#clara: pumpkin festival

[callofthxvoid]

SUMMARY: Clara is at the emergency command centre.

MENTIONS: Rangers, Jamie Brennan, Phoenix Romero-Sawyer, Jay Romero-Sawyer

Clara let out an exasperated sigh as she conversed with—slash yelled at—Rusty and Duck over the radio. She had made her way to the emergency command centre after the earthquake, and once it had been made clear that both the Head Ranger and the Game Warden would be out of commission, she had kicked into high gear making sure that she was staying on top of everything. And at least trying to get them to rest.

"For the last time, I've got it covered," she said with a tone that brokered no argument. "You can help with search and rescue but don't overexert yourselves. Yes, I say this knowing you will both ignore me, but I still want it on the record that I tried."

The radio crackled to life in response, with Rusty reminding her that she was in charge of everyone except him, and Duck reminding her that they were technically in different departments altogether, resulting in another beleagured sigh. After issuing a reluctant correction, she wrapped up the conversation and clipped her radio back to her belt.

Okay. She was in charge.

After taking a moment to let that reality sink in, Clara looked down at the map of Huntsville she had laid out on a table, quadrants for search and rescue hastily drawn out with various emergency personnel and rangers assigned to them. She had marked out all triage centres, and was keeping running notes for each of them listing medical professionals on site, number of patients with serious injuries, and a likely tally of people who would need to stay the night at either the clinic or the fire station.

Next to the map was a pile of lists that she was doing her best to keep updated as the day progressed—a list of people who have been confirmed fine, a list of people who have been confirmed injured, a list of people who were still missing, among others.

Pulling the list of rangers out of the pile, she looked down at it while fiddling with her engagement ring, spinning it around her finger and trying her best not to think about Jamie out there without her—or any of her loved ones out there without her. Running a hand through her hair, she took a deep breath before methodically going down the list.

NORTH TOWER

CLARA JONES - ACCOUNTED FOR RUBEN HOBBES - ACCOUNTED FOR CAIN BARLOWE - MISSING

SOUTH TOWER

DJ CRUZ-DUTTON - MISSING ACCOUNTED FOR, INJURED VALERIA MORENO - MISSING ACCOUNTED FOR, INJURED RICARDO REIDER - MISSING

Her radio crackled to life again. "Hey, it’s Val, and I have DJ here. We're at the fire station. Injured but not badly. Has Cain radioed in?"

"Okay, stay put and let me know if any rangers show up there, we're still missing a few," Clara responded, amending her notes to state that the pair were accounted for but injured, before frowning to herself. She could hear the concern and fear in the younger woman's voice, and even though she was also worried about Cain, she knew that she had to be reassuring. "And he hasn't, but I'm sure they will soon."

"Oh, okay. Let me know if they do. Can someone keep an eye out for Hunter too? Uh… Bleach blonde hair, probably walking around with a phone."

"Will do," the Acting Head Ranger replied before amending her notes and moving on.

WEST TOWER

MIA VAZQUEZ - ACCOUNTED FOR MARCUS ZHAO - ACCOUNTED FOR JAMES GOLDSTEIN - MISSING ACCOUNTED FOR, INJURED

Mia had managed to radio in earlier, reporting that her back and arms were cut up from shielding her kid and their dog from debris, but that she was otherwise alright. Marcus was uninjured, working search and rescue, and had been one of the rangers to locate Rusty and Reggie and then help them out of the haunted house.

Finally, when her radio sounded again, it was Elijah's voice coming through, reporting that he had found James and was trying to get him out of the bank. "Understood, I'll check in with the fire trucks and get one of them over to you ASAP," Clara replied, before once more amending her notes and moving on to the last section.

EAST TOWER

JAHI KARIM - ACCOUNTED FOR ELIJAH ATKINS - ACCOUNTED FOR EMRYS ROSSER - MISSING

Elijah and Jahi had both radioed in earlier, the latter joining Marcus to help Rusty and Reggie, but she hadn't heard from Emrys yet. She took a deep breath before noting the time and bringing the radio to her lips. "Attention rangers, keep an eye out for Barlowe, Reider, and Rosser," she barked into it. "They have yet to check in."

"What can I get for ya?"

Clara looked at her foster dad from behind the bar. The bar was busy, the dancehall was in full swing, and she had been serving drinks practically non-stop since she had clocked in for her shift. John had showed up on his way to work, and she knew damn well that he didn't want a drink—but if he was going to insist on checking in on her, she was going to insist on doing her job. Even if her job was just serving drinks at a bar.

Before he could respond, a loud crash was heard from the other side of the bar and Clara immediately jumped into action. Directing the other bartenders, she directed one to continue manning the bar, one to remake the drink that had spilled, and then disappeared herself to grab the broomstick and clean up the broken glass. When she returned, her dad was nursing a glass of water and giving her a pointed look.

"What?" she asked.

"You handled that well," John replied calmly before having a sip of water. "You were decisive, you gave clear and concise directions, and you took responsibility for the main job of cleaning up—even if it wasn't your mess to begin with. It's impressive."

"It's just a bar, dad," Clara said with a slight roll of her eyes. "I'm not exactly making life or death decisions here. I'm serving cocktails and cleaning up broken glass."

"Yeah, and the same skills are required in my job," he responded with a shrug. "Quick decision-making, a sense of duty, a willingness to be accountable. I'm not saying you should be a ranger, but we both know you're meant for greater things."

"Who says I want greater things?"

He let out a laugh before setting the glass down and getting ready to leave for his shift. "Clara," he said with a small shake of his head. "Everything about you screams it."

Once more, her radio crackled and she heard Val's voice coming through.

"Hey, Cain is here at the fire station. Some debris hit his eye but he should be fine."

After a brief exchange regarding the status at the fire station, Clara thanked her for reporting in before setting her radio down on the table and going back to amending her various lists. Her work was interrupted when an earlier entry caught her eye, and without thinking about it, she paused to brush her fingers over the names.

PHOENIX ROMERO-SAWYER - ACCOUNTED FOR JAY ROMERO-SAWYER - ACCOUNTED FOR, INJURED

The word injured felt like a knife to her gut, and for a few seconds Clara struggled to breathe as she stared at it, before wiping a tear from her face and going back to work.

Hours passed, and never once did she stop working. It was getting closer to dusk and she was still on the radio, talking to the cops, talking to the medical staff, and coordinating with volunteers still working search and rescue. Looking up at the setting sun, she knew that she would have to start diverting ranger attention toward securing and eventually leading people to buildings that would be safe for the night ahead.

She took her duty seriously. She thought quickly, made concise decisions, and held herself accountable for making the right ones. She did everything that her dad had always known that she could, that she would, if she was ever in a leadership position.

She was Clara Jones. And she had finally managed to prove to the world, but most of all herself, that she was meant for greater things than she had once settled for.

Thanks for believing in me, dad.

[ambercast]

where: the pumpkin festival who: clara jones (@callofthxvoid)

"I see you put as much thought into your costume as I did," Jamie said with a chuckle, gesturing between his and Clara's respective outfits. He leaned on his cane as he looked around the festival. "You got somewhere you need to be or do I have you for a few?"

[warty-hog-legacy]

The first time Sebastian takes Clara home to Feldcroft, he’s all excited b/c New Friend!!! Anne will have a new friend too! They walk the whole way there while Sebastian can’t shut up about how awesome Feldcroft is b/c it’s by the sea (Clara says she’s never been to the beach), Feldcroft has Halloween and Spring festivals, he bets the runner beans planted in the garden have probably taken over now, the neighbors had a new baby over the summer, etc… but it’s not as safe as it was but it’s still Feldcroft.

Clara grew up in New York and then London. So she finds the little hamlet charming and is tickled pink with everything. Anne is very nice and immediately teases Sebastian about losing a duel to Clara. And then begs for details about the troll attack. Solomon is still a dick. But he lightens up slightly as he noticed that Anne is more lively with both Sebastian and Clara visiting (even if Sebastian is still trying to find a cure that doesn’t exist). He’s grumpy b/c Clara is an extra mouth to feed and he doesn’t want to waste food on a visitor. He can also tell she comes from money and isn’t sure if she’s being nice to be nice, or if she’s patronizing (Clara is just being nice and legit finds everything like it’s out of a fairy tale)

There is a bedroom in the back of the Sallow cottage you can pry that headcanon out of my cold dead hands, and that’s where Solomon sleeps.

