Company Fatoor/Iftar this past Saturday...

Good afternoon everyone!  I am really excited to post this post as I had so much fun the other night.  The story goes like this...

My husband started an Oil company five years ago.  He brought over (before that) an Omani friend he met when we lived in Saudi and they worked for an Oil company.  He brought over another friend from Yemen that we met during the same time in Saudi.  This was the core group.  I shall spare anymore details for safety's sake I guess.

Anyway, the company has flourished, thank God, and the GM holds a company Iftar party every Ramadan.  Now, I hope my readers understand that during Ramadan, we Muslims refrain from eating and drinking and any other worldly pleasures during daylight hours.  When the sun sets, we are meant to break the fast with special foods.  It is a really joyous time for Muslims as they are meant to become closer to God and build their knowledge of Islam.

Many if not all the restaurants in town have special Fatoor/Iftar  packages and it is so much fun.  But then, I like to eat and talk so I am in my element!

This was the first time in five years that the kids and I went.  I only knew Zahran, the GM and his wife and family and Fouad.  I saw Fouad and sat across from him.  Samia came later and spent most of her time being the hostess to the other wives.  She told me later that she was introducing me to them by telling them who I was.  I felt the stares and looks but did not speak to anyone that I did not know because for however friendly and loud I am; I don't like walking into a crowd of people that I do not know and become shy. Plus, my husband wasn't there but he was the man who started the company so imagine my place??  I get to meet these ladies again at Z and S's house next week so I hope to talk to them properly.  Check out these pics!

Oh, funny enough, we went to Le Mer again.  Two times this month so far I go out and to the same place!  I don't mind, the menu was different and the company was great!

This was my second helping of SHUWA.  It is goat cooked the traditional Arab way in the ground.  It has a menagerie of spices and the drippings are supposed to go on the rice.  I love the rice because it has nuts.  Yep!  This was VERY good.  Hence the 2nd helping!  It was also served with a yogurt that had salt and pepper and veggies in it.  So good!

Forget about the starters and all.  I forgot to take pictures.

The only, the ONLY  dessert that I took was UMALI or OMALI.  Holy cow this is my favorite from the Middle East!  It is like a bread pudding.  It's made of puff pastry or bread or croissants and cream or milk and sugar and nuts and I CAN NOT make it!  I will!  One day!

Amal took this picture of me.  I was in my Happy Place!

Ali then ran and took some pictures of the desserts.  Feast your eyes.  I have no idea what they are except for oh I see Baklava.  Uh huh...

This was Ali's favorite of the night.  When he went to get me one they were 'sold out momma'.

The desserts are always fun to look at if not try.  So much variety and sugar!

Isn't this a gorgeous photo of Umali?  It might not look like much to the eye but I love it.

I saw this recipe in a local magazine with the recipe from a celebrity Arab chef.  From what I gather, it is like mini pancakes rolled into a cone and filled with some kind of cream and rolled in nuts.  I tried it with Iggy and the girls and my kids but it did nothing for me.

This is Ali's favorite picture and it is nice.  Mini cheesecakes.  

Back to my Umali!  OMG!

Ali again took this shot of me eating it.  Can you SEE how happy I am??

This was placed throughout the tables to break the fast.  We have golden raisins, apricots and dates.

This is Joe.  The men met in Saudi.  I guess I was too busy having Ali then!  He did not know anything about me and was really surprised at 'How good and strong of an American accent I had and the kids had'.  Hello, I am American!  Men in these parts don't talk about their women it seems.

Fouad ordered Turkish coffee and it was like crude oil.  I loved the set that it came out in.  I was smitten!  Then Joe had ordered Arabic Tea.  I loved this set too and asked for that.  I then asked him to order it for me and he did.  His cup was red and mine was blue and it had these floaties in it which, ya know, I was sceptical until Fouad  claimed that they were pine nuts.  I would have liked mine a little sweeter but it was nice.  You lift the thing high and pour it into the glass.  It's all silver and very Arab.

Oh, I finished my ONE serving of Umali!

Here is my blue glass cup with tea.

Another shot.  They serve it with a little cloth pot holder for a lack of a better word.  It is HOT.

Here is Fouad.  Sorry it is blurry.  He served himself a huge plate of all kinds of deserts!

Amal is talking to Nizar.  This kid is BRILLIANT.  Like uber smart.  Fouad was teasing him for talking to a girl instead of the kids his age.  He knows where it's at!  We are smitten with him!

Ali got creative with my tea.  See the floaties?  They are pine nuts.  I said that already!

Here is Lulu posing for Ali.

She is so darned cute too.  She only speaks Arabic right now.  She will learn English and then I will grab her!  She lets me kiss her and hug her and comes to me so I am happy.

Here are Lulu and Mr. Nawaf.  He is gorgeous too.

This man on the right is Zahran.  He is the General Manger of the company.  He was giving out 5 year awards or something.  Watches he told me.  I want my readers to see the difference in head gear that the Omani's wear.  Z has on a turban or MUSSAR.  The dude on the left and the two sitting down are wearing the KUMA.  I can sew these but the work involved hurts my right arm.  Z's is formal and the others are casual.

Here is an example of two different colors of Mussars.  Each tribe or area folds them their own way but the same as everyone else if you can comprehend that explanation?

Here is Hamad.  Gosh he looks like his Mom.  He is Z's little brother.  I absolutely LOVED his beard!  When I complimented him he seemed truly appreciative that SOMEONE noticed!  Then, we went to get that 2nd serving of Shuwa and I started talking to him about that guy that died in our car before Ramadan started and he got confused until he realized I thought he was the other brother Yasser.  Ooops!  The three brothers look so alike.  Z looks completely different to his brothers.  Anyway, that embarrassing moment over I told him that I am used to seeing him at his house in the village and much more, um, comfortable?

