Cats rule the world.

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

14 October 2014.

At least our world right now. But before I tell you about our catscapades …

The hujaaj have returned with so many awe- inspiring stories of their travels and experiences, welcome home! Everyone’s shaken off vacation elevation and back to work and studies Alhamdulillah.

The new term has started with a bang and we have two brand new kitties. They are only three weeks old and I feel like I am taking care of twins without diapers, mop and cloth in hand and a cuddle here and there until school is out. But in the main I leave the kids to learn to cope with them and just act the granny. I am concerned though about the dogs just jumping over. This morning we found a half-eaten rat, a gift no doubt from the neighbour’s dogs.

The strawberry run continues and everyone’s enjoying their fry. We are having a field day with broccoli. The chilli bushes have regained their foliage and chilli blossoms are being shed as tiny chillis appear. The back patch against the wall is making steady progress even though it’s hard to reach with the hose. Fennel  and danya, okra and Brussels sprouts are all growing marvelously. Remember the love in the mist/blackseed plants that sprouted? They have formed buds and will be blooming soon inshaAllah.

The wonderful October weather is marred only by the strong winds that topple plants and it really dries out the soil especially the strawberries that are planted in plastic grow bags, it seems asif they dry out extra quickly. The straw mulching really helps. Because we encourage lots of picking, the strawberry plants are so sturdy and they produce giant strawberries that are actually quite sweet. The wind also blows around the pollen that makes our eyes all puffy and noses itchy.

This weekend a dear friend brought the kittens for my children. And they are just adorable. My Dad used to bring home kittens for us, their heads peeping out of his satchel – surprise!  We would make all kinds of toys to get them to jump high from match boxes with string threaded through to cotton reels from my Mom’s sowing. We would pull it round and in circles. Oh we had fun. Later we had a kitten that our dog suckled. Ja I am such a cat person. I think though that Abu is a closeted cat lover.

 

When we were newly married we took a walk up to the blockhouse and stopped at that little restaurant for a cup of tea. There was a beautiful snooty grey cat lying with paws outstretched on one of the tables, the one we wanted to sit at in fact. Abu shooed it away, it lifted one eye and rolled over and stretched. At that moment I thought oh oh Abu loves not cats. But this cat was min geticket. She just made herself comfortable on his lap, wormed her way into his beard, and Abu just sat there and said "ek gaan die ding afklap". I looked into the menu with a grin.

When we lived in Schaapkraal many years ago we got two playful Dalmatians and I realized that he preferred dogs. He allowed them to lick his hand, not minding to ghusl many times a day, chased after them when they snuck out, running for miles and miles through the farms. And when they got home out of breath and all sweaty he would look proud as punch. And the next day they would take off again. They were far too friendly to be guard dogs so he gifted them to a people who would give them love. We then got two German Shepherds because they are so good with children and a honey brown collie.

I say he pretends not to like the cats because whenever we do get some cats, he is the one to open windows for them to come inside at 3 in the morning and when he chastises them for coming in late his voice his low and kind. Plus he knows he has to buy their food. Ha ha.

So when the little ones are mewing for attention I can see him cock his ears. They are teeny tiny just starting to clamber up and out of the box and need a lot of care. For now we have parked their box under my daughter’s mirror – a nook where they feel protected and warm, snuggling into each other’s fur. They take long sleeps and when they wake up have us scurrying around for water and food and diluted milk, they should still be suckling and so we teach them to lick the saucer. I must say they’re really smart and immediately catches our drift, no more peeing on the floor; this is the litter/sand box. Sometimes when it’s warm enough we take them outside in the shade to eat and play.

They can really make a ruckus though but we don’t mind because they sleep for long periods, and then play around with each other. When my children finish school in the afternoons they can’t wait to play with them. The jury is still out about names because I am so sure my daughter wanted to name her one Katniss or something but they are both male. The catnip that she planted is just perfect and bushy for them to brush their fur against. We can’t wait for them to grow a bit older and be die baas van die plaas! Plus they will keep the field mice at bay.

