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.
Thursday, March 8, 2018
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.
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
Are We Happy Yet?
it is 9:00 a.m. in the holy city of safed. I have been schlepping chairs all morning to get ready for the Purim festive meal later this afternoon. the fast day started at sunset and ended at 6:00 p.m. since I haven't been eating after 8:00 p.m. I ended up fasting until 7:00 p.m. I felt a bit lightheaded in synagogue while hearing the megilah. I realized that it wasn't really the fast that was getting to me. I suddenly remembered going to bed at 4:oo a.m. that morning.
I did all of my cooking yesterday during the fast. I made chicken liver teriyaki, sweet chili chicken wings, spicy turkey meatballs and potato kugel. I also made black bean veggie hamburgers for the Sephardi grandfather who doesn't eat meat. I had two when I broke my fast. they were terrific. looked like meat and had quite a punch. I think I added a spoonful of cumin and one of chili flakes. it turns out that the grandpa eats meat on purim. go know!
at 8:00 p.m. I made some hamentashen. I found a recipe online using coconut oil. it actually works like shortening. I had forgotten how sticky the dough can get, especially with the coconut oil. I added more flour and played with it until it formed a good dough. I used prepared date spread from the supermarket. I also bought chocolate spread. the isreali's love chocolate hamentashen. I grew up with poppy seed, prune and apricot hamentashen. my mom made the best.
I got into costume at 9:00 p.m. and ran up the block to the Sephardi synagogue. I thought they were having a party and I wanted to see the grandkids in their costumes. the synagogue was dark and definitely locked. I ran home and made another batch of hamentashen using whole wheat flour. I halved the recipe and got about 13 cookies. they all pretty much kept their shape.
I already broke my diet and ate 4 hamentashen. oh well....
I have to get to the synagogue in an hour to hear the magilah again. I made a pitcher of sangria for me and a couple of gal pals but I'm way to tired to drink any now. I went to bed after 2:00 a.m. I am pretty exhausted now. I still need to schlepp down a small table from the upstairs apartment. perhaps my son will help, later. I doubt it, but one can always hope.
I did all of my cooking yesterday during the fast. I made chicken liver teriyaki, sweet chili chicken wings, spicy turkey meatballs and potato kugel. I also made black bean veggie hamburgers for the Sephardi grandfather who doesn't eat meat. I had two when I broke my fast. they were terrific. looked like meat and had quite a punch. I think I added a spoonful of cumin and one of chili flakes. it turns out that the grandpa eats meat on purim. go know!
at 8:00 p.m. I made some hamentashen. I found a recipe online using coconut oil. it actually works like shortening. I had forgotten how sticky the dough can get, especially with the coconut oil. I added more flour and played with it until it formed a good dough. I used prepared date spread from the supermarket. I also bought chocolate spread. the isreali's love chocolate hamentashen. I grew up with poppy seed, prune and apricot hamentashen. my mom made the best.
I got into costume at 9:00 p.m. and ran up the block to the Sephardi synagogue. I thought they were having a party and I wanted to see the grandkids in their costumes. the synagogue was dark and definitely locked. I ran home and made another batch of hamentashen using whole wheat flour. I halved the recipe and got about 13 cookies. they all pretty much kept their shape.
I already broke my diet and ate 4 hamentashen. oh well....
I have to get to the synagogue in an hour to hear the magilah again. I made a pitcher of sangria for me and a couple of gal pals but I'm way to tired to drink any now. I went to bed after 2:00 a.m. I am pretty exhausted now. I still need to schlepp down a small table from the upstairs apartment. perhaps my son will help, later. I doubt it, but one can always hope.
Saturday, February 24, 2018
A New Beginning
it is 7:30 p.m. in the holy city of safed. Shabbat ended over an hour ago. I fell asleep at around 5:00 p.m. it was a much needed nap. the grandkids slept over last night. they simply told their parents and packed their pajamas into their knapsacks. the 6 year old granddaughter cried when her mommy left. she wanted to sleep here but she wanted her mommy , too. I suddenly invited them to play bingo and the tears stopped instantly. the grandson usually is the spinner, I'm the caller and the granddaughter hands out the dots. last night she was a one woman show. she did pretty good until the grandson knocked over all of the cards by accident.
he is the lego savant. he will sit for hours making intricate buildings and structures out of the minutest pieces of lego. most of the lego pieces end up on the floor. luckily, the dog doesn't eat any of them. the living room right now is covered with large lego pieces and toys. the kids' carpet is trashed and it pains me to look into the room. I started cleaning up the room last week but I gave up. I know that as a good grandparent I should insist that they clean up by themselves. the granddaughter used to love to clean and make order in every room but she has become addicted to slime and it takes over her being. I have slime on my ceiling in the computer/costume room. it was all over the bedroom wall but I used a magic sponge and it came off fairly easily. I don't know how I will clean the ceiling. I hate climbing ladders. in all fairness, I think the grandson slimed the walls.
