it is 12:30 p.m. in the holy city of safed. I have been, finally, putting away my pesach stuff. I don't know what is the matter with me. I have been vegetating for days. pesach ended on Friday night and at the end of Saturday might, most people turned over their kitchens; not, I. I lounged around in jammies for days. I didn't leave my house. I ate non stop and didn't have any contact with the human race. I was really out of it. I also binged on the remainder of the pesach chocolates and potato chips, which I religiously avoided all week.
we are having a heat wave, I believe. I'm not really sure because I haven't been outside. I just ran outside to throw out the garbage. the house remains cold at night. I have been holed up on the couch wrapped up in a shawl. I put away all of my pots and pans and just cleaned the pesach stove. I still have to dry the two pesach plastic sinks and put them back into the closet. it really wasn't hard. I just, simply, could not function for a few days.
I saw the kids on Shabbat. they came in on Thursday. it was still pesach so I could not eat with them due to my food stringencies. i went on Friday night to the Sephardi family. it was very hard for me to walk to their house. what normally, used to be a half an hour walk, turned into a 50 minute struggle. I am very out of shape. I did wake up with migraine like headaches on both Friday and Saturday mornings. I skipped services and stayed in bed. this was not my best pesach. on late Saturday afternoon, I made the walk again. the kids were not there. they were in a park in town. I didn't see them until later that night, when they all returned. i stayed and ate a third meal with the family.
on Saturday night, I watched the Sephardi grandma, who is ten years my junior; wash and put away all of her pots and then make dozens of the traditional Moroccan pancakes from scratch. the kids all showered and I was driven home. it was close to midnight and I started food binging and didn't go to sleep until around 5:00 a.m. I didn't move again until today.
Tuesday, April 30, 2019
Saturday, April 20, 2019
Saturday Night
it is 10:00 p.m. in the holy city of safed. the kids just left. Shabbat and pesach holiday went swimmingly well despite the weather. it was storming for days. we even had a real live hail storm this afternoon. I kept on heaters in the dining area, t.v. room and bedrooms. I and the grandkids slept in a bedroom without a heater and we survived. we huddled together under two blankets and the dog slept on my feet so I was toasty. I did wake up with a bit of a headache but it went away after a few cups of tea.
the food was pretty tasty. I had to toss the fried eggplant chips that I made because they dried out on the hot plate. I thought that I didn't have enough food for lunch today and was kicking myself sideways for not making a meat stew. however, when I served the chopped liver, apple charoset, avocado and egg salad, potato salad, lettuce and tomato salad, mashed potatoes, chicken nuggets, salty herring and the orange and honey chicken, I relaxed. I even took out all of the turkey meatballs from the soup and added it to the orange chicken sauce. it was a big hit. and of course, we had matzah up the wazoo. no one missed the meat except for the grandson and I had just a few slices of the beef in wine left for him.
the kids were pretty well behaved and I even got a short nap. there was no serious incident with tiny dog and puppy, toffee. we all stayed on this floor. it was very comfortable. the grandkids ate a lot of cornflakes and milk. and didn't really wreck the house. in the evening, I served my son the spicy tilapia fish for third meal with the leftover salads. he also had matzah and butter. the little kids ate most of the matzah cookies that I bought and they did get a bit hyper. my son was a bit shocked that I let them have so much sugar. in truth I was stricter as a parent. I was a bit out of it today.
my son brought three incredible wines from the winery where he once worked. we have been using these wines for the seder for years. I had no problem drinking the four cups this year. I don't by any means, drink eight ounce cups but anyway, I did the deed..
before they left I heated up the remainder of the turkey neck soup. they all loved it. unfortunately, there wasn't enough left for seconds when I cooked it on Thursday, I added a few lemons for punch. I am very grateful that my food turned out so tasty and I stayed true to my old chabad customs. the kids are thinking about leaving the puppy with me for the second half of the holiday. my friend will help me dog sit. she is great with puppies. the grandkids wanted me to come to Jerusalem for the rest of the holiday. if I didn't have friends coming tomorrow, I would have gone.