So shukran dear friend, these kittens really bring some wonderful energy into the home and Mikaeel adores them, just not getting their nails stuck into him. Cats are so amazing and a pet I think every child should have, your child has allergies, you say? So do mine, but we suck it up for a few days and then their immune systems start coping. It makes them caring and responsible and to have a cat to love and who loves them, who needs anything else.

Grow food and get a kitten, heck get a few!

Yasmine

Planning a gourmet garden.

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

Chinese cabbage and basil

 9 October 2014.

And so all of the Eid activity has died down and school is in full swing here, although many schools are still on holiday. Some students are off to the Ijtimah in Port Elizabeth and I am in full swing with studies and busy with the last tweaking and preparation for our Global Leadership and Life Orientation Course.

The last bits of pastries are utilised for pies and tarts and fresh pastry is made for when the hujjaaj arrive home this weekend Insha’Allah. What’s up with Cape Town blowing hot and cold? We have gone from extremely hot and sunny with sandals to brrr cold and a bit of rain but the garden's not complaining. I am happy because the weather is so suitable for the planting of new basil and yellow pepper seedlings and the garden received a good watering from the clouds. Cucumber plants are starting to creep as are the rest of the cucurbits Alhamdulillah.

This weekend I hope to plan a new organic garden with the youth – we’re calling it The Gourmet’s Garden. So I prepared suitable vegetable seedlings. First we work out a plan based on the size of plot and sun positions. We will need to trim off the low hanging tree branches. Then we have to remove any rubble left behind and dig two spades deep. Then we’ll compost it well and water for a few days. Note to self – check for water point close by and waters that can be reused for the garden.

cleanseed lettuce

When the new campus term starts we can start planting. So what to plant for a gourmet garden? Of course herbs – chives, oregano, thyme, sage, basil, coriander, parsley, celery and some red onions.

marigolds

We could of course do some edible landscaping and plant cosmos, lavender, calendula, marigolds, borage and comfrey in between because they are good companions to vegetables and awesome to attract butterflies and bees on the lookout for nectar. Oh, I should not forget the nasturtiums and allow them to ramble around. The flowers are delightful, filled with Vitamin C in salads. Did you know capers come from the seeds of these delightful flowers?

chard and red cabbage

And then we’ll plant tomatoes, peppers – green and yellow, all kinds of lettuces, broccoli, beet, spinach, Swiss chard, red and green cabbages and Chinese too. Some fennel, rocket, and maybe some strawberries under the trees? Yes? And a row of radishes right in the front. We could also plant a gooseberry bush seeing that it grows so quickly.

Add caption

Some cucumbers to trail up the trees – how grand would that be? Can you visualize it? Cucumbers and butternuts and squash hanging in trees.

I am quite chuffed that I received some presents for Eid, Alhamdulillah. A sprinkler from my older children, a lime tree filled with blossoms and baby limes from dear, dear friends. Now the orange tree with teeny tiny fruits have a friend. And a gift to myself – a picnic basket, old school woven with proper cane. All I need to do is line it with some colorful fabric, pack in some plates and cutlery and a tablecloth and napkins. Maybe throw in some canned mussels and crackers and a passion cordial and we’re good to go! So long for a day at the beach or a river, how calming is the water. Or a walk on Muizenberg beach is long overdue and a pop in at the Lucky fish for a Florentine, or maybe not, enough sweet things.

Later,

Grow food and pack a picnic basket.

Yasmine

ps. Forgot about rosemary, ha ha. what about some spring onions, peas, beans, pakchoi, maybe one or two artichoke plants if there is space.


 

The last day of takbir.

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

7 October 2014.

It’s an almost full moon tonight, the sky is hazy and we are lazy after these few days of activities. It is the last day that we still takbir here in Cape Town.

Sunday was awesome. Early morning mosque and breakfast under the canopy.  Closer to qurban time the family gathered to witness. And as we strive for a perfect qurbaan we should also strive to make a point of sorting out everything that goes after it, the distribution so the barakah in our actions are spread, May Allah SWT be pleased with us all. So Eid Mubarak everyone!

