me-ander

Keeping Busy and What's Next

2009-11-20T09:18:00.001+02:00

As I've written, I've been told to get out as much as I can. I must prevent "burn-out."

So, this week has been very busy.

On Rosh Chodesh Kislev, the 30th of Marcheshvan, I treated myself to a day off. My husband stayed with my father and I went off and out of Shiloh.

First I went down to Tel Shiloh for Rosh Chodesh Prayers. I was joined by the fresh greenery, the gifts from G-d after our early rains.

Then I traveled to Jerusalem to meet a friend for lunch. As I stood on Rechov Yaffo, I was surprised to see Helen Freedman of AFSI. When I had last met her, in August, she had mentioned that she'd be here in November, but we never followed up on it. But there she was. She told me that she was on the way for lunch at the Anna Ticho House (I'll blog about the food at a later time) with her daughter and I should join them. So I told my friend Rosaly to meet me there. We were also joined by Mina Fenton, who had been a neighbor of mine in Bayit V'Gan thirty years ago, before we moved to Shiloh.

After a most delicious lunch (they've changed the menu,) we paid a visit to the T'hillim (Psalms) Museum in the same courtyard. We were lucky that the artist was there and Mina had him talk to us.

Jewish Tradition is that Rosh Chodesh, the beginning of the Jewish Month, is supposed to be a special "women's holiday." And this month I did celebrate very joyfully!

Playing Cards With "Grandpa"

2009-11-19T07:40:00.000+02:00

All the bedrooms were full last night. Two of my kids, the oldest and youngest, are over for a visit with their grandpa. Having my father living with us has brought my kids home for more visits than ever, at least since the nest emptied.

I'm doing more cooking and cleaning than I've done for years. That's my "job" now.

According to family legend, my grandfather, my father's father, was a great and dedicated card player. That was his "hobby." And my father was a good student, mentored by the best. So, the legend also says that my father played cards in the U.S. Navy on the ships, and a lot of people owed him money. He was transferred off the USS Indianapolis right before it was torpedoed.

Last night the kids tried to get him to teach them poker tricks/skills, but that seemed beyond his present abilities. Then they tried Blackjack and discovered that he could still play that like a pro. He had qualified and worked as a CPA for decades and can still calculate sums, at least well enough for the game. As he played, he seemed sharper and more alert. They played for money; something I had never done. I used to just play for fun.

It's amazing what can stimulate the aged.

Has Youtube Joined With Google-Blogger?

2009-11-19T07:20:00.000+02:00

When I clicked "sign in" on youtube before it said that I was signed in already. It seemed very strange, since I hadn't done youtube for weeks. I added the Sarah Palin-Barbara Walters interview, then I signed out, and now, I was asked to sign in again on blogger. So does that mean that they're all connected? Yes, I'm shilohmuse on many different internet sites/whatevers.

This is getting rather confusing. I use the same name, shilohmuse, to make life less complicated, but...

OK, as long as they don't ask for money.

It's Hard to Predict the Weather

2009-11-18T06:59:00.000+02:00

I really ought to do some laundry today, so I checked the sky through the window. From the east it looked pretty clear.

Then I looked to the west, and it was dark and cloudy.

To the south it seemed mixed.

I decided to risk it and loaded the washing machine. I don't think that I did any or much laundry this week. Yesterday was rainy, and I went to Jerusalem. I'll blog about that in a few posts, since there are a number of topics to cover. I had a wonderful day!

Today we're home; that means me and my father. I'm expecting lots of guests and hope that the timing works out well. I also hope that the movie club won't mind that I'll be cooking dinner while showing the film. I have an "open plan" livingroom diningroom and kitchen in an "L" shape. Usually I enjoy that flexible open space. Being in the kitchen isn't being isolated from what's going on in the house. I hope that my kids won't mind that there will be a movie club here in the afternoon.

So far, from the southern window (the den) I see the sky clearing. I need a strong sun, not blocked by clouds today. I still hang out the wash outdoors. I always have.

Shopping in Jerusalem, Something For Every Taste

2009-11-17T22:35:00.000+02:00

I always get a kick out of the store window reflections, even when there's nothing I would buy.

I've never liked snoods. I think of them as colored undershirts with spikes.

This is my kind of food, though I'm not quite sure what they are. Hint! Does anybody know?

I ought to stay away from all this delicious food. For this, I'd go off my diet for a bit. But if I had to choose between the baklava and Hagen Dasz Mint Chip or 5 Mint.... I'll take the ice cream!

Turning Wintery

2009-11-17T07:23:00.000+02:00

Nothing's more beautiful than the wintery sky here in Shiloh. The summer sky is boring, all blue, but as winter approaches, the humidity and clouds make it a visual wonderland.

May G-d bless us with plentiful rain.

