it is 8:00 p.m. in the holy city of safed. Shabbat just ended. it was a long day. the kids ate all of the pesach cakes and got super hyper. I passed out after lunch, way after the adults went down for their naps. the kids tried as best as they could to wake me up after I fell asleep. I could somehow hear myself snoring. I don't remember seeing the granddaughter so hyper. she seemed possessed. it was the pesach cakes.
I lost my voice yelling at them. the poor paying guests downstairs! I am being picked up soon to babysit after the kids are showered and put to bed. the parents want to go and see a movie. when did my life become so pliable? when did i lose the ability to just say no?
I didn't blog before the actual holiday yesterday, because I was so tired and couldn't use my fingers. I got out of bed at 8:00 a.m. to start the cooking. I hadn't slept a wink the night before. I did my traditional check for chometz at 10:30 p.m. and then found bread in my bed at 11:30 p.m. I went slightly mad and did another mopping of the master bedroom floor at midnight. this time I used only water and a lot of bleach. I also mopped the floor of the computer room and the main bathroom.
at 12:30 I lied down. I started hallucinating. I was wet and exhausted. I didn't have the strength to get up and put the duvet cover on the comforter. I grabbed a light weight blanket and tried desperately to fall asleep. I kept seeing flashes of violent images so I kept my eyes open. I tried snuggling with the dog for warmth. I didn't hear my son's friend come in at 1:15 a.m. so I convinced myself that they had crashed on the road. I lied awake for hours wanting to see if the young man was indeed, alive in the guest room but I couldn't move.
I thought about my plan of attack for cooking and making the seder. I hadn't seen my pesach cutting board and worried about not being able to function without it. I laid in bed for hours worrying about that cutting board. I couldn't get out of bed to check the pesach closet for it. I was trapped in my mind. my body couldn't move. I didn't dare look up and see the clock. I know I laid in bed for hours. I was freezing. somehow, I had managed to put on flannel pajama bottoms and winter socks.
I must have eventually passed out. I jumped out of bed and greeted my young guest. I don't know how I functioned at all. my guest didn't want breakfast so I started to work. I had him schlepp down my pesach burners and electric platter. I didn't dare climb on a chair in that state. I think my first task was to make salt water. believe it or not one may not do this on Shabbat, itself. I was so afraid that I might forget to do it. I poured half a glass with salt and the young man said it was too much salt so I diluted it. as soon as I attached the gas burners, I boiled a pot of eggs. I started with 9 eggs.
I decided to make a pot of chicken soup. I had defrosted a whole chicken. I also had defrosted a whole package of chicken necks. I kept on wavering about making another chicken dish, too and took out some chicken bottoms. I interchanged chicken parts and ended up using the carcass, wings, necks, and chicken breasts to make the soup. most people here like the dark meat. I saved most of the chicken bottoms for another meal. I did throw in a thigh and a couple of legs for good measure. most of the crowd wanted clear soup. the task was to make the soup tasty without using turmeric, parsley, dill or cilantro. I threw in about 4-5 carrots, two sweet potatoes, a peeled tomato, 2 parsnips, 2 onions, a package of peeled celery, salt and many whole peppercorns. after a while, I added the juice of a lemon and a piece of ginger root.
I next, did the meat cholent. I sautéed 2 onions and added peppercorns and the slab of meat to the pot. I had already peeled a lot of potatoes and added some peeled sweet potatoes to the mix. I cooked it for a while and then added some red rose wine for good measure. when the potatoes were cooked I took it off the stove top. the meat was not tender at all. I figured that sitting on the electric platter all night would remedy that. it was indeed, soft as butter by lunch. I decided to then tackle the chopped liver. that was easy. I fried two onions, added the already koshered liver and 3 hard boiled eggs and put them in my mini processor. voila! I had velvety smooth pate. I added a few drops of red rose wine for good measure. it was out of this world delicious.
I enlisted the young man to crack two bags of nuts for me. he listened to music while he worked. I started swaying to the beat of the hip young music. I was actually having a good time. then the intense exhaustion set in. the young man went off with my son and I was alone. I desperately needed to lie down for a while. I decided to make the charoset. I peeled 8 apples and two pears , a piece of ginger root and a box of dates. yes, I peel the skin off the dates for pesach. the machine made strange noises and didn't chop it so well. I kept on taking out the semi chopped mixture and putting it back in. I couldn't figure out what was happening. I finally discovered that I had forgotten to remove the pits from the dates when I threw them into the machine. I managed to find all of the pits and made a very successful and most delicious charoset. I added some rose wine for good measure.
I was falling off of my feet but I decided to make the shepherd's pie. I put up several potatoes to make the 'mash', as they say on "my kitchen rules" in new Zealand. I sautéed the chopped beef with 2 onions in a lot of palm oil and added a bit of ginger root and a few pepper corns. I added some rose wine to make a bit of sauce. I resisted the urge to add some potato starch to thicken it. it was a huge success. I looked palm oil up on the internet. according to what I read, palm oil isn't necessarily unhealthy. the production of it, they say is responsible for wiping out the rainforests and leaving certain species homeless.
an hour before candle lighting, I fried up a few tilapia fillets. I coated them in potato starch, egg and a bit of oil. I squeezed lemon on top. they were tasty but nothing to write home about. I remembered that I had a jar of gefilte fish in the closet. my friend loves it. I made my own primitive horseradish sauce. I simply ground a beet and a piece of horseradish root and added a squeeze of lemon and a little sugar. it couldn't compare to the store-bought kind, it had no kick. the horseradish was flat. oh well, I tried anyway. my son went crazy for the gefilte fish. it was like he remembered his Ashkenazi roots. oh by the way, my Sephardi grandson had his first taste of lox today. he loved it like a true Ashkenazi.
I quickly made a cucumber salad, which remained untouched and a grated beet and carrot slaw which was almost untouched. so the salads were not a winner. I also poached some pears in rose wine and orange juice and honey. I managed to spill all of the sauce in the fridge. I had no little containers because the kids used them all making slime. no one was interested in them anyway. I served the cholent for lunch and it was yummy. I had plenty of left over hard cooked eggs to make an egg salad. I had bought prepared mayonnaise. I don't care, I didn't eat it.
the seder was a blast. the wine was amazing. the children were gorgeous and well behaved. we read the hagaddah, and sang and laughed and raced through it at rapid pace. we ate with gusto and sang the remaining songs. we were finished by 11:00 p.m. everyone was satiated. everyone went to sleep and I waited for the kids to go to sleep. we camped out on the floor on mattresses. I slept between each kid. all was well by midnight.
I woke up at 8:00 a.m. with the kids and made hot drinks. we had lunch at around 11:30 a.m. and everyone went to take naps at 2:00 p.m. the kids were hyper and wild, I passed out and woke up to mayhem. at 5:00 p.m. we had a light meal. everyone went home and I was relieved of babysitting. I don't know if I am in the dog house about not wanting to watch the kids tonight. oh well.......
Saturday, March 31, 2018
Thursday, March 29, 2018
It Is Very Close To Pesach
it is 12:30 p.m. in the holy city of safed.
I woke up this morning to what sounded like a monsoon. it was a dirt storm. I ran outside to retrieve a sheet but it got ripped up. I felt like I might blow away, too. I tried to mend the sheet and finally gave up and threw it away. all the kids' cars and go carts were covered in brown. yesterday I washed them all with the hose. it also rained and everything was clean. the front porch windows are trashed but I can't see myself doing them any time soon.
my laundry stand was blown down and I struggled to pick it up. it started being warm again and sunny. I did more laundry. I took out my pesach table cloth and it was really crinkled. I threw it in the wash hoping it would straighten out. it didn't. I tried ironing it, too. it is still damp and a little crinkled. I give up. I managed to set a comforter with duvet cover on all 6 beds downstairs. I closed all the windows so the rain wouldn't enter but it lacks air downstairs. I am going mad.
I think I will be too tired to cook tonight. I want to set up the pesach plastic sinks so I can defrost the meat and poultry. I think I will be making chopped liver, shepherd's pie, chicken soup and possibly, fried tilapia fillets. of course, I have to make the charoset, beets and hard cooked eggs, too. and I will need a salad or two. I best start very early in the morning. maybe I will do something tonight.
I have to wash the kitchen counters with bleach and cover them with tin foil. I then need to do my final sponger of the kitchen area. I can't see doing that until the kids go home. it is cold, hot, cloudy and sunny all at once. some say that this is a sign of the coming of the messiah. it is definitely weird weather.
it is now 7:00 p.m. the kids left at 4:00 p.m. I just finished washing the kitchen and dining room area. I bleached the counters and I will throw boiling hot water on them in a moment. I am afraid of getting electrocuted so I must wait for the floor to dry a bit. my back is spazing. I am beyond tired. I still have to tin foil the counters. it is raining hard and it is freezing outside. I still need to do a chometz check on both floors. neighbors came to check on the downstairs for their renters. they seemed pleased.
I thought about cooking tonight but there is just no way I can do one more thing. we are supposed to burn our chometz in the morning. with the rain and wind factor this will not be an easy feat. perhaps we will get a reprieve tomorrow and have nice and sunny weather. I promised a friend to burn a bunch of chicken necks for her for the seder. we shall see if I can light the barbecue. I am definitely not having fun. I put the liver, chicken, chopped meat and red meat in various pots to defrost. once I get the sink insert in I'll transfer the food there. all I need is for my dog to munch out. it is absolutely pouring right now. it might even be hailing. this is just a bit too much.
10:00 p.m. just finished the traditional ceremonial search for chometz. some of us, just to make it more fun; wrap up 10 morsels of bread and hide them. they say that it's best to make a list of where you placed them but who really bothers?. tonight I could only find 9 little morsels of bread. I checked every room in the house on both floors. finally, I found an empty baggie on my bed. tiny the dog, had found the chometz and eaten it.
I could go for an all nighter and start cooking but I already feel a migraine coming on. the weather is calming down. I just threw out the last of my garbage and it was no longer windy. it actually felt warmer. I have my kitchen set up mostly, and I will attach the gas range in the morning. I think I've done enough today. last year I had the kids help me crack the nuts and it went rather well. they won't be here tomorrow until the night. I'll manage somehow by myself. I will skip making the fried fish and stick with the chicken soup, shepherd's pie and chopped liver for meal after the seder. and for lunch I will make a beef cholent with potatoes. if I do have any time to spare I'll think about making a fish dish.
11;30 p.m. went to bedroom and found a bag with a half of a pita. and there were crumbs all over the clean sheets. is tis really happening????
I woke up this morning to what sounded like a monsoon. it was a dirt storm. I ran outside to retrieve a sheet but it got ripped up. I felt like I might blow away, too. I tried to mend the sheet and finally gave up and threw it away. all the kids' cars and go carts were covered in brown. yesterday I washed them all with the hose. it also rained and everything was clean. the front porch windows are trashed but I can't see myself doing them any time soon.
my laundry stand was blown down and I struggled to pick it up. it started being warm again and sunny. I did more laundry. I took out my pesach table cloth and it was really crinkled. I threw it in the wash hoping it would straighten out. it didn't. I tried ironing it, too. it is still damp and a little crinkled. I give up. I managed to set a comforter with duvet cover on all 6 beds downstairs. I closed all the windows so the rain wouldn't enter but it lacks air downstairs. I am going mad.
I think I will be too tired to cook tonight. I want to set up the pesach plastic sinks so I can defrost the meat and poultry. I think I will be making chopped liver, shepherd's pie, chicken soup and possibly, fried tilapia fillets. of course, I have to make the charoset, beets and hard cooked eggs, too. and I will need a salad or two. I best start very early in the morning. maybe I will do something tonight.
