Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Tea and Thank You's on Tuesday

I'm joining Kimmie at Art in Red Wagons for Tea on Tuesday. A friend gave me a small package of Strawberry tea that goes perfectly with ...

my strawberry dessert. I found a sheet pound cake recipe over at Happier Than a Pig in Mud so baked it up and then topped it with fresh strawberries and a bit of Activia Stirred Yogurt sweetened with honey. Yummo!

Now for the thank you's! On July 27th, I received the Sunshine Award from LoveStitch, a sweet blogger in Vietnam who is always crocheting up something new and sharing patterns too. Her latest design is a puffy cell phone cozy. I definitely want to try out the puff stitch. Thank you LoveStitch for your kind words.

And a big thank you to Shanda who blogs from California. She kindly passed on the Versatile Blogger Award. Shanda is the child of missionaries who grew up in Zambia and married a Zimbabwean. She has lived in 7 different countries in Africa and Central America and has run the Boston Marathon twice. You can visit her thought-provoking blog A Pause on the Path.

Since I have had recent visitors wondering how I am where I am, I thought I would take this opportunity to say thank you to LoveStitch and Shanda and share a bit about myself.
  1. I was born in Mississippi and grew up in Texas and Louisiana. (Being a Southern gal, California always seemed like foreign land to me. I've never been to California, but look where I am now.)
  2. I worked as a legal secretary for 10 years before coming to Kuwait (I love, love, love to type and worked for a law firm where 100 page briefs were the norm).
  3. Hubby and I met on a blind date in New Orleans. He was there visiting his college roommate for a couple of days and we went out only once. He went back to where he was living in West Virginia and proceeded to call me for the next couple of weeks; asked me to visit him over the 4th of July weekend that year, so I did. That was 19 years ago and, as they say, the rest is history.
  4. I did not immediately agree to come to Kuwait. In fact, I said No, No, No! I finally agreed to come for 2 years; we got married and I arrived here Christmas Eve, 1994. There is much I don't like and I never dreamed I would live outside the US. Turns out, this is the longest I have ever lived any one place in my life.

  5. We were married in October and both our boys are born in October. They will be 16 and 13 in just 2 months and that is unbelievable to me. My how time flies!
  6. My husband is originally Palestinian but was born and raised in Kuwait. His parents have both since passed away and he is now running the paper company and printing press that his dad started 30 years ago. It's hard for him to give up his dad's dream.
  7. I taught kindergarten for 7 years and then did substitution work for a year before being offered a job as secretary to the Superintendent of the American school my kids attend. I've been there 4 years now and love it. My boss is from Nova Scotia and is so appreciative of everything I do which makes for a great working environment.

So that's me in a nutshell! I know many bloggers don't like to accept awards but I do feel the need to acknowledge and say thank you when they come my way. I would also like to thank all of you who come to visit my little corner of the world. You are all versatile bloggers to me and fill my heart with sunshine whenever you stop by.

On a completely different note, today is my mom's birthday so HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! Unfortunately, she has never had a computer or an email account, so I will have to call her later this afternoon.

Wishing you all a terrific Tuesday! Best wishes and blessings, Tammy

34 comments:

podso said...

It is so interesting to hear about your life! Thank you for sharing. Would you ever have guessed the path life would lead you on? Happy Tuesday!

Becky said...

Hi Tammy interesting read today.Who knows where the paths in life will lead us right?Your sounds very nice.Now for me I would love to visit Kuwait but not to stay LOL.I could never leave here...all my family and friends.

Happy Tuesday!

Mariette's Back to Basics said...

Dearest Tammy,

Congratulations with all your awards and also with your yummy dessert. You have cracked quite some questions in a nut shell. What an adventure and so funny that you've never made it to California! But you've come a long way and covered quite some surface of this little/big planet earth!
Lots of love and enjoy your time further,

Mariette

lovestitch said...

