Living the Amazing Race

veggie delights! fresh organic produce.

2009-11-09T23:22:00.000-08:00

floral delights in the Golan!

2009-11-09T22:46:00.001-08:00

the cycle

2009-07-21T02:01:00.000-07:00

(Waimea Falls North Shore World Botanical Gardens.)

Saying goodbye to the fragrance of Hawaii.. for now...

Laundry Time.

I wouldn’t think it would be a significant event to post about – but it turned out to be one. I got back from Hawaii and it’s laundry time… It’s been almost 3 months of camping where the “ananei hakavod” the clouds of glory, sun, wind, springs, and oceans washed my clothing.. leaving my clothing smelling really nice.. but now, they needed a good heavy duty wash machine cycle. (Thank You so much G-d that on this trip, I was never in a rush and needed to quickly pack up and stuff wet clothes into my backpack. Even if it did rain, the sun would later come out and would dry up my stuff.)

(Waimea Falls North Shore camping out on World Botanical Gardens.)

(camping at secret beach Kauai)

(beautiful sunrise at beach)

I unpacked my clothing from my backpack and bag and spread them out putting them in piles of loads according to color... Sweet fragrances of Hawaii lingered in the air and with it surfaced sweet memories… Oh, how I miss Hawaii! It’s been one of the greatest trips in my life... Paradise! I thought about all the good times I have had... how these clothes have been with me and served me on my great adventures... where I wore them and where I wished I could’ve worn them but didn’t have them with me... (I sometimes stashed some stuff before going off to difficult treks… or if I just wanted to be lighter hiking/backpacking and preferred skipping down the trail..) Indeed, amazing beautiful good times B”H!

I hesitate before putting each article of clothing into the washing machine.. before the smell is gone forever. I bring my fleece, bathing suit, shirts, close to me and inhale its scent... an hour before the flight swim in the Pacific – beach 69 cove, orchids, delicious aromatic flowers, lemon grass mosquito repellent, mangoes, longones, Haleakala, Waimea canyon, rain, Volcano national park, Twin falls, Mauna Kea, sitting in back of pickup trucks windy rides, La Perouse, hat, bag, gray t-shirt, socks rollerblading, hiking, night hiking falling into streams, keeping my feet warm, black skirt, yoga pants skydiving, sweat pants, lightweight cotton khaki green floral print skirt and b/w print skirt – my favorites this trip – just really comfortable and used them every day.
I then turn the knob to get the water running
Put them into the wash machine
Add tide detergent…
And start the cycle…

Fresh Clothes! I am ready for my next adventure! B’ezrat Hashem!

(Where would I be the next time I open up my backpack to take out a clean shirt? I don’t know… but I am excited for it… and I am imagining my excitement of the heavenly fresh odor of clean laundry on a camping trip...Thank You Hashem.. )

Sunrise at Mauna Kea!

2009-07-07T03:39:00.000-07:00

I camped out at the summit of Mauna Kea! (It's the tallest mountain in the world considering it being 33k feet from its base in the Pacific Ocean.)

It was cold! very cold! but so worth it! I got to see sunset and sunrise standing above the clouds! The most beautiful ever!

קטנתי מכל החסדים

2009-07-03T03:32:00.000-07:00

I have got no words.. I am speechless.. for the great miracles you have sent my way! Thank You G-d!

Shabbos in Volcano National Park!

2009-06-14T06:01:00.000-07:00

2009-06-10T03:26:00.000-07:00

2009-06-10T03:24:00.000-07:00

Aloha!

2009-05-20T16:20:00.000-07:00

Sorry for not updating -- I am in paradise now.. B"H I have lots of great adventures, stories, sweet miracles to share.. but I am busy creating it now. Maybe one day I'll choose to reflect on them -- and go back there -- in memory lane. Hey, don't worry - I will IY"H and this trip, I caved in -- I got a digital camera.. so lots of goodies coming!

a beautiful trip in the snow!

2009-03-01T18:59:00.000-08:00

but now my car would not start. I hope something great happens.

The Joyous Adar Hallel

2009-02-25T18:52:00.000-08:00

an amazing Adar Hallel at Maureen's in Park Slope! wow!

(if you want to join us for Rosh Chodesh amazing, women's Hallel in Jerusalem, NYC or anywhere in the world I'll be IY"H.. email me.. and I will keep you updated about upcoming events.)

ואתה אמרת היטיב איטיב עמך

2009-02-18T17:47:00.000-08:00

I was a bit apprehensive about leaving to NY. But Your encouraging words and actually making it happen for me! (wow!what a surprise!) reassured me and made me feel good about it!

Thank you so much Hashem!