A Question, Re: Crocheting a Beret

2009-11-16T13:42:00.000+02:00

I've been crocheting a beret, and like all my crochet projects, I don't use a pattern. I can't use one, for a very simple reason. I don't really know what I'm doing when I crochet; my work is intuitive.

The beret is designed "in my head." My big question is the diameter. I don't have any berets in my hat collection, so I'm not sure how large it should be before I either continue a few rows at maximum or start decreasing.

I'd appreciate some advice about diameters. Thanks

A Dumb Question

2009-11-16T05:56:00.000+02:00

cross-posted on Shiloh Musings
There are a number of programs for the elderly here in Israel, not far from us, in Eli, Beit El, Ofra, Jerusalem. I would love to take my father to them. There's even a possiblity of organized transportation, which is no problem for him physically.

Unfortunately there's another problem. The programs are in the morning. My father needs a lot of sleep and it would be terribly stressful to try to get him up and out so early in the morning.

I know that his schedule isn't unique, especially among those who are on all sorts of medications. He would really enjoy the programs and socializing, even though not everyone speaks English. But he can't participate. What a shame.

HH #243 From The Bima Ima

2009-11-15T14:51:00.000+02:00

There's no havel in this Havel Havelim by the Bima Ima. It's not "norishkeit." She did a great job, and I highly recommend checking it out and visiting all the posts she linked.

Shavua Tov
Have a Great Week

PS I was just interviewed by an AP journalist, so if you see me mentioned in print or TV spot, please let me know, including the link, of course. Thanks!

Easy Stove-Top Steak

2009-11-15T07:08:00.000+02:00

A few months ago, we got one of those heavy cast-iron grilling pans. I finally used it to grill "turkey steaks." The Jerusalem's most handsome bachelors used one when they grilled beef steaks for me last year.

First I put some garlic and onion and oil in the pan and heated it up.

Then I placed the steaks, turned them over a few times, and they were delicious!

There was no need to do more.

The only "tricky" part is caring for the pan. After washing, it must be dried well and oiled.

We've Been Invaded!

2009-11-14T19:04:00.000+02:00

We're paying the price for leaving the door open and enjoying yesterday's warm air. Some flies decided to stay for Shabbat, and they are very annoying.

There were other Friday afternoon guests who came to see my father, but they didn't stay very long. I wish the flies had left and the cousins had stayed...

The Latest in Home Renovations

2009-11-13T07:26:00.000+02:00

Do you see that shiny, new railing? It was installed just before I brought my father to live with us.

When we built the house twenty-five years ago, the few steps leading to our front door didn't seem like too many. But in recent years I've had to help neighbors walk up and down them and I'd get nervous about those who insisted that they could make it fine on their own.

Inside our house there aren't any stairs, making it very comfortable and safe for the elderly and crawling babies.

We're not the only people in Shiloh to have added a bannister, so people can have something to hold onto. Ours isn't very fancy, but it's strong and matches the ones the same workman put up on the main path from the road to the synagogue. My neighbor's father ordered them when he moved here.

Our Shiloh neighbood is now twenty-eight years old. The first "temporary" prefabricated structures arrived August, 1981. We moved into "ours" that September 1. We have children older than we were then, and now we have to take into consideration the needs of the much more elderly. Synagogue renovations are wheelchair accessible as well as for baby carriages.

Baruch Hashem, thank G-d, we're a community for all ages.

American Teenager vs Israeli Men

2009-11-12T08:00:00.000+02:00

So far, the attempt to send a young American basketball player to Israel's top league is proving disastrous. Talent and potential aren't enough to make it in anything. Jeremy Tyler should never have had been sent to Israel, certainly not without someone to supervise, guide and mentor him.

American Jewish teens get into enough trouble when on programs designed for their age and background, but an 18 year old Black basketball prodigy among Israeli men is just a recipe for disaster.

There's an enormous gap between American and Israeli youth, and frequently it can't be conquered. We're in Israel almost forty years, and it seems that American men have a bigger problem fitting into Israeli male society than American women into female society here. It's not a simple matter of learning Hebrew. Women bond more easily than American men.

Generally sports help, but not when the American teenager has had it too easy. Too much talent deprives a person of certain necessary learning and socialization skills. Tyler's handlers made a big mistake, and his immaturity would probably keep him from succeeding wherever he goes next or if he had stayed in the states.

From Tyler's quotations in the media, his chances for success in life are pretty poor. Of course, miracles can always happen. What a waste of money and effort and hype on the part of Maccabi Haifa.

So Much Better Than I Had Remembered

2009-11-12T06:08:00.000+02:00

Yesterday I hosted my movie club. I also chose the movie, a comedy, I had fond memories of from the one time I had seen it about twenty years ago, The Dream Team.

No, it's not a sports movie, has nothing to do with basketball and the Olympics.

