Some panoramic pictures

Having been here for this long, and before I launch into the wonders of a ringer washing machine, I thought it proper to share some of the gorgeous views that we've enjoyed.  So sit back and enjoy a brief taste of the Mediterranean.

I know it's brief, but most of the time I'm too busy living life to document it.  (Call it "mommy brain" or whatever else you like.)  Hope to find some time to write again soon!

The water is coming!

I think I need to backtrack about a week or so in news.  See, we've been under a water ban of sorts.  Water stopped coming from government, so the reservoir got pretty well depleted.  The large reservoir tank feeds to another small tank on the roof, and this comprises our water storage supply.  Essentially, we were draining the tank on the roof pretty fast.  As this is the last resort of water storage for the average Joe here when the large reservoir tank runs out, water is rationed.  Let me outline in more detail, what exactly "rationing" means.

When it's time to wash dishes, we fill a small bowl with water, add soap and wash the dishes.  Then, they are quickly rinsed in running water.  [For those wondering, it is not possible to fill up the sink and rinse the dishes by dipping them in as 1) there is only one sink, 2) the bacteria in the sink is unimaginable, 3) the sink is not designed to be filled as it is essentially a shallow granite box with a drain.]

Hand washing is accomplished by wetting hands, shutting off the water, lathering up, and then quickly washing off the soap.  Showering is more interesting.  Everyone has their own version of course, but mine ran along these lines: fill small container with water; pour it on body; lather up with soap; fill container again to a maximum of 3 times to rinse off soap.  Since my hair is quite long, I decided to forgo washing my hair until the water returned.  (I now understand why so many women keep their hair short here!) 

Mopping floors is done sparingly as is washing clothes.  We left the clothes as long as we could and washed only what was necessary.  Thankfully, we have a ringer washer here (I will elaborate on this in my next post) and so we can customize the amount of water used and waste MUCH less than an automatic washing machine.  It's also much faster and energy friendly despite its age.  :o)  

So there we were, under rationing for about a week with no sign of water coming.  I eventually caved in and decided to wash my hair because it was getting a little too greasy.  I doused my hair under the faucet, lathered up with as little shampoo as I could get away with, and rinsed it off as fast as I could.  I had just finished my routine when I heard shouting from the living room.  I briefly  wondered whether someone had a baby, or perhaps got married.  The shouting got louder and suddenly my MIL yelled at me outside the bathroom door, "ALEXA, THE WATER IS COMING!  THE WATER IS COMING!"

Well, I came out of the bathroom and there was a lot of cheering and yelling up at the other houses around us.  It reminded me of Tolkien's The Hobbit or The Return of the King.  In the last battle of both books, the good guys are fighting hard but they're going to lose, and suddenly they look up and someone yells, "THE EAGLES ARE COMING!"  Well, we didn't have a battle, but we certainly reveled in water that night.

Noteworthy

September is poking its face around the corner, and my thoughts are turning evermore towards apples, cinnamon, and nutmeg.  I’m always gearing up for my MILs departure next week.  Yes, my friends, very soon I will be the reigning woman of the house and I am trembling in my boots!  Such large shoes to fill, how WILL I manage it?  One thing’s for sure, I will miss Tante Amira! 

Lacking the ability to browse the internet at whim, I have been occupied with the more noble pursuits of housekeeping, child-amusing, crocheting and cooking.  All the same, I have stumbled upon many tidbits of happiness worthy of mention.  These little joys illumine my days like little jewels, casting their rich glow over each moment they arrest.

• Seeing the stars perfectly every night, bright and brilliant, twinkling up in the vast midnight swath of sky
• Listening to the sound of the crickets chirping interrupted only by the silence of the night pressing comfortably against me
• The feel of the yarn against my fingers as I weave it into whatever form I wish
• Being surrounded by love and family every day, and the help that each gives so willingly and so happily
• Studying Arabic during the day, being confused by something and having the whole room jump chivalrously to my aid
• Reading a phrase in a book that leaps out at me; a phrase or paragraph that exactly describes my feelings or that captures my imagination with its poignancy
• Going to the store to buy more yarn to make a hot for M, and reveling in the knowledge that I can make warm things for my children for the winter months
• Baking cinnamon rolls (successfully nixing the butter for oil!) and filling the whole kitchen with that bubbling brown sugar and warm cinnamon smell

There are many more such tidbits that I would love to share, but my husband is calling.  We are to go out for ice cream with the monkeys.  I wish you too many such joys to buoy up your spirits.