דִּרְשׁוּ יְהוָה בְּהִמָּצְאוֹ, קְרָאֻהוּ בִּהְיוֹתוֹ קָרוֹב. יַעֲזֹב רָשָׁע דַּרְכּוֹ וְאִישׁ אָוֶן מַחְשְׁבֹתָיו, וְיָשֹׁב אֶל יְהוָה וִירַחֲמֵהוּ וְאֶל אֱלֹהֵינוּ כִּי יַרְבֶּה לִסְלוֹחַ. כִּי לֹא מַחְשְׁבוֹתַי מַחְשְׁבוֹתֵיכֶם וְלֹא דַרְכֵיכֶם דְּרָכָי, נְאֻם יְהוָה. כִּי גָבְהוּ שָׁמַיִם מֵאָרֶץ, כֵּן גָּבְהוּ דְרָכַי מִדַּרְכֵיכֶם וּמַחְשְׁבֹתַי מִמַּחְשְׁבֹתֵיכֶם. כִּי כַּאֲשֶׁר יֵרֵד הַגֶּשֶׁם וְהַשֶּׁלֶג מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם וְשָׁמָּה לֹא יָשׁוּב כִּי אִם הִרְוָה אֶת הָאָרֶץ וְהוֹלִידָהּ וְהִצְמִיחָהּ, וְנָתַן זֶרַע לַזֹּרֵעַ וְלֶחֶם לָאֹכֵל.

כֵּן יִהְיֶה דְבָרִי אֲשֶׁר יֵצֵא מִפִּי לֹא יָשׁוּב אֵלַי רֵיקָם, כִּי אִם עָשָׂה אֶת אֲשֶׁר חָפַצְתִּי וְהִצְלִיחַ אֲשֶׁר שְׁלַחְתִּיו. כִּי בְשִׂמְחָה תֵצֵאוּ וּבְשָׁלוֹם תּוּבָלוּן, הֶהָרִים וְהַגְּבָעוֹת יִפְצְחוּ לִפְנֵיכֶם רִנָּה וְכָל עֲצֵי הַשָּׂדֶה יִמְחֲאוּ כָף.

תַּחַת הַנַּעֲצוּץ יַעֲלֶה בְרוֹשׁ (תחת) וְתַחַת הַסִּרְפַּד יַעֲלֶה הֲדַס, וְהָיָה לַיהוָה לְשֵׁם לְאוֹת עוֹלָם לֹא יִכָּרֵת

כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה שִׁמְרוּ מִשְׁפָּט וַעֲשׂוּ צְדָקָה, כִּי קְרוֹבָה יְשׁוּעָתִי לָבוֹא וְצִדְקָתִי לְהִגָּלוֹת.

אַשְׁרֵי אֱנוֹשׁ יַעֲשֶׂה זֹּאת וּבֶן אָדָם יַחֲזִיק בָּהּ, שֹׁמֵר שַׁבָּת מֵחַלְּלוֹ וְשֹׁמֵר יָדוֹ מֵעֲשׂוֹת כָּל רָע. וְאַל יֹאמַר בֶּן הַנֵּכָר הַנִּלְוָה אֶל יְהוָה לֵאמֹר הַבְדֵּל יַבְדִּילַנִי יְהוָה מֵעַל עַמּוֹ, וְאַל יֹאמַר הַסָּרִיס הֵן אֲנִי עֵץ יָבֵשׁ. כִּי כֹה אָמַר יְהוָה לַסָּרִיסִים אֲשֶׁר יִשְׁמְרוּ אֶת שַׁבְּתוֹתַי וּבָחֲרוּ בַּאֲשֶׁר חָפָצְתִּי, וּמַחֲזִיקִים בִּבְרִיתִי. וְנָתַתִּי לָהֶם בְּבֵיתִי וּבְחוֹמֹתַי יָד וָשֵׁם טוֹב מִבָּנִים וּמִבָּנוֹת, שֵׁם עוֹלָם אֶתֶּן לוֹ אֲשֶׁר לֹא יִכָּרֵת. וּבְנֵי הַנֵּכָר הַנִּלְוִים עַל יְהוָה לְשָׁרְתוֹ וּלְאַהֲבָה אֶת שֵׁם יְהוָה לִהְיוֹת לוֹ לַעֲבָדִים, כָּל שֹׁמֵר שַׁבָּת מֵחַלְּלוֹ וּמַחֲזִיקִים בִּבְרִיתִי. וַהֲבִיאוֹתִים אֶל הַר קָדְשִׁי וְשִׂמַּחְתִּים בְּבֵית תְּפִלָּתִי עוֹלֹתֵיהֶם וְזִבְחֵיהֶם לְרָצוֹן עַל מִזְבְּחִי, כִּי בֵיתִי בֵּית תְּפִלָּה יִקָּרֵא לְכָל הָעַמִּים. נְאֻם אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה מְקַבֵּץ

נִדְחֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, עוֹד אֲקַבֵּץ עָלָיו לְנִקְבָּצָיו.

