What's the quickest week?

It's the week I have to put together Havel Havelim, of course. Here it is, Monday night, and the cupboard is bare, or almost bare. Just one post is in. I'm going to have to mine the aggregates. And I'm going to have to visit my "friends," who "live" on my sidebars.

Tomorrow, G-d willing and bli neder, I'll start the day by posting the latest KCC. And after that, I'll really be ready to get cracking on HH.

I'm trying to get focused. I feel like I'm about to fly abroad. I always get this way before a flight, terribly sure that I've forgotten something and something will go wrong, and why should I go and...

About KCC and HH, I now must picture some of the smaller blog carnivals and see how pathetic they are and then remind myself that my carnivals are certainly better than those.

It's sort of like how I prepared mysef for being a mother. I was all of 22, and we were living in the Old City of Jerusalem. That's what it was called way back when. There were a few Jewish families and only an elderly couple near us. And there were lots of Arabs, of course. I looked at the way they lived, certianly nothign like how I was raised in the pristine 1950's in New York. So I told myself that it can't be that complicated; there's no need to sterilize everything. And then I was ready to be a mother.

So, if you haven't gotten the hint, please send links on Jewish or Israeli topics, and that includes the mundane of living in Israel or being jewish etc., for HH either to shilohmuse at yahoo dot com or via blog carnival.

I haven't even finished washing all the pots from yesterday's party. I finally finished all of the dishes.

By Thursday I'll be all hysterical trying to finish, and then the posts will be flooding my mailbox, and I'll wonder why I was so worried. If HH is supposed to have "the best Jewish and Israeli posts of the week," of course Monday is a bissel too early. Sorry for "hocking you a'chinek."

I ought to give myself a manicure while I still have some time... and there still are tests to grade...

Yes, it's true. There is an easy way to make lasagna!

Until very recently, lasagna was one of those things I only ate in restaurants. I couldn't imagine how an ordinary person like myself could do something that seems so intrinsically complicated.

I once bought those rectangular pasta pieces to make some at how, but cooking them and separating them to layer with the food were beyond my culinary capabilities.

Then a friend told me that her sister told her that you don't have to pre-cook the pasta, just add enough water. Yes, it's true!

So here's a vegetable, total vegetarian version, maybe even good enough for vegans, if they're not celiac sufferers.

Place the pasta on the bottom of the baking dish. Then add layers of vegetables, thinly sliced. I used:

• eggplant
• squash
• onion

Then I poured some crushed tomatoes and granulated garlic. After that I made a very quick tomato sauce by combining:

• tomato paste (I use the 28-30%, but any is ok, including ready-made)
• oil
• water
• spices

You can do it in the microwave, or just use boiling water. Remember that it will cook in the oven when you're baking the lasagna. When I say "easy," I mean really easy, like in super-simple!

Pour most of it over the vegetables, and then add the next layer of pasta. My pan was very shallow, so I didn't use multiple layers, but you can. Also, I like to reduce calories, so I just use a top and bottom layer of pasta.

On top of the pasta is the rest of the sauce, diluted a bit. Your quantities should be according to your pan.

Cover with foil and bake.

You'll see and smell it bubbling, especially if the pan is clear.

This is the basic recipe. You can use different vegetables, add cheese or chopped meat. Whatever you want.

It really is easy to make!

Something new and ....

The Jerusalem Post now has a constantly updated "hatched-dispatched," or however that saying used to go. I remember it from our London days when people referred to the Jewish Chronicle. I must admit that I was surprised at how jazzy the site is. I remember the staid old paper from 30 years ago.

Well, back to the JPost. It has a whole list of "simcha" categories for those who want to announce or bless. I didn't know anyone listed; though I guess if I had all day to check, something would show.

And before I go for a bit, something sweet and inspiring:
4 Candles
Enjoy!

Just my luck!

This week's Havel Havelim is totally fantastic, creative, everything one would want, except if...

...you've committed to do the next one! It's a tough act to follow. That's for sure.

