Scavenger Hunt Sunday

Walking empty streets:

We went on a brief hike/walk last Sunday in some woods near an awesome dam about 30 minutes north of us. The pathway was so gorgeous and was a road less traveled for sure.

Repeating patterns:

At the dam we were at last Sunday there was a bridge leading into the park, I immediately was drawn to bridge and the repeating pattern of the poles on the guard rails.

Floor:

I finally (at the age of 23) learned the art of friendship bracelet making. I spent much of last night on the floor learning my second design patter. It came out great, not perfect, but pretty great in my eyes!

Then and now:

Lately, we've realized the stunning similarity there is between my Zayda as a baby and Noam now.  It's really remarkable that they share many of the same features, particularly the eyes. It's a wonderful reminder that Zayda is still with us today.

Fingertips:

I immediately thought of taking this picture when I saw the prompt.  My mom, who I love dearly, was my model, and I love (catching on yet?) how it turned out! Actions may speak louder than words, but so do fingertips!

New Croton Dam

Sunday was one of those days where we were slow to get started and sorta hemmed and hawed about what we wanted to do. I finally flipped through the "Fun File" - a file full of fun things to do around our area.  I had no idea what I was looking for, but a picture of a dam caught my eye.  A quick wikipedia and google maps search and we were off to the New Croton Dam. 

It was stunning! A little hide away 25 minutes from our front door. It was still pretty hot and sticky out, but being near the water as it rushed over the dam made it feel a bit cooler (wishful thinking, eh). 

 It was nice to just get out and explore a part of the county where we've never been too.  It was even more remarkable to see so much water flowing after days of insane and very unusual heat.

And it's quite the structure. It's really remarkable to think about the engineering and materials that went into this and how it all holds back the water.  We also tried to find a trail that supposedly led up to the top of the dam, but weren't able to, hopefully next time.

 And of course, Flat Judah came along for the ride. He "told" me later that since Un-Flat Judah lives an hour or so from the Hoover Dam, he wasn't that impressed. Even Flat that kid is a comedian!

We then began a walk/hike along a trail at the park. It was so peaceful being alone in the woods, the trail was perfectly framed by trees and we saw some interesting wild berries and other greenery.

It wasn't too long before the stormy clouds in the distance began to thunder and we decided that being in the woods was a really bad idea. Within 30 seconds of getting into the car, the skies opened up! We seriously needed the rain and we will seriously be going back to the Dam to explore some more!

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

Music to my ears:

In art this week the campers were making paper cut pictures in the style of Henri Matisse.  While mine isn't a true paper cut, I suddenly had the inspiration to make a guitar and drum and really loved how they turned out!

Hat:

Disclaimer: I am a (diehard) Red Sox fan, but these two hats are my campers and I found them like this a few days ago and it just screamed "picture" - and it really captures the NY baseball team divide, I think.

Clear:

I seriously do not know how people in the South/Desert areas survive from May to whenever fall begins for them.  Three days of insane heat and I am ready to jump into a picture of the piles of snow in Boston. So anywho, nothing like a clear glass of ice water to cool off!

Out of this world:

Was really stumped for this one until I saw this picture as I uploaded the pictures from my camps Carnival Day. The kids were doing spin art and I tried to snap a pic of the painting in progress. It makes me think of a picture the Hubble Telescope would take!

Sprinkles:

Ever have a banana with sprinkles on it? When it wasn't in a banana split? Thought so. You know it doesn't help kids eat bananas? It doesn't. Sprinkles on a banana may not help the fruit intake of American children, but it is pretty to snap pics of!

Things my campers say. Vol 2. Issue 2.

Z.R: Tamar, what are you doing after camp?

Me: I'm going to the gym and the dentist.

Z.R: You're very busy!

After our routine of thanking Alex and Floyd for cooking out lunch:

N.S: Why do we always say that?!

Z.A: I ate oatmeal for breakfast, that's why the bugs are biting me, they like oatmeal too!

In the midst of giving a small talk on listening and respecting our fellow campers one my campers suddenly says:

A.M-U: Aarg, I'm a pirate. - nothing like a little comedic relief! 