I am thinking about inviting my friends for the second holiday on Thursday night. we shall see what happens. in the meantime, I can call it a night. tomorrow morning I will go downstairs and make the beds and set up the heaters.
the food was pretty tasty. I had to toss the fried eggplant chips that I made because they dried out on the hot plate. I thought that I didn't have enough food for lunch today and was kicking myself sideways for not making a meat stew. however, when I served the chopped liver, apple charoset, avocado and egg salad, potato salad, lettuce and tomato salad, mashed potatoes, chicken nuggets, salty herring and the orange and honey chicken, I relaxed. I even took out all of the turkey meatballs from the soup and added it to the orange chicken sauce. it was a big hit. and of course, we had matzah up the wazoo. no one missed the meat except for the grandson and I had just a few slices of the beef in wine left for him.
the kids were pretty well behaved and I even got a short nap. there was no serious incident with tiny dog and puppy, toffee. we all stayed on this floor. it was very comfortable. the grandkids ate a lot of cornflakes and milk. and didn't really wreck the house. in the evening, I served my son the spicy tilapia fish for third meal with the leftover salads. he also had matzah and butter. the little kids ate most of the matzah cookies that I bought and they did get a bit hyper. my son was a bit shocked that I let them have so much sugar. in truth I was stricter as a parent. I was a bit out of it today.
my son brought three incredible wines from the winery where he once worked. we have been using these wines for the seder for years. I had no problem drinking the four cups this year. I don't by any means, drink eight ounce cups but anyway, I did the deed..
before they left I heated up the remainder of the turkey neck soup. they all loved it. unfortunately, there wasn't enough left for seconds when I cooked it on Thursday, I added a few lemons for punch. I am very grateful that my food turned out so tasty and I stayed true to my old chabad customs. the kids are thinking about leaving the puppy with me for the second half of the holiday. my friend will help me dog sit. she is great with puppies. the grandkids wanted me to come to Jerusalem for the rest of the holiday. if I didn't have friends coming tomorrow, I would have gone.
I am thinking about inviting my friends for the second holiday on Thursday night. we shall see what happens. in the meantime, I can call it a night. tomorrow morning I will go downstairs and make the beds and set up the heaters.
Thursday, April 18, 2019
It's Beginning To Look A lot Like Pesach
it is 8:00 p.m. in the holy city of safed. we have to check for chometz now. I didn't finish cleaning the downstairs apartment. I spent the day cooking and preparing for the Seder. I enlisted my good pal to come over and crack nuts. she got here before 11:00 a.m. and was finished by nearly 3:00 p.m. her thumbs were also finished. while she cracked I cooked. I made a pot of turkey neck soup with turkey meatballs. I used fresh parsley for the first time, ever. I have the custom of not using spices on pesach. it is hard to make tasty food. I made a small amount of chopped liver, a pot of mashed potatoes, a pot of chicken thighs in white wine, orange juice and ginger and a small piece of beef in red wine and honey. I added honey to the chicken , too. I made a generous amount of charoset. that is the paste like mixture of nuts and apples. I used almonds and walnuts, ginger root, apples, dates and a couple of pears.
I hold a chabad custom of peeling everything. I forgot how much work that is. I peeled the dried dates. I made a few tilapia fillets in a tomato sauce and I peeled the tomatoes and a small hot pepper, to boot. I also peeled my celery. most people use a celery root. I chose the real deal but had to peel it. I ran out of peppercorns and used processed black pepper. I used way too much. everything is way too peppery. I should have grated the ginger into the chicken. you can't really taste it unless you chew a slice of it.
I have never cooked the day before pesach. I think I was off my game. I just burnt a pot of diced beets. I could have sworn that I had turned off the gas. oh well.... I have some over ripe avocados in the fridge. perhaps, I can make a guacamole type of salad. I will stop right now before a bigger disaster occurs. I will do my chometz check in a moment. I wrapped 10 small pieces of bread and placed them into 10 sandwich baggies. you strategically place them around the house and then scoop them up. tomorrow, we burn them in a ritualistic fire.
I will wait until the dog is outside to make a move. I will then call it a night. I have been eating and tasting food all day long. pesach food has a mystical taste. it never tastes the same after pesach. everything tasted bland today but tomorrow it will be brilliant. the taste of pesach. I will also go downstairs in the morning and finish washing the floors. there really isn't any chometz downstairs. wishing you all a happy and kosher pesach!.