It's harder than "Pinning the Candle on The Chanukiyah," the new game I invented. We played it today. Everyone had fun, especially when they spun me around on the "office chair," wheeled me all over the diningroom and left me facing the table, rather than the Chanukiyah! And when I tried to pull myself in the right direction, once I had realized what they had done, they kept holding onto the chair.

But did you doubt me? I should hope not! I found the door and placed the candle in the right spot!

And keep checking this blog, since the next edition of Kosher Cooking Carnival is in just a couple of days, or less!

So please get all those links in, both for HH and KCC! Either send to shilohmuse at gmail dot com or to blog carnival. Thanks

Chag Urim Sameach, Have a wonderful Chanukah!
ps, no that isn't the translation!

Where's Beit El?

I just got an email from someone who wanted to know. This person doesn't live in Israel, but I'm always amazed how many people in Israel don't know where Beit El, Shiloh, Ariel, Efrat, Ofra, Hebron etc are. Even worse, there are soldiers who don't know.

When I was a kid, we had to learn the names of all 48, then 49, then 50 states. Oops! Now you have some idea of how old I am. That's sure lots more complicated than learning the Israeli map. Israel is much smaller.

I frequently find people "tremping" who don't know where they are going. That is dangerous.

Here's the letter I sent:

Thanks for writing. Actually I work in Beit El and live in Shiloh. It's location is just north of Jerusalem. We used to go straight north and drive through Ramallah, then Beit El and then 20 minutes later, on the same road I was home in Shiloh. Then during Oslo times, they made a bypass road, since it wasn't practical to go through Ramallah, and Oslo made it unsafe. Since the road went east and then north, it no longer goes right past Beit El. There's a T junction east of Beit El, and then it's another 10 minutes or so until you make it to Beit El.

Now the main road passes Ofra and continuing north you're in Shiloh.

I hope that helps

Bright and freezing

Yesterday could most easily and accurately be described as bright and freezing! Yes, a rare combo, and very tricky.

The sun was shining and the wind was sharp, very deceptive.

We're having a very dry winter. It's punishment from G-d. The people haven't deposed the evil rulers. It's Chanukah, the holiday celebrating the battle to end assimilation. It's the holiday that reminds us that we have to be Jews out of our homes and not only "in our hearts."

Chabad put up public chanukiyot at the various junctions to yishuvim here. It's funny. I always associated their activities with places which don't quite celebrate the holidays, but there are very active Chabadnikim here in Shiloh.

I, bli eyin haraa, got a good start on the Kosher Cooking Carnival. You can still send me your links.

Lots of work to do, and the kids are coming, so I really have lots of work to do.

Super Simple Fancy Vegetables!

The trick's in the presentation. All you need is a nice dish, whether bakable "glass," pottery or whatever. In this case I decided to use a nice round piece of pottery. Actually the friend who had "potted" it was invited, so I though that it would be a nice touch.


I layered a variety of vegetables, around and around:

• eggplant
• squash
• onion
• peppers
• garlic

You can also use:

• fennel
• sweet potato
• pumpkin
• white potato
• carrots

Then I poured a little olive oil and some freshly ground pepper.

It all went into the oven and baked until "done;" I never time things, nor measure. It was a great success!

Try it and tell me how it came out!

I'm not fiddling!

Actually, I'm very busy, so if I don't post, don't worry! I'm Focused on Mount Zion! And I have to put together the next Kosher Cooking Carnival, and then I must start the Chanukah Havel Havelim. and of course Shabbat's in a couple of hours. And I ran over to a friend after I heard that her mother had passed away. And b'ezrat Hashem, the kids are coming on Sunday, and I have to get ready for that. And I have tests to mark, and it's Chanukah, and....

...oh, yes, I have to get the window sill ready for the Chanukiyot and finish cooking and cleaning and...
I had better sign off now!

Lovely little wedding

We were at a lovely little wedding last night. (The picture is a reworked one of last week's wedding.)

It was at a small hall in Jerusalem and Chareidi/Chassidish, not our usual fare. The men and women sat "very separately."

