March 31, 2016

Fun and games...

This is "Lungi Bozi." You play by holding one foot behind you and trying to push your opponent down with your free arm and the rest of your body. Just another entertaining idea for those long, lazy summer days.

March 27, 2016

Happy Easter to one and all!

March 24, 2916

Spring in Kabul...

Our yard has got to be one of the most beautiful and blossom-filled in the city.

We look forward to being able to share loads of peaches, plums, almonds and apples later in the summer.

March 22, 2016

Zadok and I are competing for the role of champion snot producer, and while I think he's a little ahead I am catching up fast, which presents a daily dilemma. Do I wipe snot all over my chador namoz or do I just let it run freely down my face in sight of all creation? The struggle is real.

March 20, 2016

                                               

 It's Nawruz, the Persian New Year, and Zadok is busy helping his mother with the feast.

Saffron rice, baked beans, fried greens and meatballs in tomato sauce are on the menu...

 A closeup of the main dish "kufta..."

...And the ubiquitous tea and sweets and cookies to follow the meal.

Zadok helped with the important task of removing all unwanted food scraps (onion skins, cilantro stems, etc.) and depositing them on the floor.

March 19, 2016

Zadok is learning to feed himself. Some foods are easier to handle than others.

March 15, 2016

                                       

After ten days in Busted Buddhaville, we are home again. Amos enjoyed his training, and Z. and I enjoyed hanging out with the other women and children on the team. We also helped with art classes at the school. Zadok is already developing a love for drawing and coloring...sometimes on paper.

                                     

The house we stayed in...

 ...And the view from the front yard.

March 15, 2016

This boy isn't ready for a hat...

March 12, 2016

We've discovered a market that sells flax seeds, wheat and barley berries, and best of all, shelled peanuts. So far we don't have a method of grinding the wheat and barley we so joyfully bought, but we have roasted some of the peanuts with great success.

Just spread the raw peanuts out on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for about fifteen minutes. If they still don't seem brown enough, you can turn off the heat and leave them in another few minutes.

This goes a long way to satisfying our craving for "real" peanut butter.

March 8, 2016

Happy International Women's Day!