I hold a chabad custom of peeling everything. I forgot how much work that is. I peeled the dried dates. I made a few tilapia fillets in a tomato sauce and I peeled the tomatoes and a small hot pepper, to boot. I also peeled my celery. most people use a celery root. I chose the real deal but had to peel it. I ran out of peppercorns and used processed black pepper. I used way too much. everything is way too peppery. I should have grated the ginger into the chicken. you can't really taste it unless you chew a slice of it.
I have never cooked the day before pesach. I think I was off my game. I just burnt a pot of diced beets. I could have sworn that I had turned off the gas. oh well.... I have some over ripe avocados in the fridge. perhaps, I can make a guacamole type of salad. I will stop right now before a bigger disaster occurs. I will do my chometz check in a moment. I wrapped 10 small pieces of bread and placed them into 10 sandwich baggies. you strategically place them around the house and then scoop them up. tomorrow, we burn them in a ritualistic fire.
I will wait until the dog is outside to make a move. I will then call it a night. I have been eating and tasting food all day long. pesach food has a mystical taste. it never tastes the same after pesach. everything tasted bland today but tomorrow it will be brilliant. the taste of pesach. I will also go downstairs in the morning and finish washing the floors. there really isn't any chometz downstairs. wishing you all a happy and kosher pesach!.
Wednesday, April 17, 2019
Countdown to pesach 2019
it is 7:00 p.m. in the holy city of safed. I finished cleaning my apartment. I went downstairs to start cleaning the bottom apartment. it is dirty. I am exhausted. I washed the massive laundry room floor, a bedroom and the kitchen floor. it is turning dark and I can't do anything more. I have three more bedrooms, the hall and the bathroom. I also have to clean the kitchen. if I wasn't having guests next week, I would have locked the downstairs apartment for pesach. I need to do the kitchen windows and the counter. it is way too much work. I worked so hard up here and it finally looks like pesach.
yesterday, I had a lovely young lady come to see the roof top apartment. I quickly washed the floor. I would love to lock the apartment for pesach but I think my guests might need another bathroom. I am feeling overwhelmed and it isn't quite fair because my house is already in order. I need to go to town tomorrow to boot. I gave the veggie store a check and they want cash. I need to bring the cash in the morning. I also want to cook tomorrow. I took out way too much food to defrost. the worst scenario, I will have what to eat all week.
tomorrow evening, we do a check throughout the house to look for chometz. I already ripped up tiny pieces of bread and put them into ten baggies. last year I could only retrieve 9. tiny dog had already eaten one. tiny loves the new sofa. I had too cover the seat with a sheet as it has been raining and his paws are muddy. I tried to tuck the sheet into the corner of the couch and he started growling and bared his teeth. I sure hope he hasn't already buried a piece of bread in the new couch.
I am planning on making turkey neck soup with turkey meatballs, chopped chicken liver, beef in red wine, and chicken thighs in white wine and orange juice. I think I better head downstairs to pick lemons and oranges off the trees. it is already dark so maybe i'll do it in the morning. I have so much to do tomorrow. I asked my friend to come over tomorrow to help me crack nuts. my left hand is rather weak. I guess I should have bought shelled nuts. I may have to buy more dates. I have been munching on them all week. I usually make a meat and potato stew that stays on the hot plate all night for Shabbat lunch but I think I will simply serve the leftover beef and make mashed potatoes. that is my signature pesach dish.
yesterday, I had a lovely young lady come to see the roof top apartment. I quickly washed the floor. I would love to lock the apartment for pesach but I think my guests might need another bathroom. I am feeling overwhelmed and it isn't quite fair because my house is already in order. I need to go to town tomorrow to boot. I gave the veggie store a check and they want cash. I need to bring the cash in the morning. I also want to cook tomorrow. I took out way too much food to defrost. the worst scenario, I will have what to eat all week.
tomorrow evening, we do a check throughout the house to look for chometz. I already ripped up tiny pieces of bread and put them into ten baggies. last year I could only retrieve 9. tiny dog had already eaten one. tiny loves the new sofa. I had too cover the seat with a sheet as it has been raining and his paws are muddy. I tried to tuck the sheet into the corner of the couch and he started growling and bared his teeth. I sure hope he hasn't already buried a piece of bread in the new couch.
