Haven't posted lately......

It's been crazy these past two months. I kept my kids home in August because I thought my mom was coming to visit. But my dad fell ill and the plans were cancelled. I was okay with it but my kids were not, especially the oldest. They really thought that they might see there grandparents, but anyway it was a pretty busy month. Having all of them home at the same time was very trying for me but I tried to make the best of it. September came and they went back to school, they were so happy. I was happy too, LOL.
The Holy month Ramadan came in the middle of September. It's busy here in Egypt. Stores don't open until 11 or 12 pm and then are rushing to close by 5, so it gets crazy. People buying groceries last minute and have to carry it home because they won't deliver until after the breaking of the fast. Stores open again until very late, sometimes past 1 am. I have so much to do in the coming months. I am going back to arabic school in about two weeks. I can't wait, I feel I need to learn and practice to learn this language. It so much easier for the kids, of course.
My latest mission is to get myself a new digital camera. My camera is just too old. I have to smack it a couple of times to get the display on. It lasted me many years, but as soon as the kids started messing with it, that was it. It order for me to repair it, it will cost about 2oo dollars. I don't think so, I will just get a new one soon.
Doing some fall cleaning. The screens I can say it the worst to clean. I can't snap them out so I have to use a spray bottle with detergent and hot water. The dust and sand in the air makes them look brown. Somehow in the the middle of all of this I have to get back to my knitting. I have taught a egyptian friend of mine how to crochet and loom knit. She has already made a pair of socks and a bag on the loom. I am currently helping her make a sweater for her daughter for the winter. It get really cold here. In two weeks I will be going to Alexandria, I can't wait. Hopefully I will be able to get a disposable camera at least to take some pics.

It's Amigurumi time....

My daughter Ameenah's first amigurumi bear. Please get this cute little pattern book "How to crochet adorable Amigurumi". I snatched up my copy at www.anniesattic.com. He next project is the "Bunny". It's so nice when you make something and see the results as you put it together.

Crocheting......

Well I made some more of these toddler ponchos. Now everyone wantes one for there little girls. I am thinking, man, this is just granny squares. Really anyone can learn how to crochet. It's so easy. I got one order for a pink one. I made and sent it on its way with NO photo. What an idiot. But anyway, It looks much like the purple one in this photo but it has a hood. Really cute. Maybe I can get the owner to take a pic for me so I can post it. It gets cold in Egypt in the winter time. The homes are not insulated so either you wrap yourself up at night or you buy a heater. LOL. I was thinking of trying to design a poncho for boys, like baja. I remember I used to wear them in college. Let's see if I can.

But anyway, I have to get back to my market bag and current sock. I just joined Sock-it-to-me-loomers yahoo group. I hope that I can learn how to make really nice socks. I don't want to buy a small gauge because I knit socks with my Addy Turbos(my favs), but I did order the Knifty Knitter long looms and some spools. Check out "Loomlady" Blog, she has the cutest felted flowers and a cute little bunny. I want to try these out as soon as I get my spools. I can't wait.

Annies Attic has a sale. Time to stock up.

It took me only 2 1/2 hours....

I was invited to go to a farewell party. My friend Nur was leaving back to the US with her family. I had to bring a dish. But I remember promising her a little poncho for her toddler and I never made it. Soooo, I had some peach and white yarn and I decided to see if I can make a poncho in the morning. Granny squares are so simple and fast. So I start crocheting at 8 am and finished at 10.30. My daughter Ameenah made the flower towards the end. At the same time she was cooking, and really I came at the end to drain the pasta and scoop out the sauce and get it ready to go. Mmm it tasted so good. She made Pasta with meat sauce. She did a great job, the food was a hit. So before I left I decided to take a little pic of my gift but I only had two models available. The kitty and the doggy. So here it is. By the way everyone when nuts over this little cutie. But I don't really have time to make and sell them. I am soo busy. I hope to have a good weekend with the kids. Hubby left back to the US to work for the summer, I am sad but must continue on and have some fun with the kids. My parents are coming in August!