 A.M-U: I thought you get a lollipop after going to the doctors. I just went to the doctor (nurse) and I didn't get a lollipop!

M.B: Why do the twins always wear the same bathing suit, because I can't tell them a part when they do!

M.B: Tamar, why are you walking backwards?  It's freaking me out!

Kenny (our music guy): Should we keep on keeping on?
Z.R: No.

J.G: My knees are tired.
Me: Of what?
J.G: Of walking.

Jason: What's the largest state in America?
J.P: Scarsdale?
Jason: What's the tallest mountain in the world?
M.H: Mt. Skyscraper?
N.S: The Empire State Building?

J.P: I can't use broken cheese (while making sandwiches for a soup kitchen), because poor people don't like eating broken cheese either!

Z.A: My parents stayed up late watching Harry Potter, so I am tired today.
Me: Did you stay up with them?
Z.A: No, but I am tired from listening to them talk about it!

Z.A: I don't like watermelon, it's too spicy for me!

J.P: (After realizing he put his shoes on the wrong feet) Jesus Christ!

J.P: Try something new day is my favorite day at camp!

From a distance.

As a kid I loved to get the mail each day. Avi and I would call dips on who got to race down to the end of the drive way and retrieve the daily mail.  Then I grew-up and have moved into my own apartment.  I still love getting the mail. I always hope there is something exciting in my mail box waiting for me.  Of course, in true grown-up fashion it's usually a bill, but sometimes I get a magazine or a card.  But, let's keep it real, it's usually a bill. 

So when I received a postcard from Tina I was super excited! It may have arrived amidst bills and other boring mail, but this postcard all the way from Sweden made my day! It's not everyday a fun postcard arrives let alone one from such a long way away. Sometimes it's the little somethings in life! 

Missing him immensely

Today on the Gregorian calendar, and next Friday on the Hebrew calendar, marks 2 years since Zayda died.  Two years. I don't know if it seems like ages ago or like it was yesterday.  While I miss him and think of him always the past few days have been hard, as the reality of 720 days without my beloved Zayda has begun to sink in.  

 Part of what hurts the most right now is thinking about all the events from the past two years that I wished Zayda would have been part of.  It still pains me that he was not alive to see me graduate college. When we found out he was sick almost 3 years ago, I became so upset that he probably wouldn't see me get my diploma.

 That just makes me wish even more that he would have been here to share in my successful first year at Wheelock.  He would have been so proud of how I have performed on my MTELs and in my other studies. Zayda valued education and was so proud of his grandchildren's educational endeavors.  I just really wish he had been here to witness it in person.

And then I think about Noam.  And how Noam never got to meet such a wonderful man who loved his mommy, daddy, Savti, and me so so so much.  He never said it to anyone, but I think he really wanted to become a great-Zayda, and oh how I wish that had happened.  Zayda loved Avi and me more than words can express and I know he would have had even more love for Noam.

And I know while Zayda wasn't here physically over these past 2 years to share in all the wonderful events that transpired, I know he was here with me. I do feel his presence and at times when I am down or discouraged I think about his strength and determination and that helps me so much. Zayda, I miss you like crazy and know your are looking down on us smiling and proud.

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

Black and White:

So happy with this one, it may not be artsy, but it was totally not planned.  I really didn't want to use a black and white photo, and earlier this week while browsing Trader Joe's I stumbled upon a classic black and white desert! 

Reflections in Glass:

This is more the reflection of glass in water, but none the less I love the reflection of all the glass windows of the conservatory in the reflecting pool.

Headlights:

I really was stumped on being creative with this one. The headlights on my car are cute (can you call headlights cute?), but wanted to do something different. Then at camp this week we were playing with the Bikes & Trikes and suddenly I had some adorable headlights staring at me!

Seeing Double:

I have no clue what flower this is, but they apparently flower in pairs.

Bare:

Bare with me here. My dad got my mom this (bare) bear several years ago. It was carved from a tree trunk using a chain saw.  Then a few years later it got the crack but, we all love this (bare) bear.