Sebastian and Clara stay long enough that they have to spend the night, so all 3 kids are in front of the fireplace late that night, Clara in a borrowed nightdress of Anne’s, the fire crackling to ward off the autumn chill, Anne curled up between Clara and Sebastian to keep a semblance of propriety (long before anyone has crushes on anyone else). They take turns tells ghost stories and Anne and Sebastian team up to scare Clara and succeed a little too well. Sebastian is the first to fall asleep. Anne and Clara have a whispered conversation and Anne says she doesn’t want Sebastian to keep getting his hopes up for a cure. She knows she’s dying and had to terms with it, she wants to enjoy what time she has left.

Next morning Solomon all but kicks them out of the house (stop eating all the food, Sebastian!) and Sebastian shows Clara the castle and they explore it as he tells her how Anne got cursed. And that he WILL find a cure. Clara doesn’t share the conversation she had with Anne, this isn’t the right time.

The walk back to Hogwarts in quieter, but Clara tries to lighten the mood with all the lovely things she saw about Feldcroft, the ivy-covered cottages, the massive pumpkin the size of a carriage in someone’s garden, etc… Sebastian now has his broom (forgot it when going to Hogwarts, and then Quidditch was canceled, but he’s got the feeling he will need it for Adventures), and it starts to rain.

They run the rest of the way back to Hogwarts, and arrive soaked, muddy, and laughing b/c they kept accidentally spraying each other with mud as they ran. Prof. Weasley catches sight of them running in the entrance hall and decides that she needs to keep a sharp eye on the two of them.

Clara regularly writes to Anne and sends her drawings of magical creatures they learn about. And embarrassing things Sebastian or Ominis did that week.

[vilestar]

For their simplistic lifestyles and lack of complex technologies, the countryside sprung with energy and collective dedication for the past few weeks. Carved pumpkins lit with candlelights laid motionless onto stone tiles, papercuts of various creatures haunted the walls of cottages and barns alike, horror stories and urban legends with assorted legitimacy journeyed from one host to another. And who could forget the famed beast that dwells in the confines of his den?

The children calling Boleham their home were not immune to the infectious hustle and bustle of Halloween, pursuing the yearly tradition of knocking on doors and aiming hand-crafted baskets at their festive neighbours. A peculiar trio found themselves having a successful haul, bags enriched with sugary goods from trick-or-treating all day long. Albeit their moderate harvest, they yearned more; and aimed high.

The leader resembled a zombie, the other was tucked in bandages parallel to a mummy, and the shyest of the bunch—who did not agree with the reckless idea from the beginning—had no more than a horns-shaped hair clip on his hair. Together they scaled the endless curved staircases leading to the Great Overlord’s courtyard, winds howling at immense speed as the atmosphere got increasingly sinister the closer they got.

“ I don’t know Clara... I think all of us should just... back off and head home. ” stated the younger one, trailing behind while shaking in his boots. “ What if mum was right? Wh-wh-what if the b-b-b-beast... EATS babies! And simmers them in his cauldron for supper!! And, and— ”

“ Quit bein’ a scaredy cat Sammy! We’re fiiiine! Besides we’re super duper mega strong as a team! We can deal with any big bad monsters and mean wizards! ” she scoffed, unsheathing her wooden sword with courage and pride. “ Imagine the other kids’ reaction when we snatch somethin’ from Mister Veigar! Or beat him in a fight! You’ll thank me when we become celebrities, trust my superhero instincts. ”

Samuel was not convinced at all. Who did she think she was? A knight that smites eldritch monstrosities to save their kingdom? If Bilgewater’s trained beast hunters and the empires’ armed troopsfailed to take down this threat, how could a child that’s recently celebrated her 11th birthday negotiate with him?

And yet, he tried not to crack out of fear, repeating to himself that they’ll somehow get away with their ambitious sidequest, or that Lord Veigar recently had dinner and wouldn’t have a taste for human brains. The architecture and overall ambience of the environment did not help one bit however. The steps were hardy and strong, the walls cold in colouration and to the touch, mauve thundersfissured from the stormcloud-filled skywith one big boom, startling the child in each occasion.

Sneaking through the gates and approaching the giant door, the children’s clumsiness did not go unnoticed from long, concealed yordle ears as Clara proceeds to recklessly slam the door knockers on the wooden entrance. Peeking through the second floor’s window was none other than Lord Veigar himself, pupils glaring around in frustration to identify the source of the noisy mess. With gritted teeth he has located the juvenile group, recognizing their Halloween attire and... merely narrowing his eyes from said discovery.

What a weird tradition, this “Hall-of-ween” thing was. Why are mortals so eager to dress as creatures they swore to destroy on a regular basis?

Minutes had passed, and the two children began to grow impatient, rambling about their plans and questioning where that wretched beast could possibly hide. Samuel on the other hand proceeds to gasp at the sight of a shadowy silhouette brusquely drifting away from the window frame. There’s no doubt now: Mister Veigar was very well here and ready to... CAPTURE THEM ALIVE!

Suddenly, the eerie sound of clanking metal grew louder, followed by what appeared to be a prolonged growl and ghostly hiss. The trio’s chirping stopped; Clara valiantly held her sword’s handle, Oliver kept on chewing his bubblegum, and Samuel was on the verge of crumbling on the floor from terror.

The door creaked ominously and opened halfway, revealing no more than piercing eyes glowing in the dark, starring at them annoyingly. He did not shout, nor did he attack or intimidate as he naturally does. He simply stood motionless, iron claws on the handle, waiting for proper justifications.

The awkward silence carried on until Oliver‘s bubble popped, and Clara blurted out azestful “ TRICK OR TREAT! ” afterwards, aiming her basket of candy at the villain’s figure.

❝ ...That’s... it? ❞ he responds, fueled with rage and utterly baffled. ❝ You flimsy rats have the AUDACITY to penetrate my grounds, RUIN my royal slumber, AND THEN beg for trivial saccharose delicacies?! ❞

“ IT WAS HER IDEA! NOT MI— ” “ BACK OFF, MONSTER! I’M A TRAINED WARRIOR! I’M NOT LETTIN’ YOU HURT MY BEST BUDDIES! ” the little girl interrupts, drawing her sword and pointing it right at the vicious beast‘s chest; who then proceeds to laugh maliciously upon flinching.

❝ OHHH NOOOOO! Woe is Lord Veigar! Bested by a pipsqueak with a toothpick! What shall I dooooo~! ❞ he upped his theatrics at full capacity, evoking crystal clear sarcasm through exaggerated gestures and faking a sorrowful tone. A wicked grin soon emerged on his hidden figure, tilting his head and starring down at the brave child. ❝ Can’t you see you might need MORE than a pointed stick to even remotely ATTEMPT atstriking yours truly? Hmm? ❞

She shrunk for a bit, stuttering and delving in thoughts before facing the mage once more. “ My dad’s a forgemaster! He’s fought many many evil beasts like you before! And he said when I grow up I’m gonna be as strong as him and get a sword bigger than you!! ” she pouts, blowing a raspberry in retaliation.

This shattered Lord Veigar’s unremitting ego like a bullet piercing through glass. Disrespected? By a naive child? AND an accidental short joke to top it all off?! Unacceptable.

❝ Whyyy YOOOUUU LITTLE— ❞ he took a step closer, magic flowing through grasped iron claws threatening to harm the children out of anger, but shook his head and stopped midway. It wasn’t worth it. None of this was worth it. They’re puny babies with no impact on anything and bound under HIS rule. Wasting strength on them wouldn’t be rewarding whatsoever.

Perhaps a lesson would suffice instead.

Standing tall with arms behind his back, Lord Veigar, as anticipated, begins his everlasting monologue. ❝ My powers are boundless. The universe shifts and bends before my might. I hail atop this realm and strike FEAR into its hearts. Those who dare contend against my authority are greeted with death or sentenced to life in my disdainful dungeons. AND YOU... You WILL succumb to my strength in the foreseeable future!!

BUT... Despite your age, you’ve shown boldness and nerve throughout your journey, risking your life demanding justice against my cruelty without hesitation. I respect that... to an extent. While I DESPISE your insolence and ignorance, I believe you deserve a little confectionery for your effort... ❞ and with that, his giant gauntlet offered a nicely-packed bag of licorice; notoriously known for being hated among younger generations. He had one by his side this entire time. How evil.

❝ LICORICE! A favoured treat of mine! Black as my heart, swirled like the arcane barrier that’s trapped your ancestors decades ago. Don’t finish it in one night. ❞

“ Could you say that with less old man words? ” Oliver replies.

❝ It means I like its taste, you complete imbecile. ❞ he huffed.

“ W-w-wait..! Mister Veigar..? ” uttered Samuel with timidity.

