Pray for Peace

So many wonderful attributes draw people from all over the world to Jerusalem. The beauty of the stones alone are remarkable… Unfortunately over the years, tension in the Old City has escalated. It’s just not the same place it was a couple of decades ago when I was single and living on a kibbutz. I…

“Yored Geshem…”

We are staying just outside of Jerusalem in a village. This is the view from our balcony. Yesterday yored geshem birushalayim. That’s Hebrew for “falling rain in Jerusalem.” It did rain… most of the day. It was fine; because it was a catch up day for us, and we stayed in and did some administrative…

Cyprus–Land of Encouragement!

I have been awake since 2:30 AM. Now it’s nearly 4:30, and I am up and around as if it were mid-morning. This is our last full day in Cyprus… until next year. It will be a busy day of packing, cleaning, and saying good-bye to dear friends in the community. In a couple of…

‘Over the Rainbow’

What American has not been enthralled by the classic musical, “Over the Rainbow” starring Judy Garland and a host of famous others? I am old enough to say the first few times I saw it was on black and white television. But I do remember when my aunt and uncle bought a color tv. The…

A Confession…

This photo was taken at the English Teapot Cafe in Agios Georgious village in the Troodos Mountains of Cyprus. I love the way it turned out–not so much for its photographic composition or execution, rather for its meaning and memory.

Flower Boxes

Here in the mountains of Cyprus we haven’t had the heat on for almost a week. The days have been sunny and warm–the kind that allure you outside for a long walk. It has been really wonderful. Spring is getting closer, and I am beginning to think about the signs of the season. Of course,…

Favorite Things

I was just a little girl when I first heard Julie Andrews sing, “Favorite Things” in the musical, “The Sound of Music.” I thought I had died and gone to heaven when her lilting soprano voice rang out these words: “Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens; bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens… ”…

Meandering Pathway

I wonder who lives at house number nine in the Cypriot village of Omidos. They have a lovely orange tree growing in their front yard just on the other side of this white brick fence. When my husband and I passed their little home just off the village square I had so many thoughts about…

Red Sky

We had guests last evening for dinner; and as I was scurrying around the house picking up and making things ready, I glanced out the window. And I am so glad I did! I stood mesmerized, watching the most beautiful sunset slowly fade behind the Troodos mountains of Cyprus. Long fingers of pink, scarlet, and…

‘Ba-Ram-U’

Over the weekend, we walked on this beach. On this shore. This is in Paphos, Cyprus. It was a gorgeously clear day after a rainy week, so the grass was really green and everything sparkled in the sunshine.  We rented a four-wheel-drive vehicle and followed a roughed trail up a mountain to get a good…