chicken pox, a generation later

Yes, she does have chicken pox.

My first experience, as a mother, with the illness was a toughie. We were on shlichut, doing youth work for the Jewish Agency, in England. It was Erev Pesach, the morning before the Passover Seder, and...

yes, you guessed it. Chicken Pox on our older daughter. I was in the 9th month with our third and I really was looking forward to being a guest for both nights.

Surprise, I had to do it all at home, just us, the young family. My husband did a quick shopping, and we survived.

Then... about 3 weeks later, or whenever the last possible time... you guessed it again? Whatever the last possible day the second daughter, then just a month over 3, could have the chicken pox, she did. But it wasn't that simple. Is it ever?

When #1 got sick, I became super-anxious that #2 would get sick with it after I gave birth. Apparently I was hysterical enough for my blood pressure to rise. Everyone was healthy when I went for a check-up, 10th month already. They told me I needed to be hospitalized for the blood pressure. "Come in tomorrow morning."

Yes, guessed it didn't you? That morning my #2 was spotted. Now her #2 is spotted, but she has a few months to go, G-d willing.

I wasn't around to take care of her then. So today, I took care of my granddaughter.

strange America

Could it be a movie set or resort? Town sold on eBay?

How do people make a living there?

Shiloh is a major metropolis in comparison.

chicken pox!

Looks like my schedule is changing today. I'll have to put in an "all-dayer" as a baby sitter. Well, sort of all day, since I told my daughter I'd come in after going swimming.

Seems like Porat has the chicken pox.

I'll have to keep the young lady well-entertained and clean. She's a two year old dynamo!

cellphone sorry

I can't remember how long ago I got my new snazzy cellphone.

I got it, because it has a 2 megapixel camera and it has the capabilities of a "memory key."

There's a problem. I can't use all those fancy things. I bought the wire/connector to plug it into the computer, but it didn't come with the needed program. At the store they didn't have the program, so I exchanged the wire for a "blue tooth" program and plug. But my computer said that the disk/program may be bad for the computer, so I canceled uploading it.

I can't take the pictures off the camera and I can't use the memory thing.

Why didn't I just get a cheap simple phone?

Fighting the Heat

I'm not handling the heat all that well this summer. Yesterday, I didn't have all that much to do, besides starting the Shabbat cooking.

I went to the pool early in the morning. No, you don't get to see pictures of that.

And then I hid out with the two fans going.

And as the sun set, I went out for a walk, armed with my trusty camera, of course.

The rant of the sandwich!

Yes, I'm a sandwich, between my parents and my children and grandchildren.

Soon I'll be going to visit my parents, which means I won't see my granddaughters for that period of time.

Can't be two places at once!

Picture this!

The multi-talented Baleboosteh is presenting the 11th JPIX Carnival!

She has done a great job, so take a gander!

An advantage of waking up early

When else can you see something like this?

I really didn't mind, when I found myself up before 5am.
In addition, I was able to call my kids in the states

before they went to bed,

which was "the icing on the colorful cake."

The 4th of July?

In all honesty, I was never one to really celebrate the 4th of July, even in my American life. It's not that we were against it, but I don't remember much being done, even in summer camp. Maybe I once went to the World's Fair and saw a great fireworks display. They had some beauties, very moving.

Actually, I no longer enjoy fireworks, ever since an Israeli we met in France, summer of 1976, when we took British Betar for a "summer camp" there said that it reminded him tanks exploding. He was working in the place doing maintenance while studying mime in the Marcel Marceau school. I think his name was Eli Levi. About 25 years later my baby did his IDF Army service in the tank corps. He should live and be well; so I can do without fireworks.

But back to the 4th of July...
Here in Israel, Tzvi Fishman, a former Shiloh neighbor blogged about his 4th of July feelings. The comments are a riot. All you have to do is same something "almost negative" about the US, and people go ballistic. I wish they cared so much about Jews, Judaism and Israel.

My husband went to the Independence Day Reception at the US Consulate in Jerusalem. I didn't go. I don't go when it's during the Three Weeks. I'm not considered anything more than "the wife," so I can't say I'm doing anything crucial in the diplomatic or "hasbara" fields.