From what I could hear, never saw the "band," there were drums and a capella singing, or was it a recording? I have no idea. There's a Jerusalem custom not to have "music," ever since the destruction of the Holy Temple.

It ends up that we know "both sides." We were invited by the groom's father and discovered that the bride is the niece of a neighbor. It's an Ashkenaz (European) and Moroccan union. In our yishuv circles, it's very common; our own son-in-law is Tunisian. But I don't think it's all that common among the Chareidim.

While we were eating, I looked around and commented, that contrary to "our" weddings, there don't seem to be any friends of the bride. Apparently, they're not invited to the actual wedding ceremony and meal. Only after the main course, when the bride and groom reappear after being in the "yichud room," does the dancing begin and their friends arrive. There was a table set up with nosh--kugel, cakes and soft drinks, for the girls who are the bride's friends. They all looked so young, like high school students. I'm sure that they were still in their teens. Only one or two were married.

MAZAL TOV!

Yes, it was a lovely little wedding!

Oh, O?

I've heard about blood types determining ideal the ideal diet for a person, but apparently, Japanese use blood types use blood types for even more things.

OK, yes, I'm an O, not a zero, since according to Japanese science/tradition, being O blood is something big. During my vegetarian years, I was told that as an O I should be eating meat, not carbs. People were amazed that when I resumed my carnivorous diet, I had no digestive problems. Everyone was sure I would. I guess my O chemistry welcomed the meat, instead of rejecting it.

Who knows? I always thought that my being a Gemini influenced my personality.

You know? Maybe it's all ridiculous.

I'm just me, for no real reason, just whatever.

Enough of all this. I have lots to do. Better turn off the computer.

Sometimes the timing is just perfect

I had a very full day today.
I went to the Neve Yaakov Pool and got some good news. They're selling discounted entry cards next week during Chanukah, ns250 instead of ns400. Recently the price was raised from ns280 to the ns400, and I guess they've lost money or lost customers. We no longer get discounts, so I'll have to go next week and buy some tickets.

Afterwards I had my glasses fixed. After patiently waiting a bit I asked how long it would take,

"another 15 minutes"
"so why didn't you tell me!? I have other things to do!"

So I ran out to buy a wedding gift for tomorrow's wedding. I got back and then met dd#1 for lunch. then I went off to Machane Yehuda, the open market, to shop for a couple of things. I was trying to figure out when I'd have time to buy Chanukah gifts.
I had a meeting to go to. Just to be safe I checked with a friend who was going there.

"Oops I forget to tell you that it's at 3, not 2:30. Sorry!"
"No big deal, actually it's good. Now I have the time to buy some gifts."

After a while at the meeting I realized that I had better get home, since it was the last night for a "shiva call." So I left before the meeting was completely over.

I ran to catch a bus to the stop where can get rides home. Immediately there was a bus. Then I got a ride to the junction at the main road, and as I was going to the stop there, a neighbor pulled over and he took me straight to the door.

Yes, sometimes the timing is just perfect.

Is that the key? & Beta Not

Ezzie was bragging about hitting astronomical hit/visit numbers for his blog. Mine just doesn't seem to attract much of a following. Google's my biggest fan, and recipes are the attraction.

Luckily, I write for my sanity, not fame and fortune. It's a great release. My knuckles wouldn't survive a punching bag.

This week I must get started on the next Kosher Cooking Carnival. Yes, hint! hint! Either send to shilohmuse at gmail dot com or via blog carnival. And the week after that I have Havel Havelim. Am I crazy? Probably. Remember, I teach English to Israeli teenagers, male teenagers! That should prove it for sure. Honestly I love teaching teenage boys, at least most of the time.

Back to the topic. Hosting the carnivals doesn't give me that many hits, but I'm not quitting, at least not yet.

I think that Ezzie's "round-ups" have helped. I don't do it and rarely link other blogs; though I visit. And when I visit I comment a lot, or I try to...

That brings me to the "beta not" situation. The beta blogs are harder to comment on since they have these warnings about security problems, and I begin freaking out. Sometimes by saying I don't want to display secure items, my comments go up and sometimes not. I'll probably stop commenting when it gives me a run around.

