Shema bekola

10:32am: Froggy PJ's
The Royal Scribe was home sick with a bad cold yesterday. I had a few vacation days that I had to use before the end of the year anyway, and who wants to be alone when they feel rotten, so I stayed home with her. But she didn't really need me for much more than sympathy so I did some decluttering and I rewarded myself by sewing up a pair of warm flannel froggy pajamas for Her Purpleness.

And here they are - unhemmed. After trying them on I needed to lop about 4-5 inches off the bottom of the legs and arms. Her Purpleness is a wee little thing (or in less poetic terms she is as short as most of the family!)

6:00pm: The Performer worked as a mother's helper for half the summer this year, and subsequently has saved enough money to open her very own bank account. It's a milestone, and she was very proud of herself (rightly so!) and was discussing the details with Her Purpleness. She showed off the "gifts" the bank gave her (some pens, hand sanitizer (?) and and extra $10 in her account) and detailed how much she kept at home, so she would have some spending money on hand. Her Purpleness, keeping up pretty well, but unsure on the details, wanted to know why she left money out of the bank.

"Why don't you just get a credit card?"
The Performer was aghast!
"I don't want debt!!!"

I'm so proud :-)

9:52pm: Foliage
I adore the colors of fall foliage!

1:32pm: Happy Birthday!


Happy Birthday to You
Happy Birthday to You
Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday to You!!!!


Here, have some cookies too -

11:00pm: Succah Sillouettes
I thought these came out really cool.

2:50pm: Chol Hamoed - trip tip
For anyone in the NY/NJ area who still goes to "regular" circus performances.

The Big Apple Circus is set up in the commuter lot of the Palisades Mall for all of Chol Hamoed. (It's not far from Monsey.)
Here's their website. If you pick a date and time on the right and click "Continue" you get to the ticket ordering page. Try the promotional code "VALUE". It got me a very nice discount for a matinee.

So, anyone know of anything else good for a kids in a range of ages? I'm thinking corn maze/apple picking if the weather holds. Possibly a hike. We enjoyed Dorney Park last year, but I don't think any organization picked it this year. Hershey Park would be about a three hour drive, and I don't like Six Flags.

7:53am: Sunrise


I took this photo this morning on my cell phone. Pretty, no?

11:04am: Shana Tova


May you all have a Shana Tova U'Metuka



May this be the year that Am Yisroel is a Rosh and not a Zanav :-)

Her Purpleness produced this arrangement on her own, unprompted. She told me that "flowers smell sweet, so we should have a sweet new year."



All together now - awwww!

11:19am: Squash Kugel
Just jotting down the recipe I made up for squash kugel today - if it comes out good, I want to be able to duplicate it!

( recipe )

10:48am: Lukshen Kugel?
So, does anyone have a recipe for pareve lukshen kugel that won't fall apart into a tasty pile of noodles when serving? Every recipe I try just won't hold together. Is it because I use oil and not margarine? Not enough eggs? Rice milk instead of "nondairy creamer"? Not enough super glue?

Here's the recipe I used today:

12 oz noodles (recipe called for 1 lb)
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup rice milk
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup oil
4 apples
3 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt

It doesn't look promising in the holding together category, again. But it should hopefully taste good!

8:03am: The latest edition of JPIX is up at me-ander's!

3:24pm: More food
Today, while cooking, I got a chance to bust out with "you can always pick it up, you are alone in the kitchen, who is going to see?"

Name that quote?

Hint - (okay, answer!) ten seconds in the video here.

I did get a fair amount of pre-holiday freezer food done today.



( lists ahoy )

12:04pm: Food
I've started the pre-holiday baking sessions.

This morning:



Three challot (now I have 9 total)
Honey Sponge Cake
Honey Apple Cake

In the oven, two pumpkin pies.

Mmmm.

2:56pm: four eyes
New glasses for me - first time in about 6 or 7 years!



I think I need to get out in the sun more :-)

It's this but in brown.

7:33am: It's that time again!


Okay, not for all of them! The Crown Prince started yesterday and the Royal Scribe doesn't start until Tuesday. But The Performer and Her Purpleness are on their way!

