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,

Walk With Me Wednesday

 Well, yesterday, I broke my walking streak.

I guess when you break one (blogging), it's inevitable and easier to break the next (walking).

I can blame it on the weather -- should have walked in the morning, because by the time I thought I'd walk mid-afternoon, it was a rainy mess ... and a good excuse to stay home.

But, I made sure to walk today.  Twice.

The birds were having a whale of a time at the park since the rain soaked ground makes it easier to forage.

The trees were filled with the sounds of chirping.

I dropped another crocheted nest in the crook of a tree.

And released this kitty from the electrical substation.  The door sometimes swings open and then is closed shut again and she must have gotten in between those times.  I heard her faint meow from behind a locked door and had to go around to the other side to let her out.  I don't know how long she was in there, but she promptly ate up all the tuna I had put out. 

Current stats:

Blogging 61/64

Walking 63/64

Onward and upwards.

The Gift of Handmade

 Met my friend Susanna at her place today -- we won't be doing our usual Tuesday meet-ups since all restaurants, cafes and coffee shops are closed during the day for the month of Ramadan.

I took her the canvases and art supplies I found dumped on Friday -- her husband is an art professor at the university just across from where they live.  I previously posted a substation he painted and below is a collage of the walls he completed not long ago that are along a parking lot between the university and an elementary school.

So bold and eye-catching.

Susanna surprised me with a belated birthday gift --

a handmade jacket, patched together from lots of different patterned fabrics.

We had coffee along with homemade vegan banana muffins that were quite tasty.

And she showed off her knitted blanket made from scrap yarn.

A wonderful and colorful Monday morning.

Have a good week.

March(ing) into Spring and Ramadan

 Peekaboo!

Happy Caturday!

Yesterday, I did not use my laptop or my phone (except when I called a friend to see if her art professor husband wanted canvases and art supplies I found dumped; and when my eldest boy Facetimed me in the evening).

I spent time doing things that needed doing and I read an entire book.

Didn't realize when I bought it that it was a Young Adult version, though now I can see it says it right on the top -- but anyways, it was good and was still 275 pages long.  I had seen the movie advertised a couple of years ago but didn't know really what it was about -- and now I do.  Just another piece of shameful history that's been hidden away and is now seeing the light of day.

As soon as I finished it, I started a book that I bought in November.

I mostly read non-fiction now -- I prefer to learn while reading, rather than escape.  And boy is there a lot to learn.

On my walk this morning found this little keychain lantern.  Today is the first day of Ramadan and the lantern is a symbol of light and hope.

Apparently many celebrate March 1st as the first day of spring, so ...

Ramadan Mubarak and

Happy Spring

Blessed new month,

Wings of Change

 I've been thinking lately about changes I'd like to make over this next year -- health-wise (mind, body, and soul) -- before I step into the next decade of life 

Hollyhocks, my favorite flower.

It was rather serendipitous that this morning on my walk, I came across a dragonfly in the middle of the road.  I've always heard that they represent change.

It wasn't moving, so I thought it was dead yet still wanted to relocate it to a green space, but as soon as I picked it up, realized it was still alive.  Maybe it was stunned by the cold and needed to recharge its wings but the middle of the road was definitely not the right place for that.

Dragonflies are reminders that we are light

and we can reflect light in powerful ways if we choose to do so.

(Robyn Nola)

After a little research, it seems that dragonflies also represent transformation and fresh starts.

The dragonfly brings dreams to reality and is the messenger of wisdom and enlightenment from other realms.

(Unknown)

So I'm taking it as a sign that I am on the right track.   The holy month of Ramadan starts most likely on Saturday, which is also the start of a new month, so it's the perfect time to implement changes and re-evaluate and focus on what's important.

I will be breaking my blog streak tomorrow and not posting since I will be participating in a global economic blackout and boycott -- no spending (except for essentials), no social media.  I'm happy to say that I've never used Amazon or Facebook.  I have a love-hate relationship with all things tech related (thankful for blogging though and all that I've learned via Instagram).

Big corporations, tech companies and billionaires are all in cahoots to exploit the masses and the only way to speak to them is through their bottom line. Hit them where it hurts.  As they say, money talks.  We all "vote with our dollars" every day.  I've already been boycotting many corporations because of their ties to the genocide in Palestine and have made changes in what I purchase.  It's also a reminder to get back to the basics, use natural products instead of what they try to sell us as more convenient.  Support local and small businesses.  Shop secondhand.  Mend and repair.

 Sending you best wishes on the wings of  a dragonfly.

See you Saturday.

HBD 2 Me

 7:45 a.m. I was crocheting while sitting in the car, waiting for my husband to unload a container at work.

And at 9:00 a.m. we were in the city having falafel for breakfast.

Took a couple of neighborhood walks and found myself some gifts.

Actually found this one yesterday ... a metal file holder ... don't know why people throw away perfectly good items.   And a pretty one at that.

And then today ... even if I don't use this board for cuttng, I can clean and oil it up and use it to put small plants or trinkets on.

A friend in a chat group asked what exciting things I had planned for the day.  HA!  That's about as exciting as it gets.  

I also had to unclog a floor drain in the kitchen that was filled with unidentifiable gunk and was pretty stinky and disgusting.  Would have preferred not having that task to do.

Late afternoon we sliced up some pecan cake with cream cheese frosting.

And now I'm showered and snug in my pajamas ... my favorite part of the day.

Cheers to 59.

National Day

A brisk morning walk.

Apparently meteorologists are saying today was the coldest it's been in 60 years.

For lunch, my husband said he wanted to take me to a new place for Mexican food.  He told me the name and it didn't sound like anyplace I'd heard of before.  Well, all I can say is, what he said and what I heard did not compute because this is where we wound up.  LOL!  Definitely lost in translation.

I've only been to one in the states once before and was not impressed.  He's never been to one and didn't realize it is basically fast food.  I have not supported chain restaurants or fast food for years, so we both agreed we definitely would not be going back.

An afternoon walk combined with the morning's stats resulted in 11,501 steps and 3.9 miles ... more than I expected.

Goodnight from here.