Silver Screen Surroundings: Outlander S1E5 - "The Rent" plus, visiting a wattle house

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKj1k48c5uL4kuLYNDUU392vOzwtW5DO63xYCZYqOzg2oXHtj9d4uGfGPo9mT5MK8vS9VcFxR2-AN_180G6nSJU3T093PMeEAVpiJBG02TTAOY_lvyqqgnomT_sOk8JPBF1z8YnBJDWg/s1600/outside+huts1.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKj1k48c5uL4kuLYNDUU392vOzwtW5DO63xYCZYqOzg2oXHtj9d4uGfGPo9mT5MK8vS9VcFxR2-AN_180G6nSJU3T093PMeEAVpiJBG02TTAOY_lvyqqgnomT_sOk8JPBF1z8YnBJDWg/s1600/outside+huts1.tiff" width="640" /></a></div><br />In this week's episode, our heroine Claire is taken on the road with a pack of MacKenzie men to collect the rents from outlying tenant farmers who hadn't been able to make it to The Gathering at Castle Leoch. War Chieftan Dougal figures it would be good to have a healer along and Claire sees it as an opportunity to get out of the castle and perhaps closer to the standing stones and maybe even back to the 20th century.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq3ipu7mFPSPB7kLqf5paUhcVK3NxlvZ1MVE0k7_3gIwV87l_HJgo66HWeKAo6AK0JBaVsa8hHVNoQJ04zdLNcTGzqUsGcI7h6H1gd9FMnU3gXWsF-1PLaERmLtYlEBkquMZ5s8KJOF10/s1600/working+wool1.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq3ipu7mFPSPB7kLqf5paUhcVK3NxlvZ1MVE0k7_3gIwV87l_HJgo66HWeKAo6AK0JBaVsa8hHVNoQJ04zdLNcTGzqUsGcI7h6H1gd9FMnU3gXWsF-1PLaERmLtYlEBkquMZ5s8KJOF10/s1600/working+wool1.tiff" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT5rY20PK-I0G38XluHwbRsL7fPLT1feuBk8dAeIRxsu3HYONuN2u3UTQZyClmxDaOseHwsCdnPguJNyiGqD1Y-OP1cEyJAsL-4yfgRNn0fd4L9gTIRcSSXKle2WWWYfSkb_PDE5I2_rM/s1600/working+wool2.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT5rY20PK-I0G38XluHwbRsL7fPLT1feuBk8dAeIRxsu3HYONuN2u3UTQZyClmxDaOseHwsCdnPguJNyiGqD1Y-OP1cEyJAsL-4yfgRNn0fd4L9gTIRcSSXKle2WWWYfSkb_PDE5I2_rM/s1600/working+wool2.tiff" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />At one of the stops, Claire finds a group of women who are singing a working song which aids in the rhythm (and helps pass the time, no doubt) while they prepare a large piece of heavy wool for dyeing. Such preparation includes pounding hot urine into the fabric which helps it accept dyes, notably indigo colors, and sets the color quicker. (see more information on this process <a href="http://www.marariley.net/celtic/SentToKass/Dyes.htm" target="_blank">here</a>).<br /><br />Edited to add: I came across a blog <a href="http://www.threeifbyspace.net/" target="_blank">Three if by Space</a> who is reviewing the series. She clarifies that it's called "waulking" the wool, not working, though they are probably related words. Anyway, she has a link to a video showing more modern woman doing the same thing with the wool and singing along with the series. <a href="http://www.threeifbyspace.net/2014/09/outlander-review-of-episode-5-rent/#.VA8odUv-rwJ" target="_blank">Click here to view</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdK456wfSDqrqLGyZ2w4y1zN2tavKnZiaLpfGnIcwQ1Aq1UUc99fwT9zunS9upF_SksBbHDwuZf8oPwcjTh2CEiNaoRs8hWUrv2NkUD6UGH27zD763JfxB7cJ0sPZvNBDs9XRLIFPoAxc/s1600/inside+straw+hut+2.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdK456wfSDqrqLGyZ2w4y1zN2tavKnZiaLpfGnIcwQ1Aq1UUc99fwT9zunS9upF_SksBbHDwuZf8oPwcjTh2CEiNaoRs8hWUrv2NkUD6UGH27zD763JfxB7cJ0sPZvNBDs9XRLIFPoAxc/s1600/inside+straw+hut+2.tiff" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />As this is an "on the road" episode, there aren't too many interior scenes, with the singular exception of the straw wattle house where the ladies do much of their work - and relaxing.