Watermelon

I have an addiction. Albeit, it's a healthy addiction, but an addiction none the less.  I am seriously addicted to watermelon.  I am not a buy a pre-sliced melon 1/4 at the market and have it last all week type of girl. Nope. I am a buy a whole melon and eat it within a week (if it lasts that long) type of girl. 

 I just love when summer rolls around, I just get so excited when I see the crates of watermelons outside the market. I seriously could (can?) exist on watermelon alone. I've even perfected my watermelon choosing technique.  It's all in the thwack. First, it has to be heavy for it's size, makes sense since you want it filled with water! Then it's about a nice hollow sound when you give it a good thwack. Since I learned this technique I have never gotten a bad melon! Only bright pink and juicy melon goodness for me!

It's a simple summer pleasure. And after all the hard work of carving up the melon, I love enjoying a bowlful of delicious juicy watermelon!

NY Botanical Gardens

When mom and I moved to NY 4 years ago, the NY Botanical Gardens became a haven for us. A place where we could spend an afternoon away from the chaos of unpacking and dealing with other issues that were present upon our arrival in the Empire State.  And while the boxes are long gone and the other issues no longer lingering, the garden is still one of our favorite spots up here. 

We've seen some pretty neat exhibits here in the past and Sunday we went to see an exhibit about Spanish Gardens. Honestly, the exhibit didn't wow, but as always the sites of the garden did! 

The big conservatory reminds me of a picture in one of my favorite story books, "Miss Rumphius."

 I have a thing for seeing bumblebees in flight. I love watching them zip from flower to flower.  Today there was one bee that was thoroughly enjoying the lavender.  I bet that honey will taste so amazing.

 There were some pretty cool species in the conservatory this time around.  We actually stopped at a garden store on the way home and bought a dahlia for out garden too!

We also have a special visitor this summer. Flat Judah, he's spending the summer exploring NY with us, much like his older brother Flat Gabe did 2 years ago. He seemed to enjoy the outing to the gardens, although he may have enjoyed the mini-golf we did later more! 

It was a really nice afternoon at the NYBG, we spent time in the conservatory, walked around a bit through the grounds, enjoyed the tram ride around the grounds, and then called it an afternoon. We're hoping to go back in a week or so for a special members night with music and dancing from Spain! Ole!

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

My first time linking up for SSH! Hoping that this will push me to look for new angles and perspectives when taking pictures! So here goes. 

Things that look like a letter of the alphabet:

A bench at the new azalea garden at the NY Botanical Gardens. 

Weather:

A super hot and sunny day here in NY. We needed an umbrella to protect us from the sun not the rain drops!

Bling: 

Flower bling. I don't think I can wear anything that big and bold, but they really are interesting pieces. 

Tangled:

Love tangles of roots and vines. I find them peaceful when others may see a mess of knotted wood and greenery. 

Dark:

The fireworks we saw last week had some very interesting ones. It's so dark here you can't even see the huge dam behind the pyrotechnics. 

Reach for the stars

My childhood ambition wasn't to be a firefighter, or a doctor, or a police officer. No, from the time I can remember I wanted to be an astronaut.  I was determined that I would join NASA one day and fly into orbit. I knew everything about space, had every book, had seen every movie, and more.  Birthday parties were space themed and cakes shuttle shaped.  I was convinced I would one day visit the cosmos. 

 But that dream never did come true, rather, I've been pursuing other dreams.  While my current dream may keep me grounded on earth, I have never forgotten about my first passion.  I've watched nearly every Shuttle launch and or landing, have created lessons and units all about space, and still dream about what it would be like to float freely in outer space and look down on Earth.

 And today it's the end of an era. And it feels, to me at least, that part of my childhood dream is ending.  The last space shuttle mission began today. The last time that one of those amazing creations will blast off from Florida for orbit. The last time I will hear mission control count them down from T-10. It feels bittersweet; all my life I have dreamed of being an astronaut.  Even at 23, I still dream of climbing into the orbiter and blasting off, but today that dream is ending.

I have grown up with the shuttle program, lived through many of the numerous triumphs and tragedies, and today that chapter in America's history and my personal history ends. I can't wait to see what NASA rolls out next, I am sure it will make me long to blast off even more. And now, I'll keep reaching for the stars!