Just to be clear, if your Northern Irish friends invite you over for BBQ, what they really mean is a "cookout." Having been oh-so-graciously invited back to the Bennetts for "BBQ," along with two other families we know, the Shearers and the Cookes, we seized the good weather by the horns and indulged in Suzanne's hospitality for the second time in a week.
Al grilled a feast of meats and Suz fixed some delectable salads and just made the whole thing really special. We ate, drank, laughed, watched the boys play "football" for almost three hours, were initiated into Ethiopian coffee protocol by Al, and discussed, among other topics, what BBQ means in the southeastern quadrant of the US. Here, the grill itself is referred to as "a BBQ," whereas back home, BBQ is actually a specific food. Minor details, really, and always fun to translate these kinds of things with each other. We also tried to convey to our friends, the Shearers, who have quite a strong affinity for all things "Disney," and who have been to Orlando more times than I have, that there really is more to America than Disney and that they should mosey on up to Knoxville one of these days. I'm not sure they were convinced, but ah, well--it was worth a shot.
And just to make sure we were covering all that Northern Ireland has to offer, Dean and I each took a guys/girls day and savored some gender-specific luxuries. Thanks to a connection Al and Suz have with a friend, Dean and Al arrived in the northeast corner of the country on Thursday morning on the greens of The Royal Portrush Golf Club, one of the top 10 golf courses in the world, and one of the most challenging. This was a dream come true for Dean and both the guys were boyish with the anticipation of it. The girls took Friday and did a late breakfast/shopping/afternoon tea day, which never fails to be the cure for what ails me. Ahhhh.....
The boys playing football with our friends' kids in the backyard--with breaks only to eat and drink, this went on for almost three hours!
Football REIGNS here and it was great to see boys 5-6 years younger than Truman "taking him to school" with their footwork!
Janet, Sandra & Suzanne--Ladies of the BBQ.
First of three in a montage: Lesli and Suzanne attempting a photo. No idea.
The sun was a challenge. Lesli appears to have other challenges.
Prediciton: I will be unappreciated for this.
The always-entertaining Mo and Janet, aka: Mr. and Mrs. House of Mouse.
Truman and Evie. Last time they were together, they were almost four and watched little preschool videos together. Awww, what happened? Big 11-year olds!
Party trick: Al's been investing time in missions in Ethiopia the past couple of years and is the foremost Belfast authority on Ethiopian coffee--down to the roasting of cinnamon, which was added to the extremely strong coffee. The whole process took at least 20 minutes and something like 7-8 trips in and out of the kitchen. I must say, it was very well-received, even among those of us who don't really prefer coffee. Bravo.
It's only a matter of time before Mamie starts flirting and playing with the dads of whichever family we happen to be around at any given moment. This was a little game of "pretend you're gonna eat my profiterole" with Mamie and Al.
Beautiful ladies! And of course, the moon pies.
It took some effort, but sweet picture of Suz and Evie. And, of course, the digestives.
And so begins the "girly" day with Lesli and Suz. FABULOUS shop called, "Avoca," in the center of Belfast. Avoca is famous for their gorgeous woolen blankets, made in the south of Ireland in Wicklow. Over the past 12-15 years, they have broadened their company to expand into a more extensive range of home goods, clothing, and their own brand of food items, opening locations in Dublin and in Belfast. In the upstairs of Avoca, there is both a self-serve cafe and a LOVELY restaurant. I was kind of having a fit over the whole thing.
Gorgeous cashmere and wool cream scarf with crocheted trim and a red wool throw with sweet little details. Made in Ireland.
Having a tea moment in the Arthur Street cafe in Avoca. Makes me happy just remembering it.
Some of you probably don't know this, but I have a little/large dream to open my own tearoom someday and have it be realllly GREAT. So the whole time we were in Avoca, everywhere I looked, My eye went to things that registered on multiple levels for me--lovely just because, lovely and possibly want to purchase, lovely to taste/consume, lovely and making mental notes for the someday-tearoom, etc. Loveliness everywhere.
Desserts, pastries, puddings, oh my!
Pouring honey on my porridge with the tiniest little honey jug! Comfort food, you complete me.
Mix and match china. If I hadn't fallen prey to my practical side in deciding against fragile purchases, I could've done some real damage here. Practicality is such a downer.
LOVED these fun patterns on new plates!
And look what was directly across the way, coming out of Avoca! Be still my floral-printed heart!!
It's just like coming home.
My first proper afternoon tea of the trip, in the Merchant's Hotel in Belfast. Afternoon tea just never ever ever gets old.
These are the things I love about afternoon tea: lots of details, the rarity of it all, how it quiets me, the softness of crustless egg salad sandwiches, the radiating warmth of hot tea and honey, the process of pouring, the order of the edibles, and just having a good hour and a half to sit across from someone and really have time to see them, hear them and have them do the same for you while you cup a warm teacup in your hands and forge delights of the palate and soul.
The tearoom at The Merchant's Hotel in Belfast. What a sumptuous, beautiful setting for our tea! This is not an experience of the Belfast we left 12 years ago. It has been such an awesome thing to see the growth and progress that's been made in this city in that time--to see people walk with their heads a little higher and with more confidence as a city. It's just such a lovely, lovely place. If you're reading this and you haven't been here yet, do put it on your list.
Dean and Al at Royal Portrush--livin the DREAM. And may I say how thrilled I was to see that they actually took pictures of the experience?! Well done, men.
Yet another amazing day, weather-wise for this experience. So thankful to God! Makes my heart glad to see Dean getting to do something so exciting for him. Thanks a million to Al and Suz's friend, Fraz, for taking them out!
One of the markers at this particular hole. Again, so jazzed that Dean actually took pics.
The real deal.
And on Friday night, gathering in our living room to watch the opening ceremonies in London on tv was pretty special. The first Olympics that it's seemed the whole family's been interested and invested. Truman begged to stay up until the cauldron lighting at the end, but we'd had such a run of late nights that we asked him to go onto bed once the countries started coming through. I wasn't even sure I'd be able to stay up, but when I saw that I was going to make it, I went in and woke Truman up at 12:15 to come back out and watch the cauldron lighting. He was so glad! As obsessed as Truman is with fireworks, I'm really glad I did--that finale was AMAZING!
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