Monday, November 2, 2009

Tuesday Tidings and Thankful Challenge

"I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy." (Rabindranath Tagore)
Tuesday blessings to one and all! Below are pics of my packaged baked goods for the Operation Bake sale. I recycled and used things I already had on hand rather than running out and buying containers.





I especially love the Scarecrow tote -- it is a recycled rice box, scrapbook paper and seam binding for the handle.

Do you know what these are?

A tote and purse made from "plarn" (plastic bags which are cut into strips and then crocheted together). A lovely lady here named Maria has taught ladies in shelters at the embassies here how to make these wonderful items. It gives them a sense of purpose and accomplishment and money from the sales goes back to the shelter. Fantastic work! They even use the plarn to decorate wire coat hangers.

Last nite we went to a Palestinian Exhibition of handicrafts. The Palestinians are well-known for their cross-stitched items and each region has its own style and colors. This exhibition is a way to preserve the handicraft and raise money for a good cause. I was not allowed to take pictures, but here are some of the beautiful items I purchased. All money raised goes to help women and children in the Palestinian refugee camps.




I would like to take this time to tell you about the Thankful Challenge that I learned about from QueenMotherMamaw http://queenmothermamaw.blogspot.com/ You can see the button for it at the top of my sidebar. The challenge comes from http://southbreezefarm.blogspot.com/ and we are to take a moment every day to list the things that we are thankful for.
I am thankful for the sun each day,

for friends we meet along the way,

I'm thankful for my morning cup

And the coffee that helps to wake me up!

Our Japanese friend, Mr. Saito, has been visiting from Dubai where he lives/works. Sunday nite, we went to my favorite Indian restaurant, Rangoli, and last nite to Fusion for Japanese food.

He gave the kids a interactive cd-rom so they can learn Japanese. We hope to one day visit him and his family in Japan.

“Each morning sees some task begin, Each evening sees it close; Something attempted, something done, Has earned a night's repose." (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

I hope that everyone is having a terrific Tuesday! Peace & blessings, Tammy

15 comments:

GwendolynKay said...

HELLO SUNSHINE!!
I am always amazed at your creativity. That plarn looks very interesting. I did some crocheting and knitting last night while watching tv. Tell the boys I want them to teach me some japanese next year. A new door picture! yeah!
Blessings and love always!
Gwen

Diary From Africa said...

Thanks for a lovely post ... and photo's .... loved the quotes you used, too. Hope you're having a fabulous Tuesday in your corner of the world :)

Michelle said...

Such a fun post! Hey, when you use that plairn do they tie the ends together? I am on a crochet kick and that does sound interesting. Love all your recycled containers!

Rostrose said...

Great post again, dear Tammy!
Thanks a lot!
Hugst, Traude
PS: I also hope I can travel to Japan one day. Must be a very interesting country!

crochet lady said...

Peace and Blessing to you to Tammy.

Love the things you made, those bags are fun and a good way to put to use all those plastic bags that seem to be floating around.

Anonymous said...

What a fantastic blog for today. Makes up for not being able to post yesterday!! HA! Your recycled cereal boxes are fantastic. I love what you do with your creativity. I would buy the cookies just for the box they came in. Your plarn bags are incredible. I cannot believe they are made out of plastic bags. REALLY amazing what people can do with the simplest of supplies. The craft fair you went to sounds perfect. What a lovely way to spend your time. I wish I had known about things like this when I was with you in Kuwait. Such a good cause... Mr. Saito looks like a really nice guy. Basked on the pictures, I am thinking you have enjoyed having him in Kuwait to show around. Hope you get a chance to visit him in his home country one day. I hope the kids get working on that Japanese. Good for Mr. Saito for giving them such a educational, useful gift. LOVE the door picture and the new look to the blog! Have a great day!!!!!!!

Renee

Draffin Bears said...

Lovely post Tammy.
Like it that you have recycled so much - over here they have a Junk to Funk fashion show and kids have made outfits out of plastic bags.
Good for your children learning Japanese and I hope that you will get to go there.
Great idea writing down all the things that we are thankful for ~ so much.

Hugs
Carolyn

Anonymous said...

You have me saving cereal boxes now!!

I love you sharing about the shelter making the totes. We minister in SE Co in small towns with very high unemployment and welfare. We have been praying for ways that maybe we can help the people help themselves in some way- instead of always taking to somehow give back in small ways and feel good about doing something for others. It is a hard go as so many have been so beat down for so long but we know God is able and desiring to change lives!

Martha's Favorites said...

You have the most amazing life. I don't know how you do it. You just seem to make each day special and meaningful. Blessings to you too, Martha

Elaine said...

Hello--Enjoyed your blog so much today. Makes me want to do some new things. You are getting so crafty-- I have been saving my boxes since early spring to use and decorate as christmas gift boxes. Glad to see the plastic bags being used instead of thrown in the trash. You certainly don't live a dull life. hugs lol

Candy said...

Clever resourcefulness. I too, always looking for new ways to use items. And plarn is a new one on me...great.
Being thankful is a healthy thing, good reminder and nice quotes.
And Japan, we were just talking last night about visiting Japan. My son is interested in all the technology. Hubby was there last year to give a talk at a conference and he was sharing about a market he went to...tech overload.
Last we I had a western show...today a German one.
Happy Wednesday Fraulein!

Melissa said...

Hey Tammy!
Yes! Very inspiring you are. I also had a lovely comment the other day when I brought in gifts of no bake cookies wrapped in a pink floral napkin....Tonya had said that I was taking your place. I was honored to be compared to you. That means I spread some happiness around just like you did:) Seems like you've been busy the last few days. It was a very nice blog to catch up on. I will take you up on the challenge and list a few things I am thankful for.
1. I am thankful for the roof over my head.
2. I am thankful for friends like you.
3. I am sooooo thankful that I have a Starbucks around the corner of my house and a Dunkin Donuts (for coffee) down the street.
4. I am thankful that my kids still like to give mom hugs and kisses in the morning.
AND I am thankful that God gives me the energy to get out that door in the morning:)

Like the new look on your page. Looks a little Kuwaitized. Was that the plan? I would have never guessed that those bags were the plarn ones you were talking about.....dang...they're pretty good. Loved how you decorated the bags for your baked goods. I bet they sold that hotcakes.

Linda said...

I loved reading about your items of thankfulness... I've felt for years that there needs to be more emphasis on THANKSGIVING.

Love the items you made - you're a talented lady.

Jessica @ Sunny Tuesday said...

I love how you upcycled what you had into containers for the bake sale! It is so inspiring to see what ideas all my bloggy friends come up with!

Anonymous said...

Those are some Wonderful quotes, Tammy. Good food for the mind and soul.
You see some fascinating sights over there a world away.
The gifted necklace is beautiful!
I love that they teach the women in the shelters how to crochet and make useful things.
It's so sad to think about them and others (even in rich America) being homeless.
Blessings to you!

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