Start Your Day With A Laugh

This (sorry, but you have to click to see the youtube) reminds me that I once read that an international company had an awful time finding a name for their new product.  They had all their "choices" checked by multi-lingual linguists, and unfortunately all the options had some negative connotation in one language or another.

Words have their misunderstandings and disputed connotations.  Last night's Shiloh Musings post about "Israel" has surprised me by attracting a lot of comments.  I must also admit that very few, if any, agree with me.  Join the fray...

List Growing; Please Pray

I've had a short list of people in need of our prayers for a רפואה שלימה refuah shleimah, complete healing/recovery on the sidebar of this blog for awhile.  Unfortunately, it has been growing, and the one name I removed was because my friend had passed away.
I don't list everyone I know who's sick, just certain people.  I mention many more names when I say T'hilim, Psalms daily, and the prayer has a general term to cover all those in need who aren't listed by specific name.  But I do ask that you add those on my sidebar to any lists you have, or when you have the opportunity to say special prayers and especially holy locations etc.

Thank You

Tizku l'mitzvot, May you be rewarded with Mitzvot and never be in need of such prayers.

Singing אני יהודי I'm a Jew, Ani Yehudi

Thanks RivkA!  I love the fact that there's a wide variety of singers, male, female, religiously observant and less observant.  We're all Jews!

Well-Timed Washing

Yesterday, post-Lag B'Omer bonfires left the air disgustingly smelly.  The air felt dirty.  It was not a day to hang out laundry or even take a walk.  So, when it began to drizzle I was overjoyed.




There was just enough rain to clean the air and rinse the dust off of the solar panels which heat our water.  Thanks to G-d who really is merciful.

New Hearing Aids Help

I guess I shouldn't have taken such a close-up.  This picture isn't very clear.  My father got new hearing aids.  I had been very cynical, doubting as to whether it was worth the investment, since his previous ones didn't seem very effective/helpful.

But as time passed since his old ones broke, I could see the strain of trying to hear what people said causing a depression.  Since my father has been living with us in Shiloh, we have visited HaOzen a few times, and that's where we went for the new hearing aids.  They recommended a model with the mechanism behind the ear and a transparent plastic insert in the ear.  As you can see from the picture, it's barely noticeable and even less noticeable when he's wearing his usual "baseball cap."

The only problem with these new ones is that he can't insert them, remove them or see them.  And of course, there's no way he can change the batteries.  I have to do all those things.  They are among the new skills I've learned since bringing him home to Shiloh.

We no longer have to shout, and the television is at a normal volume.

Celebrity Bloggers and Maybe a Swim

My husband surfs the net more than I do.  I must admit that I find it boring.  He recently sent me a link to Kirk Douglas's blog.  I wonder if he really does the posting.  The more I read the more it seemed like maybe he does.  Bibi Netanyahu had a blog or has it.  His wasn't personal, just political and he claims to  do his own writing.

Sarah Palin uses facebook, but I'm sure it's really her staff.

G-d willing I'll get to the pool tomorrow morning.  I haven't been there for months, at least two months plus, probably three.  My husband will be home with my father.

I ought to get to sleep if I want to get out on time and I had better check that my bag is packed.  yes, I ought to find it or I can't go.

More Than Mashed Potatoes

For many people, it's not a "meal" without potatoes.  I've been on a modified low carbohydrate diet for over a year and a half, but I still cook starches for the family.  Here are a couple of side-dishes, very easy to prepare and a little "different" from your standard fare.

At first glance, if you were to guess what's here, you'd say mashed potatoes.  OK, yes, most of it is simply made mashed potatoes.  The easiest way is to boil some already peeled potatoes, cut into small pieces in a minimum of water with some onion pieces.  Then when they're soft, add some oil, salt, pepper to taste and mash.





But this isn't just that.  Along with the potatoes I boiled pieces of celery root.  The root of very strong celery leaves (good for soups, stews etc) looks like potatoes, but celeriac has more flavor, taste etc, so you need much less salt.  Here's some more information:


Celeriac, raw Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)

Energy 176 kJ (42 kcal)
Carbohydrates 9.2 g
Sugars 1.6 g
Dietary fiber 1.8 g

Compare this to an ordinary white potato:

Energy 321 kJ (77 kcal)
Carbohydrates 19 g
Starch 15 g
Dietary fiber 2.2 g

Adding some celery root to your mashed potatoes can significantly lower carbohydrates and reduce salt.  That's good for many of us.
This little "pie" or kugel can be called:

Sweet Rice & Apple Kugel

It's extremely easy to prepare and was very popular with my family and guests.




The main ingredient is rice, cooked rice, aka left-over rice.  Personally, I would never bother cooking rice just to use for a kugel like this, unless I was making a few to freeze.  Rice keeps well in the refrigerator, so when I cook some, I cook extra.  If there's a cup or more left by the end of the week, it's recycled into something like this.  You can use either white or any of the various types.  Remember that Basmati rice is lowest in carbohydrates than other strains of rice.

