Blogs, Books and Shabbat!

The May 2014 Edition of the Jewish Book Carnival is being hosted by Erika Dreifus’ My Machberet. Why not visit My Machberet and check out the various contributors.
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I visited Leora’s blog, Sketching Out, and enjoyed her post, On Blogging Breaks and Old Writing Desk. Read it, you’ll like it!
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Batya has told her story “for the site celebrating NCSYs 60 years”: NCSY Changed My Life.
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Just One More: A Photographer’s Memoir, by Gemma Levine, is not due out until October. I am looking forward to reading it.
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I reviewed Last Train to Istanbul.

I finished reading The Street Sweeper, by Elliot Perlman.
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Shabbat Shalom!

Sunday Scenes: February 2, 2014

Today, in the U.S., it is Groundhog Day! The groundhog saw its shadow, therefore we will have six additional weeks of winter.

For those who want to learn more about this tradition, visit here.

The sea is a feast for the eyes
as one beholds the garden of glory before us.
From boulders of black, tan, grey and brown
to mold and fungus vegetation, to bright wildflowers
the illumination of colors, textures and tones
brings immeasurable delight to the senses.

One can daydream the minutes and hours away
wrapped in a cocoon of nature’s brilliance,
in awe of the wondrous visuals before us.
-REM

Sunday Scenes: January 26, 2014

I took a late morning walk, yesterday, at the lake. It was a lovely day, nature was abuzz with all of its noise resounding from the birds of varied species, the frogs, the grasshoppers and crickets, the family gatherings, and children playing, and the moles. The quietude also surrounded me at various points along the way.

Speaking of moles and quietude, the photograph above shows a Great White Egret, standing motionless, waiting for its prey (a mole) to appear from the hole in the grass in front of it.

It did appear within a few minutes, and the Egret caught its lunch. The photograph is a bit blurred (I did sharpen it a bit), as the Egret decided to move back a bit, probably fearful I would try to take its catch.

Enjoy the rest of your day.

I am sorry for the update, I positioned one of my photographs wrong.

Another Wednesday

It is another Wednesday in Lorri-land. I sit here looking at photographs I took recently while in northern CA, and am daydreaming about my time there.

I have set aside a few things to do, today, that I have been meaning to take care of. I am working in my front yard, arranging some pots that I will be using to plant some succulent plants in, along with assorted flowers. The pots are in various sizes and shapes, which should add some interest and form once they are grouped and placed. The succulents will be good in the sense they will not need a lot of watering, and will make a nice addition to the front of the house.

Last night I watched Fiddler on the Roof. I love this film, and watch it at least twice a year.

I also need to catch up on some organizing. I have books that I need to sort. Some will be taken to the senior center, some will be given to the library, and the rest I will keep. I am trying to lighten up on the books I have collected. Do not get me wrong…I love my books, but I don’t want to have a load of them lingering around. What I like to read does not necessarily reflect what my family likes to read. I will keep the ones that are extremely important to me, which amounts to enough, as it is.

That is about it for me, for now.

Enjoy the rest of your day, wherever you are.

Clarity

That’s the way things come clear. All of a sudden. And then you realize how obvious they’ve been all along.
-Madeleine L’Engle

Clarity affords focus.
-Thomas Leonard

Sunday Scenes – September 29, 2013

Life is good…my son, Scott, has been here this week from Japan. Just him, as he was here on personal and work-related business. Words can not describe how good it has been to see him, look at the fantastic smile of his, and just generally feel the maternal emotions swell up for him, due to his physical presence. I love watching him and my daughter interact, and also how he interacts with the Grandies, and how they interact with him. My heart is full.

He flies out tomorrow for a three day conference put on by his company, and then next Friday he will fly back home to Japan, where he lives with my daughter-in-law and grandson.
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I finished reading Unexpected Gifts, and my reaction to it was unexpected.

I am thoroughly enjoying the novel, Max, by Howard Fast