I have to wash the kitchen counters with bleach and cover them with tin foil. I then need to do my final sponger of the kitchen area. I can't see doing that until the kids go home. it is cold, hot, cloudy and sunny all at once. some say that this is a sign of the coming of the messiah. it is definitely weird weather.
it is now 7:00 p.m. the kids left at 4:00 p.m. I just finished washing the kitchen and dining room area. I bleached the counters and I will throw boiling hot water on them in a moment. I am afraid of getting electrocuted so I must wait for the floor to dry a bit. my back is spazing. I am beyond tired. I still have to tin foil the counters. it is raining hard and it is freezing outside. I still need to do a chometz check on both floors. neighbors came to check on the downstairs for their renters. they seemed pleased.
I thought about cooking tonight but there is just no way I can do one more thing. we are supposed to burn our chometz in the morning. with the rain and wind factor this will not be an easy feat. perhaps we will get a reprieve tomorrow and have nice and sunny weather. I promised a friend to burn a bunch of chicken necks for her for the seder. we shall see if I can light the barbecue. I am definitely not having fun. I put the liver, chicken, chopped meat and red meat in various pots to defrost. once I get the sink insert in I'll transfer the food there. all I need is for my dog to munch out. it is absolutely pouring right now. it might even be hailing. this is just a bit too much.
10:00 p.m. just finished the traditional ceremonial search for chometz. some of us, just to make it more fun; wrap up 10 morsels of bread and hide them. they say that it's best to make a list of where you placed them but who really bothers?. tonight I could only find 9 little morsels of bread. I checked every room in the house on both floors. finally, I found an empty baggie on my bed. tiny the dog, had found the chometz and eaten it.
I could go for an all nighter and start cooking but I already feel a migraine coming on. the weather is calming down. I just threw out the last of my garbage and it was no longer windy. it actually felt warmer. I have my kitchen set up mostly, and I will attach the gas range in the morning. I think I've done enough today. last year I had the kids help me crack the nuts and it went rather well. they won't be here tomorrow until the night. I'll manage somehow by myself. I will skip making the fried fish and stick with the chicken soup, shepherd's pie and chopped liver for meal after the seder. and for lunch I will make a beef cholent with potatoes. if I do have any time to spare I'll think about making a fish dish.
11;30 p.m. went to bedroom and found a bag with a half of a pita. and there were crumbs all over the clean sheets. is tis really happening????
Tuesday, March 27, 2018
Rain Rain Go Away
it is 8:00 am. in the holy city of safed. it is pouring. so much for cleaned windows. there are two mattresses that got left outside in the rain. the granddaughter was playing with them yesterday. if the Lord see fits to give us rain one must be thankful, I think. I cannot get started this morning. I am beat. I have three bedrooms to mop down and a hallway and 2 flights of steps. I also have to schlepp down two mattresses and two wooden frames. it has to get done today. there is a dank smell in the stairwell. I need to buy room scents later if it stops raining. maybe i'll sprinkle aromatic oil drops every where. who knows at this point.
9:00 p.m. I finished the downstairs at 2:30 p.m. I made up all the beds. I will brig down comforters tomorrow. I am not sure that I have enough. it turned sunny and warm and I did a few wash loads. I mopped the downstairs master bedroom but didn't have time nor energy to spackle or do windows. I think the place looks great. too good for the pithily fee I asked for. I managed to bang up my middle linger and my big toe carrying down the heavy wooden frames. a woman my age should not be doing this.
we just got pizza. the kids are sleeping over. the daughter-in-law is working all night again. I think I had 4 slices. it's okay I didn't eat anything since my morning bowl of oatmeal. I'm pretty much finished with pesach cleaning. tomorrow I will bleach out the kitchen counters and cover them in thick tin foil.. I decided not to take out my pesach toaster oven. it is in a hutch and I cannot lift the wooden top /bench. we will just have to be happy with mashed potatoes again.
9:00 p.m. I finished the downstairs at 2:30 p.m. I made up all the beds. I will brig down comforters tomorrow. I am not sure that I have enough. it turned sunny and warm and I did a few wash loads. I mopped the downstairs master bedroom but didn't have time nor energy to spackle or do windows. I think the place looks great. too good for the pithily fee I asked for. I managed to bang up my middle linger and my big toe carrying down the heavy wooden frames. a woman my age should not be doing this.
we just got pizza. the kids are sleeping over. the daughter-in-law is working all night again. I think I had 4 slices. it's okay I didn't eat anything since my morning bowl of oatmeal. I'm pretty much finished with pesach cleaning. tomorrow I will bleach out the kitchen counters and cover them in thick tin foil.. I decided not to take out my pesach toaster oven. it is in a hutch and I cannot lift the wooden top /bench. we will just have to be happy with mashed potatoes again.
Tuesday Good News Day?
it is 11:00 a.m. in the holy city of safed. I just spent three hours cleaning and washing and touch painting the downstairs kitchen and laundry area. I did one small bedroom which doubles as a bomb shelter. the laundry room doubles as a party room. it is humongous. I am truly exhausted. it is hot again. do I need to wash the fans??? I don't see how I can possibly do the master bedroom downstairs. it is filthy and is in need of a serious plastering job. if I didn't have the kids today I might be able to swing it. I don't have a working hose downstairs. someone pilfered the parts. I have to clean every thing with buckets of water or bring chairs and tables upstairs. maybe I can have the granddaughter clean them. she loves to help out. perhaps, I should run to the hardware store and buy new parts for the hose.
7:00 p.m. went to two hardware stores but forgot to buy parts of the hose. I might just take them off of the hose upstairs. I am truly beat. I ran to supermarket at 4:00 when kids got picked up. I bought the produce for pesach and a few treats. I had to taxi it home. I suddenly realized that I probably didn't have enough onions and of course, I forgot to buy milk. I ran down to the supermarket near my house. I bought two cartons of milk which looked exactly the same but one was a milk drink. I didn't have the energy to run back to return it.
I'm not needed tomorrow until around 3:00 p.m. I am planning on finishing the downstairs. I still think that I need to close off the large bedroom. we shall see how much energy I have in the morning. my knee is better but the toothache is overwhelming. drinking chamomile tea helps to calm it down. they are talking about rain tomorrow. why not? we all did our windows. I don't care. I know that my windows were cleaned. I need to lie down now.
7:00 p.m. went to two hardware stores but forgot to buy parts of the hose. I might just take them off of the hose upstairs. I am truly beat. I ran to supermarket at 4:00 when kids got picked up. I bought the produce for pesach and a few treats. I had to taxi it home. I suddenly realized that I probably didn't have enough onions and of course, I forgot to buy milk. I ran down to the supermarket near my house. I bought two cartons of milk which looked exactly the same but one was a milk drink. I didn't have the energy to run back to return it.
I'm not needed tomorrow until around 3:00 p.m. I am planning on finishing the downstairs. I still think that I need to close off the large bedroom. we shall see how much energy I have in the morning. my knee is better but the toothache is overwhelming. drinking chamomile tea helps to calm it down. they are talking about rain tomorrow. why not? we all did our windows. I don't care. I know that my windows were cleaned. I need to lie down now.
Monday, March 26, 2018
Monday Morning
it is 11:00 .a.m. I woke up and ran downstairs to do some touch up painting. I cleaned the kitchen cabinets and was shocked to see how dirty they were. I found tons of candy and chocolates left over from various birthday parties and purim. I cleaned a tiny window over the counter. it was disgusting. I thought I had cleaned it last year. I still need to do a bot of spackling in the master bedroom downstairs. I don't know if I will have time today. I need to get ready to go to town soon and pick up the grandkids. my, how time flies!
I just made myself a casa dia : melted cheese inside a tortilla, and a cup of dutch cocoa. I seem to be having quite a few of these a day, hence the lack of weight loss. my knee is still on the fritz. I have so much to do downstairs. I can't believe that I gave them such a low price for a pesach rental. every time my knee throbs I feel like kicking myself in the behind. I used to be able to do that, quite easily, at aerobics. I doubt that I could really do that now.
the weather has turned warm once again. I think i'll get by without putting out heaters downstairs. i'll give each person a comforter. that should save me a bit of money. it's a great day to do windows and laundry. perhaps i'll let the kid make slime downstairs while I clean. I don't know how I will be able to do the floors downstairs. they are huge and the laundry room is a monster. I still need to lug the beds and frames downstairs form the upstairs apartment. I say a silent prayer to be granted the strength. what have I gotten myself into?
6:30 p.m. I just finished the kitchen windows downstairs. what a mess! I couldn't pull half of them out from the frames. I am very frustrated. the grandkids are still here. It turns out that they will be here until after 9:00 p.m. they haven't eaten yet and I have run out of options for them. I made a toast for the grandson and he didn't eat it. I shared it with tiny the dog. I poured the grandson a bowl of corn flakes and milk and he didn't eat it, either. I gave it to the granddaughter but I think it's still outside. I don't have any cash because I blew my wad on pesach surprises for them. I don't even have enough cash to take them on a bus to get a pizza or hamburger. what a dilemma.!
8:00 p.m. I made eggs for dinner. the boy ate some of his scrambled eggs and the girl left her omelet. I shared it with the dog. she had some canned tuna. the grandson is hacking away and I do not have his antibiotics. I don't remember agreeing to having them for 8 hours today. what a balagon. I have to finish the downstairs tomorrow. the guests are on their way here from New York. it will be a lot of sponger tomorrow. I need to do 3 bedrooms and the laundry room. I've decided to leave the master bedroom's plastering and cleaning until after pesach. I will simply put a sign on the door that it hasn't been done for pesach.
10:30 p.m. the kids got picked up a half an hour ago. they both fell asleep on the couch. I was too tired to bathe them. we played cards for an hour before they conked out. I was so short tempered with them today. I have to pick them up from school at 1:00 p.m. tomorrow. they will go home at 4:00 p.m. I will have to clean as much as I can before I go to town and I will go to the supermarket in the evening instead of the morning. it is getting down the wire now.
I just made myself a casa dia : melted cheese inside a tortilla, and a cup of dutch cocoa. I seem to be having quite a few of these a day, hence the lack of weight loss. my knee is still on the fritz. I have so much to do downstairs. I can't believe that I gave them such a low price for a pesach rental. every time my knee throbs I feel like kicking myself in the behind. I used to be able to do that, quite easily, at aerobics. I doubt that I could really do that now.
the weather has turned warm once again. I think i'll get by without putting out heaters downstairs. i'll give each person a comforter. that should save me a bit of money. it's a great day to do windows and laundry. perhaps i'll let the kid make slime downstairs while I clean. I don't know how I will be able to do the floors downstairs. they are huge and the laundry room is a monster. I still need to lug the beds and frames downstairs form the upstairs apartment. I say a silent prayer to be granted the strength. what have I gotten myself into?
6:30 p.m. I just finished the kitchen windows downstairs. what a mess! I couldn't pull half of them out from the frames. I am very frustrated. the grandkids are still here. It turns out that they will be here until after 9:00 p.m. they haven't eaten yet and I have run out of options for them. I made a toast for the grandson and he didn't eat it. I shared it with tiny the dog. I poured the grandson a bowl of corn flakes and milk and he didn't eat it, either. I gave it to the granddaughter but I think it's still outside. I don't have any cash because I blew my wad on pesach surprises for them. I don't even have enough cash to take them on a bus to get a pizza or hamburger. what a dilemma.!
8:00 p.m. I made eggs for dinner. the boy ate some of his scrambled eggs and the girl left her omelet. I shared it with the dog. she had some canned tuna. the grandson is hacking away and I do not have his antibiotics. I don't remember agreeing to having them for 8 hours today. what a balagon. I have to finish the downstairs tomorrow. the guests are on their way here from New York. it will be a lot of sponger tomorrow. I need to do 3 bedrooms and the laundry room. I've decided to leave the master bedroom's plastering and cleaning until after pesach. I will simply put a sign on the door that it hasn't been done for pesach.
10:30 p.m. the kids got picked up a half an hour ago. they both fell asleep on the couch. I was too tired to bathe them. we played cards for an hour before they conked out. I was so short tempered with them today. I have to pick them up from school at 1:00 p.m. tomorrow. they will go home at 4:00 p.m. I will have to clean as much as I can before I go to town and I will go to the supermarket in the evening instead of the morning. it is getting down the wire now.