<br /><br />Wattle and daub huts have been around for millennia. This is a wonderful brief video on how they are built.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/VIJlFBAAjvE" width="480"></iframe><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_LTE_TSaZKfc2dun8tlkohXkBwmY6b-7OJ5SO_u48g3jlcCH1G9qY0OXE8VVdvHbQmXEJ13mBLcEGUwjadt9wE7h4CZaeONkFDJ1EArXvzlRbrZzPaGb23LJM9bMaRprrbOm0rWnkSE/s1600/inside+straw+hut+1.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_LTE_TSaZKfc2dun8tlkohXkBwmY6b-7OJ5SO_u48g3jlcCH1G9qY0OXE8VVdvHbQmXEJ13mBLcEGUwjadt9wE7h4CZaeONkFDJ1EArXvzlRbrZzPaGb23LJM9bMaRprrbOm0rWnkSE/s1600/inside+straw+hut+1.tiff" width="640" /></a></div><br />I thought it surprising that the hut used in the show still had open walls that have not been filled in with daub. The photo below shows the thatched roofs over more traditional wattle and daub structures on the right and middle, with the more open structure on the left.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKj1k48c5uL4kuLYNDUU392vOzwtW5DO63xYCZYqOzg2oXHtj9d4uGfGPo9mT5MK8vS9VcFxR2-AN_180G6nSJU3T093PMeEAVpiJBG02TTAOY_lvyqqgnomT_sOk8JPBF1z8YnBJDWg/s1600/outside+huts1.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKj1k48c5uL4kuLYNDUU392vOzwtW5DO63xYCZYqOzg2oXHtj9d4uGfGPo9mT5MK8vS9VcFxR2-AN_180G6nSJU3T093PMeEAVpiJBG02TTAOY_lvyqqgnomT_sOk8JPBF1z8YnBJDWg/s1600/outside+huts1.tiff" width="640" /></a></div><br />I'm not sure if this is typical as my initial thought was that there would be no protection from the cold wind and rains in the Scottish Highlands, not to mention the wood would deteriorate very quickly. Plus, one errant spark from the fireplace or a candle and whoosh - there goes your romantic looking structure.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDb_-kkTytVzR6KaZVJHlJgLzReAgUh3w1l4GnOfcynh1lWIqWNlcrzMYKHgdtMcHXZEBtkRr7re1T_rvug3hjQwgnMERbMZWMudsxzqYwEJS4bFucUHJ3xa9rzcpRw_F25y3c2hCgElA/s1600/wattle+fence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDb_-kkTytVzR6KaZVJHlJgLzReAgUh3w1l4GnOfcynh1lWIqWNlcrzMYKHgdtMcHXZEBtkRr7re1T_rvug3hjQwgnMERbMZWMudsxzqYwEJS4bFucUHJ3xa9rzcpRw_F25y3c2hCgElA/s1600/wattle+fence.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />To this day, wattle fences are still very popular and are certainly very pretty.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache-ak1.pinimg.com/originals/7f/92/59/7f9259dfde45ddd50147abafadcf7db7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-ak1.pinimg.com/originals/7f/92/59/7f9259dfde45ddd50147abafadcf7db7.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Source unknown<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4U572E56njlGKDd5ZhgAgcAQnQGBp4N4iKAhCC866Y1rwitzg-Tq2tr-Syc54IVg1SrKomulhWiD3GwrmtZeyandPK4e12DSj7P09cE34BkU3_Nucg1JvS4SvZpXVqXZPQTQMPOsKCek/s1600/wattle+hurdle+Vogue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4U572E56njlGKDd5ZhgAgcAQnQGBp4N4iKAhCC866Y1rwitzg-Tq2tr-Syc54IVg1SrKomulhWiD3GwrmtZeyandPK4e12DSj7P09cE34BkU3_Nucg1JvS4SvZpXVqXZPQTQMPOsKCek/s1600/wattle+hurdle+Vogue.jpg" width="566" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">image via Vogue</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of the first times I remember seeing a wattle fence was in the movie "A Room With A View" in front of the house rented by the Mr. Emerson's. (view below from inside the house).