Lime Tree Cafe... is there anything better?

I have found my favorite coffee/dessert place in Dubai...

The Lime Tree Cafe

Their carrot cake, pictured above, is the best I've ever tasted.

As you can see they also have find reading available for patrons: Wheels.

This was me getting teary eyed because of how much I love The Lime Tree Cafe and french press coffee (oh, and friends...)

Scarfs, scarves, babushkas

The more that I write the word scarf, the stranger it looks.  Good thing there's a difference between writing the word and wearing the actual thing because scarfs are a normal part of living here.

This is me in a cultural center that we visited yesterday, which is one of the only public/educational mosques in Dubai.  Women are asked to cover their heads as a sign of respect when they enter.

Living in Dubai, however, does not mean that I must cover my head and this was actually the first time that it was necessary.

This is how you would usually see us wearing scarfs.

Somebody else has scarf fever...

Wedding Garb

Dearest Amanda K. Church,

This is what I wore to your wedding.  I love you and congrats!  He's a lucky man.

Love, 

Kater

Creating Flowers

Not only have I been doing some yard work outside, I've been doing a bit inside too.
There was an empty vase on our desk when I got here, so I decided to fill it.  But after going to Ikea and seeing that their fake, yet "real-looking" flowers were too expensive and a bit silly, I decided to knit a flower.

Ikea.... Ikea....

I love Ikea against my own will.  I don't know what it is about that store... maybe it's the cafeteria.  And you know, maybe it's the fact that their cafeteria and it's options, versatility and low prices overflow to the rest of the store.  Ikea is kind of like one BIG cafeteria for food and for furniture and household things...  Wow, I can't believe I just now noticed that.

The first time I went to Ikea, it was an awful-horrible-caffeine headache-low-blood sugar nightmare.  It was also within the first few months of the store opening so it was overcrowded with people.  That's why I'm surprised I talked myself into going back and trying again.

And guess what people, there's one in Dubai... and I visited it the other day.  And even though it was only for a bit and for very necessary items... I still got my fix.

This is me in New Haven, CT 2 days before I left for Dubai

I used the display couches for comfort and a little reading while my mother shopped.

(You can tell it's pre-Dubai because I'm wearing shorts... I don't do that anymore)

This is what it looks like on the other side of the world.

One of these days I'll take a picture of the inside, much like the one above...

Because don't you worry, I'll go back!

Al Mallah

This weekend, some friends took us to another neighborhood in Dubai near Satwa to have some Arabic food.  I already loved hummus, so I was very excited about what I would taste!

It has been the best food I've eaten since I've been here...

Fruit cocktail with bits... has cashews, fresh fruit and whipped cream

Cheese maneesh (I probably spelled that wrong, but it is wonderful!)

The source: Al Mallah.... so good!

I Stepped Into The Persian Gulf...

These pictures were taken the other night when we went exploring.  It was so dark on the beach, you couldn't even see the water as we approached it.  But I stepped into the water and also realized there were a lot of people swimming in complete darkness.

Sure beats going to the beach in the scorching sun, eh?

You can see how dark it was where my flash didn't reach.

Ahhhhh, the Persian Gulf... so refreshing.

Creative things that make my day!

Recently, I've been able to do a few creative things to help around the villa.  Here are two of those projects.

One was with lanterns:

And the other was with some curtains:

The Only Autumn in Dubai

In Mirdif City Centre at Pottery Barn...

When I saw this window display I had to go in and spend 15 minutes just looking at the "fall foliage" on the table.  And it was worth it.

Superheroes

This summer after watching "Despicable Me" I decided that I like villains more than I like superheroes.  But then I moved into the villa, and I realized it's still okay to like superheroes.  Especially when you know their aliases.  I'm not mentioning any names here, but the pictures say enough.

October is a BIG month

I'm not sure where September went, but as I went to bed last night I realized that today was the beginning of October, a big month.  A very big month.

In the States people are frolicking around with their pumpkin spice lattes and dancing around with the changing leaves... I'm sure of it- I can hear the echo of your dances all the way over here... in the desert.  As the 50 degree temperature is making you ready for sweaters and cider (or wassail if you live in Denton), here the temperature is finding itself in the high 90's during the hottest times of the day.  But really, I'm not as bitter about missing the fall season as you think...  I just like to seem that way.  My bark is always worse than my bite.

But that's not why October is a big month, I just figured I'd help you people in the States understand that you should be grateful for autumn, so go on... be grateful and drink your pumpkin spice lattes.  I'm very happy for you.

The reason why October is such a big month is because one of my best friends in the world is getting married.  Amanda Langford, sweet Amanda.

