Reflective narratives

In the name of Allah, the most gracious, the most merciful.

 24 February 2015.

February is supposed to be the hottest and less windy month in Cape Town but its lekker windy - canopies blowing off in the night and tango-ing with washing. And then it’s filling in grids and writing reports and I am thankful I keep reflective journals, Alhamdulilah.

I started off just keeping a diary many years ago - at the end of the day or class I write up my thoughts and so on and it takes a narrative form with some doodles that tries to be graphics (just kidding). I also wrote profusely to make sense of my life. Now I have a fancy name for it. A reflective narrative where I start the reflective process by determining the aim of writing in order to guide me. Am I writing to comment on personal behaviour of students and to what end? Is it a statement of observations of this personal behaviour and participation? What can I do to structure the course better, for it to be more interesting and relevant to the participants in their everyday.

It started off with just writing notes about events and learnings and light bulb moments to becoming more descriptive and finally to more deeper writings in which I could interrogate my thoughts in a more profound way. 

I find it particularly useful when I introduce new strategies such as dividing a group of about 60 students into groups of 15. Here I can observe and engage in giving voice to the quieter students and encouraging the confident ones to learn to listen and respect others opinions too. Sometimes it gives me a better idea of a student that would generally be quiet in a more rambunctious class, so I will go through my reflective entries to find the session that I observed and enjoyed while everyone takes a chance to speak out.

Sometimes in order to introduce the leadership class to formal theory and new information I make use of many different kinds of methodology such as showing them video skits, reviewing a current movie, and so on. Utilising my reflective notes allows me observe and note their receptiveness to new knowledge and different ways to make meaning of it. And I can add little light bulbs moments in my narrative text such: “must show them TEDex – The barefoot college.” “Or check what movies are current and interesting for class discussion”.

Occasionally the narrative poses a jamboree of ideas that need sorting out in my head, when I express those sortings on paper, I realise that I have learnt something completely new that needs deeper reflection and discussion with my colleagues and maybe further input.

All of this allows us to tweak our courses all of the time so it is relevant to the group of participants of a particular course at a particular time. It is useful also to stay on course while observing what happens in the fabric of the course continuously reflecting and modifying and improving. It is so helpful for discussion in meetings with tutors and other lecturers and in reports and as a great research tool.

So why reflective writing? My underlying intention of reflective writing is for the purpose of my learning to teach better; to develop learning course materials better and although it is relatively subjective it is to benefit those whom I teach. I think that writing narratives come to me naturally – I love telling stories. But my learning /teaching narratives are about sorting out ideas, an awareness of all of the role-players in a particular discourse and a means to make meaning.

This blog started out as just a narrative about the goings on in Schaapkraal and our projects at iLABS. I started sharing some personal things connected to the gardens – the cats, birthdays, cooking, carving, seeds, etc and it has been immensely valuable to me as a reflective narrative about planting organically while of course also honing my photography skills and hoping to inspire others to live a bit more mindfully and plant food. As I post I realise in three weeks it will be a year’s writing – 125 blogs and 5000 pageviews later Alhamdulilah. Shukran everyone, have a fabulous day!



the first strawberries

spinach for Ramadhan cooking



Weeding



Plant food and start writing reflective journals/narratives/diaries

Yasmine

ps. I don't have much comments but the pageviews are currently at 5008 and the favourites according to stats are:


A place called the dry dock 79

Die Toekamannie 63

Ornate gates, door stoppers and pastry wheels.  62

Imagine 56

New beginnings 55

Tell me mystoy herstory  history 56

Never under estimate the power of a seed 54

12000 believers will not be defeated 53

Blessed are those who are invited to Makkah 53

Whats more fun china or platinum? 51

Now let me know what your favourite blog was!!!

 

Negative filters and lightbulb moments

In the name of Allah, the most gracious, the most merciful.

 

 

21 Feb 2015.

Subhanallah, yesterday, Youmil Jumuah was filled with barakah, a gift for us all. Even those of us who despair and are just feeling a bit down, a bit sick, stressed and a bit overwhelmed with much work.

