2016 – Creative Meanderings

New Year’s Eve 2016

Dec 312016

At last the year is coming to a close. It has been an interesting one to say the least. I have been enjoying some of the Facebook videos about how 2016 has really been a dark year for the world and many people. It is nice to know that it was not just us who struggled even though it started out seemingly positive.

As I flip back over this blog for the past year, I noticed that I skipped from the end of last year (2015) and did not write again until March which was still quite spotty. My regular posting did not return until about June. So, that means that the first half of 2016 was definitely busy with a steady (or rapid) decline toward the end of the year…. 🙁

On the positive side:

*We had a fabulous wedding ceremony in March where we got to see our closest family and friends here in the desert. It was a culling of those who truly matter in our lives, which was both painful and relieving at the same time.

*I quit my job, which really was a wonderful decision despite all of the struggle and challenges we faced afterwards and are still facing now. Knowing that once we are through it we will have done it together and everything we build from then on is ours together is what motivates us to keep on going.

*We really developed an appreciation of our friends and each other. People’s generosity and our learning to support each other has given us perspective on life, what/who matters most, and the like.

So, these were our important lessons in my mind. I have definitely grown in my spirituality from learning how to meditate toward a positive response in how I react to others, focusing on within and rediscovering my desire to know God more again. While I may not go to church regularly ever again, I am determined to pick up my Bible every day and allow the wisdoms, philosophy and words of the written Word to be a part of my life again. I am curious to see how the year then progresses. 😀

Although there are a number of negatives that could be shared or discussed here, I think that it is best to let it all go on this last day of the year. There is no need to dwell on these points, but rather give them up to prayer and hope that 2017 will bring much prosperity, many blessings, great joy, good health and love to us as individuals and the world.

Happy New Year’s Eve – take the day to dwell on the positives and hope for a better start tomorrow!!!

~T 😀

Domestication

Going Mental No Responses »

Dec 302016

In general it is no secret that I am not a fan of cooking. When I was about 12 I determined that I would find a man who would cook for me.

Post college I found friends who cooked for me and managed to convince most that I could not cook at all.

When I was in Japan and decided for sanity-sake to quit working full-time (sound familiar?!) I figured I should probably give my ex a break and do the cooking since I was home all day.

It was then that the truth came out that I can cook – just I don’t like it.

So when I met M, he was a gem in that he likes cooking, does it fast and pretty well. Although I no longer claim I cannot cook, I do quickly admit it is not my favorite past time nor a role anyone should assign to me as default.

Still, I do occasionally enjoy being domestic and spend some time making treats or nice meals. It is usually during the holidays or vacation periods that I get in touch with my domestic goddess. 🤣😇

This was a turkey pie I made with leftover turkey bits🦃 after having boiled down the carcass from our Boxing Day dinner. We now have some great broth as well as loads of turkey that wouldn’t have gotten eaten otherwise.

I do enjoy baking. So I made pumpkin pie with pastry from scratch as was the pastry in the turkey pie above.

With the cookies 🍪and other kitchen activities I have now spent more time cooking in the past few days than I did all year.

Although I might ponder🤔 the idea of a food blog especially with healthy diets, I know that when I hear the successful bloggers spend every day in the kitchen, this is not going to be me.🙅🏽

So, for now M is enjoying a bit of a break from his chef duties👨🏾‍🍳 and I shall ride the domestication wave 👩🏽‍🍳while it lasts – which I imagine is just a few more days (optimistically) to go…. 😜

~T 😀

Christmas Day, Boxing Day and the Day After….

Going Mental No Responses »

Dec 282016

For the first time in a while I have started to feel a bit relaxed. Although our troubles have not faded away, we are focusing on enjoying and looking forward to the upcoming new year.

Here’s a slideshow video I made on FB of our Christmas Day brunch:

We had a lovely time with old and new friends along with their visitors. It was nice that a group of us staying in the desert could get together for good food, good laughs and good times. 🙂

Boxing Day is not a thing for us Americans, other than recovery, but it is for the British influencers. Therefore, we made plans to have a nice quiet cook up at home. I finally got my home-made turkey and fixings in. It was a small consolation to having missed Thanksgiving.

We had Z and her mum over to share in our meal – everything was delicious with more fun and good times.

The 27th was a day of relaxing for the most part. We started out at the pool to enjoy the sun and while I had plans to try to do some writing, posting, etc. I ended up just reading my book. 😀

In the evening, we forced ourselves out of the house to go out to the Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival just less than an hour’s drive from us. I had gone to its earlier version about four years ago when it was further out and not nearly as organized.

Some have said it is a little bit like a mini-version of Dubai’s Global Village, but as I have never been there, I cannot concur. However, there were areas for different countries around the world. Most were Arab countries or those with connections to the Arab world and trade; therefore, no need for the U.S. or U.K. presence. 😛

Each area had performances going on showing local dance and culture.

There were even fireworks around 8pm, which was a nice touch.

We tried to watch an Arabian Horse Show, but in usual desert-time fashion they either never showed it or delayed it by over an hour (which is how long we waited according to the published time…). It was fun and we were both glad that we got out to enjoy one of the few local cultural activities that happen here. It has been on for a month nearly and happens every year, so we can now say that we have done it.

So, this has been our little staycation activities over the Christmas holiday. We are slowly working our way into normal life again as the new year is not such a big deal to either of us. Still, no doubt that we will do something fun if we can, but in the meantime, we are working our way into routine and preparations for all the amazing things promising to come in 2017!

~T 😀

12 days of Christmas

Going Mental No Responses »

Dec 252016

On the 14th of this month I posted about our/my new traditions for beginning our Christmas celebrations due to M’s birthday being on the 12th.

