Miriam thinks this is fun

12 Cheshvan
We have a system now. Chava and Rivkah get the food ready and I finish the process. The twins are safe in the baby cage so my hands are free. I must admit I really welcome the chance to sit down when I feed them. I could have done without the surprise visit from Miriam of Migdal this afternoon. I must admit she made herself useful preparing the pots and jars, but I would rather have been able to entertain her properly.
She said this side of domestic life was new to her and she said she was having fun! That's not what I'd call it. If I don't do this, we'll starve this winter. She stayed for dinner, well, she cooked it. Then she stayed the night. I think she is impressed with the little gang's new business. She and Shmuli talked for over an hour despite him looking so weary.

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Cabbages and pickled cucumber

12 Cheshvan

Chava is back! Am I glad about that! She took one look at my kitchen and shook her head. Then she took charge. She's not yet fourteen but she reminds me of her mother. She knew exactly what to do. By lunchtime, she and Rivkah had all the root vegetables and onions in the store shed, checked for damage and properly laid out. Those with blemishes were peeled, choppedand ready for pickling by the end of the afternoon. I dealt with the fruit and began pickling and salting the cabbages. I can now see the kitchen floor and I was able to make a hearty vegetable stew for dinner. I am worn out, but the house looks much more like a home and much less like a greengrocer's.
Shmuli has been busy all day, doing business in KfarNahum, helping with the olives and what I can only describe as trying to supervise the women.
He made a lot of comments about the smell of the cabbages. He wanted to know why women and girls who don't seem to like "pongs" make them almost every day but boys who think they are great are discouraged at every turn! I offered to let him do the pickling but he said he had man's work waiting at the press and left at speed.
Oh well, I'll just have to smell of cabbages and pickled cucumber for the rest of the week.

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Shabbat Shalom

11 Cheshvan
Shabbat Shalom. We have not gone near the kitchen except to get the stew and bread. After synagogue we all had a long nap. Even the twins... at least I didn't hear them. Is it has been great to be able to rest. Isn't HaShem wonderful? He thought of everything in the beginning. And rest is so much more satisfying if you feel you have earned it.
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I ran out of time! Shabbat Shalom

10 Cheshvan

I am so glad it's Shabbat. I don't think I could manage another minute. It was so hectic today. My kitchen resembles a winter store shed with piles of vegetables and olives in every available space. I just ran out of time. It's not like me to be so disorganised. I don't know what happened. We do have lentil and chicken broth, and bread to eat - and fresh fruit as I prepare it early in the day.

Next week Rivkah and I will pickling, salting and storing while the men deal with the oil. As soon as the harvest is stored we learned today that there will be a wedding. Yov and Vered are getting married! The promise of a good celebration will keep me going!

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I fell asleep!

9 Cheshvan

We are having to push really hard to get the olives off the trees this week. Today has been the hardest yet. We will get there in the end, I‘m sure but it just doesn‘t feel like it. I fell asleep while feeding the twins this evening. The children did the washing up and I knew nothing about it! I am so ashamed!

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It's so hard when you know someone is keeping a secret

8 Cheshvan

I think Shmuel knows what our son is up to, but he's not telling. And men say women are devious! Really! He told me that women are too inquisitive and not at all patient. He said it with a wink and his mischievous grin, so I suppose I should forgive him. I think they are enjoying keeping me guessing. I know Shmuli visited our friends in KfarNahum and took Galit with him, so I guess he knows something. Oooh, it's so hard when you know someone is keeping a secret!

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All our children know where food comes from

5 Cheshvan

Back to business before dawn today. Whilst the men and boys got on with the olive harvest and pressing, the younger girls were digging up root vegetables and onions to store for winter. Vered and Aunt Tirzah kept the workers fed and watered.

Even the toddlers had something to do. I saw two little lads who must have been about three years old squatting with their five year old sister shaking the dirt of the vegetables and looking very proud of themselves. Unlike city children, all ours know where food comes from and how we need to respect the land.

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Lazy Shabbat

4 Cheshvan

Shabbat is such a welcome rest this week. so much has happened. All the children are over their illnesses now and we had a nice family picnic in the orchard. It is still nice enough to sit in the hammock with the twins and when they want to play Rivkah and Shmuel had a great time entertaining them. Yesterday, just before Shabbat Shmuel presented us with a "baby cage" he had bought on his last trip to market. They will be safe while I work in the yard or house. They are not crawling yet but it won't be long. They do manage to roll into awkward places if we are not careful. Rivkah put a blanket and some toys in the cage and they seem to enjoy it if they are not left for too long.

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It's all go!

3 Cheshvan
It's all "go"in KfarGanot today. Hopeful casual workers were congregating in the square long before dawn. Yov and Uncle Shaul went out to them and I think there must have been about twenty men there. For once we were in a position to employ them all. A couple of them had used a screw press before so they were very welcome.

Aunt Tirzah and I organised the food and drinks for the day. The boys got on with whatever they do that makes them so greasy and grubby by the end of the day and I must say, as always they did an excellent job! They were the greasiest and the grubbiest they have ever been!  They needed extra hard scrubbing to be clean for Shabbat!