❝ MASTER Veigar! ❞ he corrected.

“ R-RIGHT! Sowwy! So uuuhm...mum shares all your stories with me and I was wondering if you could... could uhm... sign this book for me..? It’s about how you like... dropped so many comets from the sky one night and burnt your prisoners to crisp... or something... I, I-I know I’m probably asking too much but!! Ehm... I want to remember the day I got to talk face to face with the almighty Beast of Boleham Miste— MASTER Veigar! ”

The villain‘s eyes briefly widened with surprise, and glanced at the novel between his paws. A novice in the written arts... a rare sight nowadays. Never before has he been asked to dedicate a book before; or any publication, for that matter. Part of him believes he is showing too much kindness to these insufferable mortals and ruining his malicious image as a result... although... how could he not repay an infant for their genuine interest in his work?

Silence loomed once more in their surroundings, and Lord Veigar rolled his eyes and promptly left the scene, delving deeper into the darkness of his tower. The children stood confused, until he returned with a feather dripping in ink on its tip, writing his name in the front page in an elegant, cursive font.

❝ Don’t... thank me. ❞ he murmured to the boy in a displeased tone, returning the book to the rightful owner. ❝ And do NOT presume my generosity is a sign of kindness! I am Lord Veigar! Destroyer of Worlds! Bearer of Corruption! Murderer of Vixis the Cruel! I WILL afflict agony upon your spirits!

And with this out of the way... GET OUT OF MY PROPERTY! LEAVE MY SIGHT! SCRAM TO YOUR HOMES! ❞ the beast’s roar; alongside the tremendous crackling energy discharging from his petite figure, caused the trio to swiftly run for their lives; albeit not too fast to not tumble down the stairs like pebbles on a mountain slope. He could hear their giggles and part of the boy’s scolding at the girl for her recklessness, but also sensed his joy elapsing through his blood after receiving the Master of Evil’s unique dedication.

He shook his head and slammed the door shut with all his might. Implore this never occurs ever again.

[thestartofabeautifulride]

We busted out the donut from her 2nd Halloween for her class party today. The kids are all being Minions for Halloween, but they have class parties today that they’re allowed to dress up for, but 1) the minion costumes are one piece, which I don’t like for potty needs at school and 2) I would hate to have them mess up a costume. I made that mistake once, let Waylon wear his costume and they did pumpkin painting and sure enough he got paint on his costume before getting to go trick or treating. 😅 So we dug through their dress up stuff and let them pick out something to wear for today. Clara picked the donut, which I love that my DIY donut from 3 years ago still serves a purpose. 😂 Waylon chose to be a firefighter. Then forgot his hat, realized on the way to school, and I had to turn back around to go fetch it because “I’m not a safe firefighter without my hat!!!”

Today is just such a fun, festive day and I just LOVE their excitement. I’m going to take Bo to play group, and they’re also doing a dress up day. So he’s going to wear Waylon’s beard hat and a flannel to be a lumberjack. Then get Clara off the bus, then go to Waylon’s school party. It’s just such a busy, exciting day.

[arcaneapologist]

Partners in Crime- Ch 10

hey what do you know. i forgot it was monday. again. anyways... here’s chapter 10. i apologize for the title but uh. i really struggled with it and decided to make the temporary title the permanent title. so uh. here’s the link to a03. and a big thanks to @vinndetta who wrote a small lil fic that gave me some inspiration rewrite/finish this chapter.

Chapter 10: FUCK THIS FUCKING THANKSGIVING CHAPTER.

Dan was wandering through the grocery store by his house, attempting to decide which two side dishes to make for Thanksgiving. It was proving to be far more difficult than he imagined, as he had no idea how to cook. Dan still had two days, but he wanted to get this figured out sooner rather than later. Especially since everyone else already knew what they were making. Then, there was the subject of decorating his house. He’d found out Suzy and Holly and Arin went all out when it came to Holiday decorations.

He left the groceries and headed towards the seasonal aisle. Maybe while looking at something else would help him figure out what he was going to make. He picked up a few plastic pumpkins and set them in the cart, then turned in a circle. There was so much to choose from, and this was something else he’d never been good at. Dan pushed his hair out of his face and groaned. Why did everyone have to come to his house? Because you volunteered your house, Dummy. Though it was still small, his town-home was far bigger than anyone else’s apartment.

“You alright there? You seem to be having some sort of crisis.” A giggly voice asked from behind him.

He turned around to find the girl from a few weeks earlier, “Oh. Hello again.”

“It seems like I’m following you this time.” She took a step around her cart, suddenly serious. “But really. Are you okay?”

“Ugh... No.” Dan sighed. “I’ve got... I’ve got like five people coming over for Thanksgiving and I have absolutely no idea what I should cook or how to cook or how to decorate... Or anything really”

The woman laughed and walked over to Dan’s cart, examining the contents. “Well. For starters, you should probably get a tablecloth, and, unless you want to be washing dishes all night, some festive, cute paper plates and plastic silverware.”

She walked a little further down the aisle and Dan followed her, “Right… I’m sorry, what was your name?”

She put on her sweetest smile and ran a hand through her hair, “My name is Clara. What’s yours?”

“Danny. I… I think these will work?” They stood side by side, looking at the plastic tablecloths and paper plates, while he pretended to have any idea of what defined “festive and cute.”

“Yeah. I think those would be great, Danny.” She pulled a small, artificial hay bale from a shelf and threw it in his cart. “This is also nice. Hay just screams fall, you know? How many people do you have coming again?”

“There’s five coming, so six altogether.” Danny found a bag of fake “fall harvest food”, as the label called it, and threw that in the basket as well.

“And you said they’re all friends? No family?” Clara knew he hadn’t said, but wanted to see just how much he was paying attention to the conversation.

“Right. I’ve got my three best friends, and then these two guys that I’ve only met once. But the other three insist they’re super nice and I should invite them, anyway.” Dan rolled his eyes, not seeing the smirk on Clara’s face. Dan was as clueless and flighty as his ex had said. She could probably openly stalk Dan and he’d be none the wiser. The only hindrance she’d face would be Arin,Suzy, and Holly. There’s no way Matt and Ryan would remember her well enough. Besides, if they did, she could take care of the, fairly quickly.

“You should make macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes. You can buy the boxed stuff and have it done in thirty minutes. Plus you don’t have to be able to cook at all.”

“Yeah…And Arin loves mac and cheese.” He mumbled, mostly to himself. Then turned and smiled at Clara, his voice softening . “Thanks for all your help. I hope I run into you again sometime soon.”