This is a "no sugar" recipe, but it does have apple juice concentrate.  You can use a dietetic juice concentrate, but I used a regular one.  I added:

apple juice concentrate
a couple of eggs
diced apples
cinnamon and would have added ginger and nutmeg if I had some

Mix and bake medium heat until inside is dry like a cake.  That's it.  

Quick! Seal the Windows And Doors Shut!

Tonight's the night.  Be prepared.  No, we're not in fear of chemical warfare, thank G-d, bli eyin haraa.  This is Lag B'Omer, the night that Israelis, especially the kids, pollute the air with campfires.  These aren't your lovely log cabin Girl Scout campfires. 

Here they burn everything, closets, chairs, sticks.  Everything but the kitchen sink, and believe me, there are those who try that, too.

My kids were well-trained.  After the campfire, straight into the bathroom, strip and shower with lots of soap.  I'd spend the morning washing clothes and hope that the air would clear before I needed to hang them out to dry.

Making It From Scratch, Blog Carnivals and "MckLinky"

After I posted about making a "scrap hat," I went looking for blog carnivals focused on crafts for the post.  A few days later I saw that I had gotten a "hit" or "visit" from someone via Making it From Scratch.  It seemed like a nice blog carnival offering posts on crafts, cooking etc.  I do recommend that you visit.

There was one curious thing.  It stated that this edition, davka my first time participating, would be the last using blog carnival.  The carnival owner was converting it to a "MckLinky" listing.  I'm familiar with "it."  That's the method used by Ruby Tuesday and other "picture memes," or whatever they're called.

I know that hosting a standard, classic blog carnival is a lot of work.  I've done it more times than many for at least four different carnivals.  But I must say that as a visitor they are nicer and more welcoming than the MckLinky list, though I like the set up of Making it From Scratch better than Ruby Tuesday.  Simply, Making it From Scratch requests a title or short description of the post, while Ruby Tuesday just asks for the name of the blogger.

As a blog carnival "owner," I consider the fact that the classic blog carnival "floats" from blog to blog is a way of getting more people involved in my carnival, the Kosher Cooking Carnival.  We're in our sixth year already.  Once someone hosts an edition, he or she promotes it and exposes it to a new group of people, since no two bloggers have exactly the same fan base.

What do you think? 

OK, So I'm Guilty...

...of Not Pruning


So, sue me!





A long time ago, I bought a whole bunch of rose bushes, every color but red.  Unfortunately I've never taken proper care of them, but every spring they flower, sort of forgiving me, just a little.

If you look carefully here, you'll also see that the grape vines have spread and they touch, the roses and grapes, at least the leaves and branches.

Never Too Old! Times Two

So far, at least according to what the owners are aware, the oldest person to eat at HaGov, The Lion's Den, Jerusalem's new, great, delicious kosher sports bar & grill, is no other than my father!

He absolutely loved the food and ate it with more enthusiasm than he eats my cooking.  I kid you not!  His good humor and appetite could also be attributed to his new hearing aids (I'll have to blog about them) and the company, most of his grandchildren and all of his great-grandchildren.  The kids drank nothing stronger than orange juice and were supervised by a professional security guard.  Yes, seriously.

And about those who claim that all this internet stuff is just for the young and too complicated for those of us who already "get discounts," not true.

After too many frustrating times trying to upload pictures for blogging and wasting my time, I found a solution.  I've returned to my photobucket account.  I don't know why blogger has changed things, but I'm sick and tired of not being able to easily post pictures.  Granted that this isn't a one-step process, but thank G-d it works.  I just have to remember to do my writing and spellcheck before adding the pictures, since that used to foul up the codes.  I hope that you'll enjoy the blog now.

PS HaGov is located at 5 Yoel Solomon St., Jerusalem, the end of Shamai St., near Zion Square.  If you're on facebook, you can find it there and check out the nightly sports schedule.  Each screen can show a different game.

"A Bridge Too Far," A Film Too Long

I never would have put on "A Bridge Too Far," if I had checked how long it is, almost three full hours.  The Movie Club is still meeting, even though it's Sefira, when one doesn't see "fun" movies.  The previous two weeks we saw documentaries about World War Two, so I thought this movie would be a good choice.  I have a few new ones, and I asked someone's opinion, and he said that we should see it.  I didn't watch it in advance.

We'll see some Carol Burnett TV shows after Lag B'Omer.

Blogger Bug, Again

I've just wasted lots of time trying to upload pictures.  Blogger has changed its toolbar for creating posts, or whatever they like to call it.  Call it what you wish, but for me it has been a nightmare.

Pictures aren't uploading.  The computer just sits with those flashing and turning and whatevering icons doing nothing in the end.

I've been trying this on both computers and all variations.

Sorry for the rant.  Am I the only one with problems recently?

Here it is: The "Scrap Hat!"

A few days ago, I mentioned that I was crocheting a "scrap hat" made of yarn leftover from other hats.  Yesterday, when in Jerusalem, one of my daughters said that the scarf she was wearing didn't match the outfit she was going to change into.  Suddenly, it hit me.  The "scrap hat" would match.  I ought to finish  it immediately.

