Monday, June 14, 2010

TAMMY SHOWS US HOW TO EXPLORE OUR WORLD!

GREETINGS FROM SOUTH AFRICA!
Hello there to all our friends in this diverse and wonderful world!
We hope you have all had a happy weekend and have perhaps had the opportunity to watch some of the amazing
SOCCER WORLD CUP SPECTACLE!!!

After Friday's opening ceremony and the numerous matches since then, I feel quite exhausted. Some of us in this family are already "Soccered Out".  But there's no stopping now! This is a once in a lifetime experience and it is also so wonderful to be part of the blogging celebratons of ...
UNITY IN DIVERSITY!!!
Thank you to all those bloggers who have already participated by putting up special posts towards this campaign.  You can view all these posts by going to the special links at the top of my right hand tool bar. I personally have already learned so much from you all, so ...

THANK YOU BLOGGERS FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING DURING THIS DRIVE!!!
If you are interested in joining the bid to foster greater understanding between bloggers, countries and nations, please go and visit the infomation post by clicking
HERE

---xXx---

Although we spent an enormous amount of time around our television this weekend (with me also on this computer!), one highlight of the weekend was our walk yesterday with
TAMMY-GIRL!
In our endeavours to build her self esteem after the loss of her MAXDOG a few weeks ago, we decided to take her walking to the doggie section of the
JOHANNESBURG BOTANICAL GARDENS.
We had the perfect sunny winter's day yesterday and since most people were busy watching the game between Serbia and Ghana, our roads were relatively empty...
I want to show you these pictures because I believe that our TAMMY-GIRL is finding her own feet and coming into her own. Her outing yesterday taught me too about the value of embracing change.  She is embracing the changes in her own life and is being open to new things we offer her. 
Shouldn't we all strive to do this as we open our hearts to others in the world who aren't quite like ourselves? Let's take a look at Tammy's approach to new opportunities...

"The unknown makes us all cautiously apprehensive!"
"What is this journey all about?"
"It's a good thing to sniff things out first!"
"...because there is a really big, unknown world out there!"
"...with diverse people, races and unknown cultures."
"...but I am part of this big, wide world!"
"...and I can find my feet!"
"I can take on new challenges!"
"..into unknown territory!"
"...and realise that it can be lots of fun!
Sometimes it can be daunting too, but in the end I move beyond myself towards my own personal growth!"
"Running on the edges is not quite the same as being part of the action!"
"...although a little loving encouragement does help!"
"There are opportunities to look out for..."
"Taking those steps out of our own comfort zone give us the chance to become the person who we are truly meant to be!"

WHY NOT STEP OUTSIDE YOUR OWN COMFORT ZONE TODAY?

---xXx---

The Soccer World Cup games today involve a further six countries. In my attempt to explore the amazing diversity of the world in which we live, here are six recipes for some of the cuisine from these countries. 
NETHERLANDS

DENMARK

JAPAN
During my past studies, I came across the tradition of the
JAPANESE TEA CEREMONY
I personally admire the ethos behind this particular ceremony simply because of the quality of the interation between the two people involved as well as its focus on creating the perfect environment for hospitality.
(If you are interested in the detail of this tradition, you can simply "google it".)
 I have simplified it, in my own words, (to the extreme) in order to make my point. 
(I do not mean to offend anyone in the simplification)
Very special care is taken with each step. 
These are the basic steps...

1. Prepare the place for your guests.
2. Boil a pot of water.
3. Offer something sweet to your guests.
4.Make the tea
5. Serve the tea to your guests.

In my opinion, the beauty of this ceremony is that it's
entire focus is towards creating harmony
by paying attention to the details of things which are generally overlooked.
By paying careful attention to the treatment and understanding of those around you, you can serve to make the world a better place! You can serve to foster harmony! We can learn so much from this small but important routine!
THANK YOU, JAPAN!

---xXx---

CAMEROON

ITALY

PARAGUAY


Wishing all my friends and guests in my country..
A WONDERFUL, HAPPY  and EXPLORATORY MONDAY!
Good luck to ALL the playing teams!!!

29 comments:

MySpecialDoggies said...

Hi Tammy - it's so nice to see you again! Thank you for your wonderful words of advice too! Apples & Neeli are sending you & King Toffee & your family hugs & licks.
Enjoy the games,
Nadine, Apples & Neeli

houndstooth said...

Way to go, Tammy Girl! The world is your oyster. Enjoy getting out there and enjoy watching the games!

Bunny

Jacqueline said...

What a lovely post featuring the gorgeous, vivacious Tammy girl!!...It's so wonderful to see Tammy sieze the moment and embrace the day for what it offers her with such spirit and grace...If we pay attention, our animal babies are always offering us great lessons on living life to the max and Tammy is a prime example of that wonderful, positive way of life...I hope your weeks ahead are filled with joy and happiness.

KB said...

From the other side of the globe, I feel the love inside your Tammy-girl. She exudes sweetness and love. I'm glad that she's embracing change even if it was caused by a loss.

I like your message about going outside your comfort zone. I find that, after every surgery, during that time when I'm forced to do different things with my life from the usual, I change, adding a new passion to my life. It's a good thing!

Heather and Kelly said...

Everything Tammy says is quite true! Good girl for branching out from the old routine to do something new.

I don't know if I will go out of my comfort zone today, as I already did yesterday by cutting off 13 inches of my hair! That counts as going out of my comfort zone, right?