I am planning on making turkey neck soup with turkey meatballs, chopped chicken liver, beef in red wine, and chicken thighs in white wine and orange juice. I think I better head downstairs to pick lemons and oranges off the trees. it is already dark so maybe i'll do it in the morning. I have so much to do tomorrow. I asked my friend to come over tomorrow to help me crack nuts. my left hand is rather weak. I guess I should have bought shelled nuts. I may have to buy more dates. I have been munching on them all week. I usually make a meat and potato stew that stays on the hot plate all night for Shabbat lunch but I think I will simply serve the leftover beef and make mashed potatoes. that is my signature pesach dish.
Monday, April 15, 2019
Another Washout
it is 1:30 p.m. in the holy city of safed. I am at home and have been waiting for my furniture delivery. it just might come tomorrow. I didn't give them my cell phone number. I washed the floors in the two back bedrooms, main bathroom, and television room. I swashed a lot of dirt around but I didn't find a trace of the dreaded chometz until tiny dog came in with a roll. I snatched it right out of his dirty little mouth before he could chew any. are we having fun, yet?
I'm pretty tired today and I didn't sleep all that well. I was overtired. there is so much dust and dirt in the house. only bringing in a hose can properly do the job but my hose doesn't reach so far so I settle for buckets of soapy water. my house doesn't shine. my neighbors' houses shine but not mine. I still have to tackle the four bedrooms and laundry room downstairs. I can't think of it. if I wasn't having company, I would close the other two floors for the week.
I figured out a way to pay my water bill without actually leaving the house. that's right, I used my direct payment card instead of schlepping to the post office. what a marvel!. I still want to go to town to buy seat cushions and veggies. I am pretty wiped right now. I will have a strong tea, get dressed and order a taxi. I bought way too much food for pesach. oh well, it won't go bad in the freezer. i'll have some for Shavuot, hopefully. if I make it to town, i'll buy a falafel for dinner. wow! I think i'll open up a can of tuna and have some chumus. maybe that will help.
it is rather nasty outside and they predict a few days more of rain. the house is freezing. I should go outside and wash my garbage pail before it starts raining..
I'm pretty tired today and I didn't sleep all that well. I was overtired. there is so much dust and dirt in the house. only bringing in a hose can properly do the job but my hose doesn't reach so far so I settle for buckets of soapy water. my house doesn't shine. my neighbors' houses shine but not mine. I still have to tackle the four bedrooms and laundry room downstairs. I can't think of it. if I wasn't having company, I would close the other two floors for the week.
I figured out a way to pay my water bill without actually leaving the house. that's right, I used my direct payment card instead of schlepping to the post office. what a marvel!. I still want to go to town to buy seat cushions and veggies. I am pretty wiped right now. I will have a strong tea, get dressed and order a taxi. I bought way too much food for pesach. oh well, it won't go bad in the freezer. i'll have some for Shavuot, hopefully. if I make it to town, i'll buy a falafel for dinner. wow! I think i'll open up a can of tuna and have some chumus. maybe that will help.
it is rather nasty outside and they predict a few days more of rain. the house is freezing. I should go outside and wash my garbage pail before it starts raining..
Sunday, April 14, 2019
Great Day
it is midnight in the holy city of safed. I just wrestled with the mattress cover and I won. the mattress is back inside the zippered cover. for a while back there I didn't think I'd make it. I have less function of my left hand these days. my left shoulder and arm are aching. too. it turned cold again and we are supposed to have showers, yet once, again. this is the screwiest weather I can remember. I hope it doesn't rain on pesach. I managed to get to services on Saturday morning. I think it was the first time ever, that I went to synagogue the Shabbat day before pesach. it was very upbeat and lovely.
I got up early today as the gardener was outside. I always give him coffee and we schmooze a bit. right after the coffee I went into pesach cleaning action. I couldn't manage to get the windows in the third bedroom out of the frames. I don't have the power anymore. I washed the curtains and washed the dirt off of the window sill. it isn't chometz but it is not dirty anymore. I tackled the stove and oven and kitchen tiles. I scrubbed the gunk off of the counters. I used a lot of chemicals. the oven cleaner spray got the congealed grease off of the kitchen floor. I did a huge floor washing afterwards. and then I washed all eight dining room chairs.
