Tuesday, September 28, 2010

videos

NES swap shop and food


















There have been two artists from Germany who created a project while they were here at NES that went like this. They brought with them several of their prints which they displayed on a wall in the old freezer in the studios. Then they invited anyone from the community to bring something and make a trade. The first time we went we traded some potatoes from our garden for the flower print...now in our living room. Then on Saturday we took hallah and rhubarb jam and got the salmon. It really was a very neat idea. On the first evening we went there was an open house at the residency and the place was alive with energy, not just from visitors but from the artists themselves. There really was a lot to see. A girl in town, Laufey, that we know traded some flute playing for a print and we were lucky enough to be in the audience.

We had a very nice weekend, low key, each of us dealing with a cold as it hit us and making some delicious food. On Thursday night we made this quinoa big bowl , but with carrots, zuccini, hard boiled eggs, mushrooms and onions...a play on bip pim bop, Friday night this gratin (http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/spiced-tomato-gratin-recipe.html).
Saturday we had an Indian chicken with rice. Last night we had a pot luck to say goodbye to Ana, a woman from Portugal who has been here for 3 months working with Jacob and I made this polenta spinach lasagna. It was a really lovely evening with delicious food but a very over tired Zelia. We stayed as long as we could.

The walk home somehow struck me...it was almost dark with just a bit of light streaming through the clouds over the cliffs, there were porch lights and street lights on and it was still rather mild outside. The day had been sunny and beautiful. As I walked home and looked around it felt very cozy and really reminded me of the kibbutz, it was a really nice feeling.

Ahhhh...but this morning what did we get??? A Lazer blowout on our bed and then Jack ran away, or I should make that in the present tense as he has still not returned?...he has a major running away bug and it is a BIG problem!!!! So much for heading to Blonduos today.

Tomorrow I have my first dance class with the girls for their elective, pretty excited!

Thursday, September 23, 2010

We are back and better than before!

We arrived yesterday morning to 2 degrees C, but a clear and beautiful morning. We had just been in Boston for a visit for 2.5 weeks for the haggim. It was a wonderful visit, full of lots of family time. But what can I say, there is simply no place like home! After sleeping for only about 3 hours for the night Zelia woke up before landing ready to be home. When she woke in Swampscott that morning she said to Jacob " It's Skagastrond day!" She talked non-stop from then on and when we were getting our luggage she said to me, I will show you where is Iceland and she ran to a picture on the wall and pointed to the map! The drive home was hard as we were exhausted but as usual Jacob was a hero and we were here by noon. We unpacked (not a joke- 5 bags full of things that needed homes), saw Jack, showered, ate and all slept together for a long while. Zelia was thrilled to go back to leikskoli this morning and we are back in business.

The holidays were lovely. We spent Rosh hashanah in Swampscott and got to see everyone, what a treat! Some of my favorite moments were running with Baki, then another day with Aba and yet a few more with Lauren. Both nights were delicious and rowdy:)

We had a beautiful naming celebration for Lazer Harry Cheatham Kasper, born August 5, 2010 in Reykjavik at "home". He was 3.44 kilo, 7.8 poinds, and 51 centimeters, 19 3/4 inches. It was the most amazing experience surrounded by a spectacular birth team, Jacob, Ima, Aba, Kathie, Aude, Zelia, Kristbjorg and Maria. Rabbi Cherie helped us organize the ceremony and lead it. She was so thoughtful, I am really grateful for her...she thought of so many things that I was just not able to even consider. Now we have a great little book of all that was said and written for him.

The next week was quiet and we got to spend a lot of time with Mama Zee and Zelia went on an adventure with Jacob and Terri to Chicago to visit her great grandmother Fran. What a great trip.

For Yom Kippur we stayed at Terri's in Newton. We had a really nice quiet and delicious meal together for Kol Nidrei. We went to Kehillat Israel that night and the next day. It was a fabulous congregation. I was hesitant becuase of its large size, but it was SO welcoming, so knowledgeable, really wonderful. I LOVED that the Rabbis took every moment possible to teach.

On Sunday we had a lovey visit with Dennis and Marie, listening to music, eating on the porch, talking and walking. The weekend ended with dinner at Adam and Hallie's house with Jocie, Noah, and all the kids, lots and lots of fun.

We are back in our regular much quieter lives now, waiting for Sarah to come and then we will go to the garden to dig up our potatoes. I am making this for dinner...yummm, sort of like a quinoa/vegetarian bip bim bop Delicious Big Bowl.

I need to begin to prepare for teaching the dance elective at school, think about yoga/pilates for the adults, and my guest lecture on Soloveitchik...