"Please Get Down From There"

"Or at least hold on really tight, like you mean it". Just a couple of thoughts I remember soaring through my head, quietly. I just stumbled across this photo from last summer and I remember joking with him that he wasn't allowed to climb to the very top until he was 7. Obviously he didn't take me very seriously. You can barely make it out but that's a mischievous grin on his mug. And now he IS 7 so there's truly nothing holding him back. Not even his irrational mom with a horrifying imagination.

Perhaps we should go back to that playground today.

Photo Friday #39: Camel Trekking

CAMEL TREKKING SAHARA, MOROCCO  |  TRAVELS WITH KID

Not only was having Tea in the Sahara a tick on my Life List but our stay in the desert was overall one of the highlights of our trip.

... While it doesn't look like there is much to do but take in the peaceful surroundings, Spud definitely kept busy ...

... with daddy's help, he got thoroughly buried (our guide told us that people with rheumatism come here to bury themselves because they believe it has healing properties)

... he explored on his own ...

... of course he drew in the sand ...

... learned to measure time using the shadow of a stick ...

... tracked insects ...

... our guide took him on a sort of sled ride down the dune ...

... and then a 90 minute camel ride back to camp ...

 ... so brave to ride all the way back on his own ...

... into the sunset ...

... home sweet Saharan home ...

Check out other posts about our travels in Morocco.

Thanks to Delicious Baby for hosting Photo Friday each week. Share your travel pics there too or check out some other travel posts from some very talented, travel-savvy participants.

Family-Friendly Accomodation in Morocco

MOROCCO  |  TRAVELS WITH KID

The following are the places we would stay again if we were ever so lucky as to travel to Morocco again. Ours and other family reviews at the links to Trip Advisor below each destination.

FES — Dar Skalli

MARRAKECH — Dar Ihssane

OUARZAZATE — Le Petit Riad

ESSAOUIRA — Dar Liouba

Check out other posts about our travels in Morocco.

Granny Squares In Progress

Finally getting to play with my Granny Square colour scheme using this tutorial (via whipup).

Photo Friday #38

TEA IN THE SAHARA WITH YOU   |   TRAVELS WITH KID

Check out other posts about our travels in Morocco.

Thanks to Delicious Baby for hosting Photo Friday each week. Share your travel pics there too or check out some other travel posts from some very talented, trave-savvy participants.

Love Lollies Fabric

From sketch to scan ...

To digital tracing and tweaking ...

To fabric design!

UPDATE: added more patterns to the collection here.

Granny Square Colour Scheme

It's not like I don't have enough projects on the go. But I've been craving colour lately and at the same time trying to come up with a something that can keep my hands busy during evening TV time. So this is my big idea! A granny square baby blanket. With loads of colour bordered by lots of white. Perhaps there's a fabric design in here somewhere too!

Photo Friday #37

AN ODE TO CAFE ARGANA, MARRAKECH   |   TRAVELS WITH KID

Yesterday, a sad day for Morocco, when Cafe Argana was bombed and its terrace overlooking the famous Djemaa El Fna square, virtually destroyed. The number of deaths is currently hovering around 14 to 16.

About 4 weeks ago, we were in Marrakech and dined in that exact spot. Spud was feeling a little homesick. Solution: some familiar spaghetti bolognese for dinner. Destination: Cafe Argana's terrace overlooking the shenanigans in the square.

Below Spud is having a pre-dinner romp in the square. You can see the Cafe Argana behind him.

Mixed feelings well up as I watch this little video today — you can hear the snake charmers in the background with Spud joining in at the end. It put a smile on my face every time. But there is something overly eerie about it now too.

This is what the cafe looks like now ...

(Image Credit: AP Images via Daily Mail where you will see several more images with some disturbing details)

This just brings up all kinds of issues for us, as avid travellers, and parents of a little one. The crazy thing is we weren't sure if we should go to that part of the world. Shortly after we bought our plane tickets, all kinds of unrest popped up in Egypt and spread to other places in the Mideast and North Africa. Family wanted to know what our Plan B was, understandably (Spud, for some reason, was pushing for Pennsylvania. I was more about Spain.). But in the end, we happily went on our merry holiday, entirely in Morocco, without any worry at all. Morocco treated us well and there was never any indication that something like this would happen. At times I felt annoyed by hustlers and overly ambitious sales people, but never did I feel frightened or scared.

We thought we would implement Plan B if "things started heating up". But that's sort of pointless, isn't it. It doesn't seem to work that way. Bombs have gone off in countless places, in London, in New York, in Mumbai etc, and did people "feel like it was going to happen". I'm guessing not. And so, I suppose, we must just press on and live our lives, not worrying about what crazy thing might happen to us, because, really, you just don't know, do you. A lesson I have learned more than once. This time particularly sad and sobering.

So, no more words really. Except, I sincerely hope they can pick up the pieces. I know how important the tourist trade is for them, financially of course but also as a way of sharing themselves with the rest of the world. And all the blessings possible to the people who just so happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time with such truly devastating results and to their loved ones.

Check out other posts about our travels in Morocco.

Thanks to Delicious Baby for hosting Photo Friday each week. 

Share your travel pics there too or check out some other (likely happier)

travel posts from some talented, travel savvy participants.

Hello Pear Tree

Such a beautiful sight to see, all decked out with your spring time dress of blossoms.

Feeling like bearing fruit for the first time this year perhaps? It's ok if you don't. I love you anyway.

UPDATE: Oh my, my memory has failed me again. I have been reminded that this tree DID bear fruit. For the first time last year in fact and I even posted about it! Sorry pear. Um, wanna go 2 years in a row?

Last Minute Birthday Party

Going out of the country for month, right around Spud's birthday, hindered party preparations quite a bit. So there really weren't many. We booked our favourite kids' art studio, thankfully they had room for us with very little notice (see also our Egyptian themed party and Paint Splatter party).

The kids learned about masking and got to do some paint splatter.

Next they made polymer clay, yoda-like creatures.

These are ready for baking ...

Once they are baked, they will get attached to the painting! Voila! Mixed media space project.

 Hubs and Spud also made some mighty fine cupcakes ... with black icing!

And Hubs practiced his balloon making skills ...

Happy 7th Birthday Spud. We are very proud of you.

Party Car

I can't say exactly why this cracks me up so much. I stumbled across it after dropping Spud off at school one day and it simply struck my funny bone. His auntie bought him the Hogwarts Express for his birthday and it came with the flying car. He didn't used to play with people figurines at all; he used to "talk cars" (have two or more cars engage in 'conversation') but the play people were always left in the drawer. So this is new for him and I love where it's going ... hop on ... this is going to be the ride of your life.