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| Ice Cream and Gata from Geghard, Armenia |
My wonderful neighbor S called me this morning. Her niece had returned from a visit to Armenia and she had brought back some gata and S's sister-in-law brought them some of that gata and would I like to have some? Also, she had some Armenian ice cream and would I like to try some? Oh, would I ever! Yes, please! So, she brought me some! LOL. This gata is more like a sweet bread and according to S, it was from a place called Geghard in Armenia. S said they specialize in making this type of gata in that city. I did an online search and apparently, there is a medieval monastery that is carved into a rock, there, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I feel very privileged to have received a piece of their specialty gata!
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| Birthday Card |
On Monday, I made a birthday card. It was a very simple design and it took me longer to make it than I thought it should have taken, but, I had fun making it! Later, I watered the garden, both front and back, took the trash cans to the curb, chatted with friend R, and video chatted with my daughter. Monday's high was 95F, but, it felt quite warm; I had the fans on all afternoon and into the night.
Tuesday was another warm day, with a high of 95F. I brought the trash cans in, enjoyed a salad and one of the ice cream cones that S gave me for brunch, cleaned the litter box, chatted with friend R, video chatted with my daughter, and spent several hours playing with fabric and watching TV! The weekly grocery ads came in, but, I only gave them a rather cursory glance, because I am not planning to do any grocery shopping this week.
Tomorrow (Wednesday) is supposed to be another day in the mid-90s. Plans include watering the garden because M is on vacation this week and he will not be here to water the garden for me!
On these warm August days, I am grateful for:
- Fans and electricity to run them
- Neighbor S bringing me gata and ice cream!
- Salads and cool drinks (I made peach lemonade, again!)
- Time to craft and relax
- NOT feeling cold! LOL!
Daily joyful activities have included card making, playing with fabric, and eating ice cream!
How is your week coming along?
What a lovely treat from your friend. Who can say no to ice cream in the midst of the summer heat?! I like your card - did you cut the fancy edges with scissors designed for this? You took a design & WOWed it up with the layers & pattern papers. Very nice.
ReplyDeleteIt was a very delicious treat! Ice cream is a necessity when it is in the 90s and you don't have a/c!
DeleteThank you, Mary-Lou. Yes, I used a pair of fancy edged scissors. Deciding on a design took me some time, but, I was happy to find two scrap pieces of print paper that sort of coordinated. I think, if I ever buy more card making supplies, it will be a stamp that says "Happy Birthday" because my handwritten greetings leave a lot to be desired!
The card is very pretty. Did you used to do scrapbooking or do you have a stash of paper just for cards?
ReplyDeleteThank you, June. I used to do scrapbooking and I am now using up all the papers to make cards! My daughter did print out some photos for me to scrapbook with when she was here, but, haven't sat down to do it, yet.
DeleteI really enjoy your blog, and I'm catching up since the last time I dropped in - July! I love seeing all the pics of your garden and the growing things. You seem to have a real connection. I am also always impressed by your food. It is amazing, varied, nutritious and thrifty as well as looking very tasty indeed! I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to put all the catch up here, in one post, rather than at the ends of all the other posts. I feel sort of indulgent dipping in to such a long read.
ReplyDeleteHugs for missing your father.
I'm glad T's workmen were considerate. That can make such a difference.
I think M is amazing. They seem such a wonder worker and doing such good stuff in your garden.
I hope that T is okay. A fall can be so upsetting, far more than the bruises. They can take confidence away. And all this while the workmen are there. I'm glad that it's not a bad break, and medical science moves on so quickly that it's amazing what they can do.
The visit to the blood lab sounds frustrating and very badly organised. I'm glad you got through it okay. The doctor's visit sounds much better, and reassuring.
I loved your picture challenge pics. Your journal looks beautiful - really striking.
So sad about the rooster - he looked magnificent. It may have been it was that time for him, sometimes animals feel that and go somewhere quiet and calm to go to their rest.
You have an amazing touch with broccoli! It just keeps going for you. And it's so nutritious, so I'm glad that you have plenty.
I saw the time log - you spend time feeding your soul, and that is not a bad thing in itself. Sending hugs because I think you are kind to others but a little hard on yourself.
The budget seems to be a challenge this month. Frozen veggies can be better nutritionally than fresh sometimes, because they are frozen straight away rather than shipped to stores and then set out for customers, so if you have to have those and get the plain ones that are just the frozen veg with nothing added, then hopefully you won't lose out.
Jennifer sounds amazing, but I bet that you are one of her favourite customers. It was kind of her to get the noodles, though. Can you leave her a good review (not mentioning going elsewhere as that could get her into trouble) so that she gets the benefit at her next appraisal?
So sorry to hear about Snowball. Sending hugs. They looked like such a live wire. I'm sure that Dancer will miss seeing them as well so please pass on gentle scritches from me. I'm glad that you looked after Mama Cat, you have a kind heart. I hope that she picks up.
You have great neighbours, but I think that you are an amazing neighbour.
The birthday card looks amazing!
