Cheap, simple pleasures

Yesterday it rained, there was thunder and lightning, and the temperature went down to 23°C. The whole day was kind of dark and damp, which was fine, because all I had to do was go shopping and then work. It was even nice, since it has been kind of warm and damp lately, and the crisp breeze was refreshing. 

The boys went out and played in the rain. Ever since we lived in Egypt, they ask to go out and play every time it pours, and I’m fine with that, as long as I don’t have to go with them! Abraham’s rain boots from last year didn’t fit – his feet have grown almost 2 inches! – so he wore crocs. The boys splashed around in the puddles in the playground for quite a while, while I made hot cocoa and when they came back in, I threw their clothes in the washer. Their cheeks were red and rosy and they smelled like rain. What a treat!

Celebrating fall in Beirut

A lot of my friends are posting beautiful fall pictures online, with descriptions of crisp morning frost on trees bursting with color, and brisk morning walks that make your cheeks red. They light candles in the evenings and enjoy a hot drink in front of the fireplace on Sunday mornings. Fall; what a romantic time!

I still sleep with the A/C on, and the orange tree outside our balcony is a very deep, dark green, with oranges that are starting to turn light yellow. There are flowers in bloom everywhere, the sea is still warm and the sun still bright enough that we have that constant smell off sunblock lingering in the house.

Still, this morning, I’m having hot cocoa with my ham sandwich (OK, it’s smoked turkey since Spinney’s in Jnah doesn’t sell ham in the deli, but we still call it ham) to mark the season, and later today, I will make an apple pie out of those amazing Syrian apples I bought at the market. I might even start working on the boys’ Halloween costumes.

 Just because we live right next to the Mediterranean doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate fall, right? It is after all the last day of September here too! And you can drink hot cocoa even though you are not wearing a wool sweater and stockings, but a thick layer of sunblock, right?

Let's talk about the weather

“What is the weather like?” 

When talking to or chatting with any of my Swedish family or friends, this question is guaranteed to come up within the first few minutes of conversation. I have never met a people so obsessed with the weather. When it’s sunny and warm, Swedes are very crafty in ways to cherish it, and when it’s not, which seems to be most of the time, they find ways to enjoy other people’s hot weather vicariously. “It’s raining here, 7°C, yes, but tell me more about your warm evenings on the balcony!”

So, for all of you interested in the Lebanese weather situation: it has cooled down a bit in the last couple of weeks – we’re below 30°C now! – but it’s still warm enough to enjoy the beach, the kids never wear anything but t-shirts and shorts, and we’re still using the A/C in our bedrooms at night. We had a couple of cloudy days last week, which – along with all the millions of recipes and craft ideas I’ve seen on Pinterest lately - acted as a small reminder that summer really is over, and that fall is here: my second favorite season of the year!