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It's time for a change. I'm starting fresh on a new blog & in a new country - Republic of Korea (South Korea).  Please visit me at NerissaAlfordDesigns.com

Memories of a Lifetime

I've been saying it for awhile now, this assignment in Kuwait has been life changing.  Now the time has come to say goodbye.  I am writing this ahead of time, before we depart.  We're spending our last night in country at the embassy for one last hurrah.  It's crazy to think I will have been in 3 countries this month - what an amazing life we lead!  See You on the other side!

My Love Letter to America

Dear America:

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I've called you home my whole life, but it took living abroad to find such deep appreciation & love for you.  The past 3 years I've left time & time again for exotic locations & every time I return you welcome me back with open arms.

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It's the small things that make me happy when I visit.  I am free to make the choice to drive as a Sunday driver or like a bat out of hell.  Both have consequences, both I am free to choose.  I can chose which craft store to go to, which Target location, even which state I shop in but I am free to choose.   I can choose to have baked cheetos or good old fashioned calorie loaded cheetos.  These are not life altering choices but I have them every time I come home to you.

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So as I leave you again for my next adventure, I smile knowing you will be here when I return.  Life isn't perfect here, but it's pretty darn close.

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It's Been Awhile...

but I've been keeping busy.  I've been running around like a crazy woman, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

I took an art day & finished a few canvases.  These backgrounds have been waiting to be used.

We are on countdown mode for our time here in Kuwait.  It's been an amazing 3 years here - funny when we got the assignment all I could think of was "it's only 2 years - just get through it".  To say this assignment was life changing is no understatement.  My kids have experienced more than some do in a lifetime.  They will probably be some of the most well adjusted adults when they get older - heck, sometimes they handle things better than I do now.  My husband has gone above & beyond contributing to the mission here.  I am so proud of him!  Me, I've found many sides of me I didn't know existed.  I've had the chance to wear lots of hats here - some I've worn with more grace than others, but I'm grateful for the opportunity.

One of my favorite shots in Kuwait. This is a mosque tower taken at the Radisson. To me this photograph represents my time here in Kuwait.  It's titled Friendship.  

The hardest part of this life is having to say goodbye to friends.  I've made life long friendships & it will be hard knowing I won't just run into them at our next function.  Up next, a visit to the states for me & the mini-men then off to our next adventure in Turkey!

For those Wondering

I FINISHED and I've finished a 10k since then & I'm signed up for my next half marathon.  Yep, it's been too long since I've blogged. 

Home Sweet Home

Kuwait, see you in a few weeks

goodbye NY

Allie & alpaca sharing a kiss

does this really need a caption?

B picking blueberries

J picking blueberries

blueberries at Homestead Farm

blackberries not quite ripe

running outside enjoying the scenery

running outside enjoying the scenery

The trip started off a bit rocky as we missed our connecting flight but it was great to be home in the states, even if it was the wrong state!  For the most part I was able to fight off the jet lag.  It seemed to be easier - thank goodness since our trip is not too long this time around.

So I started this post a few days after arriving & now it's the night before we leave.  There are  such bittersweet emotions of not wanting to leave but wanting to get back to "normal" life.  I'll post some more when I get a chance.  I know it's been awhile & I need to get back into the swing of blog things.  I have so much to share as we squished as much as we could in the less than 3 weeks we had.

Where Women Create

NOTE:  I'm really bummed I don't have any pictures.  I'm having a hard time getting them to load.  I'll continue to try loading them & hope you'll come back!

FINALLY: Pictures!!

Thanks for visiting & make sure you pop over to Karen's blog to see her beautiful space & lots of other creative artists.  Thank you Karen for hosting!

 Did I seriously just post this pic?  It's a work in progress.  I have most of the junk off the floor, but all the stuff is still on the bed!

This magazine from Stampington & Co is one of my favorites.  I draw such inspiration looking at beautiful studios & work areas.  Having a creative area is something that fluctuates with each move.  We are a military family & move quite often.  Just here in Kuwait we have already had an unexpected move to another house.   It makes life quite exciting.  I've had everything from a corner to an entire room.  This past move just got me a room :)  It's still a work in progress; I actually just got all the boxes out from the middle of the room so I could take some decent pictures - ha ha!

 My "corner" when we lived in Charlottesville

The table is the main area I use.  I design my jewelry on the pink tray & most everything is within hands reach.  I have some additional storage under the table in clear drawers.  I got the spice rack & jars from Ikea.  The glass globe was a prize from  Katie Runnels.  I store baggies of half started projects or components that I plan to make into jewelry.  Some of those components have been waiting to be created for years!  The right corner of the table has become my photography area.  There is an ivory metal accessory I got at Target for $20 (!) with some tulle on top.  This window has great lighting.  Under the table in one of my bins is the packaging storage - shopping bags, jewelry boxes & rolls of tulle.

Next to my table is this great piece of furniture.  It was in our last house stuffed in the laundry room.  The first thing I thought of was "craft storage".  I was able to move it to the new house.  I hope to clear the desk & area & use it for my paper crafting.  Having a clear space for me is quite difficult though!

 Woo hoo, it's a paper cutting area!  I keep all the accessories in the drawers.  In the last place, my poor Cricut lived on the floor on top of a box.

And a vignette area!  The dresser houses my finished jewelry pieces.

The top of the dresser houses my traveling artist statement (it goes to all my craft shows), a gorgeous vintage fashion plate, jewelry from my volunteer work with Trash to Treasure & some of finished pieces on the end (those are the newbies that need to be tagged)