Travel

We must go beyond textbooks,
go out into the bypaths
and untrodden depths of the wilderness
and travel and explore
and tell the world the glories of our journey.
-John Hope Franklin

Day 23

Gloria from Crochet Galore passed this Sunshine Award my way today.

And let me tell you, we need it around here. This is what our weather looks like today.

Dust, dust and more dust. The kind that just hangs in the air.

I took these pictures while at school today.

It's just awful! But the good news is, tomorrow we leave for Sri Lanka. A full day of school and work and then we head to the airport. And yes, I still have packing to do, but for now I really need to go to bed. This laptop sounds like a lawnmower at the moment and I'm ready to throw it against the wall.

Thanks Glor for the sunshine award! Since this will be my last post until we return from our trip, I wish you all a bit of sunshine in your corner of the world. Peace & blessings, Tammy

Monday, Monday

Remember that song by the Mamas and the Papas?

Monday, Monday, can't trust that day,
Monday, Monday, sometimes it just turns out that way.
Oh Monday mornin you gave me no warnin of what was to be
Oh Monday, Monday, how could you leave and not take me ....

This Monday morning found me taking Zack to the doctor.

We were number 26 (a good number as my birthday is February 26th and Zack's is October 26th). Thankfully the first 24 patients had been there much earlier so our wait wasn't long at all. I kept him home yesterday thinking the extra day of rest would help, but it didn't work out that way. His left lymph node is totally swollen and filled with yucky stuff. Now he is taking antibiotic every 12 hours and a throat spray 3 times a day.

He missed his baseball game on Friday (his team lost big time) and baseball practice this afternoon. (Isn't this little baseball cup cute? My mom saved it for me from umpty-ump years ago. I forget how she got it -- a freebie in clothes detergent or something. The bottom doesn't have a date but it was made in Dayton OH.) The doctor says Zack should stay home tomorrow too which means he'll miss his class field trip. He just received an award last week at school for perfect attendance. So much for that.

He's drinking tea to help soothe his throat and having soup or soft foods as it is hard to swallow.

I haven't been sleeping well the past couple of nites so feeling extra tired today. When I got home from school just basically vegged, rolled balls of yarn for a new crochet project even though I haven't finished so many others I've started.

Think I will definitely go to bed early. Tomorrow afternoon I must pack as we leave right after school on Wednesday for the airport.

Every other day (every other day), every other day
Every other day of the week is fine yeah


Hope you are having a fabulous day! Peace & blessings, Tammy

School Days

My mom kept this book for me from the time I was in kindergarten until I graduated high school.

Here I am in my kindergarten graduation gown.

Check out that signature. I can only say it went downhill from this stage.

In 1st grade, I think I went to school in my granny gown. This is also the year that my mom used Toni perm rods on my hair.

And in second grade, I forgot to take off my poncho for the school photo.

I received by brownie pin this year and wanted to be a ballerina when I grew up. Don't know what I was thinking as I never took any ballet lessons growing up. Maybe it is every little girl's dream.

In third and fourth grade, I received awards for physical fitness. Third grade was for the flex arm hang and 4th grade was for track & field.

Look at this face. How could I have received a paddling in 4th grade? Yes, those were the days of wood paddles and spankings. Somehow crawling around on the floor tying the boys shoes together during a film presentation was not acceptable behavior. I was a troublemaker for sure. Or was I a rebel?

Ironically, I wanted to be a school teacher at that time. I don't have many clear memories from growing up, but I do remember 4th grade.

Fifth grade found me wearing a very shabby chic dress. Who knew!

I also received a nomination to the summer gifted program at USL but didn't make it that year.

In 6th grade, I was in Honor Chorus and wanted to be a singer.

It's so funny to me that my memories of those years are so fleeting. I have very distinct memories of certain moments, and then there is a span of no memory at all. I do love going back through this memory book of my school years. Each year has a pocket of memories, report cards and other things that my mom saved. Apparently, I talked too much for many years; sometimes my grades were above average, and other times, well, they were not so good. I am so thankful that my mom kept this book for me. Even my kids are enjoying the walk down memory lane (especially when, somehow, they think it benefits them -- when they can say, see mom........")

Memory... is the diary that we all carry about with us. ~Oscar Wilde, "The Importance of Being Earnest

Peace & blessings, Tammy

Pink Saturday Memories, Treats and Joy

Hope everyone is having a super Saturday. Zack hasn't been feeling well since Thursday evening; missed his baseball game yesterday morning; and I'm doing everything I can to try and get him better without going to the doctor. He has a sore throat, fever off and on, dizziness and some vomiting due to headaches. If he's not better by tomorrow, then I guess I'll have to take him in. We leave Wednesday for Sri Lanka so he needs to be all better by then. Today I've just been cleaning and doing some organizing. I came across this pretty birthday card my mom sent me 2 years ago.

She doesn't ever just send a signed card. There's always some article or cartoon or little bits that she's cut from something else and glued inside.

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A friend from Amsterdam came in last nite and brought this lovely box of chocolates and a tin of traditional wafers from Holland. Both packages are just so pretty. Love the blue and white tin.

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And this is Jingles! You've all met her many times before. Today she has something very special to share with you!

Something that she loves so very much!

Something that brings her such joy.

Such pleasure!

It's her pink comb! I bought this years ago at Meijers in Michigan. If Jingles is across the room and I just hold it up for her to see, she comes running. Sometimes she meows and meows and leads me into the bathroom so that I can get it for her.

Afterwards, she is so relaxed that its time for a nap!

Speaking of naps, it is actually bedtime around here, so off I go! Have a great day! Peace & blessings, Tammy

Birthday Shout Outs

Today I'd like to give some shout outs to several lovely ladies who are having birthdays.

Dee Dee from Dee Dee's Craft Spot
Sharon from A Fanciful Life
Brenda from Cozy Little House

If you get a chance, stop by and wish them a very happy day! Peace & blessings, Tammy

A Wonderful Journey on Thankful Thursday

Good Thursday to one and all. This evening my friend Kathy and I went to visit The House of Mirrors. It is a small museum in the residential home of Lydia Al Qattan, an artist who came to Kuwait from Italy. Her husband, now deceased, was a renowned Kuwaiti artist. I have heard of this place, but in 15 years of being here, this was my first visit. Let me just say it is awe-inspiring! Every surface is covered in a mosaic of mirrors. Each room has a theme. She explained the process, the family stories and history behind her designs, and was so quirky and lovable. She described the tour as a journey. It was that and more! So please, sit back, relax and enjoy the journey through pictures (although they don't do justice to her amazing work). Something you definitely need to see to believe!

THE HOUSE

WORLD HALL (The kitchen)

PLANET EARTH HALL (The living room)

UNIVERSE HALL (bedroom)

SEA WORLD HALL (Bathroom)

KNOWLEDGE HALL (Library)

This beautiful stairwell ...

Led us to a gallery upstairs. I did not take a lot of pictures in this space. I did snap a photo of these wonderful pieces -- their bodies are made from the blades of a ceiling fan.


I am thankful that I was given the opportunity to visit this beautiful home. What an absolute treasure it is. Wishing you all much peace, joy and many, many blessings, Tammy