Confession is good for the soul

11 Av

I don’t know.  Shmuli has been teasing his sister today for eating too many raisins. It was not so long ago, he had a belly ache from eating fresh olives. Boys have such short memories! She is quite a lot better today, but has informed me she still likes raisins, but they don’t like her! She was up early for the milking so I am sure there is no lasting harm done. Shmuel said that the reason he is still not keen on raisins is because he did the same thing himself as a lad. In his case, though, he sneaked into the store for a midnight feast and his uncle found him curled up with the empty jar fast asleep. He only escaped a talk behind the woodshed because he was so ill. As for me, I once gave myself toothache eating dates! I can still taste the clove oil I was given every time I think about it. I suppose confession is good for the soul. Rabbi Moshe says so, anyway. I can’t help thinking that I put my parents through quite a lot, when my children do the things I used to do it makes me cringe...

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How is it dirt makes chickens clean, but not boys?

8 Av

Life is getting back to normal in some ways. Shmuli and his friends have been playing games in the fields and I am convinced boys attract the dirtiest dirt. He was covered in dust and soil. I don’t know where he had been, Shmuel gave me a knowing look and winked.
“There’s nothing wrong with good honest dirt!” he said
He’s welcome to his opinion, but Shmuli is not bringing it into this house! It’s a bath in the barn tonight! By the look of them, I expect that goes for Galit, Yoshi and Lud too!
Rivkah wanted to know how it is that sparrows and chickens take baths in the dust and come out clean when boys get near dirt it sticks to them.  I have no idea. Does anyone know how that works?

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Shmuel drives a hard bargain

7 Av

There has been a lot of excitement here today. It seems Reuven got wind of the successful day at the market yesterday. He arrived on our doorstep before we had finished breakfast! He wanted to talk to Shmuel. I don't think my husband was particularly happy as he made Reuven go out to the fields with him. They were gone for a long time but shortly after they left, who should turn up but Miriam herself! She assured me she knew nothing of what had happened yesterday, she was merely making a social call on her way back to Migdal. Hmmm... It is still an amazing coincidence!

Shmuel arrived back with Reuven as we sat down for lunch. They both looked very serious. When Shmuel saw Miriam he looked as if he had seen a ghost. Reuven broke the ice,
"This man drives a hard bargain," he said, “He still won't join us, but we have come to an agreement. I had no choice," he threw up his hands, “I was outnumbered, he had the sheep on his side!"
Everyone laughed and the atmosphere changed. I gather that Reuven can get a much higher price for Shmuel's goods if they export them to the wider empire but that Shmuel will not sell for anything less that he already gets, plus a percentage of the profits. I know how he haggles so I can believe it. I only hope Reuven is right.
Miriam commented that Shmuel might like to consider working for her if ever the farm was not enough but he said he is not cut out for all that wheeling and dealing.

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There's nothing like the feel of silk...

6 Av

Milchah was allowed to go to market today with Danni and Hadassah. Shmuel lent her the donkey so she could take some cribs. Rivkah and Miri accompanied them, they were excited to find out how many they could sell. To everyone’s surprise, they sold all fifteen! The Roman ladies seem to think there is nothing like them.
Shmuel commented “That Miriam knows what she is talking about! Maybe I will take her up on her offer!” He paid Milchah for her work, at least he visited her family with her wages. I dare say it was more money than they had seen for a long time. Her father in law, Old Silas,  told him that maybe she was not such a problem after all, but his wife said she would “wait and see”.Anyway, Milchah is absolutely delighted. She is hoping that her parents-in-law will accept her last. I sincerely hope so too, she was so unhappy when we first met and it was so good to see her smile today.

I'm not sure what Shmuli's been up to, I haven't seen him all day. I suspect it's something to do with the chickens. He disappeared with Galit and Yoshi straight after lunch. There seems to have been a lot of people about along the road, they still keep coming looking Yeshua even though he's gone away for a while. I think the boys may have been selling them refreshments. I do know that Shmuli complained about how sticky lemonade can be when you split it  on yourself when he was getting ready for supper.

We have at last received a delivery of silk thread from Reuven to begin some of the high-quality weaving Miriam has asked us for. I think it's going to be very busy round here for a while.Our afternoons will be spent weaving to the orders that we have received from Reuven. Chava is coming on extremely well as a student, and she can certainly produce some good quality traditional stuff. I hope I get time to teach her about silk, she is fascinated by it and I have caught her sneaking over to the bail to touch it a number of times. I know why she does it, there is something about the feel of silk between your fingers! I suppose if I wasn't a weaver, I would never have experienced such a delight.

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It's Shabbat and Shmuli's mind is working overtime!

2 Av

What is it about growing older? The weeks seem to get shorter. I remember how far away Shabbat used to seem on the first day when I was Rivkah's age. Aunt Tirzah keeps telling me it gets better as you get older, Shabbats get closer and closer together. She is beginning to wonder when they will join up into one long glorious day of rest! That sounds rather fanciful to me, but she is convinced that now Yeshua is here it just might happen!

As for Shmuli and Rivkah they have been trying to get Galit to tell them what the surprise is but he told them it is not something for Shabbat. Now Shmuli is trying not to wonder about it in case it is something for the business and that guessing it today might be work! He asked me how you stop your thoughts working on Shabbat? How can a boy stop his mind doing what it wants? I told him to ask Shmuel who thanked me sarcastically. He said if Shmuli could find that out he would be the wisest man that ever lived.

