[52/52] Last Entry!!

Week 52!!! I should have posted this entry on the 14th of march. That was the date on which I started this project, a year ago.
A year has gone by, and it seems like it was only yesterday! I thought it would be a good idea to start a project like this to document my progress in photography.
A lot has happened over that year. I have learned lots of new techniques, and my skills improved. Over that year, I have had my eyes opened to many new things, I have learned that photography is not just about knowing what settings to use, but rather how to see everything that is around you. The world is full of beauty, even in the smallest, most unnoticeable parts of it. Photography teaches you to see this beauty, and not just look at it. It teaches you that nothing in this world is insignificant. Over that year, I have learned to appreciate this beauty, and tried to understand the purpose of it's existence. All in all, it has been a great year for me! A year of learning, growing, and having fun in the process!!

[52/51] Where I've Been Last Week

I've been in Ain Sokhna shooting the 8th African archery championship! My siblings were competing in the tournament. Yes I know.. you're wondering "where does Canada fit in an African championship?" Well, commonwealth countries were invited as well. In addition to Canada, there was New Zealand, Samoa Island, Trinidad and Tobago and Norfolk Island.
I had so much fun! It was the first event I shoot, and it was a bit challenging, since it was a sports event as well.
I met new people and learned new techniques, so overall it was a great experience.
Just in case you're wondering, Babyface is doing great now. He is much better (alhamdulilah). He's gaining weight, eating well, and playing like a monkey!

I am four weeks late for my "project 52" entry, this is week 51's entry.

Here are some of the photos taken at the event.

[50/52]

This is week 50's entry.
My cat is really sick, he's been ill for almost a week now, since he is not eating anything, nor drinking water.
I had to take him the vet yesterday, the "journey" to the clinic took us four hours! It is not really easy to find a reliable vet here, the only one I trust is at the far end of Cairo, plus, it was rush hour, so you can imagine.
Poor Babyface!! He lost half his weight!! He is very weak and dehydrated. I have to give him water by force, and he doesn't like that one little bit.
But thankfully he started eating again this morning, although he only ate a tiny bite.

[49/52] Sunny Side Up!

Ever felt like your battery is dying? Or rather dead? You have no energy to do anything, even something as simple as making your bed after you wake up. You miss the sunshine, you miss the days when you would be full of enthusiasm, energy and creativeness. You lose your motivation, your sense of time, and your interest in anything useful, and you stop enjoying the things you usually enjoy doing, besides eating!
Well, my battery died a while ago, and my bad mood is preventing me from recharging it.
I need a cold bucket of water splashed on my face, and a "SNAP OUT OF IT!"
Here is a cheerful sunny photo to cheer you... I mean me, up.
This is the week before last's entry, or the week before that? I don't know.. I lost count.

[48/52] Mid-winter's summer sunshine!

I have been away for about two weeks. Things have been hectic around here, I barely had time to check my emails and facebook (I hate it how facebook has become a part of everyday life!!)
I totally forgot about last week's entry, and the week before too! I am finding it really hard to keep up with this project, although it's only one photo per week, but I guess it has nothing to do with the photo, but rather the time to sit down and write something.
On another note, the weather is really strange these days!! It turned from "wearing double socks at night" to "wearing short sleeved PJ's at night" in just a day!!! It's literally summer over here!! I was using heating pads a week ago! (yes it gets really cold in Egypt, especially indoors)
This photo was taken with my new camera (yipppy!!)
I guess you can tell I'm still practicing!!

[47/52] ".. A person is a person, no matter how small!" - Horton Hears a Who

This photo really describes how I've been feeling lately. Small, vulnerable, and invisible.
In real life, this droplet, lying perfectly still on that little flower petal is extremely small. It's not worth anything. Compared to everything around it, it's insignificant. You might pass by it and not even notice it. A very light breeze might knock it over, and send it flying everywhere. It has no value.
Yet, when I aimed my camera lens at it, and focused, something magical appeared. Something that made my heart skip a beat, and my eyes sparkle in admiration. It's beauty.

[46/52] Expecting!

