Yesterday and Today

Yesterday it really looked like we were in for a major dust storm.  The sky took on an orangey hue and the sun was just a dot in the sky.

 But today turned out to be hazy, cloudy, muggy ... and somehow just sped by with lighting speed.

Which is why weekends are so necessary.

Hope your week is off to a great start!

Happy Mother's Day

Last year, I bought this Martha Stewart Living magazine and must have tucked it away but never read it.  It's actually the May 2011 edition and even has a special pull-out Mother's Day section.   

 So, although it was a work and school day around here, I shall sit back this evening and enjoy the magazine along with the making of more daisy wheel dishcloths and flower coasters found here.

I hope your day is beautiful!

Puttering

Other than going out for lunch yesterday at our favorite Italian restaurant ...

 I've been puttering about at home.  My favorite thing to do on the weekend.  And since I haven't been very creative in the past couple of weeks, I was finally able to finish the Tea for Two stitching; crocheted a doily;  a "mary go round" using an old bracelet; a cotton cover for a jar; and another daisy wheel dishcloth.

 I hope your weekend is filled with puttering and creating, too.

Crazy Day

We've had strange weather for May. It started off with dust-filled days that have now turned to clouds and rumbling in the morning skies.  More craziness ensued when the electricity went out at school around 9 a.m.  Rumor is that a transformer was hit by lightning.  Hard to know what really happened but since the temperature outside was around 100 degrees, you can imagine what it was starting to feel like inside.  Students were dismissed by 11:30 am.  Electricity came back on around 1:45 pm, but it certainly threw the whole day off.  My entire job is reliant on a computer and internet access.

Needless to say, I didn't accomplish a lot today -- at school or at home.  Some days are just like that.

Hope yours is a good one!

Tea After Walking

I'm joining Kimmie at Art in Red Wagons today for tea.  These cashew biscuits were given to us by one of hubby's employees who just returned from India.  They are like sugar cookies but flavored with rosewater and topped with roasted cashews. 

 Along with the cashew biscuits, I'm having ginger tea we bought while on one of our trips to Sri Lanka where we took a tour of the Glenloch Tea Factory.

This morning there was a clap of loud thunder and rumbling just after 6 am but only about 10 raindrops on the windshield while on the way to school.  Rain in May would be rather strange indeed.  Hubby and I were able to walk this afternoon.  It was warm and just a tiny bit humid.  There aren't many flowers to see anymore, except those that grow wild.

That's about it around here.  It's already time to call it a night.  My how time just ticks away.

Hope you have a terrific Tuesday!

Time For Me

When we got home from school Jingles was in the same spot she was in when we left this morning.  What a life!

I shall not clean today (except for the stuff that needs to be done).  My plan is to finish up a cross-stitching I started over the weekend to match the dishcloth I crocheted.

Maybe I'll even have time to start something new.

Have a great week!

Off-Balance

It was my intention to create balance in my life this week, but it's after 10 o'clock, time for bed and all I've done is cook and clean, cook again, clean some more and prepare for another day.  Why does everything take so long?

I've also learned that my balance is way off when I try to take pictures of birds in the afternoon.  I actually have to lean against a wall or put my arms on something just to steady myself.  It's very hard to zoom in on a faraway subject and snap a photo at the same time.

 Tomorrow I'm going to balance the scale in the opposite direction.  Less doing and more time just for me.

 Goodnight from my side of the world!

Right on Time

I'm so glad I went out on the balcony this evening to see what Jingles was up to.  It's lizard season now so not a good idea to leave doors open.

I looked to my left and there it was.  The Full Flower Moon. I had forgotten that it would arrive this evening.  According to the Farmer's Almanac, it gets its name because of the abundance of flowers that can be found everywhere during May.

Unfortunately, I do not have an abundance of flowers right now.  Our weather for the past week has been dusty and dreary with white, hazy skies.  But this one little moss rose plant outside my kitchen window continues to give me one tiny little bloom a day.

 And believe it or not, tomatoes are ripening like crazy right now.  Hubby brought a bagful home from the mosque he attends.  And our neighbor gave us lettuce and cucumbers, potatoes and parsley.  Needless to say, we've been having lots of salads.  And today I made a very rustic tomato tart using puff pastry squares.

I can't believe the weekend is already over.  Last week was so busy.  Weather woes, internet issues, and just general busyness had me feeling rather blue.  But I am determined to find balance in the coming week.

