An Island of Life

The kitchen is where I spend most of my time, with the kids, without the kids, with friends, with family, all alone. Whenever I am "lost" I find myself occupied in the kitchen. Whether to cook foods I know, experiment with new recipes, clean-up after my mess, the kids' mess, the family mess, or just to be the kitchen is where I call "home." When I run out of things to take care of, I rearrange the pantry, the fridge, the closet. I take out the plastic bags and pile them back into their bin. I move the candy from this shelf to the next, I hide the sweets and move the "healthy" snacks forward. I take out the trash, empty the recycle bin, refill the soap.

Then I tackle the play kitchen. Perishable play food goes into the play fridge, fruits and vegetables into the basket, bread on the shelf. Pots and pans go in the dishwasher, kettle on the stove, coffee pitcher in the coffee maker. I hang up the apron and chef's hat, restock the plastic eggs, and stack the cups and glasses. The play kitchen is ready for playing.

Our current kitchen is huge. With a dining area on one side and a seating area rendered play area on the other, it is almost the size of our entire apartment in Ifrane, and half the size of our two-bedroom condo in Arlington. It has so much counter space and so many cabinets that I once thought would be impossible to fill yet somehow managed to crowd.

Other than the pantry, which is something I have wanted for a long time, my second favorite part of the kitchen set-up is the island in the middle. With two hidden closets and drawers underneath a wide counter-top, it conceals the overflow of utensils, plastic bags, handy tools, extra diapers and craft supplies in its belly. But it's on its top where life happens.

As much as I shun away from clutter and try to maintain at least one area free of the gathering of seemingly unrelated objects, having two kids means things will undeniably pile up where they shouldn't. And seeing how we spend a lot of time in the kitchen/play area, with the top of the counter an empty space begging to be filled, that's where every random object ends up.

Hair buckles, toy cars, little people, miniature plastic cups, kids water bottles, lunchboxes, empty and not-so-empty containers, parent papers from the school, crafts, bills, crayons, pens and pencils, used paper towels, things I don't want Yousef to have and things I want to give JR, anything and everything seems to find a spot on that white space. Then, the space is not so white anymore. Then, it is a pool of what that day, or that week has been like. If it was a good week, then the space wouldn't be so covered; it means I had a chance to put things away. If it wasn't as good of a week, then the space has no space and I am on the fringe of losing my mind over it. That's when I start moving things from the counter to the floor, and the stairs, and the trash. I try to move as much as I can to the trash. If it doesn't exist, it doesn't need to be put away.

On a great week, I have real flowers in the center and displays of wonderous objects JR put together for me, like the paper flowers that are still blooming many weeks later. Decorated pumpkins or plates full of play food JR cooked for me, cups filled with pretend lemonade and notes she wrote at school. Treasure she found at the playground and things her friends gave her. Things that mean something to her and then mean something to me.

On those weeks, I don't mind the "clutter," cause I do not see it as clutter. On those weeks, I enjoy walking past the island and seeing what life has deposited there. A freshly baked chocolate cake, the lunch box Yousef was carrying pretending to go to school, paintings JR made for the neighbors as a thank you. On those weeks I do not rush to clear out the space but bask in its fullness. It's on those weeks that I am reminded that it is best to enjoy life messy!

Two girls in a basket

Two girls in a basket,

sharing smiles.

Their moms nearby,

sitting for a while.

Curls in their hair,

flowers, too. 

Pants, skirt,

and a tutu. 

What they wore didn't really matter,

They were there for the fun and the chatter. 

Two girls in a basket,

playing pretend.

Laughing, giggling,

being each other's friend.

One day they were so close,

now they are far away.

Separated by miles

and ocean's sway.

Still they ask about each other's being,

Where they are, how they are, when will they be seeing. 

Two girls in a basket,

oblivious to life's demands.

Quickly learning,

and growing up too fast.  

Will they ever be together again?

Only time will tell.

But in the past they live together,

And in photos they dwell.

People come and go,

but friends stay on,

Some day, some where, 

one warm dawn.

The basket will be too small for them then,

The place, the clothes gone too.

The memory will fade, I am sure,

But the girls will continue to shine through and through. 

What remains

 

 

Once upon a time JR's lemon tree of friendship was thriving. Friends came together to sip "tea," to celebrate, or just to be. While still summer, JR's tree is losing its leaves; some friends ceased to be, some moved away and others just got busy. Soon, the tree will lose its final leaf in the US, be transplanted and blossom somewhere else.

 

When this tree was first planted, I thought that friends were for ever. Then life happened, courses changed and opportunities bloomed. I know that nothing lasts forever but secretly I was hoping some things would. I knew that one day we would be moving, changing residences, changing cities and skylines, but I never expected the move to be so soon, or so far.

 

I am sad to see this tree go. It will be painted over like it never was. The birds ladybugs and butterflies will be taken down and the flowers will be picked and will wilt. The last leaf will hang on until the last day, but in the end it, too, will have to fall. But although the original tree will disappear the memories will live on. Some things are for ever; they are the ones you carry with you for always.