You guessed; I'm not going beta on my blogs.

There's another comment problem. Some blogs demand "signing up," and I'm not joining any more things. I don't want any more passwords and user names. I just can't handle more; my memory's taxed. Sorry!

Maybe I should turn these periodic visits into "round ups" instead of commenting. Any ideas?

While I'm kvetching, I must say that sometimes I prefer emailing my links to carnivals, since it's quicker than using blog carnival, but some of the organizers only want blog carnival, and I've gotten nasty letters reminding me to "follow rules." There are lazy hosts who use the prepared line from bc. Yes, I can say lazy, since I compose my carnivals myself.

Now, to get dressed, doven, eat and then "tremp" to the pool and then lots of meetings, errands, etc! Busy day!

Plastic Swords and Foil Helmets by Anita Tucker

BS"D
I share with you, dear friends, my heartfelt emotions as I approach Chanukah longing for my lifetime hometown and longing no less for the hometown that will be.
I hope you have patience for me, as my need to share this with you is sincere.
Your e-mails, visits, calls and caring for my community and those of my Gush Katif friends fuel the energy to continue
I pray with you that our mutual yearning for that bigger special promised home and times will soon be.

Chanukah 67/06
Plastic Swords and Foil Helmets

Commentaries and articles on the subject of Chanukah over the years have emphasized the debate about what is the most important element of the holiday.
Was it the miracles, the heroism , the leadership , the holiday of victory (Chag Hanitzachon) , the Jews against the Greeks, the secular Hellenists against the traditional, the few against the many, or was it the devotion to the essence of so many as exemplified by Chana and her seven sons that is most significant about Chanukah that is most significant?.

Chanukah was the holiday which we best connected with while living in Gush Katif
God's miracles that we witnessed, the heroism (that too was obviously a God -given fortitude that caused us to somehow stay on despite the sand in our beds, despite the rockets and terrorism, our ability hold up in the struggle against destruction and against the capitulation to terror, our standing up to protest what we believed was immoral and unethical.), the devotion to the Land of Israel that we love so much, as it returned our love flourishing the bald sand dunes, all these connected us to Chanukah.
.
I recall , in our town, Netzer Hazani, the pre-kindergarten Chanukah play, one post Oslo year was all about the Macabbees fighting the enemy .

As the play began, the thin sweet voices shouted above shattering explosions of terrorist rockets nearby and the noise of shooting in the background.

The tots were playing the role with such conviction as if they were certain that they really were the Macabees and were certain all that they had learned for this holiday was really about them.

As I sat at the pre-kindergarten play, watching my grandchildren and their friends perform , I recall feeling certain that if our IDF would only allow it, our little Maccabees could easily overcome the enemy attacking us that moment like young Judah and brothers against the many in those days gone by , if only they had been permitted to do so.

Our tots' plastic swords, their aluminum foil helmets were worn with such pride.
Our tots' were proud of their tradition.
They had innocent faith, heroism and devotion with their so pure and sincere conviction to the truth that is often more clear to 4 and 5 year olds than adults ,politicians and heads of state.


Today, the only fighting spirit I see here in the temporary living site of Ein Tzurim is survival, the only ones standing straight here are the little red capped, beige, caravillas standing like robot soldiers in lined rows equally distanced one from another .
For many here, holding on, just surviving is the major struggle.

This Chanukah, for me, Anita Tucker, far away from my natural scenery and dear piece of Eretz Yisrael of my destroyed lifetime, the holiday value this year is VICTORY.

Victory is my motto, not only in the daily battles of survival, but a determination for victory in our war.
No, we are not busy as journalists, politicians so many on forwards on e-mails, dealing with war from Iran and Iraq .

We are fighting a war for rehabilitation, for building anew, for being permitted to again be constructive creative people who build, contribute and make a difference in the Land of Israel , among the people of Israel .