Rabbi Moshe told him that even the great Shlomo had not answered that one to his satisfaction, but he guessed that studying Torah would help so Shmuli had been reciting Torah to his chickens most of the afternoon.

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Bread on a stick!

29 Tamuz

After he had kissed his two youngest children, Shmuel went up to the roof to sleep with Shmuli. Earlier, I had given the lad some honey wine mulled with relaxing herbs. He was sleeping soundly. I don't think Shmuel got much sleep though. He lay awake to see why Shmuli is so tired. Since there is in moon, it was very dark, and although he could not see anything, he could hear the little boy talking to himself. He told me he could not make out everything but Shmuli appeared to be trying to come up with exciting business plans. He promised me he would do something about it today, for Shmuli's sake.

Galit and Yoshi both turned up for breakfast this morning. Our bread arrived in a novel way, too. Galit had made small loaves in the shape of rings and threaded them on a stick much as you would see bangles at the market. What a brilliant idea! Yoshi wanted to fix sticks to the cart, then they could take more goods out when they were selling to the crowds.

After dealing with the animals and other necessary farm business, my two men, Shmuel and Shmuli  set off for the Kinneret valley. I did not see them until after dark, but they were both smiling. They went straight to bed, too. I have no idea where they went, I wonder if they will tell me?

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Sleepy Shmuli

27 Tamuz

Today, Hadassah, Milchah, Chava and I got down to cloth and basket making in earnest. We have plenty of wool to be prepared, then there is the spinning and weaving. Next week Hadassah will be going to KfarNahum to buy flax for linen, and later we I should be able to accompany Shmuel and Danni to a nearby village that sells excellent quality stuff. Rivkah and Miri were spinning wool for the baby blankets that will line the baskets, while they watched the twins for me. They both make excellent nuse maids, and they love it. Before long they will be looking after the little ones for much of the day. Hadassah told me that Miri has asked her for a little brother or sister. HaShem willing, she and Danni are hopeful it won’t be long before she has good news.

Rabbi Moshe came looking for Shmuel today, he said Shmuli was yawning all morning in school. I told him how poorly he was the other day. Shmuel has determined that Shmuli should sleep near him if this continues so that he can keep an eye on him. He goes to bed early enough, but the Rabbi is right, he does seem more tired then usual.

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It was very hectic in the creche!

26 Tamuz

Where did today go? Its so very late, and writing by lamplight is so hard on the eyes. Shmuel thinks I’m obsessed trying to record everything that happens. The truth is, I don’t write very much of it at all, but then, it’s all so mundane really. Just cooking and cleaning, childcare and business. Relaxation is precious, we get so little on a weekday.

We are in the middle of the grape harvest. People who live in towns don’t really understand how we have to watch the fruit so that we pick it at its best. Then we dry it to make raisins, make wine or just plain eat it. Shmuel has to make sure we have plenty of new wineskins, they need to be ready just when we need them, you can’t use old ones, they need to stretch as the wine matures. It is a living thing, it must be treated with respect. At harvest, everyone pitches in and does what they can, you can’t stop once you begin and it is quite intense.

Anyway, it fell to me to mind everyone’s small children today. Miri and Rivkah made sure they were delivered to their mothers for feeding at appropriate intervals. Every weaned child (those over about three years old) had jobs related to grape picking, but it was still very hectic in our creche, I can tell you!

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Galit has gone up in the world

It is so quiet around here today.It’s just as well as Shmuel says we will begin harvesting the grapes tomorrow.  I’ll be keeping an eye on the animals with Chava so that the men can deal with the vines. Shmuel will help with the sheep before he gets started in the morning. There is much milking and cheese making to be done. I feel a little out of practice. Then there is the spinning and weaving to get on with. Milchah will be coming in the afternoons to make baskets while Chava, Hadassah and I get on with the weaving. I wish I could make garments as fast as she makes baskets! Shmuel is impressed and, I suspect, a little jealous since he has to fit it in when he can. I know he loves to be creative but at harvest he has so little time.

A few passers by were asking after Rabbi Yeshua earlier and were cajoled into buying supplies from the boys. Galit has a real spring in his step, too. The boys have made him a senior partner in the business. He really deserves that since he works so hard. He asked Chava to ask me ...to ask Shmuel ...to ask Shmuli if his younger brother, Lud,  could be a junior partner, after all, “you can’t be seniors if there are no juniors can you?” I can see why he could not ask Shmuli himself, he thinks Shmuel can convince him... we’ll see!

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18th Tammuz ~ MANY HEALED

At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to him all who were sick, and those who were possessed by demons.  All the city was gathered together at the door.  He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. Demo

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13th Tammuz ~ FISHERS OF MEN

They went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught. They were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes. Immediately there was in their synagogue a

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11th Tammuz ~ TEL DAN’S CULT CENTRE

There are no specific events recorded for today in the gospels and we shall continue looking at various historical & archaeological articles giving insight into the Bible and its background. WHAT IS JESUS DOING? Jesus has travelled from Nazar

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Milchah is an excellent cook

11 Tamuz I went to the Mikvah this morning. How lovely to go beneath the waters and rise again as if born anew. I feel as if I am returning to the land of the living. I thought of Yov and how he must have felt after years of uncleanness. I would r

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11th Tammuz ~ ZIPPORI & CHARIOTS!

After we’d done all the chores today the boys took me to Zippori.  Seems they and their Dads are helping to build it, so they know their way around.  Zippori is the king’s new capital for the Galil and it’s real posh.  On the other side of t

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