“Yeah, no problem Danny.” Clara smiled and waved as he walked away.

~~~

Dan was elbow deep and cursing into a pot of mashed potatoes when all of his friends got to his house for Thanksgiving. He’d stupidly changed his mind at the last second and decided to make the potatoes and mac and cheese from scratch instead of out of the box. The macaroni had turned out fantastic, but the potatoes were giving him hell. He could barely hear the knocking on the door over the mixer in his hands. He yelled for everyone to come in, instead of acting like a proper host and answering the door himself. He dumped more milk and butter into the pot, hoping the potatoes would thin out some.

Ryan came in first, Matt right behind him, each carrying a store bought pie. “Hey dude. Can we put these in the fridge.”

“Yep.” Dan grumbled. “Don’t fucking care.”

Suzy and Holly came in next more side dishes. Holly gave him a tight hug from behind “Happy Thanksgiving, Danny!”

Suzy set her dish down, then checked his pot of potatoes before grabbing the milk jug. She poured even more in, enough to worry Dan that the potatoes would be soup. “Put the mixer on the highest setting, Sexb//ang, and go to town… And happy thanksgiving.”

She leaned up and kissed his cheek before following the other three into the living room. Sure enough, in less than a minute, the potatoes were the perfect consistency. It wasn’t until Dan set the mixer down that he realized he hadn’t seen Arin. He grabbed a paper towel to wipe his hands off with, before heading into the living room. As he walked past his front door it swung open, revealing a breathless Arin and a very large foil wrapped turkey.

“Sorry I’m late. I was seeing my mom.” He smiled at Dan, before yelling. “In the kitchen guys. I’m starving, let’s eat!”

“Happy Thanksgiving, by the way” He gave Arin a small pat on the back.

“Happy Thanksgiving, Dan.”

They all crowded around Dan’s tiny kitchen table, having to leave the food on the counters just so they had somewhere to eat. Dan soon found out Suzy, Holly, and Arin had been right. Inviting Matt and Ryan was a great idea. They bickered like they were brothers and seemed to turn the most normal sentences into a joke.

Once they’d finished eating everyone pitched in to help Dan clean up the dishes, before they settled into the living room. Dan wanted to watch the football game, but he seemed to be the only one. He was overruled in favor of the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, though everyone agreed to let him check the score during the commercials. None of them talked all that much, instead sitting in comfortable silence and playing on their phones.

Dan continued to surprise himself with how close he had gotten to Matt and Ryan in just a few short weeks. They were stretched out on the loveseat, facing opposite directions with their feet in each others faces, and sharing a blanket. When he found out they were trained assassins he was a little apprehensive, but now they were like the younger brothers Dan never had. He let out a heavy sigh, his thoughts turning to his own family he doesn’t talk to. Right before she’d cut ties with Dan, he’d found out his sister was expecting her second child, another son. His nephews probably didn’t remember him, but he wished they did. He wished he’d gotten his act together sooner.

Dan let out a small laugh at the thought of even having his act together now. He could see his family’s reaction upon hearing, “Yeah, guys. I hang out with a bunch of criminals. The usual run down: a con artist, two disguise and surveillance experts… Oh and two professionally trained assassins.” His family would probably move states and change their names. Dan shook his head and reached for the TV remote. There was a very real possibility that his entire family had moved and Dan wouldn’t have even known about it.

Arin stirred from his section of the couch, leaning over and setting his head on Dan’s shoulder, “Why the face and the sighing, buddy?”

“Just… Thinking about my family… Or lack thereof I guess.” Dan shrugged.

“Yeah… I get that. But sometimes family isn’t… Family, you know? It’s not always the people who raised you. Sometimes the people you meet in your twenties or thirties are a better family than the ones who raised you.” Arin still sounded groggy and like he was ready to go back to sleep, but he sat up and rubbed his eyes.

“Sure.” Dan could tell himself that all he wanted that his friends were all the family he needed, but it didn’t make a difference.

“Dan, I know you don’t want to believe me, but I promise you all of us here love you and care about you.”

“Arin… That’s not it. I miss my family. I miss my sister and my parents. I have two nephews and I’ve never even met one of them. My parents celebrated their fortieth wedding anniversary and I wasn’t there. Do you know how awful that feels?” Dan ran a hand over his face. He didn’t want to discount how close he was with any of his friends, but it just wasn’t quite the same.

“I… I don’t… But I’m really sorry.”

Arin stood and moved to wake up the rest of the group, they all had somewhere they needed to be. They all noticed the shift in Dan’s mood from earlier and seemed reluctant to leave, but he politely pushed them out the door. Dan just needed to get out and get his mind off of everything. He waited a few minutes before grabbing his own coat and keys and heading out the door.

[buckybarnesappreciationsociety]

“HappyNess Is Not A Myth”

Summary:  Bucky and Patricia Barnes are preparing for the birth of their first baby. This story follows the joys and pitfalls of pregnancy.

Characters: Bucky Barnes x Patricia Barnes

OFC: Steve, Tony, Nat, Wanda, Sam, Dr. Azalea Mitchell, and Sarah Natalia Barnes

Word Count: 2,889

Warnings: Talk of labor pains.

A/N: Thank you @violentlybarnes for allowing me to participate in your writing challenge. My prompt: “I’m going to die” Congrats on 500+ followers.

A/N 2: I’m aware happiness is misspelled. :D

Childbirth is a blessed event. There’s no greater joy than pushing an 8 pound baby through a small canal. Hours upon hours of stabbing pain, sweating, cursing, and morphing into a crazed lunatic are worth it. The sweet sound of piercing cries of an  infant (s) are music to parent’s ears. In the end, you’re rewarded by watching your little one grow up into their own person.

Also, the cherished teenage years; “Dad, can I borrow the car?,” “Mom, I’m having company over, will you make some snacks please?,” and “You’re embarrassing me!”

Bucky and Patricia Barnes, married 2 years, are expecting their first baby! Everyone at the compound are ecstatic. In 8 months, a new “Avenger” will join the team.

The mile-wide smile on Bucky’s face speaks volumes. No longer in the field, he trains new agents, while Patricia’s morning sickness keeps her bedridden sometimes. But never fear, Mr. “I’m here for you always” Barnes to the rescue.

Rubbing circles on her back when she’s kneeling before the porcelain god, keeping saltines, ginger ale, and a wastepaper basket handy. Dr. Azalea Mitchell, the couple’s OB/GYN physician, assured the nervous couple the nausea and vomiting should cease after the first trimester.

Nat and Wanda would stop by and sit with Patricia, when they weren’t on a mission. Bucky wasn’t far away. The training room was four floors down from their apartment, and he was a phone call away.

Tucking her legs on the bed, Wanda held Patricia’s hand. “How do you feel pumpkin?”

“Do you need anything?” Nat asked, fluffing her pillows.

“I love you guys so much. No, I’m fine. As you can see, Bucky took care of me before he left.”

Patricia pulled the covers down a bit.

The trio chatted well into the evening. Patricia only left the bed to use the bathroom, with Nat’s assistance.

Soon after, Wanda and Nat left for dinner. Patricia wished she could go also, but her husband would have a kanipshin.

The bedside clock read 4:30 p.m. Bucky would be home soon. “I’m going bananas. I’ve gotta break free.” Patricia plotted her getaway.

Just as she touched the doorknob, she heard footsteps...Bucky’s footsteps. Scrambling to the sofa, Patricia had a silly grin on her face.

The lock clicked signaling his arrival. “Doll, why are you out of bed?”

Taking a deep breath, Patricia pleaded her case. “James, I’ve been in bed for over a week and I’m going out of my mind! I would love to eat in the common room with everyone else.” Her eyes glossed with unshed tears.

If there’s one thing that ripped Bucky’s heart was his wife crying. Sitting on the sofa beside her, “I’ll make a deal with’ya. Use the wheelchair. If’ya get to feeling sick, you gotta go back to bed.  Deal?”

Kissing his cheek, Patricia gushed, “Deal!”

Nat, Wanda, Sam, and Bruce were at the table feasting on spaghetti and tuna casserole, salad, yeast rolls, corn and for dessert blueberry and lemon pie.

Standing at the kitchen island, Tony and Steve were engaged in friendly banter.

Bucky wheeled Patricia around the corner, much to the delight of everyone in the room.

Tony was first to comment. “Well look who it is? Hot Wheels and Heavy Metal.”

Bucky rolled his eyes. “Shut up coke can.”

Steve greeted Patricia with a hug and kiss on the cheek. “Good to see you Patricia. How are you?”

“I’m feeling better. Just going stir crazy in that bed. Made a deal with Bucky, so here I am.”

Patricia greeted with hugs and kisses, engaged in festive conversation. Bucky prepared her plate with small portions, just in case baby Barnes didn’t approve of the menu.

Time moved swiftly. Patricia’s baby bump grew by leaps and bounds. 5 months along, she felt the baby flutter for the first time.

“Bucky!! Come quick!!” Falling over the chair and stubbing his toe, Bucky thought that something was wrong.