Sunday, March 25, 2018
Countdown To Pesach 2018
it is 8:30 p.m. in the holy city of safed. I am shivering. I just took a luke warm shower. my clothes were wet from washing windows downstairs. I did the two small windows in the bomb shelter bedroom. the screen was shot and I won't have any time to fix it until after pesach. I intend to wash the windows in the downstairs kitchen in the morning before I have to pick up the kids. they are all pretty small. I washed the windows in the living room today but I didn't lift them out of the frames. they are incredibly heavy. I kind of threw water up and down the backs. I guess I got the dirt off of them. I couldn't really windex them.
I only had the granddaughter with me today. I took her to town and bought a few inexpensive prizes for them for pesach. I imagine the parents will kick in with the real presents for their participation at the seder. I bought clear glue as well as the white kind and a couple of more colors to make more slime. my granddaughter went home with 4 containers full of slime. the grandson was a bit jealous. he was too sick to go to school today. he can make some slime tomorrow afternoon.
I am suffering from a really intense toothache. I've already taken two pills and it hasn't quieted down. I might have to get some antibiotic tomorrow. the dentist wouldn't agree to pull my tooth until I got a letter from the neurosurgeon that it was safe. the neurologist at the safed hospital vetoed it. I've been living on borrowed time. this time the plain is unbearable.
I did very little today. I was too tired when I got up to function. I had to get to the school by 12:30 p.m. which meant I needed to be on a bus at 11:40 a.m. I stopped in a furniture shop to price a small sofa. it was above my means. it also was material and I think the dog hair would destroy it. the fake leather one was also too expensive. I do not know what to do. I just might have to clean the busted couch and cover it with a nice schemata for pesach.
there is someone selling used furniture in the old city. perhaps I will call tomorrow and see if he has any two seater couches in his warehouse. there is a huge furniture store down in the industrial zone. It is a huge schlepp to get down there and I am not sure they will be able to deliver something right before pesach. oh well.......
I only had the granddaughter with me today. I took her to town and bought a few inexpensive prizes for them for pesach. I imagine the parents will kick in with the real presents for their participation at the seder. I bought clear glue as well as the white kind and a couple of more colors to make more slime. my granddaughter went home with 4 containers full of slime. the grandson was a bit jealous. he was too sick to go to school today. he can make some slime tomorrow afternoon.
I am suffering from a really intense toothache. I've already taken two pills and it hasn't quieted down. I might have to get some antibiotic tomorrow. the dentist wouldn't agree to pull my tooth until I got a letter from the neurosurgeon that it was safe. the neurologist at the safed hospital vetoed it. I've been living on borrowed time. this time the plain is unbearable.
I did very little today. I was too tired when I got up to function. I had to get to the school by 12:30 p.m. which meant I needed to be on a bus at 11:40 a.m. I stopped in a furniture shop to price a small sofa. it was above my means. it also was material and I think the dog hair would destroy it. the fake leather one was also too expensive. I do not know what to do. I just might have to clean the busted couch and cover it with a nice schemata for pesach.
there is someone selling used furniture in the old city. perhaps I will call tomorrow and see if he has any two seater couches in his warehouse. there is a huge furniture store down in the industrial zone. It is a huge schlepp to get down there and I am not sure they will be able to deliver something right before pesach. oh well.......
Saturday, March 24, 2018
The End Of The Great Shabbat
it is 9:00 p.m. in the hoy city of safed. Shabbat ended at 7:35 p.m. I was reading a novel and covered in a warm blanket. it got really cold overnight. I mean, cold like winter. this is after having had a few days of a heat wave like summer. my grandson got pretty sick. he had a high fever and he wanted to sleep over. he was coughing up a storm and I really cannot afford to get sick again, especially right before pesach. I didn't have any childs' aspirin and I kept telling the parents to visit a neighbor and get some. he managed to walk home but granddaughter refused to go home. she fell asleep right after the parents left. that was about 10:00 p.m. I couldn't sleep because I noticed that the kids had left their house key here.
I figured that perhaps, the grandson could climb in through the kitchen window and let the parents in. I stayed up for a while and unlocked the door, in the advent that someone would return to my house. I finally fell asleep and awoke at 4:00 a.m. I locked the door. I didn't to synagogue this morning. I was too cold and my knee ached. it is difficult to climb steps. I was hoping that after a little rest, it would feel better. no such luck. we both got up at about 8:00 a.m. and I had to keep her inside even though she was already dressed and ready to run over to see her friend. I let her go to her friend at 10:00 a.m. services usually end at about 10:30. she retuned home with her friend at 12:30 p.m. the kids arrived at 1:00 p.m. and we finally had lunch.
the grandson had had a very high fever and was laying limp in bed all morning. they usually come at about 11:30 a.m. after a dose of very strong aspirin he was more or less, himself. he wanted to stay over until Shabbat ended but thankfully, they all went home and I went to bed at 3:00 p.m. I was limping a bit. I got up at 6:00 p.m. and had a cup of cocoa and ate some rice cakes with peanut butter. I continued reading my novel until Shabbat ended. I didn't make havdallah right away..
the son called and wanted me to babysit tonight. I am just, too tired. I can't do anything right now. I have a little washing up to do but it can wait until morning. I also feel like I might be coming down with something. my nose is running non stop. I have lots to do tomorrow. I want to start the downstairs. if it is very cold I don't see myself being outside doing windows. I also need to pick up the kids from school at 1:00 p.m. it always gets down the wire no matter how early I start. I need to clean the torn up little couch and recliner in the t.v. room and dust off a bookshelf and the upstairs will officially be cleaned for pesach.
I figured that perhaps, the grandson could climb in through the kitchen window and let the parents in. I stayed up for a while and unlocked the door, in the advent that someone would return to my house. I finally fell asleep and awoke at 4:00 a.m. I locked the door. I didn't to synagogue this morning. I was too cold and my knee ached. it is difficult to climb steps. I was hoping that after a little rest, it would feel better. no such luck. we both got up at about 8:00 a.m. and I had to keep her inside even though she was already dressed and ready to run over to see her friend. I let her go to her friend at 10:00 a.m. services usually end at about 10:30. she retuned home with her friend at 12:30 p.m. the kids arrived at 1:00 p.m. and we finally had lunch.
the grandson had had a very high fever and was laying limp in bed all morning. they usually come at about 11:30 a.m. after a dose of very strong aspirin he was more or less, himself. he wanted to stay over until Shabbat ended but thankfully, they all went home and I went to bed at 3:00 p.m. I was limping a bit. I got up at 6:00 p.m. and had a cup of cocoa and ate some rice cakes with peanut butter. I continued reading my novel until Shabbat ended. I didn't make havdallah right away..
the son called and wanted me to babysit tonight. I am just, too tired. I can't do anything right now. I have a little washing up to do but it can wait until morning. I also feel like I might be coming down with something. my nose is running non stop. I have lots to do tomorrow. I want to start the downstairs. if it is very cold I don't see myself being outside doing windows. I also need to pick up the kids from school at 1:00 p.m. it always gets down the wire no matter how early I start. I need to clean the torn up little couch and recliner in the t.v. room and dust off a bookshelf and the upstairs will officially be cleaned for pesach.
Friday, March 23, 2018
The Great Shabbat II
it is 2:00 p.m. in the holy city of safed. I am at my wit's end. I just schlepped down to the supermarket and up again; several flights of steps; to return. my reason for this trip was to buy some beer for my son, who is coming back to safed for Shabbat. I haven't seen him in two weeks. I took the granddaughter with me because she was 'antsy'. I ended up buying everything they wanted except for the beer. the grandson is under the weather and very testy. he wasn't given a pill this morning. every corner of the house is cluttered with their junk. I can't clean anymore. I can't keep on picking up lego pieces.
I already cooked. I may a shepherd's pie for dinner and some tilapia fillets. I have some chumus and an Israeli salad. we changed our clocks last night. we set them forward. this means that Shabbat dinner doesn't start before 8:00 p.m. it is a drag! I made a chicken stew for lunch. it will remain on the platter all night. it is a bit greasy. I am very uninspired. I bought some canned corn at the supermarket but didn't buy any salads. I will go next week and buy the veggies for pesach.
it looks like we will be 8 at the table for pesach. that is if everyone shows up. I wanted to finish the master bedroom but I've run out of steam. I did clean the master bathroom. I am losing it. I didn't sleep last night. I had a prospective rental and I couldn't rest after that. at 6:00 a.m. I turned off the television. I wasn't watching anything. I just needed that noise to keep me calm. I feel brain dead today.
I already cooked. I may a shepherd's pie for dinner and some tilapia fillets. I have some chumus and an Israeli salad. we changed our clocks last night. we set them forward. this means that Shabbat dinner doesn't start before 8:00 p.m. it is a drag! I made a chicken stew for lunch. it will remain on the platter all night. it is a bit greasy. I am very uninspired. I bought some canned corn at the supermarket but didn't buy any salads. I will go next week and buy the veggies for pesach.
it looks like we will be 8 at the table for pesach. that is if everyone shows up. I wanted to finish the master bedroom but I've run out of steam. I did clean the master bathroom. I am losing it. I didn't sleep last night. I had a prospective rental and I couldn't rest after that. at 6:00 a.m. I turned off the television. I wasn't watching anything. I just needed that noise to keep me calm. I feel brain dead today.
Thursday, March 22, 2018
The Great Shabbat
it is 9:30 a.m. in the holy city of safed. I just had a glass of water. I finally got out of bed and let the dog out at 8:00 a.m. I got up earlier but didn't feel like moving. I went straight into the guest bedroom and dusted the furniture and mopped the floor. I didn't use bleach. no one eats in this room. I struggled putting the bed cover back on. the nylon zipper kept on splitting. I thought it was a goner for sure but somehow it all worked out. I made up the bed and now it is completely ready for pesach. I need to do the same to the master bedroom. tiny has been bringing in large rolls that people are throwing out before pesach. I need to finish the room and close the door. I already did a major floor washing at the beginning of the week. I will just sweep and change the linens.
I have to go to town at 12:00 p.m. to pick up the kids. I need to stop off at the rabbinate and sell my chometz. I also have to buy some potatoes and veggies for Shabbat. I have decided to make a shepherd's pie without baking it. how bad could it turn out?. I am also going to stew some chicken thighs and legs with barley and wheat and potatoes for lunch. I'm on the fence about bothering to cook fish this week. I wish they ate gefilte fish. I have a jar of it in the closet.. oh well.......
I have to go to town at 12:00 p.m. to pick up the kids. I need to stop off at the rabbinate and sell my chometz. I also have to buy some potatoes and veggies for Shabbat. I have decided to make a shepherd's pie without baking it. how bad could it turn out?. I am also going to stew some chicken thighs and legs with barley and wheat and potatoes for lunch. I'm on the fence about bothering to cook fish this week. I wish they ate gefilte fish. I have a jar of it in the closet.. oh well.......
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
The Old Grey Mare
it is 4:00 p.m. in the holy city of safed. I ran around a lot today but didn't get all of my errands accomplished. I ran to the hospital in the morning. that "run" involved catching two busses. I first went to the clinic to ask if they could call the technician at the eye clinic and have him fax them the results of my peripheral vision test. I took said test back in august and lost said results sometime after. it's not like me to lose medical papers. I didn't even remember taking the test. the neurosurgeon ordered it back in july. I am going to do an MRI of the brain right after pesach and I will be seeing the surgeon shortly afterwards. I asked the young lady at the clinic last week if she could decipher, from their records, when I took the vision test. I also asked her if she would call the hospital for me and ask if they would fax the results to their office. she said it couldn't be done. I think she said it was 'unheard' of.
I called the hospital myself and spoke with the technician yesterday. it took him quite a bit of time to find it. he offered to fax it to me but I do not have a fax machine at home nor do I have access to a fax machine in the immediate neighborhood. today, another lovely lady clerk, did call the hospital for me but they couldn't get in touch with the technician ,who was saving the results for me, on his desk. I requested that he not bring the results into the office for I feared that they would lose them. the secretary from the hospital told the secretary at my clinic that they would mail it to me. I wouldn't hold my breath.