Of course we started off in the week with a wish list of what to bake and at the end of the day we settled on some biscuits some éclair fruit rings and beautiful pastries filled with all kinds of beautiful fillings: custard, apple and cinnamon and coconut with a date tucked in. My eldest daughter made a table full of flaky pastry and it was Luqmaan’s debut for making a special dessert pyramid cheesecake for tea time. Of course it was in between his work with wood carving. We kind of ate it like a frozen dessert with strawberries down the centre. We had beautiful corned beef and fresh rolls and flaky chicken pies with a slice of pepper dew and crumbled feta for breakfast with some basil pesto on the side, hmmm. We bought some this time but it’s so easy to make one’s own. Recipe in 23 March blog.

The cousins can never resist an archery session even on Eid, so just a quick round and then the takbir resounds again. Subhanallah, Sunday night the sky was beautiful, dark and the stars were so beautiful and bright – it seemed like all they came out to light it up.

The weather is marvellously warm but the pollen levels bring out all those hay fever symptoms. How quick humanity forgets the cold winter months and the cool breeze, we were created this way. We forget pain even the pain of a birth or the ache of a tooth. Hey, like I forgot the mosquitoes and the sneezing and rubbing of eyes. We placed bunches of flowers from the garden into vases but it made us sneeze even more so they were placed outside except the lavender. This year I resolve only to rinse with light salt water and it works. For a good while at least.

The garden continues to be luscious but is more unforgiving when we have little time to water so we take turns. The poppies continue to bloom, flush after flush of red. The strawberries continue to fruit flush after flush of red - only sweeter from the warm sun. And the spinach and other greens just flourish. There are small broad beans on the bushes now and we enjoyed sprigs of broccoli with the roast for Eid. The artichokes and brussel sprouts and asparagus plants make good progress and we planted some yellow peppers and okra as well. The gourds – pumpkin, butternut and squash are starting to have flowers and attract the bees and the cucumber plants are growing up. We have started to eat from the gooseberries too, its way enjoyable early in the morning to walk around and enjoy the fruits of our work in winter Alhamdulilaah. All the cuttings are now mature plants – the herbs and lavender and even the chives that we separated are bunching up again. 

 

Soon the hujaaj will be making their farewell tawaaf and hasten for home. Back to their loved ones, and their jobs, back to reality. And they will miss the rhythms of the tawaaf and time spent in the haram, and the endless zam zam. But they will bring with them the barakah of Makkah and beautiful memories that cannot be captured on camera or phone. They will bring back an attitude of peace and not want to be bothered with worldly goings on. They will look out into the sky for that shining star that they watched at Fajr from the Haram. And they will always be nostalgic to go back again and again, so they will keep in touch with the friends they travelled with and sometimes over a cup of tea the will reminisce about the most amazing trip they ever had. As for us? We cannot wait for them to come back home and sit at their feet as they share their stories.

Grow food and contemplate the stars.

Yasmine

 

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Arafaat is forgiveness.

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

 

9 Dhul Hijja 1425, still 10 October 2014.

 

I did not have time to post my blog below so I will do so as soon as I update it now.

The wind has gone to lie down having blown at full speed since late afternoon. A rescue mission was in place to pick up fallen plants and battle the winds to water the plants. The wind also dries out the soil more than the sun sometimes.

As Magrib approached I checked out the fish in the oven. It was baking fabulously, I turned it round and to drenched it with fresh cream and allowed it to crisp up. This afternoon I wondered I would make to break fast for the family and my sister came in with a freshly caught fish weighing sun at about a kilo. I was not sure what kind of fish it was, thought it was a silver fish. But I scaled it and gutted it and cleaned it and made slices on both sides. I marinaded with seafood masala and lemon and salt and stuffed slices of garlc and slices of butter inside. I placed slices red onion and pepperdews from the garden alongside and then I covered it with the butter paper and baked for three quarter of an hour just before Magrib it was done and served with with tomato pesto and Panini.

later

Grow food and make duah for the hujjaj.

 

In the name of Allah most gracious the most merciful.

Earlier today after 5 am, 8 Dhul- Hijja 3 Oct 2014.

Here on the property, after Ishraaq, the sky is magnificent. The air is fresh and the chirping birds sound sweeter and we finish our duahs and reciting. Our preparations yesterday were joyous making biscuits and pastry and the very last of the water melon konfyt, I found four more melons under the table, yay! We prepared for Suhoor something light and nutritious. We finished our juz each as requested by our family hujaaj so they can complete it and offer it today, on Arafat.

