~frozen lemonade cups in the afternoon
Such a simple idea (thanks Trish) and so amazingly refreshing. If you are aren't patient enough for it to thaw a little, you can put forth the effort to shave the lemon ice. We've enjoyed one every afternoon since we've were introduced to them, and we try to keep enough in the freezer for drop-in guests.
~the gentle and rhythmic cooing of a nearby dove ~dusting, dusting, and more dusting
Living in Amman for many years I am no stranger to dust, but it is mild compared to Mafraq dust. A dusting cloth mostly did the job in Amman, but since moving to Mafraq we have armed ourselves with the bouquet of microfiber dusters shown below:
Two large dusters for general use with one hanging at the ready in the kitchen. Tayta and Artist Son have their own smaller duster for their room and I keep another small one by the computer.~the whir of the fan over the stove and a new-to-me dishwasher
I haven't had an stove fan or dishwasher since moving to Jordan so after washing dishes for a family of six and hundreds of guests by hand, a dishwasher almost seems superfluous, but my friends who have one tell me it most definitely is not. Tayta concurs. A generous US embassy friend gifted me hers when her husband finished his Amman post this summer. When we first installed it a Swiss electrician, who works in Mafraq and was checking our electricity, pronounced it unsafe (putting out a high unprotected voltage, or something like that) and didn't think he could fix it but with a couple hours of work and a new part, he did. Thank you Christoph!
~a room with a view--actually, a few
Guarding our front garden wall stands a sentinel of green, albeit dusty, pine trees, and lemon and pomegranate trees refresh the views from bedroom and kitchen windows. Behind the garden wall and trees: more dust, lots of empty chip bags and candy wrappers from the students of the boys school and a graffiti covered concrete wall. I'm thankful for the trees and for the foresight of our landlord.
8 comments:
Lemon and pomegranate trees...you are blessed, Melissa!!! Enjoy.
Diane
Looks like you are settling in. Lemon ice sounds inviting, and those trees are lovely. Long Live the King, indeed.
Well, we've been told the pomegranate is bitter but it still makes a beautiful view our our front window. We've an empty spot just across the path from it so dh want to try to find one of the sweet variety. I've been reading up pruning pomegranates and it seems you prune them either as ornamental trees (some but less fruit) or for lots of fruit. The lemon trees seem more promising at this point.
"Front garden wall" is a lovely phrase, and so is your wall! I hope you enjoy your dishwasher!
Sometimes little descriptions, like you've given here, are most telling. They recreate the atmosphere of a place different from that which most of us have experienced. We think details are just details, but they accumulate into something bigger--like a whole culture. Or perhaps I'm just stating the obvious.
I'm noticing the same thing on my end, so perhaps that's why I'm attuned to your details, something as simple as the fact that Long Live the King is sung in a drone, and that it mentions a king. Or that there are pomegranates.
Laura, Yes, I think you articulated my intent well. And to some extent, our surroundings/life in Mafraq is different from what I experienced in Amman and thus the details are more vivid right now. I thought I'd try to capture a few before they fade into the backround. I look forward to reading more about life in Turino.
Oops--I mean Torino.
Not to diminish the value and beauty of the written word, which has been duly extolled in previous comments, but I'm eager for more pictures. I know they will come with patience on my part. However, I'm particularly interested in a view of those other trees you mention, and a snapshot of some of those boys going to school. Is that allowed?
Post a Comment