Monday Meandering

On the way home from school this morning, the sight of this cheery little field of flowers prompted me to park my car and take a walk.  

My friend, Melissa, commented that it didn't even look like I was in Kuwait.  It isn't actually a field.  Just a little empty lot that someone obviously threw seeds in.  But what a lovely sight it is.

The area is residential, with a mix of private homes and apartments.

It was a very gray day so the spots of color along the way were much appreciated.

I do love finding green spaces.

Doors with character.

Pretty entrances.

Well kept properties.

And beautifully blooming bougainvillea taking over buildings.

Walking takes longer than any other known form of locomotion except crawling.  Thus it stretches time and prolongs life.  Life is already too short to waste on speed. 

Edward Abbey, Walking

A Jarful of Love

Biweekly, and sometimes more often, I spent Saturday mornings with a very talented group of crafty ladies.  Crochet, knitting, cross-stitch ... anything goes.

We change up the location to keep things interesting.

Yesterday at our meet-up, I received a lovely late birthday gift from Mini of the blog Miniz Diary.

Peace, love and crocheting.

Don't need much more than that, now do I?

Mini is actually the one who got in touch with me through my blog last year and that's how I got involved with the craft group.  It's given me the opportunity to meet some wonderful ladies and to make new friends for which I'm very grateful. 

I also received this gorgeous knitted camel dishcloth from Karen.  

And this is the jarful of love.

One of the ladies in our group is getting married this summer and many months ago, Karen and I joked that we would make hearts for her to give as gifts or use however she sees fit at the wedding. 

Then we found out there could be as many as 750 guests in attendance.

Yikes!

But, I still wanted to surprise her and try to make it happen so several us got to work buying the right yarn (she wants a white theme) and set to making hearts.

We do still have a ways to go though.

Only 272 in the jar that we surprised her with yesterday.

You know what I'll be doing in my spare time.

Sunday blessings,

The 9th Floor

Every Thursday from 9 am-12 pm, I volunteer at one of our local government hospitals through the organization KACCH.  It's the very hospital where my husband was born (many, many years ago), though it's taken on a different look since then.

About a month ago, the elevator wasn't working and the pediatric ward just happens to be on the 9th floor.  Instead of  shouting and complaining as so many others were doing, I headed up the stairs and now I do it weekly.  Definitely gets the old heart pumping.

Kuwait Association for the Care of Children in Hospital was founded in 1989 to help families cope with the stresses of having children in hospital.  It is managed by volunteers and funded by donations.

Our main goal with the children, of course, is to take their minds off the fact that they are hospitalized.  We play lots of games and do arts and crafts.  Let me just say that some of the games the kids pick really challenge my memory function and reflexes.

I'm often asked to prepare different artwork related to a theme or event.  Last month it was the National/Liberation Day celebrations, so we made projects with black, green, red and white, the colors of the Kuwait flag.

On quiet days, I am able to crochet.  I make hearts that I leave behind for the staff and children.
And one time I even taught one of the volunteers how to crochet a chain, which she promptly turned into a headband.

I crocheted a hat for one of the baby dolls.

And now have been asked to crochet clothes for this little lovely.

Last week I was pleased to donate knitted and crocheted hats (the knitted ones were made by my friend Karen) for real babies in the hospital.

 Along with three crocheted baby blankets.

When I got home, I received a call from the KACCH Supervisor thanking me for my donations and all the work I do with the children.

Service to a just cause rewards the worker with more real happiness and satisfaction than any other venture of life.

Carrie Chapman Catt

Happy Friday!

Wednesday Wandering

Go outside.

Don’t tell anyone and don’t bring your phone. Start walking and keep walking until you no longer know the road like the palm of your hand, because we walk the same roads day in and day out, to the bus and back home and we cease to see.

We walk in our sleep and teach our muscles to work without thinking and I dare you to walk where you have not yet walked and I dare you to notice. Don’t try to get anything out of it, because you won’t. Don’t try to make use of it, because you can’t. And that’s the point. Just walk, see, sit down if you like. And be. Just be, whatever you are with whatever you have, and realize that that is enough to be happy. There’s a whole world out there, right outside your window. You’d be a fool to miss it.

Charlotte Eriksson

Yesterday I walked round and round the walking paths near our home, but today decided to wander the neighborhood, winding my way up and down streets, looking for interesting things along the way.  I enjoy walking for exercise, but wandering is good for the soul.

Happy Wednesday!

Celebrating in Sri Lanka

While Kuwait was celebrating it's National and Liberation Days on the 25th and 26th of February,

 I was in Sri Lanka celebrating my 50th.

This is the third birthday I've spent there and our friends always go out of their way to make me feel extra special.  Flowers upon arrival, signs in the garage and the walls and ceiling of the house decorated with butterflies, crystals, lanterns and pomanders.

I was totally mesmerized by it all and could not believe all the work that was put into making it so magical.

 

A wonderful celebration with good food and friends.

 The next day, when housekeeping at the hotel heard I'd had a birthday, they got in on the act and left some surprises for me, too.

I would definitely say I was more than a little spoiled.

A fabulous 50th!
Blessed and grateful,