Happy 24th Anniversary

I think God probably gave me the best husband on earth.  As a young man I used to call him "every Mother's dream" as he was a gentleman in all ways and a straight A student, he was kind, courteous, thoughtful and a friend to all plus he had a delicious sense of humor, a combination of both his parents.    Well we grew up eventually and I married that "every mother's dream".  He bought me this lovely little rose and white gold with a circlet of diamonds necklace for our 24th anniversary which we celebrated at a restaurant called More which just happens to be in the Gold and Diamond Park in Dubai.   We have such a lovely love story though he does not like me telling it, he says it is ours and should remain ours, isn't that sweet?  

Seven Days Baskets Quilt

I finished this quilt actually after I got home to the states, had to cut and sew the binding, my favorite machine quilter, Suzet, had just finished it for me.  It was featured in Seven Days Magazine in Dubai, hence the name.  One of the reporters visited my stitch group, the Piecemakers, and I happened to be the only one stitching that day so my picture was taken working on this quilt.  I gave it to my Mother and this is her bedroom.   

Class Reunion

About 3 summers ago I got reconnected with some of my old high school friends basically through reading our home town obituaries, since you leave your email address we were able to reconnect with our old friends and began meeting for lunch or dinner whenever we were in town, which led to a lot of email correspondence and a monster renewal of some precious old friendships.  We've just had our 45th class reunion and all but one of our emailing buddies were able to attend, we had the best time and are busy planning our next adventure.  

Chirping firealarm

I'm at the beach in our little house we call Camel Lot.  The fire alarm is busy chirping at regular intervals like a hungry baby bird.  I woke to potty and then that chirp kept me up so went to the porch where I've enjoyed an hour of night sounds, a rare gentle breeze and lastly noticed the humidity so came inside to steady air conditioning.  I am missing my crochet, I left it at home but do have some applique with me to stitch on but find myself on the computer in those idle moments instead of being creative.  I'm itching to crochet, have some new ideas and patterns to explore and I so love working on a piece and letting it grow in my lap especially when it's cold as it warms you as you work.  I am eager to try a simple large granny square to cover an old stool I found, it's out in the shed here.....need to paint it first perhaps and redo the top so that a crochet cover will fit nicely over fresh padding.  I have so many things I want to do and so little time it seems.

Today we planted two raspberry bushes, three blueberry bushes and spearmint, chocolate mint, rosemary and a gorgeous red Mandivilla vine.  My hands were so black from all the soil amendments so I washed the car to get them clean then we went for a swim to cool off.  It was so humid you could spray yourself with the garden hose and it felt like bath water!  

I brought my new bike down, a red and silver beauty with streamers on the handlebars and a "fat butt" seat, it was a find at the Screen Door for $50.00!  I love it, it needs a basket and it will be perfect!  

I meant to add the recipe for that tea in the picture.  That picture was taken at Alila Manggis in Bali on a recent trip.  Here's how you make it. 

Lemon Grass Ginger Tea 

Trim two stalks of lemon grass or use dried lemon grass, chop the fresh into small pieces

one short stick of cinnamon

one small bunch of mint.....like a sprig

one thumb size or a bit bigger piece of ginger, peeled and mashed a bit

Add boiling water and let steep together about five minutes, strain into a cup

I used a coffee press but now have lovely tea pots with built in strainers.

Add the juice of a small piece of lime and about one teaspoon of your favorite honey to the strained liquid........sip and enjoy!  

Blogging?  What's this, who has time what with msn, yahoo, ichat, other chats I can't even remember, yahoo groups,  facebook, email, gmail, incredimail not to mention dirty dishes, laundry, dust bunnies, dirty bathrooms, these horrid floors to clean and my sewing.  Whew!  I don't have time for a mani/pedi or a massage, and forget about a haircut!  Plus I have discovered too many ebloggers that are just pure fun to read, much more so than me so stop now!  

And I'm trying to be a better daughter, mother, grandmother, friend and keep in contact with all that apply to those titles from me......I'm overwhelmed with it all.  I think I'll just take off and read my book for a bit.  I'm so into the James Patterson series, the Women's Murder Club, they keep me flipping the pages and I just won't let myself read ahead......I've got a cup of tea so off I go.  You people out there, "talk amongst yourselves, I'm busy!"

Let's start with Gratitude,  I'm grateful for my husband, flowers in bloom, the birds singing, my jeans fit, a full tummy.  Well not so sure about that full tummy bit.

I spent yesterday working with my fellow Dubai Quilters on our Charity Quilts for the show this spring.  We had a potluck lunch and worked in two teams constructing two quilts identical except for fabric.   It' was a great way to spend an otherwise lonely day in Dubai.  

Today I scooted out to one of the fabric souks and purchased a whole new array of pastel fabrics.  Tomorrow I sew.