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Tonite we had back to Kuwait.

Have a great weekend! Friendship blessings, Tammy

Mom, there's no food!

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Snack No. 1

Snack No. 2

My kids say there is no food! Translation: there's no junk food!

"The wise man should consider that health is the greatest of human blessings. Let food be your medicine." - Hippocrates

One day they'll thank me! Have a terrific Tuesday everyone. Friendship blessings, Tammy

White Wednesday Wishes

As you are reading this, we are in Qatar visiting with one of my very best friends, Renee.

This picture was taken when we met up in NY over the summer.

I have posted ahead of time, and thought I would leave you with some wonderful white images from India.










The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, not to worry about the future, or not to anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly. Buddha

Wishing you all a wonderful day. Friendship blessings, Tammy

Scat Cat!

Every time I change the sheets on our beds, this is what I have to deal with.

You see that lump! Yep! It's Jingles.

As soon as I flip the sheet, she runs under it and refuses to come out!

Need to use the laptop? First you gotta move the cat!

Can't find the remote? Jingles strikes again.

Cats can work out mathematically the exact place to sit that will cause most inconvenience. ~Pam Brown

Hope you have a purr-fectly wonderful day! Friendship blessings, Tammy

Sunday Brunch

I've posted several times about my visits with Shereen.

Her home is welcoming.

Comforting.

She knows how to take simple items

and kick them up a notch with her presentation and little extra touches.

We always have such a relaxing, enjoyable time.

Homemade truffles for dessert was the perfect ending.

A day spent with a friend is a memory made.

By the way, we are on a 9-day holiday for Eid Al Adha, which is why I was able to have brunch with Shereen yesterday. Sunday is normally the beginning of the school/work week around here. Hope your Monday is off to a great start. Friendship blessings, Tammy

Saturday Success and Gathering Gifts

Well, I did it! I knew if I waited for hubby to decide he was ready to put the shelf together, it might not get done for another week or longer. So I figure if you want something done, do it yourself. And I did!

There are still some things to fix in the kids room, painting to be done, curtains to be made. But yesterday's organizing has put me on the right track.

Up and at 'em early this morning I made a banana cake.
1-1/2 bananas mashed, one egg, 1/4 cup of canola oil and a TBS of water. Mix in 1 cup of self rising flour, 1/2 tsp baking soda and 1/2 cup of sugar.

Always bakes up perfectly and pops right out of the pan. I bought a pretty plate to put it on as I am going to visit a friend.

I also put together a few other gifts. Her home is all shades of taupe and earthy colors. The linen napkins were used to wrap up the gifts and tied up with lovely lace. (A whole roll of it for only .75 cents :)

This bag that my anniversary present came in

was given a little scrappy camouflage.

And I'm ready to go! Hope you are having a super Sunday. Friendship Blessings, Tammy

Friday's Happenings

We awoke to a bright, sunny day with temps in the 80's by afternoon.

A leisurely breakfast of typical Middle Eastern fare (homous, pickles, onions, olives and pita bread) -- and always, always two big mugs of coffee.

Lunch at PF Changs.


This past week, the first ever Taco Bell opened up in Kuwait at The Avenues (which makes my kids very happy). Three guys were walking advertisements. I doubt they needed to do anything to drum up business. It seems the first nite they opened, they were swamped with customers.

Bath & Body Works has come to Kuwait too and I was very happy to come home with a little something to remind me of "home".

At Ikea, we bought a bookshelf for the kids room. They have two middle sized ones that are just taking up space so we got one tall one. That means lots of organizing and moving of furniture today. But first I gotta put the dang thing together. Wish me luck!

Have a super Saturday. Friendship blessings, Tammy

Simple Pleasure: I've Got Mail

Snail Mail! When I arrived to school today, a postcard was waiting for me. It took exactly a month to make its way to me from the lovely Jen at Crochet Life.

It is quite easy to receive cards and notes by email. In fact, today is my brother's birthday and I just sent him an ecard this morning. If I wanted to send him a real card I would have to think about it at least 4-6 weeks in advance.

