In the name of Allah the most gracious, the most merciful.
15 Ramadhan 2014
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| Love in the mist pic Dr Dan’s garden tips |
Last night we stood in qunut asking Allah to guide us and
pardon us and be our ally, to bless us and save us and we to turn to Him in
repentance, it is such a beautiful duah, Subhanallah. Last night the qunut was
also performed as is the norm on the 15th night of Ramadhan but also
in the face of calamity calling on His assistance. The power of duah is not to
be taken lightly.
When we fasted as children and the midway point arrives, the
15th of Ramadhan, we would ask each other, “Is jy op die berg?” (Are
you on the mountain). When my older children were little my eldest ones about 8
and 10, my eldest son would be the last
one standing as the monthlies arrived and I can still picture the pride on his
face as we all sat at the table enviously watching him close his eyes to take that
first sip of water.
So today it is special for all those “op die berg”, baie
slamat! No special soups such as cream of mushroom or butternut or harira or
corn, ITS BOEBER NIGHT!!! It’s pulling out the stops, so a nutritious bump up
with a fruit salad and evaporated milk. It’s a toss-up for lasagne or cannelloni
at our house.
This week I decided to start planting things that has
special reverence such as black seed (Kalonji, black cumin, Greek coriander) nigella
satvia. I am completely taken with the pictures of its flowers (some call
it love in the mist). I love this blog have a look at the site where I borrowed the picture from: http://drdanslandscaping.blogspot.com/2012/03/sensitivity.html.
Scrimmaged through the cupboards, alas no black seed. Then I remembered I made
some surprise rolls and sprinkled them on top. In a Turkish restaurant in Sudan
we had some magnificent bread sprinkled with black cumin as a starter. It was
all puffed up and light inside and so yummy we tore off pieces and finished it
in no time.
Anyway so I knew that I would not find any around what with
not having wheels, I sent out pigeons with messages everywhere (just kidding). A friend and co-worker
Ziyaad on his way home had his sister buy some when he was picked up (huge
shukran Ziyaad and sister). How chaffed was I? The weather seemed warm enough
to seed and I scattered some in little nooks and crannies, in pots and punnets
and inshaAllah with duah it will sprout. The packet only cost R5.00 and I still
have two thirds left. I used to eat some and add to the food because of all of
its excellent nutritious properties and to stimulate my energy levels after the
flu. A friend takes the oil in the morning and swears by it. So I thought let’s
plant some more medicinal plants.
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| Pic from Shugliblogspot.com |
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| flax in our garden |
So I am quite chaffed with flaxseed or linseed that I
scattered with its beautiful little purple flowers and when they drop off
little round seed pods, shukran Soraya and shukran Allah. The fenugreek is
ready to be picked and the dill stands elegantly. The aniseed must still make
an appearance and I am not sure what in heavens name those little grassy plants
are where I threw the cumin seeds. The ginger is happier in warmer surroundings
and I am going completely bos as soon as spring appears with other spice
seeds. How cool would it be to have a tamarind tree or a clove tree, what about
some cinnamon and mace trees. For now I am content with curryleaf and bayleaf –
for sure spice is in our blood.
Plant food and spices and exotic fruits too.
Yasmine
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