Women want a lot.

Woman want to be loved and respected by our supportive husbands.

Most of us desire following our maternal instinct to create baby humans. 

(It's an extraordinary phenomenon after all.)

Oh, and we also often want a career. 

Is that too much to ask?

At least that's how I'd paraphrase the 1980's female struggle, indicated through the prose of the 

third book in the Ken Follett trilogy, "Edge of Eternity". 

But he's a man himself, so does he truly understand?

"I know. It's complicated. But try to understand...

Men arrive, concede to marry us, and so we should be thankful. Sometimes it seems we get bitchy because we don't want to throw away everything we've earned, especially not to be someone only society had in mind, an expectation individuals may have adopted.

That wasn't the woman who you were attracted to in the first place." 

I'm half laughing, half serious. But still.

He has some pretty awesome female characters like Ethel, Zoya and Maria Summers. 

Perhaps through their character development Ken's appreciation can be sensed. 

I encourage you to read these novels as well. No doubt you will, man or woman, enjoy them. 

(And I'm dying to hear what you think of the characters.) 

His accuracy is keen and it's the most enjoyable history lesson I've ever had 

(apart from when my Dad told stories of the 'Olden Days', and books One and Two) 

and although I feel somewhat bereft to live in, what appears to be, a less potent and influential era, 

my reflection is disappointed by the same mass indifference of nations that disillusions me today. 

Will we ever be a coherent population committed to both humanity and nature 

and resolve the issues of our planet? Well, we can discuss (argue!) the details, 

over coffee in these two hand-crafted, cherry-love mugs made by 

a local potter in Northern Ireland, for a sweeter version of reality. 

I'll put the kettle on. 

These lovely mugs were a gift to us from my dear friend Kim, who knows we not only love coffee, 

but just, precisely where these are going to look perfect! 

We will show you in three weeks. !!!!!! 

*******

Meanwhile, you can check out my first attempt at quilting 

- not my homemaking prowess department -  

more artistic and free form than traditional.

Also a handmade gift :)

If ever someone wanted to show me how to sew, I'd gladly glean your knowledge.

Which also goes for a lot of other skills. 

I'm interested, as usual, in how to actually make, do and create all the useful items 

almost extinct in the modern skill-set. 

I'm afraid the mastery and artistry know-how will dwindle to an unsalvageable level.

So, I'm listening and ready to learn...

Last Vacation spent Away from Home

#johnna

I do like this hashtag thing. 

The bride and groom making their escape

Vacation was John and Jenna's wedding at an all inclusive on the Mayan Riviera. 

The monsoon held out as long as it could, just in time for their ceremony, 

which was important so thank you weather clouds. 

The Groomsmen, and the Groom. Awaiting the Ladies.

Then it came, without reprieve for the second half of the week. I did indeed get a wee tan, 

but I'll probably still need vitamin D supplements. (I really need a Canadian summer!)

I love purple!

Well here's a few highlights. 

Not much from the first few days because we couldn't manage phones 

or cameras what with all the Mango Tangos, sunscreen, pool and salt. 

Good thing we used those days to the maximum. 

Some maximized this time more than others. 

#bigdave 

  

Weddings... 

A girl on John's side caught the bouquet, someone probably tried not to catch the garter. 

Just remember:

"Keep Calm, You Can Still Marry Harry"

Will and Jordan are taken!

lol

And so we are home and I've madly been catching up. 

#backtorealitybacktothefuture

More cleaning and sorting and paperwork has been done over this past week 

than for a long time as we are planning to make this 

our last vacation spent away from home 

for quite some time. 

Fingers crossed for our next big adventure!!!

Happy Halloween!!!

My path comes to and end... Home.

This starts off the second half of the deployment.

And explains why my cousins are just so much fun.

Prost München!

Day 2 Biking the Danube

The Usual

Kapfenberg

 The early Autumn was perfect, weather wise.

To be fair, there were actually three summer days in Northern Ireland this past summer. 

I got an extra four in Austria, thankfully, 

but the Autumn - it was class.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

Night of the Super-Moon Lunar Eclipse

The surprise party for me at Brown's!

Keep Calm and Carry Yarn

Now I'm back at home, enjoying the serenity of my condo. 

Will enjoy it more when Jordan gets back from Savannah and his training course.

Continuing down that path...

...There's a fork. 

The part where I choose how to remember my summer.

I love roads lined with trees, almost forming a tunnel.

A wee farm outbuilding

Are you just happy to see me, or? 
Wow!

 When circumstances are less than desirable, make yourself a plan, or even a plan B, 

implement and stick to it and try your best. When that doesn't solve anything 
- sometimes it just won't - 
don't be discouraged or lose your joie de vivre. 
Realize that's life. Your mostly uncontrollable, sometimes possible to influence, saga. 
Take a moment to count the benefits that otherwise could never have manifested themselves, 
and remember for what you're grateful. 

Lemon Meringue Cake 

It was like eating sunshine!

Without sugar coating a thing, I'd say, the summer sucked. 

I really hate that expression, but for that reason it seems even more fitting. 

