it's 11:00 a.m. and all is well in the holy city of zefat. i finally finished all my cleaning and set up my pesach kitchen at about 2:00 a.m. at one point, i felt a tiny bit desperate but i drank a cup of coffee and ate some bananas and dates for a sugar rush.
i finished my final sponger at about 3:30 a.m. i think i threw about 8 buckets of soapy water on the floor. it took forever to sponge it all outside. the dining room chairs are nearly dried. zvi will have to screw them together when he gets back from town. i already took out my pots and pans and utensils so it's already for me to start cooking.
i absolutely could not fall asleep last night. i was also cold and wet and snuggling with the dogs wasn't enough. by the way, they are all traumatized by all the sponger and their new pesach food bowls. anyhow, i jumped up at 9:00 a.m and persuaded zvi to help me burn the chometz outside. well, perhaps, his wife did the real persuaion. with all this rain and wind, it was no easy feat to start a fire. a neighbor passed by and dropped a bag of pitos and i looked down and saw fluffy, our newest dog, with a whole pita in his mouth. i quickly grabbed it away from him before he knew what was happening and threw it into the small fire that was still burning.
cloey the fat pincher dog, managed to grab a quarter of a pita and ran into the house with it. i chased after her like a mad woman but she consumed it all under the dining room table, before i could get a hold of it. are we having fun yet?
i just quickly washed and semi blow dried my wig. it's nearly dry. you can do that with synthetic wigs. i already cut up the toilet paper for the chag and i put up the eggs to boil. i'll have one last cup of coffee and then it's back to the kitchen. i'm not all that pressured because i have all day to cook. but i'd love to get a nap today. you can only wish.
a kosher and a happy pesach to one and all!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Bedikas Chometz Day
it's already 11:00 a.m. on a cold and rainy morning in the holy city of zefat. tonight we check our homes to make sure that we don't have any bread or chometz lying around the house. we have theoretically, checked all of our pockets and closets and bleached out our floors and counters. tonight is the big show that we have been 'rehearsing' for the past month.
my dining room chairs are still soaking wet. it is a bit unusual for it to be so cold and rainy the day before pesach. i'm happy for my lawn and garden but i don't exactly feel like doing any more sponger this morning. my pants and work jumper are still wet from last night.
i just had a very long phone conversation with my big sister in L.A. what a luxury! i'm not ready to move yet. in the past, i have pulled an all nighter beore pesach but i don't think it will come down to that. i am absolutely, not, going to do any windows today. it will be a quick mop up in each room. the bedroom porch and glass doors will get done after pesach, when it is warm and sunny once again.
my legs are really hurting this morning. i wonder why. i only, poured tons of boiling water after pouring tons of cold, soapy, water on the dining room chairs last night and then mopped it all away after each chair. i did this process eight times for about 2 hours. you could see the stream of dirty, soapy, water down the street. ah pesach!
i need to eat a good and hot breakfast this morning. i can make myself some eggs on my electric 2 burner stove. i cooked the shabbat fish on it on friday. it's still on my counter for a reason, i guess. i can even make toast. why not go for it all. tomorrow it's matzah for a week.
the sun is appearing! and there it goes. it's final, i am not doing windows. i hope that by tomorrow night the dining room chairs will be dry. we can always hope. if not, there are always, the plastic ones.
my dining room chairs are still soaking wet. it is a bit unusual for it to be so cold and rainy the day before pesach. i'm happy for my lawn and garden but i don't exactly feel like doing any more sponger this morning. my pants and work jumper are still wet from last night.
i just had a very long phone conversation with my big sister in L.A. what a luxury! i'm not ready to move yet. in the past, i have pulled an all nighter beore pesach but i don't think it will come down to that. i am absolutely, not, going to do any windows today. it will be a quick mop up in each room. the bedroom porch and glass doors will get done after pesach, when it is warm and sunny once again.
my legs are really hurting this morning. i wonder why. i only, poured tons of boiling water after pouring tons of cold, soapy, water on the dining room chairs last night and then mopped it all away after each chair. i did this process eight times for about 2 hours. you could see the stream of dirty, soapy, water down the street. ah pesach!
i need to eat a good and hot breakfast this morning. i can make myself some eggs on my electric 2 burner stove. i cooked the shabbat fish on it on friday. it's still on my counter for a reason, i guess. i can even make toast. why not go for it all. tomorrow it's matzah for a week.
