Craft Day

It has been a month and a half since my craft group last met.

Yesterday, while the weather outside was dreary and dusty, we were inside crafting away.

The stitched projects are all mine (except the watermelon tote bag), one knitter and the rest crocheters.

Bright spots on a drabby day.

Friday Flowers and a Finish

 April so far has been mostly overcast.

With a sprinkling of rain here and there.

But on a blue sky day at the end of March, I took my latest crochet finish to the park for a photo shoot.

Lots of flowers are in bloom but soon will be drying up and dying off as it gets hotter.  Weather predictions have us reaching 90 F this coming week.

So NOT looking forward to the excessive heat.

“Every tear is answered by a blossom
Every sigh with songs and laughter blent
April-blooms upon the breezes toss them
April knows her own, and is content.”
(Susan Coolidge)

Spoke too Soon

Some of you may recall this cat that was hanging out on our balcony while our youngest son was here January/February.

I never put any food out at my husband's request but did just let it be since it mainly just slept in the chair.

I thought I had identified it as a he. but then HE turned out to be a SHE when she did this.

Kittens a few weeks old in a big empty elephant planter that we rescued from our neighbor who was throwing out so many ceramic pots and planters from his garden.

The thing is, mama cat had to scale several balcony ledges across 3 homes to get here and I have no idea why or how she found us in the first place. A few of weeks ago, when they started to mew a bit louder, I moved the planter around to the backside of the balcony while mama cat was off looking for food. Then we had a big rainstorm and when I checked afterwards, I thought she had taken the babies somewhere else because they were nowhere to be found.  I was relieved because that meant I didn't have to contact a rescue group since they are all so overwhelmed already.

My husband didn't have a clue about the little ones for the first month, but then on a walk Sunday morning he mentioned he thought he heard kittens on our balcony. So I fessed up and told him the whole story. I also told him he was probably hearing them from downstairs or something because they weren't on the balcony anymore.

Well, when we got back from our walk, I went out there to sweep and he came out to look around and I was explaining to him a bit more what happened when lo and behold if there weren't little eyes peering out at me from the bottom of a shelf behind a big planter. The babies were all there and at this point, it seems that they've been abandoned -- or something happened to mama -- because I have not seen here in at least a couple of weeks.

 They were so scared and in such a sad state that I started feeding them a few day ago.  Poor things still don't have full eyesight and are still suckling when they slurp up the food.  They also try to crowd the others out so they can have all the food to themselves.  I've since switched to a larger dish -- actually a drip tray for a potted plant that I found on a neighborhood walk. 

So, I will still have to contact a rescue group after all. :(

Sure hope someone can come get them.

Down for the Count

 Yesterday morning, I went for a nice neighborhood walk.

I felt a headache coming on once I got home and should have taken medicine right away, but didn't.

Big mistake!

It turned into a migraine that put me in bed around 4:00 p.m. and a few hours later I threw up.

I was up a lot during the night to drink a sip of water and go to the bathroom.

Woke up at 5:15 a.m. today.

Thankfully, the headache is gone, but I'm still dealing with a cough and nose blowing from the cold.

Quite aggravating.

Good news is that there's been no eye pulsation for several days now (see previous post if you don't know what I'm talking about).

Came across this quote and thought it appropriate for the turning of the calendar and the current state of politics worldwide.

“Here cometh April again, and as far as I can see the world hath more fools in it than ever.”
(Charles Lamb)

Current Circumstances

 Let's start off with some color therapy

Bougainvillea and blue skies.

March has not gone according to plan where blogging and walking are concerned.

Have you heard of ocular myokymia?

"Plalking" -- Picking up litter while walking.

I've been dealing with visible pulsation under my left eye for a couple of weeks now.  I've been to two doctors who both say, don't worry, it will go on its own -- and they are right, it does, but then comes right back again.  Sometimes for hours, sometimes days.

The possible usual suspects are too much caffeine, stress and anxiety, not enough sleep -- similar to what I was told when I had several weeks of heart arrhythmia in 2021.  Did a blood test to check my magnesium level which is perfectly fine.  Because I have dry eyes, likely made even worse by the glaucoma drops, I also need to limit my screen time so have been reading more; but, if I read for too long, even that causes eye strain.  My bedtime gets earlier and earlier because my eyes are so tired by the end of the day.  The problem is, though the eyes are tired -- the mind and body are not -- so there's often a lot of tossing and turning. 

Frustrating to say the least.  So I have to try and figure out what's enough, what's too much.

I just hope this isn't going to be a chronic issue. 

And ...

to top that off,

my husband was coughing away last week with a sore throat --

now it's my turn.

Started with a burning throat and has now traveled to my nose.  When I walk outside, my nostrils feel like they are burning, my nose runs at night.  Cough, cough, cough.  Today add sneezing and nose blowing to the mix.

Warmer weather isn't helping the situation or my symptoms.  But the pollinators are happy.

Take care,

Friday Flowers

For your viewing pleasure.

Have a good weekend.

Reading and Birding at the Park

 The weather has been so lovely the past couple of days.

Took my book to the park for a little reading.  It's one I bought last year while in the States.  I started it once but didn't get very far, so have started it again.

Had a teeny tiny visitor alight upon my book.

So pleased I got such a clear picture of it since it is so little.

Found a feather on the ground and placed it in the crevice of a tree.

And dropped off another crocheted nest that blends in so well.

The introduction ...

And two of my favorite birds ...

the bulbul ...

and the common mynah.

Both have amazing vocalizations.

What's your favorite bird?

The Color of Cheer

 Sent this collage of yellow flowers to my youngest son this evening.

His favorite color is yellow.

Wishing you a cheerful start to  your week.

Museum Day a Year Ago

March 9, 2024 -- exactly a year ago --  I was staying with my youngest son in NY before my return to Kuwait after spending a month in the States taking care of my mom.

It was a very cold, rainy day as we made our way to the Brooklyn Museum.

I had recalled an Instagram post by Wafa Ghnaim of Tatreez and Tea, a Palestinian Dress Historian, Researcher and Writer, about the mislabeling of a Palestinian thobe at the museum so I wanted to see it for myself. 

Though the thobe was on display, the sign describing it had been removed -- with good reason.  I honestly can't believe the first one was even allowed to be posted in a museum that was founded in 1823.  Surely their curators do their research to make sure they are authentically labeling the exhibits.

Photo screenshot from @tatreezandtea

I went to Wafa's original post of October 8, 2023 to mention the missing placard and get an update on what was happening.  She said that it had been removed and that she was writing an appropriate and accurate caption -- a process that took many, many months to be approved, but finally, as of May last year, the new placard was installed.

Photo screenshot from @tatreezandtea

Definitely a much more professional description of the thobe which is a work of art.

Some additional photos at the museum.

It was a nice day at the museum with my boy.

Sunday blessings,