Baby Donkey

17 Shvat

How easy out it is to get out of the habit of doing things...even things you love.I realised this evening that I have not been keeping my journal up to date. Over the past year so much had happened...and I suspect the amazing events are still not over...I would hate to think that in years to come they could be forgotten!
I must try to get back into the routine, not for myself alone, but also for the sake of anyone who may read that I write.

While I was ill, it seems our donkey, Princess, showed signs of being pregnant. Nobody told me, so the events of last night took me completely by surprise.

I was just about to dish up supper, much later than usual when Shmuel put his head around the door,

"It's time,Honey, Princess's foal is being born in the barn, bring the children and the bright lamp."

Supper will have to wait, the baby donkey is on its way. Rabbi Moshe was happy to mind the twins they had just been fed and were sound sleep. Rivkah and Sextus went to fetch Shmuli from Danni's. Of course, Yoshi and Miri came too. Sextus said he'd be here if we needed him, but it should be a family affair.

We crept into the barn and there was Princess on her side not looking comfortable. I knew how she felt. We could see the feet of the baby and Shmuel explained that everything was as it should be, one foot slightly ahead of the other. After a while we could see the nose... Miri let out a long "Aaaah".

"Doesn't she need help, Dad?" asked Shmuli

"No, son, let's wait, you can do damage if you interfere or if you don't do it right."

We forgot all about supper. It was quite late when Princess's daughter was born. Shmuel explained to the children that there is a right and a wrong way to help a donkey into the world, if you get it wrong you could damage its back. Fortunately, "Little One" did not need any help. Princess was fine too. Shmuel stayed to make sure everything was ok and to tidy up the barn. The rest of us went back indoors.

Sextus took supper out to Shmuel and took Miri Shmuli and Yoshi back to Danni's as the rest of us ate and I got the Rivkah off to bed. I was tucked up snugly when Shmuel finally climbed in beside me. He was icy cold. Brrrrr!

"It's snowing," he said simply. "Thanks for warming me up."

via Posterize

9 Shvat~ Noisy visitors

9 Shvat~ Noisy visitors

via Posterize

Please pray for the author

We regret that one of the authors of Luv Shmuli and Rut of KfarGanot has been admitted to hospital suddenly, we hope to continue the story soon. Thank you for your support.

via Posterize

28 Tevet ~ HE SAW THEM COMING!

Shmuel and the others arrived home from the market with new clothes all round.  All the men had put money in a pot, according to their means, and sent the party to market.  As Shmuel tried on his new outfit, I was taken aback, "How much did you pay for that?" I asked him.

"Is there something wrong with it?"

"No, Darling, it's just that I made it for Reuven, I wondered if he's getting a good price for our work."

"I guess he is," he replied, "We paid five times what you get from the courier!"

"I guess some of it will come back as profit, but it's a strange  way of doing business, buying back your own work at an inflated price. That merchant saw you coming!"

"I don't understand..."

I explained, "Reuven pays us, then usually trebles the price to the merchant, who then gets what he can for it over and above what he paid. He must have thought all his Feast days had come at once!"

Perhaps my husband will think twice before acting recklessly in future.  I hope so or we'll be back to poverty before you know it!

Read Rut's son's daily blog on LuvShmuli.com

via Posterize

27 Tevet ~ HELPFUL HUSBAND, IT'LL NEVER LAST!

I don't suppose I'll ever find out what really happened at the meeting hall last night. My husband is making himself useful around the house. It's just not normal - I don't suppose it will last. He volunteered to wash up tonight again! Rabbi Moshe said, in Shmuel's hearing, "Rut, make sure there are lots of dishes!"

I have spent the last two days washing and darning, at least the "old best clothes" will be good for work clothes. I found out, at the well, that all the other husbands are being uncharacteristically helpful too. I know that the Rabbi is behind it. I doubt he would have got them to wash and mend their own clothes, that would be going too far. He's a wise old man, we are very lucky to have him. Most places don't have a resident rabbi.

Uncle Shaul is throwing a party for the baby but he says there will be "no excess" of wine. Shmuel and Danni have raided their savings and gone to market, I'm not sure why, but they have taken the donkey and the boys cart. A couple of the men have gone with them. They looked like a group of naughty boys caught stealing raisins from the kitchen as they awaited in the yard...looking at their feet and shuffling.
I'd give anything to know what Rabbi Moshe said to them last night, the results, though, are interesting to watch!