the sun is appearing! and there it goes. it's final, i am not doing windows. i hope that by tomorrow night the dining room chairs will be dry. we can always hope. if not, there are always, the plastic ones.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Saturday Night
it's 1:00 a.m. in the holy city of zefat. i just finished washing the dining room chairs. i sure hope they'll dry by monday night for the pesach seder. shabbat ended around 8:00 p.m. and i got into action mode. we had an easy clean up because i used mostly, throw away plastic plates and cups this shabbat. the counters are all clear and hopefully, i'll get to wash them down tomorrow and cover them with razer sharp, extra strength, aluminum foil.
i didn't get to take a nap today because my son brought my grandson downstairs for me to watch, while he went to shul. apparently, his wife needed a nap. i got to catch up on the week's tehillim, because i was not exactly in davening mode this week. i also read some laws about pesach and read part of the haggada. little sahar was sitting on my lap, playing with his own books for almost an hour and a half. he was pretty mellow but kept on grabbing cloey the dog. she didn't seem to mind.
i still need to clean two bathrooms, the t.v. couches and two bedrooms. a cinch! right? i am not going to do windows tomorrow. i'll finish the spring cleaning after pesach, some time before shavuot. tomorrow, i'll do my final wash down of all the floors in this apartment. i am feeling rather hopeful and not desperate, at all. the pesach stove is already hooked up and ready to go.
last year at this time, i was suffering with acute facial paralysis and not in good shape at all. my face was twisted to one side and i couldn't close my eye. drinking was a sight, with the liquid dribbling down my face. i made it through the seder all right but the next day the nerve pain in my face became unbearable. i spent the rest of pesach in my bedroom hiding from people.
my eye still bothers me, especially after using cleaning fluids and straining myself. i absolutely cannot tolerate bleach anymore. so i compensate and use tons of soap and liquid detergent for the floors.
i have a bunch of seat cushions to wash tomorrow and a few plastic chairs. i still haven't polished my mom's brass candlesticks. to quote the song from annie, "tomorrow, tomorrow, i love you tomorrow...."
i didn't get to take a nap today because my son brought my grandson downstairs for me to watch, while he went to shul. apparently, his wife needed a nap. i got to catch up on the week's tehillim, because i was not exactly in davening mode this week. i also read some laws about pesach and read part of the haggada. little sahar was sitting on my lap, playing with his own books for almost an hour and a half. he was pretty mellow but kept on grabbing cloey the dog. she didn't seem to mind.
i still need to clean two bathrooms, the t.v. couches and two bedrooms. a cinch! right? i am not going to do windows tomorrow. i'll finish the spring cleaning after pesach, some time before shavuot. tomorrow, i'll do my final wash down of all the floors in this apartment. i am feeling rather hopeful and not desperate, at all. the pesach stove is already hooked up and ready to go.
last year at this time, i was suffering with acute facial paralysis and not in good shape at all. my face was twisted to one side and i couldn't close my eye. drinking was a sight, with the liquid dribbling down my face. i made it through the seder all right but the next day the nerve pain in my face became unbearable. i spent the rest of pesach in my bedroom hiding from people.
my eye still bothers me, especially after using cleaning fluids and straining myself. i absolutely cannot tolerate bleach anymore. so i compensate and use tons of soap and liquid detergent for the floors.
i have a bunch of seat cushions to wash tomorrow and a few plastic chairs. i still haven't polished my mom's brass candlesticks. to quote the song from annie, "tomorrow, tomorrow, i love you tomorrow...."
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Friday Morning
it's 9:30 a.m. in the holy city of zefat. it's really 8:30 because we set the clocks ahead last night. it was great for me because once it turned 2:00 a.m.(1:00) i fell asleep.
yesterday, i went to yoga and then went and bought the veggies and dairy products. i didn't get home until 3:00 p.m. it only took a 'mere' 4 1/2 hours to do that. i was then asked to watch sahar while his mom cleaned the upstairs apartment. i didn't mind much because i knew that i didn't have any more energy to do any cleaning tasks.
later that evening, my sister came over to work downstairs, and once again, i sat for sahar while the kids went to the supermarket. sahar was in the most delicious mood yesterday, laughing out loud and blabbing away. i couldn't keep my hands off of him.
last night i ate two white pitas with some avocado before i went to sleep. that is something that i rarely do and am happy to admit that i survived it. my plan of attack this morning is to wash the kitchen chairs and perhaps do the t.v area and couches. then i have to make dinner. it will be a very simple meal. i bought a package of niles perch fish and i'll make tons of potatoes. i can't be on the south beach diet while i'm slaving away because i do need carbs to get the job done. as long as i don't eat cake or chocolate, i am fine. the bananas and dates and walnuts get me through the day. and the little amount of honey that i add to the yogurt goes a long way for my sugar cravings. thank goodness, i am managing to maintain my weight.
