Blue Monday

I hope everyone's week is off to a great start. We had blue skies this morning, but by mid-afternoon, the winds had shifted and the skies turned gray.

Dust was whirling and twirling and causing a haze across the sky.

I love my job, but driving home in the mid-day heat is like tunneling through a furnace. A bit of crochet time is needed by the time I get here, so I picked up a ball of leftover yarn and whipped up these little granny squares. They will likely wind up as a baby blanket although I don't know anyone at the moment who is even pregnant.

While visiting Val at Yarni Gras, I learned that Craft Hope has started a project called Christmas in Dixie. They would like to provide handmade Christmas stockings to those families in the south who were displaced by tornadoes earlier this year. If you are interested in helping out, please visit the Craft Hope website.

I popped a peach cobbler in the oven while making dinner for the kids. There's just something about baking that makes everything right. I'm guessing it is the fact that when the baking is done, there's something sweet to enjoy.

Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first. ~Ernestine Ulmer

Wishing sweet blessings for you and yours, Tammy

Summer is Over!

My summer holiday is officially over.

Back to school today. With it being Ramadan, work hours are only 8 am til 1 pm. We'll go back to regular school hours once the students start on September 5th.

Even though all the plants on one balcony dried up, I still go out there to water the wildflowers and to leave a bowl of water for the doves.

Jingles took the opportunity for a moment of bliss.





Isn't it amazing how little it takes to please a cat?

“It's good to be just plain happy, it's a little better to know that you're happy; but to understand that you're happy and to know why and how and still be happy, be happy in the being and the knowing, well that is beyond happiness, that is bliss.” (Henry Miller)

Hope you're having a great day! Best wishes and blessings, Tammy

Moonlight and Miracles

The moon, like a flower
In heaven's high bower,
With silent delight
Sits and smiles on the night.
(William Blake)

Please take the time to visit Sherry at Country Wings in Phoenix, Beverly at How Sweet the Sound, Charlotte and Ginger at Spiritual Sunday, Between Naps on the Porch (on Monday only) and Design Gives Back. Through August 18th, every comment left at any one of these blogs, earns a $1 donation for Kids with Cancer and Miracle Makeover. All you have to do is click and comment.

When you visit Design Gives Back, you can watch a video of the Miracle Makeover reveal for Charlie Grady and also find ways to comment/donate through Facebook.

Watch and be blessed. Giving back couldn't be easier.

In helping others, we shall help ourselves, for whatever good we give out completes the circle and comes back to us. (Flora Edwards)

Friendship blessings, Tammy

Cookies, Cats and Dates

Yesterday I made Mexican Wedding cookies ...

peanut butter cookies ...

and brownies ...

then packaged them all up in takeaway containers.

We went to visit friends at their home and met Fuso for the first time. He was rescued from the street, loves to fetch ponytail holders and eats dates.

That's something he and Jingles have in common.

A neighbor gave us fresh dates from his tree the other day. We can't leave them on the dining table because Jingles will get up there and start to nibble.

If you haven't had fresh dates, they are really delicious. We like them when they are still golden and slightly crunchy.

It's been a quiet day here with kitty and crochet to keep me company.

Hope you are having a fabulous Friday! Friendship blessings, Tammy

Simple Pleasures: Pink and Green

It's hot! 117 degrees! So there's not a whole lot of blooming going on. But I did spy these pink blooms on my way to the grocery store.





And was inspired to crochet and stitch some pink and green of my own.

I'm joining Dayle at A Collection of This and That for Simple Pleasures.


"What a desolate place would be a world without a flower! It would be a face without a smile, a feast without a welcome. Are not flowers the stars of the earth, and are not our stars the flowers of the heaven." - A.J. Balfour

Have a blessed and beautiful day. Tammy

The Ninth Day

One full week of Ramadan is finished with today being the 9th day of the holy month.

Since fasting is from sunup until sundown, restaurants are closed during the day but reopen at the time of iftar, the breaking of the fast.

The traditional way of breaking the fast is to have a few dates and water or laban, which is a salty yogurt drink.

Afterwards, a meal might consist of soup, sambousa, mujadarra (lentils and rice) topped with yogurt and salad with mint.

Since hubby had the battery changed in my car, I was able to get to the grocery store and picked up some qatayef for dessert.

Qatayef is a special dessert served only during Ramadan. Sticky pancakes are filled with sweet cheese or nuts and then deep fried or filled with cream, topped with crushed pistachios and served with a simple rosewater syrup.

I filled some last night with honey cream and then dipped them in crushed pecans. Good thing I had a few while I was making them because once the kids and hubby got a hold of them, they disappeared quickly.

Today's forecast did call for a high of 124 but now I see that has been lowered to 117. At 11 am it is already 109 degrees.

I am still in production mode over here with crocheting little drawstring bags.

And have decided to work on small cross-stitchings that I will incorporate as embellishments.

Wishing you all a terrific Tuesday wherever you are in the world, whatever you are doing. Best wishes and blessings, Tammy

Around the Block

Guess what happens when you stay in pajamas and don't drive your car for a while? Yep! The battery dies. My plans for a quick trip to the grocery store were squelched so I walked around the block instead.

I wanted to see if anyone had managed to keep anything alive in this heat.

Only managed to find a few flowering plants.

These moss roses were in a shaded area so there were a few little blooms.

But this poor rosebush right next to it had completely dried up.

Did you know that the date palm is thought to be the world's oldest food producing plant? And that it is a cousin to lillies, orchids and the grasses?

Somehow this day just sped by and now it's time to say goodnight.

Hope all is well in your corner of the world. Friendship blessings, Tammy

In the Kitchen and On the Couch

My friend, Melissa, calls me a hermit. I am definitely a homebody. Right now I am on a mission to use what I have in my cupboard for meals rather than running to the grocery store. And if I am gonna turn the oven on in this heat (it's currently 117 degrees), then I might as well make good use of it.

Curried pumpkin soup (using canned pumpkin)...

roasted cauliflower soup (you can find the recipe here at The English Kitchen) ...

cornbread ...

and lemon curd thumbprint cookies.

While everything was cooking and baking, I also made a simple cherry tomato salad ...

Once the cooking and clean up is done, it is back to crocheting doilies, dishcloths and pretty pouches.

There's always something on my hook.

And now there will be something on my plate (or in my bowl) for the next several days.

Hope your day is a good one! Best wishes and blessings, Tammy

The Blessings of Color

It is believed the Buddhist prayer flags bless the surrounding countryside. Each color represents the elements: blue (sky/space), white (wind/air), red (fire), green (water) and yellow (earth).

(View of Kathmandu Valley, Nepal)

bless·ing: something promoting or contributing to happiness, well-being, or prosperity ...

I have my own color blessings going on here in the blue of crocheted Christmas themed bags ...

a white gardenia hubby plucked and brought home early this morning ...

the red of a granny square pillow made for the kids room ...

a green doily and Christmas tree bag ...

and the yellow of this doily mixed with other vibrant colors.

Weather for Kuwait

113°F | °C Fri Sat Sun Mon Light Blowing Widespread Dust Wind: N at 20 mph Humidity: 8% 120° 91° 120° 91° 120° 91° 120° 91°

Hubby is the only one who has ventured out today. The boys and I have stayed in pajamas and for me, crocheting continues. Hope you are having a fabulous Friday! Best wishes and blessings, Tammy