Art::

No words today,  just photos:

 Finger printing and stamping::

 

 

Art Class::

 

  

 Paper Mache' bowls::

  

  

 Valentine salt dough hearts::

  

  

  

  

  

  

(the very first set were about a month ago)

Peace

The history of pancakes a' la Muslim Hippie timeline

Pre-Pancake Era::

 

(ful bel baid, or mashed fava beans with eggs-- an Egyptian dish)

 Here's the thing. I am NOT a big fan of sweet things for breakfast. Unlike Americans-- Egyptians don't eat cereal or scones for breakfast. Our breakfast usually entails mashed fava beans aka Ful, or eggs or falafel or a cheese sandwich. And on Friday mornings ( the equivalent of Sunday mornings) we have an elaborate breakfast combining all the above plus jam, clotted cream, pickles and lots and lots of pita bread. I remember we invited my Husband (at the time my fiance') for one of our Friday breakfasts and he was left happy, confused, stuffed and shocked. ( not in this order, but probably)

Here's another confession: we( meaning me and my army of siblings) ate our cereal, which we used to call back then "Corn Flakes", (the only imported brand available when I was growing up) with hot milk. The result wasn't your usual crunchy flaky experience ( as you probably imagined) but rather an oatmeal-y mushy replacement. And just to spice things up a little, we added, oh about three tablespoons of sugar. "So when did we happen upon this breakfast meal you might ask?" and the answer would be around snack time when we were waiting for Lunch ( which is usually served around three or four in the afternoon) and preferably while watching a black and white Egyptian movie by "Ismail Yaseen" ( an old famous funny looking Egyptian comedian-- the same idea like Jerry Lewis so to speak)

After more than four years of living amongst Americans, and even sharing my bed and my womb with Americans-- I am in total loss of what to eat for breakfast. It is indeed a dilemma. You see I might eat cereal for breakfast one day, but first it just doesn't do it for me( 15 minutes later you'll find me poking my head in the fridge looking for something more substantial while feeling guilty for "just" eating breakfast) and second I need something savory for breakfast, for it is the way of my people as I mentioned above. So I go back an forth from eating cereal, oatmeal to cheese sandwiches , eggs and Ful.

Year One:: 

(photo credit to newyork.seriouseats.com)

Pancakes is another story, my first experience with pancakes ( or something very similar) was when I was fourteen. I came upon something called Palashenkin. And since it is not traditionally served for breakfast in Austrian tradition, but rather a brunch or something like that, it passed. It in fact more than passed, It was a great hit. It is the sort of thing that we applied the rule of: 'when in doubt... make Palashenkin'. 

Dark Ages::

 

( this photo is from this morning's Oatmeal pancakes)

I was later introduced to American style pancakes from my sister's American friends ( or American exposed friends) at the AUC. I did not love them, comparing them to their fancier cousin, the Palashnkin, they were left without competition. I gave them a pass.

The occupation:: ( I know, it doesn't go well with my demented time line, but for the sake of the argument, bear with me)

The rest you probably guessed, I married an American, he taught me how to make pancakes and pancakes have made their mark into my life irreversibly. They are now our Eid breakfast tradition. So there, you have it-- the Americans won... again! 

Enlightenment ::

 

( the night before)

 

( the morning of)

 This blog has taken a life of it's own, I was seriously here to tell you about these great, new favorite pancakes by Molly. But one thing led to the next and here we are, at the age of enlightenment. I have finally discovered my all time favorite pancake recipe. It has all the ingredients to make the absolute perfect pancake: the crunch factor, check. The moist factor, check. The individually-poked-inside-batter-blueberries-so-the-batter-doesn't-change-into-weird-purplish-color factor, check. It is all here people, and all it needs is a little planning ahead, a very special morning for one very special fellow and four ( myself included) very hungry yet patient peeps. Check, check and check.

 

( leftovers! these were treated the same exact way that Molly suggested. Except I ate them cold without any additions for lunch!)

FYI, I am still at loss of what to eat for breakfast. If I have these every morning I am afraid of the consequences, they DO contain one stick of butter!

