Thankful Thursday

There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quiet joy. 

(Ralph H. Blum)

Thankful for nature, wherever and however I can get it.

Thankful for our balconies where plants grow, birds find sanctuary and Tofu lives most of the year.

Thinking of Jingles.  These pictures were taken May of last year when she was still with us.

The balcony was one of her favorite places to spend time.

Have a blessed day!

Spirit and Splendor

 When the spirit of nature touches us,

our hearts turn into a butterfly.

(Mehmet Murat Ildan)

Did you happen to see April's full pink moon last week?

Apparently it was also the first of four super moons expected this year.  

 All that brightness tends to make my camera go a little haywire.

The moon was reigning over their world, glowing its full splendor to all those willing to look up.

(Irina Serban)

The month of Ramadan started three weeks ago with the sighting of the crescent moon; now only one more week to go and then it will be the Eid.   Normally it would be a time of celebration, visiting friends and family, going out to eat, but restaurants and cafes have been closed for two months now and we still have an evening curfew.  Wonder if any of that will change after the Eid holiday.  

There's not much we can do but take each day as it comes.

    One day at a time.

Wishing you a wonderful Wednesday.

Talking Trash

 Tuesdays for Trash is an account I follow on Instagram; not that I limit my trash picking to Tuesdays only.  It's definitely an almost daily occurrence.  I easily find plastic bags blowing around so just grab one and start filling it up.  The hashtag #plalking stands for "picking up litter while walking".

That picture bottom left is a food wrapper that has started to disintegrate into so many tiny little pieces.

Last month, I had some fun with some of the packaging I found on the ground.

The trash was speaking to me and had a message to share.

Earth Day is every day! (Not just annually on April 22nd.)

Wishing you a lovely day!

Flower Power

 The mind can go in a thousand directions, but on this beautiful path, I walk in peace. With each step, the wind blows. With each step, a flower blooms.

(Nhat Hanh)

A sampling of some of the many flowers I saw on two separate walks last week.

May your Monday be filled with beautiful moments and blessings.

A Beary Good Bookmark

 Today has been a very cloudy day with extremely blustery weather since late afternoon.  My husband usually watches a little t.v. in the evening but when he turned it on, there was nothing but a black screen.  It seems that the wind has taken out our satellite dish.

Last night I joined a #saturdaynightcraftalong on Instagram by posting the cross-stitched bookmark I finished yesterday.

Many years ago, when I couldn't find these in the market, I gave some aida cloth and trim to someone who cut and sewed a bunch up for me. 

 I did stitch a few in the past, but still have about 10 to make use of so I dug them out the other day and this was the first one I made.

It still needs to be ironed and backed with felt.  I've started stitching another one but am missing one floss color.  A craft group friend has it in her stash so I will swing by her place soon to pick it up.

Have you read any good books lately?

Wishing you a beary good day!

Happy First of May

 Hello Friends!
Hope you are all well.

I seem to keep falling off the blog wagon, but it's a new month and here I am ...
new mindset, new focus, new intentions.

(I think I say that every month. :)

My day started with a walk, which always includes finding a plastic bag (or two) to fill up with trash; feeding kitties at the park;

and, of course, leaving a little love along the way.

My INTENTION is to FOCUS on a positive MINDSET ... 

and to post to my blog every day this month.

Wishing you a happy first day of May and a wonderful weekend.

See you tomorrow!

Seven on Sunday

 I haven't walked for several days due to dusty weather (and because of that dark cloud that just keeps hanging over my head).  But today's weather was absolutely gorgeous and not to be wasted so I headed out early for a neighborhood walk.

It makes me very happy to come across these colorful, cheerful hollyhocks every year.

The beautiful spring came; and when Nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also.

Harriet Ann Jacobs

Sending love and blessings your way.

Happy Easter.

One Man's Trash

Do you see what I see?

On one of my walks, I was looking at this clump of weeds growing across the sidewalk, thinking to myself how nature always finds a way ... then noticed something shiny amongst the leaves.

All that glitters is not gold but to me these are much more useful and can easily be upcycled, so I tossed them in my totebag and rinsed them off when I got home.

First some crochet and then I just need to make some little stitchings to fit in them.

A quick, fun little project that doesn't take much time at all.

Have a tea-riffic Friday!

Hello April

A new month is upon us, again. 

Where does the time go when there's a whole lot of nothing going on?My feelings regarding the current state of the world and things happening around me continue to be all over the place.  Some days I'm energized and productive; some days I'm a couch potato and only do what's necessary.  Creativity also comes and goes depending on the mood of the day.

There's been a lot of down days lately.

My friend, Aruna, left Saturday to India and won't be returning.  She was born in Kuwait and raised her family here but her husband's company enforced a mandatory retirement age of 60 which means they had to return to their "home" country even though this has always been home.

The country implemented a new law concerning expats over the age of 60 which means my husband, although also born in this country, now has to provide certain documentation in order to renew his residency.  It's proving to be a lengthy process since everything has to be managed long distance at a time when nothing and no one is working at 100%.

I'm pretty much fed up and frustrated with a whole lot of stuff.  Then I feel guilty because I know I should be grateful for so much but, on the other hand, I also don't think it's wise to deny how I'm feeling.

Make sense?

Some days I really just want to unplug and retreat from everything.  

All pictures in my post were taken on my long walk yesterday.

Found this funny little smiley face when I was crossing the road.

I need lots of reminders to smile.

Have a good Thursday.