Life is filled with uncertainty sometimes – am I going to pass this essay, find a house soon, make new friends, enjoy this class, get rid of this cough and so and so forth. The one thing that guides us is our steadfastness. And in that we gain support from friends and colleagues who stand firmly next to us. And so we should also be thankful for those whom Allah SWT puts in our way and us in the way of others.

This morning I was feeling a bit despondent but one look at the students sommer cheered me up. As for good friends, somehow Allah puts the right words on their tongues that we need to hear at that given moment and one knows it’s OK. Someone related a lecture on patience/sabr that when one feels it ebbing and hard to find that patience after what one thinks patience was what you had – that is actually the time when a beautiful Sabr is needed. That is the time when one lets go of circumstance and develop a quietness knowing that you have done the best you can and you keep on doing but to trust in Allah. To trust Allah has a plan for you, to trust that this test will only make you stronger and to trust that Allah will not bestow more on you that you can bear. Allah hu Akbar.

So with those words in mind I came home, cleared up, walked into the garden and gathered aubergine, curry leaves, chili, lettuce, tomatoes, danya. I started a pot of a chicken curry with wedges of aubergine, some fluffy white basmati, chucked salad greens in a bowl and added olives and feta. We had two gentlemen come to fix our bakkie to share the table with us.

I also managed to find Salwa of the beautiful scarves and bought a bright green scarf, she's on the left. So when I see her this weekend I will take some pics and have you know where to find her at different times, at different markets, inshaAllah.

We look forward to the month ahead what with graduation of last year’s students at IPSA; exciting happenings with new students possibly a weekend hike; the IHYA programme planning their Al Ghazzali day for March and with Allah’s grace unpacking boxes at a new home.

This morning we had a wonderful class at the MJC Boardroom, while some of us were early we watched the 90 10 principle by Stephen Covey, which we did just to pass time. It ended up as a much discussed point throughout our class today - Personal learning and Critical, thinking particularly the part on negative filters.

 I promised to post the link, this is it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6402QJp52M 

Plant food and enjoy a stress free rest of weekend.

Yasmine

Canned fruit, jelly and Ideal milk

In the name of Allah, the most gracious, the most merciful.

 

  

 
18 February 2015.

Alhamdulilah I am thankful. For our iLABS projects and good camaraderie in our projects team despite feeling a bit of pressure now and then and frustration with outages. The electricity cuts are playing havoc with our electrical appliances - the washer is bust so is the micro wave and we have to change light bulbs all of the time. So I commit myself to patience in the hope that as South Africans we can start addressing this 'crisis'. If it is a drain to an ordinary household, what must it be doing to our economy?

Class was good today but so hot that most of our young leaders were looking rather drowsy- nothing that a brisk walk to the bathrooms for a face splash and an energiser could not remedy. Shukran said one of the young men just for letting us step out and stretch ha ha, "that's my job to know when you are affected by the heat and energies take a dip this time of day." Reminds me when we teaching at the College of Joburg in Langlaagte. One does expect just after lunch time that energies dwindle and we feel lazy. So the class and I would sometimes take a brisk walk/some would jog around the field and then refocus on class.

Methinks the garden is also losing some energy thank goodness deep watering helps them rise and shine again. The cats are the coolest lying stretched out in the shadiest places, on the cold tiles and yesterday found Wolverine lolling over the fence which brought a cool breeze to his belly.

Our house hunting continues and this evening we went to view a house and about 8 other couples were there, ja, finding good accommodation in Cape Town is tough. We have been viewing for weeks now and hope inshaAllah there is a place set out for us, duahs.

But life goes on in Schaapkraal. We had a birthday celebration on Tuesday and we all opted for cool desserts instead of birthday cake-cake we can have the weekend. So I rummaged through the grocery cupboard - found jellies and evaporated milk. We went off to buy some canned peaches and guavas and had an awesome dessert, old school, how many of you remember those days when this was the average household summer Sunday dessert. Besides jelly is packed with Vitamin C and its quick and easy and no hot oven thank you Allah.