Make yourself a "Market Bag"

I am starting a quick little project. I don't like having so many plastic bags where I shop and throwing them out. I am going to make myself two of these so I can carry my groceries. It a fun easy project so far. I don't have any special pattern just making it up as I go. I have linked this post to the market tote for LKC e-zine. It's so cute and big. I am going to try this one too!

One of the things that I see mostly when I travel is plastic bags everywhere on the roadside in the desert. Plastic bags create so much litter because they don't decompose and they contaminate the water. I have read on Care2 website that there is a floating toxic plastic soup in the ocean the size of Texas. Bottles etc... all types of plastic. It's responsible for killing so much marine life, its horrible. A market bag would be great to do and lessen the pollution in our environment.

Awesome day.... forgot the camera.

The beach at Ain El Sukna was awesome. The drive was endless. I could take just one pic and it would've described the whole journey.....DESERT.....the whole 2 hours. We got there nice and early and the kids were so excited. The water was so clear and clean. We rented 5 chairs with three umbrellas and layed out all of our stuff. The air was fresh and smelled salty. I pumped air into all the beach toys and headed for the shore. The water was warm and surprisingly very mild waves almost nonexistent. It had the feel of a lake but it was the Red Sea. By the time we got home we were all asleep in the car. This morning I am still as so drained but I did have a little energy to wash the shells with my son Ibraheem. Here are the fruits of his labor.

Ameenah found this beauty on the shore! Sumaiyah's extensive shell collection washed and drying at the moment.

Destination: Ain El Sukna!

Yes, we are going tomorrow! Ain El Sukna on the Red Sea. It's beautiful. The water is clear and it doesn't even past your waist. I am getting all the sand toys for my kids. And of course we have all the swim wear etc etc. Trying to see if we can rent an apartment on the beach, hmm....that would be awesome. Too excited to even think, I haven't been to the beach in more than a year. My kids love collecting seashells and there are so many of them there. Can't wait to start snapping those pics.

Busy..... haven't knitted lately.....

I can't believe its been so long I haven't posted. I have yet to tackle this heel which I know many have already done so. I took a break from arabic school, its been a month. I will begin as soon as I can get a tutor to come to my home. I really find it very stressfull dealing with these taxi drivers. Some of them can be really nasty and they can give you a hard time. But some are very nice. Either I will get a tutor to come to my home or get a driver to take me daily for four days a week. I miss school and I feel like I'm missing out. I can't wait to go back.

My hubby just put screens on the windows. Boy, am I happy. No mosquitos, no flies, no insects coming in my apartment. Plus I can leave the windows open and the house feels so cool. We went to Maadi City and bought a rug made by the Bedouins in Egypt and got these these awesome pillows made from it. The pillows are huge and we got 12 of them. I want to get another set to lean against and more and more plants for my living room. I have two balconies that has been neglected since the last dust storm hit. I have some ideas that I think might work but I still have to play with it. I love my pillows.

Passed the test, Yipee!

Had my arabic exam today. I passed. Got an A and only one wrong. My daughter also got an A. We are so happy. We left class early and went to the City Center Mall. The Mall was nice but very expensive. Huge, with over 250 stores. The only thing missing was a Yarn Shop. Boo Hoo. But anyway, next time we are going to try to go to Serag Mall. The prices are cheaper and it won't hurt my pocket. I bought a nice tote bag to reward myself for my good grade. I am going to get something for my Ameenah since she did excellent. I have no homework today. so I am going to eat this little sandwich my hubby made for me and take a nap.

Then the rest of the day in between cooking dinner and other stuff, I will knit. Loomknit that is.

Study Break!

