Knitting Therapy

Well, it seems this late autumn has begun to get the better of me. The past several years seem to be getting worse, I wonder if it has to do with my move to the city. I was talking to my SIL about it and although I am pretty sure I got the 'winter blues' in Lancaster I do not think it was quite like this. I think it was because it Lancaster I was still outside hanging out my laundry, cutting wood, stacking wood, raking leaves etc. Here in Philly I am in my cocoon. Since I am in my cocoon I decided to start knitting... and crocheting for that matter. I am making a decorative scarf with 'fun fur' that was on sale at Michael's and I am working on a Mile-a-Minute afghan for my son. Although the sun has not actually burst through the clouds as of yet (figuratively or literally) at least I feel productive and it seems to be helping. Knitting therapy, try it...you may find it quite helpful.

Here is a site to get you started called 'Learn to Knit'.

Happy knitting!

Home remedy, served with love

Can I tell you? I NEVER get sick. I am telling you, I have such an immune system (Bli ayin hara, poo poo poo), so for me to be sick the past week is unheard of. My little charge and her brother were kind enough to share their colds with me and apparently my body decided it liked it enough to hold onto it a while. I had it, then it left, then it made a return visit with a vengeance, then it morphed into stomach pains and nausea. Thank G-d that was short lived and now it just kinda comes and goes in waves. OK, so now that you know the gory details, that is not why I am blogging this. I wanted to tell you about my beloved Tzivya who is such a nurturing little Mama to her Mama. She made me such a soup yesterday. I can tell you it had LOTS of garlic and lots of love. So delish and so comforting. She took so much care to make it for me, serve me and take care of me. What a little doll she is. I am a firm believer in cooking with love. It may sound hokey to some but I tell you all that love and good thoughts for my refuah were so healing for me yesterday. It really came through in her home remedy and I felt so much better after my daughter's soup.

Two very nice thoughts

I am not sure if you take the time to click on the 'Daily Dose'on the left there, but try to sometime. These thoughts from the Lubavitcher Rebbe are tidbits of life that have really inspired me in my day to day life. Here are two from this week that especially meant alot to me.

Change by Doing

People are not changed by arguments, nor by philosophy. People change by doing.

Introduce a new habit into your life, and your entire perspective of the world changes.

First do, then learn about what you are already doing.


Owning Wisdom


You can live in a palace filled with treasures and still be poor. To be wealthy you must own the things you have.

So too with poverty of the mind: You may have all the knowledge and brilliant ideas in the world, but you are still poor until they have become part of you.

A Daily Dose of Wisdom from the Rebbe
-words and condensation by Tzvi Freeman

Do you want to want?

Rebbe Nachman taught that the magnitude of the obstacles to any spiritual goal is in direct ratio to the importance of the goal, but the obstacles are sent for one purpose only: to increase one's desire. With sufficient desire it is possible to overcome all obstacles.
This is a beautiful and very important quote. Too often it is very easy to desire something and yet not have the tenacity to follow through with it. It seems especially in matters of spiritual importance Hashem will allow obstacles in our way. I do not know so much if it is a test or a way of proving to ourselves how devoted and serious we are? Maybe it is both? Will we go to any and all lengths to achieve the goal set before us? I read once where one of the Rebbe's talmidim said to him that he wanted to be a good Jew. The Rebbe responded with "but do you want to want?" I often think of that. Do I really want to want? How deep is my desire and devotion. They say anything worth having is worth fighting for. Indeed this is true. Although some things in life do come easy, these things do not sharpen us and refine us like the fire of adversity or trial. Like the athlete or musician who may have a natural talent, they will never truly become great or even appreciate their gift unless they challenge themselves time and again. The refinement is what make us who we are, for better or for worse.

Where are all the rest of the Bumble Bee people?

I remember back when MTV used to have really good videos,(haven't actually watched MTV since the early 90's) There was this one Blind Melon song I think called 'No Rain.' It was a decent song and it had this really cute video of a sweet little girl in a bumble bee costume...do you remember it? She doesn't fit in and so she wanders off until she finds the Bumble Bee people just like her. They come in all shapes, sizes and colors. They love her and she loves them and she is home. OK...so what? Well, I feel like a Bumble Bee. I seem to be feeling 'terminally unique' again. I feel like that Bumble Bee Girl. It is not a really comfortable feeling today. I thought I had found others like me, but they weren't and nor do they want to be. Mind you, I really do not blame them, and I am certainly not out to create clones of myself, (G-d Forbid). It is a little scary, I know, and uncomfortable to live the way we live. I dress differently then most, if not all the women in my community. (I have been told though I would fit in well in Tsfat, I look like a country girl or even a gypsy/hippie, lol). I homeschool my children. Financially we are definitely on the low end of the totem. Baruch HaShem though, He really does provide all our needs. We live simply. We have one car, although right now I am using my son's while he is Israel. I only use medicine when needed, relying on herbs, oils, homeopathy and other alternative healing methods. I believe in 'crazy' things like natural birth, homebirth, long term nursing, homemade baby food, cloth diapers,midwives and the list goes on... What does it all mean? I believe I have a message to give and live. I suppose it can get discouraging for any messenger when others do not actually embrace the message. There is a lot of fear involved. Heck, I understand fear intimately. Of course it is scary. I guess we all in our own way feel this 'uniqueness' sometimes. I suppose I am not so unique in that. Maybe I am supposed to just give the message and let people walk their own path. Novel thought, huh? (°Ü°) I am not ungrateful either. I am part of a whole tribe of people, I am so proud to be a Jew. I just think it would be nice to find a nuclear group of like minded people within the fold. I know they are out there, I've just not found them yet...or maybe they've not found me. :-)

Blind Melon
No Rain Lyrics

All I can say is that my life is pretty plain I like watchin' the puddles gather rain
And all I can do is just pour some tea for two
And speak my point of view
But it's not sane, It's not sane

I just want some one to say to me
I'll always be there when you wake
Ya know I'd like to keep my cheeks dry today
So stay with me and I'll have it made

Prayer and a broken heart

In the palace of a king there are many rooms, and a different key unlocks each door. But wielding an axe is better than all the keys, because it can break any lock and open any door. Intention in prayer is like the various keys, each prayer has a different intention, but a broken heart is the axe that opens all the Gates of Heaven. ~~The Baal Shem Tov

Old Habits

Don’t make the mistake of those who think they can’t change their old habits. If you really want to change, truly and wholeheartedly, and you’re willing to invest the necessary effort, you can overcome and change any habit. ~~Rebbe Nachman of Breslov

Chodesh Tov!

Chodesh Tov! We are officially in the two day Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan. For some reason I am very excited about this. Couldn't explain why but I am. :-)
Rosh Chodesh is a special day(s), especially for us ladies. I am hoping to do something special with my girls today, maybe make a special meal or desert to mark the day. I am also planning on doing some special learning with my girls to mark the days. Ah...the beauty of homeschooling! I get to learn along with them! Anyway, here is a nice article from Chabad.org on Rosh Chodesh and here on some laws pertaining to it's observance. May this new month bring with it good health and all blessings for good, and the complete redemption with the coming of our righteous Moshiach!