Our journey out after dark

Al-Kout mall after dark

My Linky

She took this one

Almost time for Iftar. Beautiful sunset.

We went into Fahaheel right before Iftar. What an experience people racing to get home to eat after fasting all day. After that not a soul on the road. It is so eerie but you know they are home with family eating and drinking and having fun. We went into Sultan Center to get a few things and then home.

My Last Quilt for the Summer

Rachel's blocks made by the group for her new baby boy.

Beris's Quilt made for her daughter on her wedding day.

Kathi's quilt from blocks she got in a trade. She did not like the first quilting she put in so she took out all of the stitches out and requilted it. She is now happy with the way it looks.

The Ladies

More of the group wonderful group of ladies.

Went to Quilt meeting today and learned a lot of good stuff. I am amazed at the talent here. These ladies could teach me so much if I could just stay here for a little more time. I am hoping that Michael's contract will get extended so that I can come back. I know that we will have a good 2 weeks at home with Michael but then I have to put him back on the plane to come back here by himself. It tears me in 2 when I have to do that. I hate him being here by himself but at least I can talk to him everyday. That is my one saving grace in all of this I can talk and see him on the computer. To my girls it is one more Monday and we will all be home. Love and Miss you all & see you soon.

Ramadan

I got this from the "Arabic Blog"which I get in an e-mail. Just a little explanation of what Ramadan is. Today is the official start of Ramadan here in Kuwait. This is a time for family and getting together with friends and being thankful for what we have.

Muslims around the world, including me, are waiting for the month of Ramadan (رمضان) now. It is the month of fasting and worship, and it is a very spiritual time for all Muslims. Fasting (الصوم) involves not eating or drinking anything from dawn to sunset. This may seem hard, but it is not that difficult if you are used to it. There is also a very late meal we have shortly before dawn or very late at night called (السحور) which helps us cope with fasting the following day. Children usually practice fasting gradually until noon at first, and then year by year they learn to fast all day long.

Ramadan is also a good time to strengthen family ties, as you find many families making a point of getting together at the time of breaking the fast (الإفطار). Even extended families get together for Iftar. I remember that we used to invite all my uncles and get invited at their homes for Iftar. It is also a very good time for the rich to help the poor, as we usually find what is called (موائد الرحمن) literally “God’s buffets” which are meals that rich people prepare especially for the poor, and everyone can eat there.

Ramadan is also time of worship and reading the Qur’an. Many people make a point of reading the whole Qur’an during the month of Ramadan. People tend to pray more and go to the mosque more often than usual. Yet, Ramadan has its special entertainment as well. Television usually shows all sorts of special programs and soaps to keep people entertained all day and all night long. In addition, although Ramadan is the month of fasting, people tend to consume more food than any other time of the year, especially sweets. Ramadan special foods may merit a special post.

There is a special prayer that we say at this time of the year when we wait for Ramadan (اللهم بلّغنا رمضان) which means “God, help us reach Ramadan.”

Michael had the day off

Looking out over the desert

Cold Stone

Linky with her new shades

Michael & I in front of Magic Planet

We went into Avenue's today as Michael did not have to work. We went to lunch and a movie. We went and saw "Sunshine Cleaning" and it was a cute movie but not what we thought it would be. We will be leaving Kuwait 2 weeks from today and I am sad. I really do not want to go home. But, then I get tugged that way because of that new baby that is waiting to meet her cousin Linky, her Opa and me. Then in about 8 weeks we will have another baby to welcome to the family. What a blessed year this was after all the heartache of last year. It is a rebirth of this family. The older generation is gone and a new one is here to take there place. No one can replace my mom & dad but these 2 new babies are here for a reason to fill avoid left in my heart.

Fabric Souk

Liberation Tower from the Souk

The ladies from KTAA

A delivery guy on his motor scooter. Takes his life into his hands.

A great close-up shot of Liberation Tower

I finally got to go to the big commercial Souk and boy was it is sight to see. So many shops and so much fabric. I could have spent Michael's whole paycheck there on fabric. It had so much that I had never seen and I tried hard to control myself. Michael gave me 20KD and I came home with 5KD so I think I did good. I also bought a box of thread which was 12 spools for 1.6ooKD. That was a steal. Cotton thread and they were good size spools. I love Kuwait for buying fabric. 1KD for a metre of fabric. I went with Barbara & Ruth and we met up with Sally, Meg & Kathi. There were a few other but do not remember there names. Sorry!!! It was a fun day for me out with the girls.
Love to all in Va Bch. Barb hope this finds you well & will see you soon.

Sunrise & Sand

Sand blowing across the road. Reminds me of snow.

In this Muslim country this struck me funny. The yellow sign says "Honk if your Horny".

Sign on overpass it says, "Give the road it's Right".

Sunrise

Peeking thru the dust. You can barely see the sun.

This morning we all got up early to go see the sunrise. Linky even went with us and she was a little impatient with the sun. It took awhile to peak over the sand that was on the horizen and we should have known that that was what was to come. When we all got home we laid down and took a nap. Michael & I rode into Kuwait city to go to the Bernina store as I needed some needles and thread. I was so dusty it was hard to see Liberation Tower as we approached downtown. The dust was so thick I could not see it till we were right on top of it. Then on the way home it was blowing so hard across the road it looked like blowing snow. But let me tell you the people did not slow down still drove like idiots. I really can not understand why the have to weave in & out of traffic and go fast. Every day there are at least 8 accidents in the paper and they are bad ones not fender benders. I really love this country but I will never drive here. I do not like to drive in the states so I would never even dream of driving over here unless Michael got me a heavy duty HUMMER.
Love to my girls. Be home soon. Kisses to Lyss & Gwyn.

Friday Outing

Sunset over the Airport

Sunset over the desert

Heading into downtown Kuwait City

The old part of downtown

I am so far behind in keeping people up to date with what is going on over here. Just not much. We have been staying in as it is hot. But today is our day to go out and have lunch and a movie. It was a great day. We drove to Avenues and had lunch at a new place called Buffalo's and the food was great. After this we went to see the movie "Imagine That" with Eddie Murphy. Really cute movie. We then got a donut at KK and the we walked them off. We finished the day at Carrefour doing the grocery shopping. Then on the way home. Was a good day.
Love to all at home. Barb, Girls & my 2 precious granddaughters.

A day out

A really nice home here in Kuwait.

this is a new home being built in Egaila 4 and it has GOLD windows.

Fintas Center view in the dust

Fintas view with no Dust

On Friday we went into Avenues for lunch and a movie. We went to T. G. I. Friday's for lunch and it was great. We then went to see the movie G-Force which was a really cute movie. Michael and I as well as Ash laughed all the way thru it. We then did a little shopping at H & M who was having a 70% off sale. I got a couple shirts and a cute little dress. Linky Lou got a pair of shorts and a really cute shirt. She also got some hair things and she was happy. We then went onto Carrefour and did our grocery shopping for the week. We all had a very nice day.