Fried & golden

My friends, I have found oatmeal!  It was a discovery for which I was unprepared.  The jar sort of jumped out at me in the supermarket.  Needless to say, I am still celebrating this treat!  The children partook of it at breakfast just yesterday, and I can now happily last for the next 4 months secure in the knowledge that one of my favourite foods is only a few dozen buildings away. 

Last Monday, following the morning Liturgy, we betook ourselves to a large garden belonging to D’s sister and her husband for an al fresco picnic.  It was a true feast for the senses!  The delicious breeze wafting through the fruit trees; the brushwood fire heating a skillet of frying fish; the cool tangy salad of cucumbers, tomatoes, mint, and other such leaves dressed with lemon, oil and pomegranate juice; the freshly dug potatoes, peeled, cut and french-fried; greasy fingers snitching tidbits from each platter as palate and circumstance afforded; the purple mountains rimming the valley nook wherein we feasted; the sun passing unvanquished through cloud and smoke.  I can keep going, but I think I’ve made my point.  It’s good to be alive on those kinds of days. 

Speaking of those kinds of days, yesterday I had the urge to make donuts.  It was a rather strong conviction that this particular delicacy needed to be introduced to the Lebanese people.  Well, at least to our family here.  J  As usual, my inspiration was last minute, so my camera wasn’t handy.  That and I was in a rush to finish them before we left to go a-visiting.  Too bad, because they looked ever so dainty and pretty sitting side by side on their serving plate.  L 

Anyhow, do try these vegan pretties.  They are perfect without being over the top.  Not too sweet, but sweet enough to hit the spot, they are a fall sweetmeat, right up there with apple pie and butternut squash.  Also, they're an easy gourmet idea for company.  I would have to say that these little darlings are my new obsession.  I was nervous making them for the first time, especially because I had no fixed vegan recipe. 

CINNAMON SUGAR DONUT DROPS (dairy-free)

2 ½ cups flour

½ cup sugar

1 Tbsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

1 ½ - 2 cups water

2 tsp vanilla extract

Oil for deep frying

Cinnamon sugar coating

½ cup granulated sugar

½ tsp cinnamon

Mix dry ingredients.  Add vanilla, vinegar and water.  Mix well.  If needed, add more water until the mixture resembles a thick batter consistency.  Refrigerate for about 30 minutes.  Combine coating ingredients in a bowl and set aside.  Heat oil in a large pot until very hot.  Drop a small spoonful of batter into the oil and fry until rich golden brown.  Drain for a minute on paper then roll in cinnamon sugar.  Repeat until the batter is finished.  Serve warm.  

Lazy summer days

I have grown abominably lazy these past two months.  I am writing this to have hard evidence for when my laziness tries to convince me to the contrary.  A few loads of laundry, a cake or two, and monkey detail hardly equates to an industrious mother.  The truth of the matter is: I have no incentive to work!  Back in Canada, if I didn't work, we didn't eat.  There's incentive!  Here, my MIL races to finish everything before anyone is awake.  I can't compete with that!  Not only that, but why do the work if someone else will do it for you?  See what I mean!?  It's a terrible conundrum.

We experienced a wonderful blessing last Thursday.  Greek monks from Simonopetra monastery on Mount Athos came bringing a piece of the Holy Cross and the relics of St. Barbara the Great Martyr and St Mary Magdalene to our village.  The surrounding villages thronged to the small church in a grand procession chanting "O Lord save thy people".  The church was adorned with palms and branches on its archways, but the the joy and expectation decorating each face was more beautiful.  Vespers was celebrated in pomp and piety and the people crushed each other trying to venerate the relics.  M was wide-eyed and wondrous during the whole proceeding.  His little heart understood and absorbed it all with childlike wisdom.  (J on the other hand was hot and fractious, but no matter.)


I am convinced more and more that there are places where our minds and our intellects cannot go, and it is precisely in these places where God is found in quiet splendour.  Perhaps this is why Christ  enjoined us to be as little children.  

Yesterday we made play food from salt dough.  The kids shaped it into little pies and tarts and cookies and such.  Then we baked them in the oven to harden.  If we find some acceptable paints, my goal is to have the kids paint them.  Anyhow, we have play food now.  And that is never a bad thing.  :o)

In my next update, I shall write more about the little projects I've started.  Nothing large-scale of course, but I suppose I prefer smaller projects to begin with.  The kinds that let one slow down and enjoy the flowers.  Even in work, I like to slow down.  Give me a basket of laundry and a clothesline any day!