We understand now that to realize this hoped for miracle we are not only dependent on our will, our devotion, our faith, our fortitude as we were while building Gush Katif .
.
This time we are mostly dependent on others. Will the government come through in all its ineptitude and bureaucracy to enable us to build anew?
Some say to win the war we must win the battle.
The battle is that we insist that the government of Israel provide us with buildings roads and land equivalent to what we had previously and we must rely solely on this.
This battle when and if finally won may leave us without any soldiers left, with too many injured and dead. I don't want to put all my energies in the battle.

I want to win the war.

Winning the war means that we are again constructive contributing citizens. This can't happen via the endless exhausting frustrating battle with our total dependency on the Sela commission, with the Prime Ministers office's bureaucrats.

Winning can only happen when we together with our caring wonderful friends who are behind us in this war of survival and building anew take things into our own hands.
So the first major step I took with my caring new friends was buying caravans for those whom the Sela commission claimed has no technically legal rights to continue with the community. These young families, who were born in Gush Katif grew up there, married there, had their own kids, continued living there until they were expelled. Their crime was that per chance they rented from private rental housing and not from public rental housing so it was decided they have no rights.

So I took the first major strategic step.
The battle fighters said we will keep on knocking on their doors until the bureaucrats agree to help --have patience.

Those of us who want to win the war said forget the bureaucrats and their devotion to inflexibility, our young families will not be thrown aside, let's just buy caravans! These young families are now living with us as an integral part of the community.

Amazing caring people wrote checks directly to buy these homes and the families are in them. Simple, no bureaucracy, no fees, nothing but pure direct chesed with a big personal direct hug that gives tremendous strength to the givers and receivers and no doubt makes some dramatic vibrations upwards in the heavens ,klapei shmaya ,as well.

Everyone who came to visit this year asked me when we will again eat your celery, peppers etc.
We still have not received land for growing, nor full compensation for our agro-businesses. So how can growing vegetables again be possible, we must wait patiently. Those who wait and whine may well win the battle but I just won another stage in my war.
My two sons, who were second generation organic farmers in Gush Katif and three other friends from Netzer Hazani took their down payment on home compensation (who needs a home when you are fighting a war anyway) together with my own silent partnership in it as well, invested in partnered land in the Jordan Valley, put up greenhouses, planted organic peppers and plum cherry tomatoes and have begun picking delicious vegetables. Yes it is not our land, it is an hour and quarter drive, it is not where our permanent home will be but is a reason to get up in the morning, it is productive and constructive!

As I walk between the tall tomato plants and inhale their intoxicating odor, I know that we have accomplished a small victory over the destruction.
The problems aren't simple ,we planted a bit late in the season, the land is a bit different than we are used to ,etc.-small stuff for people with the challenges we've seen these last years.
I left the greenhouses sure, more than ever, that this is the right approach to victory in this war.

The only healing treatment for destruction is construction.

I can fight the battle of bureaucracy and lack of caring forever and perhaps I will succeed to get a compromise with a promise. I will feel victory in the battle but this is still not building anew.

Yes, no doubt, the government must be made to fulfill their responsibility for the building anew --making them do it is a battle but getting the building to really happen and new towns built as they were is the war.
I know that everyone of you who are reading this stand with us in this war and your caring will give us the strength to win the war.

Friends write me and ask ,Anita what do you say about all the terrible news --Iran Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Hamas ,El Kaida, our own Israel heads of state Olmert ,Livni,Livnat etc.
I say forget it --Hakadosh Baruch must have some plans that are beyond our control. What you and I have control of is Chesed.
We can do chesed to each other, to Gush Katif communities, to those in the North, to Sderot, each of us to their neighbor in his own community .We can do chesed to the people of Netzer Hazani, you to us, we to our families, the families to their kids, the kids to each other.
Each in these chains of chesed will feel the hug and caring of the other and if we love and care about each other than certainly Hashem, God, will help us feel his ever present love and care.

Now there are people in the community who are still not working, they are eating away at their house compensation money for daily survival.
We still have to help them hold out with their head up high so that when we win "the war" they will have the emotional strength to continue to enjoy the victory and challenges of construction.

