Holidays by JibJab Sendables – Christmas – Video shared by Lori Press.
Merry Christmas to all my friends and family in the blogosphere. There seemed to be more downs than ups this past year so the spirit didn’t move me early enough to send out real cards. This is a first for us, but at least it made me laugh. I hope it makes you smile too.
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Hanukkah Menorah
Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights is about to begin. Well actually the count down is two days because it begins on the 20th of December this year. I’m excited because this is a holiday I sometimes get to share and I don’t have to do anything! YAY! Luckily I have a lot of Jewish friends and this year I’m going to have some homemade latkes, can’t wait.
The Menorah is probably the most widely recognized and produced article of Jewish ceremonial art. The photo above depicts a nine-branch Menorah. There are eight nights of Hanukkah and a candle is lit for each evening. The ninth candle holder is in the middle and is known as the shamash candle and it’s the one used to light the other candles every night. The shamash candle is usually set higher than the other eight which must all be at the same level.
The celebration of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights commemorates the re-dedication of the Temple after the successful revolt against the Seleucid. They discovered they only had enough pure olive oil to light the Menorah for one night but the supply lasted eight nights until a new supply could be obtained. In celebration of this miracle the Menorah has eight branches. Candles are placed from right to left and are kindled left to right. The manner of lighting on additional candle each night follows the opinion of the House of Hillel.
It’s time to polish the Menorah if it’s brass.
Posted in Amuse-bouche du jour, BY THE WAY | Tagged Festival of Lights, Hanukkah, Jews, Menorah, Potato pancake, Seleucid, Temple, Temple in Jerusalem | 6 Comments »
Ponchik
I thought I’d post a Hanukkah recipe but it was really difficult to find one I dared to print. After all, I know every family has their own version of Matzah Ball soup and Latkes. I might try for a Brisket recipe but for today, I’m sticking with Raspberry Ponchik. mouth-watering fried doughnuts filled with raspberry jelly.
Polish ponchik are fried doughnuts stuffed with jelly; Eastern European Jews brought these with them as they moved to Israel. This quick and easy recipe allows anyone to celebrate Hanukkah with homemade jelly doughnuts.
Serves 5
1 (10 count) package of pre-made refrigerated biscuits
24 oz canola oil (for frying)
¼ cup raspberry jelly or jam (or feel free to use your favorite flavor)
¼ cup sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
Recipe from Jewish Holidays Cookbook by Jill Bloomfield
Posted in Amuse-bouche du jour, BY THE WAY | Tagged Biscuit, Cook, Hanukkah, Home, Israel, Jams Jellies and Preserves, Jelly doughnut, Ponchik, Potato pancake | Leave a Comment »
Alright maybe giving candles is NOT so clever BUT think of it this way; it certainly is a wonderful hostess gift, a Secret Santa gift, an office gift exchange, a sister-in-law, really anyone who entertains will love this idea.
Purchase a bunch of candles (tapers)the number is up to you. However, I think 4 would be the minimum in either holiday colors or shades that would complement your giftee’s home. On the other hand, everyone can use a few beautiful white tapers. Wrap the candles in a linen napkin. Again the color contrast or combination is up to you. Tie with a ribbon and you have gift within a gift.
Now I know you are thinking, who wants just one linen napkin? The answer is the hostess who wants to line her bread or cracker basket with a linen napkin but doesn’t have an extra or odd one.
Posted in Amuse-bouche du jour, BY THE WAY | Tagged accessories, Candle, Christmas, Gift, Handcrafted, Home and Garden, Santa, Scented, Secret Santa, Shopping | Leave a Comment »
Joel Berti
Joel is 40 years old today!! ! OMG, it’s hard to say it out loud! How is it possible that my first born child, my son, is 40 years old? This IS the only time I’m going to admit in writing that I actually have a 40 yr old son.
It doesn’t seem that long ago…I was supposed to attend one of my best friends’ wedding. I had a doctor’s appointment that morning and then I was going to be off to the wedding. Well you know where this is going; the doctor examined me and said “you’re not going to any wedding, you’re going straight to the hospital. Where is your husband?” I said, “He’s at work”. So the doctor said, “Well how are you going to get to the hospital”? “I’ll drive myself”!
