A fairy tale night

For a long time, Persians have been celebrating long summer afternoons with a spread of chilled iced watermelon drinks in glass goblets, fire grilled kebob skewers wrapped in long thin sheets of oven baked breads, fresh herbs and vegetables on a medley of platters, and seasonal fruits posing beautifully on pedestals. There's nothing more mouth watering than the smell of charcoal toasted meat skewers, the fresh scent of mint, parsley, and basil leaves arranged around rosettes of radishes, the tart aroma of Shiraz Salad with strong vinegar dressing, and the bouquets of grapes, berries, and melon slices overflowing the dishes. Noosh e jan نوش جان is what is said at the beginning of each meal. It simply means "enjoy". On warm summer nights, when stars begin to appear one by one, after a nibble off the soft flesh of figs and a dive at the delicate dessert plates topped with dates and walnuts, remember the songs of birds fluttering about the garden, the late ocean breeze gently passing through, whispering old fairy tales onto the trees' ears. If you listen carefully, they'd tell you stories of love, romance, and infinite wisdom.

اجیل مشکل گشا

انجیر-نخودچی-نقل-توت-پسته-فندق-بادام-کشمش-گردو-تخمه-آبنبات

Tuscan Village

Gardening for art

Collect plants, seeds, and flowers that you like to draw and paint, and plant them in the garden, patio, balcony, or indoors if you live in an apartment. Choose pots and planters with artsy sense; sculpted containers, and potted bowls, even unusual items such as sea shells and rocks with holes in them are ideal for planting tiny herbs and flowers.

I stick to a few seasonal varieties like giant sunflowers, and pumpkins in April and continue filling pages of a small sketch book through May, June, and July when they finally bloom. Sunflowers and pumpkins have the most interesting anatomies which offer an abundance of still life art subjects.

If you fill up pages of a small thick blank note book, try to move leaves and stem around gradually and slowly turn the face of the flower around .... keep sketching in close sequence to create an animated hand drawn cartoon. It'll be "a sunflower in summer breeze".

If you happen to have a dry piece of land in your property where weeds grow and create an ugly sight, try to invest a little in irrigating, and plant new trees and bushes... Fruit trees are delightful, healthy, and fabulous for shade.

For inspirations and ideas: Google

Butterfly garden, Fairy garden, Mediterranean kitchen garden, Lavender farms in Provence, and artichoke fields in California.

Peace