It's so funny, that it's positively medicinal! That's because laughing is good for your health.

Laughter relaxes the whole body. A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after.

Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.

Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.

Laughter protects the heart. Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.

When they were leaving I spoke to one of them about the pros and cons of watching television and movies. Considering the health benefits of a good comedy, we decided that as long as one doesn't spend one's days glued to the tube, it's good to have a set or DVD player just for great comedies, like the one we watched, considering how healthy laughter is. You can call the movies, "pikuach nefesh," life saving.
There were about a dozen people, mostly older than me, in the living room. My father was the oldest, and he was pleased to meet so many of my neighbors. He knew a few of the people beforehand. My Shiloh neighbors are an amazing bunch.

Oops!

2009-11-11T07:31:00.000+02:00

I just leaned badly on my wrist. I hope it doesn't swell up.

I've been busy visiting other blogs this morning. I commented on some.

I wonder if there's a blog carnival with posts like my recent ones about taking care of elderly parents. Am I tempted to start one? Good question. My blog carnival about losing weight was a waste of time. It didn't bring me extra hits/visits.

This computer needs a "restart," since outlook refuses to show.

Another Milestone in My Saga, Taking Care of My Elderly Father

2009-11-10T19:54:00.000+02:00

So far, bli eyin haraa (don't tempt the evil eye) my father can do a lot for himself. One thing he can't do is to change the battery of his hearing aid. That's because his eyesight isn't all that great nowadays, so he can't see it.

Last week, at my daughter's instructions, we went to "HaOzen," a hearingaid place. I bit the bullet and told the young guy that I'm taking care of my father, and as he can see my father wears hearingaids, and I haven't a clue how to deal with them. So, I got a lesson, how to clean and how to change batteries and know when that's necessary. I bought the necessary supplies, brought them home and...

... I waited until a bolt from the blue would tell me when to use my new skills. Yesterday it hit!

"It's very strange. These hearingaids don't seem to be working."

"Hmmm... maybe it's time for me to change the batteries."

I "tested" them and they were dead. So I got the equipment, and easier than I had ever guessed, changed the batteries, and my father was able to hear better.

All the challenges should be this easy.

Cottage Cheese Cheesecake

2009-11-10T07:39:00.000+02:00

When our firstborn was almost a year old, my in-laws came to visit and meet their first grandchild. They brought a gift, a blender, a Hamilton Beach one which lasted decades. The blender came with a nice big cookbook, which I read from cover to cover.

I must admit that I cooked very few of those recipes. The one I cooked the most was its cheesecake. And this morning I got a facebook message from an old friend asking if I still make it and a request for the recipe. So if she remembers it fondly from over thirty-five, yes 35, years ago, it's definitely worth blogging.

In those days we didn't have great varieties of food here in Israel. We always had to substitute, so I used plain cookies/biscuits instead of the zweibacks, the book lists. Honestly, to this day, I haven't the vaguest idea what zweibacks are.

It's a very easy cheesecake recipe using easy to find ingredients. It's simple to make and make lower fat if desired. I'm sure it'll taste fine with arificial sweetners, too. You can add cut fruit and anything else, including chocolate. Recipes are supposed to be "played with." Please let me know how it comes out.

Here's the recipe, including commentary:

18 "zweiback"
2 Tablespoons sugar (could be deleted, makes the topping too sweet)
1/3 cup melted butter (I must have used about 2 or 3 cubed inches)
1 cup milk
1 T lemon juice, which was awful, so I used vanilla extract
4 eggs
1/2 cup sugar (I used brown sugar)
2 T flour (I used whole wheat)
1/4 teaspoon salt (I never add salt to cakes, so you can leave it out)
lemon rind, optional and not recommended
16 ounces of cottage cheese

blend the cookies into crumbs, making 1 1/2 cups
mix crumbs with the 2 T's of sugar and the melted butter
press just under half of it on the bottom of a 9x9x2 or 8" round baking pan
put remaining ingredients in blender, in order listed, and blend until smooth
pour into baking pan
spread remaining crumb mixture, actually, I used to just make less crumbs and only use them on the bottom. You can reduce the calories enormously by eliminating the topping, or top without bottom crumbs.
bake until center is firm, temperature a drop less than for a regular cake.

A Few Hours To Myself

2009-11-09T21:37:00.000+02:00

I've been told by the experts that I must give myself a few hours a week, at least, for myself, so I won't burn out.

In many ways taking care of the elderly is more difficult than taking care of babies. Babies are portable and they grow up and become independent. I'm more tied down taking care of my father than I was when I was a SAHM all those decades ago, when my daughters were little. When my sons were babies I was a working mother, part-time, but still working.

Last week we took my father to Jerusalem, and it took him a couple of days to recover. So, unless we have no choice, we're staying here in Shiloh or Ofra, where my married daugher lives. It's only about 15 minutes away.

