it is nearly 4:00 p.m. in the holy city of safed. the house is clean and very quiet. I already made up the downstairs bedroom for the kids. they are coming next sunday night for the holiday of simchat torah. tonight they will be going to the Sephardi family for the holiday. I am also going there for supper. they have a massive sukkah. it will be crazy with 5 young kids running around and countless others inside and possibly a dog. I will walk home later tonight. my friend is staying the week and watching my dog. I am going back with the kids to Jerusalem after the holiday ends Monday night. i'm thinking that I may stay the entire week. this is my last vacation from the yeshiva and my last chance to be with the grandkids. they go back to school and I return to work right after the holiday..
I already cooked up some chicken and meatballs and froze them in case I return to safed on sunday of next week. I bought prepared salads and kugel. hopefully, everything will be okay. my neighbor came over to put on the bamboo covering of the sukkah for me. I ended up stringing up my plastic grapes and a few plastic pomegranates. it is quite hot here, once again. I didn't bother hooking up a fan to the sukkah. if it is too hot to stay in the sukkah, i'll eat and leave right away. i'm thinking of bringing a woolen shawl for tonight. it gets chilly at night.
I baked two small honey cakes this morning. I used organic whole wheat flour and organic cane sugar. they really aren't so yummy. I used my standard recipe but I don't know where I went wrong. I bought cheap honey flavored cupcakes for the grandkids. I also bought chocolate rugalach. I really wanted to make a tiramisu or cheese cake for the day time but I didn't have the patience to go to the supermarket this morning. I bought tons of chocolates and ate all of them during the week. I have one small package of mini chocolates and halvah hidden in the closet.
I bought a small kids' sukkah and i'm thinking that they are probably too big for it. I will give it to them to take back to Jerusalem if they want it. they already have a huge plastic tent in the backyard. maybe i'll save it for next year and give it to a family with little kids. it's collapsible and fits into a small bag. it's pretty cute. it is so strange not having the grandkids here anymore. that's life now. I have to get used to it. I went shopping at the large supermarket twice and I don't have a single thing to bring to my in-law's tonight. I spent a fortune, too. I didn't buy any presents for the kids, either. I figure i'll get them stuff in Jerusalem.
I did buy the sukkah for 20 bucks and a new scooter for my grandson for 30 dollars. that won't impress them at all. luckily, my check came in early this month so I have a bunch of loot to travel with. I hope to meet up with my friend there and go out for dinner with her. there is a restaurant where my son works and I've been interested in checking it out. we shall see what happens. I really should get ready soon. the kids may pick me up to bring me to the Sephardi clan. I will dress in flats because there will be plenty of going up and down steps tonight. isn't sukkot grand!!
Sunday, September 23, 2018
Friday, September 21, 2018
It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Sukkot
it is10:00 a.m. in the holy city of safed. my neighbor just finished putting up the frame of my sukkah. I was not planning on putting up the sukkah this year. the kids are spending the first part of the holiday with the Sephardi clan. I am sure I can wrangle a place there, too. it will be sheer madness. the ladies will be going up and down a very steep stairwell to bring the food into the sukkah. I declined to go there the last couple of years because I dreaded the stairwell. I haven't made up my mind yet. who knows? perhaps, I won't be included this year.
yesterday, I made up about 250 tiny cellophane baggies for the Sephardi family's bas mitzvah next week. I no longer make chocolates. I buy chewy candies and stuff one into the cellophane baggie and close it with a sticker for the appropriate occasion. this crowd loves their candy. I am planning on going to Jerusalem next week for a few days and the daughter-in-law is planning on going to the cousin's bat mitzvah in hadera. I am covering all of the bases. I am trying to be flexible.
I went to the supermarket twice and stocked up on chicken wings, lamb kabobs, hamburgers, steaks and franks for the second half of the holiday. my son likes to barbecue in the daytime. I cooked some chicken and meatballs and froze them for the night meal next week. I also bought prepared salads and kugel so if I decide to stay longer in Jerusalem, we will have food already prepared. I am not much in the mood for baking so I bought prepared cakes. I still need to make something to eat for Shabbat. I'm not so inspired.