Our toddler Maccabees are in kindergartens that are barely equipped with toys and learning materials. We have given lists of materials needed to the regional council and to all the bureaucrats responsible who have promised that they will be approved and ordered any day now. One month, another month, another month and nothing happens.
Now our children are preparing their Chanukah play in a bare stoic kindergarten. That is it --I had enough of this battle I shall win the war.

Our caring friends from the US called to come and visit --they came, they cared and they gave us the ability to equip the kindergarten with part of what the kids need.

These Maccabees in our Ein Tzurim community will be strong and proud and ready for the building anew --for winning the war-- because the battles have left them weak of soul and with wounded hearts.

So I share with you more of my war strategy.
Hope I'm not boring you terribly but I am so grateful for your ear and heart to share with you. It would be so difficult were you not out there
People have told me that fundraisers and PR experts write short concise proposals. Donors have no patience for long emails.
Sorry, my emails are not for those, I am still a farmer, my goal is to hope you will feel in your heart what I feel in mine . My need is to share with you as a fellow caring person.


My community of Netzer Hazani in Ein Tzurim has not had a rabbi since our Rabbi Yitzchak Arama was murdered 4 yrs ago. We need one now desperately to help the soldiers get strong to be ready for the construction.
But there is no caravan to have candidates stay with their big families for Shabbat --nor do we have a place to put them if they are ready to move in.
Months of efforts to convince the bureaucrats that this is essential have led to promises and no action. We will each donate (from our house down payment) some amount and hopefully one of our caring capable friends will partner with to us make it happen. Meanwhile we will just do it! We will somehow order a caravan furnish it and start inviting candidates for Shabbat.

Next a "youth building" yes the Sela commission , the prime ministers office, and who not, have promised Sammy and Bryna Hilburg ,our friends and neighbors, whose Moadon Yochanan in Netzer Hazani in Gush Katif was built in memory of their son killed in the Shayetet-marine seal unit , 9 years ago in Lebanon fighting the Hizballah(sound familiar) that they will build a new Moadon Yochanan ,youth caravan. Months have past, where is it?

Now the Hilbergs are working with our youth director, fighting too, to keep our youth healthy and sane without a proper facility.
I have given up on this bureaucratic battle --with God's help I will somehow figure out how to buy a caravan for a youth building on our own!
We need our youth when we win this war, not bleeding and injured in the field of battle from frustration, with lack of faith in leadership and their State of Israel.
I need our youth strong and healthy, with faith in Am Yisrael and still flowing with Hashem, with God.
Winning a stage in the war is when the youth have their own meeting place that is theirs and they know that there are people out there who love them. that they know that we, the adults, were self relying and figured out how to get them what they needed for the togetherness that all the experts say heals our youth's souls.
When we have healthy smiling brave youth, who again are willing to stand up tall feeling that going with God's ways is a victory --it will be a victory!

Yes, definitely, we will fight the government battle to get anew what we had, but we won't wait for ever.
Now we will start a fund that will subsidize whatever it takes to compete the land deal, to build again our synagogue our simcha hall etc, to prepare the infrastructure for the greenhouses and other initiatives and infrastructure for homes beyond what the government agrees to give that so far that can't make it happen.
Bli neder, --we will work hard ,convince ,demand but not wait forever .Exhausted we will still gather our fortitude and search for the the caring people capable to help us reach victory and reconstruction .

NO MORE DESTRUCTION!!! WHAT HAPPENED TO US MUST NEVER EVER HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE!!!!!

Whoever adopts a strategy of destruction will find that, God willing, there will be construction twice as big and twice as successful as what existed before!!!!

Come and visit and smell the intoxicating smell of fresh flowering plants in our new greenhouses and you too will inhale a breath of the Chanukah message of victory --Chag Hanitzachon.
Come see our tots in the kindergartens still lifting their plastic swords and aluminum helmets, weakened , yet still declaring proudly as did the Maccabees-
"who is with God, follow me-Mi LaHashem Aelai".