“D-doll what’s wrong? Is it the baby?” Panicking, Bucky stumbled in the room.

Giggling, Patricia apologized for scaring him. “Babe, I’m really sorry. Didn’t mean to upset you. The baby’s kicking and I wanted you to feel it.”

Laying his flesh hand on the side of her stomach, little peanut kicked Patricia hard.

Bucky’s eyes were big as dinner plates. “Wow! She’s gonna play soccer. Doll, you’ve made me the happiest man in the world. I dunno what I did to deserve you and our daughter, but Imma love and protect my best girls always.”

Overcome with pride, Bucky’s cerulean eyes filled with tears. “I love ya so much.”

Rubbing his back, Patricia turned his face to her. “Sweetheart, those better be happy tears. James Buchanan Barnes, you deserve all the happiness life has to offer. You’re not the Winter Soldier; you’re my husband and father to our daughter.”

Wiping his eyes, Bucky hiccuped. “M’sorry, This feels like a dream, ya know? Is this real?”

“Yes my love, it’s real and you’re here, with us.” Patricia kissed his eyes, one by one.

Bucky Barnes had been to hell and back more than once. It’s okay if he shed happy tears.  After years of hell, time for heaven on earth.

Sonogram

Bucky paced back and forth in the waiting room. Patricia reached out, grabbing his hand. “James, sweetheart come sit down.”

“Can’t Trish, m’anxious. Why is it taking so long?”

“Dr. Mitchell has other patients. Our appointment is at eleven. It’s just 10:30. Buck, sit down.”

Clara, Dr. Mitchell’s nurse, called them to an exam room.

“Mrs. Barnes, please remove your shirt, put on this gown. Dr. Mitchell will be right in.” The congenial nurse left the room.

Bucky assisted Patricia with her clothes, then, she laid on the examination table. “Doll, are ya alright?”

“Yes, kinda nervous.” Patricia reached for her husband’s hand.

Entering the room, Dr. Mitchell smiled at the concerned parents. “Good morning. I’m sure you’re ready to find out if your baby’s a boy or girl. Let’s get started.”

Adjusting the screen, squeezing cold ultrasound gel on the probe, Dr. Mitchell lifted Patricia’s gown. “This is may be a little cold at first touch.”

Placing the probe on her stomach, the image of baby Barnes came into view. Bucky’s cerulean eyes pooled with unshed tears.

Moving the probe over Patricia’s stomach, Dr. Mitchell determined the baby is a girl. “Mr. and Mrs. Barnes, you’re having a girl. I’ll print a picture for you.

Patricia held Bucky’s hand. “James, it’s a girl.”

“Wow. There she is, Sarah Natalia Barnes.”

“Oh sweetie, Nat and Steve will be so pleased. I love her name.”

Dr. MItchell removed the remaining gel with a soft cloth. “You may get dressed, and Clara will show you to my office.”

Holding the black and white image of their daughter, Bucky rubbed his calloused fingers over the paper. “Hey peanut. It’s you daddy. Me and your momma loves  ya so much.”

In her office, Dr. Mitchell called in a refill on Patricia’s prenatal vitamins, gave them instructions on having sex this far along in the pregnancy and her diet.

Bucky and his wife nodded, thanked the doctor, and left.

Eyes gleaming Bucky put a plan in motion. “ It’s okay to tell the team we’re having a girl, but keep the name a secret.”

“Gotcha Sarge. Besides, Steve can’t keep a secret for shit.”

Second Trimester Blues

At the 6 month period, Patricia’s hormones played dirty tricks on her; crying, an insatiable appetite for sex (Bucky didn’t complain), weird cravings, and horrific mood swings.

One evening while watching a movie, Y/N asked Bucky if she looked fat . Afraid to answer, he decided to keep quiet.

Well, his silence meant it was true in her eyes.. “I know you think I’m fat and ugly. You’re gonna leave me for a woman with firm breasts and ass.” Stomping from the room, Patricia slammed the bedroom door, locking it.

Dumbfounded, Bucky simply shook his head, talking through the door, “Dollface, open the door. I dunno why you’d say that. I love ya so much. No woman in the world can hold a candle to ya.”

Sniffling and hiccuping, the lock clicked. Bucky’s face fell. Patricia was sitting against the headboard with their wedding picture. “Do you ever regret marrying me?”

Taken aback, Bucky turned towards his distraught wife, taking her hand. “Trish, why would’ya ask me something like that?”

“I’m sorry James. I know you love me and our unborn daughter. My emotions are all over the place and I hate it.”

Wiping his eyes, Bucky explained to Patricia what she and their baby truly meant to him.

“When HYDRA controlled me, I did things that’s still hard to talk about; felt I wasn’t worth of a happy, normal life. Then, here comes this stubborn, feisty, dame. The moment we met, somehow I had to make ya mine. Yeah, we’ve had some rough patches, yet, our love withstands all the crazy shit.”

Rubbing her growing belly, Bucky continued. “Patricia, you loved me back to life and for some strange reason, ya wanted to marry me. Now, we’re ‘bout’ta have a baby girl. So, to answer your question, no I don’t regret marrying  ya. Thanks to your undying love for me, I feel like a man and not a monster.”

Bucky calmly stood walking to the door. Turning around, “I’m gonna make us a cup of tea. I love ya so much.”

Reaching out for his hand, “James, please forgive for being a hormonal bitch.”

“S’okay doll, there’s nothing to forgive.” Gently closing the door, Y/N held her pillow, sobbing.

Steve, sitting at the kitchen island reading, noticed Bucky’s glum expression. ‘Hey pal. What’s the matter?

“Stevie, do’ya think I deserve t’be happy?” Bucky’s shoulders slumped.

“What brought this on? Pal, you’ve earned the right to be thrilled ‘bout your wife and baby. Don’t ever second guess that.”

“Guess you’re right. Trish asked me if I regret marrying her, saying I’ll leave her for another woman.”

Steve consoled his gloomy friend. “Trish’s frame of mind is all over the place. One minute she’s laughing, next time, she’s bawling and biting everyone’s head off. Go home and hold your wife, Buck.”

“Thanks a lot. I was gonna make tea, but I need to hold my best girls.” Bucky left the kitchen.

Patricia curled up on the bed, holding Bucky’s pillow.

Removing his clothes, Bucky pulled the geometric pattern comforter back, easing into bed. He scooted close to her body, draping a hand over her stomach.

Inhaling the scent of her shampoo, Bucky entered into peaceful sleep.

Over waffles, eggs, bacon, coffee and orange juice, Trish expressed deep regret about the night before.  All’s forgiven. If anything negative plagued gripped her mind, she’d talk to Bucky before things got out of hand.

The Nursery Dilemma/Baby Shower

Anthony Edward Stark, billionaire smartass, hired contractors to build an incredible nursery. Bucky adamantly assured everyone he was capable of assembling baby furniture.

“Listen Father Russia, I’m sure your abilities to assemble and disassemble a weapon are impeccable. Why not let the professionals take over.” Tony quirked an eyebrow.

Unfazed by his comment, Bucky retorted, “I am a professional, damnit. Now, let me get to work.”

Sam snorted, “Shit, Frozen, your baby will be 3 before you’re finished.”

Wanda, Patricia, and Nat chuckled. “Husband dear, I have faith in you. We’ll be in the common room preparing for the baby shower.”

Nat joked, “He’s gonna mess up Trish” Wanda nodded in agreement.

“I know. Our baby girl’s probably going to sleep with us until she’s 5 years old.

Snapping his head around, Bucky narrowed his eyes. “I heard that. Just wait’n see. Daddy Barnes will have everything put together before ya know it.”

Steve groaned, “Tony, keep the contractors on speed dial.”

“Already on it Capsicle.”

After 2 hours and a lot of swearing, Bucky conceded, informing Tony to call the pros. Tony smirked.

Crossing his arms, Bucky inquired about this bet. “So, Rogers betted against me?”

Steve whistled, glancing at the ceiling.

The common room became a pink and white wonderland. Balloons, streamer, a 3 tier cake, and rounding everything out, Pepper hired caterers.

Patricia had a special request: chocolate ice cream, bananas, potato chips, and dark chocolate almond milk.

Clint, Laura and their 3 kids joined in the festivities. Food, games, gifts and laughter were the order of the day.

Bucky and Patricia revealed their daughter’s name.

“First, we wanna thank everyone for coming. Trish and I appreciate all you’ve done for us. We’ve chosen Sarah Natalia Barnes for our ‘peanut’.”

Nat gasped, “Barnes, are you serious?”

“Yeah Nattie. You and I have been through the ringer. It’s only right to bring some sunshine to ya.”

Normally stoic, Nat embraced Bucky and Patricia. “I’m honored.”

Steve couldn’t contain his enthusiasm. “My ma’s smiling in Heaven!”

A huge white box with a pink bow remained on the table. Trish removed the top and gasped. Inside were custom made pajamas and bibs; Iron Man, Captain America, Falcon, Scarlet Witch, Thor, and the Hulk.

Tony had one more surprise. “Guess we saved the best for last.”

Bucky couldn’t believe his eyes: a pink onesie complete with a metal arm and red star. The matching bib inscribed: Daddy’s Little Peanut. Everyone applauded the special gift for Sarah

Trish pulled Pepper into a hug, and Bucky enveloped Tony with his massive arms. “Okay Icicle. You’re welcome!

Bucky and Patricia thanked everyone again for coming. Sam, Steve, and Tony helped with the gifts.

“Sarah is loved, Buck. We’re fortunate to have our extended family. I love you.”

“Yeah she’s spoiled already. Doll, we’re in trouble.”

Sarah Makes Her Debut

Dr. Mitchell informed them, little Sarah had turned, head down. It wouldn’t be long before Bucky and Patricia meet their daughter.

Now that the nursery was completed, furniture built, room decorated, and clothes put away, only thing missing…...Sarah!