So I called my husband’s office and left a message (these were the day before cell phones) and drove off to the hospital. By the time I got there, I was a little panicked. I was having contractions and didn’t know what to do with the car so I pulled into the Emergency Room parking lot and parked the car. As I was getting out of the car, a cop came running over, shouting, “Lady you can’t park there”! I looked at him, started to cry and said, “I’m having a baby”! Oh boy, that did it – he said, “Don’t move” and went and got me a wheel chair. Meantime, uh, where was that husband?
A couple of hours later, the nurse brought me a bundled blonde haired boy and I said, “Oh no, I had a girl”. She assured me that this was my baby and I insisted that I had a girl. After one more go around of this conversation, she snatched the baby from my arms and said words to the effect that perhaps tomorrow I would feel differently about this beautiful little baby boy.
She was right of course. Joel has my heart. I love him for so many reasons; he is a good person, kind-hearted, he never says anything bad about anyone, he is a gentle soul. He is easy-going (sometime way too laid back for me), creative, a thinker, an artist, and smart enough to look inward often and assess what he sees. He seeks the truth in all things, is often naive about people he meets, he adored his baby sister and often let her tag along with him and his friends. I’m so happy that she flew out to California yesterday with Finley and Francesca to be with him on this landmark birthday.
I thought this post might be like an open letter, telling Joel how proud I am of him, how much I love him and hope that he is happy in the life he has chosen for himself. He is very different from Chiara in so many ways and their lives are as diametrically opposite as the coasts they each inhabit.
I wonder if he’s ever going to marry and settle down. The path doesn’t seem to lead in that direction, time will tell. I’d like to see him as a father, he seems so at ease with his nephew and nieces.
Astrology, therapy, numerology, Frank Sinatra, new wave, Pseudolous, older women, younger women, surfing, GCA waiter, room-mates, acting, writing in his journal, lactose-intolerant, allergic to my cats, Charlie Brown, Wilie Wonka, Mr. Smee, Hartford Stage, “why don’t you model?”, a vintage motorcycle, house music, Father Sarducci, Acme Theater, preppy Izods, Louise’s, La Jolla Country Club, bartending, catering, PB+J’s, oh those blue eyes, tuna fish, sometimes poor, playwright, roofer, Bee Pollen, beard-no beard, penguins, vintage tee shirts, Wrangler corduroy jeans, Halloween…
Now if only he would return calls and call his mother more often……
I love you Joel Berti – Happy Birthday!!
Joel in San Diego 2008
Joel and Finley
Joel at The Sneak Joint in San Diego
Pumpkin Carving
Ready to Roll
My Wedding 2005
Posted in BY THE WAY, Friends, Smooth or Crunchy | Tagged birthday, California, Charlie Brown, Children, Frank Sinatra, Halloween, Hartford Stage, Holidays, Joel Berti, Shopping | 2 Comments »
I wish I were a better cookie baker but I’m not! Luckily I have two friends who are fantastic cookie makers/bakers! My friend Susan in CT brought a large plate of assorted delicious cookies last week. I had to finally put the last of them in the freezer because I was eating Ginger Snaps for breakfast, Christmas trees for lunch, Milk chocolate and white chocolate chip cookies and Pfferneuse for late night noshing! And my friend Dorothy brought me a plate of cookies ostensibly for Finley, however, I don’t think Finny even got one – they were yum yummy!
Sugar Cookie Doves
Recipe from Real Simple
Posted in Amuse-bouche du jour, BY THE WAY, Everyday Food, Tasty Tidbits Tuesday | Tagged baking, Butter, Christmas, Cookie, Flour, Mixer (cooking), Types of chocolate, Vanilla extract | Leave a Comment »
I always found an orange in the toe of my Christmas stocking. There were nuts, some candy, and maybe a small toy. What was in your Christmas stocking? If you never had one, this could be the year you decide that there really is a Santa Claus and if you hang your stocking from the mantle…who knows what you might find! These stockings are original and unique, even your dog and cat get their own.
A classic stocking with a whimsical touch. Red velvet is delicately complemented with white and green ribbon accents. Personalized monograms are available for an additional charge.
