February Flashback

 Ramadan started on February 18th and to mark the occasion I stitched a Ramadan crescent moon.  It is an important symbol since its sighting marks the beginning (and end) of the holy month.

February 25th is Kuwait's National Day.

And the 26th is Liberation Day.

So those 2 days are always holidays here which is great since the 26th also marks another special occasion ..

my birthday!

This year I turned 60 and finally did something I've wanted to try for awhile -- tatreez on a copy of an old photo.  Let me just say, it was no easy task but I'm glad I did it.

Only managed to read 3 books in February but that's because White Malice (which I highly recommend) was 523 pages long and took me about half the month to get through.  Also stitched a bookmark -- the main motif is Qalb/Heart and is a design from Ramla in Palestine.   

Never imagined that the end of the month (actually March 1st in my part of the world) would go so wrong because of warmongering narcissists.  Damn them all!

We Carry On

It's been over a month since my last post and all I can say is, there's been a lot going on -- Ramadan, an illegal war started by the country I was born in and the country they are colluding with, Eid and most recently, heavy thunderstorms and flash floods across the region.

At just before 1:00 a.m. this morning my husband started to snore and I got up to go to the bathroom.  As soon as  I got settled back in bed (and yanked the covers to stop the snoring), the warning sirens started, 4 times in a row; a few booms and one really loud one caused by the interception of drones/missiles.  When it was quiet again, I heard the garbage trucks rumbling by right on time, and the voices of the guys collecting the trash, as if everything is normal.

I asked my husband this morning if he heard the sirens.  Of course, he did not, but read news that this time the port was targeted.

Anyways ... 

after all the rain, today is a beautiful day.

We went out for breakfast.

And then late morning, while he went to Friday prayer, I took a walk around our neighborhood.

Spotted a dead little baby bird in the street next to the curb and couldn't just leave it to be smooshed by cars, so carried it to a spot underneath a tree and buried it.

It's been reported that as expats are fleeing the Gulf Countries, many pets are being left behind which is causing quite a strain on an already overburdened system.

Rosie would like to remind everyone that she was abandoned once in her life and really does not want to go through the trauma again.  :)

Books read in January.

That's all for now folks.

Take care.

Seems Like Spring

 Weather is warming up and more walks are being taken.

At one point I noticed a flying insect that rose straight up in the air and then flew forward, sort of like how a helicopter would take off.  Hadn't seen anything like that before; and just a short time later, while kneeling down to take photos at a different spot along the walking path, something tumbled out of the leaves and I realized it was a wasp trying to carry a bee.

Once it was able to get a good grip on the bee, the wasp rose straight up and then shot forward, heading back to its nest with is prey -- so there was the answer to my wondering what it was I had just previously seen.

It was certainly very interesting to witness.

Just before take-off.

May your day be filled with sunshine and surprises.

Getting Back on Track

 Due to weather and then having a bad cold for a little over a week, I didn't get out or accomplish very much the last part of January, but have made up for that over the past several days.

I think my feline friends are happy to see me again.

And it's flower and pollinator season which makes me very happy.

Hope this finds you well.

Happy February.

First FO

 A walk to my neighborhood park for a quick photo shoot of my first finished object of the year.

One that should have been finished rather quickly but was lingering since I only worked on it at craft meetings or when meeting Susanna.

A beanie in lovely earthy colors.

Do you see who came to visit as soon as I placed the beanie on the bench?

Seems the bee also thought it resembled the natural world.  :)

Have a bee-utiful day.

Clouds and Palm Trees on Caturday

Nice cloud coverage all day today.

There was a cool refreshing breeze for my walks this morning and evening.

Fed some kitties.

Picked up some trash.

And then, a few minutes later, found a palm tree cutout on the ground.

Thought that was kinda funny since I'd just been taking pictures of palm trees.

 First full moon of 2026.

The Wolf Moon.

Welcoming the New Year

 Do you have a traditional meal for New Years Day?

It is Southern tradition to have black-eyed peas (which represent coins or wealth); a green (collard or cabbage representing paper money); and cornbread (representing gold).

Black-eyed peas originated in West Africa and were carried on ships to the Americas by enslaved Africans who had the knowledge and agricultural expertise to cultivate, preserve and cook them.  The peas sustained them in times of scarcity under harsh conditions and what once was a necessary dietary staple became a symbol of persistence, strength and survival after emancipation.

A simple, nutritious, inexpensive meal that represents hope for the year ahead and a wish for abundance.

Happy New Year! 

Almost Daily December 31

 Well, I managed 29/31 days of posting this month.  I'm calling that a win.

And after weeks of gray days and dreary weather, we had the most beautiful blue sky for this last day of 2025.

See you next year.