Friday, April 28, 2006

Heavy Petting

Yes, I’m referring to a cat—the Lady in Red, to be exact. She is very pettable indeed.

The Lady in Red gets a bellyrub

Skritching the Lady in Red

The Lady in Red kneads

(Check out this week’s Friday Ark. The Carnival of the Cats will be at Furry Paws on Sunday.)

Saturday, April 22, 2006

Laurence Simon’s Weekly Podcast Challenge

Laurence Simon has posted the results of his first 100-word story podcast challenge. Give a listen. (Click on the gramophone icon on the left in order to hear it.)

This week’s theme is “bunnies.” I admit to borrowing a bit from the movies.

Next week’s theme is “five minutes late.” Wonder what I’ll come up with.

Friday, April 21, 2006

Bee on Lavender Blossom

A bee sips nectar from the large lavender bush near my building:

Bee on lavender blossom

Shabbat shalom.

Intruder Alert

Her Ladyship was a bit out of sorts during this photo shoot. Seems there was an interloper around, and Her Ladyship does not like interlopers the least little bit.

Here she is against a background of basalt gravel and slippery-elm seeds:

Study in tans and browns

The reason why Her Ladyship is not amused:

Her Ladyship and the interloper

Who’s that in my territory? asks Her Ladyship.

Who’s that in my territory?

And just what do you think you’re looking at?

What’re you looking at?

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

My First Published Podcast

Want to know what I sound like? Laurence Simon has graciously added my story, and a recording of me telling it, to his 100-Word Stories page.

A Small Act of Defiance
I went on a hike today, and I heard about the bombing attack in Tel Aviv just as I was getting on the bus to go to the meeting point.
During the hike, my old hiking boots fell apart. (Well, I'd had them for more than a decade, and they were cheap to begin with.)
So after the hike, I went to buy new boots with my birthday money.
I bought Caterpillar boots.
Two good things about that:
I get to defy the Caterpillar boycott ... and I get to walk around in shoes with the word “Cat” on them.

Friday, April 14, 2006

Why I Love Living in Israel: Reason No. 3,763.2

This sign invites all passersby into the garden to recite the blessing of the trees ... and it’s right in my neighborhood.

Invitation to make blessing over trees

The sign reads: “To Whom It May Concern: We welcome you to our garden to make Birkat ha-Ilanot. Please ring the bell.”

How lovely. Only in Israel. (If it’s not, if you’ve seen such signs in other countries, please tell me about them.)

Little Explorer

Missy explores a local swing:

Missy underneath a swing

Hey, sweet kittycat, how about a skritch?

A skritch for Missy

Shabbat shalom, and mo’adim le-simha!

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Pre-Pessah Post

Be vewy quiet ...

... I’m huntin’ hametz.

(with apologies to the creators of Bugs Bunny)

Sunday, April 09, 2006

Hakarat ha-Tov Department

(Hakarat ha-tov, literally “acknowledging the good”: gratitude, giving credit where due)

A big thank-you to Josh Waxman of Parshablog for his helpful post on how to vowelize Hebrew in Blogger.

Try out his new Online Hebrew Transliteration Program here.

Friday, April 07, 2006

The Benchwarmer

I give you Her Ladyship, benchwarmer:

Her Ladyship warms the garden bench

Shabbat shalom.

(Check out the Friday Ark at the Modulator. This week’s Carnival of the Cats will be up on Sunday at K. T. Cat’s Scratching Post.)