כב עשר תעשר את כל תבואת זרעך היצא השדה שנה שנה ואכלת לפני יהוה אלהיך במקום אשר יבחר לשכן שמו שם מעשר

דגנך תירשך ויצהרך ובכרת בקרך וצאנך למען תלמד ליראה את יהוה אלהיך כל הימים וכי ירבה ממך הדרך כי לא תוכל שאתו כי ירחק ממך המקום אשר יבחר יהוה אלהיך לשום שמו שם כי יברכך יהוה אלהיך ונתתה בכסף וצרת הכסף בידך והלכת אל המקום אשר יבחר יהוה אלהיך בו ונתתה הכסף בכל אשר תאוה נפשך בבקר ובצאן וביין ובשכר ובכל אשר תשאלך נפשך ואכלת שם לפני יהוה אלהיך ושמחת אתה וביתך והלוי אשר בשעריך לא תעזבנו כי אין לו חלק ונחלה עמך מקצה שלש שנים תוציא את כל מעשר תבואתך בשנה ההוא והנחת בשעריך ובא הלוי כי אין לו חלק ונחלה עמך והגר והיתום והאלמנה אשר בשעריך ואכלו ושבעו למען יברכך יהוה אלהיך בכל מעשה ידך אשר תעשה

תהילים ק קא קב קג

לדוד מזמור חסד ומשפט אשירה לך יהוה אזמרה אשכילה בדרך תמים מתי תבוא אלי אתהלך בתם לבבי בקרב ביתי

עיני בנאמני-ארץ לשבת עמדי הלך בדרך תמים הוא ישרתני

שוב אל ארצך ואיטבה עמך

ואתה אמרת היטיב איטיב עמך.. ושמתי את זרעך כחול הים אשר לא יספר מרב

I hope to share wonderful adventures coming up soon.

Maybe New Zealand, another place, many things really good and exciting..

B"H the rain is coming down

2009-02-10T06:09:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I planted a Cedar Tree in Bat Ayin.

B"H it is raining today! Yay!

and my fruit -- the yummy coconut with it's sweet water inside.

and here's a great song by Hamadregot -- Maayan Chai

May Hashem shower us with an abundance of blessings always!!

שירו לה שיר חדש

2009-02-08T07:05:00.000-08:00

B"H I got to be in Yerushalayim Ihr Hakodesh for Shabbos Shirah. Thank You so much Hashem. I was afraid I wouldn't make it, but then You made it happen.

I davened at Raz - Vani Tefilati -- it was the highest!

Shabbos seudah at Asher's was awesome! The food was delicious -- healthy holy happy..

Kotel, Rabbi Machlis Torah reading, Shirat Hayam, Shirat Devorah.. , Kiddush, my yummy garlic challahs..

R' Brodts Seudat Shlishit great singing and Torah..

and Raz Hartman's amazing Motzash Shuva Shvat performace at the beautiful space Reshimu!

It was a wonderful Shabbat Shirah.

Please Hashem may we merit to sing very soon -- a new song! The ultimate song!

שירו לה שיר חדש בשרו מיום ליום ישועתו

New Discovery

2009-02-05T17:00:00.000-08:00

It was a good skate today. It was a bit slow though-- too loaded -- my bags weighed me down...
But today was really good. B"H I discovered the coolest combo pool -- combination of all things I love.
-- it had everything!!
--it had a small falls.. the water was at some places warm - hot and other places cool -- the softest mud -- full of minerals that make you laugh and giggle non stop.. the trickling sound of flowing water -- overlooking the dead sea -- the water a beautiful turquoise color -- sorrounded by mountains -- a most stunning setting!

The sea was so enticing at sunset .. and I swam a lot.. Jordan seemed as close as Israel..
It was so great B"H .. couldn't stop smiling !

and ended off the day with a great jam with Navah singing and playing her beautiful tanpura..
כל הנשמה תהלל קה

May we always sing and thank Hashem from a most beautiful place.

2009-02-02T17:18:00.000-08:00

Please Hashem Revive Our Heart - Erez's song

2009-01-29T09:08:00.001-08:00

in memory of the great Erez Levanon

I didn't know Erez but from his beautiful sweet music full of hope faith and love...