Read Shmuli's account at: LuvShmuli.com

via Posterize

Helpful husbands...It will never last!

27 Tevet
I don't suppose I'll ever find out what really happened at the meeting hall last night. My husband is making himself useful around the house. It's just not normal...I don't suppose it will last. He volunteered to wash up tonight again! Rabbi Moshe said, in Shmuel's hearing, "Rut, make sure there are lots of dishes!"
I have spent the last two days washing and darning, at least the "old best clothes" will be good for work clothes. I found out, at the well, that all the other husbands are being uncharacteristically helpful too. I know that the Rabbi is behind it. I doubt he would have got them to wash and mend their own clothes, that would be going too far. He's a wise old man, we are very lucky to have him. Most places don't have a resident rabbi.
Uncle Shaul is throwing a party for the baby but he says there will be "no excess" of wine. Shmuel and Danni have raided their savings and gone to market, I'm not sure why, but they have taken the donkey and the boys cart. A couple of the men have gone with them. They looked like a group of naughty boys caught stealing raisins from the kitchen as they awaited in the yard...looking at their feet and shuffling.

I'd give anything to know what Rabbi Moshe said to them last night, the results, though, are interesting to watch!

via Posterize

Many witnesses

26 Tevet
I would not like to be in Rabbi Moshe's shoes today. It has been impossible to get any work done because of the constant stream of women seeking an audience with him have been clogging up my kitchen since breakfast. Chen and the midwives took considerably longer than most, apparently, the poor child still doesn't have an official name and that must be sorted out before his circumcision on the first day next week! In the end I arranged for all of us to eat at Aunt Tirzah's tonight.
It was mid afternoon by the time every women had finished telling Rabbi Moshe their tales of woe. When he emerged from his room I offered him some herbal tea and asked if there was anything I could do.
"Was Shmuel there?" he asked
"Chen said he was and he was covered in mud when he came home. He's ruined his clothes too."
"Ah, I see. It seems that the if it were not for the donkey, there would have been no problem..."
"Or the drink..." I couldn't help myself.
"Of course, it is customary for the men to celebrate. Their judgement was impaired, I have no doubt. Do you think Shmuli could take all the men a message for me?"
Rabbi Moshe summoned the men to a meeting in their hall this evening and he was not accepting any excuses. I wonder what he's going to do...?

We ate very late at Aunt Tirzah's. The men's meeting went on for ages. I hadn't realised Uncle Shaul was involved in the trouble too. As far as I can tell, only Rabbi Moshe and Eli weren't there! Even Yemimah's Zeb was involved! They were very sheepish when they finally arrived for supper and even did the washing up!

via Posterize

Muddy mayhem

24 Tevet

I think you can guess the topic of conversation at the well and the washing place this morning. That's right, the state of our menfolk yesterday evening! Mine were covered in mud and their best clothes were torn to shreds. But some families had it even worse!

One woman said that her men... all six of them had lost at least one item of clothing in the mud, her husband had lost his only pair of sandals and had gone to look for them, so she would have more washing tomorrow.

Another said that her husband's best clothes now adorned their scarecrow in the barley field!

Still another said, "My husband got the back end of the donkey, you'd better stay down wind of me when I do the washing."

I felt most sorry for Chen, the neighbour of the family whose newborn son the men had gathered to celebrate. She was attending the birth and joining in the women's merry making,

"I knew something was wrong when the midwife refused to hand over the baby" she said, "I've never known that happen all my born days!" she shrugged and gave a hefty sigh, "I went straight home, the men were waiting in my kitchen. I have never seen anything like it! There were muddy men all over the house, all worse for the wine... not a part was spared... I got my broom and chased them out and they laughed and teased... I was so cross... even your Shmuel!" she scolded "and Hadassah's Danni too!"

I blushed. Hadassah was close to tears. "That Roman of yours was very contrite though, at least he said sorry"

"He's not my Roman... "

"Of course he is. He put our husbands to shame and managed to keep himself clean too!"

