Saturday, March 26, 2011

Definitely not M&Ms

So, this is what you turn around to see when you give your child a small piece of chocolate. I now see why the slogan "melts in your mouth, not in your hand" was so appealing to parents. It is also why you never try to sneakily eat chocolate in the same vehicle as your child. They always know and request some. Blast!

Friday, March 25, 2011

If a Tree Falls in Your Yard, Does It Make a Sound?

One of the very first plants I remember in our yard growing up was this pine tree. For many years, it was the only greenery in our yard of desert sand. I remember carrying pitchers or dragging the hose out to water it. We eventually landscaped everything, and the installation of a sprinkler system helped it flourish. Well, flourish it did, but last year, a portion died.

We were afraid it was diseased, but upon inspection found that some of the roots strangled others, causing it to die. Rather than remove the dead portion, it was recommended to remove the entire tree because of its proximity to the house. Removing a portion might throw off the balance, and in a wind storm, the remaining portion could topple onto the house, causing major damage. Unfortunately, this meant that the large shady area it provided would disappear along with it. Now my parents need to find a new tree.

Beginning removal


Crane lifting out portions of the tree


The last section of the trunk


Before


After

Sunday, March 13, 2011

TESOL Arabia 2011

Travis attended TESOL Arabia again this year. It is held in Dubai, so he also visits IKEA. This year, one of his professors from BYU, Dr. Anderson, was one of the speakers. They were able to meet up for lunch along with Heidi and another friend, Jonathan.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Ponies

The first time successfully convincing Leoni to wear her hair in ponytails. It only lasted about 15 minutes while she was drawing, but it was darling.

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Birthday Beach Celebration

After dropping Heidi off at the airport, we headed out to Al Wakra for a birthday beach celebration. A friend was celebrating a big birthday, so we joined in the festivities. Before the sunset, everyone enjoyed the weather and water.


Walking back to shore with the McCollums as the tide started coming in


A wet Leoni visiting her friend Xavier, who opted to relax back on the beach


I didn't get many more photos because night fell. We had fun visiting and wishing well for the coming year.

Bonus Day With Heidi

Due to the political unrest in Oman, that portion of Heidi's trip was cancelled, so she was able to stay an extra day in Doha. We loved that because we had a chance to spend a little more time. We went back to Souq Waqif during the day, which is full of very different sights than night. Here are some of the things we saw.

Chasing pigeons





Souq animals


Including suicidal turtles


And technicolor chicks


Man with Wheelbarrow


A view of a corridor


Al Qudsi--Sweets Shop


Fresh Arab Sweets


Various Spices


Woman shopping


More spices


Spices, dry ingredients


Dry ingredients (rose hips, dried lemons, chickpeas, etc.)


Textiles (some from camel hair)


Man in thobe on cell phone


Dunkin' Donuts & Baskin Robbin


Two men greeting each other


Outside the Mosque


Arab Instruments


Heidi bought a tambourine from the instrument shop


Local men in an outdoor cafe


The cobbler corridor


Wheelbarrows



Traffic police


Heidi checking out saffron in a shop



Posing


Waiting outside a rug store


Headed home


We were so glad Heidi came to visit us

Yemeni baskets

Yemeni honey is regarded as some of the finest honey in the world. It is heralded for its medicinal qualities, and it doesn't come cheap. There are actually a few varieties. Since I will probably not visit there any time soon (not the safest for US citizens), I enjoy the honey from Yemen here in this little shop (you get a taste of it when you visit) as well as Mr. Askar's sense of humor. He is a crack up.

At Souq Waqif, there is a shop called the Yemeni Honey Center. The family that runs it has a fancier shop in the well trafficked area, but the father (Haytham Hussein Askar) has a smaller shop with more stock on the other side of the souqs. I was introduced to his shop by our friend Kerri-Ann, and we enjoy taking our visitors there as well as occasional visits ourselves. We took Heidi and had the most entertaining time to date. My face hurt from all the laughing.

A view of the shop
(notice the shelves shaped to look like honeycomb)


Heidi checking out some of the Yemeni baskets


Haytham showing us how wonderful the honeycomb smells


Leoni asking about the benefits of honey
(notice the bee pollen in the lower left)


Not as thrilled about posing for a picture


Putting a basket on Leoni's head like a hat


He wanted me to be in a picture too


Posing with Heidi
He asked where her husband was, and when she said she was single, he took off his glasses and stood up a little straighter. Hysterical.