I'm so grateful that God is sovereign and that He loves us.  He gives us relationships that glorify Him.  And when I think about the last 7 years- I'm grateful for her friendship, humor and wisdom.  I'm grateful that I have such a like-minded friend and that she is always such an encouragement to me.

I knew when I started hearing about her fiance that it was meant to be.  It has been amazing to hear about the couple getting ready for their new life together.  Because I love her so much and wish I could be there in person for their vows, I decided to celebrate with them each day this month.  And this is the start of that.  Here is a video montage of our friendship...  Just kidding, they're just pictures.

The prestigious staff of McConnell Hall

Where we became friends.

Amanda is in the bottom left corner in her cute pigtails.

At the Denton Arts and Jazz Festival with Temple and Amanda

We love us some DJAF (jazz always comes first)

Austin City Limits

This scenario is gonna happen again... just you wait

Norah and the Grubster

Today, Grubby and Norah met early in the morning and became attached at the hip.  There were a few hours where they had some alone time, but as soon as Norah was up from her afternoon nap, Grubby found himself in her arms again.

I have finally found someone who loves Grubby as much as I do.

As Norah sat in her mummy's lap tonight reading a bedtime story, I found out that she had wanted to extend their hang out time and sleep with him in her crib.  I didn't know what to do, how could I separate two of the people I love the most...  Thankfully, Gloria suggested I simply say, "Thank you so much for looking over Grubby for me."  Norah gave him one last hug and said, "Night, Night."

Meatloaf

Growing up, my parents never made meatloaf.  I didn't really taste it until earlier this year when one of my favorite people and roommates, Emily, made it for dinner one night.  I'm not embarrassed to say that I loved it.

So when Amanda and Kate wanted to make meatloaf I screamed, "PLEASE" quite loudly in the supermarket.  And thus, the meatloaf was made.  The picture sequence is, of course, in honor of the great meatloaf.

In Recovery

An Update on Dave

Classy Little Princess

If you would like to know how to pray for me and those I'm serving, here is a good place to start:

Dave's surgery

It's quiet around the villa today as we wait in anticipation for Dave and Gloria to return from surgery.  Norah is taking a nap now and I find myself missing Aliza while she's at the hospital.  So this one's for you Aliza.

I don't know if you're familiar with Gigi... but check it out- this outfit is Aliza's ode to the popular children's book character.  So classy.

Coffee and Jazz

One of the bonuses of living in the villa is that quite often, we have to make desserts and goodies for different events that are held here.  When doing this, we find that it's best for everyone involved if we double the recipe.  That way, the guests can partake in the goodness during the event and we can partake in the goodness right after it's made.  Besides, it's always important to do a taste test, I'm sure you all would agree.

On Saturday, we made pumpkin streusel coffee cake for an upcoming event.  And let me tell you... It's a good thing we tasted it beforehand because it was delicious- we wouldn't have wanted anyone to suffer through anything that's un-delicious...  I mean seriously people.

But in partaking in my piece of coffee cake, I had a brilliant idea.  Why not make myself an afternoon of coffee cake, lattes and jazz.  So I made a latte, brought my ipod to the kitchen and relaxed with a little taste of home- pumpkin...  And it was good.  I tried to capture my love for this in picture form.

Boy, do I love coffee and jazz.

Introductions

Aliza meet Grubby.

Grubby meet Aliza.

The first time Aliza saw Grubby on my bed she started saying, "He's scary, he's scary."  Then I started to sing "He's not scary, he's just misunderstood."  Those two phrases have become a musical moment between us whenever Aliza comes into my room.  It is quite beautiful.  

So far, she still thinks he's a scary monster, but the fact that she's singing those words tells me that she is warming up to him.

And he's just waiting for the day.

Kevin

Kevin, Kevin, Kevin, Kevin.

Kevin.

Just seeing if you're paying attention.

Kevin is not a person.  No, no, no, no.

Kevin is a bird.

Kevin is the bird in the movie "UP."  Kevin joined our lives this week after Aliza and Amanda watched "UP."  For a few days, it was hard for me to see him.  Until.... he came to life.

Thank you Martha Stewart.

There they are, best friends forever.  Until...

Kevin died.  A painful, painful death.

But we found a new Kevin.

The Aquarium

Malls.

I don't really enjoy frequenting the mall in the States, but there is something interesting about the malls here...  Sometimes they leave you speechless.

For instance, last weekend I saw fish swimming in the mall....  Not just little goldfish.  BIG FISH.

This is Henry the shark, named after my nephew Ephraim.

You can see that this aquarium is definitely in the mall...

The good thing is that you can see most of it without actually paying for anything.  My friends told me that there's more inside, but seeing the outside is just as good!  Sounds like my kind of aquarium.

Henry swimming with his "friends"...  Hmmm.