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tumblr.com/photo/1280/fuckyeaharoomwithaview/30596152244/1/tumblr_ld5tf4PqmV1qanwe4" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.tumblr.com/photo/1280/fuckyeaharoomwithaview/30596152244/1/tumblr_ld5tf4PqmV1qanwe4" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Back to the Outlander set - I can't help but wonder if they chose to leave the ends of the house walls open structure to let in more natural light for filming, or perhaps just for atmospherics?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjXtOAxLtbEQtjhBCjoQuhLapnzsILFuDwnZ3h_9DaSUiPAL4cj9mKDcLJTG6kxMxjn0Pu8K_bgE1oUsYEJlEJVWie4SEx4UTBXKzjZRpBRNrJNRxc2GTIi3GA1o-RybI5VrTikXhlVU/s1600/inside+straw+hut+3.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjXtOAxLtbEQtjhBCjoQuhLapnzsILFuDwnZ3h_9DaSUiPAL4cj9mKDcLJTG6kxMxjn0Pu8K_bgE1oUsYEJlEJVWie4SEx4UTBXKzjZRpBRNrJNRxc2GTIi3GA1o-RybI5VrTikXhlVU/s1600/inside+straw+hut+3.tiff" width="640" /></a></div><br />Well, it's pretty, nonetheless. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.restorationhardware.com/is/image/rhis/prod1596003_av3?$l-pd1$" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="http://media.restorationhardware.com/is/image/rhis/prod1596003_av3?$l-pd1$" width="320" /></a></div>Meanwhile, that table looks like it's straight out of the Restoration Hardware catalogue.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9vo45P6k6HohVOYlNyO5MEd6KFLQuHnDZA_87ngpfuba_KApijU9-5Zkh_6a3tbwWc_-pxLQyqQLqhAjiHI0ROPC9rWtysirfoURg-yl_oRqb8VB6ha7JAUoXP1CGJtXS5iyNF9MFoM/s1600/Claire+&+Dougal.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9vo45P6k6HohVOYlNyO5MEd6KFLQuHnDZA_87ngpfuba_KApijU9-5Zkh_6a3tbwWc_-pxLQyqQLqhAjiHI0ROPC9rWtysirfoURg-yl_oRqb8VB6ha7JAUoXP1CGJtXS5iyNF9MFoM/s1600/Claire+&+Dougal.tiff" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Claire and Dougal MacKenzie square off</div><br />One of the most brilliant (though sometimes also the most tedious) aspects of the books is the level of detail author Diana Gabaldon gets into, particularly the nastier parts of traveling "rough", sleeping on the ground, wearing the same clothes day in and day out and little bathing.  Unfortunately, so far in the series, the producers aren't ready for the star Caitroina Balfe to look quite so unkempt as all that and in this episode, she looks a little too clean and pressed through out  to be plausible. Recalling this part of the book, Claire basically had one dress which she wore day in and day out. Her wardrobe, supposedly cobbled together at the castle from discarded clothing,  looks brand new and perfectly fitted to her. More importantly, it never looks dirty, even after she's pitched in  working the wool, which had to be a dirty, sweaty and messy task. Yet, her white scarf is as starched looking as it ever was. I would argue nothing kept in a traveling bag would be particularly pressed looking. Dougal, in the photo above payed by Graham MacTavis, is the second most important member of the Clan MacKenzie after his brother the Laird. On this trip, he was the man in charge, the boss and owner to whom all the crofters were paying their rents and asking for advice. His clothing would naturally be the best and most impressive among the men and yet he looks travel weary and his white neck cloth more appropriately grimy looking as compared to Claire's. The harshness of the setting is all a part of what Claire faces and we're not at all seeing that natural degradation brought on by lack of soap, hot water and a change of clothes.