken from A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon, Chapter 10. Duty Calls. Copyright© 2005 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved.
  
  
  ”Don’t be afraid, laddie. It doesna hurt a bit, to die.” He missed his footing and staggered, caught himself and stood still, a taste of metal on the back of his tongue.
  
  His heart was thumping, suddenly, for no reason, as though he had run miles. He saw the cabin, certainly, and heard the calling of the jays in the half-leafed chestnut trees. But he saw even more clearly Murtagh’s face, the grim lines of it relaxing into peace and the deep-set black eyes fixed on his, shifting in and out of focus, as though his godfather looked at once at him and at something far beyond him. He felt the weight of Murtagh’s body in his arms, growing suddenly heavy as he died.
  
  The vision vanished, as abruptly as it had come, and he found himself standing next to a rain puddle, staring at a wooden duck half-mired in the mud.”
  

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  • I try not to compare the Starz series with the books. For me, they are two different entities, but I'm not sure how I feel about Murtagh's continued presence. Part of me is over-joyed but aother wee part isn't sure. To die in the arms of someone you love is about the best way to go, IMHO. (NT) -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Sat, March 10 2018, 19:43:52
    • Depends on how the next season goes. But I felt that losing Duncan was important as Jamie's last link to the way things were and realay drove home that the clan system was gone. (NT) -- kgp, Sun, March 11 2018, 5:13:37
  • I really, really hated when Murtaugh died and am glad he still lives throughout the story in Jamie’s memory. I’m not sure how I feel about changing the story for TV. Because it’s Murtaugh, I think I’ll be glad. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sun, March 11 2018, 14:22:55
  
  

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• QOTD for Friday, March 9, 2018 -- kgp, Fri, March 09 2018, 10:38:49
  The following quotation is from A Breath Of Snow And Ashes by Diana Gabaldon. Chapter 8 Victim of a Massacre. Copyright 2005 All Rights Reserved.
  
  ”Higgins, with one other, was convicted of Manslaughter, but pled Clergy and was released after his Branding. The Army of course discharged him, and without means of making a Living and subject to the Opprobrium of the Populace, he found himself in sad Case. He tells me that he was beaten in a Tavern soon after his Release, injuries inflicted therein depriving him of the Sight in one Eye, and in fact, his very Life was threatened on more than on Occasion. So seeking Safety, he took passage on a Sloop captained by my Friend, Captain Gill, working as a Sailor, though I have seen him sail and I assure you he is not one.”
  

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  • Poor Bobby. It seemed to take an enormous amount of time for his life to find some joy. When it did, it really was a sweet arrangement. This is John talking, isn't it? I just LOVE than man! His humor always makes me chuckle. (NT) -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Fri, March 09 2018, 15:16:08
    • Yes, the message was so serious (does anybody know what “pled clergy” means?), but the last sentence did make me chuckle. Lord John has such a way with words. I’ve been trying to get DH to eat oatmeal and just the other day I told him about Bobby Higgins’ problem and Claire’s prescription for a total cure. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sat, March 10 2018, 9:36:36
      • "Pled clergy" means he claimed to be a clergyman or vicar and therefore not subject to harsher secular punishment. Eating oatmeal is much better than having someone tie them off one at at a time to starve them of blood until they fall off on their own. Bleagh! (NT) -- kgp, Sat, March 10 2018, 10:29:06
        • Thanks! And you’re so,right about ‘rroids 😫 (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Sat, March 10 2018, 13:18:25
        • Karen, some farmers still castrate their billy goats and young bulls by tying their testicles . I've come across it a few times and truthfully...it didn't seem to bother the animals. (NT) -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Sat, March 10 2018, 19:37:58
  
  

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• My laptop is giving me ominous messages about diagnosing problems that "automatic repair" can't fix. QOTD is going to be late as I have to run and can't deal with this on my phone. Sorry ☹ -- kgp, Fri, March 09 2018, 6:07:00
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  • Well, this hasn't been a p.i.t.a. at all /sarcasm. All of my programs and bookmarks have been replaced with factory presets and I have to reconfigure everything. I. Do. Not. Have. Time. For.This. Crap. (NT) -- kgp, Fri, March 09 2018, 10:41:26
    • Oh, Karen, I can so relate. I'm sorry you have all this crap (you're much nicer than I would be) so I'll send you some energy filled with calm serenity. (NT) -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Fri, March 09 2018, 15:09:58
  
  

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• QOTD for Thursday, March 8, 2018 -- kgp, Thu, March 08 2018, 7:16:14
  The following quotation is from A Breath Of Snow And Ashes by Diana Gabaldon. Chapter 24. Touch Me Not. Copyright 2005 All Rights Reserved.
  
  
  “No. None of them would ever think to touch me,” he said very softly. “I was their chief. They loved me – but they wouldna think, ever, to touch me.”
  