What an honour for us. Being all the more a part of the revered and venerated day of Arafaat, when the hujaaj are sitting and crouching and lying down. When they are in kiyaam - Subhanallah, walhamdu lilaah walaa illah ha illalaa hu alaahu Akbar... resounds on the plains of Arafaat. It is hot, but it bothers none the dripping of water from faces and foreheads and from taps for wudhu. Subhanallah!

Those of us here who can, fast this day. This esteemed day of Youmil jumuah as the barakah and mercy of Allah descends and khatams and duahs and thikr ascends. On this day we are mindful of everything in this universe, as the heavens and earth are in sync and the Angels observe the attribute of Allah SWT that He has taken upon himself – that of mercy.

The wind has started - I hope that little zephyr on Wuqoof will cool down the heat a bit for hujaaj. We stood under the trees where our ancestors stood, where generations before us stood. The trees in 1971 were mere bushes and in 1997 it was just above our heads, I wonder what it is like now. We stood with our hands in duah and as the breeze rustled through, the Imam made duah and we said ameen with closed eyes and senses clear. Little leaves fell into my hands and I glanced across to Abu who gently shook his head and I opened my hands to let it slowly make its way to the ground. You know me the collector of things – flowers of decades dried in my Qur’an, what a boon it would have been for leaves from Arafat. But we have to respect sacred ground to take nothing from it nor leave anything behind. Allahu akbar.

Tonight the hujaaj will Mabeet on Muzdulifah and pick up their pebbles and wash them and secure them in pouches. Tomorrow the hujaaj will stone Aqabah, tomorrow they will make Ifaadah, tomorrow the Labayk will transform into Takbir, tomorrow they will be oblivious that it is Eid in Makkah and should someone hand them a burger or chicken, they may not even remember that they are hungry. Tomorrow they will see the Ka’abah with reborn eyes, superlative in its glory. We of course, will be having Eid on Sunday when they have returned to the Plains of Mina.

So for today everything is in slow motion. Finishing the baking, dipping biscuits and packing into tins,  the fillings made, the windows washed, the carpets scrubbed and getting the last things sorted. Taking out the special draping for tables and beds. Securing the sheep for qurbaan. And in all that busy-ness our thoughts always to Arafah time and time and again. Our hearts are filled with solidarity for the few million hujaaj. A tenderness swells our breasts for Sabirah and Hoosain and our cousins and as we make duah for them, they make duah for us and this day is so special, as every Arafah day is special. When we think of them our throats close down with sobs, in our mind’s eye Nuhr illumintes them and their slates are wiped clean inshaAllah.

We prepare for Sunday and prepare for tonight when we break fast, maybe at the mosque and maybe under the canopy when the sun has dropped down and the red sky turns colour and we place date in our mouths and hope for the pleasure of our Rabb, Allahu Akbar!

Grow food and plant a date seed.

Yasmine

Buckling down to studies during the poppy fiesta

In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful.

29 September 2014.

Where has the time flown to? September comes to an end and then one more term to the end of the year. The garden with all of its beauty and enticements does not draw me out at all today, save just for a quick walk to stretch legs from hours of typing and writing and reading other research. The poppies are just so awesome everyday more and more talking heads open, yep like they are having a conversation with everyone chipping in. They do their best to lure me outside, this beautiful spread of deep red but I am tough. I have some work to deliver to my supervisors inshaAllah and then I can get cracking!

So ja when I have work to do, I create the space without distraction, the phone does not get picked up for fear of long conversations that obstruct the day's work and the mind's trajectory. I am really on a high because in the middle of the night when the house is still I have my lightbulb moments. I beseech Allah's guidance, I recite with fervour and then it dawns upon me this will be my area of research in a sea of different ways to look at it. Ha, so I am happy to make good progress and I am happy that I have two excellent supervisors, thank you Allah, who allows me to run the gauntlet, yet as guiding beacons to an interesting and thorough study. I have done most of my marking for the youth leadership course and await meetings with tutors so we can send in marks.

