Crafting at Table 5

Today's regular meet-up of Kuwait Crafters was held at a new coffee shop in a new complex.

We really enjoyed the cozy ambience at Table 5 on a cloudy day.

I have a thing for gorgeous tiled floors.

Delicious coffee (coconut soy latte).

That went really well with the vegan pumpkin muffins made by Zhraa.

Who also crocheted the cutest jack-o-lanterns for all of us.

Three crocheters + three knitters = 6 crafters at Table 5.

Craftiness is Happiness.

Happy Saturday!

A Kitty Kinda Day

This morning I went for a very quick walk by the seaside before heading over to a friend's for a visit.

Sadly, there are so many stray kitties along the corniche, but they are very well taken care of by kind folks who feed them every day.  Many of these seaside cats have even been spayed and neutered through a program that one of the shelters was running some years ago.

You can see the clipped ear on the kitty below; a sign that he was neutered.  

Unfortunately, the shelter closed so there is no longer a TNR program.

My friend, Sarah, rescues, fosters and helps find homes for abandoned kitties.  In fact, she often winds up keeping many of them which is why she currently has 7 cats and 2 dogs.

Today I got to meet Sweet Rani (who sat in my lap most of the time I was there).

The smallest feline is a masterpiece.

Leonardo da Vinci

And Mama.

Isn't she beautiful?

Purring would seem to be, in her case, an automatic safety valve device for dealing with happiness overflow.
Monica Edwards

Wishes for a happy Wednesday!

Silver Lining

Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky.

Conscious breathing is my anchor.

(Thich Nhat Hanh)

Day 3 of morning pages, meditation, yoga and walking.

I drove to a walking path in a different neighborhood today.

It used to be a tree-lined 5 kms long path, but because of road expansion, it is now only 2 kms.

Was really very disappointed when I first found this out.  We definitely need the trees and places to walk more than we need wider roads and exhaust fumes.

Always looking up.

Left a little love behind.

We had just a slight drizzle of rain this morning and again this afternoon.

With the changing seasons, we finally see clouds and color in the sky that we don't see during the summer months.

The light this afternoon certainly caught my eye.

Sending light and love to you all!

While Walking

Nature's beauty is a gift that cultivates appreciation and gratitude.

Louie Schwartzberg

Rain was predicted overnight and through this afternoon.  

But while some areas of the country did get drenched and flooded, our area got nothing at all.

So out I went for a walk.

 Every time I go, I say I'm just going to walk and nothing else, but I just can't help myself.

Picking up litter while walking always happens.

I've been told that I make Kuwait look good in my pictures, but it's all about perspective vs reality.

I've been picking up litter from roadsides for 30 years now.  In my 20s, I was involved in community organizations that would adopt a 2 mile stretch of highway and keep it clean.

Today I found and filled three bags with trash.

The problem just keeps growing because everything we buy and use is made of or wrapped in plastic of some sort.

Even if people do use the trash containers, it's pointless if they aren't being emptied or properly maintained.  One big gust of wind and all that trash just flies everywhere.

Quite often I feel like my actions are futile since there is just so much garbage everywhere.  But then, another chance encounter (and there have been many) reinforces my effort to make a difference.  Today a lady on the walking path came up to me and thanked me for caring for the country and the environment.  We had a nice long chat about that and many other things.

In every day, there are 1,440 minutes. That means we have 1,440 daily opportunities to make a positive impact.

Les Brown

Rather ironic that I found this old tin on the ground as I was picking up all that garbage.

Even more ironic is that it's a container made by Kotex that is supposed to be reusable.

So, while I do always try to find the beauty in my surroundings, there's also the trashy side that really makes me frustrated and disappointed.

A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events and outcomes. It is a catalyst and it sparks extraordinary results.

Wade Boggs

Sending positive vibes your way for a good start to your week.

Happy Monday!

Soul Nurturing

An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day. 

Henry David Thoreau

If the path be beautiful, let us not ask where it leads.

Anatole France

I didn't get out early, but I did go for a walk.

Last week we had rather dusty weather so I didn't get out at much.  With today being the start of a new week (Friday and Saturday are the weekend), I decided it was as good a time as any to start off on the right foot.

I have always been delighted at the prospect of a new day, a fresh try, one more start, with perhaps a bit of magic waiting somewhere behind the morning.

J. B. Priestley

I am always looking for ways to nurture my soul.

In fact, this morning, I did some morning pages (3 pages of stream of consciousness journaling), a 10 minute meditation and a 20 minute yoga routine.

And then a walk in nature.

Nature is fuel for the soul.

Richard Ryan

Doing my best to stay on a positive path.

Sunday blessings,

I Love Yarn Day!

Today was the regular meet-up of my craft group, Kuwait Crafters, which just happened to coincide with I Love Yarn Day!

(VERY humid weather.)

Seven years ago, the Craft Yarn Council deemed the second Saturday of October as a day to unite yarn lovers across the world, spotlighting the benefits of yarn crafts such as crochet and knitting to
"reduce stress and provide a sense of pride and accomplishment".

6 knitters, 3 crocheters and one felter in attendance and lots of yarn brought in for a swap.  I decided not to bring any back with me as I really need to use up what I've got, but am happy to say that most of the yarn brought in did go home with new owners.

Happy Yarn Day!

Happy Saturday