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend.

Is It May Already?

My goodness how time is flying.  This past week has been extra busy with no fun stuff going on at all.  No crafting.  No crocheting.   I just seem to be playing catch up all the time.

Our entire week has been filled with dust, dust and more dust.  The sun is just a glowing ball in the sky, if it is  visible at all.

I did notice yesterday evening that the moon is well on its way to being full in just a few days.

Since I hadn't done any baking in a while, I decided a batch of oatmeal cookies with chocolate chips and dried cranberries were in order.  

A quick snack and then I'm off to bed.  Another day is done.

Hope your week is a good one.

Hanging Out

Dolce far niente!  The sweetness of doing nothing.  A concept my husband does not understand.

But after a busy week of work and running around, I just wanted to hang out this past weekend, especially since our weather was back to dreary and dusty.

 My first moss rose bloom made an appearance the other day and it made me think of the saying "bloom where you are planted".  My flowers do their best to bloom but it is so very difficult in this heat and dust.

 Wilted and faded.  That's kind of how I was feeling.  Looks like Jingles was feeling the same way, too.

So, while I practiced the art of doing nothing, I enjoyed a new book I bought while on our trip to Dubai.   Homespun Style by Selena Lake.  I had seen other bloggers post about it, so when I saw it in the bookstore, I quickly picked it up and headed to the checkout counter.

I could literally just look at the pictures over and over and over again every single day.  It was certainly what I needed to brighten my days.  And this wallhanging from a friend in Sri Lanka helped to further brighten my mood.

Finding a place to hang it could prove to be difficult since my walls are already full.  But I'm sure I'll figure something out.

Hope your day is a good one.

Busy Days

I have been a busy bee of late.  From kitty rescues to shopping with a 13-year old who has grown out of all his summer clothes, to satellite repairs, a going away dinner and end of year concert, days have been crazy busy.

 Last night was Zack's last band concert of the year.  The 7th grade band was good, the 8th graders were great and the high school band fantastic.  It's so amazing to actually hear the growth through the different levels.  Zack is in his second year of band.

 The guy with the beret is Mark Powers who was here for 2 weeks working with the students.  He is a friend of our band directors, a husband and wife team, and a professional percussion artist/educator who travels the world learning the drumming of different cultures.  He uses his skills to educate students and work with adults in rhythm-based corporate leadership/teambuilding workshops and correctional facilities.

Our days have been mostly clear and beautiful, but last night's sunset was a bit cloud-covered.

The moon is in its crescent phase now with the Full Flower Moon to arrive on May 5th-6th.  Before blogging, I never realized the phases of the moon, but now I find it all so amazing and wonderful.

I hope you have had a great week.  Wishing you all the best for a wonderful weekend.

Happy Day

Thanks to everyone who enlightened me on these beautiful flowers that I posted about yesterday.  They are indeed hollyhocks and I absolutely adore them!

   This afternoon I took abandoned kitty to the home of one of our international teachers who will get her to the vet to be cleaned, shaved, spayed and treated for a cold and injured paw.  

I can't tell you how happy kitty was to be inside again.  She explored her surroundings and then plopped herself right down and started rolling around on the carpet.  It was a joyful moment indeed!  The good news is there may already be someone interested in adopting her.

 While I was there, we spied this little guy tap-tap-tapping at the window.

And guess who has a birthday today?

Jingles turns 8.  Such a pretty girl.

Happy Tuesday!

Around the Block

The good news is there was no dust today.  

 This afternoon I took a stroll around the block.  A new family on the corner has created their very own oasis around their home which is nice to see.  Most folks build right to the edge of their property and lay concrete rather than plant anything.  I do hope all their beautiful plants and greenery will be able to survive the summer months when temperatures soar to 120 and above..

 Across the street I spotted these gorgeous flowers.  Anyone know what they are?  I noticed them last year, too, and from a distance thought they might be foxgloves, but up close I can see that the shape of the flower isn't right.  They certainly seem to be very sturdy, hardy plants though they will die off at some point.  When it happened last year, I was a bit sad as they are such a bright spot in a rather drab area.

I saw on the news where parts of Pennsylvania and New York were hit with snow.  What a shock that must be after the warm temperatures they've been experiencing.

Wherever you are, whatever the weather, I hope your day is beautiful.  Have a great new week!  (The last week of April.  Hard to believe!)