Thursday Challenge - GREEN

This photo was taken this summer in the Biriya forest in the Galilee.

The Jewish National Fund has been responsible for reforesting projects in Israel (and before that when Palestine was controlled by the Turks and then by British Mandate) making us the only country to finish off the 20th century with more trees growing than at the beginning of the century! 
Read more about the JNF here 
See more Thursday Challenge here.
Two more photos from that trip:

Birds in the Biriya Forest

Olive Trees in the Galilee 

Happy Purim!

Happy Purim!

Photos taken on Friday morning of children on their way to pre-Purim celebrations in the kindergartens and elementary schools. 

OK, not really a costume!

More Straight Out Of the Camera 

Sunny Day in Rehovot

We got quite a bit of rain last week but for the most part we have been having very mild weather here in Rehovot. These photos were taken  walking on the main shopping street (actually the only shopping street) Herzl Street.

 On Tuesdays, just post any photo you like (it must be one of your own) that contains the color RED and then link to this blog.

New in Rehovot!

Rehovot's municipality has been hard at work redoing the playgrounds in our area. Above is a brand new facility installed in place of what was a really run-down example of neglect. The workers completley dismantled all the old equipment, built the new paths and installed the colorful new stuff. They also put up those sunshades solving a really annoying problem. In summer that colorful plastic is very very hot and not fun to slide down at all. These shades should make the playground more fun to hang around in the hot summer mornings. Also, there is no grass so I imagine that will save the taxpayers money and conserve water. The periphery  of the park is planted with flowersbut that area is fitted with drip irrigation. All in all it looks like a nice deal. One thing still missing - some benches. Hopefully they are on their way! 

For more Straight Out Of the Camera go here

Review with Shadows

These photos were taken in a park right near my office in Rehovot. The site was originally a winery and the park was planned around the restoration of the area. I was walking in the area one afternoon as the shadows lengthened and shot these photos.

Haveil Havalim, a review of Jewish/Israeli blog posts is over at Cosmic X in Jerusalem. Next week I will be hosting.

A Mother In Israel points us to interesting posts about food, family and life.

One of my favorite food bloggers, Miriyummy shares links to other food blogs along with wit and insight.

And since I mentioned food, this month's edition of Kosher Cooking Carnival is over at me-ander. Next month it will be here at my place.




 For Shadow Shot Sunday visit Hey Harriet. 

Jerusalem Sky

Shabbat Shalom!

Yesterday we spent the day in Jerusalem and ended up at the Israel Museum for a concert in the sculpture garden. This is the sky just after the sun set. Need I add anything?

More Sky Watch here!

Springtime in Jerusalem

Weekend Straight Out Of the Camera  (SOOC) For more of these go here. 

These photos were taken in Jerusalem a few weeks ago when it was still "spring". Israel really has no real spring it just goes from  rainy and cold to warm and then hot. But every once in a while you catch a day that reminds you of a northern hemisphere spring.

Art in the service of life

"I may not know much about art, but I know a place to sit when I'm tired!"

almost Wednesday

see this blog for more entries

Ruby Tuesday in Jerusalem

We visited Jerusalem last week and I couldn't resist photographing all the colors of the shuk (market) on the way from Jaffa Gate and through the Christian Quarter of the Old City. 

For more about last week's events in Jerusalem see:

Jerusalem, Our Chiefest Joy!

Milestones

On Tuesdays, just post any photo you like (it must be one of your own) that contains the color RED and then link to this blog

.This lovely badge was created by Leora from Here in HP.

Summer's coming...

Spotted at the market in Rehovot!


and while looking for red in the market I came across these as well:

On Tuesdays, just post any photo you like (it must be one of your own) that contains the color RED and then link to this blog

.This lovely badge was created by Leora from Here in HP.

Springtime in Rehovot

I took this picture on my way to work this week. The Jacarandas are blooming and it's a very colorful time of year. Israel doesn't really have spring. The weather gets warmer and then colder and then warmer again from mid-March until the beginning of June each time the warmer spells get longer and the cooler ones shorter until it's just hot, uncomfortably hot or unbearably hot and then it's winter again for a short time. Spring is marked by colors and these lovely trees are some of the happy colors of Rehovot at this time of year.  

Join the SOOC fun here and here

Skywatch - sunset over the coastal plain

Looking forward to Friday's sunset bringing a restful Shabbat. 

Shabbat Shalom!

See more SkyWatch here

Twins

Havei Havalim is up at our leader Jack's blog -here. Thanks Jack for organizing and keeping the carnival going!
So, it's Monday night, it's raining cats and dogs outside and everyone here in Israel is happy. Rain is what we are praying for and rain is what we are getting! Friday afternoon my twin granddaughters took advantage of being in the big city and took a trip to the mall. They are not identical twins but they look so much alike that it is hard to tell them apart! 

A few bloggers discussed twins recently (over at In The Pink  and The Jewish Side both of whom are twins themselves. They write about a special bond between twins. 

As a mother and grandmother of twins I can attest to the unique experience of caring for and raising twins. My twin sons were very different from each other physically, in personality and in their interests as they grew. I felt the challenge was to give each one the opportunity to be an individual rather than part of a pair. These eat-'em-up beauties each have their own personality and strong points and being with them is always an adventure! Here they are posing for Ruby Tuesday pictures. 

On Tuesdays, just post any photo you like (it must be one of your own) that contains the color RED and then link to this blog.

Watery Wednesday

This photo was taken in West Orange before the snow storm! 

RULES: Create your Watery Wednesday post first then come back and click on the Mr. Linky link on this blog to access the participation list. Enter your name and the link to your post in the spaces provided. Next, just have fun visiting the other entrants to see their posts. If you leave a comment they'll know you've visited and will visit you in return. Have fun!

Ruby Tuesday

On our trip to the US we passed though Charles deGaulle airport in Paris. It is very impressive, spacious and and comfortable airport. Take a look at this waste basket which is divided to give the opportunity to recycle paper separately from other trash. Nice idea!

On Tuesdays, just post any photo you like (it must be one of your own) that contains the color RED and then link to this blog.

Ripe Red Sabras

These are sabras (prickly pears) that grow in Israel. People born in Israel are called sabras because they are prickly on the outside but sweet on the inside.

I took this picture in Jerusalem today. I went on a walking tour of the Har Hazeitim (Mt. of Olives) cemetery where I have an ancestor buried. It was a beautiful day. I hope to be posting more about that trip soon.

For now, it seems appropriate to post this in honor of Ruby Tuesday which I learned about from Ilana-Davita and Here in HP.

Thanks ladies!