Patricia felt discomfort in her abdomen. Chalking it up to indigestion, she huffed and laid down.

Suddenly, a sharp, stabbing pain, accompanied by wetness coursed through her body. Not able  to move, Patricia screamed for Bucky.

“BUUUCKY!!! COME QUICK!!!! MY WATER BROKE!!!.” Patricia doubled over in pain.

Scrambling to the bedroom, Bucky speed dialed Steve, who in turn alerted everyone else.

Bringing a stretcher from medical, Patricia was carefully wheeled to Tony’s SUV, along with Bucky, Pepper, Nat and Wanda. A police escort cleared the way to Mt Sinai Hospital.

“OH MY GOSH, I’M GOING TO DIE!!! BUCKY I HATE YOU. THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!! OWWWW!!!

Bucky smiled, trying to calm his wife. Her contractions were 10 minutes apart. “M’here sweetheart. Shhh, I got’cha.”

Arriving at the hospital, Dr. Mitchell met them at the door. Bucky followed the doctor and nurses to the birthing suite.

After 5 hours of misery, Trish gave birth to 8 lbs. 3 ounces., 19 inches, Sarah Natalia Barnes Bucky cut the umbilical cord amid teary eyes.

Peanut, as she was affectionately called, sported curly brown hair, beautiful blue eyes with long eyelashes, and her mother’s nose.

Beaming with pride, Bucky held his bundle of joy. “Hey, darlin’ m’glad you’re here. Gosh, ya got a heart already. I’ll protect you and your mommy always.”

He placed a gentle kiss to her forehead. Patricia weakly smiled at her husband and daughter. Labor took a lot out of her. “Hey Sarge, can I hold her?”

“Of course doll. She’s a heartbreaker.”

Knocking on the door, Nat stuck her head in. “Are you up for visitors?”

“Sure, come on in and meet your goddaughter.” Patricia cooed as she fed Sarah.

“Nat, would you like to hold her?” Sarah burped.

“Yeah, she’s definitely Bucky’s daughter.” Nat carefully held the little cherub.

Beaming with pride, Nat whispered, “Hey this is your godmother. I love you so much. When you’re older, I’ll teach you how to kill someone using only a spoon.”

Bucky and Patricia groaned. “I have a feeling Sarah will be a lethal weapon by her 5th birthday.”

Another soft knock at the door, Tony peeped  from behind the door. “Is it okay if her uncles and aunt come in?”

Bucky sitting in the wood rocking chair, whispered for everyone to keep it down. Patricia and Sarah were asleep.

Tony had to make a wisecrack. “Little Creamsicle’s a cutie. She’s your twin, Frostbite. I hate to admit this. You look good holding your daughter. I’m happy for you and Patricia.”

Steve noted, “Jerk, look at’cha. You’re a daddy now. My goddaughter’s precious. Buck she’s your twin.”

Sam and Wanda took pictures of James Buchanan Barnes grinning from ear-to-ear.

At last, the happiness train pulled into his station, bringing Patricia and Sarah Natalia Barnes into his once shattered life. He was no longer a brainwashed killer. No, Bucky held the title of husband and father. About damn time!!!

Fin

@violentlybarnes @omalleysgirl22 @rebelslicious @pegasusdragontiger @suz-123 @electrica-xo @inumorph @3brosangel @arabellaaurorabarnes @the-shield-of-writing @kimistry27 @papi-chulo-bucky

[kihlorn]

modern RQ characters during the fall

mare: spends time with her family, goes to bonfires with friends. enjoys lattes but doesn't really like halloween.

cal: carves all the pumpkins he can find & roasts marshmallows. "everyone's friend." very festive around halloween.

kilorn: rakes leaves and then ruins the pile, often found rolling around in them. always a sheet ghost for halloween.

farley: goes to petting zoos & rides horses with clara. twins with her during halloween (i. e. princess & queen)

cameron: takes edgy leaf/tree pictures for Tumblr. rocks the sweater look. enjoys fall festivals, esp ferris wheels.

shade: looks good with wind in his hair. always has hot chocolate, enjoys pics of farley & clara together.

maven: stays inside, disliking the cold weather. barely goes to family get togethers. doesn't give out candy on halloween.

[agentmarymargaretskitz]

Whouffaldi + "Alright I’ll admit it, I might have gone a little far with the pumpkin spice, you said it was cute at first when I was sprinkling it in your coffee or mixing it in with the cake batter but now I’m seasoning everything with it and you’ve had enough." :)

(I used the quote more as inspiration)

“Doctor, we need to talk.”

“We do talk, Clara.” The Doctor looked up from the pumpkin spice latte he’d just taken a drink from. “We talk all the time.”

“I mean more specifically,” Clara said, setting down her own pumpkin spice flavored drink. “It’s about the pumpkin spice.”

“Isn’t it marvelous?”

Clara frowned. “Sure, but don’t you think you’ve gone a little overboard?’

The Doctor raised his eyebrows. “Overboard, you say?”

“It was cute at first,” Clara sighed. “But not everything you get for us has to be pumpkin spice flavored. Doctor, I love you but I’m tired of it.”

The timelord didn’t say anything for a few moments. Finally, he nodded and set down his cup. “Okay then. I just thought it’d be festive for the season.”

“I’m not saying you have to stop getting it,” Clara backtracked. “But at least get me something different. Pumpkin spice is way too sweet for me.”

“Really? I think it’s perfectly fine.”

“This is coming from the man who has enough sugar in his coffee to put a toddler on a sugar rush.”

Halloween Fest

[callofthxvoid]

WHERE: Main Street WHO: Cat Wayne ( @violenttempest )

"So, for bridesmaids I've got you, Pru, Wren and Sissy," Clara rattled off, adjusting her witch hat as they walked down the street together. "Jamie is asking his sibling Nick, his friend Arty, Celia, and Parker to be his groomsmen. I'm going to have Mrs. Nesbitt as the ring bearer, Jay as flower girl, and I'm going to ask Phoenix to walk me down the aisle." Pausing, she came to a stop as a realisation hit her. "I'm going to invite Hobbes, who will probably want to bring Matt and Hawk as dates. Is that okay with you?"

[ambercast]

Jamie Brennan attending the Pumpkin Festival as the barest minimum of effort (with Clara Jones, also wearing the barest minimum of effort)

[travelswithmyart]

To celebrate International Women’s Day I am posting some of my favourite paintings, sketches and photos of women from my travels over the years.

I would also like to remember those women closest to me, my friends, sisters, daughters and mum, who without whom I would be nothing.

Here’s to strong women

May we know them

May we be them

May we raise them

MY Paintings and Sketches

Women carrying water from Pushkar Lake

Women selling fruit and flowers in Anjuna Market, Goa, India.

Market scene in Dar Es Salaam

Portrait of an Akha Hill Tribe Women from Northern Laos

Sketch of a road side market in Dar Es Salaam

Woman in Souk Cherifia, Marrakech from my Morocco Sketchbook.

Women in the market in Merida, Mexico.

Women selling fruit in Sucre – from my South America sketchbook.

Women selling fish at Anjuna market in Goa, India.

Women at the Friday market in Damascus – from my Syria sketchbook.

Market Day in Sucre, Bolivia

Window shopping at a cloth market in Hyderabad, India.

Sketch of Central Market in Mwanza from my Tanzanian sketchbook

Summer in the City in Havana, Cuba.

Sketch of people inside Kivukoni Fish Market in Dar Es Salaam from my Tanzanian sketchbook

Coming home from market in Mwanza, Tanzania.

Woman selling limes at a floating market in Bangkok, Thailand.

Four women going into the Rustem Pasha Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey.

Woman selling flowers in Anjuna market, Goa – from my India sketchbook.

Women selling bananas in Kisii, Kenya

Woman and baby in Muang Sing, Northern Laos.

Three Tanzanian Women on the way to market

Teenagers in a park in Damascus, Syria.

Selling fruit at the floating market in Bangkok, Thailand.

Woman and baby in Pakbeng, Laos from my Indo-China Sketchbook

Dadas at Kivokoni Fish Market

MY Photographs 

Women selling jewellery on Vagator Beach in Goa, India

Carnival day in Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia

Sharing tea with Bedouin women in Petra in Jordan.

Women Washing on the Ghats in Banaras (Varanasi), India

Market sellers in Sucre, Bolivia.

Early morning rush at the market in Hoi An, Vietnam.

Two women buying bunches of flowers in Riga, Latvia

Early morning bargains at the Kivukoni Fish Market in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

Relaxing on the street in Trinidad, Cuba

Flowers in their hair, Midsummer in Sweden

Young girls in Havana, Cuba.

In a queue in Havana, Cuba

Women walking in rural Morocco

Russian paratroopers celebrating the 60th anniversary of the end of World War 2, with the help of a couple of Russian girls, in Moscow

Bolivian woman in La Paz

Folk singers wait their turn at Europeade the European Folk Festival in Riga, Latvia.

Bolivian baby enjoying an ice-cream in La Paz

Stone Town in Zanzibar, Tanzania

Girl in National Costume in Cuzco, Peru

Three little girls from Arwad Island, near Tartous, Syria.

Street scene in downtown Mombasa, Kenya

Folk singers wait their turn at Europeade the European Folk Festival in Riga, Latvia.

My female friends and family

The Davies Women, my sisters Lynne and Karol and my dear mum Vera

My best friend Carol Ann Lee with Anne Frank in Amsterdam, The Netherlands

My beautiful daughters Charlotte and Frida in Stockholm, Sweden

With my best friends, Tash, Clara and Nats in Norfolk, UK

With Faye at Palácio da Pena in Sintra, Portugal

My mum Vera with her two girls, the cats, Blakey and Pumpkin

Nats and Tash by the John Lennon Wall in Prague, Czech Republic

Lucy with her God-daughter Frida and Me.

The Davies Girls, Karol, Lynne, Ali and Vera (although one is now known as Dunnell) at the Mad Hatter���s Tea Party at the Sanderson Hotel in London