Oh dear, I think I'm going to have to be more careful or tongues will be waging...

via Posterize

Rescuing a donkey on the Sabbath

23 Tevet
I know I am not supposed to think about work today, but I can't help it! The cat got into the clean washing yesterday, and today... well, I can hardly bear to think of it... Shmuel and Shmuli got themselves involved with rescuing some silly muddy donkey that fell down a cliff! Would you believe it... they were wearing their Shabbat clothes too! Not only are they filthy, but they have torn them too. Shmuel seems to think a kiss in the cheek will make it all right. I hope he's feeling rich because it's going to cost money to replace two sets of best clothes.

via Posterize

Mouse on the loose!

Every creature looks for somewhere warm for the winter. Mice are no exception. They can cause havoc if they get into the grain or lentils. Our cats keep them under control in the barn and outhouse. I don't like mice in the house so when I saw evidence they had been visiting the kitchen I shoo-ed one of the female cats indoors. They are not very sociable so, normally speaking, they stay outside. Chava took the twins to Hadassah's while I supervised the cat. At least, that was the plan. The cat has other ideas. She crept round the kitchen, her tail wagging slowly from side to side, making a strange clicking sound with her teeth.

The mouse made a run for it... Dashing across the room it took refuge by the hearth. The cat followed...pounced...missed...sending a pile of baskets all over the floor. The mouse, taking advantage of the confusion sped up the passageway towards the Rabbi's bedroom. I thought of his treasures and dashed towards his door.The animals made a swerve to the left into my bed space... It was terrible I couldn't see the mouse, but the cat was under the blankets... up the curtains... in the bed again... back towards the kitchen... then silence....

I crept back up the passage and peeked round the door post. There was the cat washing after her meal. She looked pleased with herself. Then, she curled up on my clean washing to go to sleep!

"Oh no, Madam! You're not sleeping on my laundry with your fleas and all!" I yelled flinging open the door and chasing her out. I let her have my mouse, she's been rewarded enough!
Now I'll have to wash everything all over again!
22 Tevet

via Posterize

Moshe's magic tricks

The wind has been relentless. After tending to the needs of the livestock, there was nothing for it but to stay indoors and wait it out. Rivkah played with her dolls for a while, but grew tired of them. She missed Miri. Shmuli was worried about the fact they had not been able to get the bread to KfarNahum this morning. He said he would have to work out a plan so that they were not caught out again. Rabbi Moshe had been reading in his room but his old eyes were tired, he said.

"Let's have some of your mother's herb tea and some mulled wine," he suggested "I can think of nothing better than turning this wash-out off a day into a fun day."

"How can I have fun when Miri's not here...?"

"How can I have fun when my business....?"

"Let's find out." grinned the Rabbi. "Come, sit with me."

I set to getting the hot drinks and the children sat either side of Rabbi Moshe. He took three walnut shells from his pocket and asked me for a dried pea. For the next hour he kept us entertained trying to guess which nutshell the pea was under. We watched him place it under a shell, then he mixed them up sometimes very slowly... we watched... we followed that pea ever so carefully but try as we might, we just couldn't find it. Sometimes it wasn't under the shells at all. It turned up in the strangest of places... behind Rivkah's ear, under Shmuli's hat...even in the clean washing basket- he didn't even get up from his seat, he made me fetch it! Don't ask me how he does it, but we all soon forgot our troubles and the rain... until Shmuel came home that is. He was drenched. We had to vacate the kitchen so he could have a hot bath.

The magic show continued in Rabbi Moshe's room. I hear he can make a small clay ball float when he covers it with a handkerchief, then he can make it disappear. I'll believe that one when I see it for myself!
21 Tevet

via Posterize

Rabbi Moshe is staying on

19 Tishrei

The men have been trying to fix the Rabbi's roof, but it has turned out to be quite difficult. Shmuel tells me that what at first appeared to be a simple job has turned into a major building project. Water has been seeping into awkward places for years and the whole house has pockets of mould. They will need to have a priest come to examine it when the weather improves. In the meantime they will have to shut the place up. Rabbi seems most content to stay with us for the winter. He's making himself useful babysitting when the twins are asleep, anyway, and Rivkah has already asked him if she can call him Grandpa. I thought it a little disrespectful, but he said it would be an honour. She is quite impressed with his hugs too, and she loves the way his beard tickles. Shmuli is quite happy to call him Rabbi, he thinks all the hugging is rather "soppy".

via Posterize