7:08pm: Sore, tired, but we hiked!
I took a vacation day today to spend time with the Royal Crew between camp and school. We decided to go hiking at the Apshawa Nature Preserve The trail we picked was described as "moderately" difficult. Anything less is scorned by the little mountain goats that I've raised, but my oh my am I sore right now! I need to get more fit, so I can keep up with them!

( photos behind the cut - it's really pretty there! )

10:45am: United Breaks Guitars
Everyone's already seen this? Well, just in case you haven't - this is really funny!

8:59am: Wild blueberries
We visited the Castkills last weekend, and The Performer and Her Purpleness had a blast harvesting wild blueberries. Mmmm, wild blueberries!

Now we have blueberry pie. One to eat last night for quality control, and one that has been approved for Shabbos.

( pictures and recipe beneath the cut )

1:37pm: Not a good day to pick peaches


It's coming down in buckets out there!

5:58pm: Catskill Activities
The Royal Scribe called me from camp and asked me "al regel achas" to come up with a list of things she and her friends might do on their day off next week!

Here's the dump of what my awesome Google skills has come up with - in case anyone else might need a list. Keep in mind, I've never been to most of these places!

Beaverwood Farm - Swan Lake - (845) 295-0194 - http://www.beaverwoodfarm.com/index.html
Farm animals

Walnut Mountain Park - Liberty - 845-292-7690 - http://www.townofliberty.org/
Scenic Hiking
Lake Superior State Park - Bethel -845-794-3000 ext 5002 - http://www.co.sullivan.ny.us/orgMain.asp?storyid=194&orgid=266
Boat rentals, lake
Morningside Park - South Fallsburg - 845-434-8230 -
Minniwaska State Park - Kerhonkson - (845) 256-0579 - http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/info.asp?parkID=78
http://www.lakeminnewaska.org/pdf/hikingdescription.pdf

OASIS FUN CENTER - Monticello - 845-796-6012 - http://www.scva.net/attractions/?showMe=72
Frisbee golf
Amapro Family Fun Center - Liberty - 845-292-2386 - http://www.myspace.com/amaprofuncenter
Paintball Mini Golf
Holiday Mountain - Monticello - 1-845-796-3161 - http://www.holidaymtn.com/
Bumper Boats, Go Karts, Rock Climbing Wall

Fort Delaware - Narrowsburg - (845) 252-6660 - http://www.scgnet.us/orgMain.asp?storyid=199&orgid=271
Historical fort
Museum at Bethel WOods - 1-866-781-2922 - http://www.bethelwoodscenter.org/museum.aspx
"Hippie Museum"


Bridle Hill Farm - Jeffersonville - (845) 482-3993 - http://www.bridlehillfarm.com/welcome.html
Riding lessons
Rolling Stone Ranch - Bethel - 845-583-1100 or 631-424-2220 - http://www.rollingstoneranch.com/
Riding lessons
Catskill Pheasantry - Long Eddy - 845-887-4487 -http://www.catskillpheasantry.com/Content/TrailRides.html
Trail Rides

Have fun kids!

6:41pm: Welcome home!
The Performer is back from her month at sleep away camp! After filling us in with the highlights of her month, and getting some home cooked food into her, she was spending some time with Her Purpleness, making some beading project.

The Royal Spouse comes in, and in a joking manner, says, "Welcome Home! Want to wash some dishes?" While The Performer protests, Her Purpleness comes to her defense. "She's keeping me occupied!"

Little sponge.

Here's a pretty blossom, from our last trip to a county park.

3:20pm: Interesting veggie
I finally made it to the farmers' market! First time this season.

The find of the day:



Isn't that cool? It's Romanesque Broccoli. I'm planning on just steaming it for tonight.

Fractal shaped vegetables. It's so....

2:10pm: Deterrence
I think I have found a way to minimize interruptions when I work from home. I now keep a brush at my desk, and whenever Her Purpleness "just wants a hug", she also gets her hair de-tangled! It's a win-win! Deterrence from interruption, or at least a somewhat more presentable kid.

( message to ReReader )

5:09pm: Summer flowers
Another photo entry.

( under the cut for those who like to look at flowers )

8:51pm: A photo entry
Just some stuff from the drive down from visiting in the Catskills.

( under the cut )