I am officially hosting the separdi clan for purim. the Sephardi grandma shut down the idea of a barbecue. I would have liked that because I wouldn't have had to do much. I already cleaned the fridge and freezer for pesach but I lined all the shelves with plastic. I think i'll make turkey meatballs, spicy chicken wings and liver teriyaki. and of course, I'm planning on making mashed potato kugel. any leftovers will be used for Shabbat as purim comes out on Thursday. I already bought most of the chicken and meat for pesach. i'm weird that way. I try to do as much as I can because I'm the one that usually takes care of the kids during their spring vacation before pesach. last year I cleaned all three apartments and I wasn't stressed at all. spring cleaning entails a bit of redecorating on my part. I always change around the pictures in the house. I also start chucking out papers.
I found a folder of court papers from 2005 when I had to get medical guardianship of my father. it pained me to read them but I did chuck them out. unlike my dear mother who saved every bill and receipt from the 1940's until her passing 9 years ago, I am not a hoarder. in saying that, I still find it difficult to get rid of my parents' passports and I even have my father's discharge papers from the army in world war two. I also have letters from congressman, senators and vice presidents to my father. he was an ardent correspondent. he wrote letters to everyone. I don't think my son would care to keep these papers. this is from my past and I'm a dinosaur.
I am planning on making my famous sangria for purim. I bought a small bottle of brandy, two bottles of rose and I will pick fresh lemons and oranges from the garden. as the Sephardi women don't usually drink, I will enjoy myself with a girlfriend. the weather is hot and cold at the same time. we all went to synagogue this morning and nearly passed out from the heat. by early afternoon we were freezing because it turned windy. the kids want to make a dance party so they can go downstairs after the sit-down meal and go crazy. I am trying as usual, to be accommodating.
he is the lego savant. he will sit for hours making intricate buildings and structures out of the minutest pieces of lego. most of the lego pieces end up on the floor. luckily, the dog doesn't eat any of them. the living room right now is covered with large lego pieces and toys. the kids' carpet is trashed and it pains me to look into the room. I started cleaning up the room last week but I gave up. I know that as a good grandparent I should insist that they clean up by themselves. the granddaughter used to love to clean and make order in every room but she has become addicted to slime and it takes over her being. I have slime on my ceiling in the computer/costume room. it was all over the bedroom wall but I used a magic sponge and it came off fairly easily. I don't know how I will clean the ceiling. I hate climbing ladders. in all fairness, I think the grandson slimed the walls.
I am officially hosting the separdi clan for purim. the Sephardi grandma shut down the idea of a barbecue. I would have liked that because I wouldn't have had to do much. I already cleaned the fridge and freezer for pesach but I lined all the shelves with plastic. I think i'll make turkey meatballs, spicy chicken wings and liver teriyaki. and of course, I'm planning on making mashed potato kugel. any leftovers will be used for Shabbat as purim comes out on Thursday. I already bought most of the chicken and meat for pesach. i'm weird that way. I try to do as much as I can because I'm the one that usually takes care of the kids during their spring vacation before pesach. last year I cleaned all three apartments and I wasn't stressed at all. spring cleaning entails a bit of redecorating on my part. I always change around the pictures in the house. I also start chucking out papers.
I found a folder of court papers from 2005 when I had to get medical guardianship of my father. it pained me to read them but I did chuck them out. unlike my dear mother who saved every bill and receipt from the 1940's until her passing 9 years ago, I am not a hoarder. in saying that, I still find it difficult to get rid of my parents' passports and I even have my father's discharge papers from the army in world war two. I also have letters from congressman, senators and vice presidents to my father. he was an ardent correspondent. he wrote letters to everyone. I don't think my son would care to keep these papers. this is from my past and I'm a dinosaur.
I am planning on making my famous sangria for purim. I bought a small bottle of brandy, two bottles of rose and I will pick fresh lemons and oranges from the garden. as the Sephardi women don't usually drink, I will enjoy myself with a girlfriend. the weather is hot and cold at the same time. we all went to synagogue this morning and nearly passed out from the heat. by early afternoon we were freezing because it turned windy. the kids want to make a dance party so they can go downstairs after the sit-down meal and go crazy. I am trying as usual, to be accommodating.
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