winter is here

HAPPY DECEMBER FIRST!  It might not be snowing here, but it feels COLD.  At night it is in the 60s and boy-howdy am I happy I have a few sweaters here.  It is winter in the desert.  Today I will open the first window of my advent calendar, THANK YOU SISTER!  I can't believe it is already December 1st, time flies :)

Enjoy some Winter Wonder
-my FAVORITE holiday song
-Holy Ta Moly, 161 feet
-my family and our Christmas
-probably my fav xmas movie
-give a little this season
-I want SPECIAL BREAD
photo found here

With the change of season, there are finally some clouds in the sky.  The sun melts into the sea and throws it golden rays up towards the heavens.  One day I will see that green flash.

Have a great start to your week!

taking my bird for a stroll

...laughing too hard to focus on that damn bird...

One 15lb turkey, 3 loaves of bread worth of stuffing, 7 pie crusts, 2 pumpkin pies, 1 bridge pie, 1lb pound of corn, 1lb of peas, and 32 servings of green bean casserole were made by me... with the help of my sous chef.  Friends contributed baked sweet potatoes, curried sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, twice baked potatoes, spinach soufflé, biscuits, two types of cranberry sauce, two apple pies, a carrot cake, a chocolate cake, Natilla, a veggie try, and one very stinky cheese.

A friend was nice enough to host the Feast at his place, but an hour before the guests were to arrive I realized, "How are we going to get the Turkey to Mike's house?"  Luckily, my golden chariot presented itself... in the form of a sequestered shopping cart!  So, we loaded the sweet birdie into the cart and took her on a nice stroll around the neighborhood.  I think that 15 minutes of fresh air were what made her so tender and delicious.... or perhaps my sister's amazing recipe (THANK YOU for the Thanksgiving Day Recipe Binder For All Things Thanksgiving Worthy, I couldn't have done it without you).

It was a great holiday, even if, we don't get the Macy's Day Parade in this country and even if I didn't get to share the day with all of you.  I hope your Thanksgiving was equally fulfilling

ps... I don't know how these ladies (here, here, and here) take such amazing photos of their creations.  I did not even remember to take a single photo until the food was mostly demolished.  Cooking Thanksgiving dinner takes a lot of concentration!

- my family. even if they are on the other side of the world.  thank you for supporting me through every thing and every crazy adventure

- my friends, both here and far away.  thank you for continuing to be there 

- my body.  thank you for getting me to where i need to go.  thank you for the swim in the pool that i just enjoyed

- furry friends.  the unconditional love is just what i am looking for after a long day... the smelly messes are not

- airplanes.  i curse your small seats, but without you, how would i see the world?

- christmas music that is now playing in my head

- sunny warm days in November

- pumpkin pie.  i have officially made 4 this season

- my good friend who drove all over Jeddah to find me a Turkey for last night

- that damn giant Turkey.  you were oh so tender.  everybody loved you

- that grocery cart in my apartment building.  how else would i have gotten the Turkey to Mike's house on the other side of the neighborhood?

- my bike.  sailing through the night breezes.  i must get her fixed

- sunsets.  i must not forget you.

- the sea, for giving me a job and being so mysterious

- so many other things.  i am thankful for you everyday.

Happy Holidays!

fly

This is amazing!  I want to fly too!

most delicious treat of all time

I am sorry folks, this post is overdue.  I made not one, but TWO pumpkin pies a week ago.  The were both amazing, though while making the second, I spilled pie filling all over the oven.  I have now learned that it is much better to invest in a proper solid pie pan than to buy the cheap flimsy aluminum ones.  Because they are easy to spill.  Everywhere.

I have really been cooking A LOT lately and I have loved every minute of it.  'Tis the season for sweet treats!

CAMEL

What a day yesterday was!  Sea, sun, waves, lost divers, jumping off boats, and CAMELS!  These creatures are soo weird.  They are HUGE and smelly and sit all funny-like.  I have still yet to ride one, but I see it in my future.

Have a super rest of your week.  Inshallah, over my weekend I will update you on more stories!

strange cookie

Does anyone else have a Saudi Arabian street cat sitting on their shoulder right now?

I eat my Cheerios, read my email, with Lion (aka Crazy) looking over my shoulder.  What a strange cookie this feline is.

Have a super start to the week!

the beach in november

A day at the beach in November is not so bad.  The weather is getting really nice here.  Highs in the low 90s, lows in the mid 70s.  The bath-water-warm sea has cooled and is now refreshing after laying in the hot Arabian sun.  The winds pick up in the afternoon for windsurfing and sailing.  Our research vessel on the horizon beckons to unsolved mysteries of the sea.

What's Up

The staycation so far has been marrrraaa jayyed (arabic slang for VERY NICE)!  I am sorry I don't have more photos for you, something is wrong with my memory cards, some sort of formatting error.  While I am sorting out my technical difficulties, enjoy some links...

What is on my playlist? this, this, and this
What's happening in my neck of the woods
What I'm reading
What I made last night... grandma, aunt, sister, it wasn't quite as good as your's but it I think I did a pretty good job... today there is only 1/4th left :)

Have a super weekend!  

staycation

Eid Mubarak!  Eid al-Adha begins on November 6th so this weekend is the start of a week long holiday.  While most of campus is already on a plane to some distant locale, I have decided to have a staycation.  I am thoroughly excited to catch upon some work, go to the pool and the beach, finally get that basket of laundry folded, and hang out with the few people that have stuck around for the holiday.

I am sorry I have been a slacker on the blog lately, Inshallah over Eid I will finally get my camera charged and catch up on some untold stories.

Have a super end to the week!