Sincerely looking forward to hearing from you,
Thanks for caring; your caring as always gives strength,
Best ChAnitah wishes,
anita

tucker.anita@gmail.com

The Value of $habbat

El Al Airlines has been in existence a long time. During some of the time, it avoided flying on Shabbat, and some of the time it broke the Shabbat laws. There were times its finances were in the black, and other times very much in the red.

Business success isn't the simple arithmetic we learned in elementary school. A business isn't guaranteed more profits by being open seven days a week verses six.

Contrary to the "Laws of Mathematics," El Al has always done better when it kept Shabbat.

Even if there isn't a mehadrin, Chareidi--Sabbath observing--airline, many of us Torah observing Jews, of all colors and stripes, will choose our airline without sentiment. That means that we will consider El Al no better than any other and will look for bargains and convenience first. By deserting Jewish Law, El Al will be the last in our list of choices. Not all Sabbath Observers are chareidi.

Many of those making Aliyah on Nefesh B'Nefesh are religious, and there has been pressure on the NBN to use a different airline, since they've flown on Shabbat. (The pictures posted here are from the August 9/10, 2006 flight, which I accompanied as a journalist.)

I have no doubt that El Al will make lots more money the more it observes Jewish Laws.

Chanukah, so soon?

I can't believe that Chanukah is just a few days away. I just got a "present" today at work. Our vacation is starting a day early. We won't have classes on Thursday. Wow! I'll have a week and a half off; I could have had planned a trip to the states.

Oh, yes, it's true. Teachers do, they/we sure do, enjoy days off. Don't think that only the students cheer at such news. Tomorrow's my heavy teaching day, and then, I'm free! Ok, at least for a week and a half off!

I guess I ought to make plans, but in the meantime, there's plenty to do right here by the computer. I can go through Carnival of Recipes, which even posted a picture of my Simply, Superb Chicken. This week's carnival concentrates on chicken recipes and they look great. And there's the new version of BOMS. If you haven't seen it, take a look. There are great posts in both.

Wow! I actually did something right!

Before I bought my digital camera, I tried investigating the pros and cons of those "new creatures" on the internet and by asking people. I just kept getting more and more confused.

My husband had bought one for himself, a "smallish" one, but whenever I used it, I just felt that "it didn't feel like a camera." The weight and balance weren't the same. Of course, it didn't help that our son had programmed it to bark like a dog whenever we pressed the button to take a picture.

I kept avoiding the grand decision and grander expenditure, but then my old film one became less and less reliable. I knew the time had come to take the plunge. There was also the question of whether I should buy it in one of those massive discount stores in New York, while visiting, or buy it here in Israel before leaving.
It seemed pretty obvious that I'd get it in New York, but then my sons' friend came by to visit us with his, which he had just bought in Jerusalem. I was told to try it out, which I did, and I liked the feel. I went to the same Jerusalem store and bought it. That was last July.

Now, imagine my surprise to discover, that my Canon powershot 620 is now considered the top-ranked digital camera!

Considering how quickly these things change, it's really amazing, since it has been on the market for quite a while. It seems like the more people use it the more they recommend it. Its only disadvantages are its size and weight, and that's because it holds 4 AA batteries. But those batteries give it lots of use without having to constantly change them. I'm talking of hundreds and hundreds of pictures 7.1 pixels on the same four. The only other thing I don't like is that I haven't had much luck on action shots.

Of course I need more practice.

Saying "thank you"

Sometimes we forget how pleasant it is to hear those words.

Yesterday morning I ran over to my neighbor's to hand over a couple of wedding gifts. The one I had bought wasn't in that overflowing box shown here, and I hadn't yet given their just previously married daughter hers. And obviously, I had a disk of pictures to give them of the wedding.

I took the path which wasn't in the "master plan" of the neighborhood. Our street is "rounded," and as soon as we knew we'd be building on this lot, my friend and I decided that we'd pave an internal path to shorten the distance between our houses. Because of this, there's now an entire section of the neighborhood which is easily and closely connected. It was planned and paid for by the various families living here and really does add to the true quality of life here. But I digress...