i better sign off and get on with the day's work. at least we have an extra hour this week before sundown. that really helps. zvi just called from work to ask if i can go to town and buy a grilled chicken. how i'll manage that is really up to heaven. shabbat shalom!
yesterday, i went to yoga and then went and bought the veggies and dairy products. i didn't get home until 3:00 p.m. it only took a 'mere' 4 1/2 hours to do that. i was then asked to watch sahar while his mom cleaned the upstairs apartment. i didn't mind much because i knew that i didn't have any more energy to do any cleaning tasks.
later that evening, my sister came over to work downstairs, and once again, i sat for sahar while the kids went to the supermarket. sahar was in the most delicious mood yesterday, laughing out loud and blabbing away. i couldn't keep my hands off of him.
last night i ate two white pitas with some avocado before i went to sleep. that is something that i rarely do and am happy to admit that i survived it. my plan of attack this morning is to wash the kitchen chairs and perhaps do the t.v area and couches. then i have to make dinner. it will be a very simple meal. i bought a package of niles perch fish and i'll make tons of potatoes. i can't be on the south beach diet while i'm slaving away because i do need carbs to get the job done. as long as i don't eat cake or chocolate, i am fine. the bananas and dates and walnuts get me through the day. and the little amount of honey that i add to the yogurt goes a long way for my sugar cravings. thank goodness, i am managing to maintain my weight.
i better sign off and get on with the day's work. at least we have an extra hour this week before sundown. that really helps. zvi just called from work to ask if i can go to town and buy a grilled chicken. how i'll manage that is really up to heaven. shabbat shalom!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Wednesday Night
9:00 p.m. i can't believe that it's already wednesday. i haven't blogged in two days. i've been taking it easy but today i got up at 7:00 a.m. and started my pesach cleaning at 8:00 a.m. i ran downstairs and put in a super load of laundry. it was pretty warm outside so i hung it on the outside lines. i then threw in another gigantic load and hung that one up, too.
i then got down to serious business. i washed the kitchen windows and the curtains, too. i then washed the outside porch windows. i do these once a year. it is so clean that you forget there are windows. of course, right after i finished the windows we had an insect infestation smearing up the shine.
i was on a roll and took out my trustee steam machine and started cleaning the pantry/pesach kitchen. i did the ceramics and counters and then i tackled the oven and stove. the oven racks are soaking in some oven cleaner and boiling water. zvi came home with the neighbor's tool kit and unscrewed the dining room chairs for me. i do this once a year. i remove the seats and wash out all the crumbs. are we having fun yet?
i was in such a cleaning blitz, that i actually sprayed oven cleaner onto the racks while zvi was still standing in the kitchen. he and the neighbor were coughing from the oven cleaner. i must be mad. i called it quits about half an hour ago. my hands and back are aching. i think 12 1/2 hours of cleaning is enough. i forgot to mention that i washed the kitchen and dining room floors twice today.
zvi just ordered a pizza because there isn't any food in the house. i ate a huge amount of walnuts today, a banana, an orange, a grapefruit, a giant green apple, some dates and some left over spicy thai chicken wings and some fried noodles. i shared the left over turkey with the hounds. i can't remember exactly what time i ate, or i should say, ravaged, the leftovers.
i hope to make it to yoga tomorrow. i will then buy the dairy and veggies for pesach. i got a load of free apples, pears and avocados today so we only need veggies.
i spent a lot of time in town yesterday searching for a holiday outfit for sahar. i bought a few things for him but i goofed up on the sizes so they need to be returned. i don't know if i'll make it to the store tomorrow. i still have a lot to finish. i scrubbed the small hall bathroom already so i still need to do the large bathroom and my bedroom.
i walked a half an hour to yoga yesterday and then walked another half an hour to town to get to the unemployment office. i sold my chometz at the rabbinut and then went to every baby store in town. i didn't get home until 3:00 p.m. and i was fit for nothing. i think i made up for it today.
i then got down to serious business. i washed the kitchen windows and the curtains, too. i then washed the outside porch windows. i do these once a year. it is so clean that you forget there are windows. of course, right after i finished the windows we had an insect infestation smearing up the shine.
i was on a roll and took out my trustee steam machine and started cleaning the pantry/pesach kitchen. i did the ceramics and counters and then i tackled the oven and stove. the oven racks are soaking in some oven cleaner and boiling water. zvi came home with the neighbor's tool kit and unscrewed the dining room chairs for me. i do this once a year. i remove the seats and wash out all the crumbs. are we having fun yet?