Today I traveled to Jerusalem to do a bit of shopping. I bought fabric for winter skirts. My friend will sew them for me.

Sometimes I wish that I had a sewing machine, so I could do my own sewing. Actually, it would be fun, creative and very expensive. That's because I'd be buying tons of fabric for all sorts of clothes I don't need, and I probably wouldn't end up sewing the clothes.

Actually, I used to do that with the crocheting. I have a large collection of yarn bought and never used. So, now when I have the yearning to crochet, I go through my old yarn.

Today...

2009-11-09T08:01:00.000+02:00

... the computer has been working so slowly, I knew it was time to do myself a manicure. Again my nails are apple green. Who ever thought of nail polish in such a color? It's far from the frosted coral of my childhood.

...before winter returns, I ought to do a lot of laundry, to be hung out to dry.

...since my husband is home, I'll go out and leave my father safely with him.

... yes, it's time to turn off the computer or at least get up and showered, dressed etc for the day's activities.

Jack Presents The Thank G-d For Blog Carnival Edition of Havel Havelim!

2009-11-09T05:35:00.003+02:00

Fearless leader Jack takes responsibility for HH and does it himself. Having put together more than my share of blog carnivals, I know how much work even a bare bones edition can be.

Thanks Jack. Your work is appreciated!

And now for the rest of you, please show your appreciation and take a gander!

Changing Gears

2009-11-08T23:03:00.000+02:00

It seems like life is just a series of gear changes. There are times we just can't fight it. Go with it. That's what I'm doing now that my father is living with us.

The pace of my life is slower. I can't speed up my father, so I find it more comfortable to adjust my pace to his.

I'm just being pragmatic, as pragmatic as I can, with G-d's help.

I've Been "Burnt;" I'm Sure You've Been, Too

2009-11-08T07:58:00.000+02:00

Recently a total stranger sent me an angry email demanding to know why I credited him with writing an article, on an old, inactive blog, which I no longer update, he had never written.

Actually, he didn't bother to send me the link, so I had to do an internet search to find what he had referred to. Eventually, I found the "guilty" article. Luckily, I had thanked the person who had sent me the original information in the post. I passed that person's email onto the person complaining and hope that they'll straighten it out between them.

So much false information floats around the internet. I'm sure I'm not the only blogger who has deleted posts based on totally false information. I wish people who send out emails warning us of all sorts of later proven to be false scares would check things out first.

Recently, I got something from a friend claiming something "that we all must protest and publicize." She forwarded it with all the prior fowarded addresses. I know one of them and asked him for verification. He answered that he "trusted" the person who had sent it to him. That's not good enough for me. I asked him to verify it and am waiting for his response.

One thing that has me very suspicious is the font used in the original scare/warning letter. It's the old dot-matrix font, which isn't popular today. I can't imagine anyone very serious or official using it.

Today's technology makes fraud very easy. It pays to be a bit paranoid to prevent later embarrassment.

Breast Cancer Awareness and Dogs

2009-11-07T18:30:00.000+02:00

These two well-dressed dogs were spotted visiting patients in the North Shore Hospital, Long Island, NY when I was there to visit my mother in October.

I didn't quite catch onto the connection, but they were part of the big Breast Cancer Awareness events of that time. I even bought some batteries all decorated in pink. The profits are supposed to go to research or support for those suffering from the disease.

The dogs may be cute, but I consider it more important to humanize the illness. Read RivkA's blog, Coffee and Chemo.

Every Day is Thanksgiving

2009-11-06T12:01:00.001+02:00

Aren't we supposed to start the day with the Modeh Ani, "I thank you G-d" prayer?

Michael, of the Gantseh Megillah, considers this month's edition to be the Thanksgiving Gantseh Megillah, because Thanksgiving is a Jewish Holiday.

Thanks Michael for a great job!

So, There's Kosher Food, Is That Enough?

2009-11-06T07:23:00.000+02:00

It's considered pretty easy to live kosher in America, but is that enough? This article about the big kosher food expo is quite a binge.

Last week we read Lech Lecha as the Torah Portion of the Week. In it G-d tells Abram to "go where I tell you." He doesn't say to live wherever there are good kosher restaurants and large kosher food selections in the supermarket.

There's more to Jewish living than bagels.

Abram didn't call take-out delivery when his three surprise guests arrived. He and Sarai did the cooking themselves, and they didn't even have a large freezer.

My husband and I have been in Israel for almost forty years and in Shiloh for 3/4 of it. We've seen this wonderful country grow and develop. Not in a million years could I ever imagine living anyplace else.

So many of our old friends are stuck in America, still trying to save that "extra money" to facilitate aliyah. That's the big myth, that you must wait and save.

Send your kids here before they're stuck, too.