...ויש הר, ועל ההר עומד אבן, ומן האבן יוצא מעין. וכל דבר יש לו לב, וגם העולם בכללו יש לו לב. וזה הלב של העולם הוא קומה שלמה עם פנים וידיים ורגליים. וזה ההר עם האבן והמעין עומד בקצה אחד של העולם, וזה הלב של העולם עומד בקצה אחר של העולם. וזה הלב עומד כנגד המעיין וכוסף ומשתוקק תמיד מאוד מאוד לבא אל אותו המעיין בהשתוקקות גדול מאוד מאוד וצועק מאוד לבא אל אותו המעיין, וגם זה המעיין משתוקק אליו... (סיפורי מעשיות של רבי נחמן מברסלב)

מעבר ים כחול / מעבר קו כחול / מעל חכמת אדם / מעל בינת אנוש.
זורם בכל ורידים / מנשים האברים / אוהב את הבריות / אוהב ולא נסוג.

כן הלב הוא פועם.

אל תוותר / ואל נא תתייאש / יש בך הרבה / יש לך את האש.
עשה מה שתוכל / עשה זאת במנוחה / כי הלב העליון / מאיר בתוכך.

Please Hashem revive our heart!

Ohr Chadash

2009-01-26T06:29:00.000-08:00

It was great visiting the Trugmans Ohr Chadash and being on the Moshav on Shabbos! Rabbi Trugman plays one of my favorite instruments -- the dulcimer and his face -- is always beaming. Besides, his Torah teaching and personality is awesome! I made delicious pizza challah for Shabbos.

May we merit soon אור חדש על ציון תאיר

Bini Landau singing Ohr Chadash 43:00

The Return to Magical Land Heavenly Springs

2009-01-20T08:09:00.000-08:00

It's been a real long time.. b'h I am back.. skating was great.. mitzpe to the sea took only 20 minutes -- that might have been a record.. the winds were just perfect -- not too strong -- but cooling and pushing me forward.. making me fly.. after reaching Lido I decided to visit Ein Bokek -- it was very chill and relaxing.

I enjoyed it a lot.. and then of course went to the hot springs - -those are my favorite!

I am glad I got back into it.. and rollerbladed to the dead sea the next day and then the day after that.. and then the following week every day.. I also came across and swam in some new springs. But from hiking barefoot and swimming at night in the sea with salt crystals I got too many cuts so I took a break today so that the cuts have time to heal..

Do you want to be rembered through pain

2008-11-16T14:18:00.000-08:00

Thank G-d the toothache is gone and He is reminding me – in the most beautiful way.. Thank You for the delicious warming nourishing food – awesome blueberry vanilla chocolate oatmeal, the stunning world and colors, fun skating trips, and midnight swimming in the
sea... and of course the great songs.. and smiles… and feeling of gratitudute
תהלת ה' ידבר פי ויברך כל בשר שם קדשו לעולם ועד ואנחנו נברך ה מעתה ועד עולם הללוקה

My lover has made a beautiful spot for me

2008-11-06T14:17:00.000-08:00

thank you Hashem.

The magical hot spring kingdom

2008-11-05T14:14:00.000-08:00

Gan Eden 'M'Kedem'

amazing Hashem

2008-11-03T15:18:00.001-08:00

Thank G-d I am feeling better.. and before I got to go through spectrum of rainbow soups.. I got to have some outdoor adventures. Wow! It was so so much more than I imagined. Before I left my house I thought I'd probably not post about today; it will just be another great skating to the yam hamelech day! But by now 1:oo am .. I just can stop saying amazing G-d .. amazing G-d.. Thank You so much for today's miracle day! It was so so much fun -- skating, the hot and cool springs.. the yam hamelech .. swimming down the natural water chutes between the canyons (you have to very careful.. your skin can get sliced.. I got some cuts.. but okay..) and into the sea.. discovering real chill pools.. rolling in the softest mud.. laughing.. and at the end of the day actually night.. I thought it wouldn't be so much fun. I couldn't find my stuff. It was so dark.. I looked for it for hours.. and then I found one pile of stuff.. major miracle as my clothes were dark color.. and there was no way of seeing it.. there was no way of seeing the area around.. It just felt that that was the place and then Hashem opened my eyes and I saw it.. and then walked and prayed some more and found my shoes and water bottle.. a few hundred meters further.. but even getting back to the road there were still lots of surprises.. surprise pools of water and sinking mud.. Thank You Hashem for getting me back home safe and for an amazing time!--
(I met the camel guy at sea level -- eich yesh lach koach -- Hashem noten koach I replied.. yes indeed Hashem.. please continue to bless us more and more.. with strength, good health, and motivation!)

nonstop joy

2008-11-02T13:50:00.000-08:00

Rabbi Lazer Brody's NonStop Joy talk

cold

2008-11-02T13:40:00.000-08:00