i was in such a cleaning blitz, that i actually sprayed oven cleaner onto the racks while zvi was still standing in the kitchen. he and the neighbor were coughing from the oven cleaner. i must be mad. i called it quits about half an hour ago. my hands and back are aching. i think 12 1/2 hours of cleaning is enough. i forgot to mention that i washed the kitchen and dining room floors twice today.
zvi just ordered a pizza because there isn't any food in the house. i ate a huge amount of walnuts today, a banana, an orange, a grapefruit, a giant green apple, some dates and some left over spicy thai chicken wings and some fried noodles. i shared the left over turkey with the hounds. i can't remember exactly what time i ate, or i should say, ravaged, the leftovers.
i hope to make it to yoga tomorrow. i will then buy the dairy and veggies for pesach. i got a load of free apples, pears and avocados today so we only need veggies.
i spent a lot of time in town yesterday searching for a holiday outfit for sahar. i bought a few things for him but i goofed up on the sizes so they need to be returned. i don't know if i'll make it to the store tomorrow. i still have a lot to finish. i scrubbed the small hall bathroom already so i still need to do the large bathroom and my bedroom.
i walked a half an hour to yoga yesterday and then walked another half an hour to town to get to the unemployment office. i sold my chometz at the rabbinut and then went to every baby store in town. i didn't get home until 3:00 p.m. and i was fit for nothing. i think i made up for it today.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Sunday Night
it's 9:00 p.m. in the holy city of zefat. i am still drinking the same cup of coffee that i made about eight hours ago. who knows what's in it by now. a little soap, or windex perhaps? i didn't want to leave you with the idea that zelda is a slacker so i decided to let you know what i've been up to this afternoon.
after i finished the blog, i put away all the purim costumes and props that were on the bed in the computer room. i rearranged the closet and make it more organized for future plays or purim. i even made a list of all the props and costumes that were not returned to me after the purim show. after pesach, i will try to track them down.
after i rearranged the closet, i took out all the chatchkas and cutglass from the living room and washed them all. i then cleaned all the pictures and furniture. i washed the black leather couch and covered it with one of the couch covers that i bought last week. it's a a bit chintzy but i didn't go for the big bucks this time. it was $45 for three pieces. i want to cover my t.v.couch with the smaller one and hopefully, the last piece will fit on the big ripped black chair in the t.v. room.
i took out my mini steam machine and steamed all the couches and chairs. they're all pretty ancient, but i think they're a bit fresher now. i couldn't be bothered going upstairs to drag down the vacuum cleaner. i washed around the window sills and wiped down the screens. i couldn't lift out the windows, so i simply wiped them down. i opened the windows to air out the room. i'd like to start hanging out in the living room again, now that the weather is getting warmer.
the gas company delivered the gas balloon today instead of tomorrow, so i was able to ask my neighbor to schlepp the full balloon downstairs for me. apparently, i need to have a gas inspection and put the balloon outside of my storage area according to the new law. this way, i avoided the inspection and the cost of installation. am i smart or what! i am really blessed to have nice neighbors.
so you see, i haven't been idle all day long. i think i broke my toe today. i banged the same toe twice, while i was steaming the couch. it really hurts right now, and i'm too tired to pull off my sock and see the damage. i am heating up the rest of the kasha and brown rice from shabbat and some turkey meat. the kids don't want any part of it. i guess i'll share it with the dogs. and then i'll call it a night.
after i finished the blog, i put away all the purim costumes and props that were on the bed in the computer room. i rearranged the closet and make it more organized for future plays or purim. i even made a list of all the props and costumes that were not returned to me after the purim show. after pesach, i will try to track them down.
after i rearranged the closet, i took out all the chatchkas and cutglass from the living room and washed them all. i then cleaned all the pictures and furniture. i washed the black leather couch and covered it with one of the couch covers that i bought last week. it's a a bit chintzy but i didn't go for the big bucks this time. it was $45 for three pieces. i want to cover my t.v.couch with the smaller one and hopefully, the last piece will fit on the big ripped black chair in the t.v. room.
i took out my mini steam machine and steamed all the couches and chairs. they're all pretty ancient, but i think they're a bit fresher now. i couldn't be bothered going upstairs to drag down the vacuum cleaner. i washed around the window sills and wiped down the screens. i couldn't lift out the windows, so i simply wiped them down. i opened the windows to air out the room. i'd like to start hanging out in the living room again, now that the weather is getting warmer.
the gas company delivered the gas balloon today instead of tomorrow, so i was able to ask my neighbor to schlepp the full balloon downstairs for me. apparently, i need to have a gas inspection and put the balloon outside of my storage area according to the new law. this way, i avoided the inspection and the cost of installation. am i smart or what! i am really blessed to have nice neighbors.
so you see, i haven't been idle all day long. i think i broke my toe today. i banged the same toe twice, while i was steaming the couch. it really hurts right now, and i'm too tired to pull off my sock and see the damage. i am heating up the rest of the kasha and brown rice from shabbat and some turkey meat. the kids don't want any part of it. i guess i'll share it with the dogs. and then i'll call it a night.
