Gardening

I must admit that my garden is one of the ugliest in all of Shiloh. Over the years, at least the earlier years, I invested time, effort and money, but I never had a "master plan." I guess we're just apartment-dwellers by nature.

Luckily, my grandchildren are being raised differently. Their house has a nice garden, and they love caring for it, especially watering.




One of the flowers growing now always reminds me of my childhood. When I get a whiff of the scent, I'm transported back to Jones Beach, where they grew and competed with the smell of the sea.

Blogging for "money?" or The "Ads"

They probably no longer seem "new" to my blog, since I've had the "ads" up for a few months. The ads are all Jewish/Israeli, and I feel very comfortable with them, since they advertise products I agree with, like homes in Israel and Jewish books. I don't make great money off of them. Between my two blogs, I can eat dinner out once a month or two "business lunches," if I don't order fish.

That's how I'd joke with the guy who owns/runs the company.

Recently, a call/request was sent out here in Shiloh, a "Hachnasat Kallah" fundraising drive. That's when people are requested to contribute to a wedding and setting up a young couple for married life.

Suddenly, a "brainstorm!" Since the money I get for letting my blogs host these ads isn't really "earned," not like the salary I get for trying to teach my students English, I ought to use it for "Tzedaka," charity. I called the mother of the bride and told her that I have a couple of small checks for her and explained the source.

She's very grateful and sent this note:

I reiterate my heartfelt appreciation for the "envelope" you passed along to us. I'm trying not to become frantic (financially and otherwise) over making a wedding for my daughter. As you can imagine, every bit helps!
So, thank you again to our benevolent friends.
Love,

Remember when you click the ads, and hopefully support the advertisers, you're really giving "Tzedaka," since the clicks are used to calculate how much money I can give the bride a groom to help set up their "Bayit ne'eman b'Yisrael," their G-d fearing home in Israel.

Tizku l'mitzvot
May you be awarded with more mitzvot, good deeds.

almost...

almost ready
packing done, pretty much
just lots of laundry to fold and sort
though it's after my bedtime
and tomorrow will be long

vveeeeerrrrrrrryyyyyyyyy llllllooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggg

sorry I haven't been blog visiting

I'll post on occasion, and asked a couple of guests

just don't forget met if it gets too quiet here

Shavua Tov and Chodesh Tov
and May G-d willing
Tisha B'Av, the 9th of Av be a joyous holiday
B'mhaira B'yamainu-- Speedily in Our Days

Happy Birthday Yid with Lid!

Yid with Lid turned 50, so young, and is hosting Havel Havelim...

So wish him a MAZAL TOV!

I won't have time to go through the posts, since I have to get ready to go to NY, sorry.

Eretz Yisrael Yaffah, The Land of Israel is Beautiful!

I'm too busy to do this, but...

Before leaving Israel --24 hours to take-off-- it's important to remember.

Who ever said that there aren't any tall trees in Israel? This one is in Shiloh, not far from my house!


There's a park of fig trees near the entrance of Ofra.



And here's a pear tree in Ofra.

Reflecting

Since I've gotten to know more of the talents of digital camera, I've become more visually aware.

Suddenly, I notice things which I had never before paid any attention, like the picture reflected on the glass doors of the living room bookcase. It was much more striking "in person," but I think you get the general idea.

Lots to do before I go

I'll be off to the states in... a day and a half!

Gevalt!

So I won't be posting so much. Just keep checking in if you can. Now I have to clean up from Shabbat. My daughter and family were here. Tomorrow's laundry and packing day and then I hope to go to Kever Rachel.

Yes, I'll post more before I leave, G-d willing.

Healthy Foods?

Please don't shoot.

This isn't original stuff.
I took it off the Newsweek site.

UP CLOSE AND EDIBLE
A weekly look at the nutritional value, or lack thereof, of some of our favorite foods.
Pomegranates Sweet Potatoes Apples BBQ Tuna Ginger Eggs Apple Cider Vinegar Blueberries Soybeans Olive Oil Licorice Peanut Butter Green Tea Garlic Yogurt Chocolate Walnuts Avocados

Shabbat Shalom U'Mevorach!

Late Night

No, I wasn't partying, not at all.

This morning my alarm woke me at my usual time. I drank my water, set up the coffeemaker for my usual morning treat, sat at the computer and just couldn't function. I finally went to the couch and slept another hour.

I can't complain. How can I when all I'm missing is a little sleep? There's a family in nearby Maale Levona who is missing a son, a brother.

Hundreds of people gathered last night in the Shiloh Cemetery to bury a boy, a youngster who hadn't yet celebrated his eighteenth birthday. Sobs filled the air. Stars were hidden by the mist; the warm tears rose like steam.

HaMakom Y'Nachem

Instant "Birthday Cake"

No guarantee that a cake like this will past muster too much longer, but today my granddaughters, aged 2 and 4, thought it was just perfect.

They were hosting a "Birthday Party" for their aunt and uncle, and my daughter, their mother, warned me that she hadn't bought anything.

So, before leaving the house, I pulled a homemade, wholewheat cake out of the freezer, took an open date spread--bought for a previous birthday--out of the fridge and grabbed the two containers of "sprinkles," the silver and the colored.

