Saturday, July 28, 2007: Holy Holliday

Tajrish bazaar, the vegetable market




Rose petals and dried berries at the grocers



Today is the birth of Imam Hassan so offices are closed and shops are open. Not that it matters, Mom and I were invited to a close friend of the family for lunch who happens to be the mother in law of my cousin. We picked up another one of Mom's friends and Aunt Fakhri and went to Aghdas's house. Her husband was away so it was a ladies lunch. Aghdas Farboud is a lovely, knowledged woman who always extends her help as much as she can. She has found a home for the dog I have been trying to save.

A pomegranate stand where you get the best fresh squeezed pomegranate juice


After a lovely lunch, I left the ladies and walked over to Ali Bolobli's house. Ali is the son of the late Iranian artist, Mokarrameh, whose paintings I will be exhibiting at Teachers College this Autumn. We discussed possibilities for the exhibition and then talked about holding a day of painting at his mother's house this Friday. I will be traveling with him to his mother's village and we will set up all the art supplies at her house. I'll spend the night at his sister's and then we will run the art classes all day on Friday. Mom is coming also. She wants to see Mokarrameh's house and she would like to paint also. The event will be announced in the local papers. Should be interesting.

Nanaz in front of the herbalist's store


Later on, my cousin Nanaz picked me up and we went to the bazaar in Tajrish and did some shopping, mainly dried herbs, henna, fruits, and holistic medicines. Later on, I went to her house and had dinner.

Nanaz buying her fruits and vegetables


I am going to see Ostaad Finastian tomorrow and will be going to Zanjan on Monday to meet Ostaad Heydari.

Friday, July 27, 2007: Visitors

Oh, it has been impossible to sign onto Blogger. I don't know what was causing the problem, but I was able to access it today so I'm putting all the missed days in.

Farhad, my cousin Nanaz's husband.



Nanaz and her son, Jamshid.


On Friday, I went to Nanaz's house. I just hung out with her and we talked. We talked forever. In the evening, Yeganeh, the lovely woman whom we met through Tus last year, came over for tea. Yeganeh's husband is Tus's friend and he has a lot of land by the Caspian Sea in a gated compound so we walked around without our hejab. They have a pool and houses that they rent.... Hmmmmm....

My Mother and Maryam.



Mr. & Mrs. Zaim in our living room.



Maryam, me, and Vida. It's a shame my sister, Neda, isn't here. The four of us used to hang out together when we were young.

Maryam, Vida, Mr. & Mrs. Zaim, Khosrow Samii (Vida's husband) and their baby came for dinner. Other than that, I worked on my writing. I was trying to locate a home for the grown puppy at Ostaad Elahi's glass workshop. The poor dog is always tied up and the night guard, who happens to be a stupid man who hates dogs, hit the previous puppy on the head with a stick and it died. I felt so bad for this dog that I told Ali, Ostaad Elahi's son, that I would look for a home for it. I am working the network here.