Ali and Cags waiting to see Morrissey in Manchester, England

With my best female friends and sisters at my wedding in Halifax, England

International Women’s Day – Here’s to Strong Women To celebrate International Women's Day I am posting some of my favourite paintings, sketches and photos of women from my travels over the years.

[keijay-blog]

New Post has been published on https://cookingtipsandreviews.com/the-ultimate-pecan-pie-bar-recipe/

The Ultimate Pecan Pie Bar Recipe

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Shortcut Coconut-Pecan Chocolate Tassies

You can garnish these cookies with pecan halves or a couple of chocolate chips before baking, or drizzle with a little melted chocolate after taking them out of the oven. —Deb Villenauve, Krakow, Wisconsin

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Caramel-Pecan Apple Pie

You’ll love the smell in your kitchen—and the smiles on everybody’s faces—when you make this scrumptious caramel apple pie recipe. It takes me back home to Virginia and being at my granny’s table. —Jean Castro, Phoenix, Arizona

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Pecan Pie Bars

These pecan pie bars are rich and delicious – just like pecan pie! They’re perfect for taking to potlucks and other gatherings…I always come home with an empty pan. —Carolyn Custer, Clifton Park, New York

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Chocolate Pecan Pie Snack Mix

My crowd-pleasing party mix is buttery, chocolaty and nutty. The recipe yields a party-size portion, but I recommend keeping it covered so it doesn’t disappear before the event. —Annette Niemiec, Scottsdale, Arizona

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Pecan Pie Mini Muffins

While these are delicious year-round, you could easily turn them into an edible Christmas gift. They look festive on a decorative tray wrapped in red or green cellophane or tucked into a giveaway cookie plate. And don’t forget to include the recipe so your recipient can enjoy this treat over and over again! —Pat Schrand, Enterprise, Alabama

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Buttermilk Pie with Pecans

Branch out from the usual pecan pie with a creamy-crunchy version that comes out of the oven golden brown. Big slices are even better with a dollop of whipped cream.—Kathy Harding, Richmond, Missouri

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Honey Pecan Cheesecake

Birthdays and holidays are great times for cheesecake, and Christmas is ideal for this particular one. In our annual church bake-off, it won first place! —Tish Frish, Hampden, Maine

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Pecan Butter Tarts

I searched for the perfect butter tart for ages. After many attempts, I discovered this favorite that begs for a scoop of ice cream on top. —Susan Kieboam, Streetsboro, Ohio

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Cherry Chocolate Pecan Pie

I’m a pie baker and this is one my family frequently requests. With the brandy infused cherries and chocolate chips, it’s an awesome twist on a pecan pie.—Sonya Labbe, Santa Monica, California

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Caramel-Pecan Pumpkin Pull-Aparts

We love sticky buns made with my husband’s angel biscuit dough, caramel and pecans. For a twist, try apple butter or applesauce instead of the pumpkin. —Carolyn Kumpe, El Dorado, California

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Ultimate Chocolate Chunk Pecan Pie

Our family hosts an annual barn party for our close friends, complete with a pie cook-off. A few years ago, this recipe won first prize! —Janice Schneider, Kansas City, Missouri

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Honey Pecan Triangles

I’ve been stirring up batches of these tasty bar cookies for many years, and they’re a big hit wherever I share them. The bars have all the goodness of pecan pie and are so easy to serve to a crowd. —Debbie Fogel, East Berne, New York

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Maple Pecan Pie

Our Vermont maple syrup can’t be beat, and this is one of my favorite pies. It’s also quick and easy to make.—Mildred Wescom, Belvidere, Vermont

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Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars

These yummy pecan bars start with a homemade pastry crust and pile on lots of semisweet chocolate. They’re perfect for a holiday bake sale or casual get-together.—Heather Biedler, Martinsburg, West Virginia

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Buttermilk Pecan Pie

This is the treasured “Golden Oldie” that my grandmother made so often whenever we’d come to visit. Grandma grew her own pecans, and we never tired of cracking them and picking out the meat when we knew we’d be treated to her special pie! —Mildred Sherrer, Fort Worth, Texas

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Caramel Pecan Shortbread

My grandchildren look for Grandma’s “candy bar cookies” every Christmas. I recommend doubling the recipe for these sweet treats because they go so fast. —Dorothy Buiter, Worth, Illinois

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Texas Pecan Pie

I won a blue ribbon for this pie at the Texas State Fair. In the military for over 20 years, I didn’t really start cooking until after I retired. Now I enjoy spending my time in the kitchen.—Michelle Shockley, Wichita, Kansas

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Maple Pecan Tarts

I absolutely love pecans. I combine them with maple and vanilla to create the ultimate tart, made even richer with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. —Redawna Kalynchuk, Barrhead, Alberta

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Raisin Pecan Pie

I remember my Grandmother Voltie and Great-Aunt Ophelia making this southern-style pie for Thanksgiving. It was always one of the many cakes and pies lined up for dessert. —Angie Price, Bradford, Tennessee

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Pumpkin Pie Tartlets with Maple Pecan Crust

After discovering I had multiple food sensitivities, I began developing holiday recipes that would be safe for me, but enjoyable for others, too. These tarts are delicious—with no gluten, eggs or dairy! —Chantale Michaud, Guelph, Ontario

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Coconut Pecan Pie

We top this with sliced bananas, whipped cream and more sliced bananas. It’s based on a recipe my mom got from a pot holder she bought at the Patti’s 1880s Settlement in Grand Rivers, Kentucky. —Jennifer Choisser, Paducah, Kentucky

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Pecan Pie Bars for a Crowd

I love to cook large quantities and do most of the cooking for our church functions. People seem to enjoy these scrumptious bars even more than pecan pie. —Clara Honeyager, North Prairie, Wisconsin

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Caramel Pecan Pie

This is hands down the best pecan pie—it’s so good, it’s scary! I’m making it for Thanksgiving because there will be others around to share it with me. Here’s the trick: Toss the bag of caramels to your kid or spouse and promise they can eat whatever is left after they unwrap your 36 caramels. —Larry Crowder, Grand Blanc, Michigan

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Pumpkin Pie Bars

These bars taste like a cross between pumpkin pie and pecan pie—yum! If you can’t find butter cake mix, yellow cake mix works. —Sue Draheim, Waterford, Wisconsin

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Honey Pecan Pie

Looking for a sweet ending to a special meal? This attractive pecan pie is bound to please with its traditional filling and honey-glazed pecans. —Cathy Hudak, Wadsworth, Ohio

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Caramel Pecan Cheesecake

I created this creamy cheesecake using two favorites—caramel and pecans. It’s a stunning cake that rivals any I’ve tasted. —Deidre Sizer, Cedarville, Ohio

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Velvety Chocolate Butter Pecan Pie

Serious dessert lovers go nuts over this one that combines the best of two classics: pecan pie and chocolate pie. Bittersweet chocolate tames the sweetness and adds a richness that is simply irresistible. —Helen Fields, Springtown, Texas

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Toffee Pecan Bars

Curl up with a hot cup of coffee and one of these treats. The golden topping and flaky crust give way to the heartwarming taste of old-fashioned pecan pie. —Dianna Croskey, Gibsonia, Pennsylvania

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Pecan Pie Thumbprints

A good buttery dough and nutty filling take time to make, but the results are so worth it. After munching on a few, I think you’ll agree.— Peggy Key, Grant, Alabama

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Molasses-Bourbon Pecan Pie

Guests’ mouths water when they glimpse this southern charmer. Its flaky crust perfectly complements the rich, nutty filling. —Charlene Chambers, Ormond Beach, Florida

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Berry Nut Tarts

Cranberries are a delicious addition to this spin on individual pecan pies. Folks have a hard time eating only one. —Lena Ehlert, Vancouver, British Columbia

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Li’l Pecan Pies

These tempting little tarts have all the rich traditional taste of a full-size pecan pie in a much smaller package. The tarts are perfect for two. —Christine Boitos, Livonia, Michigan

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Salted Pecan Shortbread Squares