And FYI, we had lasagna for dinner, but that's another story! 

Peace.

Crazy Bench Monday

My daughter is currently obsessed. Mei in case you're wondering who.

We were visited by her Grand Aunt, and my goodness! I have NEVER seen her that hooked up on someone like she is with Aunt J. It can be safely called an obsession without exaggeration.

I know this will probably heartbreak a number of very special people. But you have to understand that the girl loves Aunt J more than she love me, and I kid you not! So if you're a little heartbroken, don't worry, because I am only her mother! the one who got sleep interrupted every single night for two years-- and this is to say the least.

So aunt J. thank you for visiting, know that you have a huge fan a little south from you, and she is probably dreaming about you right now( I am a night blogger, so this post is being conveniently typed while my girls are asleep. ) Again I apologize to everyone, myself included *sob sob*

***
A while back I joined a flickr group called Bench Monday. The idea is to take creative Photos of benches and the like and share them on the group.

 

This is my contribution for this week. Happy Bench Monday everyone! If you wish to view older Bench captures by me, click here.

( A very special thanks to a very special lady who made this Bench possible, the boots and the crazy "Bench" were gifted by her)

Peace.

Recession sucks!

They want to close our small library branch, not cool. I was speaking with one of the librarians today, and she told me her son's kids come to this branch now, and he's been going since he was nine.

So we are calling, mailing, forwarding emails and trying to make our voices heard, and for me I am also praying. I for one truly experienced what a great public service libraries provide. The concept doesn't even exist in Egypt. We have what is called a library but it is a far cry from what American libraries as a system offer. If nothing else, it is a good warm place in frigid winter days for homeless people. Seriously!

Sorry about that, one needs to vent out sometimes *sigh*

Anyhoo, apparently I am hopeless. Speaking of libraries, I currently have in my possession two more ( other than the already purchased) sewing books. Hopeless I'm telling you. Also since you can't see my bookshelf, I also borrowed about five cookbooks. It is indeed a sickness. A hopeless one that is.

 

So I am currently planning on bending the rules of physics and making time work for me. After all time is just another creature--It is a creation of God, so maybe if I pray long enough, or actually focus more in my prayers, this little miracle will indeed happen for me. Not too much to ask eh?


Speaking of utilizing craft time, or cooking time or any time, I should probably go. Before I go though here are the pants being worn, yay. Mei's socks are coming off just so you know. My girls do have big feet but not monster big, clear?

  Peace.

Time and space

The eternal dance between space and time...

Time::

Three days ago. 10 minute umbrella play. 

 

Today. 20 minute "Green Monster Soup" in the making.

30 minutes total. Meet "Art" the eggplant. He currently lives happily on our dinner table. Requested by Mei.

 

finished 30 minutes ago. 10 minute sewing intervals for the past two days. 2 hours in total.

I used ticking fabric" home decor fabric" it rocks as pants, so french don't you agree?

***

Space::

new space--we moved our dinning room in our kitchen space. ( Meet our "UFO") we now have a whole new virtually empty room for this::

And this::

 Mama, Mei and Grabby have enough space for some serious cartwheel practice. 

Peace.

Ten things::

1. I totally misplaced my camera and am mildly annoyed.

2. There will be no photos for this post. Read the above.

3. This winter so far is the mildest winter yet.

4. Yet I am still struggling with seasonal blues.

5. It's also why I picked up blogging again.

6. We currently have a spaceship hovering over our dinner table. ( hopefully a future photo should explain.)

7. I absolutely and insanely lust these boots.

8. Mei now owns her own Mei sized bake ware, which is oven safe! We totally have plans by the way!

9. My new night guard is AWESOME!

10. Bought these two books, and is in the process of concocting a plan to add a 25th hour to the day.

All of you are tagged, if you have a blog go ahead and write  your "ten" down and leave me a comment with your link. Or just yell it in your partner's ears.

Peace.

Are you ready?

Ready or not here I come!

The usual streaming for this little nook will resume.


Stay tuned, I might have a couple of things to say, oh so very soon* wink*

Peace.