Perfect timing! Not only was my extremely busy friend actually home, but her daughter was visiting there, too, and I was able to her a wedding present, a few months late, but at least I knew that it wasn't getting lost in the shuffle of the hundreds given the night of the wedding.

Soon after I got home, the phone rang. She called to say "thank you" and tell me how much they love that artisan's work. As soon as we got off the phone, it rang again. The mother of the baby whose brit I had photographed called to tell me that she had just seen the pictures and wanted to thank me.

That was the perfect way to start the week!

And while mentioning thanks, I'd like to thank all of those involved in organizing, hosting and contributing to all the blog carnivals.

Here are some recent ones, the latest Havel Havelim and The Carnival of the Mundane. And of course I'd like to thank all of you who guest-host and contribute to the Kosher Cooking Carnival. If you see something that fits the bill on another blog, please send me that link, too. Either send to shilohmuse at gmail dot com or via blog carnival.

Have a wonderful week!

Gevalt! I was tagged!

I'm sure that Bagel Blogger will find me a terrible bore when he reads how many of these things I haven't done. I'd like to pass this far and wide, so I'm tagging my husband and Shalom from Jerusalem and Rapid Life, which may be getting a name change, since they're moving! And if any of you would like to tag yourselves with the challenge, great, just send me the link!

I have (in bold):
01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins (wadded through water)
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said "I love you" and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby's diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse of the moon.
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an "expert"
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn't stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn't have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray
110. Broken someone's heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Touched a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one "important" author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head (totally bald, in a 'previous life')
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone's life

and oh my own addition,
151. passed on a meme to others cruelly!

Old people die, too

Friday morning there was a funeral in Shiloh, very modest and quiet, like the person who had died.

A relative spoke at the cemetery mentioning those qualities, and "chessed," generosity. For the person who spoke, "death and Shiloh" bring to mind terrorism, so we were reminded that "Old people die, too."






Generally, one of those neighborhood funerals would involve our all walking down to the cemetery, which would have taken about a half an hour or more, since it's a slow dignified pace. Instead, it was announced that in order not to "ask too much" of the community on such a busy Friday, Erev Shabbat, pre-Sabbath preparation time, we should all get into cars and drive down.

Technically, according to Jewish Law, we were supposed to be considerate of the dead, and yes, drop all we were doing to honor the dead and be at the funeral, but the family decided that they wanted to be considerate to us. And so nobody seemed to rush back to the kitchen, and we all were there at the cemetery to bury the dead.

And since life includes the good and bad, the joyous and the sad, the father of the previous night's groom was there with us. Twelve hours after dancing at a local wedding, we were burying a neighbor.




HaMakom y'nachem...
May G-d comfort the mourners...

Simply, Superb Chicken

I must admit that one of my most successful foods is my Simply, Superb Chicken. Funny thing is that I developed it during my 25 years as vegetarian, never tasting it; though I must admit that it did smell good. Now that I eat it...

• First of all, I soak the thawed, I always buy frozen, chicken in a pot of water. I use hot water if I want to finish thawing it quickly.
• Then I pour out the water and pour boiling water on it. That helps make it easier to pull out any remaining feathers.
• As you can see, I place the pieces in a large pan, or two, since I do have a small oven.
• Dribble some fresh lemon and then the minimum spices: paprika, pepper and granulated garlic
  

I bake it in the oven at the highest temperature my oven will go. It's electric with the heating element on top. That's it!

As you can see, it's ready, and it's delicious. Yes, in case you've noticed, I serve the lower part of the chicken. My family won't eat the white. I also cook it in its skin.

Personally, I don't eat yellow cheese, which I consider very unhealthy--bad and too much milk fats, but I don't drink skimmed milk, or any 0% dairy. I do eat the dark part of the chicken. I have no doubt that if you don't eat enough cholesterol, your body will just over-produce it. But that's another story....

And while you're cooking, please don't forget to send your recipe in for the Kosher Cooking Carnival. If you see something that fits the bill on another blog, please send me that link, too. Either send to shilohmuse at gmail dot com or via blog carnival.

Thanks and shavua tov! Have a wonderful week!