It was just another summers day.

Getting closer--The trip to New York!

New York awaits!

Yes, it is. When I booked the trip, two and a half weeks seemed like such a long time,but now it doesn't, not at all.

I just have to book the dates I'll see people. Will there be a f2f with jbloggers?

Ladies' Hair-Covering

Strange, in Hebrew it's referred to as "kissui rosh," "head covering.

According to Jewish Law, a married, even no longer married due to divorce or widowhood, woman is supposed to cover her hair when in public. What constitutes "public?" Some say "all places including home," and others say "only when leaving home." I'm not going to give the halachik citations. I'm not a rabbi just a woman who has been married 37 years.

I wrote about my general approach and personal history in HIDE and SEEK: Jewish Women and Hair Covering.

When I got married there weren't many options and the hair-covering culture was pretty marginal. Today, at least in the more traditional Jewish communities, it has never been easier.

For those who wear wigs, which I don't, they are more comfortable and natural than ever before.

Some women attempted to cover "all their hair," while others had a hat perched on a "proper" haircut. I had long hair, tied and pinned up to be hidden. It was no problem to cut it myself, since nobody could see how uneven it was.

The standard, non-wig, hair-covering in 1970 was a "tichel," a square of fabric folding "almost" in half on the diagonal with a piece of foam sewn in to give it "body." These were supplemented with all sorts of "little hats" when we were lucky enough to find them.

As time went on berets, worn like shower caps with all hair underneath, and lots of large scarves wound around like exotic turbans became fashionable. And they're still popular. A few years ago, as men's kippot became larger and more creative, women with very short hair began adopting them , too.

When I ran out of wall-space for my needlepoints, and I needed something I could do on a plane sans scissors, I began to crochet hats. Since then, I've cut my hair and have created a wardrobe of hand-made hats. They are the most comfortable of all the kinds of hair-coverings I've ever worn. The problem is that they don't provide sun protection.

For sun protection, I've tried wearing various shades and hats on the hats, and then I take them off when indoors. Recently, a neighbor asked me what I do, since her dermatologist demanded that she take precautions. I told her and then saw her in town and showed her my new enormous cotton hat. We were less than a minute from the store where I bought it.

"Really? I wouldn't dare walk around with something like that!"

OK, her decision.

fasting, yes

It's too hot to fast.
It's too dry to fast.

I'm glad I got a "swim" in last night, since there's no swimming today, pool's closed.

OK, just over an hour to go.
My neighbor picked me and another neighbor up to take us to the weekly T'hilim, Psalm-reading.

It was good to see a couple of friends and hear that a local girl got engaged.

Now to the kitchen to make the post-fast meal.

Getting to know you

The best way to get to know other blogs is via blog carnivals.

Take a gander at these two,

Carnival of Family Life

The Vegetarian Carnival

Enjoy!

fasting

Fasting, yes tomorrow is the 17th of Tammuz, and it's a fast day.

I can't remember what the trick is, eat lots of protein or eat lots of carbohydrates.

Yes, of course, I have to drink more water.

Tzom Kal, have an easy fast.

Trusting instincts

Sometimes things go like clockwork, thank G-d.

Yesterday, after a busy day in Jerusalem, of which I blogged only a fraction of my adventures, I realized that I had just missed the 5:30 bus and was not going to wait for the 6:30.

Something in me said:

"Go!"

And I rushed to the #6 bus stop and caught a bus to the "trempiada"/bus stop to get home. It was crowded, and I made my way as far to the back of the double-bus as I could. Suddenly a young woman offered me her seat. I thankfully took it. Yes, I look old enough to get seats, and I'm happy about it, since standing is not good for me.

The minute I got off the bus I saw a neighbor's car, but it was full. As I approached a young man got out, and I was told to get in. The neighbors had explained that travellers to Shiloh got priority, not those getting off earlier.

They took me straight home, right to my door.

Baruch Hashem, Thank G-d

I won't stand for it!

Presenting another "consumer report."

I don't believe in being shy about complaints. Things certainly won't improve if I keep my opinions to myself.

