Thankful Thursday on Day 11!

Hello there! I'm joining Rhondi for another Thankful Thursday. You can visit her at Rose Colored Glasses!

Today starts our weekend and I am so happy for that. Today I am thankful for sight and color and for my camera. How else would I be able to enjoy beautiful things and then share with you.

Today Sam and I went to an Indian antiques place close to us because we needed to buy a gift for a friend we will be seeing tomorrow night.

I could just wander this place for hours. So much to see!

Among the several kinds of beauty, the eye takes most delight in colors. ~ Joseph Addison


I just love the beauty of these rolling pins.

For those of you who are still being bombarded with snow, I hope you stay safe and warm. Wishing you all a fabulous day! Peace & blessings, Tammy

Happy White Wednesday and a little red

I hope you are all having a wonderful Wednesday. This sweet little angel was given to me by a friend many years ago. Inside the box is my February birthstone (amethyst).

The picture on the left is of me in August of 1967 watching the dolphin show in Biloxi, Mississippi . In the picture on the right, I am holding my baby brother for the very first time in November of 1967.

Be an angel to someone else whenever you can, as a way of thanking God for the help your angel has given you. ~Quoted in The Angels' Little Instruction Book by Eileen Elias Freeman, 1994

My previous post is about our 4th grade class spearheading a collection for Haiti victims.

And here's a little red -- tomatoes that I found today when I went out to water plants on our balcony.

One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it provides. ~W.E. Johns, The Passing Show

Peace & Blessings, Tammy

Donation to Haiti

I thought I would share with you a recent newspaper article that recognized our school for it's donation to the International Red Cross Society for the victims of Haiti. 4th grade teacher Angela Langlands spearheaded the collection with her students as part of their community service project. It makes one proud to know that they were able to collect more than $10,000 for such a worthy cause.

AIS students collect KD 3,335 for victims of Haiti
By: Sara Mustafa
KUWAIT: The students of the American International School of Kuwait (AIS) helped raise donations for the victims of Haiti''s earthquake on Tuesday, Feb. 9. The event was attended by the International Relations Supervisor of the Kuwaiti Red Crescent Society (KRCS), Mohamed Hassan, the owner and Director of AIS, Samera AlـRayes and Principal Robert Little.
In a speech thanking the students, Hassan said, "Voluntary work is something that should be inculcated in children since the early years of childhood so they are able to grow up used to giving generously. I''m very proud of all the efforts that I have seen from the children today."
He added, "It is a nice gesture from the students to participate. The students'' enthusiasm was very encouraging for KRCS, which has made us consider them volunteers for the society. Finally, I would like to thank the school management and all the teachers for their efforts in enhancing the student''s sense of responsibility toward others."
On her part, AlـRayes noted, "A part of the school''s responsibility is to educate students about good citizenship in order to enable them to participate in constructive activities and become a part of the humanitarian causes."
AlـRayes elaborated, "The students themselves are the ones who came up with the idea of the donations, and it was welcomed with a lot of support and encouragement. The school has collected donations from all students in all grades, teachers and staff."
The event was planned and supervised by Ms. Angela''s fourth grade class and the school successfully collected a total amount of about 3335 Kuwaiti dinars in cooperation with KRCS.
AIS student Ralph Snabian said, "Today we helped in organizing this event in order to raise money for the victims of Haiti. Mr. Mohamed from KRCS came to collect the donations and we managed to raise a total of KD 3335. It was very moving to be able to help those people in need." Another AIS student Babi AlـSabah explained, "We have been sending out letters to all the students in the school and their parents in order to persuade them to donate for the victims of the devastating earthquake. It is very important to help the Haitians as soon as possible as they are facing a huge crisis."

Every good act is charity. A man's true wealth hereafter is the good that he does in this world to his fellows. (Moliere)

Peace & blessings, Tammy

Quiet Time

There's not a whole lot going on around here lately. Work is busy and then there is work to do when I get home. But in my quiet time, this is what I'm doing ...

using up scraps of yarn, and crocheting lots and lots of hearts.

Whatever we are willing for--peace of mind, contentment, grace, the inner awareness of simple abundance--it will surely come to us, but only when we are ready to receive it with an open and grateful heart. ~

Sarah Ban Breathnach, Simple Abundance

Wishing you a most beautiful day! Peace & blessings, Tammy

Monday Blues on Day 8 and Memories, Too

Hello there! My name is Baby Beans!