I am having a little fruit salad and at the same time finish this mini post. I took out the flat piece I was making and decided to make a short sock. The problem is I am stuck. I can't figure out how to make the heel. The pattern book says to start like a flat piece. So I am going to try to do it and see what happens. Maybe I will check on the net and see if there is a mini video tutorial on it. After, After I study. I have a test on Sunday. But anyway, I promised the kids I would take them to Top Fruit and get Oreo Icecream Shakes. Sounds good? I will make sure I get one. LOL. So here is my focus after I come back, Study, Knit, Dinner, Study, Knit, Kids in Bed, Study then Knit, then zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

100 Degrees in Cairo today!!

It was a hot day today. I was so tired and exhausted when I got off of that Medinah Nasr bus. My daughter and I made a U-turn and went to the market and bought some Nestle Mega Ice-Cream cones. Mine was pralines and yogurt. It was a smashing treat under that desert heat. Headed straight for that little craft shop. Bought two bags of yarn. Different color and types. Just what I needed to feel better. As soon as I got home I t ook out my new glow in the dark loom and started practicing on how to make a flat piece from the loom. Actually its really nothing because I just did a little. But it's fun. Let see how far I get tomorrow.

New Looms in the mail! Candy too!

Finally after a month we finally received the package that was held up in customs. For some reason I cannot understand why they would hold up looms, candy and homeopathic medicine. I was so frustrated with Fed Ex in Egypt it was so annoying. My sweet friend sent me 2 bags of M&Ms, 2 multi-packs of Butterfinger and Reeses peanut butter cups. Not to mention that I had to put them in the freezer immediately because we definitely want them to melt in out mouth not in our hands. It was just 101 degrees yesterday. One would say, "Why in the heck did you get candy?". It just taste better than the egyptian brand. The closest I got to the American tasty chocolate is Cadbury. They sell here big time.

In additon to the candy I got my glow in the dark looms from "In the Attic". They are so cute. I ordered extra pic tools so my kids won't have to fight me for them. My daughter said that they were glowing in the kitchen last night. I am going to try to knit a flat piece on the round loom. This is something I have not tried yet, but I know everyone already has. Bought myself a cool printer so I can print the free patterns that are available on the net. I just hate writing down patterns, I am so lazy sometimes!

I am home today because my little guy "Ibraheem" is not feeling so well. So I have to take him to his Doctor. He had fever and was vomiting yesterday. He told me this morning his throat hurts. So I kept him home. So worried that he might get even more sick in school.

So my first test will be tomorrow and it will determine if I am ready to go on to Level 1. My daughter Ameenah will most likely do excellent she know more than I do. LOL. Kids are like sponges, they learn so much faster that us "older people". I met a sister who finished alls the levels. She has been in Egypt for about a year and going back home to Michigan.

I have to go and take care of my little guy. Adios.

Time to do homework.....

It 9:01pm. I still have not done my homework. Now, after this post I have to practice verbs, nouns and plurals and write some sentences in arabic. I did have a little conversation in arabic, it was really bad but the teacher said it was good. "Asanti, Asanti" she said to me. I passed my first quiz with 20 out of 22 which was good. My brain is saying to me, "What are you doing to me, don't you know you are getting older, school is over for you." I really want to do this! So I am practicing everyday all my notes and if I don't I will forget. I wish I can play hooky and stay home, but that its. I already paid my "nuqood" money! Its know 9:58pm. I just got off the phone with a friend that said her daughter had a rash and not feeling well. So now, I will not answer the phone and I am going to kick the girls out of my room. I have to do homework. I am thinking of when can I get back to my knitting? Friday. No school Friday. I think this will be my day. It will have to be my day. Maybe after I clean my house. Anyone listened to the podcast on Knitpicks? I already downloaded it to my computer to listen maybe tomorrow.

I am so tired tonite...

This is a photo I found on the internet. I really wish I knew who made it, because I love it. Maybe I am going to have to study it and make a pattern close to it. Its so cute!

