We live

Yes, we live.




We are a little more than 2 days in off the plane and are at least feeling normal for part of the day. I'm getting rolling with finding school solutions for the kids, getting a phone, etc. I would rather just crawl under a rock & leave a sign saying, "Wake me when it's over" but, alas, since I am the only responsible adult, I have to do it. I'll fill in the trip & such soon. For now, let me share with you a video that had my sides aching. I needed a good laugh.

Current Events

A lot can change in a matter of days. This time last week, I was running errands & had about a million things to do on my mind. Even last Saturday, we had a family over, playing games & then helping them move some furniture from one side of the island to the other. Twenty four hours later, the husband part of that family was spending the night at our place because he couldn't get home. His wife & three sons were safe in their home, but there were roadblocks & chaos on the roads between.

Everything disintegrated fast. I had my morning "To-do" list made up by 9am on Sunday (quite an amazing feat) and within the hour, word came that we were to stay in our residences. The freeway through the financial district (read: the north freeway. one of two freeways running east to west) was taken over by large demonstrations. Ooo-kay. I guess I really didn't *need* . . . um, what was it I needed? Oh yeah, to run errands.

Anyway, we're leaving on a jet plane and don't know when we'll be back again. Oh babe, I hate to go. But my bags are packed & ready or not, we're going. Oh, and my 'babe' a.k.a. the hubs, my other half, the dude of the house, is not coming & has to stay and work. The things we do to earn a paycheck.

For lack of a better idea

I'm sorry. I'm really running dry on brain cells and ideas. Unless you've been living under a rock for the past month and a half, you'll know all about our recent 'instability' in the region. We're all ok and safe. It's just put a cramp in my style, to say the least.

The first weekend in February, we were able to escape for a long weekend and visit our friends in Riyadh, KSA. It was a balance of trying to decide what *needed* to be captured on film and what I *wanted*. Because I love love love to photograph. No formal training, just a weak hobby that I truly enjoy. But on the flip side, I sometimes find myself experiencing all that we do through a camera lens. I feel removed from the scene; capturing it instead of being in it. And that's where I have to figure out where I need to draw the line. I found a good balance this trip. I'm sad about some of the things I didn't photograph, but I don't regret anything I experienced. And really, what's more important?

I snapped this on our way into a mall. Oh, and as 'western ladies' we just wore the black robes, no ninja cover-up for the head. Though we do wear the matching scarf around our neck because, hey, you have to accessorize! I'll get some clothing pics up as soon as I can. But for now, enjoy. And remember, commit to public morality.

Get ready explorers!

Presenting the project that has been my pain in the rear for the past 3 days! The first 'little thing' I have sewn from my new book "Little things to sew" by Oliver & S. It would have been a lot easier if I had used different fabric. This fabric is rough & tough, exactly what my boy needs. I could get into the details of what I should have done, what I will/won't do next time, but that will bore everyone but me.

Grant modeling his vest. Yes, he had spaghetti for dinner.

Aside from the struggles I had with the fabric, I love love loved making this vest! The directions were clear & easy to understand (once I wrapped my stupid brain around them) and I will totally make it again!

Yes, that's a narwhal on his shirt. They're the coolest mammal ev-ah.

He is showing off the inside of the jacket. I am especially pleased with the lining. The original pattern does not have pockets on the inside. But when I was putting the pieces of the vest on Grant (for sizing) he looked on the inside flap and said, "Where's the pockets on the inside?" It gave me an idea, and so the secret pockets on the inside were added. There was supposed to be a big pocket on the back of the vest. I didn't not add it. What is the point of a pocket back there? You know what would happen? He'd be constantly running to find me, "Mommy, can you put my army guy in that back pocket?" and in another five minutes, "Mommy, can you take my army guy out of the back pocket?" and so on and . . . you get the idea.

I'm also proud of these bellows pockets. There was a simple version & a 'more difficult' one. I chose the difficult one because I liked the idea of bigger pockets. Boy howdy, it took a while to wrap my brain around the concept, but now that they're done, they're so easy!

Here's a better up-close picture. This is a pocket on the inside. See how he can stick his whole hand in?

I left off any sort of buttons or snaps for now. He's flipping the vest inside out so that all the pockets get a turn on the inside. The biggest thing I'll change when I make it next time? If I use this duck cloth, I'll have a thinner fabric for the lining. (I broke two sewing machine needles on this project. yeowtch.)

He bugs me

Ok, here it is, it's March! How did this happen? In my resolve to blog more & not strive for perfection, only accomplishment, I give you *drumroll* a bug we found on our sidewalk.

I kind of like how he's "looking" at us.
I imagine he's saying, "Yeah, I dare you to mess with me!"

Here's a good picture for scale.

There's something cool about a big bug. As long as it's not found in my house, on my pillow, in the tub, in the toilet, in the sink, on the couch, in my shoe, in my closet, on my brush or in my food. I don't ask much, I'm a simple girl.

Wow, they're old

I don't even know how to explain this.

These two teenagers were talking music; different groups and whether or not they were cool. One mentioned System of a Down. The other said, "I don't think those guys have been around that long." I kind of snickered, and they noticed. "What, have you heard of them?" the smart one said. "Yes, I have." I said.

At first, they were a little impressed, like, "Whoa, she knows what's playing now!" Then, they posed the other part of their argument. "So, if you've heard of them, are they new or what?"

Sadly, I had to say {like I have many other times}, "Kids, they've been making music since before you were born."

Their response? "Whoa, they're old!"

Uh, thanks kids. I think.

Pods & Tentacles

Those are date tree buds. I'm not sure of the real scientific term. But I saw these pods exploding at the tops of all the date trees in my yard. First, my wild imagination ran away with me and I was a little creeped out. Pod things growing from my trees & growing bigger than thought possible? Yikes.
If you'll look at the photo above, on the left hand side are those fin-like pod things. They were getting fatter & fatter this past week. Yes, I have nothing better to do with my time than stare at palm tree pods. When I was pulling into the driveway last week, I noticed that they had burst open! Those little tiny flowers will soon look like this.


The flowery parts mature, and most fall off, leaving fluttery little piles of petals at the base of the palm trees and the stems with the buds that will become dates! Then our groundskeepers come around and take care of the trees.

No, I don't usually have that vase sitting by the window. When I first pulled out my camera, the other dude (there are two up there) looked straight at me. I guess he could see the crazy white lady with a camera in her kitchen taking pictures of the poor hard-working schmucks in her yard. It took me another 20 minutes just to go back to the window and nonchalantly wash some glasses, pretend to wipe clean the vase and set it in the sun to dry. Then take a picture of it. I'm sure I looked very innocent & covert. But it was very cool, the maintenance they were doing on the trees. See the white parts at the top of the trunk? That's where the took their hook-like machetes and hacked off the dead, pointy parts of the bark. And they also did this.

Apparently you have to tie the tentacles together so that it produces an abundance of dates! I can't wait for my dates to grow in my very own backyard. Oh, and another reason I think the pods broke open, the weather. It has been quietly, but steadily, getting warmer. I don't mind putting a cardi on to go outside, I've loved the "winter" weather. (winter weather = 66F-72F average temp=happy Lydia) Now it is starting out at 66F at 9am and is 82F by afternoon. And the cars are heating up, too. Getting into the car after it's been parked all day and needing the AC so I don't suffocate is not something I expect in February. But hey, at least we've got the malls to go hang out in. Oh wait, those are down by the "unrest". 'Nuff said.