Living oh so far away -- nearly 10,000 miles away, it's not often that I get real mail anymore. So when I do, it is truly a simple pleasure!

Go send someone a card today. I'm sure they will appreciate the thoughtful gesture.
But first, please visit Dayle at A Collection of This and That for more Simple Pleasures!


Friendship blessings, Tammy

White Wednesday Wishes

Water is fundamental for life and health. The human right to water is indispensable for leading a healthy life in human dignity. It is a prerequisite to the realization of all other human rights.
-The United Nations Committee on Economic, Cultural and Social Rights,
Environment News Service, 27 Nov 02

A few water fountains found around our neighborhood.



Hope you are having a wonderful Wednesday! Friendship blessings, Tammy

November KTAA Meeting

Tonite I attended the 2nd meeting of Kuwait Textile Arts Association held at The Sadu House.

Our presenter for the evening was Dr. Ali Saleh Al Najadah who spoke about Sadu Looms: The Untold Stories.

Sadu weaving is traditionally done on a floor loom, but in 1997, Dr. Al Najadah designed the vertical loom so that weaving could be done in a much more comfortable position.

These are Inkle and Primed looms.

Dr. Al Najadah designed a smaller version of the Inkle loom that is easily transported. He said he made it just the right size to carry on an airplane. It can be placed on his lap and he is able to weave to pass the time. Of course, he draws much attention when he is seen doing that.

A sample weaving made on the Inkle loom.

Weaving workshops will be starting in a couple of weeks, but unfortunately, they are held weekday mornings and I will be working.

I hope everyone is having a productive and pleasant Tuesday. Friendship blessings, Tammy

Oatmeal Cream Pies

There was a time, many years ago, when I LOVED Little Debbie oatmeal cream pies. Two of them with a big glass of milk and I was a happy camper. You couldn't pay me to eat them now (sorry Little Debbie), and why buy prepackaged not so good for you food items when you can make something similar at home? I used the recipe found on the inside of the Quaker Oatmeal box

Then mixed together cream cheese with powdered sugar for the filling.

My family gave them two thumbs up. Isn't homemade always better? I hope your week is filled with all things sweet and wonderful. Friendship Blessings, Tammy

Serenity Sunday

The final wisdom of life requires
not the annulment of incongruity
but the achievement of serenity
within and above it.
Reinhold Niebuhr

Grateful

First I would like to thank everyone who stopped by yesterday with such kinds thoughts of condolences and comfort. My brother was able to attend the funeral and said that it doesn't get any easier. He wishes we could go back to the days of innocence. Those days when we were all at Mammaw's for Christmas, cousins sleeping on the floor so that we could all be together for the holidays.

It seems my uncle had gone to the VA Hospital in Jackson MS and spent the whole day there for doctors and dental appointments. They think he fell asleep behind the wheel and ran off the road around 7 pm. He died in the hospital shortly before midnite. When something unexpected like this happens, it is hard for the heart to catch up with the brain. Acceptance takes a little longer for those directly affected. Distance gives me an advantage in that regard.

Yesterday was a beautiful day here. Hubby and I took our first trip out to Friday Market. When I first came to Kuwait, it was just a big open area where folks would lay out their wares on tables or blankets on the ground. Although they still do that, at least they are now under covered pavillions.

Everything can be found there from the old to the new.

I wanted all those beads in the bowl there on the lower left, but the guy wanted way too much money for them.





I love blue and white ceramic so this little coffee grinder came home with me.

Along with these little trays that are just perfect for Fall gift giving. Pumpkin-shaped sugar cookies, crocheted pumpkins and a finished doily.

The rest of the day was spent in quiet contemplation. Crocheting. Coffee with friends.

"With an eye made quiet by the power of harmony,
and the deep power of joy, we see into the life of things."
Wordsworth, William

Wishing you a joyful weekend. Friendship blessings, Tammy