Today was a very challenging day for me. My daughter and hubby were really excited today about there first day. Its a 3 hour morning class. I am not a morning person unless I have to be. And that's how its been since the kids started school. But I did miss that moment of relaxing as soon as they left, no way. We had 30 minutes left to catch the bus for class.

I had a good class today. I learned about 15 new words. And get this, the teacher said no english tomorrow. So now I can't talk english. That is really going to be hard for me. While in class I had a moment. A special one while she was talking I drifted into a thought of how I wish I was relaxing and knitting at home. Goodnesss, I had to wake up and catch up with the teacher before I get left behind.

I went to sleep for 2 hours when I came home. Woke up to the kids coming home from school at 3:30. Aghhhhh! Cleaned, cooked, sat and did hw with the kids, yelled a little, cleaned some more, did my hw then put the little rascals to bed at 8 pm. Where did all the time go? And now its 11:16pm. I didn't even get any of the dinner I cooked. So I had to clean the kitchen again(my daughter sneakly went to bed, it was her turn tonight) and now I am eating. What a shame. I only heated up a little bit because my stomach was growling and I don't want to get a stomach ache. I am going to bed, now! I really wish my neighbor upstairs can put those kids to bed. They are still up and crying. My kids went to bed at 8pm.

Going to school tomorrow!

Well, tomorrow is my first day at Durat-al-Bayan. Its an arabic institute in Nasr City close to my place. I am excited to go. Plus I am going with my husband and daughter. We have to take a 30 bus ride and hop in a taxi the rest of the way. The fee is 1.75(1 le(pound) & 75 piestres) for the bus ride and about 4 LE for the taxi which in total would be no more than 1 us dollar , the price of a public phone fee in the US. Anyway, like the neat freak I am I set out my bookbag and notebook. Make sure I have a pencil sharpener, pencils and an eraser. Okay, I know I sound corny. But hey, I am going to school after 12 years! It's going to be hard too, learning another language. But I am sure we will give it our best shot and study really hard. My sister learned German in one semester in college, so if she can do it so can I(we too!).

No pics today. I did knitting though. I went to the Nadi sports club here in Al-Rehab city. Oh gosh it was so beautiful. The kids loved it and they had so much fun in the playground. I was knitting and talking to my friend Debbie at the same time. Knitting that little log cabin "I don't know what it is" piece. I will think of something.

I did check out http://www.knitpicks.com/Content/ that Isela recommended. Boy did I love the new set up. They have a cool "knitting room" which I hope they will have tutorial videos soon! At the same time I shopped for some yarn to increase my boring, pittiful stash. I am just going to be so busy with school, lets see what happens.

I leave you with a little pic of the "Coqui". A tiny little frog only found in Puerto Rico. It starts singing its {Co-qui, Co-qui) evertime the suns goes down. Its truly amazing. I am tired, gotta go to school tomorrow. Adios!

The Dust is in town

I hate Dust storms. Dust comes into your home from every single little space. I have been hearing the howling of the wind since early this morning. I walk on my floors and they feel gritty. Even I can smell the dust and it get in my mouth too, yuck. For those that never seen a dust storm(and this one is small). You can hardly see the mosque! Check out the before and after pic I posted. Good thing I hung my laundry inside. The last time I had to rewash everything. What a headache!

My girls baked cookies today! Yummy!

My girls have been invited to a picnic today with their other girlfriends in the garden gazebo. They had their mind set on making arabic cookies. I got the recipe from www.allrecipes.com. We have a special book named "Ramadan Recipes", where we collected all of our favorite recipes all the way down to my mom's abena(cream of wheat and oatmeal)recipes. They got up early this morning and began making the dough. I have to tell you my family are not bakers of pies, cookies and bread. But I have worked hard these years trying to make baking part of our family. I believe this is just the beginning. The made the most tastiest cookie ever. And I am so proud of them. Here is a little pic of there cookies. I ran to the kitchen to take a pic before they went out to their picnic.

