A number of strange happenings

The shortest yet longest month of the year is over... spring is around the corner people (I can especially hear cheering from all my east coast readers, what's up with all that snow this winter?)

Speaking of snow, did you know it hailed in Egypt a couple of days back?! You don't believe me? Here's my proof:

last I checked, palm trees don't go well with snow!(photo credit: Abeer)

  

A thousand years ago, she asked me to sing in her band. I had no idea she made it big in Egypt. So glad I said no. (she's very nice in real life btw)

She shared a classroom with me until I.G.C.S.E. Now her billboards fill the streets. (she's also very nice in real life, and no, Egyptian women don't run around the streets dressed in party gowns.)

I plugged my camera to download my photos and it said "no image".

I have two kids of my own!!! (this one is the strangest of all)

Peace.

Warning: the text doesn't go with the photos *imagine the title blinking and a siren screaming*

A Burdah (an old poem written in praise of prophet Mohammad and sung by the attendees) night, is rotated amongst the Chicago-area sister's places, monthly... I never go.

(*Dinner: halibut with Indian spices and cilantro)

Today, I hosted a small Mawlid celebration for six women. I am not sure how many people do this for recreation (other than a capella groups,) but I honestly believe if more people devoted a regular gathering for singing in groups-- a lot of good would be brought to the world.

(*Dinner: tomato rice, yogurt salad, greens)

There were no instruments-- just several booklets of the poem and a couple of experienced singers who lead the rhythm and all of us followed. There were also no kids, and this is why I never go to these gatherings. They're kid-free. Now I understand why. (Grabby was the only exception, my sweet babysitter joined us to take care of Grabby. Mei went on a baba daughter day, and she immediately knew what this meant "Can I get some ice cream baba?"... Smart kiddo!)

I am no longer annoyed at not being able to attend such gatherings.
I will make an effort to start attending in the future, God willing.

***

(*Dinner:blood oranges and lemon)

*I have no photos from today's gathering what-so-ever. Instead you get to see what we had for dinner three nights ago and what I had for breafast the next morning. Why? Well, because I took the photos already, so you get to see them.  Also, I warned you in the title! and here's one more:

(*Breakfast: mashed fava beans with chives and pita)

I totally ruined this posts mood with my food photos, didn't I?

Peace.

Celebrate Mercy

Today in the lunar hijri calender is the twelfth of Rabi'ul Awal, it marks our beloved's birthday.

SubhanAllah.

I am being taught in my writing class, to not write this exact coming sentence that I am about to write: 
 "In this moment, there are no words to describe the gushing feelings going through me about this majestic day in history " (here is where my virtual instructor will tell me to find words to describe my feelings... I raise the white flag.)

Fortunately I do know a number of people who can do the job for me... continue reading:

There's an international online celebration taking place today and on the 28th check out the link to find out more about the speakers (read the list, oh my!) and what timezone you fall under.

A very happy Friday to you, Allahuma Salli wa sallam wa barek 'aleih.

Peace...

foot work

A couple of months back I made the skirt below from: sew liberated twirly skirt pattern, for Mei's third birthday::

 

This is the skirt with a little bit of foot work::

 

The third sequel to these two photos, is a lying on the floor giggling Mei. I can't ask for more than this...

Happy Wednesday.

Peace.

that's fine

Yes, you know you want to... replay!

Peace.

Right now...

...my space bar is marked with red crayons and there are a couple of red lines on my screen too-- Grabby visited my room today, discovered my stash of crayons in my desk, and decided to leave me something to remember her by... Thanks Grabby!

... the recharger for my camera went missing, I am pretty sure Mei packed it somewhere inside one of her many little packing things: pouches with zippers, backpacks, coin bags, plastic bags, trunks...etc. Did I ever mention that Mei is obsessed with packing. Three years old and she's been all over the globe already--go figure.

... I spent the past two hours meal planning and writing down recipe's-- yes the old fashioned way. I can explain: I currently (still) have tiny space left on my hard drive-- from all my toe, feet, back of the head amongst other weird closeups on food, wooden floors, sand-photos.You know, all the weird stuff you get to see here--only I take about five thousand photos and choose the perfect one to share with you(believe me not an easy choice. I hear ya I'm a madwoman) so I cannot add the extra shenanigans to make my scanner/printer work on my computer. My wrist and fingers are killing me!

... finally after four years of interrupted sleep, I am sleeping for six hours straight (six!) thanks to Grabby who so easily obliged to our agenda of night weaning. Breastfeeding is one of the joys of life I think-- when you don't have to interrupt your sleep to do it, it becomes even better... if this is at all possible.