Oh sweetest Tammy,
I'm so moved and really enjoyed reading about your life. Thank you so much for sharing! Also thank you for your sweet words about my blog and myself, that's another award you are bringing back to me!
Congrats on all your awards, you definitely deserve them, your blog is such an amazing place to stop by!
Thank you and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to your Mom, she has a wonderful daughter!
Lots of love, xo

~*~Patty S said...

Lovely learning more about you Tammy...thank you for sharing some of your life with us

One of the things I enjoy about blogging is getting to armchair travel and enjoy new places through the eyes of others

thank you for having us for T today...your strawberry cake looks yum!

Brightest of Blessings to you and yours!
oxo

erin's art and gardens said...

well, i did not know those tidbits about you...nice getting to know you a little bit better..i always wondered why you ended up in kuwait. the strawberries look yum-mee!
have a good week,
erin
xxoo

Anonymous said...

I would imagine you had a lot of adjustments & probably always will but how wonderful for you to experience another culture. I think everyone should as maybe that would make the world a bit better....
Marilyn

Caterina Giglio said...

what a great tea day, I got the "Tammy" story... I always wondered how you got there and now I know... ah the things we do for love! there may be things you dislike, but it is wonderful for us to see your exotic life! thanks for sharing it with us.... xox

Doniene said...

Tammy, Great story - It would be challenge for me to live in Kuwait, but I so enjoy seeing it from your eyes! Wonderful family! Blogging is fun as I can travel the world and see this world in my own living room!! It always "blows" my husband's mind when I say "I'm visiting my friend in Kuwait, or Norway, or Utah or Australia!!"

Blessings

Maya Kuzman said...

Tammy, this was a lovely post. Being new to your blog I enjoyed learning things about you. We (me and hubs) have got the travel bug and we love to travel. We haven't been to Kuwait (nor the East for that matter - if you count off Turkey) but hopefully we'll go there one day. In the meantime I can have adventures right from your blog, can't I?

Linda said...

I loved reading this about you, Tammy. Very interesting and romantic! :)

You mention about your boss being from Nova Scotia, and not sure if you knew or not - but that is where my husband is from originally. He was born there in a place called Middle Musquodoboit, Nova Scotia.

Hope your Mother has a beautiful birthday. My Mom doesn't use the computer either, other than for playing solitare, but my Dad who will be 86 this year, uses Facebook, e-mail, and the internet for all sorts of things.

Hope you're having a wonderful day.
Linda ♥

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I enjoyed the back story of your life as much as that tea and strawberries. It's too hot to cook here, so I'll just appreciate the photos and thought. It's so nice to know more about you. Just think. Even though you didn't want to move to Kuwait initially, you have so many opportunities and travel memories that I will never have. I so enjoy reading your blog and should do every day. You are a real inspiration. And I bet your internet connection is better than mine today, too!

Happy birthday to your mom. By the time I finish this comment, her birthday will be over (grin).

Yvonne said...

Living in another country would be such an adventure. Thanks for sharing. Happy tea day.

SARITHA@RAINBOWBUNTING said...

Thank you Tammy for sharing so many facts about your life. That was like a quick recap!!Birthday wishes to your Mom!!

Garter Mademoiselle said...

Hi Tammy, first off, a Happy Birthday to you Mom! My hubby is an August person, so I tend to be partial to them! :-) Congrats on the awards. You deserve them, your blog is always so inviting and welcoming to one and all. Always a pleasure to stop by and see what is new with you and yours. The strawberry tea and cake looks YUMMY! I admit to having a very big sweet tooth, and since I love strawberries, that would definitely be something for me. Would have loved coming over to share a bit with you and have a good chat. I was thrilled to read "all about you". I enjoyed getting to know you a bit better, to hear how it came about that you live in Kuwait, and to know how you had met your husband. I like the idea so much, I should put some thought into a similar post about me. It may not be as interesting as yours though. :-) I hope you are having a good start to this new month. Where have the days gone to! hugs, Debby

val said...

what a neat post...thanks for sharing about how you came to live in Kuwait. Congrats on your awards :-)

Anonymous said...

Hi Tammy...

