My Marrakesh

Modello Designs: and a tale of Tristan's floor

He was a boy filled with his own brand of kinetic energy.  Even when he was standing still, she thought she could hear it.  A sort of humming.  A kind of tick, tick, tick.  The sound of a string being wound tight.  The hiss of a match being lit.  So even though she saw laughter in his lagoon blue eyes, she worried for him. 

 She wanted to send him forth into the world with messages -- deeply instilled -- in case life tried to drum the spark out of him. (The way that it does.  Oh, the way that it does…..The spiteful kick to his shin.    The mocking words behind his turned back.  The disappearance of his carefully packed lunch.) 

 If only she could provide some protection against the hardening of his nine-year old heart.   

 Perhaps if he slept among the wise words, among the magic numbers, among the street signs, it would penetrate some how and leave an indelible imprint just below the surface……… for times when he felt lost in the maze of his little boy life…..

 

 

 

PS My gratitude knows no bounds for Melanie of Modello Designs (such creative talent!) and the generosity of each and every one of the Peacock Painters. A special thanks to lovely Gwen who worked steadfastly on Tristan's room for 4 days straight. Shoukran.  (And shoukran again. )

Royal Design Studio Lace: and a tale of Skylar's floor

She had been born under difficult circumstances just seven years ago, and ever since that singular day, her mother had watched over her with some concern.  Slim and seemingly fragile as a blade of grass, she felt things deeply.  Easily moved by the tiniest sadness or the smallest happiness, the world appeared to settle differently on her sensitive skin.

She was inspired by beauty and, more than anything, she loved art.  She would draw quietly for an hour or more, expertly manipulating pastels, sketching elaborate gardens that stretched for as far as the paper could see.  Shyly -- a single sheet clutched behind her back -- she would then present her work, with anxious eyes.  Her voice earnest, she would whisper the meanings of her drawings into her mother's ear, her intentions strangely complex for such a small girl.

Her room was to be a reflection of herself -- fresh and simple but delicate and layered.  She gazed gravely at the computer screen when shown the patterns that had been designed to her mother's specifications by Royal Design Studio from thousands of miles away.  Every morning before she left for school, she counted the number of days until the painters' arrival. 

Suddenly, they were there, with paint brushes and stencils in hand.  Of the projects slated for that week, it was her room that flowed the most easily........the patterns spilling onto the floor, onto the doors, along with infinite kindness. 

Then....then it was done.

The paint was to be left alone for some days before it would be sealed.  Her mother would find her standing carefully at the entrance of her room, her head cocked against the door frame.  Looking, just looking, at that which -- through some magic of the universe -- was now hers........

 

Make this beautiful stencil, Skylar's lace, yours right HERE.

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Marrakech: and a speedy tale of quads and ATVs...........

You didn't think that those Peacock Pavilions Painters were just painting, did you?  Oh no, no, no.  Well, there was the vast amount of shopping  in the Marrakech souks to consider. (Ahem, at last count 16 carpets had been purchased, not to mention miles of fabric, dozens of tea glasses, and poufs left, right and center......). 

But there was other fun, too, that required hairnets, jumpsuits and helmets simultaneously. 

You see, it went like this.....

They ventured out early, bleary eyed, into the fog (the Marrakech weather had not been cooperating in the least).   When they arrived, they saw their entertainment of choice....

(Whose idea was this anyway?  What do you mean it was her idea?)

Then -- for what could only be intended for extortion and blackmail purposes at a later date -- they were asked to don these.....these getups.  

Then, the quad operating procedures were explained.  (Oh dear, what if they forgot which lever was for what?) 

Their lives were then put in the hands of this fella, who was to be their leader.  

Then -- in the blink of an eye --  they saddled up, and were off..............over the fields, into the palm grove and beyond...........The wind bracing, they rode faster and faster.  They secretly felt very daring. 

In a small Moroccan village along the way (populated by people who used more rational forms of transportation), they temporarily traded in their helmets....for a glass of hot mint tea.

And a quick jaunt to the bathroom.....(What? You mean your bathroom door doesn't look like this?)

Then they climbed back aboard and sped off once again............

Before they knew it, they had come full circle and it was all over.  As they handed in their jumpsuits and goggles, they promised themselves, that the next time, they would go even faster:  just a streak of electric blue into the distance............

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Marrakech Quad / ATV rental:  600 MAD (about $70) for 2 hours.  Email me at maryam [at] mtds.com, and I'll hook you up. 

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PS  Maryam writes about *stuff* (that's the scientific name).  Subscribe so you don't miss out on more tales from the Marrakech olive grove.

Peacock Pavilions: and a little Moroccan lunch

While they were painting, while they were stenciling, while they were stippling...there were things cooking in the kitchen at Peacock Pavilions. 

It started with the right ingredients.

 Like Moroccan couscous.

And fresh vegetables from a nearby garden.

Tossed in a pot.  And cooked simply.

Or with things mixed in, like apricots and cinnamon.  

Or olives (says the girl with an olive grove).

 After stirring and simmering and stewing, it was ready.

(She made sure there was enough for you, just in case you decided to drop by.)

They sat at tables with pink napkins.........

Or green napkins....

And lunched on....well, lunch.

Afterwards a little fresh fruit.

And afterwards yet again, some mint tea and almond stuffed cookies.

And then............the peacock painters were back to work.........back to painting, and stenciling, and stippling....

Wait until you see............the beauty they created.......