Then I went to the party. I kept hoping the cake would thaw in time. And before the party began, I took out the goodies, spread the date stuff on the cake and gave each granddaughter some sprinkles to sprinkle.

It was fine, and nobody complained that I didn't bring candles!

"9 Days" Food Planning

As I'm cooking now for Shabbat, I have to take in consideration the 9 Days. Usually my Shabbat food lasts the week. I made enough chicken etc, so that I don't have any "heavy" cooking to do all week.

My husband only eats dinner at home, and the "nest is empty." Now that I've stopped being vegetarian, I also need food for dinner, so I cook a lot on Thursday.

Planning the quantity for cooking this week is harder. I'm cooking less, but we have my daughter plus family coming and a guest for one of the meals, so I do need "food." Add to the planning complications, the fact that I'm returning from New York on a Friday morning, so cooking for that Shabbat won't be easy. Yes, there are things in the freezer, and I'll freeze what's left-over from this Shabbat.

We just have the fridge freezer, and it should be enough.

Cooked poultry and beef freeze well and are good if they're reheated in a new sauce or vegetables.

I wish conquering jet lag was so easy.

meeting Jewcy

It's amazing how blogging has introduced me to all sorts of people and audiences. It's definitely one of the things I enjoy about it. Last night I got an email from Jewcy. I had never heard of them, but they've heard of me.

I'll keep you updated.

I can't believe that I'm going to NY in less than a week. So much is happening right now.

Honestly?

Did I get much done today?

Not as much as I should have.

Not as much as I wanted.

I had two fans going in the livingroom and the shades down, and the heat was dry and heavy. And I had trouble functioning. I stayed home all day until I went to the pool at 8:30pm.

I'm like that on vacation, either super-active or just laze about. I remember even when as a kid on school vacation. I don't have to be busy every day, but I have so much to do!

But I did go through what I brought from ETAI and threw most of it out, except the free textbook, a pad and a catalogue and free pen and "neckband?" to wear a cellphone. Not my snazzy one, no hook, to skinny.

I "did" the bathrooms.

I framed pictures, a gorgeous collage, from my husband's 60th and put pictures from it in our album and photographed the collage (my daughter's composition) and printed and framed a copy for his office. I almost posted it here, but then I remembered that my kids would kill me if they discovered it. They like their privacy.

Yes, I washed laundry, too, and the dishes.

OK, yes, I did a few things, but not enough.

Getting things done, OK, trying

Let's see if I really do accomplish all I should.

I'm not going to day 2 of ETAI.

There's too much, gevalt--like a year's worth, of things to do here before next week's trip to New York.

One of the things is to find my new suitcase. Last seen, my husband unpacked from his trip last fall.

The house is a mess, to put it mildly.

Have to get the house ready for Shabbat, since married daughter plus coming for Shabbat.

Lots of laundry etc.

Oy, well, at least no traveling planned for today.

Jerusalem, again, busy day!

I was in Jerusalem again today.


This summer's vacation is very busy.

Today, after the pool of course, I went to Jerusalem for the ETAI, English Teacher's convention. This year I decided that one day is enough for me, especially since I have a lot to do before going to NY next week.


Afterwards I went downtown for some errands and saw this adorable little girl picking flowers, so I took her picture.


Then I went to the bus station and couldn't resist photographing "late Mincha."


Now for supper, though very late.

Family--2 very different things

These two following things both fit under the same topic/title, Family, but they're not related... bad pun, sorry.

First things first, click here, and you can see my son as soldier. It's real, in a war, not a kid playing.

Second, the latest Carnival of Family Life.

And yes, being the mother of soldiers is part of my family life.

Have a nice day!

Picture Contest!

Guess what's behind the trees!

Yes, first guess where the picture was taken...

I didn't have to "stand for it" and other Jerusalem adventures

Last week I ranted and raved about being forced to stand when choosing pictures to print at Photo Nissim. Well, today I had to go back there, just for a couple of things, and I wasn't looking forward to it.

This time, instead of a couple of young women at the desk, there was an older woman, older than me probably. From what I was able to get from the conversations going around, she's possibly of the "owners."

I told her, nicely, about my problem with the new set up.

"No problem; I'll bring you a chair."
"But with a chair, I won't be able to reach it."
"Don't worry. I'll bring a high stool."

And she did! Thank you Photo Nissim!



I had an hour to wait until the pictures were printed. Downtown Jerusalem is a great place if you have an hour. That's where I saw these Japanese dancers!



I wonder if I have to smoke like him to be considered a "real photographer."



Nothing like Jerusalem!

Singing away the blues

If you haven't seen the short video of the young cancer patient singing his story, I suggest you do. He recorded it as he turned 13, his Bar Mitzvah. He sings in Hebrew, but it's translated into English.

Refuah Shleimah
A complete healing, G-d willing

Havel Havelim, but...

#124 is up on V'HeChadash Yitkadesh, a blog I hardly know. I'm glad that Havel Havelim is branching out.

But what I'd really like to see would be if those "mainstream media jblogs," like this one or this one, hosting it. That would give us the sort of exposure we would-be journalists really deserve, no? nu?

In the meantime, enjoy #124! Don't forget to comment/compliment him afterwards and tell him that:

You were sent by the muse!