  He took a deep ragged breath.
  
  “And did you want them to?” I whispered. I could feel my own pulse begin to throb in my fingertips, against his skin.
  
  “I hungered for it,” he said so softly I could barely hear him, close as I was. “More than food. More than sleep – though I wished most desperately for sleep, and not only for the sake of tiredness. For when I slept, sometimes I saw ye.
  
  “But it wasna the longing for a women – though Christ knows, that was bad enough. It was only – I wanted the touch of a hand. Only that.”
  

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  • The power of another person's touch can be so healing. My heart broke for Jamie here; he must have felt so isolated, even when surrounded by his men. (NT) -- DianaH, Thu, March 08 2018, 8:13:32
  • This part always reminds me of Mother Theresa who said something like, the thing that humans need most is touch, and that’s why she ministered to the untouchables. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Thu, March 08 2018, 17:26:56
  
  

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• QOTD for Tuesday, March 6, 2018 -- kgp, Tue, March 06 2018, 8:30:12
  The following quotation is from A Breath Of Snow And Ashes by Diana Gabaldon. Chapter 21. We Have Ignition. Copyright 2005 All Rights Reserved.
  
  
  “When I was fourteen or so,” he said dreamily, “one of the shops in Inverness had a most daring window display – daring for the times, that is – a lady mannequin wearing nothing but underwear.”
  
  “Mm?”
  
  “Aye, a full-length pink girdle, garters, the lot – with matching brassiere. Everyone was shocked. Committees were got up to protest, and calls were made to all the ministers in town. Next day, they took it down, but meanwhile, the entire male population of Inverness had been past that window, taking pains to look casual about it. ‘Till this minute, I’d always thought that was the most erotic thing I’d ever seen.”
  
  She suspended her operations for a moment, and he thought from the sense of movement that she was looking back over her shoulder at him.
  
  “Roger,” she said thoughtfully. “I do believe you’re a pervert.”
  

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  • Sorry I'm late - busy morning. Life got in the way. (NT) -- kgp, Tue, March 06 2018, 8:30:56
  • Roger's a man after my DH's own heart! Hahahaha. I wonder if Brianna did that on purpose? Or was she blissfully unaware of the view? (NT) -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Tue, March 06 2018, 11:34:15
  • Remember when the ladies underwear section of the Sears catalog was titillating for pubescent boys? (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Tue, March 06 2018, 19:36:30
  • Hahaha!!! Funny! Another note about lingerie.... my dear late Father-in-law was embarrassed to talk about the stuff with family... and he pronounced lingerie counter just like it is spelled! :) (NT) -- Piper-Mom, Thu, March 08 2018, 6:36:13
  
  

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• QOTD for Monday, March 5th, 2018 -- kgp, Mon, March 05 2018, 5:41:27
  The following quotation is from A Breath Of Snow And Ashes by Diana Gabaldon. Chapter 54. Flora MacDonald’s Barbecue. Copyright 2005 All Rights Reserved.
  
  
  “Ulysses met with a slightly more cordial reception. In fact, Jocasta sent for him. Peering into her room to check on her, I found him sitting by the bed, holding his mistress’s hand, with such an expression of gentleness on his usually impassive face that I was quite moved by it, and stepped quietly back into the hall, not to disturb them. He saw me though, and nodded.
  
  They were talking in low voices, his head in its stiff white wig bending toward hers. He seemed to be arguing with her, in a most respectful fashion; she shook her head, and gave a small cry of pain, His hand tightened on hers, and I saw that he had taken off his white gloves; her hand lay long and frail, pallid in his powerful dark grasp.”
  

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  • I like Ulysses. He is in an impossible position. completely vulnerable and precarious, and knows it. but his humanity hasnt been shattered. One strong dude. (NT) -- swarl, Mon, March 05 2018, 9:00:32
    • I didn’t like him at first. Because he didn’t seem to like Jamie or any of his family. Of course, I found out why he was leery of them! That threw me, I just thought Ulysses looked at Jocasta as a beloved sister, maybe - not lover!! But reading this now in a whole new light (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Mon, March 05 2018, 15:26:52
  • The revelation that they were lovers took me by surprise. I wonder if she did it initially in retaliation for her husband's dalliances or if it just sprang from trust and affection. (NT) -- DianaH, Tue, March 06 2018, 9:53:55
    • I think it started as trust and affection and maybe feeling retaliation against her husband made it OK. (NT) -- Kathy in PA, Tue, March 06 2018, 19:31:47
  • I agree. I was taken aback when I realized their love. But somehow it had a beauty that was different than any other. (NT) -- Betsy Barefootspinner, Tue, March 06 2018, 11:37:53
  • A part of me was surprised, but yet not totally. :) (NT) -- Piper-Mom, Thu, March 08 2018, 6:39:10
  
  

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