I managed to fall off of a plastic chair a couple of days before Rosh Hashanah. I was hanging curtains in a bedroom downstairs and went flying off of the chair. I broke the fall with my elbow and wrist and then the back got the shock of hitting the stone floor. I was extremely lucky to have not fallen on my head or directly onto my back. it was miraculous that I didn't break my arm. I was in a lot of pain for the holiday and shabbat. I got sick and spent the second day of Rosh Hashanah in bed. not my finest hour. I did manage to hear the shofar blowing in synagogue.
I got through yom kippur pretty easily. I am still feeling sore parts of my body from the fall. it was hard to cough at the beginning as the ribs were bruised. I was not looking forward to lifting the metal polls of the sukkah. I managed to bring them up from the storage area downstairs, but didn't get very far into the construction. I didn't remember exactly how to do it. my 9 year old grandson put it together for me last year in about 6 minutes. I dreaded climbing the ladder to place the wooden boards on top. now, I don't need to. living in a Sephardi neighborhood and looking old has its benefits.
the men here are strong and macho. building a sukkah is a guys' thing, anyway. women are not even commanded to eat in them. I don't know why I even bothered this year. I am planning on being away. I have to tie the material around the sukkah now. it is a big drag. I don't really feel like hanging all of my plastic fruits up,either. my back hurts and my knee is on the fritz. last year we had a family cook out. we had over 20 people downstairs. a few of the men had to squeeze into the small sukkah. I used to put up one that was 4x2 meters. now I only put up a 2x2 meter sukkah. four can sit comfortably. I am not planning on having any guests.
I saw my sister before yom kippur. she wished me a holiday greeting and ran off. that was our first exchange in over a year since our blow out. it was bittersweet. it is what it is. I am hoping this year to be stronger and wiser. I do not want to judge anyone nor do I want to get hurt so easily by others. of course, this is easier said than done. it requires building stronger personal borders and not having any expectations of people. it also requires seeing others' differences as interesting and not hurtful. enough of the pyscho babble for now. I am off to the supermarket to return the empty bottles.
yesterday, I made up about 250 tiny cellophane baggies for the Sephardi family's bas mitzvah next week. I no longer make chocolates. I buy chewy candies and stuff one into the cellophane baggie and close it with a sticker for the appropriate occasion. this crowd loves their candy. I am planning on going to Jerusalem next week for a few days and the daughter-in-law is planning on going to the cousin's bat mitzvah in hadera. I am covering all of the bases. I am trying to be flexible.
I went to the supermarket twice and stocked up on chicken wings, lamb kabobs, hamburgers, steaks and franks for the second half of the holiday. my son likes to barbecue in the daytime. I cooked some chicken and meatballs and froze them for the night meal next week. I also bought prepared salads and kugel so if I decide to stay longer in Jerusalem, we will have food already prepared. I am not much in the mood for baking so I bought prepared cakes. I still need to make something to eat for Shabbat. I'm not so inspired.
I managed to fall off of a plastic chair a couple of days before Rosh Hashanah. I was hanging curtains in a bedroom downstairs and went flying off of the chair. I broke the fall with my elbow and wrist and then the back got the shock of hitting the stone floor. I was extremely lucky to have not fallen on my head or directly onto my back. it was miraculous that I didn't break my arm. I was in a lot of pain for the holiday and shabbat. I got sick and spent the second day of Rosh Hashanah in bed. not my finest hour. I did manage to hear the shofar blowing in synagogue.
