winter

I've spent so many years away from you
Just catching rare glimpses here and there,
And now you are in my life once more
But I am still caught unaware

I mean not to be ungrateful
For your refreshing gusts of wind,
Your showers of rain and biting cold
And the change in temperature you bring

The sniffles and coughs and other ills
Do often get me down,
As does the limited warm sunshine
Whenever you're in town

But then, I get to indulge a bit more
In soups and various hot drinks,
Creamy custards and piping-hot puddings
And lemons, oranges and mandarins

Cozy crocheted blankets and various hand-knits,
I love, as they really are the best -
Thing about you being here and
Make you a welcomed guest!

Chrea National Park - the snow up there, brought us a whole load of cold down here!

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still here ... but in algeria!

I've been away from this space for a while for various reasons. Life has kept me busy. We picked up and carted ourselves over to North Africa. I was hormonal. I was a stranger in a strange land (or so I thought). I watched my children take it all in and adapt to school here, language and new friends and family too. I was blessed with another little bundle of joy (ma sha Allah) and my parents came over to Algeria for the very first time. It's a very different place. But I think (and hope!) they left knowing that I'm ok here. My mojo had taken a flying leap somewhere and I think it's starting to make an appearance again! Alhamdulillah. I haven't completely found my feet here ... but every little step helps ... and it can be that "strange" if ...

I'm still crocheting for my baby ...

I'm still admiring intricate Algerian sweets (but now I get to help make them before a family wedding)

I'm still having fun with instagram @fruitfulfusion :)

while I discover more of the city I'm in

I'm still noticing different architectural styles ...

I'm still enjoying flowers

I'm still baking

I'm still by the sea 

but I'm not far from lakes

and mountains that have the last bits of snow on them

and I'm enjoying fresh, local produce

and I've found wonderful friends Allahumma baarik 

and I've been busy with something new and exciting!!! 

So STAY TUNED!!!

But in the meantime, do head over and check out THE CREATIVES! "Like" us! Go on, you know want to! And don't forget to follow @almubdiaatdz on instagram! We NEED you to cheer us on! 

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istanbul

I've been away from this place for quite some time. A lot has happened. We visited Istanbul, Turkey on our way to our new home in Algiers, Algeria. And then, two months ago, I was blessed with a baby girl ma sha Allah tabarak Allah. Here are some of the things I saw/noticed/enjoyed as I waddled around Istanbul, before the big move!

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ramadan journal - days 4 to 10

Day 4 - currently reading

In Ramadan the focus is on Qur'an.

Day 5 - something crafty

Something my kids got up to without my knowing!

Day 6 - workspace

It's boxes galore here!

Day 7 - white

a surprisingly cloudy sky for Jeddah

Day 8 - handwriting

It's funny finding old notes as I pack everything up!

Day 9 - this happened today

A delicious Egyptian iftar (after sunset) meal prepared by a dear friend

Day 10 - grateful for ...

... the roof over our heads, the clothes on our backs and the bread on our table!

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ramadan journal days 2 and 3

Day 2: prayer/forgiveness

I have 4 little people and a more-tired-than-usual self to take care of and since the summer holidays began all the cracks in sibling relationships have been magnified. There's something about a bored little person, heat and then some teen girl hormones in there too that can make things quite testing. It's very easy to make mistakes but I feel that forgiveness is learnt somewhere in there too. In amongst the mundane bickering and teasing and full-scale fights, they learn to to put things behind them and carry on being there for each other ... until the next fight!

Day 3: on my table

Every day, for the last three days, we've been making use of the mix of fruits available to us. It's just perfect for ending a hot day of fasting!

How is your Ramadan/summer going?

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barley, health & diy links

The weather has changed. It's changed from very, very hot to warm! Well, we've also had bursts of rain and when there's this *drastic* weather change, everyone gets the sniffles! I kid you not. It's just a part of living in Jeddah.

Here's a super health food that I gave my bunged up and weepy-eyed household.

Barley. Washed. Soaked. Boiled. 

I used extra water to boil it so that I could strain the barley water to drink. It's nice in the summer with lemon and honey, served cold. But for cooler months, it's nice mixed with hot milk and honey.

Drinking Talbina (barley drink made with barley flour and water) is from the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم. I made the barley water the way that I did so that I could cook the actual grains in a bit of butter, milk, cinnamon and honey, and serve barley porridge for breakfast!

And another go to drink: The ultimate immune system boost drink

Anyone with the love of crochet, check this out: Can crochet improve your immune system? Now we're talking!

I LOVE natural remedies! Do you? Here are some other great ideas that I haven't tried yet but hope to:

8 ways to freshen your home 

Home-made deoderant

Natural toothpaste

Something strange happened. Good, in many ways, but I've been hit a bit of a curve ball too! In my last post, I mentioned that we are homeschooling full time. Well, things have changed. Just when I was really getting used to having my kids at home during the day, they're going back to school. And that surprisingly made emotions fly too!

And just when I thought I could use those rolls of sticky, book adhesive for something as beautifully organised as this weekly planner, possibly in our new home, I will probably have to use them over the next few days, to cover books!

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