Friday, August 28, 2015

She Is Off........

Yes, the day finally came and boy was she ready!
Mandy and Brooklyn had their mandatory get ready for school day...pedicure, lunch, shopping, and a movie night together with me enjoying this time with Finley.  Starting school for the first time necessitates some personal time with mommy!
 Monday morning finally got here.  Sadly daddy was in California doing his yearly two weeks military duty and missed out on sending his first born off to Kinder.
It makes me a bit sad...of course.  Those nights of random sleepovers and late nights watching movies and eating popcorn won't happen so much anymore.  Brooklynn is a school girl now and accepted that role with nothing but enthusiasm.
I sent four off to kindergarten and I do not remember being sad...
but this is different.
I worked in the school system for 23 years.  I know that the day does not always go perfectly, especially for those just beginning.  Who can I sit by at lunch, will I have someone to play with at recess, will I answer a question wrong and be embarrassed?  These things are tough for the tiny ones.
I worried about Brooklynn and walked in my mind with her all the way through the first day...so I walked with her mom and Finley to pick her up in the afternoon.
All of my concern was for naught!  She was a superstar!
She walked out all smiles and could not wait to tell us about all of the rules!
So this was the beginning.  For the next 12 years she will spend her day with someone who will direct her life for 8 hours. Brooklynn will have those moments when she will have to depend on the values her mom and dad have taught her and make choices.  I am confident she will make good ones.  
She is a smart, energetic, and loving child who has a big heart. ...and a Gramma who thinks she will set the world on fire someday.

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

The Tale Of A Rat........

Oh my gosh...is there anything worse???  
Yes, I am sure there is, but right now I am I absolutely over the rat that has taken up residence in our garage.
IT IS GROSS!
When did this tale of the rat start???
Last November.
While Jimmy and I were out celebrating our anniversary we go a phone call.
Sara called in a panic about a rat that crossed her path and I responded in a panic!
Let's calculate how long he has been renting space in some hidden corner of our garage...
10 months?????
YUCK!
He seems to be a fan of Nacho Cheese Doritos...and has eaten his share out of the box outside.
Bring them in?
Absolutly not!
I figured it was better that he had his snacks outside instead of  him searching for another food source inside!
We have tried everything, every sort of trap,and every location he travels.
NOTHING.
His feet stick to the glue traps and he drags them across the garage and gets loose.
He won't go near the electronic trap, a sure thing according the salesman at Home Depot.
I am beyond frustrated.
I do not know if he has brought in his family or if he works alone.
I am off...to Roach Feed and Seed....someone has to help me.
I am afraid to park my car.
I am a prisoner of my own house.

Friday, August 14, 2015

While I Was Gone.......

Summer is almost behind us....
not actually summer, but it is the middle of August and in one week the kids are back to school.
I actually did have a summer that was not spent traveling or recording my adventures.
I spent many hours in Gramma mode and we had FUN!
The girls are growing up and they are actually easy to entertain.
Mess. Everywhere.
That comes with the territory, but I will be a bit sad after next week.
Brooklynn wil be in kindergarten and Finley in preschool three days a week.
So, what then?  A cleaner house and maybe time to cook, but nothing that is nearly as much fun.
We played games....

Would it be surprising if I said, I NEVER won?
We made great use of the boxes that Amazon left at my front door.
They became an RV, a boat, a stage for their puppets, and a baby bed.
They helped me hand out Meals on Wheels, much to the delight of all my housebound clients.

We rewarded ourselves with ice cream!

They pretended like they had babies in their bellies like their mommy and their aunt!

The girls  took a trip to the beach....
And played in the lake...a lot!

And on a day that was too hot for much else, they introduced me to CooCoo's.
We still have a week left and although my dishwasher has gone non stop and they have been through more snacks than is healthy, I will miss this summer.
It has been good in so many ways.
Next summer, more babies...more fun.
I cannot wait!!!

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

The Finale........