Yes.. we're expecting new babies!!
Naturally, this photo should have been of Lula, the mommy-to-be, but even now, when her tummy is the size of a football, she is always jumping around and doing all sorts of crazy things, and she won't stay till, even for a moment for me to photograph her. She hates posing, and if she is not sleeping, she's running around like the little monkey that she is! What a great role model for her future babies!
This is babyface, or should I say daddyface? He's really confused, he can sense that there is something different about his Lula, and I think he is a bit jealous! She's been getting a lot of attention lately (.. and it's not like he's not getting any..) and he doesn't like that! But he still loves her :)
You can see how serious he looks here, of course! He's going to be a daddy!

The Making of Tiramisu

I made tiramisu yesterday, and it was amazing! Well.. it wasn't the first time, I made it before, but last time I added too much coffee, and it was kind of mushy.
I was in a really good mood while making it, it had rained the night before, the clouds were fluffy and the sky was crystal clear. I opened the kitchen door and let the sunshine in, and decided I'll document each step by taking photos! (yay! photos!)

Lady fingers...

Italian lady fingers can be found at any supermarket, they come in packs, like biscuits.


Instant coffee...

Gorgeous sky!

Eggs for the custard (egg yoke)

Irish cream flavoring for the custard...

Custard!

Whipping cream... *Ooooh I'm in heaven!*

First layer of lady fingers... look at 'em.. all ladylike and neat!

Well.. that's about it. You keep piling layer over layer, lady fingers, custard and whipping cream, lady fingers, custard and whipping cream, lady fingers, custard and whipping cream...


The final result...

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I was too late!!!!!

[40/52] Babyface the Romantic

[40/52] Babyface the Romantic
Originally uploaded by Midnight.Silver

Babyface has been with us for over three months. He and Lula are best buddies now! More than best buddies, the cutest couple ever!!! I was really worried when I first adopted Babyface, they were always fighting, growling, and hissing at each other, but now they're in love!
His personality is a lot different then hers. He's romantic (yes! romantic!), very sensitive, kind and caring. He enjoys walking in the garden, smelling flowers and chasing butterflies. She is the trouble maker! Always jumping on the kitchen counters and breaking things, biting and scratching (playfully of course). But somehow they've managed to love each other, and I'm really thankful for that, she was really lonely before he came!

[39/52] Reflections

[39/52] Reflections
Originally uploaded by Midnight.Silver

Nothing interesting is happening around here. Everything is so still and life seems as quiet as undisturbed waters of a small lake on a late summer's afternoon. The only things moving are the clouds, the sun, the moon, and occasionally, the sheer curtain, gently swaying as the wind blows through the window. Phases like these pass through our lives, even if they only last for a few days or maybe a couple of weeks, but they give us space, and time to reflect on important matters in our lives.

[38/52] A Room with a View

[38/52] A Room with a View
Originally uploaded by Midnight.Silver

This shot was taken at Azhar Park. It is such a lovely place, full of wonderful things to photograph. I had a great time with a friend of mine last Saturday. We had lunch there, and took lots of photos! Its lovely to go out with a fellow photographer, it makes shooting photos even more fun!

This is a late entry, I've been really busy theses days (I know.. I always say that!).
Besides, the 30 days of gratitude project is getting really hard and challenging.

[37/52] Pretty in Pink

[37/52] Pretty in Pink
Originally uploaded by Midnight.Silver

It has been really challenging this week, to shoot a photo everyday for my "30 Days of Gratitude" project. But I've managed!
This project is really helping me to improve my photography skills, and it also helped remove this writer's block that I've been suffering from. And I'm grateful for that :)

My dear friend got me this lovely perfume as an early Eid (muslim holiday) present.
THANK YOU!! It really means a lot to receive a lovely present from a dear friend, because you know it came from the heart ♥