My shortbread squares are the ultimate go-to for cookie trays and gift-giving. The buttery caramel and toasted nuts make it a tough to eat just one. —Diana Ashcraft, Monmouth, Oregon

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Bourbon Chocolate Pecan Pie

When my fiance first made this chocolate bourbon pecan pie for me, I declared it to be the best pie ever! Creamy chocolate combines with crunchy nuts in a great, gooey filling. —Tanya Taylor, Cary, North Carolina

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Pecan Tassies

These tarts are very good for parties and special occasions. You’ll probably want to double the recipe, because they’ll disappear in a hurry! —Joy Corie, Ruston, Louisiana

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Chewy Pecan Pie Bars

This is one of my husband’s favorite recipes, and he suggested I send it in to your contest. I’ve been making it for many years. —Judy Taylor, Shreveport, Louisiana

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Cranberry Pecan Pie

I first prepared this pie at Thanksgiving to share with my co-workers. It was such a success! Now I freeze cranberries while they are in season so that I can make it year-round. —Dawn Liet Hartman, Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania

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[hawaiiirl]

Fall break a great time to visit California’s Great America

October is a great time to visit California’s Great America! The weather is pleasant, and the lines are short.

California’s Great America is a 100-acre theme and water park located in Santa Clara, Calif. As long as I can remember, it’s been Northern California’s premier amusement park, featuring thrill rides, live entertainment, and the Boomerang Bay water park.

On a sunny Saturday, we spent half a day escorting my 11-year-old and her nine-year-old friend, Sophie.

Because the crowds are low, we were able to take in the whole park in four hours.

Consider buying the Fast Pass, which will let you skip to the front of the lines. While the queues are extremely short, the more popular rides had maybe a dozen people waiting. Maybe it saved us ten or 15 minutes.

Olivia wanted me to take at least one ride with her, so we went on Flight Deck (formerly called Top Gun). Twenty-five years old this year, it puts riders through a 360-degree vertical loop, two 270-degree after burn turns, a full-circle wingover and a zero gravity roll at 50-miles-per-hour.

I needed to wait a while to take my second ride on Gold Striker. Built in 2013, Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards has named it one of the world’s Top 10 wooden coasters every year since its launch.

It is the tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster in Northern California, standing 108.2 feet high and traveling 53.7 miles per hour. Gold Striker’s signature initial descent tunnel is the longest on any wooden coaster and keeps riders in the dark on night rides.

That pretty much did it for my husband and me, and we were thankful the girls had each other to go on the rest of the rides.

Now I get why my mom would always sit out the rides when she took me to theme parks. I used to not understand why she didn’t love it. I’ve become my mother.

The girls’ favorite ride was Tiki Twirl, an unusual ride that has people both spinning in circles on a disc coaster while going back and forth across a rolling track. They used their Fast Pass to ride that twice.

The adults’ favorite ride was Mass Effect: New Earth. Created thorugh a partnership with Electronic Arts, it features settings and characters from EA’s critically acclaimed Mass Effect videogame series developed by BioWare.

You sit in a theater, but the seats move, and 3D glasses make the action on the screen pop out realistically. Fans, water spritzes, and scented air add to the effect of journeying to another world (while fighting enemies and nearly crashing). A live performer pretending to be the ship captain narrates the ride. The attraction features the largest and highest resolution 3D LED screen in the world with incredible 4K resolution and more than eight million pixels on the screen.

If you do go in October, California’s Great America offers Halloween Haunt on the weekends through October 28. Monsters abound in eight haunted mazes, each with its own frightening theme, plus three scare zones.

New for 2018, the Tooth Fairy maze leads guests on a terrifying journey through the twisted world of a dental fiend in search of loose teeth who drags people from their bedrooms and into a nightmarish dentist’s office. Also new in 2018 is Ripper’s Revenge scare zone, where guests encounter a mob of villains who are dead set on taking over old-town London- and running off any guests who stand in their way.

Madame Marie’s Blackout, Backwoods, Chaos House, CornStalkers, Roadkill Roadhouse, Wax Museum Chamber of Horrors, and Zombie High, Jester Town, and Feary Tales return in 2018.

Younger kids can delight in The Great Pumpkin Fest during daytime hours on weekends September 29–October 28 (closed October 7, 20 and 21). Featuring trick-or-treating with Snoopy and the PEANUTS gang, pumpkin decorating, a hay maze and coloring, this event brings Halloween activities to life for the entire family. Great America will also entertain with “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” movie showings and book readings throughout the day.

Tickets for Halloween Haunt and The Great Pumpkin Fest (separate from the daily ticket) are available now and can be purchased at www.cagreatamerica.com. Gold Passholders get unlimited visits.

Guests looking to enhance their Halloween Haunt experience can purchase a Fright Lane pass to scream past the regular lines and gain one-time front of the line access for each haunted maze. All students can receive discounted Halloween Haunt admission by showing their valid student ID.

The girls are at an in-between age where they were too young to want to go to the Halloween Haunt, but too old to want the little kids’ festival, so we didn’t do either, but I’d have gone if I could have as I like a controlled fright now and then.

If you have children, or if you like thrill rides, California’s Great America is a must-visit. It was Olivia’s trip highlight!

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[callofthxvoid]

CELIA has been focused on taking care of her family and getting Bucky's Diner back into full working order. For the first week, the diner operated under reduced hours because she insisted on giving all of her employees time off to deal with the aftermath of the earthquake, as well as to mourn Sammie's death. The diner is now back to being open during normal business hours and she has taken on more work there as a result.

When she is not at the diner or the dancehall, she is either at home with Cal and the kids, checking in on Mo and Eagan, taking Felipe to see Jay, or hosting family dinner.

CLARA has been filling in as Head Ranger while Rusty is recovering from his injuries. Her time has been largely occupied by work, including manning the watchtowers as usual, monitoring the crack on the main street, and figuring out how to best operate with a reduced number of rangers without overworking everyone. Any time she has left over is spent with Jamie, visiting her injured coworkers, and taking care of Jay.

DAHLIA has been exclusively splitting her time between the fire station and her house. She is upset about DJ and Val going back to work despite both being injured, but she understands that the rangers are undermanned as it is and that it cannot be helped, and is doing her best to keep things running at home so that her husband can at least rest when he's there. She also extends a dinner invitation to Val and Bella every day.

Meanwhile, Alexa has been helping her mother by yelling at anyone that she doesn't recognise who tries to talk to her—telling them that Dahlia is busy and that they have to wait their turn if they need anything. It's a sweet gesture, even if it's a little hostile.

Unsurprisingly, PENNY has been absolutely fine. She has spent ninety percent of her time with Bastián and the other ten percent entertaining herself with her various toys.

VAL has been working as a ranger, healing from her injuries, and ignoring anything that had to do with her messy love life and its documentation in the gossip column—including some of the people that were mentioned with her (read: Hunter). Other than that, she has been eating dinner with the Cruz-Duttons every other day, staying at Cain's place every night, and spending time with Mo whenever she is able to.

YVETTE has temporarily moved in with Edgar to help while he is recovering from his injuries. Her focus has been entirely on taking care of him, taking care of the people spending time at his place, and keeping the elementary school running. At Eddie's insistence, she took exactly one night off to go on a date with someone. It was nice.

ZARINA has mainly been helping people at the commune—mostly Xander, Lia, and Wylie—with anything that they might need help with as they grieve Minnie. She has also been doing her part to keep the commune running in Sunflower's absence while keeping a careful eye on how the situation develops now that Raz has moved in.

Other than that, she has prioritised spending time with Halley and visiting Duck at the clinic. She drove him home in the truck when he was allowed to leave (read: when they could no longer keep him there) and has been helping out at the house since then.

Oh, and she went monogamous with Knightley. That is also a thing that happened.

[callofthxvoid]

Pumpkin Festival Outfit: Clara Jones

Witch

Her normal clothes with a witch hat and a pumpkin necklace. That's literally it. She is doing the bare minimum and she is only doing that because Jay asked.