What does the fox say? It says Happy Birthday!

Caitlin, my first born, will be away on her birthday, Aug. 16th. We had a wonderful celebration at our house. What a party!

Firstly, her card. Traditionally, I write a poem for a birthday card.

Caitlin's 36th Birthday

The card I found you'd say is true
The beautiful things I wish for you
Yet as I read and take its note
(Not just 'cause on you I dote)
You are those things that you deserve
Confidence, skill, showing life your verve.
I need not fear or trust your choices
Your girls you given brave strong voices
Your friends, no lack, I'm in awe of
You live within their joy and love
Our kids we wish both roots and wings
To bear that which the Universe brings
Amazing to think the babe I held
Whose little hand to me upheld
Shy, at first, with determination
You lived and learned 
Yours is such a keen generation
I have great hopes for us, our nation.

Her cake has been fun to plan, we try something special each year. Hubby does it all, most of the time.  Caitlin loves Cake Wrecks. One year we had the grocery store create a wreck on purpose!
This one was the best, until now.

'Happy Anniversary Kate' –misspelled/.
She hates 'kate!'

Then there was 'Rock + water girl',
(she is a hydrogeologist!)

Hubby took an image to the store, and they scanned it!

Drakarys 

is the signal for the dragons to light their fires.

Aekslo YNE LLIRTIAS

"The Lord loves Me"

Caitlin likes Game of Thrones. I don't even know this show! Hubby does, and found a phrase site. They are all over the web, High Valyrian 101!

Hubby explains the text in this video: @Vimeo: https://t.co/YwLpHgJuCb

First up was lunch, then dessert, of course. Then, the gifts.

I pick things up all year for the kids. There are always fun things out and about. We try to buy local or, at least, Canadian and/or artisan products.

We go to a lot of festivals, craft shows, and the like. It's very good therapy for both of us, see all the beautiful items people craft with their skills and talents.
My problem, it seems, is that while I buy things well in advance, I forget what I've bought. I stash them in a secret spot. The 'green' dress (her favourite colour is green) was a surprise for me, too. It was blue. Sigh! Gotta love old age.
There was also a few candles, I know she likes those!

Caitlin works, and I could not possibly pick out clothes for her, for the most part. However, we like What does the fox say?
That spurred a thought.

Robbie Craig design

I spotted this beautiful design. I ended up ordering it and Robbie shipped it all the way from Yellowknife to Perth. Thing is, I didn't know he was having a booth at the Stewart Park Music Festival! Of course, hubby took a picture of him with me!

Robbie Craig designed the scarf!

The fun didn't end there.

Hubby created loot bags for everyone, this the man who lets me have a birthday party for him for his granddaughters.  He doesn't like his own birthday. We always have Close Eyes for the girls, but he went all out!

The girls were given snappy glasses with a nose attached. Also, t-shirts, with #happy minions!

Following the party was playtime...

 This is the fruit of their labour!

Book Review: Cold War III

W. Craig Reed

Cold War III: How the US Navy can defeat Putin and halt climate change

This is a frightening topic for many. The exploitation of the Arctic, with the environmental impact, could have a terrible impact on our world. There are many fighting the west coast pipeline.

I have had several books to review, and things being what they were– well, I passed this one over! I asked hubby to read this for me. He is a voracious reader, both mysteries and histories. He is modest in his knowledge, I use him as a walking encyclopedia for history.

Here is his review.

A quick caution, I am an amateur student of modern history, have some background in transportation, economics, and know a little about American politics.

The adage that one should judge a book by its cover is very true here. I expected a sort of Tom Clancey story. Instead I got, I think, an argument that the Arctic has great oil and gas reserves. These are critical to both Russia and the USA. Russia is currently making more headway in this, and the USA needs to catch up. The US Navy is working on an alternative to carbon-based power. Climate Change in the Artic will change world shipping patterns and the USA needs to prepare to defend the use of those lanes. 
The author also wrote some chapters on submarine strategy and technology, which ties into his thesis.

For the subject matter concerned, it is a short book at 261 pages, but whether or not one agrees with his thesis and observations, it is an easy read on the topic. It is written by an American, for Americans, and promotes chiefly American interests, but does not demean the Russian perspective and in fact give it rationalization.
I would recommend it on that basis.
JBR

(Nonfiction – Contemporary Politics, Military, Environment) 

In Cold War III, NY Times bestselling author W. Craig Reed exposes Russia’s plan to dominate world resources and how the U.S. can and should effectively respond. His previous NY Times bestselling novel, Red November, exposed shocking details about a top secret U.S. Navy technology that allowed President Kennedy to trump Russia during the Cuban Missile Crisis.  

Proposed Gas Pipeline

Oil and Gas production in the NWT
Energy in the north

Flower power: bugs 'n blooms

I know, for those on the other side of the earth, it's winter. I happily share our flora and fauna for you!

I will look back at these images in our winter and breathe it in deeply. Enjoy each moment. It is brief and fleeting.



Here we are, selfies on the new dock.


Daisy has a horrible deerfly bite. They are awful this year.


I'm thinking that these are the first instars of the Elm sphinx. We shall see!


The 'barn cat' is happiest in and around the house. Daisy, I could smack her, has been crossing the highway for greener pastures.

Book Review: The Bloody Shoe Affair

Joy York

I loved this one! At first, I thought, "Oh, no, another YA novel!" It was great, however. I was looking for a break from our healthcare issues, seeking a portal into another world and place. It took me back in time, to walk in another's shoes. It takes place in a small town in 1968, an interesting decade, for sure. It was clean, but fun, cute and tickled my fancy about young teens and their tribulations. The cover is a bit misleading, as it's not horribly gruesome or violent. It was a great mystery for teens, and the young-at-heart!

The character were funny, self-deprecating and fun. The jailhouse setting is interesting. It's based on her youth, as all good novels are. You need a germ of truth and reality, as the seed must be planted, and the reader has to buy into the premise.  I really enjoyed it!

The Bloody Shoe Affair <= read sample pages here
Of the inspiration for the characters, York says,“My cousin Julia was the rural county jailer’s daughter in the small town of Cullman, Alabama,” recalls York. “She was like the character Lily in my book in so many ways; she was beautiful, popular, vivacious, strong-minded, fearless and personable. I was a lot like the other character Christi, a late bloomer; I was kind of cute, tall, skinny, shy, awkward, scared of everything, and picked on by some of the popular kids in junior high school. When I visited Julia, she was always loving and wonderful and often got us into mischief. She would sneak into the jail to play checkers with the prisoners, bring them candy and Cokes, and play in the empty cells. Her house really was connected to the county jail.”

A graduate of Auburn University, Joy York worked in retail management for much of her career. York has been active in community relations and volunteerism, in addition to writing, throughout the years. She is a member of the International Women’s Writer’s Guild and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, having been published in the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The Bloody Shoe Affair: A daring and thrilling adventure with the jailer’s daughter is the first title of the series.

Website: www.joyyork.com. Connect with the author on Facebook and Twitter.

The Bloody Shoe Affair: A daring and thrilling adventure with the jailer’s daughter can be purchased from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.