But believe me, I close the door to keep myself glued to the computer, I allocate breaks and much cups of tea finds its way here. And then a friendly knock. "Gwannie - can I sit on your lap a bit?' Aah?  So here I am poised with a three year old, a cup of tea and a quick note.

Despite my attempts to quiet my space, release my creativity and investigate the development of my own work, the aroma of baking tries to find its in way here. Despite my resolute attitude, my mind is also in the hub of the Haram, at the pulse of the Tawaaf, on the plains of Mina and Arafah. Despite my resolve I wonder how the children of hujaj are coping. Despite the unfolding of questions for focus groups, my mind wanders a bit to the progress of the carving and slip out just for a peak. I am humbled at the progress and will take pictures to show you tomorrow.

Despite the lure of the surroundings I take a handful of strawberries, set down my grandson and buckle down, the more work I finish the quicker I can start my research. The quicker I can get marks in the for the Leadership course the better I can organise the final term.

I am resolute. Today, no disturbances, no housework, no cooking and no planning for Eid, at least not yet. I have enough pastry makers and roulade bakers and hey here comes Abu after shopping for supplies. Only me, the computer, and strawberries. What more could a girl ask for?

Grow food and contemplate the hajj.

Yasmine

Borage loves strawberry

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

3 Dhil-hijja 1435.

 

How wonderful to be present in this month with all of its Barakah. Our hujjaj are preparing and are both nervous and excited for the culmination and the pinnacle of their journey. O would that I were there. We are just as excited, we walk every step with them and we patiently await the day of Arafah so we can fast while they are immersed in Thikrulaah, and when that cool little wind blows  Wuqoof, we are transported back in time. Before we know it, it is Eidul Adhaa and the time for qurbaan and then it’s time for the hujajj to return to their beloved ones.

red cheek apricot

Here at home the night is a bit chilly but grand and fresh - the sickle moon and stars grace the darkness. The property is peaceful, all the guests have left and our young have returned from the Three Strangers Tour. The Qur’an is being recited, refined, explained and even carved in wood, how awesome is that? Subhanallah.


Thus whatever we plant grows beautifully and yields much. This weekend we were privileged to have visitors- from young to very old who came just for a while to sit in between the greenery, to collect some green supplies and some plants to lighten up their gardens and of course the strawberries. I love watching the little ones linger in the beds, like manna from the heavens stuffing their mouths and enough to take home to their Moms.

work in progress

While the expeditions in the garden continues, the sketches and carving takes place. Wood carving has everything to do with patience and love. Love for wood and working it into shape. Shapes in nature – lillies and dolphins and roses. But by far the most beautiful are the calligraphy shapes, from Allah’s most high name to the name of the Nabi Muhamad SAW to the command Iqrah.

And while the carving is enjoyed till late in the night, the konfyts are made and sold, the last few melons will be cooked this week. So everything comes full circle. The Qur’an is read and studied here, the garden is the space where we see the learning in practice, the seed as it splits, and the carving and painting capture the beauty of nature and Allah’s names. The konfyt is made from melons from the soil. The students enjoy the bounties of the garden too and take the knowledge and enjoyment back home and start their own gardens. I am humbled by it all. So that’s why tonight I have made some time to share some of our goings-on here.

poppy splurge

The poppies have really splurged out and the flowers are beautiful enough to look stunning in the garden as well as in our vases. The basil seedlings are being planted out and the cucumber seedlings have made an arrival too.

borage in bloom

The borage that we planted are flowering. We planted them particularly because they are by far the best companions to strawberries and benefit the garden at large. It improves the flavour of strawberries and borage tend to deter many of the insect pests that afflict strawberry plant.  Additionally, they are a powerful pollinator attractor and can make pollination more robust; they bring other helpful defenders of strawberry plants: predatory such as praying mantis and predatory wasps.  It is also believed that borage plants increase the level of trace minerals in the soil in which they are planted making the strawberries planted near them even more beneficial for health!

ranunculi

The new pepper plants are standing strong with cloches for wind protection and the apricots have red cheeks! So veggie beds are already being harvested from - can you believe it? We planted three weeks ago and the clean seed lettuce heads are being plucked and the danya is just dandy for curries.