We began early today....7:30 to be exact.  That is an hour earlier than our usual leave time which meant we rose much earlier than I would have liked to!  The reason for our early departure was HEAT!  Intense heat!  All of the sights we were headed to were outside and the temperatures were scorching!  Lots of bottled water and sunscreen was the order of the day.
Our first stop was the River Jordan.  Yes, I am well aware that Jesus was baptized by John in the River Jordan.  I did not know much about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict however.  Yes, I knew that the news was always full of reports on how unsettled the area was, but that was the extent of my knowledge.  Well, I know now and I am on a mission to better understand exactly what is going on over there because now I have seen it.
To get to the River Jordan we had to drive through security on a narrow dirt road with electrically wired fences on both sides.  It was in the middle of the West Bank.  The entire West Bank is surrounded by wire fences and only recently have they allowed visitors into this particular sight.  
Basically there are 2.6 million Palestinians in this area under Israeli control.  This is not how they want to live but they are unable to settle on borders so they are literally trapped.  
An ancient Byzantine Monastery was behind the fences and all of the yellow markers indicated there were active land mines.
There was a newly constructed worship sight before you reached the actual river.
This was not at all how I envisioned the River Jordan.  
It could not have been 50 feet across and it was filthy.
That people were actually baptized here was not a pleasant thought.  
Yes, I stood in the water up to my ankles but that was as far as I was going.  Yes, if I traveled this far I was going to touch the waters...but only touch.  The stagnant water has to be contaminated with something because not even fish live in this water.  I am certain the situation was entirely different 2000 years ago.
We were the only group there at this early hour which our tour guide said is unheard of.  It was nice to be there with friends and be able to reflect without having to fight for space with other tour groups.
The signs were plenty of warning that we did not want to stray from our designated path.
Not a chance I am going to test this message!
Back on the bus we headed to our next destination, passing the Dead Sea which is the lowest point of sea level on the planet.  It is full of salt and all of the white areas along the shore are salt deposits.  Sadly it is rapidly evaporating and at some point due to lack of rainfall will totally disappear.
Next stop...MASADA.  This is a high, very steep mountain that overlooks the Dead Sea.
Today we scaled this mountain by tram....in the times of Herod the Great, they scaled this mountain by foot.  It is a mountain....a high, steep mountain where Herod  erected a luxurious fortress.
We examined every part of this fortress and by the standards of that time it was grand and extensive.  


The black markings in the photo below indicate the original wall as they stood.  Stones were added to bring the walls to the original heights.

The portion of the fresco on this part of the bathhouse wall is original.  Yes, this was on the wall at the time of Herod over 2000 years ago.  I would love to go back to that time period and just observe for a day.  What a different life they lived.  Opulence for those that ruled!
The view from the top over the side of this enormous mountain.  I simply cannot imagine getting supplies and people up the side of this mountain.
A map of the Dead Sea details the sights of our next...and last two stops of our trip.
A swim...at the almost end of this brutal day we got to swim in the Dead Sea.
The surface of this Sea is 1300 feet below sea level and the water is 35% salt.  That is 6 times as salty as the ocean!
The inviting thing about this dip in the Sea is the fact that because of the high concentration of salt you cannot sink in the water.  You are buoyant like a cork!  Try to sit and you pop to the top.
Rub the mud all over yourself and it is said to have healing properties.  
We tried it!  Results still under investigation.
Fun had by all....absolutely!
The beautiful view walking away from the Dead Sea.
One of my favorite parts of the trip.
On the way to our last stop we passed a typical nomadic village.  
Settlers literally just pitch tents, awnings, and metal buildings and live off the land.  They are not considered homeless. They are simply nomads.....in intense heat with no electricity, water, or other comforts.  These village are dotted all over the highways as you travel through the land.
Last stop...The Quamran.  This was a settlement of the Jewish Sect along the Dead Sea, where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered in 1947.
This sight to was located outside in scorching heat.
Still remaining are ritual baths and extensive dining halls.
The cave in the side of the steep mountain indicate where the scrolls were located.
Finally back at the hotel after a long, hot day.
This is our last meal and we were given a cake by our nightly host at the hotel.
I am sad.
It has been such a beautiful trip and going through it day by day as I post all of this reminds we what a gift it was to be able to travel there with these people.
We enjoyed each other and shared so much.  
You do not walk such sacred places together and not bond with each other.  
This beautiful sight was our dining area each night.  We overlooked the walls of Jerusalem.
We talked, reflected, and laughed together.
We are friends with memories that we won't forget.
I will treasure this trip forever.
Suitcases are lined up ready to be loaded.
It is time to go home but it is hard to leave.
I am standing in the Holy land.  I never imagined being here.
I was here and what a gift it was.
Arrival at Tel Aviv airport at 3:00 am in the morning....almost 24 hours with no sleep and we have not boarded a plane yet.  It was a long journey but a trip I would take again, if I could wiggle my nose and get there!
Beautiful memories, better understanding of the words of the bible, and friends forever.
We will be back together.....
Italy 2016!!!!