Savoring Moments

Over this past week there have been many breakfast outings with friends.

Saying goodbye to some for the summer.

And saying farewell to others who are moving on.

Wherever I go, despite the heat, I try to take a walk around the block to see what I can see.

 There will be no more breakfasts out for a while as today began the holy month of Ramadan which means no eating or drinking in public.

Good thing that law doesn't apply to grass eating kitties.

Happy Thursday!

WWKIP Day

I believe that craft is part of an intrinsic need in all of us to create and make.  Craft benefits us on so many levels, in the interpreting of our environment, our experiences, our culture, our feelings and vitally, in the creation and making of things which are of value, serve a purpose and are beautiful.

Jane Sedgewick

For the first time ever, thanks to Mini of Miniz Diary, Kuwait was signed up to participate in the World Wide Knit in Public Day.

5 knitters, 2 crocheters and a cross-stitcher all gathered together at Costa Coffee for a wonderful afternoon of coffee, chatting and crafting.

 

 

It was my first time meeting these ladies and, I must say, it was quite an enjoyable 2-1/2 hours that flew by in no time.  

What started out as a very dusty morning, turned into a blue sky kind of afternoon.

 

Literally and figuratively.  

Wishing you a wonderful day.

Five on Friday #5

This will be the 5th time I've joined Amy's Five on Friday.

Five simple pleasures of the past week.

Coffee Connections

Companionship, conversation, coffee, fruit, bread and jam.  A lovely 2 hours well spent with friends yesterday morning.  Can you guess where we went?

Exploring by Car

It may be too hot for me to explore by foot right now -- the current temperature at 12:30 p.m. is 109 degrees Fahrenheit -- but I can drive around.  And whenever I see a beautifully landscaped home, I am inclined to stop my car and snap a photo from the driver's seat.

Creative endeavors

There is always something on my hook, whether it is for the yarnbombing project, a useful project or just for the heck of it, I'm always making something.  Walking was my meditation, now I resort to crochet since I'm indoors most of the time.  Through Instagram, I learned about a charitable crochet project started by Sabina Speich.  Her aim is to bring awareness to and raise money for those who are suffering with depression and anxiety disorders, something she deals with herself.  She posted links to patterns that can be made and mailed for her project.  The first one is a colorful coaster from the blog of Le Monde de Sucrette called Crazy Coasters.  Quick and easy.  You can find details about the project at crochetpower.net.

Out my window

Preening, strutting, exploring, munching.  I am happy that I have two balconies filled with plants that invite our feathered friends to stop by for some sweet relief from the scorching temperatures.

Discovering

In spite of the heat, I still find moments where I can venture outside for a short period of time to capture beautiful scenery and surroundings.
Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it.

(Buddha)

Happy Friday!

Scoping Out the Garden

Yarnbombing at The Secret Garden is still a work-in-progress.

One thing we have agreed upon is that it is just way too hot to install anything large at this point.  So the big tree is on hold until the Fall.

I went last week to measure some of the smaller trees, but forgot to write down the numbers.  For some reason, I thought I would retain that information in my head.  What was I thinking?  Yesterday I went back again but this time I forgot my measuring tape.

So I took my little yarn strip around and was trying to figure out measurements that way.  At a nearby picnic table three Indian guys having their lunch were watching me and even offered to get some rope to tie my yarn strips to the tree.  They didn't speak English so I showed them my darning needle already threaded with yarn for sewing ends together.  Unfortunately, this strip was 3 squares too short.  The rough bark held it on nicely for a photo op, but there was so no sewing yesterday.

 I did have a pleasant walk around the garden, and even though all the plants have died away, I always find something interesting and colorful.

My idea is to yarnbomb a few small trees and some of the branches just to see how it will hold up.

For my next trip to the garden, I will definitely be armed with everything I need to measure and record so that the actual yarnbombing can commence.

Have a great day!

Finally Finished

There are certain times when you think that the day you've been waiting for will never come.

When I went back to work in August, I knew I would not be returning for another school year.

Sunday was emotionally draining as there were video presentations for leaving staff.  So many moving on; my boss retiring after 12 years here.  Saying all those goodbyes certainly took its toll.  But yesterday, all was calm, and I was finally able to get my work done.

I was finally able to call it quits.

Today was my first day of freedom.  Believe me, after all the workplace chaos and turmoil of the past year, this feels like a new lease on life.

I'm open to all the new possibilities that are awaiting me.

This past Saturday, I met with some of the yarnbombing group again to crochet and make plans.

After my last blog post, I was contacted by a local lady who found me through a blog friend in India.  Now how's that for networking?  She has been looking for other crafters in the country to meet up with.  Turns out she only cross-stitches (something I used to do a lot of and would like to pick back up again), but had found a small group of knitters on Ravelry called Kuwait Crafters who she has been able to connect with.

In order to try and meet more people, she is hosting a World Wide Knit in Public event this coming Saturday at one of the Costa Coffee locations on the seaside.  I agreed to help the cause by posting to my yarnbombing chat group and to Instagram and having others do the same.

The way things are already playing out, I have a feeling I'm going to be a very busy crafter in the months to come.

The constant creative mess doesn't seem to bother Jingles in the least.  

Happy day,

Five on Friday: A Whole Lot of Leavin'

Five moments from the past week.

And a little added music bonus.

A friend is leaving after 12 years teaching in Kuwait so a few of us from the old group took her out for Indian food last Saturday.  Everyone else has already moved away so what was 10, is now down to 5.

On Wednesday, two of us met at Color Me Mine to paint some tiles for trivets that she can take with her as a reminder of our friendship and her time here.

I'm leaving my job (not Kuwait) after 7 years and was gifted with this beautiful necklace from co-workers.  It's my name in Arabic.  20 years here and I've never gotten one for myself so I especially love it and will always remember them fondly when I wear it.

Today, a friend and I took our boss and his wife out to breakfast.  They are also leaving Kuwait after 12 years.

It's a beautiful day, but very, very, very hot!  Today's high was 117 and at 5:30 p.m. it's 108 degrees.

Bon Jovi says it best.
There is definitely A Whole Lot of Leavin' going on.

Joining Amy at Love Made My Home for Five on Friday.

Have a good one!

Seeking Shade

When I headed out at 8 o'clock this morning for a walk, I thought I was beating the heat.  Boy was I wrong!

Our high today was 118 degrees.

And with the sun beating down, it is just WAY too hot.

Yet street cleaners were out there in their yellow jumpsuits and workers were at construction sites.  I don't know how they manage.  Or why they should even have to under these conditions.

Established landscapes are doing well despite the heat.

And dates are growing again. 

Trees and bushes that provide shade and naturally cool the air are always a welcome sight.

The closer I got to home, I just wanted to get there ... quick.  I wanted to run but didn't even have the energy to do so.

It is the kind of heat that literally makes you feel sick.  After a shower, it took me about 30 minutes to recover.

I walked again tonight and let me tell you, even though it was over 100 degrees, it was a whole lot more bearable.  And that full moon was absolutely gorgeous!

I will miss wandering up and down the neighborhood streets as I normally do during the daytime.  But for now, walking will have to take place at sunset.

I'll just have to find other ways to get pictures of my surroundings.

Like stopping my car along the side of the road to photograph this beauty.

Hope you are having a terrific Tuesday.