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Back to business

29 Tishrei

For the first time in what seems like ages, the women's group met to weave, sew and make baskets. Of course, we were also finishing plans for the return of the pilgrims tomorrow. Milchah says the Greek ladies have a word for doing two things at once, (they have a word for everything, it seems). They call it "multitasking" I just call it "doing what women do best!"
As always, Aunt Tirzah is organising the women and Uncle Shaul the men. The elders will be washing the men's feet and, of course, their wives will take care of the women. It is only polite, we do it whenever we have visitors, but this time we are welcoming our own who have traveled a long way.
Milchah will be cooking her "crispy things" which have become a firm favorite with everyone. Devorah will look after Silas for the day to free her up as there is a whole village to cook for. Rivkah and Miri will look after the twins as they will have to stay away from the cooking since they have been unwell. They all seem to be ok now, but we will not take any chances it would be a shame for people to come home and to fall ill. They can feed the babies from the bottles Miriam sent if I can organise myself properly. They really enjoy that and I must admit it is nice to have a break sometimes. Don't get me wrong, it's my favorite job, but two babies can get a little much now and then! (Don't tell anyone, but even Shmuel enjoyed feeding Zippi the other night when they were poorly and would not sleep, it was only honey water, but still...)

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Fattening up the chickens

28 Tishrei

Shmuli and Yoshi are feeding two of their chickens extra food in an attempt to fatten them up for the pot next week. Eli had been telling them how his father kept a chosen animal well fed for special occasions. Most people have a fatted calf we tend to have a goat as we do not keep cattle, we only have one ox in KfarGanot and we share it. It was not always so, but until recently we could not have afforded cattle. Maybe we shall again if we continue to prosper, but we get all our dairy produce from sheep and goats so I can't see why we would bother. Anyway, our goat will be donated to the festivities. It will make a fine stew with barley and lentils...

Milchah tells me that Silas is feeling a little better but is still very weak. The infusion prescribed by Dr Sextus is wonderful stuff. It contains herbs and spices and a mystery ingredient that has come from a country far to the east. It smells really strong and clears the head, the effects last for hours. The doctor said he would call in next week so she hoped he would bring more. Yoav is very pleased that his father seems to be getting better as are we all.

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We had a surprise visitor

25 Tishrei

We had a surprise visitor today. Doctor Sextus said he was just passing through the area on his way back room the coast. I think it was an excuse because we're a bit of a way from the coastal route. We do get travellers but they are usually looking for Rabbi Yeshua, it was very quiet around here before he came along.

Anyway, I introduced him to the twins. He was impressed with their progress. Apart from the spots they were really healthy. In fact, he told us, twins are often smaller than other children of the same age but my two were "impressive!" He said the itching sickness was common among Roman children too but usually passed with no lasting ill effects. He thought Devorah's treatment was excellent. Shmuli asked him if he would mind coming to see Old Silas. He could pay him...
"Of course, but we'll see if I can help him before we discuss payment."
Shmuli dashed off to get his wallet. I do hope he can help.

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preparing for the pilgrims to return

24 Tishrei

It is really busy round here today. We are anticipating the return of the pilgrims so our ladies group have been trying to arrange who will do what for the welcome feast. It's not easy when the children are poorly. Milchah cannot come because her little boy now has the itchy rash. Devorah says she suspects many of the children will catch it over the next couple of weeks. Of course, it will be especially hard for he family with Silas being so ill.

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Mikvah is good for the soul

23 Tishrei

 

Rivkah is much better now. Still itchy, but the fever has gone. Now, the babies have developed the rash, but they have it much more mildly. I guess Zippi has been developing it over the last few days she was not teething after all. At least they have not learned how to scratch yet! Much to Shmuli's relief, the smell of the lotion is less potent today. He brought his sister some honeyed wine to help her get better and took himself off to the mikvah afterwards, he said it was good for her soul and his, and besides he would not need a bath when he got home!

Perhaps my son will become a rabbi..

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HaShem wants us to be clean

22 Tishrei

Despite Rivkah's rash it has been a restful Feast day. Shmuli and Yoshi asked if they could avoid the "pong" of Devorah's lotion at home and spend the day with the rabbi and Eli. Later I discovered they ended up sitting with Old Silas as he has taken a turn for the worse. At least, Shmuli told me, the herbs at that house smell better than ours.

Rabbi Moshe explained to the boys that we should care for the sick even in feast days and Shabbats. Sitting with a sick man its good for both his soul and yours. All four of them went to the mikvah on the way home. Shmuli commented that HaShem was like a mum wanting boys to wash all the time. I took that as a compliment.

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Rivkah is so poorly

20 Tishrei

How is it that some Shabbats are more restful than others? We planned ahead. We got everything ready, but somehow between Zippi, who was grizzly all day and appears to be teething, and Rivkah who was running a fever, I had little rest. Shmuel too spent time with Rivkah, he's the only one who can get her to drink. To finish the day she is covered with a bright red rash and is very itchy. Devorah has given us a special lotion to dab on the bumps. Shmuli had an itchy fever like this once, he's fine so I hope she will recover soon.

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boys don't like perfume

19 Tishrei
I spoiled myself a little today. I smelled so much of pickled fish that after bathing, I used some of that gorgeous perfume Shmuel bought me. Shmuli wanted to know why girls like soppy smells. Shmuel can't get him to believe men like them to! Still, I smell nice for Shabbat.

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Can I resist cold crispy things

17 Tishrei

Tomorrow is our annual picnic in the Hula valley. Danni, Hadassah and the children are coming too. We are getting everything ready. There will be cold crispy things on this year's menu if I can avoid the temptation. It's one thing to stop everyone else eating them, but quite another stopping myself! Hadasah is organising the sweets and I'm doing the savoiries. The men and children are working in the fields and orchards today, much to Shmuli's disappointment. He's has a business idea that involves a trip to KfarNahum but he's been told he will have to wait. He says it's his best idea yet and it will make lots of money. Nonetheless, he will still have to be patient. Getting ready for winter must take priority.

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