One year in Egypt

It has been one year on March 30 that I have been in Egypt with my family. I love it here. I have still yet to visit the pyramids, but I did get to stroll in the Museum of Egypt. I am planning on taking my children there soon. Maybe when my mom comes in August. Oh yes, news flash. My mommy is coming in August. I can't wait and the children are excited.

I went to the museum when I needed to renew the visas in Cairo. My arabic tutor Gueda took me there. Whew, what a day. As soon as we entered the museum I saw the Rosetta Stone. I thought that was so awesome. It is a stone that was found in the early 1900's that was inscribed with 3 types of writing. One was old arabic script, greek and egyptian heiroglyphics. I beleive this was the brake that was needed to be able to decode the egyptian heiroglyphics. It was a nice size slab of stone encased in glass. I could not believe how much stuff was in that museum. You would have to go early in the morning to be able to look at everything and still needed one more day to see everything. Since the pharoahs were buried with almost everything they owned, mostly everything was preserved very well. Down to what they wore. I have to, have to take pics the next time I go. I found this really cool website http://www.eyelid.co.uk/index.htm . If you click on the post title it will take you to the site too. The oil painting of the pryamids that I uploaded is from this site. It has cool games, screensavers and history of ancient Egypt. Check it out! Anyway, Happy Anniversay to me!

So much time has passed.....

Well now I have to say I have some time on my hands for the moment. But it won't be for long. I will be starting classes in the Fajr Center. It's a center in Egypt for learning arabic language. Oh boy. I am a little nervous because I have not gone to school in a long time. But it sure will be a challenge. There will be people from all over the world. And most don't speak english. So there. I will be forced to learn and try to communicate the best I can. My 3 youngest children started school about 3 weeks ago. So here it goes. Wake up a 5 am, wash up and get the kids ready. Make lunch to pack in there bags. Then make breakfast. Make sure everyone took their vitamins and out they go by 7 am to hop on the school bus. I know many parents go through this routine every morning. But it does take getting used too. I still have to supplement english on weekends and three times on school days. So this is a toughy. My oldest daughter will be go to school at the Fajr center with me. But I still have to homeschool her at home. So argh! Where is the break? Anyway, my nights are still free but short. I am already tired by 9 pm. So I will have to try to fit my knitting somewhere in this hectic mess. Meanwhile, I went to Crafters Choice and checked out Isela's new book, "Loom Knitting Primer". Boy, everyone is raving about this book. I am thinking of ordering it and asking my friend in NY to mail it to me in Egypt. I feel left out. LOL. I started ready "Mason Dixon Knitting". Here is my little stab at a mini project. By the way, I love this book!

Finished these, finally.

The kids have been going to bed at eight. Now I have a nice block (4 hours) to do many things. I have finished my daughters socks in two knitting nights. So I am going to use these circulars to start knitting my second sock. I can't figure out how to knit two socks on two circular needles. I have downloaded some directions on these. But I can't visually see it. I am confused about it. So until then I will knit two separate socks on two separate needles so I won't have to go through this second sock syndrome. Always, always happens to me. I can knit up a sock quickly, but the second sock................zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Here is a pic of them, sumi calls them "Candy Socks". I goofed up. I uploaded a blurry pic, seems I don't know how to delete it. Oh well.

I really loved knitting socks with the Magic Loop Method. It so nice and easy. I can't believe that I can actually turn a heel with no problem. I am amazed everytime I do it. I discovered that I was grafting the toe wrong. So I took the first sock and redid the toe. I feel cuckoo. I did it to my husband's too. LOL.

I knitted slippers with my small knittingloom a while ago. I was kind of afraid to make a heel, so I made it tubular. They came out pretty good, but they are always slipping down. (Maybe bc it doesn't have a heel lady". I was thinking of frogging half of it and making a heel. I can just put the loops back on the loom and proceed to make a heel, that way they will have a good fit. I am going to try it out on my knitting night.

Too bad I can't find any knitting partners close to me in Egypt. I feel like a lonely knitter.