Dessert was yummy. Thanks. I give you a lot of credit for living in Kuwait all those years. I lived outside the USA for about three years and was SO GLAD to get back. You are a brave and courageous girl. On the other hand, look at all the adventures you've had and continue to have!

Hope your day is super. Susan from writingstraightfromtheheart.blogspot.com (Cannot leave comment otherwise, for some odd reason.)

Unknown said...

I always wondered how you ended up over there. This was so much fun to read and get the whole story. Off to check out your great links. Stay cool. Can you believe another 115 index today. I'm just thinking snow and shoveling will come soon to stay cool.

Stitchy Mc Floss said...

You're a long way from the 'Hollar as they say in Kentucky! What a wonderful adventure you are having in life! I think you two make such a cute couple. :) Blessings to you always. :)

Anonymous said...

I can't seem to sign in to leave comments today. Grrrr! This is Sue from Sewing With Kids. I'm from Nova Scotia like you boss (the South Shore). Small world isn't it?

Thanks so much for sharing more of your story I read a lot of your blog one day looking for clues as to why you chose to live in Kuwait, and found none. I feel like the mystery has been solved :-) Congratulations on your awards!

Diane said...

Thanks for explaining these things Tammy. It really does answer some questions that I didn't even think I had. Nice picture of you and your husband. Happy Birthday to your mom. Blessings, Diane

GwendolynKay said...

Even though I know the story... it was nice to read it again. Nice picture of you and Sam...except you guys aren't smiling.
hugs!

Unknown said...

Your life is so interesting :)
I can't imagine living so far away - but your blog shows us how it would be possible and even lovely!

Thank you for sharing!

my cup of tea said...

Very nice post! Thank you for sharing it with us!
Happy Tea day!
~Donna~

HK Badger said...

Congratulations on your awards Tammy! Much deserved, your blog is awesome. You must be chuffed, it's always so nice when your blog is appreciated by others! :-)

I haven't tried strawberry tea yet - I have tried apple tea which I highly recommend, but I'll give it a try if I get the chance, it sounds yummy :-)

glor said...

Congrats on your awards, you are very deserving. Its always a pleasure to visit you. Very interesting read, thanks for sharing.

koralee said...

Love finding more out about you my friend..what an interesting life...congrats on your awards. xoxox hugs for a great week. xoxo

Colleen - the AmAzINg Mrs. B said...

So great to find out aboout you & your family! And, ain't love sweet? Home is anywhere your family is, so good for you :-)

The cake? sounds wonderful!

And you deserve the awards..we love visiting you :-)

Shanda said...

I loved hearing about you!!! And...as far as your comment on my blog...I could go on and on with you about many things we do wrong as a country. Of course there are many right as well. But it takes living outside to get a good look inside.

SusanLotus said...

Hi Tammy! Just came by to say hi and to have a quick look at your blog. I will read it all more carefully tonight when the sun goes down... Thank you for sharing the "story of your life" with us! I enjoyed reading it and wish you will get many many more happy years together! Have a great day!

Jill from Killeny Glen said...

Happy Wednesday to you!

creativelenna said...

It was so interesting to learn more about you and how you cam to live in Kuwait. Thanks so much for sharing your story! And thank you for your visits to my blog!! ; ) lenna

Anonymous said...

Boy, you're on a roll today. I remember you talking about you wanting to go back to the States when I first met you...funny you're still here. I think once you make it past the 10 year point, there is no going back. Thats when I finally felt setteled here. The nice thing about being in Kuwait is location. Have lots of easy access for travels. I can't imagine you ever going back....you better not.
Birthday wishes for your mom.
Oh, by the way..found a good use for that canister with the palm that you gave me...I made it into a candle holder:)

Happy wishes, Melissa

Brandy Marie said...

Happy (belated) Birthday to your mom :)
Thank you for sharing about yourself as well. I have always wondered how you came to be in Kuwait. I can understand your husbands attachments. My father is the same way with my grandparents. He will never leave the farm. I'm sure once its my turn to take the reins I won't be able to either. xo_B PS: i want to try your treat & tea :)

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