And I did.

The Bus "Incident"

Yesterday after my cleaning and check-up at the dentist, no new cavities, but I'll need an hour's worth of treatments next month, I took the bus from Har Nof to Geula near downtown Jerusalem.  Being tired, I was glad to have a seat even though it faced backwards which really doesn't bother me, leaned my head against the window and closed my eyes to rest a bit.  Suddenly, something began banging my head.  I grabbed it, let out a yell, opened my eyes and discovered that it was the window shade.  The passenger sitting behind my back, back to back, apparently wanted to lower the shade and hadn't checked to see where the other end of the shade was.

That other passenger was an young Arab woman, as was her companion.  No, they didn't apologize, not at all.  A passenger across the aisle yelled at me:

"What's the big deal?  It wasn't her fault. She didn't notice that you were there!"
"That was the problem," I replied.  "She should have checked."
"Savlanut, patience!  What's the big deal?"
"When you get hit in the head, you can try to be patient!"

Then things quieted down.  I leaned my head back on the window and tried to rest.

Annoyed, Double

I've been trying to post some pictures for hours, ever since I was woken up, earlier than usual.  For the past couple of months I've had trouble posting pictures on both computers.

I don't know when I need to be in Jerusalem, because I had tentative plans to see someone who hasn't answered the phone, the messages etc to confirm morning or afternoon.  So I woke up in a bad mood, annoyed by some "noises"  and smell.

That's not a good way to start the day.

Simple, Healthy, Non-Dairy Spread

I used to be the cook for the local day care center for babies and toddlers from 3 months to three years old.  I did this for at least four years.  At the same time I was the girls gym teacher.  The logistics could be very complicated, but I liked having two totally different jobs.  I guess my extra weight, which eventually put me in the obese category, began piling on after I stopped those jobs.

Some of the food I cooked was my usual recipes from home and others I learned or adapted from professional lessons they arranged for us.

One thing I learned was Halva Spread.  Halva is sweetened sesame seeds made into a "candy."  As candies go, it's pretty healthy.  We were taught how to take the ground unflavored seeds, sold in many stores for techina and turn it into a spread, good for sandwiches or for spreading on crackers.

This is really easy, just three ingredients of similar quantities.  Don't obsess over measuring exactly.  You may like it sweeter or less so, more liquidy or more solid.  You won't get arrested for playing with the proportions.

• unflavored sesame paste
• honey
• boiling water

Mix them all together, and that's it.  It sure beats peanut-butter and jelly, the sweet sandwiches of my childhood.

HH d'Elisson

 Yes, try the latest Havel Havelim at Blog d'Ellison.  There are lots of great and interesting and all the the above jblog posts.  I'm sure you'll find plenty to read.  Havel Havelim is a great way of getting to know other blogs, and if you're a blogger, you, too can participate.  Details in at d'Ellison.

The "Scrap Hat"

Our financial situation is the pits.  This isn't the forum to go into details, though you regulars know that I'm not working, certainly not for money.

My latest "art hobby" is crocheting hats for myself since I cover my hair for religious reasons.  When we had enough money I'd frequently go "yarn shopping" after getting a new outfit, so I could have a new hat to match.  I neither bought clothes all that often nor crocheted all that quickly, so the pace of both usually worked out.  Occasionally I'd crochet a hat for my daughter and twice I crocheted kippot for my grandson, although he's a bit young to wear them (at least according to his parents.)

New clothes are now pretty rare for me, and my collection of hats and scarves is pretty varied, but I still like to crochet when watching tv or a movie.  I no longer have staff meetings and cancelled classes to spend crocheting, since I'm not working.  And this year I'm not taking any courses, so even though I have much less to actually do, the free time isn't the type of free time for my hands I'd usually devote to crocheting.

When crocheting one frequently ends up with extra yarn, and these "scraps" fill a very large bag.  So now when I need to start a new project I go "shopping" in that bag for scraps to create a new hat.

Not For A Heavenly Reward

As many know, certainly no secret, I've been taking care of my elderly father since October.  My mother can't do it.  She's supposed to be selling their house and moving to Israel.  My father now lives with us, an unexpected reversal of the "empty nest."

I never expected to be doing it.  But here I am.  That's life.  I'm pragmatic.  It needs to be done.  Ironically, I didn't have all that much to do with my father when I was a kid.  He was busy working.  But there actually were a couple of fun things.  Sometimes we'd go swimming on weeknights at a nearby high school pool, Bayside High School.  I don't know how many times that happened; maybe a handful.  Another thing was once a friend of his, who had daughters no sons, decided that he and my father  should go on a father-daughter fishing trip.  So they rented a boat and we went.  That happened once.

Back to purpose of this post.

A few neighbors keep telling me that I'll be rewarded for caring for my father, in עולם הבא  Olam HaBa, the "World to Come."  They say that my ticket to גן עדן Gan Eden, The Garden of Eden is reserved for me; my name is on it.  Actually, I find it offensive to think that someone takes care of parents for ulterior motives.