NOVEMBER 15 IS I LOVE TO WRITE DAY!

Did you know Tuesday, November is 15 is I Love to Write Day! Those very close to me would know how absolutely fond I am of writing. It one of the most joyous things to pursue and undeniably rewarding to the soul. 

MY BEST SUNSET CAPTURE

Two weeks ago, on a Friday, we were at the Sharq Market beach (Sharq mall). The sky was grey and dreary; it didn't appear we could capture a proper sunset. I am absolutely in love with sunsets. My husband said,  'looks like the sky isn't very kind today'. So we just sat on one the benches gazing at the calm waters, the boats passing by, people picnicking, small children running around, their little joy filled voices like an orchestra in the cold air,  cats and kittens making rounds hoping they would too would get a share of picnic delicacies from kind hearted people.

And then as if to surprise us with a beautiful visual treat,  the canvas in the sky just flipped from dreary to an amazing design of clouds painted with an invisible paintbrush and a beautiful glowing sunset amid them. I said to my husband, 'may be the sky heard you and decided to be kind after all'. It was thrilling to see the colors in the sky change every minute as the sun began to set. The beautiful sun glowed in gorgeous orange looking almost like planet Saturn with a ring around it. My husband said, 'you know that's not Saturn'. I couldn't put my camera down. I kept holding on to my camera clicking away.  I didn't want to miss a single scene where the colors of the sun and sky kept changing every minute until the sun set in the horizon.

I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I enjoyed taking them.

BRUNCH ON SATURDAY 8 NOVEMBER AT THE SECRET GARDEN

Why not go for brunch at the Secret Garden tomorrow, Saturday 8 November, 10am-1pm

* Spiced fresh ginger cake, sweet potato scones by @saltbakery and maybe some pies too

* Vegan treats, foul, and fresh juices by @mocucina

* Turkish eggs, using greens from the garden by @mimikuwait and her mom's malted grain organic grilled toast!

If you enjoy gardening, you could be a part of the Secret Garden on Saturdays. Visit my previous post on The Secret Garden Project to know more

For information on The Secret Garden and Brunch, visit @mimikuwait and @thesecretgardenproject

VIB BIKE RACE

Want to try out something different? Do you enjoy cycling? Sign up for the mountain bike race at V.I.B Bike Shop - Al-Rai Behind the Avenues. The race will be for both male and female. Awards and prizes will be given to Kuwaitis and expats per category.

Race day: April 18, 2014

Registration Fee: Participation is free. Those who paid can contact VIB Bike shop to get a refund for the payment made earlier.

Phone : 99778766 / 55538877

SADU HOUSE WEAVING PROGRAM

Where : Sadu House, Gulf Road, near Kuwait National Museum
Time : 9am to 12pm
When : Held monthly. Next course May 2014
Duration : One month, twice a week - 8 classes
Fee : 65 KD
Tel : 22432395

BIRDWATCHING IN KUWAIT

Last Friday, my husband I went birding (birdwatching)  to Sulaibhikhat beach area (the bay) near the Sabah Hospital for Maternity. There were seven  different kinds of birds we were able to see - flamingos, crane, sea gulls, swallow, sparrows and two other kinds of birds which I couldn't identify. Flamingos, crane and similar birds are migratory birds that fly thousands of miles. The birds that were in the water including flamingos were standing half a kilometer away from the shore.  You need to have binoculars with you to see them clearly and camera with a reasonably good zoom. The flamingos were in hundreds spread across the bay. The swallows and seagulls were flying around. Birding is a beautiful recreational hobby. If you like being in nature and observing what is around you, birding is an activity you will enjoy and won't know the time fly by.  The weather was really nice too. When the tide comes in, the birds in the water like flamingos, crane and the other birds we couldn't identify fly away and that's really elegant - they way they take off and fly. 

The only problem with that beach is that, it's the dumping ground for some kind of waste (probably industrial) that flows out through this huge pipe directly into the water. The color of the water from the shore to half a kilometer distance is dark grayish-black in color and beyond that, the water is blue. There is a stench in the air because of that. But then, you sort of get used to it, if you are busy watching the birds. I am glad it didn't catch on to my clothes. We saw a few families arrive in their vehicles, lay out mats and food and enjoying a picnic. Personally I would never want to bring any food with me and eat there. Little children were playing with toys and riding their cycles. There were a few people walking for exercise. The children's entertainment park by Ministry of Labor is very close by, beside the walkway.  

Here are some photos I took. The first four photos are taken by my husband using his Nikon professional camera and the rest of the photos are taken by  me with my Nikon point and shoot.

 

WATER COLOUR WORKSHOP WITH DEBBIE REEVE

Water colour paintings by Debbie Reeve

I met a gifted artist and a lovely person Deebie Reeve at BLS Spring Bazar yesterday. Debbie had a table with beautiful jewellery custom made by her. Besides that, Debbie had put up some of her amazing water colour paintings which would attract anyone's attention  with it's transparency and brilliancy which in fact is the essence of water colour paintings. . When you look at Debbie's paintings, you would forget your surroundings and imagine yourself amidst the beauty of her paintings, as if in a garden of flowers or in the midst of a beautiful landscape. Any person interested in learning to paint in water colours, have a wonderful opportunity to attend Debbie's upcoming workshop which is essential to anyone who aspires to learn the techniques of water colour painting.

WATER COLOUR WORKSHOP FOR ADULTS

Two workshops running concurrently on Saturday May 28, 2011

101 - Basics of watercolour painting

102 - Building foundation with colour mixing and special focus on creating greens

Venue : Debbie's Art Studio at her residence,  Sabah Al Salem

Time : 9am to 4pm

Once you attend the workshop, thereafter, you can attend Water colour classes every Monday and Wednesday from 9.30am to 12pm.

WATER COLOUR TEEN SUMMER ART CAMP (age 13 - 18)

Session 1 : June 27 to July 1

Session 2 : July 4 to July 8

Venue: Debbie's Art studio at her residence, Sabah Al Salem

A fun filled week learning how to paint flowers, landscapes and animals in water colour. Its a beginner's course to budding artists that provides foundation in art. The course will cover basic water colour techniques, colour mixing, drawing and painting. All paint and equipment is supplied.

For further details regarding the classes, course fee, paints and equipment:

Contact Debbie Reeves at 55050749 or 25515275

Visit her website : www.debbiereeve.com

GLASS PAINTING

Here is a very simple glass painting I did on the tiny  Kraft cheese glass.

If you have empty jam bottles or cheese glasses, don't throw them away if you have a an artistic flair. Once the contents are over, wash them well, get rid of the label, and make sure glass is sparkling clean and you can paint on them and then do whatever design you want on the glass using  fabric paints (acrylic) or glass paints, which you can get to buy from Moghawi Stationery, Barakat or AG Mart in Salmiah or any art shop in Dasman Complex.. The pearl and metallic colours add an amazing brightness to the glass. You can encourage your children to try it as well. Medium size cheese glasses or jam bottles can be turned into a pen holder. The tiny ones can be turned into an attractive show pieces.

I really like the tiny cheese glasses with cream cheese (like Kraft) for the glass looks so small and cute, just perfect for doing some glass painting on it when the cheese gets over!