Does anyone remember these dolls? This is Mattel's Talking Baby Beans and I've had this one since forever (well, at least the early 70's when they first came out). I looked up a description for her online:

This sweet little talking baby beans doll is wearing blue pajamas with yellow flowers and a matching bonnet tied with a pink ribbon. She has a pull string and she says the phrases "I'm sleepy", "I love you", "play patty-cake, "go bye-bye", "night night", and "baby hungry".

Yes, Baby Beans used to talk but sadly, I left her out in the rain one nite oh so long ago and that was the end of her speaking days.

September 7, 1971 was my first day of kindergarten. If you look closely, you can see someone just sitting at my feet. It is my sweet Toni dog. She used to try to get on the bus with me to go to school.

I don't have many items from my childhood but I do have Baby Beans. I have a couple of small photo albums that my mom kept with handwritten descriptions by each picture. Ever so often, it is nice to take a walk down memory lane.

Every man's memory is his private literature. (Aldous Huxley)

Hope your week is off to a great start! Peace and blessings, Tammy

Silver Sunday on Day Seven of My Birthday Month

Memories are like keepsakes, always to be treasured.

This silver photo album was given to me by my friend, Lisa, after Yusef was born.

It's hard to see the detail but a picture is engraved on the front as is his name and date of birth. According to this, he was born on a Tuesday. That's something I never would have remembered.

When he was a baby, he loved stuffed animals with big eyes, or in this case, a clown, and he would just sit there for the longest time totally entertained and mesmerized by their faces. Sometimes he would even talk to them.
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Here's a picture of me when I was 6 months old. Check out that long sweeping curl on top of my head. So cute!

And the silver frame holds a photo of my childhood pet, Toni. She was with me from the time I was 2 years old until I was 17. It's amazing how 26 years later, I can honestly say I still miss her. She was the best dog ever. Her favorite song was Shake Your Booty by KC and the Sunshine Band. When she heard that song, she would get on her back and shake her rearend from side to the side. It was the funniest thing ever. The unconditional love you receive from a pet is just so precious. She was a best friend and more for all those years.
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This photo album holds pictures of friends.

Our friends become our families, especially when we are so far away from home.

My most favorite photos are the candid ones. I just love this picture of Sam walking with Zack along the beach when he was about 15 months old. I have one similar of Sam walking with Yusef when he was about the same age.
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Memory is a child walking along a seashore. You never can tell what small pebble it will pick up and store away among its treasured things. ~Pierce Harris, Atlanta Journal

I hope you are having a super Sunday. Speaking of super, it's Super Bowl Sunday. Yusef wants his dad to wake him up at 3 am so he can watch the game. I don't think that is gonna happen. By the time we are up and getting ready for school, the game will likely still be going on. If you're a football fan, enjoy the game!

Peace & blessings, Tammy

Happy Day Six and Pink Saturday

Saturday salutations. I hope everyone is having a relaxing weekend. Today has been filled with cleaning, crafting, and crocheting. It was a perfect day to stay indoors as the sky was gray and this evening has brought cold winds.

The above little gift bag used to be a Triscuit box ... well, it still is, just looks much nicer now, and will be given to a friend with little valentine goodies inside.

I'm enjoying making these little crocheted hearts. So easy to do and I have tons of leftover scraps of yarn that are perfect for small projects.
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If you enjoy scrapbooking, Lori at A Scrap Mom's Musings is having a giveaway that includes lots of wonderful supplies. Please visit her post here to learn more about it.

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Every heart that has beat strong and cheerfully has left a hopeful impulse behind it in the world, and bettered the tradition of mankind.

(Robert Louis Stevenson)

Have a blessed day! Tammy

Happy Friday!

Hello and Happy Friday! Zack had a baseball game at 9 am this morning and it was our snack day. 20 bags filled with chicken sandwiches, baby carrots, snack mix and fruit rollups. Plus vanilla cupcakes with chocolate frosting that I made yesterday.

Zack played well but his team lost the game 10-6. At least everyone liked their snacks.

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After we got home and Zack got all cleaned up, we went to lunch at Fusion which is just below The Kuwait Towers.