I ran to the bus stop and caught the bus to the hospital. I wanted the results in my hand. I got there and as soon as the technician opened his door I stormed in. the ride back to town was awful. I was squeezed into a crowded van filled with baby strollers and ultraorthodox women and men. I got out in town and walked to my friend's home. it was already 10:30 a.m. and I hadn't had even a cup of tea yet. my knee was aching and it was difficult navigating uphill. I had a snack at my friend's and showed her a costume for her upcoming play.
today was open market day and I would have liked to look around but it was hot and I felt unwell again. I saw a bus going up my way and immediately jumped on. I got back to my neighborhood about 1:00 p.m. and stopped off at another friend on the next block. she lives close to the bus stop. I had another snack and cup of tea and limped home. I stayed on you tube for about an hour and then ran out to catch the bus back to town to pick of the grandkids. I didn't have enough time to buy bread or something for dinner for them.
when we were waiting for the van to take us home I suddenly realized that I wasn't supposed to pick them up today. their mom came a moment later, luckily, before we entered the van and drove me home. I felt like such a dodo. tomorrow I have to get them from town early as they are officially on vacation. are we having fun yet?
I called the hospital myself and spoke with the technician yesterday. it took him quite a bit of time to find it. he offered to fax it to me but I do not have a fax machine at home nor do I have access to a fax machine in the immediate neighborhood. today, another lovely lady clerk, did call the hospital for me but they couldn't get in touch with the technician ,who was saving the results for me, on his desk. I requested that he not bring the results into the office for I feared that they would lose them. the secretary from the hospital told the secretary at my clinic that they would mail it to me. I wouldn't hold my breath.
I ran to the bus stop and caught the bus to the hospital. I wanted the results in my hand. I got there and as soon as the technician opened his door I stormed in. the ride back to town was awful. I was squeezed into a crowded van filled with baby strollers and ultraorthodox women and men. I got out in town and walked to my friend's home. it was already 10:30 a.m. and I hadn't had even a cup of tea yet. my knee was aching and it was difficult navigating uphill. I had a snack at my friend's and showed her a costume for her upcoming play.
today was open market day and I would have liked to look around but it was hot and I felt unwell again. I saw a bus going up my way and immediately jumped on. I got back to my neighborhood about 1:00 p.m. and stopped off at another friend on the next block. she lives close to the bus stop. I had another snack and cup of tea and limped home. I stayed on you tube for about an hour and then ran out to catch the bus back to town to pick of the grandkids. I didn't have enough time to buy bread or something for dinner for them.
when we were waiting for the van to take us home I suddenly realized that I wasn't supposed to pick them up today. their mom came a moment later, luckily, before we entered the van and drove me home. I felt like such a dodo. tomorrow I have to get them from town early as they are officially on vacation. are we having fun yet?
Monday, March 19, 2018
Tuesday Good News Day
it is 8:30 a.m. in the holy city of safed. I got up at 6:00 a.m. I was having a nightmare about being lost in a palestinian city. even though the television was on all night, I slept through each and every program. I was just that tired. maybe it was the chemicals. I may have overdone it with the bleach and oven spray. my hands are calloused and my fingers are burnt. I didn't use gloves.
I washed the floor of the t.v. room and redid the kitchen and dining room floors with soap and water before I even had a cup of tea.. I was amazed at how much dirt was still on the floors. you cannot eat off of my floors, ever. the oven and stove look brand new. I wonder if hey will work again after all the water I threw on them. I have to pick up the kids at 4:00 p.m. from school. the house it a bit of a disaster. I better get things in order before they come. I am in panic mode. I know that it is crazy because I still have another week to finish. bringing the kids into this mix is overwhelming. I am so over this pesach spring cleaning.
!:00 p.m. I just finished washing the other two porch windows. somehow, they seemed much heavier today. I didn't go for perfection. I just wanted them clean. i'll probably have dead birds in front of my door. they tend to crash into the cleaned windows. my pincher would bring them into the house and munch away. tiny dog doesn't have that instinct. he is happy with rice and tuna. I found a whole roll in his bed in the bedroom that I cleaned already. I am going to have to keep the bedroom doors shut until pesach.
I got my paperwork for the MRI and took a blood test. I am pretty tired. I was able to find the industrial strength tin foil to cover the counters. I also bought white paint and more plaster. a lovely young man drove me home from the store. sometimes, it pays to look old.
I washed the floor of the t.v. room and redid the kitchen and dining room floors with soap and water before I even had a cup of tea.. I was amazed at how much dirt was still on the floors. you cannot eat off of my floors, ever. the oven and stove look brand new. I wonder if hey will work again after all the water I threw on them. I have to pick up the kids at 4:00 p.m. from school. the house it a bit of a disaster. I better get things in order before they come. I am in panic mode. I know that it is crazy because I still have another week to finish. bringing the kids into this mix is overwhelming. I am so over this pesach spring cleaning.
!:00 p.m. I just finished washing the other two porch windows. somehow, they seemed much heavier today. I didn't go for perfection. I just wanted them clean. i'll probably have dead birds in front of my door. they tend to crash into the cleaned windows. my pincher would bring them into the house and munch away. tiny dog doesn't have that instinct. he is happy with rice and tuna. I found a whole roll in his bed in the bedroom that I cleaned already. I am going to have to keep the bedroom doors shut until pesach.
I got my paperwork for the MRI and took a blood test. I am pretty tired. I was able to find the industrial strength tin foil to cover the counters. I also bought white paint and more plaster. a lovely young man drove me home from the store. sometimes, it pays to look old.
A New Day
it is 9:30 a.m. in the holy city of safed. I am truly rested. I felt like I was in a semi coma yesterday. I stayed in bed and slept through the night. I did wake up a lot but fell back to sleep easily. I already washed down the floor in the master bedroom and cleaned the porch area. I still have tons of bags on the bed. I did some plastering yesterday in the downstairs kitchen area. it needs a touch up of white paint and it will be good. if I am not needed to babysit today I will go ahead and wash the kitchen chairs and alcove. I'd rather wash the windows in the downstairs kitchen area. I know I am stalling. I'm just not into doing the alcove today. the downstairs won't really take that much time to do.
I will bring down the beds and wash all of the floors. I can't really reach the windows in the two bedrooms that are under ground. I might just wash the curtains and call it a day. I've completely run out of money. it always happens at holiday time. I will manage by giving post dated checks. I will survive with the help of my family and friends. I'm not going to lose sleep on it.
5:30 p.m. kitchen alcove and dining room chairs are done! I used so much water that the chairs will be wet until Friday.. did the oven and stove top. hopefully, that will dry by the end of pesach. I did two porch windows. would have done the other two but the neighbor was spraying furniture outside and I couldn't be outside. the house really looks upside down now.
the fix it man came back and now I can lock the downstairs door. he also put a handle on the upstairs apartment door so I can enter now. he switched a couple of light fixtures for me, as well. he took about $120. I hope to get to the clinic tomorrow and do a blood test and pick up my paperwork for the MRI. I also want to buy paint and more plaster and work on the downstairs walls. I officially finished my apartment.
I will bring down the beds and wash all of the floors. I can't really reach the windows in the two bedrooms that are under ground. I might just wash the curtains and call it a day. I've completely run out of money. it always happens at holiday time. I will manage by giving post dated checks. I will survive with the help of my family and friends. I'm not going to lose sleep on it.
5:30 p.m. kitchen alcove and dining room chairs are done! I used so much water that the chairs will be wet until Friday.. did the oven and stove top. hopefully, that will dry by the end of pesach. I did two porch windows. would have done the other two but the neighbor was spraying furniture outside and I couldn't be outside. the house really looks upside down now.
the fix it man came back and now I can lock the downstairs door. he also put a handle on the upstairs apartment door so I can enter now. he switched a couple of light fixtures for me, as well. he took about $120. I hope to get to the clinic tomorrow and do a blood test and pick up my paperwork for the MRI. I also want to buy paint and more plaster and work on the downstairs walls. I officially finished my apartment.
Sunday, March 18, 2018
Sundays
it is 9:00 a.m .in the holy city of safed. I am too tired to do anything right now. i, pretty much didn't sleep last night. I did sleep for most of the afternoon. I need to exchange the lock in town today. I also need to go to the clinic to check up on my paperwork. I already drank a strong tea and a hot chocolate. I am waiting for the caffeine to kick in. as usual, I ate too much on shabbat. I have been fasting each night for 12 hours. I desperately need to lose weight. I felt a bit lighter on Saturday morning. maybe it was my imagination. I thought about going to the supermarket to buy matzoth today. maybe i'll find some in town.
I finally have a good book to read but no time to actually commit to it. it's an epic novel about life of the jews in Russia around the late 1800's and it is about 600 pages. it's a perfect book to read on Shabbat. I read about 100 pages on Friday night and went to sleep after 2:00 a.m. I managed to get to synagogue at 8:00 a.m. but I felt pretty queasy. I didn't have any banana pancakes for the morning so I made some oatmeal on Friday to have something to have before I left for services. I also ate it as a dessert. I'm staying clear of cookies and cakes.
I need to wash my kitchen chairs and clean out the actual alcove where I cook. I can't think about it today. I also need to wash the windows in the master bedroom. perhaps, later I'll have more energy. the clinic office is open until 12:00 p.m. I think, I best, make my way over there. if the clinic up here cannot help me I will have to go to the main branch in town. it's just a matter of showering, and getting myself dressed. no easy feat.
5:00 p.m. didn't do much cleaning today. my paperwork was ready except for the MRI. they listed rambam instead of sheba. they claim that patients in the north automatically get listed for rambam in Haifa even thought I have been doing all my treatments and checkups in tel aviv at sheba. just more bureaucracy. I think I left my magnetic card at the clinic. if not, I have to get a new one soon. I got to town and was able to get another lock for the front door. I hope this one fits. the fix it man might come tomorrow. I then went back up to the large supermarket, not far form my home and bought matzah. these are special hand made round matzah. I paid $34 dollars for two pounds. that was cheap. they had some for more. I also paid $23 dollars for 2 pounds of hand made square matzah for the kids.
I bought about 3 dozen eggs and two bags of unshelled nuts. all I need now is to buy heavy duty aluminum foil to cover my kitchen counters and, of course, tons of potatoes and veggies. I do still need white paint and plaster. I hope I will be more energetic tomorrow.
I finally have a good book to read but no time to actually commit to it. it's an epic novel about life of the jews in Russia around the late 1800's and it is about 600 pages. it's a perfect book to read on Shabbat. I read about 100 pages on Friday night and went to sleep after 2:00 a.m. I managed to get to synagogue at 8:00 a.m. but I felt pretty queasy. I didn't have any banana pancakes for the morning so I made some oatmeal on Friday to have something to have before I left for services. I also ate it as a dessert. I'm staying clear of cookies and cakes.
I need to wash my kitchen chairs and clean out the actual alcove where I cook. I can't think about it today. I also need to wash the windows in the master bedroom. perhaps, later I'll have more energy. the clinic office is open until 12:00 p.m. I think, I best, make my way over there. if the clinic up here cannot help me I will have to go to the main branch in town. it's just a matter of showering, and getting myself dressed. no easy feat.
5:00 p.m. didn't do much cleaning today. my paperwork was ready except for the MRI. they listed rambam instead of sheba. they claim that patients in the north automatically get listed for rambam in Haifa even thought I have been doing all my treatments and checkups in tel aviv at sheba. just more bureaucracy. I think I left my magnetic card at the clinic. if not, I have to get a new one soon. I got to town and was able to get another lock for the front door. I hope this one fits. the fix it man might come tomorrow. I then went back up to the large supermarket, not far form my home and bought matzah. these are special hand made round matzah. I paid $34 dollars for two pounds. that was cheap. they had some for more. I also paid $23 dollars for 2 pounds of hand made square matzah for the kids.
