You’ve read about Natalie on a few occasions during The Sabbatical. The fella behind her is Joel, her husband, and an excellent photographer. Even the randomly captured by him are…

This city’s sky was a real mood tonight. One of the things I cherish most about myself is how trusting I am. I think that’s rooted in what some identify…

You’re getting three photos of us because who doesn’t like spam? My lovely day was spent with family – momma and Ranoosh. We began by waking up at the unGodly…

Third photo of my head in a row. And guess what? Tomorrow there will be a fourth, only with others because it’ll be Eid. Nothing is better than natural lighting,…

I felt it would be a good idea to bookend this trip with the same sort of images. Today, though it started off quite rough, has ended in a far…

Gavin. One of the few people from work I’m interested in seeing while on The Sabbatical. I would have taken a photo of him purchasing rose-water syrup, but I forgot…

There appears to have occurred a ripple in my timeline, since the accident. It’s as though there is a distinct break between everything before that moment, and everything since. Eons…

“We die,” Morrison closed her Nobel Prize address. “That may be the meaning of life. But we do language. That may be the measure of our lives.” If you’ve lived…

The sign had the same text in Arabic, Hebrew, and also Mandarin. I wonder if the inside of the home is as colourful as its shell? I cancelled everything last…

I’ve always read that blood is a lot darker than we think it to be, but it wasn’t what I noticed. It was brighter. I rented a car for the…

I don’t know what to write other than to express that my heart goes out to every family and beloved who has lost someone. I am sorry for all of…

I watched men surf today and lost track of time. Because whose the only John better than Wick? Johnny Utah, my friends. After the surfing, I discovered that in California,…

Today’s bounty, picked from the same tree as yesterday. I am still over the moon! Part  of my day was spent at the Sony Lot where I may have wandered…

It’s not a broken toe. Most likely, it’s a Grade 1 MTP joint sprain. There’s no pain today, and the swelling has gone down; however, there is a small bruise…

I’m happiest when there’s sand in my hair. After having poke and finding fresh figs, I walked through this neighbourhood and was almost overcome with a sense of pure joy….

California; come for the ocean, stay for the rose lattes. This State, along with NY, and Texas are three that always feel like home to me. I’ve missed the ocean…

Someone sent me this quote of Rumi’s earlier, and I have not been able to shake it – A thousand half-loves must be forsaken to take one whole heart home….

Day two, book three. This is what I have needed, and more of this in the next while inshAllah. I have been reading quite heavy literature this past while, so decided…

But for a walk with a friend, I’ve spent my day with fresh fruit and coffee, reading to the sound of birds. Occasionally, Zidane or Jules have laid at my…

This is the McCord Museum’s Urban Forest; a street off of Sherbrooke lined with ‘trees’ with leaves made of satin ribbon. Shortly after I took this photo, this woman pulled out…

We began with a dance party, and found ourselves bidding them bon voyage as Boy-Z drove Girl-Z to Africa (they are listening to The Continents song). With great vigor, they…

You’ll be grateful that you never gave up on your hope to have a spiritual, loving partner. Trust your protector instinct against toxic ones and keep your heart open for…

Sometime over the last months, I’ve become the girl who can only fall asleep to the sound of thunderstorms, windstorms, or oceans, next to crystals, and burning oils. Lavender, preferably….

“YoU doN’t NeEd A MAaAaAn.”*** Listen. Let’s get something straight, aside from how incredible Iranian breakfast foods are. In fact, Iranian all-the-foods. You can be whole as an individual, while…

Another day with 100% humidity, and a temperature of 40° heat. We have all doors and windows open, and the feeling is that of a hot hairdryer throughout the house….

It’s 40°, humidity is at 68%, and wind traveling at 37 km per hour. My body is drenched in eucalyptus oil, the smell of which is mingling with fresh pine,…

Hello, hi. My curls love Montreal. I woke up this morning with a new lightness and real sense of hope. Enough of both that they are worth putting into writing,…

I had just stepped out of Galerie Corno (51, rue Saint-Paul O.), which is always one of my first stops after I land in Montreal, curious to see what new…

I was quite shy to ask them if they would be willing to carry rose-water syrup. When I peeked her on display, it took all effort not to purchase a…

I wasn’t planning on going for a swim in my jeans, but this is what happens when you have an infant toddler between your legs, who suddenly decides to just…

We spent the better part of the day in the garden, a place about which I often forget. When I purchased, I opted to look outwards onto the street because…

When I poked him, this is how I was carrying my shitty single-use plastic cup, previously filled with ice, decaffeinated coffee, and cream. I walk pretty fast, even though I…

This is T, one of my favourite people. She happens to be married to another one of my favourite people – J. T and me met some years back at…

Rainy drives are the best drives. Another thunder and lightning show here in Ottawa, but no rainbows to show for it. At least none that I could see; let me…

These steps, they are some of my favourite steps in Ottawa, because they lead me to her. Do you have a family doctor? A dentist? An optometrist? A priest /…

Hi Ottawa you’re so pretty. I finally figured out that this is why I am so exhausted when I am ‘home’ – life. I have social commitments and responsibilities, I…

Always talking, I am. They are visiting from Istanbul, where they’re situated for two more years. When dealing with last summer’s situation, I had an extensive conversation with Ryan about…

It was such a full day that I, a night-owl, am having trouble writing when it’s only 11.30 in the evening. I wonder, is it possible that I am shifting…

While she was speaking, the word effortless came to mind; everything from her garden, to this porch on which we sit very regularly on Saturdays from Spring, right through to…

‘Trail Magic’ is defined as ‘an unexpected act of kindness’ received by someone hiking the Appalachian Trail (which takes months to complete, should people even manage to do it). Isn’t…