When all is said and done, the gardens inject a spirit in me that cannot be quenched. The rhubarb stems are turning red (Rhubarb jelly soon); the bright red chillis hang in multitude; the bougainvillea blossoms continue to bloom on new growth; a lonesome caterpillar chews on the orange leaves and tomatoes hang heavy. Wolverine poses for a shot with fuschia while Abu is drenching the strawberries.

As I am writing I pop down the passage because I remember there is still some dessert left. Aaah is life not beautiful.

 

Plant food and make jellies.

Yasmine

A walk on the interesting side

In the name of Allah the most gracious the most merciful

16 February 2015.

So yesterday we went to Milnerton fleamarket, of course each one of us for our own reasons. It was a cool and windy day, layers of clothing and comfortable shoes and of course some sunblock for those long lovely hours in the sun.

My son was on the lookout for tools, leatherman knife, leather for quivers and interesting objects de art. My daughter was looking for books trying to complete her Jane Austin collection and other books of interest and novel things to adorn her bedroom (she picked up a Mansfield Park for R6 )

Abubakr usually goes off to the one side and I to the other. But not before we talk small budget, ha ha. I am never sure what I am looking for - to quote myself, I am always on the lookout for things with potential. I found a plastic box with recipes in Afrikaans; a French cooking book, some silver napkin rings; a tin for R5, a kenwood handmixer, some silver knives and a pretty glass jar.

My daughter found a cute memo chalkboard and books and my son was disappointed that an entire set of carving chisels were sold so he settled on some craftsman books . Abu found some interesting nibs for calligraphy and red ink in a pretty bottle, a magnifying glass and an ink pen holder that he is cleaning up.

I felt I could stay for hours - there were beautiful new picture frames for R5 each. Wish I had a camera. . . Someone sold panels of eiderdown for R150 for 9 panels. A beautiful old Kenwood made in the 50s but a bit too pricey (R1200) for my budget (something like this one).

A man with a truck and cold storage sold delectable snoek smoked with mustard seeds and my favourite - smoked mackerel.

A young man sold plants in recycled tomato tins, the catering size, looking something like this from:
http://gutterspecialist.co.za/13-creative-and-innovative-rain-gutter-garden-ideas/

Really attractive, I meant to go back because he had a tansy plant but I got side tracked.

And just before we left for home a quick pop in at Rosa's Bakery stall/truck. Delectable feta and spinach wrapped in phyllo, almond croissants, olive ciabatta and how could I resist a Florentine that I stashed in my bag for later. The Florentine was groovy - made with flaked almonds it was light and crispy and delicious.

And then back home. We threw together some garlic, strips of red and yellow peppers and a jalapeno into an olive oil warmed pan and settled the mackerel on top. Tossed a garden salad with some feta and had a light lunch with the olive ciabatta.

While Abu was busy trimming all kinds of fuchsias, white ones and light pink and cerise and red ones,  I snuggled down to a book and a Florentine of note, relaxing because the night still lie ahead filled with Admin tasks and grids and proofreading.

 

Plant food and spend your money wisely.

Yasmine

Beautiful scarves and sunflower seeds

In the name of Allah, the most gracious, the most merciful.

sunflower seeds

14 February 2015.02.14

Current news in the world can occupy one’s mind and make one feel helpless and blue: The brutal slaying of the three young people at the University of South Carolina, the rape of a boy at a school in the Northern Cape and so on. We try to do something about it and share it on facebook or sign petitions; have class discussions and try to make meaning of all of these events.

 

Then it’s back home and more depressing chores, mopping floors. The washing machine has packed up, scripts need to be attended to, names and numbers captured, preparation and checking of next week's work. If I do not spring into action I fear it will all just pile up.

I must say that the IHYA course is going well Alhamdulillah, the class is starting to form its identity. Adult learners engaging with new texts and we are all enjoying discussions and group work. The hunt for houses continue unabated and the garden maintains its serenity despite a bit of neglect now and then.