I bought about 3 dozen eggs and two bags of unshelled nuts. all I need now is to buy heavy duty aluminum foil to cover my kitchen counters and, of course, tons of potatoes and veggies. I do still need white paint and plaster. I hope I will be more energetic tomorrow.
Friday, March 16, 2018
Shabbat Rest
it is noontime in the holy city of safed. the fix it man came with his son and stopped the running toilet. yeh! he also put a bedroom door back on its hinges, secured a light fixture, fixed a heater, and replaced a door knob on the upstairs apartment door. unfortunately, the lock I bought for the downstairs door was too short. I thought these things were one size. oh well.... I had him take the heater off of the wall in the bedroom downstairs, which doubles for a bomb shelter, and put it on the wall upstairs in the television room. this way no heaters are on floor with little kids around now. I need to buy an extension cord so the wire hangs lower and doesn't stick out in front of the t.v.
the son of fix it man offered his expertise to fix and plaster the walls downstairs. he couldn't give me a price now so I declined. I can't afford it any way. if, in the future, I do rent the downstairs; I will definitely bring in a repairman to fix the walls. right now I just want it to look clean. I probably will buy paint on sunday and do a bit of touch up. I know I should finish the upstairs first but I'm so bored now.
the daughter-in-law and kids are going to the sephardi family for Shabbat. I do not feel like walking home from that neighborhood tonight. I am pretty tired. I made a pot of black eyed peas, potatoes and chicken for Shabbat. I used one quarter of a chicken and two small potatoes and a cup of beans. I truly need a hot meal. I have been subsisting on peanut butter and rice cakes all week with the addition of an omelet for good measure.
we went to the granddaughter's siddur party last night. all the first graders receive their first prayer book. they performed and sung and danced. I was a bit peeved that my granddaughter didn't get a solo but that's the stage mom in me. the granddaughter didn't seem to care. the Sephardi grandma made about 3 platters of fried donuts for the occasion. she actually had to buy 3 kilo bags of flour just before pesach. who does that?
I already put away my electric water urn but I just might take it out for Shabbat. I do need my hot drinks. the house is still trashed. everything is all over the place. I just want to get it in order for Shabbat. the master bedroom looks like a cyclone hit it. I did manage to go through the closets and drawers and weed out things I no longer want. I did take down a bunch of blankets to bring downstairs for the paying guests for pesach. I have enough heaters to place one in each bedroom if needed. I also have one to use for the hallway if warranted. I do not have an air conditioner heating unit system. that is why the price is so low. I only charged a family of 6: $250 for 3 nights. it should have been at least double that.
I really have to stop myself from going downstairs right now and plastering the walls. I have another week to tackle this. I have to stay on tract and finish the upstairs. I think I will take a break from it all and lie down and catch up on some television. that is, of course, after I straighten up the house for Shabbat.
5:00 p.m. It is almost time for candle lighting. the house is neat. spent hours patching up a mattress that tiny dog tore apart. my son, who is spending his first Shabbat away from his wife and kids since their marriage 9 years ago, just called to wish me a good Shabbat. he sounded like a young boy on his own at boarding school. it was bitter sweet.
the son of fix it man offered his expertise to fix and plaster the walls downstairs. he couldn't give me a price now so I declined. I can't afford it any way. if, in the future, I do rent the downstairs; I will definitely bring in a repairman to fix the walls. right now I just want it to look clean. I probably will buy paint on sunday and do a bit of touch up. I know I should finish the upstairs first but I'm so bored now.
the daughter-in-law and kids are going to the sephardi family for Shabbat. I do not feel like walking home from that neighborhood tonight. I am pretty tired. I made a pot of black eyed peas, potatoes and chicken for Shabbat. I used one quarter of a chicken and two small potatoes and a cup of beans. I truly need a hot meal. I have been subsisting on peanut butter and rice cakes all week with the addition of an omelet for good measure.
we went to the granddaughter's siddur party last night. all the first graders receive their first prayer book. they performed and sung and danced. I was a bit peeved that my granddaughter didn't get a solo but that's the stage mom in me. the granddaughter didn't seem to care. the Sephardi grandma made about 3 platters of fried donuts for the occasion. she actually had to buy 3 kilo bags of flour just before pesach. who does that?
I already put away my electric water urn but I just might take it out for Shabbat. I do need my hot drinks. the house is still trashed. everything is all over the place. I just want to get it in order for Shabbat. the master bedroom looks like a cyclone hit it. I did manage to go through the closets and drawers and weed out things I no longer want. I did take down a bunch of blankets to bring downstairs for the paying guests for pesach. I have enough heaters to place one in each bedroom if needed. I also have one to use for the hallway if warranted. I do not have an air conditioner heating unit system. that is why the price is so low. I only charged a family of 6: $250 for 3 nights. it should have been at least double that.
I really have to stop myself from going downstairs right now and plastering the walls. I have another week to tackle this. I have to stay on tract and finish the upstairs. I think I will take a break from it all and lie down and catch up on some television. that is, of course, after I straighten up the house for Shabbat.
5:00 p.m. It is almost time for candle lighting. the house is neat. spent hours patching up a mattress that tiny dog tore apart. my son, who is spending his first Shabbat away from his wife and kids since their marriage 9 years ago, just called to wish me a good Shabbat. he sounded like a young boy on his own at boarding school. it was bitter sweet.
Thursday, March 15, 2018
Raining Really?
it is 9:30 a.m. in the holy city of safed. I have tons of laundry hanging outside and it looks like it may start raining any minute. I forgot to take out a load last night and hung it outside to get freshened in the air. I have a lot of the kids' stuff drying too. it got cold again and my heaters suddenly died. I can't really afford to buy new heaters right now. I will have to ask the neighbors to give me a couple of heaters when their guests arrive for pesach. that is, of course, if it is still cold. I may need to borrow fans. who knows? I am too tired to move. my body is hurting all over. a tussle with my grandson this morning to get him into the shower, didn't help. I got up at 5:45 a.m. when the grandson woke up. I still have about 12 days to finish pesach cleaning. why am I panicking?
I think I will have to skip touch up painting downstairs. the three bedrooms are for the most part, in tact. I will just wash the floors next week. I think i'll skip doing the windows downstairs. I still do need to finish up scrubbing the kitchen alcove, where I do my cooking and frying. I have to wash the stove top and oven. I don't use it for pesach. I have a separate range and toaster oven for pesach. I'm still not sure if the kids will be here for the seder.
I need to rest up a bit this morning. the granddaughter has her first grade recital at 5:30 p.m. right now I am not fit for anything. I am going to take it easy. I am seriously, not doing so great. I don't even have the strength to go out now to do errands. I know, i'll try to get the plumber to come. still need toilet downstairs fixed.
11:30 a.m. did more laundry. schlepped a mattress and wooden frame downstairs. that's the extra bed I use when kids sleep over on shabbat. I found some single mattresses in the street a while ago so the kids can use those on pesach if they are here. I am also short on pillows. I might just tell my guests and family to bring their own. I washed down a mattress. hopefully it will seem clean. the sun finally came out for awhile. downtown, according to my friend, it's hot and sunny. up here in the boonies, it is cold and grey. go know? hopefully, the repairman can come tomorrow to fix the toilet. that will take half of the rental, for sure. it ain't easy, as I've previously commented.
3:00 p.m. been futzing around with closets and laundry for most of the day. luckily, it didn't rain. still have some blankets on the lines. everything smells clean and fresh but red clay stains and mud didn't come out. tiny dog did a real mess this winter. I haven't seen our newest pet, zavie the turtle. I wonder if he made it to the downstairs or actually ,got out of the courtyard. I found the old game of life in my bedroom closet. I think the kids will get a kick out of it. I found it quite boring last time I played it. monopoly is my game of choice. I really need to rest before ging to the first grade production. this is going to be very long and grueling.
I think I will have to skip touch up painting downstairs. the three bedrooms are for the most part, in tact. I will just wash the floors next week. I think i'll skip doing the windows downstairs. I still do need to finish up scrubbing the kitchen alcove, where I do my cooking and frying. I have to wash the stove top and oven. I don't use it for pesach. I have a separate range and toaster oven for pesach. I'm still not sure if the kids will be here for the seder.
I need to rest up a bit this morning. the granddaughter has her first grade recital at 5:30 p.m. right now I am not fit for anything. I am going to take it easy. I am seriously, not doing so great. I don't even have the strength to go out now to do errands. I know, i'll try to get the plumber to come. still need toilet downstairs fixed.
11:30 a.m. did more laundry. schlepped a mattress and wooden frame downstairs. that's the extra bed I use when kids sleep over on shabbat. I found some single mattresses in the street a while ago so the kids can use those on pesach if they are here. I am also short on pillows. I might just tell my guests and family to bring their own. I washed down a mattress. hopefully it will seem clean. the sun finally came out for awhile. downtown, according to my friend, it's hot and sunny. up here in the boonies, it is cold and grey. go know? hopefully, the repairman can come tomorrow to fix the toilet. that will take half of the rental, for sure. it ain't easy, as I've previously commented.
3:00 p.m. been futzing around with closets and laundry for most of the day. luckily, it didn't rain. still have some blankets on the lines. everything smells clean and fresh but red clay stains and mud didn't come out. tiny dog did a real mess this winter. I haven't seen our newest pet, zavie the turtle. I wonder if he made it to the downstairs or actually ,got out of the courtyard. I found the old game of life in my bedroom closet. I think the kids will get a kick out of it. I found it quite boring last time I played it. monopoly is my game of choice. I really need to rest before ging to the first grade production. this is going to be very long and grueling.
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
It Ain't Easy
it is 8:00 p.m. in the holy city of safed. kids just left. grandson woke up at midnight and saw a rather gruesome scene from Law and Order. that was it for falling back to sleep. I allowed him to watch his violent cartoons while I tried to fall back to sleep. I was awakened many times by his shifting in the mattress. at 3:00 a.m. I saw tat he was still awake watching cartoons. I lost it. granddaughter woke up at that point. grandson cried and carried on after television was turned off. he may have fallen asleep around 5:00 a.m, which means I may have fallen asleep at that time. every time I fell asleep he would wake me up. my head hurt and my eyes were burning at 11:00 p.m.
both kids woke up at 6:30 a.m. they wanted to play with their slime. I was planning on going to town to buy more glue and color for them to make new slime but I don't think that will happen. yesterday I spent nearly 40 minutes in the bank waiting for my checkbooks; only to be told that they had been sent to my postal box on the next street. I went ballistic. I can't do changes. for over 33 years they have always been sent to the bank. there I was in town without cash or checks and couldn't do any more shopping for the holiday. I want to get the matzah already.
I need to have my creatinine levels tested before the MRI but I am too tired now to take a blood test. I will probably stay in and do laundry and windows. I managed to do the two bedroom windows in the computer room. they were pretty light weight. looks like the kids will be with me again tonight. daughter-in-law is arriving very late from Jerusalem. tomorrow is my granddaughter's first grade's production. it is very emotional. I know the kids are missing their parents a lot. I am no substitute for their young and active parents. I have more patience for sure, but not more energy. and that's the
truth
2:30 p.m. watched a murder trial movie until noon. I did laundry. that's about it for today. need to run to supermarket to buy some food. kids will be back at 4:00 p.m. managed to get the bed cover back onto bed. trick was to open it into two pieces rater than struggle with one. now I can wash the other cover without fear. I feel like today was a wasted day. oh well....
both kids woke up at 6:30 a.m. they wanted to play with their slime. I was planning on going to town to buy more glue and color for them to make new slime but I don't think that will happen. yesterday I spent nearly 40 minutes in the bank waiting for my checkbooks; only to be told that they had been sent to my postal box on the next street. I went ballistic. I can't do changes. for over 33 years they have always been sent to the bank. there I was in town without cash or checks and couldn't do any more shopping for the holiday. I want to get the matzah already.
