mary e. robbins :: moth written

ramadan moubarak.

ramadan 2009 has come during a very hot spell here in maine.  it does not seem possible that in fact it has been 8 ramadans since the very first one i spent with the kasri-sibouih family--long before i knew that i could say no to refills of the soup bowl round the table, long before i understood the banter of the highly anticipated new seasons of 'lalla fatima' and 'miloud' on tv during ftour, and long long before i knew how to cook my very own pot of harira.

yesterday i made the first pot of 2009.  in this steamy weather i put on my apron and began gathering.  onions.  celery.  parsley.  cilantro.  tomatoes.  lentils.  chick peas.  paprika.  turmeric.  bouillon.  almost as if by pure muscle memory alone i finished the soup within two hours, bubbling away on the hot stove in the afternoon sun.

and today when nabil awoke before 4 am to eat his shour, i came down to the kitchen with him, making sure that he drank at least two glasses of water before starting his fast for the day.  i encouraged him to eat some walnuts, some almonds, some cheese, some yogurt, some boiled eggs.  some fruit.  he did.  slowly he did.

for the next 10 years or so, we will be celebrating ramadan during the summer, and nabil's greatest reserves of energy and will power will be tested.  i'll be here with the harira pot ready and a thick fruit smoothie waiting at the end of a long hot day. 

***

this morning, i met up with kerry for a yardsaling adventure and an impromptu trip to the farmer's market at deering oaks.  it was another steamy hot morning and we both felt a little thick in the head as we slowly pushed through the humid air, but it was nice to be out and about.  i had zuchinni bread on the mind, and picked up a lovely little bag of locally grown beauties for that express purpose.  mom's recipe now in hand, i am ready.

and as for the harira, i posted my recipe here last year. oh how much happens in a year.

late august.

the hot weather has descended.  late summer is in full bloom, the cicadas are humming, and the earliest hints of seasons to come have begun to show their presence.  crispy dried leaves on the sidewalks--ever so sparsely. 

we survived the basement cleanout with no less than 4.5 tons (TONS!) taken from our house.  my uncle made the comment that he hoped our house wouldn't 'float away' with all the newfound space and levity.  as the truck came to carry away the dumpster, slowly working its giant industrial winch, inching these many years of collecting away from their home, i felt a slight twinge of sadness.  seeing it go. 

but the basement is now empty.   the walls are partially drylok-ed, and the floor will be sealed.  the press will be set up, storage for t shirts will be put up, and a whole new life will be given to the bottom floor of our home. 

and in the middle of the many many details of present life, we are taking care of dear ollie, a fellow greyhound pal.  i can't quite figure out how gus really feels about this--ollie is a cuddler and gus is not, but gus seems to be extra super cool these days, less kisses, less excitement.  it could be the heat, but then again, could it be jealousy?

either way, we are enjoying this big beautiful brindle boy for 10 days--he is a goofy rooing sweetheart.  ollie dear.