At 1:30 pm, we were the only ones there. The waitress said we were early as most people start coming for lunch at 3 pm. I told her lunch at 1 pm is normal for us. Fusion has mostly Japanese food and we are always pleased with everything we order.

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The rest of the day has been quiet. While blog hopping this afternoon, I saw that Twyla from Two Crazy Crafters posted a heart pattern so I wrote it down and gave it a go. Yea! It worked out for me the first time. There are so many heart patterns and there are times when I struggle with a pattern but this one was quite easy. Gloria at Crochet Galore also posted a pattern which I will try tomorrow.

The pink and white hearts are made with leftover yarn from the States while the red and white one is made with yarn from here. I much prefer the plump, pretty look of the pink and white ones but there is no Red Heart brand or anything remotely similar in this country. Where's a WalMart or a Hobby Lobby when you need one??

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Tonite I will leave you with another poem from precious Mattie J.T. Stepanek:

Heartsong

I have a song, deep in my heart,
And only I can hear it.
If I close my eyes and sit very still
It is so easy to listen to my song.
When my eyes are open and
I am so busy and moving and busy,
If I take time and listen very hard,
I can still hear my Heartsong.
It make me feel happy.
Happier than ever.
Happier than everywhere
And everything and everyone
In the whole wide world.
Happy like thinking about
Going to Heaven when I die,
My Heartsong sounds like this --
I love you! I love you!
How happy you can be!
How happy you can make
This whole world be!
And sometimes it's other
Tunes and words, too,
But it always sings the
Same special feeling to me,
It makes me think of
Jamie, and Katie and Stevie,
And other wonderful things,
This is my special song.
But do you know what?
All people have a special song
Inside their hearts!
Everyone in the whole wide world
Has a special Heartsong.
If you believe in magical, musical hearts,
And if you believe you can be happy,
Then you, too, will hear your song.
(March 1996)

I hope your heart sings today. Peace & Blessings, Tammy

Thankful Thursday on Day Four

Rhondi at Rose Colored Glasses hosts Thankful Thursday each week.

Today I am thankful for shelter as we've had lots of wind and dust and I'm so glad to be indoors safe and sound.

(A cottage like this is definitely on my wish list.)

"Ah! There is nothing like staying at home, for real comfort." ~ Jane Austen

I am also thankful for all of you who leave me such wonderful comments. Dear Jodie at Everything Vintage has already given me the sweetest birthday gifts: wishes for happiness, satisfaction and comfort. Jodie, your thoughtfulness each day has meant so much to me.
I have been an Oprah viewer for quite some time now and many years ago, she introduced the world to Mattie J.T. Stepanek. If you know his story, you realize how special he was at such a young age. He began writing poetry at the age of three and dedicated his short life to peace and "celebrating the gifts of life every day.

On page 23, he shared this poem:

On Being Thankful

Dear God,
I was going to thank You tonight
For a beautiful sunrise,
That was pink behind the fog down the hill,
And for a wonderful rainbow,
That I ran under pointing to
All my favorite colors,
And for such a great sunset,
That sparkled orange across the water.
I was going to thank You tonight
For all of these special gifts,
Except that none of them happened.
But do You know what?
I still love you, God,
And I have lots of other things
That I can thank You for tonight,
Even if you didn't give those
Very special gifts to me today.
It's okay, God,
Because I'll look for them all again,
When my tomorrow comes.
Amen.

We truly have so much to be thankful for each and every day. Peace & blessings, Tammy

Over the Top on Day Three and White Wednesday

Yesterday I mentioned that Linda from Over the Fence passed an Over The Top Award my way with questons to answer (more like a test :). Somehow she thought I would be a little more creative with my answers than she was. I don't know how creative one can be with only one word answers, but here goes.