... this morning I received the sweetest mind-opening, smile-inducing- private blog comment in my in-box and I haven't had a chance to reply to it yet. Thank you *smile*

... I am a little embarrassed about all the wrong time slots I entered for yesterdays blog post. If it was confusing for you, go back and re-read the fixer upper. sorry.

... I am missing my sewing machine.

... I am inspired by him (what a handy dad one can have! you can find a lot more projects on his blog, I recently added it to my sidebar)

Leaving you with today's Sunny Bench Monday

 OK so this is from two weeks ago when it was actually sunny. It's definitely not sunny today and we are currently experiencing a winter storm, hmph. Also my camera is dead. so...

Happy Monday everyone!

Peace.

Mind Games

 (this is a read-at-your-own-risk blog because it might be too religious for some, so it's your call really!)

If you are a practicing Muslim, then you might have an idea of what I am about to share with you today. If you're not-- then this is all new to you. I thought today I might share a real day to day struggle for my Muslim self. This is by no means an account for all Muslims... Most Muslims (and non Muslims) are better than me, and most humans have different struggles with different levels, at different stages of their lives. Below is a little scene about a little mind game I play with myself, oh about 25 times a day. Some days are better than others, this one is from the... well... others:

I am preparing lunch for everyone in the house. I glance at the digital stove clock-- 12:30 it reads. Good I have plenty of time left. (I just prayed Dhur *noon prayer*)
I proceed with my green monster soup making, put Grabby on her highchair and have Mei sit on hers.

Three hours pass...

I am on the floor multitasking: Nursing baby while reading all the books Mei can find and bring me one after the other. I take another glance at the stove clock-- 3:20 pm it reads. I have a little over two more hours, maybe I should wash up and pray quickly...

An hour or so later...

The stove clock reads: 4:35 pm. I am washing the dishes and thinking about dinner, and bedtime routine. Meanwhile Grabby is emptying the contents of the kitchen cabinet by my feet, and Mei is watching Kai lan and pretending to be the baby rabbit from the show.

Some time later (you do the math!)...
The stove clock reads: 5:15 pm-- Dang, *Maghrib (dusk prayer) enters in 15 minutes, I need to run!
I swiftly turn off the running water, wipe my hands on my pants as I carefully jump over Grabby. I struggle with the safety knob on the bathroom door to open. Then shut the door as fast as I can to avoid an approaching Grabby from slipping inside the bathroom from under my legs (she's very slick this little one). I wash up for prayer, while still keeping an ear for any turbulence from the other end of the bathroom door. Two minutes later I emerge triumphant, I jolt through the rest of the house and arrive at the other end (no worries, our house is conveniently tiny)--the cupboard where I keep my Isdal (prayer garment) and my rug is on that end. Seconds later I am raising my palms with open fists right by my ears. Allahu Akbar (God is great)...

I often time think it's easier to not have to interrupt life for prayer, certainly not five times a day. Often times I am wrong... With this particular issue I am always wrong... I am always grateful I have to interrupt life. It brings me back to center, be it-- while washing the dishes, shopping in the mall, (watching a movie in the theater) or soundly sleeping at the wee hours of the morning. I never ever have this regret after performing my prayer. Before the prayer-- well, I won't lie to you.

Years back (pre-husband and kiddos and America era) I was spending the night with a friend of mine, and as these things go, we were chatting away in darkness... and again as these things go the conversation took a spiritual turn and we were asking each other about our favorite or easiest form of worship. Reading the Quran, she answered quickly without even stopping to think. Really? That's like the hardest thing for me (I was educated in English schools and classical Arabic was a bit of a challenge for me, let alone archaic Arabic).
What's yours she asked. Praying, I paused or Fasting. I can't decide.

Today, praying and fasting are a great struggle for me-- I perform them the way we're supposed to. I put them off most of the time, but when I finally perform them, I get reminded again why It's a choice. It's like that phone call with your father that you're dreading, but then you call and really it's not that bad. It's as-a-matter-of-fact so pleasant you don't want to hang up.

Speaking of which. It's *isha time (night prayer time).

Peace.

*The Five Obligatory Prayer Times these days (they change according to day light hours-- which means everyday)::

Fajr         4:54 AM (Dawn Prayer time enters, Night prayer time ends)
Shuruq    6:38 AM (Sunrise, time for Dawn Prayer ends)
Dhur      12:04 PM (Noon prayer time enters)
Asr          3:03 PM (After-noon prayer time enters, noon prayer time ends)
Maghrib  5:31 PM (Dusk Prayer time enters, after-noon prayer time ends)
Isha         7:04 PM (Night prayer time enters, Dusk prayer time ends)
 ***
I was told by my super observant significant other that I made some crucial typos that directly affect my story, so I went back and corrected them for the sake of saving you (dear very patient reader) the confusion. Sorry about that!