19 Comments
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Khaja Zafarullah's avatar

I loved your books and am loving your posts even more. Stay strong.

NAOMI DUGUID's avatar

Big thanks Zafar...☀️☀️

Shayma Owaise Saadat's avatar

Your writing is raw and so beautiful, Nom 🥹I feel the love for Tash in it. Thank you for sharing your heart w us.

NAOMI DUGUID's avatar

Thank-you Shayma 🙏🙏☀️

Pierric's avatar

Naomi, I feel spoiled being able to read your prose. It seems not long ago when I could only stock my bookshelves with all your books to hear (well, read) your words. Reading about Shab-e-Yalda sharing Pomegranates and dried fruits makes me miss my neighborhood in Brooklyn and the many Persian, Lebanese, Syrian Markets.

Your version of the Tarte Bourdaloue is a keeper! I also finding putting back a pan into the over to release anything stubborn helps.

As always, your pictures are always so inviting.

NAOMI DUGUID's avatar

Thank-you! Warm thoughts, n

Maxine KAY Smith's avatar

Dear Naomi, I'm so sorry about the loss of your son. It is 18 months now since I lost my adopted daughter. I no longer cry every day but her absence is always with me. May you travel well on the sad journey and continue to be loved and supported. Love to you from Central Australia

NAOMI DUGUID's avatar

Dear Kay, I didn't know you'd lost your adopted daughter. I remember you talking about her with great love and understanding. I'm sending embraces from afar. Perhaps you have Chiang Mai plans? I hope so. ☀️☀️☀️🧡

Cynthia's avatar

What a beautiful piece of writing. Heartfelt and so loving. Thank you Naomi.

NAOMI DUGUID's avatar

Thank-you Cynthia

Bob Rae's avatar

Naomi you continue to educate, teach, and share in ways that are truly remarkable, about all aspects of life. I lost two close friends during COVID, and they are with me every day. I can imagine their voices and their laughter, and it brings great joy and comfort. Tashi’s struggle and death have become very real and human to me, and to your circle of friends and readers. I thank you for helping me embrace my own losses. And thanks for the chicken tip, which I am guessing also works for turkey. Bob

NAOMI DUGUID's avatar

Thank-you. Let me know about the turkey

Jean Lavigne's avatar

We don't get radicchio or any of the other chicories in France or in the US, and I miss them dearly. I have two days left in Athens, and on my list today is buying an enormous bunch of green chicory to cook and eat before Sunday.

Someone here in Greece told me that the easiest way to strip a pomegranate is to cut it in half horizontally, then hold each half over a bowl while tapping it with a spoon so the seeds fall out. I tried, and really didn't like it: I had to tap very forcefully, more like hitting, and it wasn't all that much faster. I didn't realize until reading your post today how much I appreciate, like you, the meditative time for thought while patiently and gently picking out the seeds by hand.

NAOMI DUGUID's avatar

and if instead you want the juice, I was shown how to do that by a woman in Iran while we were on a long bus ride to Kerman. The pomegranate has to be ripe and firm, heavy with juice. You press all over the fruit with your thumbs and fingers, deliberately bruising it and pushing hard. Then you cut a small rectangular hole in the skin and suck (just as we'd do with oranges when I was a kid). As you suck you press the pomegranate all over, so that eventually it feels like a soft empty of air flaccid ball. It's a great trick if you're travelling and have a pomegranate you want to taste...

Jean Lavigne's avatar

Wow, this is a great tip! Thank you!

Tamarbabuadze@gmail.com's avatar

What can I send from this faraway? Still some more pomegranates and stories that we share from the depth of our heart. Plus dome sun ☀️

NAOMI DUGUID's avatar

🧡🧡❤️❤️☀️

Sandra H.'s avatar

I learned several tips in your posting today - thanks very much! Wishing comfort and hope with the longer days to come.

Pierric's avatar

Naomi, please forgive my indulgence with an additional comment but I wanted to send my heartfelt condolences on Tashi. And to thank you for sharing your journey of labor. And to know you feel his presence is a beautiful thing and comfort.