I am hoping to finish my apartment tomorrow. I basically, need to wash all of the floors in the three bedrooms, the television room, two bathrooms and the living room. I threw out the reclining chair from the television room. in its prime, twenty years ago, it was an extremely expensive piece of furniture. we got it for my dad when he was having back pains. it had several positions. when tiny was a puppy he chewed all of the wires. for the last three years it was set in just one position. the leather was all ripped and it wasn't really comfortable. I used it as my t.v. Lounge chair.
last year at pesach time I threw out the small leather two seater. I never got to replace it. I couldn't bear looking at the recliner anymore and I sure enough wasn't going to wash it today. I kept on thinking about running to town to buy a new one. at around 5:00 p.m. I was starving and very tired. I thought I should call it quits for today. I was definitely too tired to go to town. after I finished the dining room chairs I got a second wind. not really exactly. I took a cab to town. I bought a small two seater couch and a matching chair. it was very affordable and I paid with checks. I thought about buying two recliners but they were very pricey. I live alone but sometimes I have overnight guests and now I can't wait for my furniture to arrive.
I also threw out two dining room chairs that were antique. they were leather and very comfortable and very large. the springs were sticking out for years. I couldn't bear looking at them another moment and I didn't have the money to refurbish them. someone took them right away. I wish them luck. I will buy a few kitchen chairs after the holiday. furniture is very expensive here. this was the first time that I actually purchased new furniture. I bought a used dining room set thirty years ago. I was given beds and then I bought a cheap pull out sofa. but I never had new furniture. I have been using what was left of my mom's furnishings. little but surely things are breaking.
I had to sit on a foot stool to watch t.v. tonight. I was too tired to carry a chair form the next room. I think I ate three cans of tuna today. those were my three meals. I did buy a package of fresh strawberries in town and had a yogurt. I was planning on going to the outdoor market on Wednesday to buy cushions for the dining room chairs but now it is supposed to pour. I might try another shop in town. I want to go to a fruit and vegetable shop in the morning. I don't want to hit the supermarket again. and I have to pay my water bill which is very confusing.
I got up early today as the gardener was outside. I always give him coffee and we schmooze a bit. right after the coffee I went into pesach cleaning action. I couldn't manage to get the windows in the third bedroom out of the frames. I don't have the power anymore. I washed the curtains and washed the dirt off of the window sill. it isn't chometz but it is not dirty anymore. I tackled the stove and oven and kitchen tiles. I scrubbed the gunk off of the counters. I used a lot of chemicals. the oven cleaner spray got the congealed grease off of the kitchen floor. I did a huge floor washing afterwards. and then I washed all eight dining room chairs.
I am hoping to finish my apartment tomorrow. I basically, need to wash all of the floors in the three bedrooms, the television room, two bathrooms and the living room. I threw out the reclining chair from the television room. in its prime, twenty years ago, it was an extremely expensive piece of furniture. we got it for my dad when he was having back pains. it had several positions. when tiny was a puppy he chewed all of the wires. for the last three years it was set in just one position. the leather was all ripped and it wasn't really comfortable. I used it as my t.v. Lounge chair.
last year at pesach time I threw out the small leather two seater. I never got to replace it. I couldn't bear looking at the recliner anymore and I sure enough wasn't going to wash it today. I kept on thinking about running to town to buy a new one. at around 5:00 p.m. I was starving and very tired. I thought I should call it quits for today. I was definitely too tired to go to town. after I finished the dining room chairs I got a second wind. not really exactly. I took a cab to town. I bought a small two seater couch and a matching chair. it was very affordable and I paid with checks. I thought about buying two recliners but they were very pricey. I live alone but sometimes I have overnight guests and now I can't wait for my furniture to arrive.
