Happy Holidays!

From Thanksgiving to Dallin's birthday to Christmas, we had a very full and beautiful holiday season.  

 Thanksgiving

 Dear friends to join us at our Thanksgiving table

 Post-Thanksgiving trimming the tree . . . it's Christmas!

 Annual self-portrait family photo session . . .

 Farewelling lovely, wonderful friends who returned to the land down under.

 Epic Uno night!

 Celebrating Dallin's 15th Birthday!

 Happy Christmas!  Christmas morning at our house.

 Discovering the puzzle that would reveal a special joint Christmas present . . .

 . . . a trip to Florida to see Grandma and Grandpa!

Poppies

The poppy has long been a symbol of those who gave all in the cause of war.  Each November poppies adorn the lapels and collars of the masses all around the UK leading up to Remembrance Sunday, the Sunday nearest Armistice day marking the end of WWI.  This year marked the centenary of the start of WWI, which sparked greater demonstrations of respect in remembering those in that great war who sacrificed all.  

In a most remarkable and grand display, the Tower of London was turned into a giant war memorial. Artists Paul Cummins and Tom Piper created a massive art installation to fill the mote at the Tower of London with 888, 246 ceramic poppies, one poppy for each fallen soldier in WWI.   The installation had a beautiful double meaning with the use of the symbolic flower of remembrance collectively appearing as blood filling the mote.  The installation was entitled "Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red."  Pure genius!  Scott and I went to see it in September, when the mote was getting fuller.  Then just before Armistice Day I took the kids to see it again.  By this point all 888, 246 poppies had been "planted" and the mote was bursting.  

 Poppies in remembrance line Whitehall

 Another poppy display in Trafalgar Square

 By the first week in November, Christmas is in full swing.  With Guy Fawkes day behind us (and no Thanksgiving), the UK is at liberty to deck the halls and begin celebrating Christmas.

Northern Ireland

The day before my birthday Scott surprised me with a note that detailed plans to take me away for the weekend.  By some miracle we had bags packed, house ready for our absence, a weekend sitter for the kids, and later that evening I was in a hotel at Heathrow anticipating the surprise destination to be revealed at our flight out early the next morning.  This guy sure knows how to knock my socks off!  First thing in the morning on the day of my birthday and we were off, destination Belfast!  It's long been on the list, especially to see the beautiful marvels located on the northern coast.  One night and two days on a carefully and very detailed planned itinerary for my birthday weekend.  It was amazing, and Scott is a pretty fantastic trip organiser!  Truly a perfect 48 hours together to celebrate the last year of my 30's.

 Driving along the northern coast . . .

 Charming views of Glenarm . . .

 Pink bicycles scattered all over Northern Ireland, a leftover display from the big Italian cycling race, Giro d'Italia, that began in Northern Ireland last year.

 Dining al alfresco on some pretty delicious fish and chips in Ballycastle . . .

 The magnificent Dark Hedges of Game of Thrones Fame.  Just amazing to see!

 Dunluce Castle

And finally the main event of the weekend . . . Giants Causeway.  Just one of those natural wonders of the world that you just have to see to believe.  We were fortunate to arrive just as the rains of the day were clearing to enjoy a gorgeous late afternoon sunset.

Two of my favourites from this trip and new additions to my Inspire Collection

 After a gorgeous birthday dinner back in Belfast and a restful overnight we spent the next day touring Belfast.  Such a fascinating city.  First on the agenda was a really eye-opening tour of divided Belfast.  Still under the division of the "troubles" much of Belfast is spliced by various sections of Peace Wall that separates Irish nationalists from unionists/loyalists.  We happened to visit on Remembrance Sunday, which is a bit of a divisive day in itself.  It was clear throughout this area who was a nationalist and who was a loyalist, just check lapels and collars.  Our tour began on Falls Road and took us through various sections of both nationalist and loyalist communities throughout the Shankhill, hugging the the tension-bracing Peace Wall on either side.  It's impossible to get an unbiased view on the situation by a local, but the local view is the most relevant.  So we went with a local guide who offered us a inside look at the story, albeit partisan.  I'm keen to learn more and continue discussion with others on all sides of the issue.

 Falls Road

Sinn Fein, head office of the Irish Republican Party on Falls Road adjacent to this giant mural of Bobby Sands, well known IRA activist and hunger striker

 Murals spread all over sections of the wall and houses commemorate and proclaim.  It's a pretty intrusive sight, and in some cases a bit jarring.  I cannot imaging living in a neighbourhood with such bold propaganda splashed all over the houses.  Just not very pleasant, but clearly the division remains.  It seems unlikely it will be quelled anytime soon.

 After a morning in the Shankhill we explored on our own the rest of this lovely city.

 Queen's University Belfast

 Belfast City Hall

 Pretty streets along Donegall Square and around the waterfront