 

One day this sadness will be replaced with joy found in new places, faces, and experiences. The tree of friendship will bloom once again, and once again friends will gather round. The circumstances may be different but the heart will stay the same. What remains is distilled into the best memories and the favorite times. Those are what matter most.

High Risk Pregnancy "Favorite" Things ~ 7

Care Packages ~ puzzle books, chocolate, and gifts make for a wonderful surprise; especially when least expected! I honestly do not know how I could have made it this far without my precious friends.

Hand-written notes in the mail ~ enough with bills! Cards, letters and personal notes make my day. A few words on cardboard with a postage stamp bring plenty of cheer, for JR and me. They bring special cheer from JR when they are accompanied by stickers!

Pizza ~ delivery, take out, dine-in or leftovers. Full price, half price or two for one. When JR needs a treat or everyone needs a break, we call on the dough, tomato sauce and cheese for comfort.

Tea Party ~ cupcakes and juice boxes make for a wonderful makeshift "tea" party. Just because we cannot have a formal setting does not mean we cannot have a great time.

T.V ~ when everything else has been tried, I turn the set on to make the hours go by faster. I do not watch anything in particular; just whatever meets my fancy at the time.

Commemorating 12 weeks

Today my entourage and I mark a trimester of rest: bed rest. To that end I want to give myself, my baby, and my family and friends a huge pat on the back, a big hug, and a loud kiss. We have all seen this pregnancy to 29 weeks 3 days, through 84 days of love, support, caring and sharing, empathy, sympathy, tears and laughter.

At the start line, I did not think I would make it this far. But as it turned out, with the right kind of people, I am still in the running. This trial was not a sprint, and I never thought I was equipped for a marathon. Thankfully, I trained fast.

My baby's survival rate at this point is markedly increased and lasting complications equally reduced from what they would have been only a few weeks ago. That certainly says a lot when you think that when this journey first began at 18 weeks the baby had zero chance of survival!

This baby has been a fighter, and I doubt she will be anything but. To say that her will to survive had as much to do with her still being right here right now as any other "external" factor is an understatement. I truly believe she is at the heart of this journey's success.

JR's Lemon Tree of Friendship

 

 

JR's Lemon Tree of Friendship sprouted as the perfect conclusion to her Lemon Tea Party. I wanted the party to have a craft segment after the food and the drinks were consumed. I also wanted this craft to be meaningful, not just pens and stickers on paper that would eventually end up being recycled. I wanted to preserve the art and the memory. I wondered if the girls could produce an art that could then be used as decoration. I slept on the idea, and woke up to the Lemon Tree of Friendship.

 

Originally, the tree was going to be painted on a poster board and nailed to the wall in the spare room. I wanted the display to be "mobile." But, after further research and consideration I abandoned the idea; I could not find the dimensions I was after, and transporting art on card stock every time we moved was not practical.

 

Painting was my second option. We rent our condo, so I hesitated before I went down the painting route. What if our landlord objected? But, what if we did not even ask in advance! Bingo! We had already asked him if we could paint the spare room a different shade, and he had agreed to that, so why not take the chance on more paint on decorations. And, so it was.

 

After looking up a pattern online and enlarging it to the maximum dimension I could, I started my project. I had not painted anything before beyond what we did at school as kids. Art is not one of my talents. So, I was a little nervous when all I had to work with was a sheet of paper lying to my side, a plain wall, and brown tempera paint and a brush. I outlined in pencil. It looked good enough. I took the brush to the wall. And, I was taken in. I could do this. It was fun. And, it was rewarding. To see the finished product was worth the try.

 

And so, at the end of the evening we had our tree. All it needed was its fruit and leaves. Enter the girls. At the party, each girl decorated and labelled her own set of lemon and leaf. Then, JR and Mama taped each pair along with its corresponding name tag to the wall. With that JR got her Lemom Tree of Friendship and a lasting memory of a wonderful party and wonderful friends.

 

When we move, the lemons, leaves and name tags will come with. JR and I will paint a new trunk and branches, put the tree back together, and reminisce about the days gone by.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apple "Tea" Party: Invitations

The date is set. The invitations are out. We are counting down to Jannah-Rae's third tea party of the year. The theme this time: Apples! After all, it is Fall.

Take a look at the invites. I like to be creative with my cards, while being frugal at the same time. JR hosts enough of these a year that I try not to spend too much on the preparations for the party, saving my money instead to splurge on good ingredients for the menu. So, I out the invitations together myself using "recycled" Christmas cards and red craft paper, and the internet for templates.

 

Cut out the letter A and an apple shape.

 

 

 

Use any outdated greeting cards you have on hand. I typically have a ton of Christmas cards left over from the previous year.

 

 

 

Through trial and error I come up with the right size of items to stick on top of the Christmas card image.

 

 

 

 

I used plain paper to cover the text inside the card. Then, include the pertinent information on the party.

 

 

 

Address the inviations with the girls' first names. Seal and hand-deliver, because it is more fun for JR to hand out the invitations to her friends and for her friends to be receiving them in person.

