Tea on Tuesday

Jingle's face reflects what I am feeling at the moment. As of 2:00 pm this afternoon, my summer holiday began. Bliss!

While at Marks & Spencer's gourmet food shop the other day,

I picked up Lemon, Ginseng & Ginger tea ...

to go along with Stem Ginger Shortbread Thins.

Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves - slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future. ~Thich Nat Hahn

Visit Kimmie at Art in Red Wagons for more tea. Have a great day! Friendship blessings, Tammy

Meatless Monday

Several weeks ago I was at a get together of women who, when they found out I was vegetarian, asked the question "Then what do you eat?"

Kind of a strange question when there are more types of fruits and vegetables out there than there are varieties of meat.

My 12 year old informed me some time back that I am actually a pescetarian: one who abstains from all meat and animal flesh with the exception of fish.

If you are what you eat, then I am Indian ...

and Japanese.

The year before I turned 40, I starting exercising, totally changed my eating habits and lost weight. I had never been much of a meat eater, so when I read this book two years ago, it made me realize that, for many reasons, I didn't want it at all anymore.

Some people worry about getting enough protein but when beans and rice are eaten together, they make a complete protein.

In fact, any of these combinations are complete proteins: nut butter on whole grain bread, pasta with beans, veggie burgers on bread, split pea soup with whole grain bread, and tortillas with refried beans.

I realize it is not for everyone, but it works for me. So, are you hungry yet?

Have a healthy, happy day! Friendship blessings, Tammy

Weather and Water

Average Weather in Kuwait for June
Sunlight	11 hours a day
Coldest June temperature	18 °C
Coldest daily temperature	25 °C
Average daily temperature	36 °C
Warmest daily temperature	41 °C
Warmest June temperature	48 °C
Discomfort*	Very High
Morning Humidity	25%
Evening Humidity	18%
Rain	0 mm a day
Wet days for June

I think they need to update their stats for June since we've already reached 51 this month. Notice the discomfort level says VERY HIGH!

Kuwait Water Towers

During the summer and in fact, most of the year, there's only two kinds of weather here: hot and sunny or hot and dusty. Although dust does help in bringing down the temps a bit, it's not great for the environment.

Water is important for daily function; even moreso when temperatures are so high. One of our teachers who recently had a baby needed to be treated for dehydration. At certain times and under certain conditions, our need for water is even greater.

I've placed a bowl out on one balcony; but even a leaky air conditioning unit becomes a little watering spot for our feathered friends.

Jingles decided she couldn't come back inside for a drink of water. She stuck her head right inside the container I use for watering plants. I make sure there are bowls of water set out downstairs every day for the street cats.

I hope to make people realize how totally helpless animals are, how dependent on us, trusting as a child must that we will be kind and take care of their needs.

James Herriot

Thanks for all your kind comments on the loss of Sweet Kitty. I cried a river of tears before the day was done and went to bed early with a headache.

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

I Didn't Do Enough

The outside of the veterinary hospital is painted with happy faces, but today is not a happy day.

Either Tuesday or Wednesday, something happened to my outside Sweet Kitty that I've been feeding for the past year. She came to me last Spring just before she had 7 babies. A friend took on the job of raising the kittens so that they could go to good homes. Only one of them did not survive. This little one looks just like his mama.

I thought if I just fed her and loved her although I couldn't give her an inside home, that it would be enough but it wasn't. She showed up Thursday morning very weak with blood coming from her mouth. She couldn't eat or drink. I washed her down several times a day with warm water, cleaned the blood from her mouth and nose and would pet her. I would rub fresh water on her mouth trying to give her a little moisture in this awful heat. I set up a box just for her with a towel inside so she would have someplace to sleep.

But she was getting thinner and weaker and I did not want her to suffer. Zack and I took her to the vet this morning. He said that she had an infection in her mouth that likely could not be taken care of. There's no way of knowing what happened. Since she had already lost so much weight, he thought it was better that we put her to sleep. I don't know if that was just the easy way out. Or if it would have taken too much work to make her healthy again. Maybe he thought it didn't matter since she was a street cat.

The last time I had to go through this was when I was 17 and we had to put my Toni to sleep. My sweet dog I had since the age of 2.

It's never easy. I counted on seeing Sweet Kitty ever day, meowing at my door, canned food bought just for her, fresh water every day. I should have taken her to the vet last year when she was healthy. I should have done what I could then to get her to the shelter and possibly a good home. She would have made a very loving, sweet pet for someone and I feel like I failed her.