<br /><br />Still loving the series though!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1T3XCULzhSBAmJoz1cjKnSbC6ieQYn8Xo3GxP7pwQe5TSfy5jJWghk4uYC18lg-3DYEcq0r84Uc0MR6FGy0j1D9xjslNuhkPD2OFHrYtnow_RFwtgxfMR-bLUOWbM6eEBoxn0kp-wQ4/s1600/Linda+sig2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1T3XCULzhSBAmJoz1cjKnSbC6ieQYn8Xo3GxP7pwQe5TSfy5jJWghk4uYC18lg-3DYEcq0r84Uc0MR6FGy0j1D9xjslNuhkPD2OFHrYtnow_RFwtgxfMR-bLUOWbM6eEBoxn0kp-wQ4/s1600/Linda+sig2.png" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />

Silver Screen Surroundings: Outlander S1E5 - "The Rent" plus, visiting a wattle house

In this week's episode, our heroine Claire is taken on the road with a pack of MacKenzie men to collect the rents from outlying tenant f...

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Boston Magazine Dream Home 2014

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn1.bostonmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/logo-dh2014.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="121" src="http://cdn1.bostonmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/logo-dh2014.png" width="640" /></a></div><br />The 2014 <a href="http://www.bostonmagazine.com/designhome/" target="_blank">Boston Magazine Dream Home </a>will be open for public tours starting on September 10th. For the last ten years, the magazine has been teaming with a local builder, architect, designer and a charity to build a house that focuses on a specific kind of living style. This year's house, located in Salisbury, MA, is a single family house that feature's "net-zero" energy living.<br /><br />The design/build team this year is Ridgeview Construction, Kaplan Thompson Architects, and the design coordinator is Lisa Wasserman Sivan. Boston Children's Hospital is the non-profit beneficiary.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSZhr3NrxbFD3UkkXI6D0EpKQWNeUHccMoTuhRT3EHcgHmaYWCoyjellxjGIAZ6HdVIu9jPC0SoktjaWiQDsD7W3qaPWLHoXPjDAmzS4DWeOmgxVXpSoEFFXrUqQqzzfB0jOLJPnK7Bo/s1600/Back+Exterior_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSZhr3NrxbFD3UkkXI6D0EpKQWNeUHccMoTuhRT3EHcgHmaYWCoyjellxjGIAZ6HdVIu9jPC0SoktjaWiQDsD7W3qaPWLHoXPjDAmzS4DWeOmgxVXpSoEFFXrUqQqzzfB0jOLJPnK7Bo/s1600/Back+Exterior_1.jpg" width="514" /></a></div><br />The roof on the back of the house is covered with solar panels.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjujptpUZjMNe6gC3zXctJEVykRpj86-bNTO3ddXs7tDdeHo7_tZx_Srw9__UIMXdp91L98b4RHBb2gRUs-5Myw_jTZaLcwrm1pizKAkCDowpY-Ra2O6GFVSjfXz61Len7AukJwu3elf6w/s1600/Dining+Room_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjujptpUZjMNe6gC3zXctJEVykRpj86-bNTO3ddXs7tDdeHo7_tZx_Srw9__UIMXdp91L98b4RHBb2gRUs-5Myw_jTZaLcwrm1pizKAkCDowpY-Ra2O6GFVSjfXz61Len7AukJwu3elf6w/s1600/Dining+Room_4.jpg" width="486" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-OOH9jHVWLP4NXIQkYlExnZ-hKqKKyiYBz_v_6_00OGGbaSxVibXaOnDp7gRgvauvnrkLf5h-wFbwWMHD2JEBsuY_700HzZti8rqQly-y4Tl1wO5_UFRT8PtzGwAQ0n1CvPTRKuaass/s1600/Entry_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-OOH9jHVWLP4NXIQkYlExnZ-hKqKKyiYBz_v_6_00OGGbaSxVibXaOnDp7gRgvauvnrkLf5h-wFbwWMHD2JEBsuY_700HzZti8rqQly-y4Tl1wO5_UFRT8PtzGwAQ0n1CvPTRKuaass/s1600/Entry_1.jpg" width="464" /></a></div>The amazing console table above was made by my friend Ray Bachand of <a href="http://www.60nobscot.com/" target="_blank">60Nobscot</a>. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kQe2LYyljaEPCpvzKaYTTBM6aOPWAUe21m8hYD_WV_WXw-V-nXqG9U5ckaoVkQ47zz-EPSLHk_oQTRJ6SB8kO1cb1qJgGFfjeRkkAnaXVQ9q9TRvaygwxAD9qpJZZ2o0DisjMfExTs8/s1600/Kids+Bedroom_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kQe2LYyljaEPCpvzKaYTTBM6aOPWAUe21m8hYD_WV_WXw-V-nXqG9U5ckaoVkQ47zz-EPSLHk_oQTRJ6SB8kO1cb1qJgGFfjeRkkAnaXVQ9q9TRvaygwxAD9qpJZZ2o0DisjMfExTs8/s1600/Kids+Bedroom_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuFosks3c6jz1lPhPMB7iAJQUaD9j9ehA9LbMnuOztya4Iq11rlYt7pVEIXQXREfcX-rGDZXpATxt1yCK-n8vgr7KpPxN9HMRzluxAFw68C_9NF8LoIroscoaUyFhdrdY0_37igETugqU/s1600/Loft_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuFosks3c6jz1lPhPMB7iAJQUaD9j9ehA9LbMnuOztya4Iq11rlYt7pVEIXQXREfcX-rGDZXpATxt1yCK-n8vgr7KpPxN9HMRzluxAFw68C_9NF8LoIroscoaUyFhdrdY0_37igETugqU/s1600/Loft_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8G7bAsKW0TJJkyBL8Tca6rbzwdEC-cHsid1-YqOJGxbniVoj9k6HomwekwJAe-YLss2pycXTXOF8EcPevFvtG7UoBMB16VY-iD8vJ5pJcQa-8di0zOs1DDRQJU1HeKcBaNtzhSQPwrww/s1600/Master+Bedroom_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8G7bAsKW0TJJkyBL8Tca6rbzwdEC-cHsid1-YqOJGxbniVoj9k6HomwekwJAe-YLss2pycXTXOF8EcPevFvtG7UoBMB16VY-iD8vJ5pJcQa-8di0zOs1DDRQJU1HeKcBaNtzhSQPwrww/s1600/Master+Bedroom_2.jpg" width="464" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;">All photos by Michael J. Lee</div><br />Here is a time-lapse video of the contraction of this modular home:<br /><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0" height="270" id="flashObj" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="videoId=3570544092001&playerID=2653835856001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAACaZLRSXk~,UlZGdzs6RCrzZuKvbQ6su-ctxIAoHqT8&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoId=3570544092001&playerID=2653835856001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAACaZLRSXk~,UlZGdzs6RCrzZuKvbQ6su-ctxIAoHqT8&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="480" height="270" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" swLiveConnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object><br /><br />Tickets are $25 with 100% of the ticket price going to Children's Hospital. For more information and to purchase tickets, <a href="http://www.bostonmagazine.com/designhome/" target="_blank">click here</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg-DQn-N9w56WCtzz4s5QI-4Gh69TSCCU5k94pEYyDH_Rr9O5oxheO7CnHi2JuHIZVxQFZvqwwLqjEGGCw8KCRoAe3Zc0KmpPGPBbrI9xhinBNPa6M6VD3xVqp9SPZp0raYsZYJtm_PL4/s1600/Linda+sig2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg-DQn-N9w56WCtzz4s5QI-4Gh69TSCCU5k94pEYyDH_Rr9O5oxheO7CnHi2JuHIZVxQFZvqwwLqjEGGCw8KCRoAe3Zc0KmpPGPBbrI9xhinBNPa6M6VD3xVqp9SPZp0raYsZYJtm_PL4/s1600/Linda+sig2.png" /></a></div><br />

Boston Magazine Dream Home 2014

The 2014 Boston Magazine Dream Home will be open for public tours starting on September 10th. For the last ten years, the magazine has been ...

