So I know I have been perfectly awful at updating this lately...my bad :( I've just forgotten and quite honestly my life has been boring. We did not go on any trips for about a month and me and the roommates have just been going Senior Design crazy.
Here are some fun tidbits from the past few weeks before I get to the past weekend: I've been baking! We tried banana bread brownies with brown sugar frosting. Mama- you know when we eat some pecan pie batter? Yeah that's what brown sugar frosting tastes like i.e. DELICIOUS! Then I did old fashioned donut muffins, which Nathan decided was my crowning achievement. I was quite proud of them needless to say and they were quite yummy.
I registered for my final semester of classes at Purdue! Quite scary, but also quite awesome. I have a very nice schedule, especially since I'm at 12 credit hours and one of those in online. I'm excited to get a job (woo moneyyy) and have fun with friends during my last semester.
We also had an epic time at Halloween. We went as the cast of Peter Pan :) Bridget went as Tinkerbell so we got her glitter and she kept tossing it on everyone all night, I think I'm still finding glitter places around our apartment. We forgot to buy it until the last minute though, so we went in between classes on Halloween to go get some, and we were having trouble so we asked some people and they told us to take the lift to the top floor of the shopping mall and there's a craft store called Hickey's (read Hobby Lobby) where we could find the glitter/ribbon/hat materials. So Bridget and I get in and go up to the top floor, but then the doors open and it's like a storage area and there's just this lady in a cow costume with a push cart just standing there and I jumped and got scared ha :) We were obviously on the wrong floor so we went down one and found Hickey's which was awesome! We even found green felt so that we could make Nathan a hat for Peter Pan. The only one missing from the picture is Lily, who went as a pirate :)
Figure 1: Halloween! Back row: Eric as Captain Hook, Me as Wendy, Bridget as Tinkerbell
Front row: Annie as Mr. Smee, Nathan as Peter Pan
This past weekend we went to the Rock of Cashel and Cahir Castle in County Tipperary. They were gorgeous! We went to Cahir Castle on Saturday, taking the bus from Galway. The castle was originally the stronghold of the Butler family and most of it is conserved. We got to walk around the walls and climb into the different towers and living areas. They also had some history sections: Women in medieval Ireland and a siege on the castle in the 1600s.
Figure 2: Area looking down to around castle.
Figure 3: Model of siege on the castle.
We then took the bus from Cahir to Cashel. Once we got there we did what all adventurous 20 something year olds do...we napped. In my defense I was really tired and bus rides are tiring! Then we went to dinner at a pizza place and I am slowly learning my love of Hawaiian pizza. Traveling and living with three guys has led to certain harsh critiques of my pickiness, especially in terms of pizza, so I've become more adventurous. Then we went to a pub and played card games, Eric and I taught them black magic which was hilarious because Matt kept thinking he had it right but he was somehow always wrong. I learned the rules to Blackjack as well, so now I have the desire to go to a casino :)
Sunday morning we went up and went to the Rock of Cashel. It was originally built as the stronghold for the Kings of Munster in ancient Ireland. But, after the country's conversion to Christianity it was given to the archbishop and served as his seat until it fell into disuse. It has a main cathedral, chapel, and many are buried there. One of the main sights to see is St. Patrick's cross, which is from the 12th century. Sometimes when you go to places like this you get caught up in the size of the structures and you forget to take in the little details. Like the stone work on the pillars and sides of the chapel, it looks so smooth and almost like the rock was always that way, and then you remember that somehow had to chisel stone to achieve the look. Definitely not an easy task. Churches are always my favorite cultural sights to visit, they are always so gorgeous and intricate.
Figure 4: Outside of the Cathedral
Figure 5: St. Patrick's Cross
Figure 6: View looking out over the countryside.
Figure 7: Some of the beautiful stone work in the chapel.
Overall this weekend was perfect :) Exactly what I needed before I started this week! I have lots of work to do for classes this week, especially since I am trying to work ahead before Lauren gets here next Saturday! I am so excited for her to visit we are getting to see lots and she will be here over Thanksgiving!!! And then after she's gone I have two weeks of finals and then my Mama gets here! It's all wrapping up so quick, I can't believe it.
That's all for now folks! Sorry my life has been so boring that I haven't been posting anything. I'll keep you updated on the last month here -- crazy! I'm excited to get home for Christmas, but I also know that I will miss it here!
All my love,
Amy Liz