[36/52] Sweet November

[36/52] Sweet November
Originally uploaded by Midnight.Silver

Autumn is the best time in Egypt, I call it "the Egyptian spring", as spring here is not at all pleasant. With dust storms and strong, yellowish winds, it is not at all the "typical" sweet, refreshing spring.
Everything is lovely in the autumn. The skies are crystal clear, silky blue, the clouds fluffy, the sunshine sweet and warm, and the breeze cool with refreshing scents. Spending time outdoors, reading a book, or playing with your pet, or simply relaxing with your family, is really pleasant and therapeutic, and makes one appreciate all the splendors God has created for us to enjoy, and thank him for it by being modest and preforming our duties with the most cheerful manner. This might sound a bit like preaching, but it is exactly how I'm feeling these days :)

[35/52] When the Creative Bug Bites

[35/52] When the Creative Bug Bites
Originally uploaded by Midnight.Silver

I have been disconnected from the internet (again) for almost 9 days. There was a technical problem with the phone line, therefore no internet. I don't want to start venting, because even now after the line had been fixed, I'm still frustrated at the whole who-cares- about-customer-service attitude which I've been treated with. And the fact that I've been calling the phone company non-stop throughout the whole nine days, and getting the same annoying answers over and over. "Thank you for calling customer service, we have received your complaints, your phone line will be fixed within 24 hours. Thank you for calling! Thank you!!"
STOP thanking me and go do your job!!
Lack of customer service is a big disadvantage one faces while living in a third world country, and it saddens me to say that.
I'm going to skip all that and talk about the lovely time I had disconnected from the entire world.

I managed to finish the novel I was reading, which seemed impossible to finish. The characters were very cheerful!!! Despite being poor and their life full of tragic events, one after another. I found that to be very annoying. Yet it was amusing.
And... I made a scrapbook. Its still under construction though. The book is finished. It took quite some time to glue the ribbons on and make it look as girly as possible (sorry, but girly things are still my weakness!) now I have all those blank pages to fill with sweet memories, stickers, more ribbons and anything that could be glued to a page!

Its nice to be back after the agonizingly long week and two days without a connection.
This, of course, is last weeks entry :)

[34/52] Through the Pages of History

[34/52] Through the Pages of History
Originally uploaded by Midnight.Silver

I went to visit the Library of Archives the other day. As part of a research I was doing, I needed to find an article about the subject I was researching on, which dated back to the year 1939. I was advised by friends to visit this place (I didn't know they had a Library for Archives here in Cairo!) and I was pretty impressed!
Everything was so organized. I was surprised though, that you were allowed to browse through the original copies. The paper is yellow with age, and very fragile and delicate. I was fascinated with the idea that I'm touching a piece of paper that someone back in the year 1939 also touched. Although its not a big deal, 1939 is only 60 years ago, not even a century.
But still, reading all those headlines, the photographs, the classified ads, it was fascinating! There was an ad for a young nurse who spoke fluent French, English and German, seeking employment. Another ad for a governess seeking employment. I couldn't help but wonder what happened to those two. Are they still alive? Maybe they are more than 80 years old now, living in a retirement home.

I was taking photos when one of the guards came and asked me not to photograph, apparently it wasn't allowed. I was lucky to have taken a few photos before he came!

[33/52] Goodbye Summer.. you won't be missed...

[33/52] Goodbye Summer.. you won't be missed...
Originally uploaded by Midnight.Silver

Its official, Summer in Egypt is over, and I'm so glad it is! I usually mark the end of Summer when my bare feet start freezing at night! To say the truth, I don't really like Summer at all. Especially in Egypt. Its hot, sticky, humid, and HOT! Enjoying outdoor activities is out of the question, and people would rather stay confined to their homes, and enjoy the blessings of air conditioners.
(I'm still talking about Egyptian Summer)
If, however, you were forced to leave your house for emergencies, like running out of icecream or soda, you are most likely to experience the most unpleasant activity of your adult life.
The air you breath is suffocating and lacking oxygen (if that's scientifically possible). And If you were lucky enough to have a car (with an AC) usually the AC won't be strong enough to cool your car down, especially if you had leather seats, unless you were a millionaire and your car is a Maybach. What makes it even more unpleasant are the people who are always frustrated (because of the heat of course), and they tend to release all their frustration on you. A simple thing as accidentally stepping on someone's shoes, or bumping into them could end up in the emergency room, or someone getting arrested.
Those are a few examples of what could happen to ruin your day had you ventured to leave your house, and make you wish you never had.
So, for many, many other reasons, Summer is far from being my favorite season. Even in Canada I prefer Autumn and Winter to Summer. And since I've been home-schooled my entire life, I never considered Summer to be the season of holiday and relaxation, and was able to judge the other seasons fairly.