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Silver Screen Surroundings: Outlander, S1E4 The Gathering, and scenic insider

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/93/bb/43/93bb433e34af0d8583096b9f0fd46809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/93/bb/43/93bb433e34af0d8583096b9f0fd46809.jpg" width="457" /></a></div><br />This week's installment of Starz TV's production of <a href="http://www.starz.com/originals/outlander" target="_blank">Outlander</a> brings us the famous "Gathering" of the Clan MacKenzie where all the men under laird Colum MacKenzie come to the castle to swear their oath of fidelity to him and to the clan (and to pay their rents and proceeds from the farms they tend). The event is filled with filial love and furor and a kind of patriotism, though not as much to the State as to the clan. Colum (subtly played by Gary Lewis) is the top guy, but he suffers from Toulouse-Lautrec syndrome and while he can walk, does so very slowly and is depicted as always being in great pain. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/37/52/60/37526050ce83b9b8fa546ef5ec001766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/37/52/60/37526050ce83b9b8fa546ef5ec001766.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Gary Lewis as Colum ban Campbell MacKenzie)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The show is doing an excellent job of following closely to the original books, while adding in new scenes and details that feel like they could have truly been in the books. Bravo for that - especially when the audience is filled with rabid readers who recall every detail of the first book. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/b2/05/50/b20550d117e618fe5aec3f956e2fb5b6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/b2/05/50/b20550d117e618fe5aec3f956e2fb5b6.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>The Oath Taking scene was particularly well done - filled with lots of spoken and unspoken drama an intrigue. Pictured above is Colum's brother (and enforcer) Dougal MacKenzie, who is first to swear his oath of allegiance, which includes a promise to be killed by his knife if he ever commits treason. One of the things that is so nice about this series is that it didn't go down the cliched path where the second son jealously plots and schemes to take the throne from his older brother. Dougal, while not the nicest guy in the world, is allied with his brother and wholly supports his position as Laird and leader of the clan. He's also aware that his brother, due to his illness, won't live a long life and he could be in a position to claim the title when the time comes. Except (and here's where the intrigue comes in) that the lairdship is open to some kind of democratic vote where another family member could be chosen by the people.  Such as...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/b0/55/75/b055752fb6374a5bd4ff871bb54d739e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="328" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/b0/55/75/b055752fb6374a5bd4ff871bb54d739e.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Our hero Jaime, who is a nephew of Dougal and Colum on his mother's side, and therefor a potential rival for the lairdship if he swears his oath to Colum and the clan MacKenzie, thus resigning his allegiance to his late father's clan Fraser. Jaime knows that while Dougal is loyal to his brother Colum, he would not be loyal to anyone else, even a nephew, if his plans for the lairdship were thwarted. Anyway, lots of drama ensues, including our heroine Claire who is still trying to escape and is the cause of Jaime having to show up at the Hall when he would have preferred to stay out of the way.