I need to have my creatinine levels tested before the MRI but I am too tired now to take a blood test. I will probably stay in and do laundry and windows. I managed to do the two bedroom windows in the computer room. they were pretty light weight. looks like the kids will be with me again tonight. daughter-in-law is arriving very late from Jerusalem. tomorrow is my granddaughter's first grade's production. it is very emotional. I know the kids are missing their parents a lot. I am no substitute for their young and active parents. I have more patience for sure, but not more energy. and that's the
truth
2:30 p.m. watched a murder trial movie until noon. I did laundry. that's about it for today. need to run to supermarket to buy some food. kids will be back at 4:00 p.m. managed to get the bed cover back onto bed. trick was to open it into two pieces rater than struggle with one. now I can wash the other cover without fear. I feel like today was a wasted day. oh well....
Monday, March 12, 2018
A Lovely Day
it is 8:00 a.m. in the holy city of safed. the kids have been taken to school. I just ate a full plate of spaghetti and drank a hot chocolate. I am unmotivated this morning. I am so tired of cleaning. I want to finish the kitchen but I can't get started. I look around the house and I get so discouraged. I know I am ahead of the game but I want to get finished already. we all went to sleep pretty early again. television was off by 9:30 p.m. we are still sleeping on mattresses on the floor. it's like camping out.
granddaughter woke up and got her clothes by herself. she dressed and did her hair and brushed her teeth. grandson refused to shower last night, and was reluctant to do so this morning. grandson got way to wired form a chocolate pudding. I had to physically drag him into the shower and he was a bit violent. by the time he left, he was calmed down. is there any wonder that I'm tired.
I couldn't fine the bottle of ritalin this morning and went into a sheer panic. the kitchen counter is upside down with disposable cups, cutlery, and assorted goodies. it was on the counter in plain sight but I was a bit mixed up. I am not fit to parent. at 66, I can barely keep up with these kids. the granddaughter is obsessed with making slime and I promised her that today I'd help her. I need this like I need another tumor in my head.
the parents are still away and I am a nervous wreck. I want to run away. perhaps. going out to town might provide some relief. I still have two weeks to finish pesach. I have done so much already. I have organized my closets, for the most part, and gotten rid of things that I don't need or want. I polished the candlesticks and cleaned out the cutlery drawers. I wiped down all of the judaica but didn't polish it all. I did last year but I just cannot deal with it now. I think I need a break. it is a warm and sunny day. perfect for doing laundry and windows. I wish I could just chuck it all and escape. I might just do that a bit later. I want to organize a linen closet first.
11:00 a.m. sorted out linen closets. threw out quite a lot of old sheets. made sets to put downstairs for guests. climbed up to top of clothes closets to wipe dust. hadn't been done since we moved in 17 years ago. it wasn't so bad, actually. went through drawers and tossed kerchiefs and tops I can't wear. threw out my mom's kerchiefs. they weren't bothering anyone stored in a small drawer but I think it's just time. I am trying to live in the now. it is very warm outside. I could still make it to town and hit the bank and get my checkbooks and buy ingredients to make slime.
5:30 p.m. kids made great slime. I bought a bottle of Persil for $10, gel coloring for $3 and white glue for $3. you can buy little bottles of slime at the play store for 2 shekels a pop. oh well......
8:00 p.m. kids are on mattresses and almost asleep. I laundered a few things that got 'slimed'. turns out that Persil and glue work great together and comes out in hot water. all's well at Zelda's place tonight.
granddaughter woke up and got her clothes by herself. she dressed and did her hair and brushed her teeth. grandson refused to shower last night, and was reluctant to do so this morning. grandson got way to wired form a chocolate pudding. I had to physically drag him into the shower and he was a bit violent. by the time he left, he was calmed down. is there any wonder that I'm tired.
I couldn't fine the bottle of ritalin this morning and went into a sheer panic. the kitchen counter is upside down with disposable cups, cutlery, and assorted goodies. it was on the counter in plain sight but I was a bit mixed up. I am not fit to parent. at 66, I can barely keep up with these kids. the granddaughter is obsessed with making slime and I promised her that today I'd help her. I need this like I need another tumor in my head.
the parents are still away and I am a nervous wreck. I want to run away. perhaps. going out to town might provide some relief. I still have two weeks to finish pesach. I have done so much already. I have organized my closets, for the most part, and gotten rid of things that I don't need or want. I polished the candlesticks and cleaned out the cutlery drawers. I wiped down all of the judaica but didn't polish it all. I did last year but I just cannot deal with it now. I think I need a break. it is a warm and sunny day. perfect for doing laundry and windows. I wish I could just chuck it all and escape. I might just do that a bit later. I want to organize a linen closet first.
11:00 a.m. sorted out linen closets. threw out quite a lot of old sheets. made sets to put downstairs for guests. climbed up to top of clothes closets to wipe dust. hadn't been done since we moved in 17 years ago. it wasn't so bad, actually. went through drawers and tossed kerchiefs and tops I can't wear. threw out my mom's kerchiefs. they weren't bothering anyone stored in a small drawer but I think it's just time. I am trying to live in the now. it is very warm outside. I could still make it to town and hit the bank and get my checkbooks and buy ingredients to make slime.
5:30 p.m. kids made great slime. I bought a bottle of Persil for $10, gel coloring for $3 and white glue for $3. you can buy little bottles of slime at the play store for 2 shekels a pop. oh well......
8:00 p.m. kids are on mattresses and almost asleep. I laundered a few things that got 'slimed'. turns out that Persil and glue work great together and comes out in hot water. all's well at Zelda's place tonight.
Sunday, March 11, 2018
Monday Mornings
it is 8:00 a.m. in the holy city of safed. the kids were picked up a few minutes ago. that means I have the whole day to myself as they won't be back until 4:00 p.m. right now I'm chilling out. I'm really tired and my back hurts. I slept between two mattresses on the floor with the kids last night. they are happy campers, for the most part. tiny dog ate a big whole in the mattress. I had to sleep in the middle and hold onto each kid until we all fell asleep. I think I turned off the t.v. at 9:30 p.m. I was too tired to watch anything. I have to say that listening to hours of sponge bob is quite annoying.
I don't know if I will able to tackle the kitchen alcove today. I may do some windows instead. I made countless amount of eggs last night which the kids rejected. tiny and I binged seriously. I don't have a clue as to what to make for dinner. I need to get to the bank and pick up checks. I want to get some white paint and I need more plaster. I also want to call a handyman to fix the toilet downstairs. it keeps on running, costing me tons of shekels. I am feeling a bit desperate. I am contemplating taking off the covers from two beds. I hope they make it through a rinse cycle in tact. I remember putting them back on was quite the feat. I am kind of tired of this spring cleaning.
I feel compelled to keep on hustling but I am genuinely tired of cleaning at his point. it is a bit of a dilemma. from what I heard, the kids pulled another all nighter last night in the gallery. they had some business out of town. their children are truly missing them and are acting out a bit. I grew up at a time where parents were at home. I was eighteen the first time my parents went out of town. I am no substitute for their young and energetic parents and I am a total weakling in the discipline department.
I feel very isolated and insulated from the real world. I know there is life outside of these walls that I keep scrubbing and plastering. perhaps it will do me good to get out for a bit. I just don't really have the will to get dressed and out on a bus. maybe in a while.
2:30 p.m. put away the electric platter, giant water kettle and meat oven. cleaned the countertop where I always heat up food on shabbat. what a greasy mess! it is beginning to look a lot like pesach. I stopped working. I need a bit of time to myself before the kids come home. it feels a bit hopeless. there are toys everywhere. I think I will do the kitchen alcove tomorrow. then I must do the bedroom windows. the weather is sunny and cloudy at the same time. feels like rain. I'm afraid to hang laundry outside. I feel very alone. I am also eating way too much. maybe i'll make it out tomorrow. water company called. the toilet is running and I have to deal with it now.
I don't know if I will able to tackle the kitchen alcove today. I may do some windows instead. I made countless amount of eggs last night which the kids rejected. tiny and I binged seriously. I don't have a clue as to what to make for dinner. I need to get to the bank and pick up checks. I want to get some white paint and I need more plaster. I also want to call a handyman to fix the toilet downstairs. it keeps on running, costing me tons of shekels. I am feeling a bit desperate. I am contemplating taking off the covers from two beds. I hope they make it through a rinse cycle in tact. I remember putting them back on was quite the feat. I am kind of tired of this spring cleaning.
I feel compelled to keep on hustling but I am genuinely tired of cleaning at his point. it is a bit of a dilemma. from what I heard, the kids pulled another all nighter last night in the gallery. they had some business out of town. their children are truly missing them and are acting out a bit. I grew up at a time where parents were at home. I was eighteen the first time my parents went out of town. I am no substitute for their young and energetic parents and I am a total weakling in the discipline department.
I feel very isolated and insulated from the real world. I know there is life outside of these walls that I keep scrubbing and plastering. perhaps it will do me good to get out for a bit. I just don't really have the will to get dressed and out on a bus. maybe in a while.
2:30 p.m. put away the electric platter, giant water kettle and meat oven. cleaned the countertop where I always heat up food on shabbat. what a greasy mess! it is beginning to look a lot like pesach. I stopped working. I need a bit of time to myself before the kids come home. it feels a bit hopeless. there are toys everywhere. I think I will do the kitchen alcove tomorrow. then I must do the bedroom windows. the weather is sunny and cloudy at the same time. feels like rain. I'm afraid to hang laundry outside. I feel very alone. I am also eating way too much. maybe i'll make it out tomorrow. water company called. the toilet is running and I have to deal with it now.
Countdown To Pesach 2018
it is 8:30 p.m. in the holy city of safed. granddaughter is nearly asleep. grandson is still watching nickelodeon and playing with his stuff. I'm pretty beat. the kids ended up sleeping here last night. the parents were working at the gallery til about 2:00 a.m. that's about when I finally passed out. the grandkids were exhausted and both fell asleep at 8:00 p.m. in chairs. I schlepped out two mattresses and put them both down.
now they want to sleep on the mattresses on the floor for the next three days. Sephardi grandmother will be chauffeuring them to and from school so I get to work in the house without interruption. I managed to do the candlesticks this afternoon. I used toothpaste on the silver and lemons on the brass. I didn't make myself crazy. I threw out my old candlestick tray. I couldn't stand looking at it any longer. it wasn't silver and I wanted the memory of the friends who gave it to me also gone. I also threw away cookie shape cutters from the year one. I never make cookies and I'm tired of taking them out of the closet once a year. I also tossed some chocolate molds that I never use. I think my chocolate days are over. I did keep quite a few that I might use in the future.
I hope to do the kitchen table and chairs tomorrow. I must take advantage of the sunny weather. I have one more corner to clean out and then of course, I must tackle the actual kitchen where I cook. that's a pretty hard job. once I do that I will be free to do the three bedrooms and wash 6 windows. I need to finish the upstairs because I need to clean the downstairs for paying guests. I am merely providing 6 beds and 3 rooms. I will make the beds up. I'm not sure if I will get to the windows. the downstairs is empty. I want to finish plastering and do a touch up paint job. for the few shekels I am asking of my neighbor, I am not all that gung-ho to kill myself.
now they want to sleep on the mattresses on the floor for the next three days. Sephardi grandmother will be chauffeuring them to and from school so I get to work in the house without interruption. I managed to do the candlesticks this afternoon. I used toothpaste on the silver and lemons on the brass. I didn't make myself crazy. I threw out my old candlestick tray. I couldn't stand looking at it any longer. it wasn't silver and I wanted the memory of the friends who gave it to me also gone. I also threw away cookie shape cutters from the year one. I never make cookies and I'm tired of taking them out of the closet once a year. I also tossed some chocolate molds that I never use. I think my chocolate days are over. I did keep quite a few that I might use in the future.
I hope to do the kitchen table and chairs tomorrow. I must take advantage of the sunny weather. I have one more corner to clean out and then of course, I must tackle the actual kitchen where I cook. that's a pretty hard job. once I do that I will be free to do the three bedrooms and wash 6 windows. I need to finish the upstairs because I need to clean the downstairs for paying guests. I am merely providing 6 beds and 3 rooms. I will make the beds up. I'm not sure if I will get to the windows. the downstairs is empty. I want to finish plastering and do a touch up paint job. for the few shekels I am asking of my neighbor, I am not all that gung-ho to kill myself.