So, I determined that it is basically 12 days to Christmas from his birthday to Christmas Eve, which means that we can have some fun putting the song into reality.

Here is our 12 days to Christmas.

On the first day of Christmas, my hubby and me, we put up the Christ~mas tree.

On the second day of Christmas, my hubby and me, we welcomed the supermoon and (see first day)

On the third day of Christmas, my hubby and me, we had a vegan dinner and (see first and second day)

On the fourth day of Christmas, my hubby and me, we saw the canal lighting, (see first, second and third day – you get the idea…)

On the fifth day of Christmas, my hubby and me, we drank ourselves sil-ly!!

On the sixth day of Christmas, my hubby and me, we saw another Christmas tree…

On the seventh day of Christmas, my hubby and me, we went to Ras Al Khaimah…

On the eighth day of Christmas, my hubby and me, we watched a Christmas movie…

On the ninth day of Christmas, my hubby and me, we streamed yet another movie…

On the tenth day of Christmas, my hubby and me, we drank mulled wine…

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my hubby and me, we went to Christmas Carols service and did some baking (stealing some extra lyrics here…😜)

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my hubby and me, we met friends for Christmas Eve….

And tomorrow is Christmas Day!!!! 🎄👏🏽🎉🎁

~T 😀

Fore!!!

Going Mental No Responses »

Dec 162016

Well, it has been three months now of my golf lessons with the AWN Golf Clinics. I have only missed a few lessons, though one would not know it from my lack of progress… 🙁

However, I am still enjoying it fully.

We have moved along together in our group and are now starting to practice on the course doing a group play method – play the next stroke from the closest/furthest ball in the group. So, we are all having a good time.

Still, I do believe I need to consider stepping up my practice time in order to properly improve. Therefore, a few of us are considering hitting one of the ‘easier’ courses in the city. If nothing else, it will be a great laugh! 😛

So, amidst my moments of ‘woes’ there are these blips of smiles and good times.

~T 😀

Christmas Time 2016

Going Mental No Responses »

Dec 142016

One of the challenges to having married someone with a birthday in early December is having to wait to start the Christmas decorations and celebrations!

Although we had much different plans for Christmas this year, there is no point in wallowing in the “what could have been” mindframe. Instead, we are here now and should enjoy the season.

Therefore, as will be forever our tradition, December 13th means the beginning of the true 12 days to Christmas started by decorating the tree. While I had thought perhaps I would be left to do it on my own during the day (today), I decided to start it last night even though we could have easily sat in front of the TV instead.

Also, M got to help. We had Christmas songs playing to create the mood and had the tree up in no time with lights and stockings hanging waiting for Santa’s goodies. 😉

So, we can focus on enjoying the holidays here in the desert as there is much to take advantage of during this time of year. We are together, healthy and as happy as we can be at the moment. We have each other and we know we are loved near and far. Therefore, let the holiday spirit begin!

Now, the only question is what do we do for the 11th day of Christmas…? Perhaps some cranberries, orange, cinnamon and spices to fill the air…? Hm…

~T 😀

300 Hours Complete!

Going Mental No Responses »

Dec 122016

Just over a year of serious yoga study from practice to philosophy has come to an end. It is only the first chapter of my yoga story, but very significant.

When I was feeling miserable doing my job and wondering at the future of my career in TESOL, I received an email about becoming a yoga teacher focusing on therapeutic yoga. Making an impulsive decision to go for it and having no idea how I was going to make it work, here I am a year later no longer working full-time and having started my own business.

Although I had some ups and downs with the training itself in terms of time, effort and even my own motivation, I am so glad I did it. M asked me if I felt proud of myself and while I am not sure it is pride, I do feel a sense of accomplishment. It is the first major thing I have properly finished since completing my master’s in 2006. It only took me ten years to be able to finish something else. 😛

As I said yesterday, I had really mixed emotions on Saturday when it all came around. I was fairly depressed and down all day with the weight of worry on my shoulders. I tried to just stay focused on the exams and enjoying the day. However, while my yogini-mates were full of smiles and joyful tears, I was in a dark cloud. When it came time for me to share my next steps, I could not stay on the upbeat tune that everyone else was on. Luckily, I went first, so the grey cloud over me could be forgotten by the time we went around the circle.

I am blessed to have come across these ladies with whom I have spent the year sharing our life’s joys and challenges.

We shall, no doubt, stay friends throughout as our paths have crossed and connections have been made during an important time in all of our lives.

So, my first formal document as a Footner is now framed in front of me and I am indeed excited about what the future holds. In January, I am starting the 200-hr course to work towards a 500-hr certification to eventually become a teacher trainer later. As I said, it is only the first chapter. For now, I celebrate 300-hours completed!!! 🙂

~T 😀

Happy Thanksgiving 2016!

Going Mental No Responses »

Nov 242016

For the first time in years I am not actually celebrating Thanksgiving with my friends-family. We had initially planned to have a big bash, but with limited furniture and funds we decided to postpone a large party. It is sad, really.

Then again, it has definitely been a year of reflecting, shifting and starting anew. Thus, it is not that surprising that a change in my usual activities has occurred. My hope is that next year we will be able to have a quaint celebration with a select group and make that our new family tradition.

Until then, this year I am still grateful. My post yesterday outlines the specifics.

It has been an interesting year, but if nothing else I have learned about myself, my capacity for change, unknowns and real unconditional love. I have learned about those who are there for me through anything and whom I can count on truly. These lessons are hard learned, but I know that they were needed and worth it.

So, even though I am not celebrating with my usual feast and crowd of people. I am still celebrating in my heart and taking moments to pause to appreciate the spirit of my favorite holiday in the quietness of solitude amongst the chaos.

~T 😀

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