SUNDAY
sunday morning in the holy city of zefat. i just got back from yoga in the neighborhood. i have zero energy today. everyone is busy doing their windows and vacuuming their homes and i am typing on my blog. gal left this morning very early with the baby. she has a part time job at the childrens' gan in canaan and left sahar with her family. i didn't feel the slightest bit unhappy about that. i am totally on my own today. i cannot force myself to function so i will simply, take it easy until my energy returns.
we still have a full week to complete the pesach cleaning. my hands and fingers are so swollen that i can hardly fold them. i am completely worn out. i spent all day friday just cleaning up the kitchen and straightening up the house for shabbat. i have no more strength to continue today. that's how it goes with pesach cleaning. one day you go for 8 hours straight and the next day you can't move.
i used up almost all of my chometz so the closets are pretty empty. i just ate my last tablespoon of tahina. forget about bread, there isn't any. i ate a vat of rice, kasha and mashed potatoes during shabbat and i already gained about 3 pounds. my body just cannot deal with carbohydrates. what i really want to do is lie down on the sofa with about 2 swiss dairy chocolate bars and just pig out. pardon my non kosher language.
i ate a few of the sephardi pesach cookies on shabbat and suffered a massive headache on friday night. they are chuck full of sugar and some unknown ingredients that do not sit well with me.
zvi is still obsessed with trying to buy a used car. heaven help him! i decided that i am not going to deal with the city tax people until after pesach. i've had enough of this folly. speaking of folly, the water company jacked up all the water bills and fled to another town. you cannot see a clerk in person now. all matters can be dealt with only by phone or mail. way to go peleg!
i have decided that this, too, can wait until pesach is over. welcome to the holy city of zefat and it's inner politics. i will resist from speaking any more lashon hara about the town, now. i will simply, make myself another cup of coffee and 'chill', which isn't hard to do because the house is still freezing.
i am very excited that i found my favorite brand of instant coffee that is kosher for pesach. what a relief! i bought three. if i had seen more, i would have bought them. so all i still need, is to buy veggies, fruits and some dairy. i'll let the kids buy the snacks by themselves. i already sprung for pesach marshmallows, chocolate bars, potato chips and chocolate spread.
we still have a full week to complete the pesach cleaning. my hands and fingers are so swollen that i can hardly fold them. i am completely worn out. i spent all day friday just cleaning up the kitchen and straightening up the house for shabbat. i have no more strength to continue today. that's how it goes with pesach cleaning. one day you go for 8 hours straight and the next day you can't move.
i used up almost all of my chometz so the closets are pretty empty. i just ate my last tablespoon of tahina. forget about bread, there isn't any. i ate a vat of rice, kasha and mashed potatoes during shabbat and i already gained about 3 pounds. my body just cannot deal with carbohydrates. what i really want to do is lie down on the sofa with about 2 swiss dairy chocolate bars and just pig out. pardon my non kosher language.
i ate a few of the sephardi pesach cookies on shabbat and suffered a massive headache on friday night. they are chuck full of sugar and some unknown ingredients that do not sit well with me.
zvi is still obsessed with trying to buy a used car. heaven help him! i decided that i am not going to deal with the city tax people until after pesach. i've had enough of this folly. speaking of folly, the water company jacked up all the water bills and fled to another town. you cannot see a clerk in person now. all matters can be dealt with only by phone or mail. way to go peleg!
i have decided that this, too, can wait until pesach is over. welcome to the holy city of zefat and it's inner politics. i will resist from speaking any more lashon hara about the town, now. i will simply, make myself another cup of coffee and 'chill', which isn't hard to do because the house is still freezing.
i am very excited that i found my favorite brand of instant coffee that is kosher for pesach. what a relief! i bought three. if i had seen more, i would have bought them. so all i still need, is to buy veggies, fruits and some dairy. i'll let the kids buy the snacks by themselves. i already sprung for pesach marshmallows, chocolate bars, potato chips and chocolate spread.
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