Crocheted Comfort

 The book I posted yesterday (50 things that really matter) contains short stories about gratitude and lessons learned.  Story 18 is about afternoon naps.

I can only nap if I'm sick or have jet lag, but my husband usually takes quick naps when he gets home from work after 4 p.m.  He goes to bed early every night and can still sleep with no problem.

I'm the mom making the afghans :)  lots and lots of them.

Granny scrap-ghans to be precise. 

I just keep adding to them when I come across complementary colors in my stash or am given yarn by a craft friend.  I might go buy a new skein if I'm ready to finish one off.  Some are baby sized, some are bigger.  I never tire of making of them.

One who sleeps under a crocheted blanket is comforted by love.(happilyhooked.com)

Have a good week.

Silent Sunday

 

Caturday Kindness

I have a thing for hearts so it is always a nice surprise when I find random ones on my walks.

Even if it's just a piece of broken glass with etched hearts on it found in the dirt.

One of my summer goals is to go through my book collection to see what will stay and what will go.  I already donated many that I knew I'd never read since I mostly prefer non-fiction now.  I'm going to start with the shorter books that I can read through quickly and decide right away whether to keep or pass along.

This one I will keep.

Mattie died on June 22, 2004, at the age of 13 from a rare form of muscular dystrophy.  He had three siblings who died before him from the same inherited disease.

Mattie wanted to be remembered as "a poet, a peacemaker and a philosopher who played."

The smallest act of kindness is worth more

than the greatest intention.

(Kahlil Gibran)

A Different New Year

 My husband was off yesterday for Hijri New Year (according to the Islamic calendar, the date was 1 Muharram 1447).  We didn't do much -- went to a mall where he bought a shirt, I bought some lotion and we came right back home.  

He's also off today because it's Friday (Juma'a) which is the holy day for Muslims.

We had lunch at a Japanese restaurant just 5 minutes away from us.  During the winter months when the weather is nice, we can actually walk there from our place.  Today the high was supposedly 106 F though it sure feels a lot hotter.

I've been using scrap yarns to make granny square blankets and when they are still small enough, take them out with me for those moments where waiting is required.

While crocheting at home, I watch YouTube videos -- about unique homes or crafting.  Granny squares don't require a lot of my attention.

But sometimes Miss Rosie does.

Blessed Friday,

Still Here

While politicians beat their war drums, I'm still over here trying to find beauty and purpose in each new day.

While narcissistic men in suits and ties are hell bent on destroying people and the planet, I'm still walking, still picking up trash and still feeding kitties.

Summer heat has arrived so morning walks are somewhat more comfortable.  With temperatures currently at 105F and climbing, it sadly becomes a more common occurrence to find dead cats and birds  :(  If I'm not able to bury them then I at least try to find a spot where I can cover them completely in leaves away from passersby.

It was serendipitous to come across a small patch of morning glories after the discovery of death.  Natures way of counterbalancing as I mourn all the good that is lost in this world because of those who worship money and power.  The warmongering buffoons who are currently sowing chaos across many countries and their supporters with their supremacist ideologies are a blight on the diverse beauty and cultures of this world.  Their gangrenous gaslighting and regurgitation of past propoganda is off the scale.

I'm still connecting through craft, although Tuesday a week ago was my last mid-week meet-up with Susanna.  

She was able to make our Saturday morning Kuwait Crafters meeting before she flew to the States Saturday night.  I won't see her again until September, but who knows what will happen between now and then.

We were told the country's siren warning system would be tested yesterday but I never heard a thing and my husband said he didn't either.  Even if the sirens were to blare, we can't remember what the different sounds mean and I wasn't able to find any information online.

Our friend, Zhraa, returned from Iran the Tuesday before its bully neighbor started blasting it (all with the blessing and backing of the good ol' U S of A :[

She brought us a traditional Irani sweet that was in the prettiest packaging and Miss Rosie was quite intrigued by the scent of it. 

“Humanity is not without answers or solutions regarding how to liberate itself from scenarios that invariably end with mass exterminations. Tools such as compassion, trust, empathy, love, and ethical discernment are already in our possession. The next sensible step would be to use them.”

― Aberjhani, Splendid Literarium: A Treasury of Stories, Aphorisms, Poems, and Essays

Monday Meet-up

 Susanna is traveling tomorrow morning so we moved our Tuesday meet-up to today.

We always meet at Sluggish, our favorite vegan coffee shop where MukaMuka is the cafe kitty in residence.

And today there was the cutest little visitor named Oliver.

I'm making a sample booklet of small tatreez (Palestinian embroidery) patterns.

While Susanna continued work on her "handmade" project from thrifted quilt blocks that I mentioned in yesterday's post.

Waving hi from here.

Have a good week.

Ending May in a Crafty Way

 Yesterday our craft group met at the cafe I checked out earlier in the week.

We never know how many will show up especially now since it's summer and many people travel, plus Eid al Adha is at the end of this week.  One young lady who had come once before was there and brought her cousin who is due to give birth in 4 weeks -- they were both working on baby items, while I continued to work on my stitched magnets, and the others were crocheting or embroidering.

Susanna has dresden quilt blocks from the thrift store that are stained but too pretty to wind up in landfill so she is embroidering her hands on them -- to honor the fact that they were handmade by someone else and will now be turned into a wall-hanging by her.

At our meet-up this past week she gifted me a quilted Palestinian flag that she made from a free pattern found on Instagram so I took it to the park today for a photoshoot.

It's a blessing to be surrounded by such talented ladies.

Wishing you a happy new month.

Art of Threads Exhibition

 One of my craft group friends, Zhraa, is also in another fiber arts group that meets once a week in the evenings at Sadu House, a cultural center where Kuwait's textile heritage is preserved and promoted.

 Over the past few days they've held their annual exhibition with the theme of Old Kuwait and since today is the last chance to see their creations, I went over there this morning and was amazed and inspired by all the creative and beautiful handiwork.

This is Zhraa's crocheted pieced entitled Woven Whispers which got first place.

And her crocheted phonograph (top right) received a third place ribbon.

Enjoy the rest of the tour.

Seems I accidentally put the slingshot in two collages :)

One of my favorites:

The funny thing is, I apparently missed at least a dozen kites that were hung from the very high ceiling.  I was too busy looking down and all around and never really looked up.  Zhraa said she would take a picture of them this evening to send to me.  :)

Have a good Thursday.