White Wednesday Wishes

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Wednesday. The sky today in Kuwait was white instead of brilliant blue like it has been for the past many days. Makes for a blah day.

But it's been a busy and productive day. I made Snowballs(Mexican wedding cookies; Russian teacakes; sandtarts) -- this cookie goes by so many different names. For today, let's call them Snowballs.

Blogging buddy Dee Dee posted a recipe for Oatmeal Scotchies. Unfortunately, I couldn't find butterscotch chips so just used semi-sweet chocolate chips instead. The consensus from the kids is that they are great.

Also, twice now, I've seen a post for toasted or fried ravioli. First, when I was visiting blogging buddy Linda (click on her name and it will take you right to her ravioli post)and then today at Skip to My Lou. I don't normally fry foods, but thought I should give this a try. Let me tell you, it is really, really good. The kids loved it. Would be great for an appetizer or party hors d'oeuvres. I made zucchini soup to go along with the ravioli and that was our dinner.

A few more whites below. A quotable mug from Leslie (who also crocheted the purse I showed yesterday). I love quotations.

Another friend at school gave me this monogrammed tote that I can use when I go grocery shopping.

For my living room, I used an old carved wooden bowl and a swag that was on my front door last year, placed white candles in the middle and have a nice little centerpiece for the holidays.

I am loving this latest dishcloth pattern as it is so easy and pretty. I can't tell you how many I've made in so many different colors so far.

It's getting close to bedtime so I need to finish tidying everything up so I can hit the hay. Happy Holiday Wishes! Tammy

Tuesday Tidings of Friendship and Joy

"Open your presents at Christmastime but be thankful year round for the gifts you receive." ~Lorinda Ruth Lowen

My good friend Leslie

made me this wonderful crocheted purse for Christmas.

I was so shocked when I opened it. During the beginning of this year, she had a pattern she was attempting for the first time and I helped her with reading all the symbols. From that pattern, she made a purse for herself that was black and taupe colored. I just never imagined she would give the pattern another go and actually make one for me. I just love brown and red together.

She also made me toffee.

My kids thought it was heavenly and wanted to know why I never make it. I have never attempted toffee before, but I've recently visited two other blogs that posted the recipe, so I am thinking I will have to give it a try. You can find the recipes here and here. Julie and Zuzu both have beautiful blogs to visit.

Christmas Day is drawing nearer. I hope that you are all enjoying the season and not getting too caught up in the hustle and bustle of it all. Happy Holiday Blessings, Tammy

Monday Blues

Happy Monday to everyone! I hope it's been a good one for you. I am enjoying leisurely mornings; time to do whatever; a little shopping. Jingles is enjoying the beautiful weather we are having.

And at nite, she is up to her holiday hijinx. How she managed to carry a Santa basket of pinecones into the tv room and then tip them over at 1:30 am is beyond me.

This beautiful candy cane dish was handpainted my friend Susana. She does amazing work.

And this holiday scrapbook was made by my cousin Gwen at http://acharminghome.blogspot.com/. I haven't put any pictures in it yet but I keep it on hand year round because I just love the way it looks with all the ribbons and yarn. Each page is so beautiful.


When I went into the kitchen this afternoon to make soup for dinner, I could see the most magnificent colors in the sky as the sun was setting.



And just to the left was a brilliant blue sky where you could see the crescent moon. Just amazing!

"Good night! Good Night! Far flies the light; but
still God's love shall flame above, making all bright. Good night! Good
night!"
Wishing you all a good night! Peace & blessings, Tammy

Sunday Salutations

The weather in Kuwait is mild and sunny, 70's during the day and 60's at night. It is to stay this way throughout the week. For me, this is perfect weather. So instead of finishing up the cleaning I started yesterday, I decided to go shopping. We don't do big Christmases -- just a few presents under the tree and little gifts in stockings. Simple stuff!




Last week I did a lot of baking and plan to do more over the next couple of days. One recipe I tried was cinnamon sugar cookies that I found when visiting gypsymermaidlife.blogspot.com which was posted on December 3rd. So easy and my kids thought they were delicious. In fact, I had a whole tray cooling and when I came back to them a while later, there were only 4 left, out of about 20. Good thing the recipe makes a ton -- depending on what size you make them, of course.

Below are Longaberger cookie molds that my dear friend Lisa gifted me with each Christmas in 1990, 1991 and 1992.





I've never used them although the recipe says you can, so I might even give that a go on Christmas Eve when I let the kids make their own sugar cookies.

Hope you are having a satisfying and serene Sunday wherever you are, whatever you are doing! Holiday blessings, Tammy

Sightseeing Saturday

As promised, our next sightseeing adventure is to Wadi Rum in Jordan. First, a little background on the area:

"Stunning in its natural beauty, Wadi Rum epitomizes the romance of the desert. With its "moonscape" of ancient valleys and towering sandstone mountains rising out of the sand, Wadi Rum is also home to several Bedouin tribes who live in scattered camps throughout the area. Climbers are especially attracted to Wadi Rum because of its sheer granite and sandstone cliffs, while hikers enjoy its vast empty spaces. Wadi Rum is probably best known because of its connection with the enigmatic British officer T.E. Lawrence, who was based here during the Great Arab Revolt of 1917-18. Much of David Lean’s Lawrence of Arabia was filmed in Wadi Rum."

Once we arrived at Wadi Rum, we waited for a jeep to take us out into the desert.


Our first stop was in an area where there is "quicksand". Not like what you see in the movies, but sand that is so fine, you can sink up to your knees and was very hard to walk through. I remember one mom with twins who were going crazy running up and down and all around. She kept screaming at them. I think she was afraid they would actually sink and disappear before her very eyes.


I love this picture of Zack and Yusef so had it enlarged and hung it in our living room.

The natural beauty of the area was so serene.




The kids had the best time rolling down the dunes.

We all had red sand in our shoes for weeks after that excursion.

As the sun set we headed back to the camp where we were provided with a meal and then the long journey back to our hotel.


Our day began with Petra and ended with Wadi Rum. Certainly a day to remember.
Holiday blessings, Tammy

Friday Out and About in Kuwait

Wow! Where does the time go? The good news is that we are now officially on Winter Break until January 4th. Woo-hoo!

It's been very windy the past couple of days and yesterday we had rain. The wind is howling as it swirls and twirls everything in its path. We went today to the Radisson SAS Blu Hotel for a Christmas Bazaar. There were two tables with only handpainted and embellished items so that's where I purchased lots of goodies.

Painted and decoupaged boxes.

Snowpeople painted on shiny red ornaments. These only cost about .75 cents each. I bought four and the girl gave me one free.

A wooden box that is varnished and embellished with pinecones, greenery and ribbon. I should have bought all of these as they were only $3 each.

Aren't these holiday sticks the cutest? Made with skewers, tongue depressors and then all dressed up.

Handpainted candles.

And for myself, I bought this handpainted clay pot.

The weather is looking very iffy outside. Zack has a scrimmage game in an hour so we we will be off to the ballfield very soon. Hope everyone is having a fantastic Friday. Peace, blessings and joy are wished for one and all this holiday season. Tammy