I got through yom kippur pretty easily. I am still feeling sore parts of my body from the fall. it was hard to cough at the beginning as the ribs were bruised. I was not looking forward to lifting the metal polls of the sukkah. I managed to bring them up from the storage area downstairs, but didn't get very far into the construction. I didn't remember exactly how to do it. my 9 year old grandson put it together for me last year in about 6 minutes. I dreaded climbing the ladder to place the wooden boards on top. now, I don't need to. living in a Sephardi neighborhood and looking old has its benefits.
the men here are strong and macho. building a sukkah is a guys' thing, anyway. women are not even commanded to eat in them. I don't know why I even bothered this year. I am planning on being away. I have to tie the material around the sukkah now. it is a big drag. I don't really feel like hanging all of my plastic fruits up,either. my back hurts and my knee is on the fritz. last year we had a family cook out. we had over 20 people downstairs. a few of the men had to squeeze into the small sukkah. I used to put up one that was 4x2 meters. now I only put up a 2x2 meter sukkah. four can sit comfortably. I am not planning on having any guests.
I saw my sister before yom kippur. she wished me a holiday greeting and ran off. that was our first exchange in over a year since our blow out. it was bittersweet. it is what it is. I am hoping this year to be stronger and wiser. I do not want to judge anyone nor do I want to get hurt so easily by others. of course, this is easier said than done. it requires building stronger personal borders and not having any expectations of people. it also requires seeing others' differences as interesting and not hurtful. enough of the pyscho babble for now. I am off to the supermarket to return the empty bottles.
Wednesday, September 5, 2018
Shana Tova 2018
it's been ages since I blogged. I went back to the yeshiva about three weeks ago. I have been pretty much on my own there and buying, whatever food items I need. the pantry is pretty much depleted. while my sister was visiting, I tried making up fast meals and didn't stay too long at the yeshiva. needless to say, my pay check was pretty skimpy this month. I will be going on another break right after Yom Kippur. I do not think I am needed during the week of sukkot.
the kids very much want me to go to Jerusalem for Rosh Hashanah. I don't have the strength to make such a long trip for just a few days. I prefer to go while I am on vacation and stay for the week. I don't think that it will work out for me this time. I am playing it loose. if I am meant to be in Jerusalem, so be it.
I haven't been sleeping so well. now that I don't have the added burden of picking up the grandkids, I go into work much later. I also, get home much later. I have been coming home after seven, lately. we have been suffering, yet, another, heat wave. it really takes its toll. I spent hours the other day defrosting both freezers. I was throwing around ice and snow and I was soaking wet. it felt so good.
the guys went to a wedding last night and didn't put the food, that I prepared for supper, into the fridge. I tasted the stew and the couscous and it was still good. this is nothing short of a miracle. even the tomato salad was in tact. I served it to them for lunch and they all raved about it. they said it was better than the wedding food. I was very happy not to have had to prepare lunch today.
I ended up making a tuna loaf, baked beets and a sweet noodle kugel for their supper. I went to town to do some errands after work. I didn't get much accomplished. I did manage to get to the fresh fish store and bought a few slices of carp and a huge fish head. it isn't Rosh Hashanah without a cooked fish head at the head of the table. one year I made a fourth of a sheep's head. that was my ode to the Sephardic tradition. my son had been bugging me for years to make one. he kind of paled at the sight of it. my grandson thought it was great and the two of us devoured it. it was truly yummy.
I am not planning on having guests this holiday. I will be going to friends for the first night. I am bringing the fish, and the different symbolic foods. I may also bring some brisket. my other friend has a huge brisket in her freezer and I have agreed to braise it in my toaster oven. we are thinking beer and a pomegranate sauce.
I already bought: carrots, pomegranates, leeks, black eyed peas, pumpkin, dates, beets and beet leaves. are we having fun? my friend might bake small challahs. I need to bake a honey cake for my daughter-in-law's father. he loves my whole wheat version. I already bought the pre- sifted organic whole wheat flour, honey and organic brown cane sugar. I am playing with the idea of using coconut oil. why not?? last year's hamentashen were great.