And, in the spirit of getting ready for the party, JR asked me to paint an apple on her foot. This gave me an idea for the party; face-paint apples on the girls.

 

 

 

Stay tuned for more on the Apple Tea Party in the coming weeks. 

I'm on the phone; a photo story

Here is the story of a little girl talking to her friend while on a leisurely walk.

Hello, so and so, this is me, Jannah-Rae.

Yeah, I am sitting here in the stroller.

What are you doing?

How are your brothers and sisters?

The sun is out here, but it is not too hot.

No, I am not hungry.

I just had breakfast yesterday.

Yes, last Sunday we went for the walk, too.

Well, I cannot really tell you what I think.

Why? Because Mama can hear me.

She will be sad. I do not want her to be sad.

Yes, Baba is here, too.

Last time Baba and me went to the park;

the one with the sand.

You are really funny, you know that?!

I have to go now;

Mama wants her phone back now.

Ok. See you later.

Bye!

Summer Salad Series ~ 3

Carrot-Feta Salad

Having friends is a wonderful thing. Having friends who enjoy cooking as much as you is even more wonderful. But having friends whose recipe you continue making is priceless. Below is a salad my good friend Sarah made for me once years and years ago. It still has a spot in my heart and on my table.

•  one pound carrots, peeled and cut
• 8 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
• 6 ounces black olives, pitted
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• juice of 2 small lemons
• olive oil
• paprika, to taste
• salt, to taste

Par-boil the carrots until they are tender, but not cooked through; this makes them able to better absorb the flavors. Cool slightly. Toss carrots with the rest of the ingredients. Chill at least 2 hours, or overnight. Enjoy!

cook's note: (1) this salad gets better with age and not as soon as it is prepared. So plan to make it in the morning, or the day before, to have with dinner.

Asparagus Salad

Here is another long-time favorite. I came across it in a magazine, and my then 2-person family loved it. So, I continued making it. Now, my 3-person family loves it. So, I will continue to make it.

• 1 pound fresh asparagus
• 1/4 cup parsley, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup sweet white onion, finely chopped
• whole-grain mustard vinaigrette, recipe follows

Steam the asparagus until tender but not overcooked. Drain, cool and add the rest of the ingredients. Toss with the dressing. Chill 1-2 hours. Serve cold.

 cook's note: (1) to make the whole-grain mustard vinaigrette you will need whole-grain mustard, white balsamin vinergar, and olive oil. Mix all three ingredients to taste until combined. Drizzle over salad.

Photo Friday: Friends

There is nothing more precious than a friend.

“We'll be Friends Forever, won't we, Pooh?' asked Piglet.

Even longer,' Pooh answered.”

― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

Walking Distance

On days like yesterday I am thankful that we live a short walking distance from civilisation - read restaurants, banks, playgrounds, grocery stores, coffee shops, toy store, book store, metro stations, bus stops, friend's houses, and Jeff's work in Georgetown. I could even walk to the yoga studio if I really wanted to.

Hungry, tired and sick, I had no other resort than to put JR back in the stroller and head out to one of the best burger places in town. I did have food at home but I did not feel like making any of it; I was tired of chicken nuggets, did not want frozen pizza and had no sauce for pasta. The cold turkey sandwich was not appealing and the veggie burger did not make my mouth salivate. I wanted something hot, greasy, and served. I did not want to make it or clean it. I just wanted to eat it. And, I was willing to drag my tired self to that end. And after 30 minutes of debating with myself, that is what I did. 30 minutes after that I was fed and on my way back home.

Ah! The pleasures of "walking distance."

Saturday, June 2nd

"Take me out to the ball game" was the theme of the day. The family, along with some friends, enjoyed an afternoon of fun at the baseball game. Then Mama and Baba enjoyed a quite dinner out.

A Lemonade "Tea" Party

was the highlight of the day. After much planning and work, the result was simply REWARDING. I am thankful that I have the time, resources, support and friends to make it happen.

After organising JR's second birthday party and seeing how much fun it was to throw a party, I decided I was going to have regular "tea" parties for JR and her friends. A few months after January, namely in March, JR hosted a tea party where the girls chatted over chamomile tea, peanut butter and jelly tea sandwiches, anise tea cookies, almond cakes and lemon scones. For favors JR gave her friends a tea pot shaped cookie cutter attached to a chamomile tea bag.

Following that success, and again the fun, I put together JR's first annual lemonade party. It took a lot of planning and quite a bit of work: the pineapple muffins that were my first choice ended up getting stuck to the pan; I put too much starch in the lemon curd and had to start again; I almost burnt the pie crust while trying to rescue it. But the end result was captivating. And worth it.

The menu included homemade lemonade, mini yellow corn muffins, green leaf-shaped pancakes, lemon pound cake, and a fruit basket. Each girl decorated a lemon and a lemon leaf for JR's Lemon Tree of Friendship (more on that to follow) and took home a mini lemon loaf.

Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday

Two yoga classes in two days!
What a blessing after all the time I struggled to make it to one class a week.
An obedient child (most of the time!).
A beautiful evening out with my family for a late dinner.
Good friends.