  So Alhamdulilaah every day we start our day in the garden sommer picking and eating and saving some for toppings on French toast and with yoghurt and ice cream. And we invite all in the area to come and enjoy the pickings.

Grow food and plant borage.

Yasmine

Asparagus canes and cardamom pods.

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

22 September 2014

We have been so busy, little time for blogging. We have been seeding, and replanting, mulching and weeding, picking and cleaning, konfyting and bottling, watering and shading and all of the exciting –ings that happens on a small holding goes on here.

The boys have been busy with sketching and carving, sanding and messing and cleaning up and it’s all good. The results are fabulous. Luqmaan, Zain and Abu are busy with all kinds of wonderful Arabic script for painting and etching. I don’t mind all of the goings on what with sharpening of tools – don’t forget my knives need sharpening too. All the hands around to help with pricking and picking up heavy cauldrons, I like the buzz.

The poppies finally arrived with petals as red as the red chard stems. I did so hope for some white ones like peace doves, from the seeds that were strewn.  This red flush of poppies are different – stronger and longer stems and bigger heads. They stand proudly just behind the California poppies, a sight to behold Subhanallah. Today Aaqilah one of our principal helpers has gone in for an operation and we make duah that the operation is a success; that she handles her situation with Sabr and grace that she possesses and that the healing takes place steadily. We are starting to make this place wheelchair friendly don't worry!

I have always wanted to grow Asparagus and on Sunday when I paid a visit to the nursery they had some seedlings and we bought a dozen. The thing with Asparagus is patience. It takes twenty four months to reach adulthood but then one has 15 years of harvest. So essentially it is planted in spring as seedlings and when they are one year old ‘crowns’ to plant them 30cm apart, spreading roots over a 10cm high ridge in a 20cm deep trench. Half fill with soil; backfill the rest as plants grow.

Then one has to water plants until established and remove the weeds by hand as plants are shallow rooted. When leaves yellow in autumn cut stems to 2.5cm. Harvest from second year. Cut 15-20cm high ‘spears’ just below the soil surface for eight weeks and then allow shoots grow. Best friends of Asparagus to plant nearby, parsley, tomatoes, peppers and basil. InshaAllah, I make duah that we manage to grow it well.

We also planted some brussel sprouts that we seeded ourselves and they have been replanted in the beds. And I managed to buy a few Chinese cabbages which serves two purposes for me – they are excellent at attracting caterpillars and hardy, after that they just have a growth spurt and then they are ready to be cooked in stews and in stir-fries. I was too impatient for the rocket seed to dry out so I bought just a few for the beds. So I am introducing new healthy vegetables into our diet all of the time, I am so waiting for the tiny artichoke plants to grow into thick healthy bushes so I can cut off some heads, cut them in half, take out the hairy choke and steam them. Sounds good dipping them into butter and pulling them through one’s teeth, ne?

The straw mulching is really working well for the strawberries, so we don’t have to water as much and also good camouflage for bugs and birds. The dried leafy mulch around the small vitex trees look so beautiful and is really helping maintain moisture in the bed.

The ginger is doing fabulously after I took it indoors. I do intend taking them out as the weather warms up and it needs more kind of dappled sunlight or mostly shade. The one thing I do regret is not planting them in bigger containers to allow the rhizome to really grow. Apparently one has to wait for the proper time to harvest, when the leafs begin to turn brown and wilt away, most plants grow fast enough that parts can be used after only about 4 – 6 months of growth.. To harvest the rhizome cut the new horizontally growing rhizomes off the base-rhizome of the plant. Clean the rhizomes gently and place them on a clean and breathable cover in the sun to dry.

Now I want to try my hand at growing cardamom inshaAllah. It is said that the hard seed sprouts more easily if given a signal to initiate growth. A good signal is a cut (not into the core), smoke, hot water or a file/sandpaper scratch. Place indoor in pots with rich moist soil to facilitate growth. Then to plant out in protected area of the garden with filtered shade. Did you know that to chew a few cardamom pods has a calming effect plus good breath?

Later

Grow food and try your hand at planting asparagus.

Yasmine