I also threw out two dining room chairs that were antique. they were leather and very comfortable and very large. the springs were sticking out for years. I couldn't bear looking at them another moment and I didn't have the money to refurbish them. someone took them right away. I wish them luck. I will buy a few kitchen chairs after the holiday. furniture is very expensive here. this was the first time that I actually purchased new furniture. I bought a used dining room set thirty years ago. I was given beds and then I bought a cheap pull out sofa. but I never had new furniture. I have been using what was left of my mom's furnishings. little but surely things are breaking.
I had to sit on a foot stool to watch t.v. tonight. I was too tired to carry a chair form the next room. I think I ate three cans of tuna today. those were my three meals. I did buy a package of fresh strawberries in town and had a yogurt. I was planning on going to the outdoor market on Wednesday to buy cushions for the dining room chairs but now it is supposed to pour. I might try another shop in town. I want to go to a fruit and vegetable shop in the morning. I don't want to hit the supermarket again. and I have to pay my water bill which is very confusing.
Friday, April 12, 2019
Moving Foward
it is 5:30 p.m. in the holy city of safed. candle lighting is in an hour. I have been on the move since 10:00 a.m. I can't count the amount of loads of laundry I did today. there still isn't one room done in the entire house. I cleaned out the porch room off of the master bedroom. it was a disaster. I had two or three laundry baskets filled with dozens of slats from the shutters. I put them in bags and will store them in the storage unit downstairs until I decide how to prepare the shutters. there was all sorts of laundry strewn all over the porch. what a mess!. I threw many buckets of bleach water all over the porch. I washed the two bedroom windows and doors. I washed the entire floor and bathroom and it is more or less ready for pesach. I just need to dust the dressers. I thought it would be a good place for the new puppy to get fresh air and isolate her from my dog and the neighbor's two dogs, who visit everyday. I hope my son will agree.
I chucked out the 3 broken laundry baskets as well as my mom's antique one from the 50's. it was a bit rusty and I had used it for the last 20 years. I also threw out the antique step ladder. it is too heavy for me and also totally rusted. I will buy myself a small stepladder after pesach. I also threw out the broken clothes rack. I was still using it even though I bought a new one. what is the saying about teaching old dogs new tricks???
I quickly threw 3 chicken quarters into a pot with mid eastern spices for Shabbat dinner. I am broiling some salmon fillets, too. I have whole wheat pitas. I bought a chumus for pesach for the kids but I might just eat it tonight. I found a mini halvah on my counter and scoffed it down. I have been staying away from sugar but I have been eating dates everyday. my house has literally been turned upside done. I thought I could get it all back in place before Shabbat, but no such luck. I don't think anyone will be coming over on Shabbat but anyway, I should have made it nice for Shabbat. I will try and sweep the dining room area. it's a miracle that I managed to cook something. I don't think that I will work on Saturday night. the lighting in my house is not good. I hope that I will get some sleep and be in good shape on sunday to get to work.
I also have the two apartments that I must clean, too, but there are no chatchkas to wash or furniture to polish. there are 6 windows downstairs and although I keep saying that I won't do windows, I will probably do them. i might do some plastering too. who knows?
I chucked out the 3 broken laundry baskets as well as my mom's antique one from the 50's. it was a bit rusty and I had used it for the last 20 years. I also threw out the antique step ladder. it is too heavy for me and also totally rusted. I will buy myself a small stepladder after pesach. I also threw out the broken clothes rack. I was still using it even though I bought a new one. what is the saying about teaching old dogs new tricks???
I quickly threw 3 chicken quarters into a pot with mid eastern spices for Shabbat dinner. I am broiling some salmon fillets, too. I have whole wheat pitas. I bought a chumus for pesach for the kids but I might just eat it tonight. I found a mini halvah on my counter and scoffed it down. I have been staying away from sugar but I have been eating dates everyday. my house has literally been turned upside done. I thought I could get it all back in place before Shabbat, but no such luck. I don't think anyone will be coming over on Shabbat but anyway, I should have made it nice for Shabbat. I will try and sweep the dining room area. it's a miracle that I managed to cook something. I don't think that I will work on Saturday night. the lighting in my house is not good. I hope that I will get some sleep and be in good shape on sunday to get to work.
I also have the two apartments that I must clean, too, but there are no chatchkas to wash or furniture to polish. there are 6 windows downstairs and although I keep saying that I won't do windows, I will probably do them. i might do some plastering too. who knows?
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