I don't have to work on Friday so I think I will do most of the cooking and baking. i'll leave the veggies for sunday. I think i'll make honey bars for my friend and myself. I've been hitting the sugar as of late. I'm not going to be very svelte this Rosh Hashanah. oh well......
it was a difficult visit this summer. my older sister ran back and forth between me and my other sister, who is still not speaking with me. she did invite me to meet for coffee via older sister. I declined her offer. I got to hear her complaints against me, via big sister and it made me go into a tailspin. my niece gave birth to a son and I wasn't included in the simcha. my other niece came in from India with her kids and brand new daughter and didn't come to see me this time, either. it hurt.
there was just so much psyche drama babble and hurt feelings to deal with. my sister staged my house and decluttered my walls. she works in the real estate market in L.A. she did a marvelous job. she made the house mine. my deceased parents are now featured in the background. my shrine to my mom and her candlesticks has been dismantled. I just wish we could have had some fun together.
I had friends staying with me for the klezmer music festival. we were in a party mood. one night we barbecued. I only got to the music festival one night. it was way too busy in my house. my sister didn't get any quality time. I was also, too crazy to listen to her speak. after every mention of my feuding sister, I went slightly insane.
the kids very much want me to go to Jerusalem for Rosh Hashanah. I don't have the strength to make such a long trip for just a few days. I prefer to go while I am on vacation and stay for the week. I don't think that it will work out for me this time. I am playing it loose. if I am meant to be in Jerusalem, so be it.
I haven't been sleeping so well. now that I don't have the added burden of picking up the grandkids, I go into work much later. I also, get home much later. I have been coming home after seven, lately. we have been suffering, yet, another, heat wave. it really takes its toll. I spent hours the other day defrosting both freezers. I was throwing around ice and snow and I was soaking wet. it felt so good.
the guys went to a wedding last night and didn't put the food, that I prepared for supper, into the fridge. I tasted the stew and the couscous and it was still good. this is nothing short of a miracle. even the tomato salad was in tact. I served it to them for lunch and they all raved about it. they said it was better than the wedding food. I was very happy not to have had to prepare lunch today.
I ended up making a tuna loaf, baked beets and a sweet noodle kugel for their supper. I went to town to do some errands after work. I didn't get much accomplished. I did manage to get to the fresh fish store and bought a few slices of carp and a huge fish head. it isn't Rosh Hashanah without a cooked fish head at the head of the table. one year I made a fourth of a sheep's head. that was my ode to the Sephardic tradition. my son had been bugging me for years to make one. he kind of paled at the sight of it. my grandson thought it was great and the two of us devoured it. it was truly yummy.
I am not planning on having guests this holiday. I will be going to friends for the first night. I am bringing the fish, and the different symbolic foods. I may also bring some brisket. my other friend has a huge brisket in her freezer and I have agreed to braise it in my toaster oven. we are thinking beer and a pomegranate sauce.
I already bought: carrots, pomegranates, leeks, black eyed peas, pumpkin, dates, beets and beet leaves. are we having fun? my friend might bake small challahs. I need to bake a honey cake for my daughter-in-law's father. he loves my whole wheat version. I already bought the pre- sifted organic whole wheat flour, honey and organic brown cane sugar. I am playing with the idea of using coconut oil. why not?? last year's hamentashen were great.
I don't have to work on Friday so I think I will do most of the cooking and baking. i'll leave the veggies for sunday. I think i'll make honey bars for my friend and myself. I've been hitting the sugar as of late. I'm not going to be very svelte this Rosh Hashanah. oh well......
it was a difficult visit this summer. my older sister ran back and forth between me and my other sister, who is still not speaking with me. she did invite me to meet for coffee via older sister. I declined her offer. I got to hear her complaints against me, via big sister and it made me go into a tailspin. my niece gave birth to a son and I wasn't included in the simcha. my other niece came in from India with her kids and brand new daughter and didn't come to see me this time, either. it hurt.
there was just so much psyche drama babble and hurt feelings to deal with. my sister staged my house and decluttered my walls. she works in the real estate market in L.A. she did a marvelous job. she made the house mine. my deceased parents are now featured in the background. my shrine to my mom and her candlesticks has been dismantled. I just wish we could have had some fun together.
I had friends staying with me for the klezmer music festival. we were in a party mood. one night we barbecued. I only got to the music festival one night. it was way too busy in my house. my sister didn't get any quality time. I was also, too crazy to listen to her speak. after every mention of my feuding sister, I went slightly insane.
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