English Lavender

We took lots of plants:  lavender and an array of bushes and small trees and herbs that we propagated in our Mindful Living project to the iHATA centre for Abused women who were so opgemaak, the expressions on their faces, joyous. We are looking at dates for our first workshop on planting organically Insha'Allah.



French lavender

 

 

 

 

 

There is nothing that cheers me up more than beautiful scarves. The different hues lifts the spirit and fabric is soft to the touch. Abu’s cousin Salwa sells the most beautiful ones. I needed a navi one, my old one was gettinga bit shabby. Then I spied a beautiful white and navi geometrically designed one and a cheerful green flowery one that cheers yet it is soothing to the eye.

 Its so weird - when I look at my clothing in the cupboard I make a metal note of the colours I need. But when I see them hanging and folded in an array of colours I know not which to choose. I came home definitely wishing I had taken ones with russet and bright orange or maybe azure. I know she has a stall or two and as soon as I know where I will keep you informed, I am so off to buy some more scarves.

Methinks tomorrow morning would be great for a walk, maybe to Milnerton flea market, maybe to the beach, maybe on a mountain path and definitely going to find the stall with the beautiful scarves.

A deep watering for the garden before Magrib so we can walk early in the morning  - the ridge cucumbers are hanging beautifully, the chillis are turning red in the sun, figs are ripening and the sunflower heads have dried and offers us so many new seeds. Who would have thought so many comes from only one flower.

Plant food and gather ye sunflower seeds!

Yasmine

 

 

 

 

Sleepless in Schaapkraal

In the name of Allah the most gracious, the most merciful.

5 February 2015

3.30am

Ever have that idea in your head that you have a load of work and come end of week after long nights of reading texts and drafting text and puffy eyes you going to kick out your shoes and just sleep?!

Here I am once more, sleepless in Schaapkraal. Yesterday, I was so bombed out that I slept late this morning and Abu fetched the Leo from PDSA. I wondered whether he was mewing in the basket on the back seat and Abu replied "I just whistled and he was quiet". He does whistle like a bird and we know cats can't resist. So when Leo came home I rushed to open the basket and he hopped out tentatively, shukran Allah. With a small limp but completely recovered sniffing everything and licking his brother's face.

Its been hard finding a house, calling and emailing and viewing and checking at least twice a day. But we persevere Insha'Allah there is something good in store for us. Friends have made offerings but a bit too far out of Cape Town. A house in Malmesbury, Grabouw maybe a farm in McGregor. I must say that it sounds attractive to me, we could come in to Cape Town early Friday mornings and leave for home on Saturdays after our lectures. But our children's schooling. To travel in everyday would be a nightmare of fuel costs.

It is so quiet outside and I am tempted to go and sit under the stars. They sky is cloudy but everything is stark. I have started to prepare new seedlings and plants for wherever we will continue our projects. I am glad that the asparagus and garlic plants are doing well in pots and can be transplanted in their new home soon. We may have found the perfect place for our iLABS offices and gardens but await a board decision, so make duah.

Next week Insha'Allah, we will replenish soils with top up compost and aerating the soil for our next round of veggies and we plan to extend the gourmet gardens at IPSA. But right now I am tweaking my research proposal to send off, but everytime a section looks like it can do with a tweak.

6 Feb
3.30pm

Jumuah Mubarak all. I was tired this morning that I warned students not to crack jokes when I am so exhausted I cant stop laughing. At 11 I had to go to campus for administrative stuff, reregistration and all that buzz. I felt thoroughly whacked.

My mind was all over the place chatting with Abu about case study theory and then I looked out of the window in the thick traffic and somehow the mountain looming so stable and majestic made me feel calm and grounded. I think of the Quranic verses:

 

 

We placed firmly embedded mountains on the earth, so it would not move under them...(Qur'an, 21:31)

Have we not made the earth as a bed and the mountains as pegs?(Qur'an, 78:6-7)

I grabbed the camera so I could share, driving through Claremont is so beautiful even when you sit in traffic and cast your eyes up no to the hills, fresh air from the trees and the giants in the background creates this out of world sensation. Wished I could throw out the blanket and lie under the trees and just sleep. Every night so far I have been working until after 2 and somehow I used to be able to do this but no more. I mean the next day I feel like a truck ran over me.