Thursday, March 8, 2018
Just Another Friday Morning
it is 9:00 a.m. in the holy city of safed. I got up an hour ago. I cleaned the ceiling fan. I am pretty tired. I had a banana and a piece of the noodle kugel that I made last night. I'm trying to stay away from carbs but I am hungry. in the good old days when I was thin, I would live on the peanut snack, bamba for weeks. usually I lose weight before pesach but this stomach isn't shrinking. I am feeling even more pressured because I have the grandkids for 3 days next week. the adult kids are off to the center of the country to do some kind of business venture. I am pretty along with my pesach cleaning. I am not going to do a thing today. my back is aching. I have two cabinets to wipe down in the kitchen but it will have to wait until sunday morning.
I bought chopped turkey and am going to make a shepherd's pie for Shabbat lunch. it is probably tastier with beef but I didn't want to spend the extra money for it. I have spent a small fortune on pesach already and I still need to buy matzoth and vegetables and fruits. I'm beginning to think that maybe the family won't be here for part of pesach so I will shop accordingly. it is going to be a very quiet pesach, I think.
I have to learn to adapt. I am too rigid. now I know why people wait until the last moment. I have my freezer filled already with pesach poultry and meat. it won't go to waste. i'll use it sometime. my mother had a friend who always had pesach done right after purim. at 99 she was still doing her own thing. I guess I feel that I am on a race to do things before my brain tumor kicks in. it's not the healthiest way to live.
I've decided to roast the chicken in a pan. I haven't done this in years. I hope it will turn out all right. if not, tiny dog will have tons to eat next week. my son thought that I might need a puppy so he went to the neighbors to check out one. luckily for me, it had already gone to the pound. I probably would have kept it. I am a sucker for dogs. I, however, am trapped by owning a dog. I can't travel. if I do my surgery, I do have a friend who will stay here for a week with my dog. I guess she would help me out for a day or two, in a pinch. my mind is racing a mile a minute but my poor old body can't keep up.
I bought chopped turkey and am going to make a shepherd's pie for Shabbat lunch. it is probably tastier with beef but I didn't want to spend the extra money for it. I have spent a small fortune on pesach already and I still need to buy matzoth and vegetables and fruits. I'm beginning to think that maybe the family won't be here for part of pesach so I will shop accordingly. it is going to be a very quiet pesach, I think.
I have to learn to adapt. I am too rigid. now I know why people wait until the last moment. I have my freezer filled already with pesach poultry and meat. it won't go to waste. i'll use it sometime. my mother had a friend who always had pesach done right after purim. at 99 she was still doing her own thing. I guess I feel that I am on a race to do things before my brain tumor kicks in. it's not the healthiest way to live.
I've decided to roast the chicken in a pan. I haven't done this in years. I hope it will turn out all right. if not, tiny dog will have tons to eat next week. my son thought that I might need a puppy so he went to the neighbors to check out one. luckily for me, it had already gone to the pound. I probably would have kept it. I am a sucker for dogs. I, however, am trapped by owning a dog. I can't travel. if I do my surgery, I do have a friend who will stay here for a week with my dog. I guess she would help me out for a day or two, in a pinch. my mind is racing a mile a minute but my poor old body can't keep up.
Looks Like Rain
it is 9:30 a.m. in the holy city of safed. I am looking around the house. some corners are shiny and looking great. and then there's the rest of the house. I still have to put the purim costumes away. I just took all the magnet photos off the fridge door. putting them back seems like quite a chore. I still have silverware to put away, too. I am officially using disposable until pesach. I had my morning cocoa in a hot cup. I don't feel like washing coffee cups anymore.
I have to pick up the kids at 4:00 p.m. and I am making Shabbat meals this week. I have a whole chicken that isn't kosher for pesach and I think I will bake it. I don't think I have ever done this before. I usually cook things on the stove. I have thin noodles and some eggs so i'll make a kugel. I don't know what to make for Shabbat lunch. I'm thinking maybe a shepherd's pie if I can get some chop meat. they have never had one. I guess I have to go out, once again, and buy veggies. I'll have to get to a cash machine because I didn't pick up the checkbooks from the bank today. are we having fun?
1:30 p.m. I am taking a break to eat something. I had some peas and carrots in a can, half a tin of tuna and some chumus. I have been hustling. I managed to put the dreaded purim costumes away. I was able to pry the other side of the closet open and cleaned it out too. tiny dog sleeps there. I put all the army uniforms that my son had in a bag. some are brand new. I don't know how to return them to the army and I don't want him to get into trouble for having so many. they were taking up most of the space in the closet. I don't dare chuck them in the garbage bin. i'll ask my neighbor what to do with them. I did save some for purim or a future play.
I cleaned up the living room and washed a lot of the lego. I tossed out some jackets that don't ever get worn. I am pretty tired and I still haven't put the couch cover and pillow covers back on. the rest of the house looks like a tornado hit. the kitchen is still pretty much trashed. I put the photo magnets back on fridge but I didn't remember where they all went. I want to go to town soon and get to a grocery store before I get the kids. I better buy something for the kids to eat for supper. I have nothing in my fridge. actually, they do like rice with milk and sour cream and I have plenty of rice. I just need to buy some sour cream, I guess the problem is solved!
11:30 p.m. I just finished washing the floors. I moved all the bookcases and cleaned all the gunk behind them. the floors look like pesach. the kitchen is still a mess. the tables are covered with stuff and the both sinks are filled with dirty dishes. I will tackle this mess in the morning, hopefully.
I have to pick up the kids at 4:00 p.m. and I am making Shabbat meals this week. I have a whole chicken that isn't kosher for pesach and I think I will bake it. I don't think I have ever done this before. I usually cook things on the stove. I have thin noodles and some eggs so i'll make a kugel. I don't know what to make for Shabbat lunch. I'm thinking maybe a shepherd's pie if I can get some chop meat. they have never had one. I guess I have to go out, once again, and buy veggies. I'll have to get to a cash machine because I didn't pick up the checkbooks from the bank today. are we having fun?
1:30 p.m. I am taking a break to eat something. I had some peas and carrots in a can, half a tin of tuna and some chumus. I have been hustling. I managed to put the dreaded purim costumes away. I was able to pry the other side of the closet open and cleaned it out too. tiny dog sleeps there. I put all the army uniforms that my son had in a bag. some are brand new. I don't know how to return them to the army and I don't want him to get into trouble for having so many. they were taking up most of the space in the closet. I don't dare chuck them in the garbage bin. i'll ask my neighbor what to do with them. I did save some for purim or a future play.
I cleaned up the living room and washed a lot of the lego. I tossed out some jackets that don't ever get worn. I am pretty tired and I still haven't put the couch cover and pillow covers back on. the rest of the house looks like a tornado hit. the kitchen is still pretty much trashed. I put the photo magnets back on fridge but I didn't remember where they all went. I want to go to town soon and get to a grocery store before I get the kids. I better buy something for the kids to eat for supper. I have nothing in my fridge. actually, they do like rice with milk and sour cream and I have plenty of rice. I just need to buy some sour cream, I guess the problem is solved!
11:30 p.m. I just finished washing the floors. I moved all the bookcases and cleaned all the gunk behind them. the floors look like pesach. the kitchen is still a mess. the tables are covered with stuff and the both sinks are filled with dirty dishes. I will tackle this mess in the morning, hopefully.
Wednesday, March 7, 2018
Getting Expensive
it is 8:00 p.m. in the holy city of safed. yesterday I spent the day plastering walls. I also stained my bookshelf darker. it doesn't really go with the other furniture and doors. they are mostly mahogany. the stain I used was a dark teak which creates streaks. I like it better dark and the stain only took a little time. it would take hours to seriously repaint it. I also varnished part of the pergola on the front porch. I couldn't reach most of it and didn't want to climb a ladder on the porch. .the house is wrecked. I lost a couple of days doing pesach cleaning and I was genuinely shocked to hear that it was already Wednesday. I don't know if the kids are going to want to come for Shabbat. I'm not so keen about cooking. the house reeks of varnish. I didn't finish the kitchen. I still have two drawers and 2 closets to clean.
I washed the kids' rug from the living room and it is still damp. I never put back the covers on the couch and it's pillows. the front of my house looks like a tornado hit it. it's a hot mess. I have a ladder outside and the kids toys are everywhere. the living room floor is covered in lego and dust and dog hair. I haven't had the kids all week. something tells me that it will change tomorrow. I got to get the house in order for Shabbat. pesach cleaning will just have to wait. I polished the antique silver spoons last night while I watched something on YouTube.
I washed the cutglass and chactchkas and all of the wine glasses in the cabinet. I rearranged pictures. I took down the pictures of my mom from grade school and world war II. I think she would have been 100 years old now if she hadn't died. I think it's enough. I put up pix of the grandkids. the room has more life in it now. how long can I live in the past??
I couldn't stand being in my house another minute today. I didn't want to do one more task so I went to a friend in the neighborhood at 2:00 p.m.. I drank a couple glasses of tea and made my way to the big supermarket. I spent a couple of hours buying oils, grape juice, paper goods, cleaning supplies, more chicken, dairy chocolate bars, potato chips, prepared cakes, bottled water and flavored seltzer for pesach. I spent about $200. that didn't include fruits and veggies, eggs, nuts, matzo or wine. it just seems endless. what can one do? during the week of pesach I make a ton of fries and eggs. I bought palm oil and although its production, supposedly destroys the rain forest; it makes the best French fries ever.
it's still early in the pesach game and a lot of products aren't out yet. I couldn't find any bags of unshelled walnuts or almonds. I take on the stringency of using unshelled nuts. I buy prepared cakes and cookies for the kids and grandkids but I don't eat them. I will be happy eating my banana pancakes which is just eggs and bananas. I bought pesach cereal for the kids and some soup nuts. I might make some brownies if I have the time. they aren't the best thing around. I don't do sponge cakes with ten or twelve eggs. I don't whip egg whites, either. I couldn't find coffee or herbal tea yet.
since the seder night comes out on a Shabbat night this year, I will be making a traditional Shabbat meal. instead of my usual pesach mashed potatoes I will make a kugel. I think i'll also make a chicken soup. I might fry tilapia fillets. I bread them with potato starch. I don't use matzah meal. for lunch i'll make a cholent of meat and potatoes. I don't use spices on pesach and rely on onions, salt and whole peppercorns to give things taste. I make orange chicken with honey and fresh ginger and meat with wine. the trees are in full bloom so I will have plenty of lemons and oranges for pesach.
last year I made a sort of moussaka with chopped meat, eggplant and fresh tomatoes. I don't use canned goods or veggies that I can't peel. the moussaka wasn't such a hit. we spend so much money and expend so much time and pesach is just one week long. it always flies by so fast. we don't get the chance to really enjoy our spick and span shining houses and then it's over. we count 50 days and then we have Shavuot and make cheesecake and lasagna. and the beat goes on.
I washed the kids' rug from the living room and it is still damp. I never put back the covers on the couch and it's pillows. the front of my house looks like a tornado hit it. it's a hot mess. I have a ladder outside and the kids toys are everywhere. the living room floor is covered in lego and dust and dog hair. I haven't had the kids all week. something tells me that it will change tomorrow. I got to get the house in order for Shabbat. pesach cleaning will just have to wait. I polished the antique silver spoons last night while I watched something on YouTube.
I washed the cutglass and chactchkas and all of the wine glasses in the cabinet. I rearranged pictures. I took down the pictures of my mom from grade school and world war II. I think she would have been 100 years old now if she hadn't died. I think it's enough. I put up pix of the grandkids. the room has more life in it now. how long can I live in the past??