Anyway, I asked if I could take pics and put on my blog of his cool beard, he said 'yes!'.  I embarrassed the kids but hey!

Front shot.  So handsome, masha'allah!  Oooh, these Arab men!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Part 2 of Tuesday..

On Tuesday morning, we went to visit my friend and her kids.  You will find her at Sew 2 B Happy.

It was a lovely visit after such a long time.  Ali played computer or WII stuff with the boys and Amal got to hang out with Lujayne!  They did makeup and played tea party and Lulu is 5 and my Lulu is 15!  She was very patient which I think is good for her!

Meanwhile, I got to hold little Eyad a bit and talk to Isra/Clodagh!  It was a very nice morning with lovely coffee and some delicious chocolate cupcakes.  Thank you!

Here are little Eyad and me. 

His little foot.  

I tried to capture the size difference but since I can not see any longer up close; I can't take decent pictures! Sorry for the blurriness!

Here is Amal lovin' on this little guy!

After the visit; we left and went to check out a new WH Smith bookstore outlet.  We are still devastated that Borders closed down in the big mall so we were excited to get there and check it out.  Plus, I needed my next selection for my Book Group and it was there so we went.

The kids were hungry so we bought our loot at the book store and walked next door to Costa Coffee.  As I was paying for our lunch; I took out a 20 OR (Omani Rial) note and with both hands kind of pulled it taught and it ripped right down the middle.  Now 20 OR is slightly less than US $60.  Needles to say, the man taped it together!

The kids chose a really high seating area and I liked the logo for this place.

Here are Ali on the left and Amal on the right finishing off their lunch.  You can see the WH Smith bag and I bought ROOM by Emma Donoghue.  The info is here in case you wish to  read up on it.

After book shopping and lunch; we ran over to Samia's to get the boys.  Mr. Nawaf has been oiling his own hair.  He was shy and would only speak to me in English when we were all alone!  That is Nizar next to me.  He was playing around on my computer trying to help me set up a button for my blog.  We had a lot of fun with the boys and they were happy to hang with Ali.  They spent the night.

Their Dad, Zahran came over in the morning and took them but not before he had a pancake breakfast with me and a cup of VERY strong coffee!  We had a nice long visit and then they were gone.

I got a little sad in the afternoon, I think due to the let down of having visited and then hosting kids and as Nizar was looking forward to my Chicken Enchiladas and Mexican Rice for lunch.  They left before that.  I felt myself falling into a depression when my husband came home and told me that he was helping this young Omani guy out by giving him a job in his company and lending him my car (my Honda) and the dude crashed it and died.  Then, Ali discovered that our outdoor kitty had a gash in his foot, from a fight no doubt; poor thing.  He was defending his territory which is our property.

I suddenly got out of my slump, thank God!

Thanks for stopping by.  I'm going to sleep in tomorrow!

Visiting friends....

Hi!  The kids and I went to visit some Omani friends that we have not seen in a while.  We really enjoyed the visit and their kids.

Eventually the Oud came out.  The night before, we had a lesson and then came home to find these kid's father over.  This man is the funniest Omani man I know.  I really enjoy his whole family's company.  Amal has been performing for her Daddy's friends and is enjoying the practice and attention!  I hope we get to go visit his brothers and his Mom in the village during Eid.  Time will tell...

Here is Layan and Amal and Nizar.  There is an Oud Hobbyist Association of Oman, the first one of it's kind in the Arab world, close to their home and Nizar, the young boy, was accepted there but he declined.  We are going there this week for Amal to sign up as her lessons are all but one left.  The kids were fascinated with the Oud. 

You can catch the blue arm and leg of Samia, these kid's mom and my closest Omani gal pal.  She is so much fun and very intelligent.  She is going to take some time this summer to teach me how to cook some Omani foods.  I have been thinking of writing a cookbook of Omani foods from different tribes and regions!?

Nizar was trying out the Oud.  

Here is Mr. Nawaf.  He is something else!  They are all such cool kids!  Masha'allah I should say.  I think Amal was really relaxed too with her beloved Oud and sharing it!

Nizar opted to learn the Violin which is also used greatly in Arabic music.  Here is Lulu showing us just how it is done!

Charming little thing!

Amal is certainly charmed!

Nizar can't keep his eyes off the Oud.

I am so happy because Nawaf speaks and understands English so he and I can communicate now.  Lulu is still mostly Arabic and was talking to Amal in Arabic telling her she 'loved her'.  She broke poor Ali's heart because she told him she only loved Amal!  Not him!  You don't understand, my Ali LOVES kids and especially little ones so he was bummed! 

Now, Lulu (we call my Amal Lulu too) is trying her hand at the Oud.  Amal had to hold it for her as she is too little to hold it properly.

Mr. Nawaf won't be overshadowed!  He started performing for us too and even took out the sheet music!  So cute!

Nizar is smart as a whip and his English is excellent!  He knows so much about Technology and is so articulate.  I am very proud of him!  Nawaf came and sat with me when I asked him to and talked a little to me but is very shy and was more all over the place doing things and looking to see if I was watching.  I caught eyes with him many times and smiled and he lit up.  He even got me up to dance Vanilla Ice's 'Ice Ice Baby'.  I did a few steps which must have looked ridiculous in my abaya!  Lulu shared a Tweety sticker with me on my hand.  It came off tonight when I cooked dinner.

It was a fun night and tonight we have Paulina spending the day and night with us.  We are off in a few minutes to go see the very last Harry Potter movie at midnight.  I hope I do not fall asleep!

I did do some sewing on Monday and it was fun.  We are working on a project for us here in the summer months.  Stay tuned as I might have a huge announcement in the coming days!??