I'm a little caught up now. Hope that you can keep yourself safe and well. Hugs x
Thank you, Lyssa, for all your kind comments. I loved having them all in one post; it was a bit like a trip down a memory lane of recent posts! :D
DeleteI agree with you that M is amazing! His aunt Katy used to be my neighbor and she was rather amazing, too. She got him to mow my front lawn for me when I was in the hospital having my daughter and M has been tending to the garden ever since!
Thank you for the reminder about the frozen vegetables! I do keep some in the freezer for use as needed. :)
I have left a great review for Jennifer and she did mention something about me being one of her favorite customers because "You're so easy going" (her words). :D
I really like what you said about spending my time "feeding my soul"; thank you. :)
Gata and ice cream sounds like a perfect August treat. Your card is lovely with those delicate rose buds.
ReplyDeleteThey were the perfect August treat! :)
DeleteThank you, Susanne. I have one last scrap piece of the rose buds paper left! :)
You have a very kind and generous neighbour. The birthday card you made looks lovely. It is so hot here I'm melting. Early morning walk with Tilly and then I sat out in the garden, had my lunch outdoors and relaxed outside for the rest of the afternoon. We ate ice cream too :)
ReplyDeleteI do have a wonderful neighbor and friend in S. She is always sharing some delicious treats with me.
DeleteThank you, Eileen; I enjoy card making, but, stick to the simpler designs!
Sounds like you are making the best of the hot days. Glad you had some ice cream, too! :D Much needed on those hot days, isn't it?
Yum.
ReplyDeletewww.rsrue.blogspot.com
It was all very delicious, Regine. :)
DeleteHave a blessed day.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I wish you the same!
DeleteHow nice to have treats from another country! I really like the birthday card, it looks like a beautiful quilt.
ReplyDeleteI tackled some gardening this morning and cleaned up a lot of stuff that had been growing between the blocks of the path. I pulled out some old milkweed that didn't look fit for caterpillars to eat, but one smaller plant had a tiny monarch caterpillar so I moved it onto a milkweed in another area. A monarch emerged from a pupa on the garage siding this morning and was still hanging there building up its strength when I last checked.
It was lovely to try the gata and the different ice creams, Bushlady. I watched an online video of the monastery of Geghard and there was a glimpse of a stall with a lady selling these gatas!
DeleteThank you for your kind words about the card. It does look like a quilt now that you've mentioned it! :D
Sounds like you've been busy in the garden! Those weeds do grow like crazy after the rain, don't they? Your garden sounds like a monarch butterfly nursery! How wonderful!
Whoever is the recipient of the card is very lucky!
ReplyDeleteNow I have to look up both Gata and Armenian ice cream!
Thank you, Anne; the card is for my aunt. :)
DeleteThis particular gata was a type of sweet bread. There is a more cookie like gata, too. Both are delicious. The ice cream was delicious, too!
It's so hot where you are!! We are having what feels like an early spring. It's supposed to still be cold winter. Doesn't bode too well for summer - I think that it'll be another scorcher. Your cake looks amazing. It's a gift to be able to create like that.
ReplyDeleteYes, summer does tend to get hot, over here, although we haven't had many days with 100F and over, so far.
DeleteI hope your summer won't be another too hot one; seems like everyone is experiencing hotter than usual summers, now.
Thank you, Ratnamurti; I'm assuming you mean "card" and not "cake", although I've baked and decorated many cakes, too. :)
Very pretty card. I like it! Very nice of your neighbour to share some goodies with you.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sharon. Yes, it was very generous of her to do so, wasn't it?
DeleteHow wonderful! The ice cream and bread both sound delicious. I have been watering my garden, too.
ReplyDeleteI had one of the ice creams, today, and it was just what I needed after a warm day! The garden needs more water when it is so hot, doesn't it?
DeleteBless, I deleted those two posts. I am nervous about crime and violence these days. I don't feel comfortable showing nice things from my home. Don't want to advertise those expensive tiles...the news has been frightening.
ReplyDeleteAh, I see! Thank you for explaining, Stephenie. I was wondering what happened. Yes, good idea to refrain from showing too much! One never knows!
DeleteWhat a lovely positive post. I could just eat some delicious ice cream right now. X
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jules; I hope you get to eat some ice cream, soon!
DeleteHaha! You're grateful for not feeling cold.
ReplyDeleteHow nice for S to give you the Armenian treats. The other day I saw someone online make Kufta (This was called Leabanese Kutta)
- Doesn't she make kufta. Anyway, I thought of her :)
The card is very cute. You always make the nicest cards.
I've been playing with some fabric too. I'm incorporating it with some embroidery. I'm pleased with how it's going.
I wish I could bottle up some of this warm weather to open up in the winter! :D
DeleteWasn't it very kind and generous of S to share ? Yes, she and her mother make kufta. :)
Thank you, Debra; my cards don't always turn out the way I envision them to, but, I'm pleased with the way this one turned out. :)
I love the fact that you are playing with fabric, too. My daughter, who had always done cross stitch, picked up embroidery last year and is enjoying doing that. :)