Maggie Mae and Max said...

Yay for you Tammy girl! The Johanneburg Botantical Gardens look like a wonderful place to explore and sniff out new things.

Woofs and Licks,
Maggie Mae

3 doxies said...

Oh Tammy,I think you are doing a most wonderful and courageous thing...I know alot of hoomans that could really takes your approach in life.
II'm soooo lovin this whole diversty thing you gots going on...we are ALL so different but yet the same.
Puddles

Jake of Florida said...

Tammy girl, you are so right -- we all need to step out of our comfort zones every so often to enlarge our self-imposed boundaries.

As any owner of multiple dogs (or children) comes to realize, it's important to give each his or her special individual time for their true personalities to emerge. We learned, once we had JH, that Jakey's playfulness was somewhat stifled unless he was alone with us. Valuable lessons.

xxx Joan

Mrs. JP said...

LOOK AT YOU, TAMMY!!! You are a beautiful girl and I can learn so much from you and your mom. I don't like change but I see that it does come whether I want it to or not, so why not deal with is gracefully as you are doing?
Good job. I'll have some tea today for sure!

WFT Nobby said...

Oh Tammy that was very very interesting, reading about your approach to new opportunities. So very different from my own! I've over heard Gail using the word 'reckless' a few times recently, when talking to her friends about my latest doings, and quoting some boring old saying about fools rushing in.....Well Tammy, I say, isn't it nice that us dogs show such diversity, not only in our looks, but also in our behavior!
Toodle pip! Bertie.

KT and Easton said...

You are so right. Tammy displays all the qualities of a happy, confident dog. Romping, tail in the air, meeting new buddies....pawesome!

We are so glad Tammy is doing well, we hope Mom is too.

That is some good looking food from the different countries. Yum

Scout and Freyja said...

Tears - tears - tears. Seeing Tammy so happy and joyful just warms my heart all the way to its core. Thank YOU so much for taking her to the park for some new experiences and to grow into her own self. How absolutely darling.

Caryl, there are more than just a couple of the recipes that you have been featuring I know ill make it into my kitchen! Thanks so much!

Sue said...

What a special post. We can all learn a lot from Tammy's experience. I'm really enjoying your special event.

Angus said...

We were just commenting today on how dogs change when they move into a different role in the family. Strange how in todays post you're highlighting, and enjoying, the same process of learning and living. Life's a great journey for all of us!

♥I am Holly♥ said...

It's great to see Tammy running and swimming and having fun! She is so beautiful!! Lots of love, Debbie and Holly

Milo and Alfie Marshall said...

It's lovely to see Tammy blossoming.
Some changes are foised upon us, and terribly sad, like the loss of beautiful Maxdog ~ but we can amd must continue, because Maxdog would want us too.

Ms. ~K said...

It makes my heart soar to see Tammy enjoying life.
You and Tammy are strong ladies and will find your way, together.
I'm sure Max is proud of you both.
Hugs,
Kit

Sheila and Bob said...

Very good advice from Tammy who is truly becoming a wonderful ambassador, upholding the MaxDog tradition.


Sheila & Bob

Clive said...

Great photos of Tammy! She looks like she was having such a good time!

We finally got our post up on Cameroon - a little late today but its a celebration of our family connections with Cameroon. Hope you enjoy it!

take care
Clive and the NSLM

Anonymous said...

Fantastic Tammy, just Fantastic!

Hugs, Tessa

The Life of Riley said...

A nice reminder from Tammy to expand our world beyond our comfort zone and to try new experiences.

You are doing a wonderful (and no doubt very time consuming) thing with your Unity in Diversity coverage of the World Cup. Your posts have made the WC far more interesting and expanded our world too. Thanks.

Luv,
Riley and Riley's mum

Pip said...

Is good to see you has finding your feets Tammy. We knows it is very hard in the big world. You looks wonderful, keep getting out sweety! Smooches to King Toffee too!

Anonymous said...

Tammy, you are such an inspiration to us all. I luvs watching you learn and grow and be! You gave us very much good advice and my mom and me will try to remember it always.

Thank you for telling us about some of the food from other countries. It all looks scrumptious.

Wiggles & Wags,
mayzie

Angel Ginger Jasper said...

Tammy you are very wise and your words teach us all so much. I love that picture with your smiling face and your ears flying. Your mum is doing great with the foods from around the world, makes our mouth water.. Keep on enjoying life sweet woofie's.. Hugs GJ xx

sprinkles said...

I'm salivating over all that food! I need to stop at the grocery store one day this week, maybe I should find a recipe I like and pick up the ingredients while I'm there and try it!

Miss Tammy is an inspiration. I feel like my life is basically on hold since I don't have a job or any money at the moment. This post made me realize that it doesn't have to be, I can still do things that don't cost $!

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

How khool to see Tammy khoming into her own Tammy'ness!

Thanks fur sharing her GReat adventure!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

Hi Caryl!! At the end of a long Monday and being gone all weekend I am catching up on blog visits and am so glad that I have been able to sit here and savor and enjoy this post that is filled with so many wonderful things!!

Two French Bulldogs said...

Hi Tammy
thanks for being our tour guide. Great pictures and yummies. Hope you had lots of fun playing. Go teams...
Benny & Lily

Charlie said...

Just wanted to stop by and say how much we're enjoying the World Cup. Loved that SA got the first goal! We think of you and Maxdog every game.
- Anne & Charlie