Two Weeks from Today

I had a feeling the summer holiday would fly by this year, but I didn't realize just how fast.

We enjoyed our 10-day trip to Nepal ... from swimming at the hotel pool, to visiting temples ...

and monasteries ...

riding ...

hiking ...

feasting on Nepalese cuisine ...

seeing a dance show ...

chatting with street vendors ...

shopping ...

and stopping for refreshment.

To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment. Jane Austen

In exactly two weeks from today, I will head back to my admin job at school. I had a to-do list at the beginning of the summer of all the things I wanted to get done, but I've not accomplished a thing. Instead, I am doing a whole lot of this ...

Trying new recipes (Apples and Pears posted a recipe for Yoghurt Pot Cakes; I like the simplicity of the recipe; added vanilla, dried cranberries and coconut to the mix) ...

and enjoyed them with coffee this morning. There is no shade here. At 10 am this morning, the temperature was already up to 109 degrees. It is now a balmy 118 degrees.

The rat race will begin soon enough, so until then, I will relax and not feel guilty about what is left undone.

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend. Friendship blessings, Tammy

Weekend Happenings

A lovely sunset on Thursday marked the end of another day and the beginning of the weekend.

Yesterday we had lunch at Buffalo's Cafe. According to their website, there are 50+ restaurants in the US and Puerto Rico. Kuwait was the first in the Middle to East to open a chain in 2001. Since then, 3 more have opened and there is one in Saudi Arabia.

This one used to be in a smaller building but they've moved to a bigger and brighter space which makes it much more inviting.

I had Juanita's Fajita Salad with grilled shrimp. (I wonder who Juanita is.)

A trip to Bida'a Antiques after lunch. I just love browsing even if I don't buy a thing.














It's been a quiet day. Our internet has been very slow lately so I am lucky to have gotten these photos to upload. Hope you are having a great day in your corner of the world. Peace & blessings, Tammy

Simple Pleasures: One Small Bloom

With temperatures above 110 every day, I thought my moss roses had finished their blooming season, but yesterday morning this one tiny flower popped out to say hello.

"If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change.” Buddha quotes (Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta, the founder of Buddhism, 563-483 B.C.)

For more simple pleasures, visit Dayle at A Collection of This and That.



Have a beautiful day! Friendship blessings, Tammy

Seeing Red

Our internet was very slow yesterday which made uploading impossible.


It was even hard to view blogs at one point so I resorted to trying out patterns that I had previously bookmarked; like this pretty little drawstring bag.

You can find the pattern over at Chalky's World. They will be great for filling with gifts for the holidays.

Last week I tried out this pattern for a heart dishcloth. Can't remember where I got the pattern, but I will say it drove me crazy. Even though I was sure I was doing it right, I could not get the hearts to line up. My first one was a bust, but this second one came out much better -- there's only one lopsided heart (please tell me you see the hearts; hubby said he could only see lumps!!!).

Leftover yarn is used to whip up these simple hearts.

I made this little Love pillow earlier in the month. Can you believe July is almost over?

"It is not how much you do, but how much love you put in the doing."

Have a wonderful Wednesday! Friendship blessings, Tammy

Peas, Peppers and Pretty Things

One of my favorite meals is brown rice, black eyed peas and banana peppers. When I worked in New Orleans and would get home from work late, it was my go to for a quick meal (without the rice).

When that jar of banana peppers is empty, I know just want to do with it after seeing this post at Signed With an Owl. Since my attempts at the African flower pillow weren't working out, I frogged it to the size of the bottom of my jar, and then made up the sides as I went along. A nice way to dress up an old jar which will eventually be filled with flowers and gifted to friends and co-workers.

Tin cans get a quick paint job and then a crocheted cozy to dress them up. I think I will fill them with candies and chocolates.

Even though these clouds are blocking the sun's rays, it is still 117 out there, so I am keeping busy inside.

Jingles can only dream of going outside.

Wishing you all a great start to a new week. Friendship blessings, Tammy

Beating the heat and a whole lot of sweet

We normally have very dry heat here. When there is humidity, it is suffocating.

Currently it is 10:45 am and 109 degrees with only 9% humidity.

Hubby did not walk last night. When he walked Friday evening, he came back and said he felt like his insides were boiling. It was 111 degrees at the time.

There are not many visitors to my balconies these days. The odd dove will come along every now and then.

But it is lizard season. I still need to water the plants on my balconies and Jingles still insists on going outside in the evenings, but if I leave the door open for longer than a split second, little critters find their way in.

I caught a tiny one in my bedroom the other day and put it back outside (can you see him hiding in there?). The other one must have had a run in with Jingles as I found it tail-less and belly up.

Lots of sweet, juicy fruit is being consumed. I've not seen such flat nectarines before but they are exceptionally sweet and don't stay in the bowl long.



If you like a mix of sweet and salty, halloumi cheese and pear is delicious!

You can find me here surrounded by color and crochet.

The giant granny square on the sofa is one that belonged to my Mammaw. When she died, it was sent to me along with a red and white one that is in the kids room. I'm not sure who made them but I am very happy that they are here with me now.

Hope you are having a great weekend. Friendship blessings, Tammy

Blogger Kindness and Granny Square Success

How beautiful a day can be
When kindness touches it!
~George Elliston

Several years ago, I made my first attempt at a granny square. At the time, I just wanted to make simple baby washcloths, but for the life of me, I couldn't figure out the darn pattern. More recently, I've tried again, would get to a certain point where it just didn't make sense, the increasing was not working out, so I frogged the messy part and gave up.

When I saw the giant granny square challenge over at Le Monde de Sucrette, I was inspired to give it a go once again. Who wouldn't be inspired by this gorgeousness?

Twyla at Two Crazy Crafters had joined the challenge and posted her completed project the other day. Isn't it beautiful ??? !!!

She even sent an email and offered to help me with figuring out the granny square. I mentioned to her that I had come across a pattern at Tangled Happy, and was gonna try one more time, but if I had a problem, I would be in touch.

Finally success! Why do some patterns have to be so fussy? Not everyone makes their granny squares this way, but this was so simple and just what I needed and I am so happy (my husband didn't quite get the joy I felt when I finally started going round and round)! Thank you Tangled Happy for the pattern and thank you Twyla for your offer to help.

Another pattern I've been wanting to try is the African Flower. Marilyn at Room on the Left has created a gorgeous pillow using that design.

She was also kind enough to offer to help me step by step when my attempts were not working out.

Why is it my center does not look like a flower? I guess practice makes perfect. Maybe I'll figure this one out in the next few years. :)

Have a great day! Friendship blessings, Tammy