Challah Baking Class

My mother, Roz, actually braided her own little challah!

You have to understand, she doesn't cook, doesn't know how. Growing up, we were fortunate enough to have my grandmother cook everything for us. Obviously, i get my love for cooking and baking from my grandma lil.

A first....my mom making challah!

Actually, a first to bake anything that didn't already come frozen in a box!

We had a packed house.

The other side of the room...standing room only.

Last night, I taught a challah baking class for a group meeting between my Hadassah group and my Chabad House's Women's Circle. Never have we had a turn out like last night...there were over 40 women. Everyone made a tiny, bite-sized challah to take home. I demonstrated how to make, braid, and cook the challah. Afterwards, we ate every crumb.

Don't forget to vote!

This was taken at my niece's Bat Mitzvah.

The only family missing is Josh and his girlfriend, Alex.

Eric and Heather are continuing on the final leg of their one year journey tomorrow.

They are headed for Costa Rica. We are going to meet them there in a few months.

Don't forget to vote today....it's your right and obligation as a free American!

Rachel's Bat Mitzvah

This weekend was my neice's bat mitzvah. This is a milestone event in a jewish child's life, when they turn 13 years of age. Once they have become a Bar (for boys) or Bat (for girls) Mitzvah, they are required by jewish law to follow all of the commandments given to the Jewish people by G-d. Rachel was so prepared for her Bat Mitzvah, she has such a beautiful voice that it enhanced the melodies of the prayers. Almost everyone in the family was here...my brother, Howard and his son came in from Atlanta. Unfortunately, Josh was not able to leave school to come in for it. What a nice weekend we had.

Look Who's Ready for Halloween

Cheerleader Shadow

Hot Dog Buddy!

saturday readings...

This novel begins on a winter night in 1964, when a blizzard forces Dr. David Henry to deliver his own twins. His son, born first, is perfectly healthy, but the doctor immediately recognizes that his daughter has Down syndrome. For motives he tells himself are good, he makes a split-second decision that will haunt all their lives forever. He asks his nurse, Caroline, to take the baby away to an institution. Instead, she disappears into another city to raise the child as her own. Compulsively readable and deeply moving, The Memory Keeper's Daughter is a story of parallel lives, familial secrets, and the redemptive power of love.

Still home sick, and spending most of my time reading. Once i start a book, i can't put it down. I read this book, like the last one, in two days. I wasn't too crazy about this book, but wanted to see how it ended.

tuesday, i think

Year of Wonders is the story of the sacrifice of a small mountain town in England where the deadly Plague hits. In order to save the lives of others, the town decides to keep everyone in and all others out in order to prevent the spreading of the Plague, knowing full well that such close proximity to each other could very well mean their deaths. It is a depressing story, but also an inspiring one.

I just finished reading this book in two days. Of course, I had nothing else to do then to lie in my bed, with chills and fever, coughing, and a splitting headache. Ironic...reading a book about the plague while i'm sick. This book is a work of fiction inspired by the true story of the villagers of Eyam, Derbyshire, story of the bubonic plague. A bit hard to read....old english text. I love historical fiction!

Beautiful Boston

The fall follage is amazing. Wish i was there, however, I can enjoy Eric's photos. Eric, Heather, her parents...faye and gary
Apple Picking in Boston

Eric apple picking.

Finally, Finally, Finally, Eric and Heather have made it back to the USA. Currently they are in Boston, enjoying the fall follage. They are actually there for a wedding and her parents met them there. They will arrive in houston on Wednesday, but this isn't the end to their one year backpacking trip. One more stop: Costa Rica. We are meeting them in Costa Rica in December, can't wait to explore the rain forest....eric and heather style!