There are, however, a few things I like about Summer... and most of those few things can only be found in Canada :(

[32/52] .. How I've been feeling lately

[32/52] .. How I've been feeling lately
Originally uploaded by Midnight.Silver

I've been feeling a little blue lately, and not at all in the mood for taking any photos. Besides, my camera is not working properly, the photos are turning out really shaky and blurred. This is a photo I took a while ago.
Other than that, there's nothing significant worth mentioning...
Have a lovely weekend y'all!! (weekends in Egypt start on Friday)
Oh, and yea that's last week's entry :)

[31/50] Portal Through Time

[31/50] Portal Through Time
Originally uploaded by Midnight.Silver

Went to Azhar Park yesterday. It's in old Cairo, near Saladin Citadel . I live on the opposite side of old Cairo, its a new city, and I don't get to see those beautiful old buildings that often. Its amazing to be walking among that many remarkable sights of an old civilization. It makes you feel like you're walking inside a history book!!

Its really fascinating when you think of it that way!! I tried imagining those Arabian knights on their black stallions, walking up to the gates of the citadel, and all the events that took place on these very grounds!!
I tried to imagine the place even before the citadel was built, and watch in quick motion as the builders pile brick over brick, then the place is finished and people start storming in. Then wars happen, huge armies, horses and catapults shooting flaming balls of fire.Then peace. Then watched as the four seasons pass by (still in quick motion :p) A hundred years pass.. two hundred. Three hundred, new houses being built. Five hundred, nine hundred. The place starts to decay. Ugly new buildings start growing up from the ground. Bridges being built. Bridges opened. Cars and trucks pass by. The ugly building collapse, new ugly buildings start to rise up again. And then Alien invaders, and flying saucers start shooting that red light and destroying all of humanity!!

This shot was taken at the park. It over looks all of old Cairo. As though it's a magical garden of a palace, with a portal through time, to the future...

[30/52] Cuppycakes!

[30/52] Cuppycakes!
Originally uploaded by Midnight.Silver

I'm really in the baking mood these days! I made those yesterday. They were not that hard to make, but they take a LOT of time. Grating carrots, lemon zest and orange peel.. it takes FOREVER! But they were worth it!
Have nothing more to say.. have a lovely weekend you guys!!!

[29/52] Let Them Eat Cookies!

[29/52] Let Them Eat Cookies!
Originally uploaded by Midnight.Silver

My sister and I baked those cute little flower cookies yesterday. They turned out really good!! The whole family really enjoyed them. They are more than easy to make. The batter didn't take more than 10 minutes to prepare. We used a little machine made specially for shaping cookies. It could be found at any store selling kitchen stuff.

Here is the recipe!!

1 cup icing sugar
1 1/2 cup softened butter
3 1/2 cups sifted flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 egg yoke
1 egg
3 tsp vanilla
A pinch of salt

Beat sugar and butter in a large bowl with an egg beater. In a smaller bowl, beat the egg and the egg yoke with a fork, and add vanilla. Pour the eggs and vanilla to the butter.
Mix flour, baking powder and salt in another bowl, and add them to the batter. Mix them well with your hands (this part is a bit messy! and I'm telling you, its hard to get butter off your hands!!)
Now you have the cookie dough. Place it in a an air tight container, and refrigerate for about half and hour, and voilà!!! You've got the perfect cookie dough ready for shaping :)
Usually some people spread apricot jam on one cookie and place another cookie on top, making it like a sandwich :) or chocolate coating. Some people also add colorful sugar sprinkles or confetti. We were too lazy to do that!!

They are called petit four cookies, they're kind of french :) but in most arab countries, it's a traditional Eid desert!!