Sizing Things Up

I went in to work for just a short while this morning and on the way home made a quick detour to The Secret Garden. 

My mission was to see if the two crocheted strips I've created so far would fit around the tree after an earlier test proved the biggest one had not yet reached the right size.

 Of course, I can't do this on my own, so had to grab the first friendly person I found to help out.  Thankfully, there was a guy there raking and though he didn't speak English, he was happy to assist.

Both pieces are now bigger than they need to be so there will be some adjusting.  We've planned another meet-up for this coming Saturday so hopefully we will have a lot more squares to join and be even closer to getting this project finished.

These recycled tires are just waiting for the Fall when planting can begin again.

 In the meantime, our yarnbombing will add some much needed color to the area.

Have a wonderful day.

Five on Friday

Five every day simple pleasures.

Blooms ... despite the heat.
(It's currently 115 degrees and rather blah.)
I still have flowers blooming on my balcony gardens.
The scent of jasmine is so sweet.

Doodling ... with markers and watercolors, on paper and on rocks, makes me happy.
Doodling sure was easy in my younger years, but now I have to really think about it and am always seeking inspiration from all around.

Crocheting ... working with others for a common cause.
I posted yesterday about our yarnbombing project for The Secret Garden.

 Simple, healthy food.
This was lunch yesterday.

New potatoes and green beans, salad with beets, toasted walnuts and a maple syrup mustard dressing and vegan cornbread (recipe can be found at food52.com).

And lastly, for the past few weeks, some concoction of "nice cream", or a smoothie bowl, has been my dinner.

Frozen fruit blended with a liquid (either water, natural fruit juice or almond milk), until it is a soft serve consistency, topped with nuts, coconut, cacao nibs whatever you want.
Really so refreshing on these hot summer days.

I'm joining Amy at Love Made My Home for Five on Friday.

I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.

 Laura Ingalls Wilder

Have a fabulous Friday!

Serious Stashbusting

Well, it's been nearly two weeks since I was last here.  Such busy days heading into the end of the school year.  Some controversy thrown in for good measure.  And a yarnbombing project that has taken up all my free time.

Last week, the call went out for crocheters and knitters to meet at The Secret Garden Project to plan the yarnbombing of this tree (photo taken at the end of our first afternoon meeting).

Believe me, it's bigger around than you think.  We had a good first turn out.  I sort of took the lead on the direction this will take and also volunteered to do the joining of all the contributions.

You can see here the first squares I made before the meeting.

And I've been joining and granny square making ever since.

 (Jingles checking out all the contributions.)

I've blogged about The Secret Garden before.  It is a community garden started by Mimi, who is a young Kuwaiti chef. She is passionate about a grassroots movement in this country and believes change begins with us, each individual, person-by-person.  

On Monday, we set up a meeting at the studio of LB o J'zazz where I managed to make a couple more grannies.  Only one other volunteer showed up who also contributed a granny and we even taught Chef Mimi how to join a couple of squares.

Hopefully over the weekend I can take some of the pieces to see if they fit around the tree yet.  I did a trial test on Monday and we were still short.

And the controversy I mentioned means I might actually finish school before June 7th. We shall see.  But either way, very, very soon, I will have my precious time back and will have time for all the things I really want to do, like blogging and visiting all of you.

Have a terrific Thursday.

My Morning Constitution

Every morning was a cheerful invitation to make my life of equal simplicity, and I may say innocence, with Nature herself.

Henry David Thoreau

I much prefer to walk early morning and look forward to the time when I will be able to do so every day.  

Yesterday, hubby and I walked to the Nike store which is just across from the area where we live.  They were having a sale, and although the choices are always limited, my purple Nikes had done their time so it was time to get a new pair.

I took them for an hour and 50 minute test drive this morning.
Walked around both our neighborhood tracks, and then wandered up and down the streets where there's much more interesting things to see.

My favorite entryway of the day.

Love that checkerboard path with the grass and concrete stones.

They even had a grassy area to the right with a water fountain and seating area.

It's always a struggle to get out there when the weather is warm, hazy and windy, but once I get going, and find my rhythm, it's kinda hard to get me to stop.

As the Nike slogan says ...

JUST DO IT!

Happy Saturday!

The Eye of the Beholder

behold

see or observe

(someone or something, especially of remarkable or impressive nature)

My aim in every day is to find something extra in the ordinary.

To find beauty wherever I go.

When I walk, it's not just for exercise, it's for meditation and inspiration.

truth be told

This is a lot of what I see.

Piles of garbage and rubble are everywhere.  Trash litters the streets.

 

This past week I've been walking at night which gives me a different perspective.

 

I was very disappointed last night when I spotted a grandmother stop her SUV on the side of the road and have her young grandkids start chucking all their fast food trash out the window.  I walked over to the car and asked why she was doing it, why didn't she find a trashcan.  She played it off like they are just babies, as if it was the innocent children who had made the decision to litter.

I don't get it.

There is no excuse!

When I got home, a friend I met through Instagram had messaged that she found a gift that was SO me and she wanted to deliver it.

Athoob is a cookie baker, animal lover, photographer and all around lovely lady.  This is only our second meeting, but hopefully that will change when I have more time on my hands come June.

What could be more perfect than heart shaped candles that look like yarn? 

But the best part was her handwritten note.

beholden

Owing something, such as GRATITUDE, to another.

It reminded me why I choose to see and share pretty things on Instagram and here on my blog.
To focus on the good.

“What we do see depends mainly on what we look for. ... In the same field the farmer will notice the crop, the geologists the fossils, botanists the flowers, artists the colouring, sportmen the cover for the game. Though we may all look at the same things, it does not all follow that we should see them.” 
― John Lubbock, The Beauties of Nature and the Wonders of the World We Live in

Have a wonderful day!

Happy Mother's Day!

There are all kinds of mamas out there in the world and today we celebrate them all.

In these parts, Sunday is a regular work/school day.  And a busy one it was.  I've not been very committed to the daily movement I posted about -- due to crazy weather and heat -- it was still 97 degrees when I called my mom at 5:30 p.m., so I waited until sunset to pound the pavement.  I always feel so much better when I do.

For those of you who were surprised by the "going away party" -- I've known for quite awhile that this would be my last year at the school.

My boss is retiring and heading back to Nova Scotia and I'm basically just fed up.  I've given so much to the position and had never received anything in return, so, I'm done.  Besides, sitting behind a desk for 7-1/2 hours every day in a windowless office is not how I want to spend my time.

I can't tell you what relief this brings me.  When anyone asks what my plans are, I tell them I am looking for peace of mind and purpose.

 I plan to do everything I've not had time for because of work; I want to get involved in charity and volunteer projects; I want to create for a cause; I want to spend my time and energy on important things.

One more month to go and then F R E E D O M !!!  I can't wait!

Have a great day!