To buy: $20, potterybarnkids.com
Velvet Ribbons On My True Love's Stocking
This 100 percent cotton stocking has a timeless design with a sweet winter scene. Also available in violet.
To buy: $30, velocityartanddesign.com.
Twitter Stocking
Designed in intricate needlepoint with a wool front and soft cotton velvet back, this stocking is hand-detailed and can be personalized with up to 10 letters at no additional charge.
To buy: $24.50, landsend.com.
Choo - Choo Christmas Stocking
A playful approach to the traditional stocking hanging on the mantel. Made of poly felt, the skate’s “blade” can be personalized in light blue with up to 11 letters for an additional charge.
To buy: $24, landofnod.com.
Go Figure
Make room for Kitty on the mantel. There’s no confusing stockings with this soft heather grey pick that has a special message for that four-legged friend in your home.
To buy: $13, crateandbarrel.com
For A Cat Named Socks
Dog bones meet cheetah print for an unexpected design for the furriest member of your family. Personalize with up to 10 letters for no additional cost.
To buy: $25, ballarddesigns.com
Give The Poor Doggy A Bone
Posted in Amuse-bouche du jour, BY THE WAY | Tagged Christmas, Christmas stocking, Gift, Holidays, Santa Claus, Shopping, Stocking, Stockings | 1 Comment »
The line at the Post Office was sooooo ooooo long. The store was terribly over-heated, I can’t tell you how much fun it was to carry around my pea coat and scarf, the umbrella (because it was supposed to rain) and the purchases. Oh it’s that time of the year!
“Deck the Halls”
FOR MORE OF MAXINE’S HOLIDAY HUMOR GO TO: Holiday Humor from Maxine! Laugh Until Christmas-14 Days and Counting…
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Here’s a lovely quote:
“Dreams are the book your soul is writing about you”
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Pbenjay's Blog 
Movie Time! 3 Days-3 Movies-Third One’s The Charm!!
December 21, 2011 by pbenjay
Lots of things come in three’s and this week it was movies. We’ve seen HUGO 3D, WarHorse, and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.
We went to see HUGO 3D and enjoyed the imagery and of course the “new” 3D technology. Everyone we know who went to see this movie, raved about it so we were prepped to see a Scorsese masterpiece. We didn’t. IF it was meant to be just a children’s film, then I guess you could overlook the fact that Hugo as a character was endowed with such specialness, he might as well have been on Dora The Explorer. He was too unreal for me and perhaps that’s what distracted me from some of the film’s attributes. I alternated between thinking of Hugo as Harry Potter and Hermione when he spent time with Isabella. She was so like Hermione. And then, he would bring to mind the young boy, Trevor in Pay It Forward
The movie was about movies and Scorsese meant to show us just how much he loves movies and making them. Don’t you think it’s odd that this homage to hand-cranked cameras and hand-tinted frames was presented to us in stereoscopic digital 3D?
Next we went to see War Horse. Peter was hesitant about going and I was a little apprehensive because neither of us wants to watch any form of animal cruelty. Of course we know it’s “just a movie and no horses got hurt” but of they did get hurt and killed in the war and so just watching it was probably going to be upsetting.
Again, everyone who had seen the play was raving about how moving it was. Well of course it was moving…it’s easy to get an audience to care and cry about a beautiful horse who overcomes every obstacle and is a character so special, it becomes fantasy and not at all believable . In my opinion, the characters were trite; the drunken Irish farmer, the pragmatic and loyal working-her-fingers-to-the-bone wife, the dutiful son, the evil landlord and his snotty kid – they were all present. The horse was a magnificent animal just like Lassie was a beautiful dog. Honestly, the movie was pretty reminiscent of Lassie Come Home.
No question that the acting was fine, the cinematography was beautiful, the editing, superb. However, the movie itself, was just so predictable. The scene where the British soldier and the German one free the horse from barbed wire was a little over the top. And I mean, really…the horse actually ends up on the battlefield where his former owner is recuperating from an injury incurred during the attack??
Two down and two thumbs down – The Third One’s The Charm!
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Posted in BY THE WAY, From My Point of View - Personal commentary on Movies and Books | Leave a Comment »