But alas had to go up the hill it to do chores, back to pick up children and then mosque. Who has energy to cook? Panini's and cheese and salads from the garden and a much deserved cuppa. Then I thought now for a nap but sleep evades me and I want to stay away from theoretical texts so I let loose my mind and fingers and write.

I must say I am absolutely thankful for all of our new students both on the leadership programme as well as the IHYA ITEP. The GLO leaders are on time and work well in groups and love the ten minute inspirational/motivational skits we show them. This year we thought we would have them shoot their own skits in groups as part of their course work and they are delighted when I say start thinking about a good topic to be interpreted in a short visual skit.

Tomorrow Abu kicks off his module on the IHYA ITEP programme and I get to relax a bit. This group of teachers from different institutions are a lively bunch Alhamdulilah.

Anyway, have you ever felt lekker tired, but too tired to fall asleep? that's how I am feeling right now. Everyone looks at me and retires to their respective dens. So its me, you the PC and the cats sleeping at my feet.

Have a wonderful Jumuah.

later

Plant food and contemplate the mountains and trees.

Yasmine

Safe havens and healing plants

In the name of Allah the most gracious, the most merciful.

Gauria

3 Feb 2015.

Alhamdulillah, Sunday evening we had an interview at the Voice of the Cape on the Education Indaba with Sheikh Shaheed Esau and his team. Talking about our IHYA Teacher Education Course, of course. Good conversation and we all agreed that the time just got wings and we did not get to talk about the other projects but another time inshaAllah.

And so the week began, meetings at campus; filling out of ethics forms; watering the garden well so the heat and wind does not strip the plants of moisture and a quick visit to Ihata shelter for Abused Women and a check to see where we will plant some trees and strawberries. I am impressed. It is a peaceful place with cats and children frolicking around. The staff is warm and the women are busy. I can see from the veggie garden and fruit trees it is well cared for.

This morning I tried to do everything extra early so we could drop off my daughter and try to make it to the Peoples Dispensary for Sick Animals by 8 to have Leo's wires removed from his leg. I was so hoping that we were early and now I realise that the place s always full of dogs, a few cats and maybe a tortoise.

So when one has to wait in a room full of dogs and their owners, best to wear your thaub and to have a firm basket for kitty. I'm like Batwoman throwing the edge of my thaub over the basket and my bag on the other side to create a division from slobbering hotheaded dogs. Somehow the Leo does not make a peep. I read the notices: all puppies to kept on laps; dogs on leashes and cats in baskets. So I guess the rest are fine. People on the Cape Flats are just plain inventive when it comes to baskets for their cats. An owner used a cooler box and poked holes in it for air. Another had a laundry basket with a makeshift lid of plywood. Ja we are a creative bunch.

But I don't enjoy sitting there. A man came in with his dog that had been knocked by a car and injured badly so he had to be put out of his misery permanently. One dog came in with really bad skin and drooled all over, die man is min geticket! Sometimes dogs just urinate there, hey not a nice place to be ne. And then Leo went in, his x-rays showed the bone had healed but then they went and sommer neutered him. So he was still groggy and had to stay for the night. When I got home,  Wolverine sniffed the basket and mewed "hat happened to his brother. Now he is acting like an only cat being spoilt rotten, though we all miss the Leo very much.

chilli bonanza

I am over the moon that my gauria has started blooming in the pots. The chilli bonanza continues and the asparagus are growing up so fast soon they will become thick hard canes inshaAllah. The ginger and garlic are flourishing though the ginger seems a hot favourite for our cats to pee on. I have five plants left.



And as I am taking pictures for the blog, I glance up to the roof just above the lime tree, where I left the caterpillar. Hello, a beautiful Chrysalis stuck to the ceiling. So happy I did not squash it.

butterfly Chrysalis

Plant food and water your garden wisely.

Yasmine



Algerian red garlic

 

Asparugus

 
 


Ginger