1. Where is your cell phone? Purse 2. Your hair? Shaggy 3. Your mother? Ohio 4. Your father? lost 5. Your favorite food? many
6. Your dream last night? none 7. Your favorite drink? vino 8. Your dream/goal? Contentment 9. What room are you in? family 10. Your hobby? many 11. Your fear? none 12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? States 13. Where were you last night? Home 14. Something you aren't? Greedy 15. Muffins? homemade 16. Wish list item? house 17. Where did you grow up? South 18. Last thing you did? sew 19. What are you wearing? pajamas 20. Your TV? on 21. Your pets? Jingles 22. Your friends? precious 23. Your life? normal. 24. Your mood? hormonal 25. Missing someone? sometimes 26. Vehicle? Toyota
27. Something you're not wearing? makeup 28. Your favorite store? craft 29. Your favorite color? blue 30. When was the last time you laughed? earlier 31. Last time you cried? yesterday 32. Your best friend? wonderful 33. One place that I go over and over? bathroom 34. One person who e mails me regularly? Renee 35. Favorite place to eat? Rangoli

Speaking of tests, my kids got their report cards yesterday. Zack is well-rounded and does fine in all his classes, even French and Arabic. As for Yusef, my 9th grader, he seems to excel at socializing more than studying. Not quite sure what to do with that boy.
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I am to pass the Over the Top award to three blogging friends: Marilyn at Our Victorian Cottage who is so honest and forthcoming in her posts; Gloria at Crochet Galore because she loves crochet as much as I do but she is much more talented than moi; and Peggy, otherwise known as QueenMotherMammaw because well, she's the queen, and so fun-loving.




It's day three of my birthday month and White Wednesday (Happy Hump Day). Below is a monogrammed handkerchief that my wonderful friend Melissa brought for me from Germany many years ago.

And one of my heart trinket boxes (did I mention I collect hearts)?

“The greatest treasures are those invisible to the eye but found by the heart.”

We had another day of dreary gray weather. Quite unusual for it to last so many days around here. Hope you all are having a wonderful Wednesday. Best wishes always, Tammy

Bday Month Day Two, Groundhog Activity and some Creativity

It looks like most of you folks out there are in for a bit more winter weather according to Mr. Groundhog himself.

I saw my shadow when I was on my Saturday walk around the neighborhood, but it's been rather dreary and gray since, with little spurts of rain here and there.

In January, Elizabeth at Creative Breathing posted about Betsy McCall paperdolls. You can read her post here and find out about these paper dolls that can be printed for the year you were born; each has its own story with it. She made a tag with hers. The site also has calendar clipart that I printed out, so this evening I made a collage with my birth announcement and a picture of me as a baby.

I've also been trying to work on all the glass jars I've been saving. Using bits of this and that, graphics and decoupage glue.

I will fill them with chocolates and give them to friends at school.

A good way to recycle and spread a little joy in the process.

Speaking of joy, Linda at Over the Fence left me an award the other day which I have not gotten to yet.

I have to answer 35 questions with one word answers and then pass it on to three other blogger friends. I think I will save that until tomorrow as it is already past my bedtime and I have many messes to clean up before I can hit the hay. DH has been away on a business trip and I thought I would get soooooo much accomplished while he was away. He's gonna come back and think I've been in that hole with Punxsutawney Phil. Ya'll stay warm and have a wonderful Wednesday! Blessings, Tammy

First Monday in February

Wow! A new month. What happened to January? Even Jingles is trying to figure that one out.
February is my birthday month. Several years ago, my mom came to visit us in Kuwait and brought me this Woman's Day magazine from the year I was born.


The only place you can get a magazine for that much now is at a thrift store or garage sale.

February ... a month of love, a month of celebration.

Sending lots of love your way and wishing you a beautiful day! Peace & blessings, Tammy

Silver Sunday No. 4

Once again, it's another Silver Sunday. Beth at Gypsy Fish Journal is our host so head over to her neck of the woods for a look at all the silver lovelies.

First up in one of our hallways is a beautiful silver window frame with a hammered and painted flower design in the center squares. (It opens but there's only the wall behind there.)

There's also a silver and copper lamp and silver frame with a picture of Zack when he was a baby.

Ignore the light and hot water heater switches. I've tried to cover them up by putting things there but the kids and Sam knock everything down so just isn't worth it.

In the living room, this silver and black piece ...

opens up to a mirror. All of these pieces are either Indian or Irani and have been purchased in different antique shops.

It's funny when I look around and realize just how much silver I really do have. We just had rain and thunder and lightning but seems to have passed over now. The past three days of weather have been so unpredictable. Hope you are having a sensational Sunday wherever you are and whatever you are doing! Peace & blessings, Tammy

Happy Pink Saturday and all that blooms

It's been a quiet day around here.

Weather is rather drab and muggy so I decided to walk around our area looking for some bright spots.




Hope you are having a super Saturday! Peace & blessings, Tammy