<br /><br />Ok, so, drama, drama and more drama. They are really letting the chemistry between Jaime and Claire come to a boil very slowly - for television. I kind of like it. I've been listening to the podcasts done by showrunner Ronald Moore where he does a commentary on each episode (to be found on iTunes) and lets out some very interesting tidbits. Including the fact that the tapestries in Colum's room (aka office) are actually paintings made to look like wall tapestries.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gDughqHp3WiOdOqilvUXxx1hAy9F4TLfTytJUFiXXnKF9xZPw970uYeq1xbLNCNUqycFfHE6mlLnkm5_hSFuUQsX1D2jbgkRV_-RbtKAdMY2V8I4OMvpgeccHKejjrS5JEEe7OCrh5Q/s1600/Outlander-Colum-Study-600x333.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gDughqHp3WiOdOqilvUXxx1hAy9F4TLfTytJUFiXXnKF9xZPw970uYeq1xbLNCNUqycFfHE6mlLnkm5_hSFuUQsX1D2jbgkRV_-RbtKAdMY2V8I4OMvpgeccHKejjrS5JEEe7OCrh5Q/s1600/Outlander-Colum-Study-600x333.png" width="640" /></a><br /><br />From <a href="http://www.tvtango.com/news/detail/id/577/complete-guide-to-starz-channels-outlander-cast-interviews-episodes-video-kilts-and-more" target="_blank">TVTango</a> on the set decorating of the castle as a whole, and then on Colum's private rooms:<br /><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> “We wanted it to look like it has been in Colum's family for hundreds of years, handed down through the generations. There's very little furniture, it's sparse basically benches, big tables, and lots of candles. It's not a nice little cozy home. It's a castle, with all of the drama that would happen in a castle.”One exception to the austerity of the Castle décor can be found in Laird MacKenzie's room, where the walls are covered in tapestries that depict scenes of the Scottish landscapes. “His disability means Colum is a bit cocooned,” explains Set Decorator Gina Cromwell, who commissioned the wall hangings for the series. “The tapestries are pictures of forests and things he can't get to anymore, so in way it's his opportunity to experience the outdoors.” </span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgKMNTkwnqab29oFwmZbERtJ086488cSNf_I_xkNcDfBIMloNlZlStAssjYVMbpiq_J-4fmMEBNM_2nNLuld1wgHMIfa1pNoq2wYoEPoZIDbmn25S29IWhj3P2lra2wprPIJzXBNXDSrk/s1600/Colum3.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgKMNTkwnqab29oFwmZbERtJ086488cSNf_I_xkNcDfBIMloNlZlStAssjYVMbpiq_J-4fmMEBNM_2nNLuld1wgHMIfa1pNoq2wYoEPoZIDbmn25S29IWhj3P2lra2wprPIJzXBNXDSrk/s1600/Colum3.tiff" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Obviously, it would have been prohibitively expensive to commission tapestries made for the set, so they created trompe l'eoil versions on canvas.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9pfiy9d_IZZ4Jpur8mzJHPIFYjaA0bCPu3hqf6KT8QAbbly5VCchmP4aIZ2TPDudL8SsVMv46J2xRWGMQMRU3qEDjyk6UI1u5InaoCumKMp3fA6W8KWBdR9hcdALCWrJ6KK1xo1ssNH8/s1600/Colum4.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9pfiy9d_IZZ4Jpur8mzJHPIFYjaA0bCPu3hqf6KT8QAbbly5VCchmP4aIZ2TPDudL8SsVMv46J2xRWGMQMRU3qEDjyk6UI1u5InaoCumKMp3fA6W8KWBdR9hcdALCWrJ6KK1xo1ssNH8/s1600/Colum4.tiff" width="640" /></a></div><br />As we know, most European tapestries of the period, and before, were made in Belgium (then Flanders) and France. Any references I found to tapestries of the 15th/16th centuries were also from France and Belgium and there appears to be no local Scottish tradition of tapestry making. So, an entire room covered in tapestries such as this would be enormously expensive, speaking to the status of the MacKenzie clan (assuming the set decorator's were going for historical authenticity.)