HOWEVER,

I made two really amazing friends, who pulled me through the tough times and 

who gave me reasons to laugh and focus on the parts of life I love. 

(A shout out to my Templepatrick girls)

It afforded me the opportunity to advance my study of people, 

To understand who are true friends, in the end, and always.

I got to revisit those people who made me love Belfast in the first place. 

(A shout out to a farmer in Co. Down and my Monday Night ladies. 

Auds you must have been One Saucy Minx. 

Okay, I know Hugh was talking about a former PM, 

but he may as well have been talking about you. 

Who's to say 'have been', anyway?)

I am thankful for all those women who've contributed to us, and those men, too.

Even if it wasn't until late in my stay, I reconnected with the city of Belfast, 

the only city I've ever truly loved.

I turned my loneliness for home into time well spent on baking cakes. 

Or at least I spent a lot of time baking cakes. 

One of my most dreamed of travel trips was realized when Jordan and I rode the Danube trail.

And I spent an amazing time with my cousins.

Andy, my smallest neighbour, turned 1!

I'd say those thoughts leave me feeling rather positive. So I choose them.
And applause for all the Minxes. 

Retracing my Summer's Path

Back home, back to my computer, 

where it's possible to look (back) at my summer through a clearer lens. 

A little bit at a time. 

Life has got me waterskiing behind a truck. 

I'm sure I bring it upon myself, sigh, 

however can't resist taking a few minutes (hours) to reflect on summer's sunny days 

and sunny ways, in higher pixel formatting.

This will come in a number of installations. 

Apologies in advance. ;)

"Hillsborough"... Can't you just hear the Queen saying that?

It's a cute place to take a stroll, both in the common and along the main street. 

Seriously, it is where Elizabeth stays.

I wish I could eat a piece of this cake right now.

This is probably my favourite picture of my birthday cake.

 I love cake. In case you hadn't already come to that conclusion. 

Can't decide - this peony photo?

Or this one?

Do we actually have peonies for sale at the grocery store in Canada, ever? 

I think not, but if they are, 

I'm certain they wouldn't be so affordable. 

Requesting TESCO in the new Métis/Country Hills Blvd development. 

A trial involving cute tribulations

I was testing out red velvet cake here, and the naked cake look. 

I don't seem to have mastered the quaint english look I've seen 

in bakebooks and Lakeland catalogues. 

What is it I am missing? Please tell me! Then I promise to make you one.

Donard in the Distance

Love the Drama

Proof I was there. 

Thanks for posing with me Mr. Ferguson. 

 Northern Ireland's favourite hiking area and it's most famous individual before Mr. Morrison.

Maybe I'll buy one of his tractors some day. (He was born in the house in the background btw!)

I may have given up on the 'naked' business (regarding cakes only, I assure you, at least for some time),
but here I got the red velvet part right.

Happy Birthday Canada! xx

I can never choose which cake photo I like best...

Three layers, with icing or filling and icing over the outside, 

will always be my idea of the perfect, traditional layer cake. 

It's moist, stays that way and possibly even gets better after a few days!

I hope the quality of these photos far out does those in the summer posts... 

And That's Me, Done

As always, I leave packing to the last minute. My whole Templepatrick household pack-up. The trouble is that quick, all-at-once packing is the type that typically lends to forgetting. I am a decent packer though, so everything did fit, even the Pup-Cup and Pug-Mug along with their friends Wiener and Scotty. But I inevitably forget something. This time it was the middle drawer of the freezer. There, left behind are three layers for a mini three tiered cake, half a carton of mango sherbet and two push-ups someone else accidentally left me. 

I might have been more vigilant in my preparations but I was caught up finishing Belfast off right. I had to for the love of the city of Belfast, the people of Northern Ireland, my friends and cousins, the unexpectedly superb autumn weather and the fact I may never be back on deployment. As always, my cousins are a font of information and renew my enthusiasm for life. One of the various things I learned about was Instagram, so to properly celebrate that fact I'll try to sum up the final three weeks of BFS in hashtag format:

#wherethecraicisclassathalfeightandotherutterances

#cathedralquarterculturenightsailorwashboard

#lovesmetalhatesnoisepubcrawl

#captainblondebeard

#fibberstenssquareeuropaafterhoursFBI

#mytoptenrouteslastjog

#bestmondaynightknittinggrouptheworldover

#bollocksandbonkersweloveM&S

#harleypiggybankcake

#imSHERlocked

#cousinsequalscouplewhat

And a smattering of photos of hateful quality - I do hope to rectify this once I've arrived home:

I'm not sure the hashtag 'thing' will develop into a photo association or Instagram usage per say, (or obsession like Pinterest) so much as I do believe it will last due to the perfect directness it offers titles of life moments. Personally I'd prefer to hire someone to handle my social media, but since I can't afford that luxury I'll stick with slow advancement... Basically what I'm saying is, I'm not yet too hip for swag. Lol

Photo bombardment coming next, care of my dear and long out of touch friend Canon.

Now it's time to reconnect with my love interest!