Today, after lunch with Marallyn, I went to Photo Nissim to print a bunch of pictures, part of the post-60 birthday (not mine) and the preparations for my trip to New York. The last time I was there I bought a very money-saving card for printing pictures. Of course it's an investment, but the price per picture is about half the regular charge. I had no complaints about their service. I'd sit in the corner and work on their computer. No problem.

When I went in today, I noticed a new piece of furniture, shoulder high, with a computer screen on top, which sort of closed off the computer. I was very surprised when they showed me that I was supposed to work from that screen standing up! I complained. I just can't stand still like that. I always come with a couple of disks and lots of pictures to check out.

Anyone a couple of inches, a few centimeters shorter than me, wouldn't be able to do it at all.

The young girls working there didn't quite know how to react when I told them that they must report to their bosses, that:

"It's cruel and bad business. As soon as my discount card is finished, I'll find another place to print my pictures. And I'll be publicizing it, too."

So I'm looking for a photo place where I can sit when I'm going through the cd's, where there are good prices, too, of course. In Jerusalem, please.

Thanks!

Before the Beit HaMikdash...

Yes, before King Shlomo built the Beit HaMikdash the Holy Temple, the was the Mishkan, the Tabernacle. It was built as a portable Sanctuary as the Jewish People wandered the desert between Egypt and the HolyLand.

Then for hundreds of years it "rested" in Shiloh, where I live. "Rested" doesn't mean idle. It means wasn't schlepped. Temple-like sacrifices took place there, and the Kohanim and Leviim reigned. That's my connection, since neither my husband nor I come from Priestly stock.

So, if you want to know more about the Holy Temple work of the Kohen and Levi, you ought to check out the Cohen-Levi Conference, which will be taking place in Jerusalem, from Rosh Chodesh Av, July 15-19, 2007.

It won't cost you anything. The program is amazing.

1-2-3! It's Havel Havelim!

The 123rd Havel Havelim, celebrating baseball in Israel, is a home run, bases loaded! Life in Israel did a tremendous job. There are some really amazing posts.

Enjoy!

Photo from Mother in Israel, this month's host of KCC; stay tuned.

gentle dawn

Do these clouds allude to a cooler day, or just more humidity?

Yesterday's end of the day breeze

was such a relief.

Unfortunately, our stone homes

have absorbed the heat

and it will take many cool days

for the indoor temperatures to decrease.

Shavua Tov

No "forked tongue" here

The truth is that I made tongue, for the very first time. Honestly, I can't remember how many decades ago was the last time I had even eaten tongue. It was a rare "treat" when I was growing up, so I guess you can list it in the "magic mystique" dishes, the kind which phobic cooks avoid.

No "forked tongue" here, when I tell you that it's really easy to make. Yes that's the truth!





A couple of months ago, my husband bought a frozen tongue at our local grocer. Then he printed off a few recipes from the internet to nudge me on. I read them plus the recipes in my old cookbooks and bravely let the tongue thaw.

At that point, I didn't know if we'd be having Shabbat guests, and since the tongue wasn't all that big, I also thawed ground chicken, so I could cook "meatballs with the tongue."

• The tongue went into the pot, plus water, peppercorns, garlic, onion, bay leaves and mustard seeds. I think that I also added some coarse salt, which is the only salt I use at all. Table salt generally has all sorts of additives, which I can taste.
• After over an hour of cooking, and the instructions suggested two, the water was almost gone, so I added some red wine, which had been relegated to the fridge for cooking.
• When the two hours were up I turned it off and left the house. The food had to cool before the next step.
• This is the hardest thing: Take off the tongue's skin. I'm proud to say that I succeeded, with the help of a sharp knife here and there and didn't lose any skin of my own.
• Slice the tongue to make it easier to serve.
• At that point, after a long day I was exhausted and left it all in the fridge, so I could sleep.
• The next morning I added some crushed tomatoes, heated it up and made the "meatballs,"
• which I dropped into the recooking tongue.
• This resulted in a very tasty dish, lots easier to make than I ever would have expected.

So, as you can see, it's really easy to make tongue. Enjoy!