My heart is broken. There are so many street cats in Kuwait. An overwhelming problem as both shelters -- PAWS and Animal Friends -- are always filled to overflowing with the animals that they care for.










Goodbye Sweet Kitty! I'm sorry I couldn't save you. Peace & Blessings, Tammy

Simple Pleasure: Lazy Days of Summer

The kids finished school this past week. Temps have been above 120 and today we are in the midst of a dust storm. Thank goodness for creature comforts.

Next week I have three working days and then the school year is officially over and my summer holiday begins. Definitely something to be grateful for.





More Simple pleasures can be found at Dayle's place, A Collection of This and That. Have a great day!

Best wishes and blessings, Tammy

Best Friend's Day

It is our friends that we turn to in good times and bad. I know that my life would not be the same without my friends.

I've told my husband time and time again that I am able to handle life in this country because of my friends.

It is certainly true that we have friends for a reason, a season and a lifetime.

And in this age of technology, we are able to make friends around the world through blogging. I was blessed to meet Susan from A Circle of Buttons last summer. And there are so many of you that I would love to meet from the US to England to Australia, New Zealand and Canada and all points in between.

Each and every one is here for us during our journey through life.


Sending hugs and blessings to one and all and thanking you for your friendship in the here and now. Best wishes, Tammy

Tea on Tuesday

I am once again joining Kimmie at Art in Red Wagons for Tea on Tuesday. In frustrating times, chocolate is required, and homemade fudge definitely fits the bill.

I have had a hard time posting the past couple of days. Internet Explorer kept giving me a security certificate error so I switched to Google Chrome and all is well.

Fantasy Fudge: Heat to boiling 1-1/2 sticks of butter, 3 cups sugar and 1 small can of evaporated milk. Simmer for 5 minutes. Let stand for 3 minutes. Blend in 1 package of chocolate chips, then mix in one jar of marshmallow creme. Add 1 tsp vanilla and 1 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans. Pour into buttered 13x9 pan. Cool in fridge to set.

Coconut is a perfect pairing with chocolate so this canister of coconut chai came home with me the other day.

Hope you are having a terrific Tuesday! Friendship blessings, Tammy

Friends Are Flowers ...

I received this beautiful handmade card from my Sri Lankan friend, Rizwana.

The handwritten sentiments are just as lovely as the card itself ...

To know someone here and there,
with whom you can feel
there is understanding
In spite of distances
or thought expressed
That can make life a garden.

Rizwana and I met during our trip to Sri Lanka in February and an immediate friendship was formed.



Sending friendship blessings your way!

I hope your day is beautiful. Best wishes, Tammy

Dust If You Must

Thursday's dust storm is still hanging around. When the skies are not a brilliant blue, there is dust in the air. Although it might not be visible right in front of us, it must be rather heavy to cover an entire sky above.

Last nite we met friends for coffee. My skinny latte was served in a mighty big cup at Java Detour.

Hubby brought back tea from Sri Lanka on his recent trip there and it was gifted to our friends along with a couple of crocheted dishcloths.

We received orange marmalade made by the British Ladies Society. It will go great with the cranberry scones from yesterday.

On dusty days, the sun is nothing but a dot in the sky.

Today is a pajama day. Blogging, cleaning (lots of dusting) and hopefully some crocheting this evening. Hope your Saturday is a good one! Best wishes and blessings, Tammy

Short Order Cook

The weekend has arrived, a quiet Friday morning, no rushing out the door for school. The perfect time to bake up some cranberry scones.

Lightly flour a cookie sheet. Mix together 3 cups of flour, 3 TBS sugar 1 tsp baking soda and 1/2 tsp salt. Cut in 1 stick of unsalted butter until it resembles fine meal. Add 1/3 cup raisins or dried cranberries. Then mix in 1 large lightly beaten egg and 3/4 cup of buttermilk. Flour hands or surface and either roll and pat into shape (which I do) or pat dough 3/4 inch thick and use a cookie cutter. Brush tops with buttermilk and bake about 15 minutes or til golden.

Oldest son requested scrambled eggs to go along with his scones which he topped with butter.

Picky son number 2 doesn't like cranberries or scones so he wanted chapati with tea and milk.

Black coffee and a scone with honey for hubby.


And for me, scones topped with orange marmalade.

Blue skies welcomed June's arrival.

But those quickly turned to gray yesterday.

And then a bright orange at one point.

Now we are back to gray. Thankful for the weekend and time. Hope you have a fabulous Friday and a wonderful weekend. Best wishes and blessings, Tammy