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeVRXxODZDVUmIbERs2firDVY3hihnPzBJEjxf7Rp76j39TXwZx91zZX8bwJ_SJyiqdyatxpJ_uQODsLuJvGDC4FB1z3iXDHzAuV4v9Tq0onUTk79OF3wmqhpBqn5mves0BYpztdEgDs/s1600/Colum5.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="590" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeVRXxODZDVUmIbERs2firDVY3hihnPzBJEjxf7Rp76j39TXwZx91zZX8bwJ_SJyiqdyatxpJ_uQODsLuJvGDC4FB1z3iXDHzAuV4v9Tq0onUTk79OF3wmqhpBqn5mves0BYpztdEgDs/s1600/Colum5.tiff" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1a-EJl31rBEm4zzC3nIb2BNYu4d3bToVHxOW7s3RhDZls_TKUsxvdf3guKDAfOmHPVPjjEAbWsuMIr9U0WnCA3CEwEySfR5iMf4Y7nRfZFY3MGGN998Pp6kWkoZ2Uq6SmyW6bJz5Jdd4/s1600/Colum+2.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1a-EJl31rBEm4zzC3nIb2BNYu4d3bToVHxOW7s3RhDZls_TKUsxvdf3guKDAfOmHPVPjjEAbWsuMIr9U0WnCA3CEwEySfR5iMf4Y7nRfZFY3MGGN998Pp6kWkoZ2Uq6SmyW6bJz5Jdd4/s1600/Colum+2.tiff" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi12dU6wDNc5oKImimhC1RNpbmUwK9LhR3O3NN8MgM4UEJ3yRK1ybgIF5LqiayrNZxCV4MOm2J-FMapf6OQTB_jYykmCuGI39x_aj1eY82qB-WLxopFIlkT_8RLv6qFysnUHsycaX_6810/s1600/Outlander+-+tapestry.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi12dU6wDNc5oKImimhC1RNpbmUwK9LhR3O3NN8MgM4UEJ3yRK1ybgIF5LqiayrNZxCV4MOm2J-FMapf6OQTB_jYykmCuGI39x_aj1eY82qB-WLxopFIlkT_8RLv6qFysnUHsycaX_6810/s1600/Outlander+-+tapestry.tiff" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">British actress Annette Badland as Mrs. FitzGibbons, Cook (and ring master) at Castle Leoch</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the stark, nearly bleakness of the rest of the Castle, Colum's room is certainly a standout!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Have you been watching and what do you think of the series so far? I started re-reading the books in the Spring and am mid-way through #5 The Fiery Cross. I'd started that book several years ago, but never finished it. So, I've finally caught up with myself and plan to finish out the series by the end of the Fall. Book #8, In My Own Heart's Blood was just released in June I think. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Meanwhile, as a followup to my Friday post on my gallery style art wall in my bedroom, here's a sneak peek!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8QkvkuS5sHbAiuFTHBHyR8iDgSQxHs7S6vDInJiNOTl73Cke9CIDzc0I_JQBg-7KYAB4qNda0-JuVTV-FwreeGdunXdrxGePZqPUrZXJzTFcBWzZTaAPyP2c8MDhvZR5na-KdASz8cI/s1600/Gallery+wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8QkvkuS5sHbAiuFTHBHyR8iDgSQxHs7S6vDInJiNOTl73Cke9CIDzc0I_JQBg-7KYAB4qNda0-JuVTV-FwreeGdunXdrxGePZqPUrZXJzTFcBWzZTaAPyP2c8MDhvZR5na-KdASz8cI/s1600/Gallery+wall.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Happy September!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcnh_LP0Qp8iMjTFnCdITc5QuuoSwggwfGbw2JhiXrNnDk8Gbe8_agrxZwhdg-DH0Qs07q4zxoK61rcNherpvkHz6PPtkEVjjezNCOHcpEjy-qARZM4_VO3HI-eTDcrwwbkSQW9F-eU-M/s1600/Linda+sig2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcnh_LP0Qp8iMjTFnCdITc5QuuoSwggwfGbw2JhiXrNnDk8Gbe8_agrxZwhdg-DH0Qs07q4zxoK61rcNherpvkHz6PPtkEVjjezNCOHcpEjy-qARZM4_VO3HI-eTDcrwwbkSQW9F-eU-M/s1600/Linda+sig2.png" /></a></div><br />

Silver Screen Surroundings: Outlander, S1E4 The Gathering, and scenic insider

This week's installment of Starz TV's production of Outlander  brings us the famous "Gathering" of the Clan MacKenzie wher...

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