A Change of Season- It Smells Like Spring

On the calendar, seasons change at specific times. The equinox is, according to Wikipedia, "an astronomical event in which the plane of the earth's equator passes through the centre of the sun." On these days, the hours of daylight and night are approximately the same length. On the solstice, the sun reaches its highest or lowest point in the sky. Each of these marks a season of the year. However, anyone living on earth knows the seasonal dates don't always, if ever, correlate to the actual seasonal change.

Today, Wednesday, March 9, 2016 is the first day of spring. I say this because today I walked out my door and smelled spring. "Spring has a smell?" You ask. YES! Every season has a smell. Winter is a crispness that precedes snow. Summer smells of warmth and flowers. Fall smells like harvest: hay and drying leaves. Spring's smell is a wonderful smell of peat that announces the ground is ready to begin planting. Okay, maybe not planting, but preparation. It's time to begin spring clean up.

After last year's sciatica, the yard, which was just about where I wanted it, is a bit of a disaster. This year means starting over. There are stones to place, weeds to pull. A planter left out over winter cracked. This week I bought my first seeds. Sunday is planting day. I already have tomatoes, garlic, and cilantro growing from vegetables we had in the house. I am counting on our enclosed porch to hold the sun, and protect my summer crop from any final frost.

I can taste the harvest already.

That is spring.

Kitty Blog #29, By Gandalf the Gray- Lazy Shabbat

What a wonderful Shabbat! I really think it's my favourite day. It's a day filled with special food and lots of attention. After all, on Shabbat what else do my people really have to do but pay attention to me.

Friday night begins with the most wonderful smells. This week there wasn't a lot of tastes. Jennifer said something about too many onions and too much garlic not being good for me. It's cute the way they worry. They made up for it with an early night, so lots of cuddling for me. I must have slept 14 hours. Lunch was a delicious paella. Even the rice was yummy! At dessert Jennifer took food away from me again. This time it was something about chocolate. I am beginning to wonder if she makes this stuff up, either to keep me on my diet, or to keep the good stuff for herself. For now I'll give her the benefit of the doubt. After all, she spent almost the entire day letting me sleep on her feet, her lap, her legs, and scratched my ears, my neck, my back, and my belly for hours on end. It's a mechaiya (the stuff of life)!

It's always sad when it has to end. Sunday is such a hectic day. There was some egg in the morning and a little chicken at night. Gavi and I ended the day with a shared bowl of cereal. But my people are just too busy for the belly scratches. I hope they know what they're missing. Jen's in bed now. I'd better go remind her!

Pleasant dreams.

Parashat Vayakhel- Giving Generously

Vayomru el-Moshe leimor mabim ha’am l’havi midei ha’avodah lamlakha asher-tzivah Adonai la’asot otah.

And they spoke to Moshe saying: The people bring more than [we need] for the service of the work that Adonai commanded to make. (Shemot 36:5)

Jewish history has not been easy. So many times in our history we have been persecuted, or had to escape from persecution. And, like other humans, in those dark moments, we have risen to new heights. Perhaps it is the number of difficulties that created the Jewish people as philanthropic and as scientists seeking solutions for our community and the world. In those difficult periods, and after them, we have made our greatest efforts. This can be seen in enlistment rates during WWII. It can be seen in the history of JNF, especially pre-State of Israel. And, it can be seen in the years following the exodus from Egypt.

These people, oppressed for 400 years, might have reacted with greed and anger. Some did, and were punished. Nonetheless, the greater community stepped up whenever asked to give what they could. Even now, with a generation of wandering ahead of them, they do not hole back. The community gives so generously it comes to be too much. They must be told not to donate more.

What a problem to have. Think of it, plenty of money for eldercare. An endowment for Jewish education. Enough funding to support synagogues and the myriad of tzedakot that keep our community healthy. We may not be able to solve all these problems, but we can use this season to give generously, to our synagogue, to our food bank, to our community Pesach food drive, and to other tzedakot that are important to each of us.

We are blessed to live in a wonderful country. Although many in our community do not have disposable income, we are richer, both financially and in terms of quality of life, than so many of in the world Jewish community. We can be confident in the rule of law, and most need not wonder from where our next meal will come. Purim is a time for mutant l'evyonim, gifts to the poor. It's time to tighten our belts just a little and ensure others have enough for the coming Hagim and the seasons beyond.

Food Isn't Love, Cooking Is

I am currently watching a documentary series on Netflix called Cooked, narrated by writer Michael Pollen. It examines cooking through 4 episodes based on the 4 elements: fire, water, air, and earth.

It's fascinating. I love food, all aspects of food. It's not just the eating, although that's good too. I love the planning. (Still, a little help sometimes would be nice) Holidays are not complete without the elaborate planning of menus. Who is coming? What are their dietary needs? Are there favourite or traditional foods we have to have?Are there new foods we should try? I love the choosing of ingredients. It's not the shopping. I could do without the crowds. (Although there is something special about the Jewish community all shopping together. The shtetl is recreated in the Pesach food aisle.) It's the choosing of ingredients. The tangible feel of picking each brussel sprout. Our regular store has recently switched to more packaged produce. I hate it. The quality seems lower, and choosing a plastic bag is simply not the same as choosing a pepper, feeling it for firmness, examining the colour and the shape. I love the time I spend preparing a good meal - good in taste and good in nutrients.

Meals in our home are prepared fresh. Yes, there are some ingredients we use for shortcuts. I keep canned tomato products and beans, condiments, and meat substitutes. Over time this list has shortened. Homemade hummus and techina are simple. We now make our own mustard, though there are a few we still buy as well. During Pesach we made mayonnaise, and will again. We bake our own bread. The use of prepared foods used for meals has dwindled to almost none.

All this takes time. I spend 2-3 hours in food preparation each night. Breakfast has become a make ahead meal that can be reheated. Lunch for me is salad or soup, homemade. Sean likes to finish up the leftovers. Shabbat and Hagim are special. Fridays are spent in preparation. I begin by by 8 am, just after the kids leave for school, and continue for 7-8 hours. From challah to entrées to sides and desserts, all are prepared by hand. The leavings go into compost, not only the city's compost, but our own in spring, summer, and fall. We grow what we can, when we can. That too takes planning, but there's nothing better than fresh picked produce.

Love and food often go together. It's the time and the effort we expend. To cook for you is for me to say you are worth my time and my effort. I care about what you need and what you want.

Pleasant dreams.

Kitty Blog #29, By Gandalf the Grey

I just saw Nora's blog. She is so self-centred. It's all "me, me, me." What about ME? Doesn't she know it's all about me?!

I'm the one that was sick. First I threw up all the food I'd eaten, so I was starving. Then, even though I was starving, I felt I couldn't eat. It smelled good, but then I'd just feel nauseous. And Jennifer started giving me pills. I heard them talking, and they're going to continue to give me those pills forever! It's so not fair. Nora gets to eat anything, and she doesn't even care. Food is my life, and I am limited by my digestion.

I am feeling much better today. Sean and Jennifer still limited my food, so I'm still starving. I will waste away before this ends.

While I wait for my next meal, I have decided to sit upon the vent in the dining room. The spot gives such a great view of the yard. I can kept careful watch upon invading squirrels and birds, and the warm air blowing on my tummy is simply delightful.  Ahhhhh.