I couldn't stand being in my house another minute today. I didn't want to do one more task so I went to a friend in the neighborhood at 2:00 p.m.. I drank a couple glasses of tea and made my way to the big supermarket. I spent a couple of hours buying oils, grape juice, paper goods, cleaning supplies, more chicken, dairy chocolate bars, potato chips, prepared cakes, bottled water and flavored seltzer for pesach. I spent about $200. that didn't include fruits and veggies, eggs, nuts, matzo or wine. it just seems endless. what can one do? during the week of pesach I make a ton of fries and eggs. I bought palm oil and although its production, supposedly destroys the rain forest; it makes the best French fries ever.
it's still early in the pesach game and a lot of products aren't out yet. I couldn't find any bags of unshelled walnuts or almonds. I take on the stringency of using unshelled nuts. I buy prepared cakes and cookies for the kids and grandkids but I don't eat them. I will be happy eating my banana pancakes which is just eggs and bananas. I bought pesach cereal for the kids and some soup nuts. I might make some brownies if I have the time. they aren't the best thing around. I don't do sponge cakes with ten or twelve eggs. I don't whip egg whites, either. I couldn't find coffee or herbal tea yet.
since the seder night comes out on a Shabbat night this year, I will be making a traditional Shabbat meal. instead of my usual pesach mashed potatoes I will make a kugel. I think i'll also make a chicken soup. I might fry tilapia fillets. I bread them with potato starch. I don't use matzah meal. for lunch i'll make a cholent of meat and potatoes. I don't use spices on pesach and rely on onions, salt and whole peppercorns to give things taste. I make orange chicken with honey and fresh ginger and meat with wine. the trees are in full bloom so I will have plenty of lemons and oranges for pesach.
last year I made a sort of moussaka with chopped meat, eggplant and fresh tomatoes. I don't use canned goods or veggies that I can't peel. the moussaka wasn't such a hit. we spend so much money and expend so much time and pesach is just one week long. it always flies by so fast. we don't get the chance to really enjoy our spick and span shining houses and then it's over. we count 50 days and then we have Shavuot and make cheesecake and lasagna. and the beat goes on.
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
Cleaning Away
it is !:00 p.m. in the holy city of safed. I have been washing windows and laundering curtains for a couple of hours. I know that my steadfast rule is to keep to one room at a time and complete it. I haven't kept to my rule so far. I have been all over the place. I still have two closets in the kitchen to clean out. I did four small windows that are above the kitchen counters and definitely needed a good scrubbing. although they were small they were rather heavy. I kept praying that I wouldn't drop them. I had to carry them to the large bathroom to wash them. as long as I was in the bathroom, I took down the shower curtains and washed them. hanging them back up was a strain on my neck.
I plastered the walls outside the computer room's ledge the other day. I don't think they need painting now. I am tempted to pull out the windows and wash them. I might just do that. I still haven't put away the purim costumes and props. I ran to town yesterday to get to the bank. I hadn't been there in months. luckily, no checks have been returned lately. I did run out of cash and checkbooks. I want to buy a small couch before pesach. the one I have been sleeping on for the past 17 years is shot. I can't think about cleaning it for pesach.
I also have run out of food. I have been living off of black bean burgers that I made for purim. I don't have anything else to eat. I need milk, bread, cheese and eggs. I would also like some bananas. I went to eat out yesterday with my friend. we had been working on costumes and props for her upcoming play and we were both starving. I had an omelet and salad at the falafel place. I was suddenly exhausted and walked over to my son's gallery for a lift home. I was schlepping an old cd player around. I was trying to make it into an antique intercom prop ala Charlie's angels. I managed to semi destroy it. my friend did mention that it didn't work.
dealing with costumes exhausts me. especially when I'm convincing my friend that I'm right. I needed to make a priest's habit and luckily I had a dress in my closet that did the trick. I don't sew costumes from scratch. I find things in second hand stores and then embellish them. in this case, the dress already looked exactly like a priest's gown. I simply pinned a Velcro white collar around the neckline. I am still a bit stumped with how to proceed with the intercom prop. it will come to me, I'm sure. the play isn't until may. I will have done my MRI brain scan, and seen the oncologist and neuro surgeon by then.
I stripped the couch of it's covers and pillow cases and threw them into a gentle cycle. they look like they all survived. the couch is an antique from a very long time ago. it's miraculous that the zippers still work. I did it last year and it saves me from having to shampoo the couch. the kitchen looks like a cyclone hit it. everything is on the table and counters. I think i'll do the two remaining kitchen windows now. I need to spackle a bit but it's all manageable. I then will call it a day and get some food.
I plastered the walls outside the computer room's ledge the other day. I don't think they need painting now. I am tempted to pull out the windows and wash them. I might just do that. I still haven't put away the purim costumes and props. I ran to town yesterday to get to the bank. I hadn't been there in months. luckily, no checks have been returned lately. I did run out of cash and checkbooks. I want to buy a small couch before pesach. the one I have been sleeping on for the past 17 years is shot. I can't think about cleaning it for pesach.
I also have run out of food. I have been living off of black bean burgers that I made for purim. I don't have anything else to eat. I need milk, bread, cheese and eggs. I would also like some bananas. I went to eat out yesterday with my friend. we had been working on costumes and props for her upcoming play and we were both starving. I had an omelet and salad at the falafel place. I was suddenly exhausted and walked over to my son's gallery for a lift home. I was schlepping an old cd player around. I was trying to make it into an antique intercom prop ala Charlie's angels. I managed to semi destroy it. my friend did mention that it didn't work.
dealing with costumes exhausts me. especially when I'm convincing my friend that I'm right. I needed to make a priest's habit and luckily I had a dress in my closet that did the trick. I don't sew costumes from scratch. I find things in second hand stores and then embellish them. in this case, the dress already looked exactly like a priest's gown. I simply pinned a Velcro white collar around the neckline. I am still a bit stumped with how to proceed with the intercom prop. it will come to me, I'm sure. the play isn't until may. I will have done my MRI brain scan, and seen the oncologist and neuro surgeon by then.
I stripped the couch of it's covers and pillow cases and threw them into a gentle cycle. they look like they all survived. the couch is an antique from a very long time ago. it's miraculous that the zippers still work. I did it last year and it saves me from having to shampoo the couch. the kitchen looks like a cyclone hit it. everything is on the table and counters. I think i'll do the two remaining kitchen windows now. I need to spackle a bit but it's all manageable. I then will call it a day and get some food.
Friday, March 2, 2018
Getting Ready For Pesach 2018
it is 11:30 a.m. in the hoy city of safed. I have been spending all morning getting the house back in order after the Purim meal. I was way to inebriated last night to do much of anything. in fact, I didn't really realize how wasted I was; having spent most of the day, sitting. I used disposable plates so the wash up isn't that awful. it's mostly coffee cups, serving dishes, wine glasses, pots and pans and serving utensils. I decided to wipe down the shelves before I put everything back.
I ended up chucking the rest of the antique porcelain china serving trays, from a life that was once, very long ago. I actually do have enough space to store them but why should I hang on to them? I never use them. I take them down once a year before pesach to wash them. I can hardly lift them. maybe people in the 'old' days, before plastic and disposable paper goods; were stronger than our present generation. my mother used to display some of them in the living room. we weren't allowed to touch anything nor sit in the living room except when company came. we did have a playroom.
nowadays, my grandkids use every room in my house as a playroom. the living room is the main playroom. I'm actually happy that they do. I never used the room except for torah classes and sitting shiva. my grandson has taken to use the master bedroom as his quiet space after school. we use this room now for sleepovers. Tiny, the dog, has also taken it over as his bedroom. he spends most of his day in the costume closet but he retires at night to the master bedroom. I store my clothes, jewelry and linens in this room. it has an adjoining bathroom, where I shower. the kids use the regular bathtub in the main bathroom. too much information?
I also tossed out two, enormously heavy, glass pitchers. none of my friends could lift them up to pour. I bought a slender plastic one with a lid. it holds the same amount and can easily fit on the side shelf of the fridge. I tossed out the three remaining heavy glasses that belonged to one of the pitchers. I never use them. they kind of repulse me. I still have a few remnants of the porcelain china set on the top shelf. they are kind of on display. I think that's enough. I wanted to clean out the silverware drawers but I think it will have to wait. I'm thinking about tossing out my uncle Nat's silver cutlery set that sits in a wooden box in the living room antique dresser. I had wanted to sell it but found out that it was silver plated. I do not have the patience to polish any of this set.
I think that everyone, except for the Sephardi grandfather, enjoyed the Purim meal and spontaneous break out dance party. he didn't' exactly approve of the music. it wasn't your traditional, orthodox Purim songs. at one point, my son and his two brother-in-laws put on costume hats with attached side locks and were dancing in a circle with the other two brother-in-laws who do have real side looks. it was lovely to watch. at he end of the night, my granddaughter took central stage. she is an amazing dancer and performer. she's only six but I believe, that she could win a talent show. she had us all in stiches. he daughter-in-law broke loose and seized the mike. I never knew she could sing. go know!
I tried to get them to dance in the living room but they were all very happy to be in the kitchen. I managed to clean up the downstairs laundry room to create a large space for dancing but no one made it downstairs. I wonder if I will be able to host another Purim in my house. I gave away most of the hamentashen that I made. I think that they were tasty but I'm supposed to lose weight. I didn't put them out on a platter. I served each individual a small plate with a hamentashen or two with a cup of tea. I guess that's why I have a sink full of dishes to wash. I do love to play hostess once in a while.
I ended up chucking the rest of the antique porcelain china serving trays, from a life that was once, very long ago. I actually do have enough space to store them but why should I hang on to them? I never use them. I take them down once a year before pesach to wash them. I can hardly lift them. maybe people in the 'old' days, before plastic and disposable paper goods; were stronger than our present generation. my mother used to display some of them in the living room. we weren't allowed to touch anything nor sit in the living room except when company came. we did have a playroom.
nowadays, my grandkids use every room in my house as a playroom. the living room is the main playroom. I'm actually happy that they do. I never used the room except for torah classes and sitting shiva. my grandson has taken to use the master bedroom as his quiet space after school. we use this room now for sleepovers. Tiny, the dog, has also taken it over as his bedroom. he spends most of his day in the costume closet but he retires at night to the master bedroom. I store my clothes, jewelry and linens in this room. it has an adjoining bathroom, where I shower. the kids use the regular bathtub in the main bathroom. too much information?
I also tossed out two, enormously heavy, glass pitchers. none of my friends could lift them up to pour. I bought a slender plastic one with a lid. it holds the same amount and can easily fit on the side shelf of the fridge. I tossed out the three remaining heavy glasses that belonged to one of the pitchers. I never use them. they kind of repulse me. I still have a few remnants of the porcelain china set on the top shelf. they are kind of on display. I think that's enough. I wanted to clean out the silverware drawers but I think it will have to wait. I'm thinking about tossing out my uncle Nat's silver cutlery set that sits in a wooden box in the living room antique dresser. I had wanted to sell it but found out that it was silver plated. I do not have the patience to polish any of this set.
I think that everyone, except for the Sephardi grandfather, enjoyed the Purim meal and spontaneous break out dance party. he didn't' exactly approve of the music. it wasn't your traditional, orthodox Purim songs. at one point, my son and his two brother-in-laws put on costume hats with attached side locks and were dancing in a circle with the other two brother-in-laws who do have real side looks. it was lovely to watch. at he end of the night, my granddaughter took central stage. she is an amazing dancer and performer. she's only six but I believe, that she could win a talent show. she had us all in stiches. he daughter-in-law broke loose and seized the mike. I never knew she could sing. go know!
I tried to get them to dance in the living room but they were all very happy to be in the kitchen. I managed to clean up the downstairs laundry room to create a large space for dancing but no one made it downstairs. I wonder if I will be able to host another Purim in my house. I gave away most of the hamentashen that I made. I think that they were tasty but I'm supposed to lose weight. I didn't put them out on a platter. I served each individual a small plate with a hamentashen or two with a cup of tea. I guess that's why I have a sink full of dishes to wash. I do love to play hostess once in a while.
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