A Dismal Mother’s Day

This post is about our Mother’s Day visit to the Dismal Swamp, the self proclaimed “Everglades of Central New Jersey”.

Though personally, I think that title is a bit of a stretch. Maybe the “Everglades of Metuchen”.  Or better yet, “It Sometimes Get Muddy Here, Especially After a Rain”.

This was our second try to find the Dismal Swamp.  The first time, all we were able to find in the general area was a superfund site.  

This time we got to walk around a bit and see the Triple C Ranch, located in the “heart of the Dismal Swamp Conservation Area”.   

The swamp had a few vistas,

and the Triple C Ranch had a few farm animals. 

and this interesting sign.

A Thoughtful Gift Idea for Mother's Day

This is the Mother's Day present my loving son Aryeh got for me a few years back.

which has been proudly displayed in the kitchen ever since.

Happy Birthday Pi!

The celebration begins!

Yours FREE! For only $6.99!

I love getting offers for "free" stuff that you get for paying money. Here is a sample.

I think FREE stuff will be the start of a new series ...

Bizarre Promotion

Anyone besides me think that this is a bizarre promotion?

 Anyone besides me think that this is a bizarre promotion? 

The Dead Sea Scrolls - Brought to you by McDonalds

Happy Pi Day!

Best Diet Shortcut Ever!!!

Weigh yourself on an British scale !!! Stones or kilograms, your weight in either number looks amazing.

Happy Purim! Top Nine Proofs that the Scots are One of the 10 Lost Tribes of Israel

Leaving things to the last minute, we were hoping to get an inspiration for this year’s Purim theme while on our recent trip to the UK (Feb 17-27^th) and so we did!  

Although this year’s theme may not live up to those of past years’, at least this year’s theme allows us to show off our vacation pictures. Scotland photos  

While visiting Scotland we amazingly discovered that the Scots are one of the 10 lost tribes of Israel!  

We don’t expect you to take our word for it, we have proof!

Top Nine Proofs that the Scots are One of the 10 Lost Tribes of Israel (although Top Ten Lists are more traditional than Top Nine, this was all we could come up with, sorry.)

1. The “Chet” sound is prominent in Gallic as well as Hebrew, as in Challah and Loch.

2. The traditional garb of both the Kilt and the Tallit (Tallis) are made out of wool. In fact, the original kilts looked a lot like a Tallit.  ( according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_kilt The kilt first appeared as the belted plaid or great kilt, a full length garment whose upper half could be worn as a cloak draped over the shoulder, or brought up over head as a cloak.) (The pronunciation of Kilt for the Ashkenazi Scots is ‘Kilce.’)

3. We found a web site that says that the Scots are One of the 10 Lost Tribes of Israel so it must be true http://thecapitalscot.com/pastfeatures/tribes.html.

4. The ingredients of the traditional delicacies of Jews and Scots are both from some of the less appetizing portions of the animal being cooked:

Scottish - Haggis (http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/haggis-recipe/index.html),

    Black Pudding (http://www.fife.50megs.com/black-pudding.htm),

Jewish -

         Chicken Fricassee (http://www.jewishfood-list.com/recipes/poultry/stews/chickfricasseegibletsrice01.html )

         Kishke, Helzel, Gribenes, P’tcha

(One of the comments on the Haggis recipe is: if this was standard fare in Glasgow in 1870, I am not surprised my Scottish great grandfather jumped ship in Australia.)

5. Sheep pastured all over the country so they can be used for Korban Pesach ("Paschal Lamb").

6. Shaarei Tzion girls are a branch of Clan MacKenzie  (http://www.engelicuniforms.com/servlet/the-Schools-and-Groups-cln-Yeshiva-Shaarei-Tzion-Grades-1-dsh-6/Categories)

(http://www.tartans.scotland.net/tartan_info.cfm@tartan_id=405.htm) 

7. Alton Brown recipe for haggis uses kosher salt (http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/haggis-recipe/index.html)  

 8. Both groups have found ways to make loud noises out of parts of sheep. 

and number 9, drum roll please…

9. Kiddush Clubs finally explained! (credit to the Minkins) 

What Does Not Belong in this Picture?

Ridiculous Stop Sign

Happy Valentines Day

There is a 1-800-Flowers next door to where I work.

It was definitely hopping there today. I walked through their parking lot on the way to Shoprite as they were loading up cars for flower delivery.

I asked the guy in the picture if today or Mother's Day was their busiest day, and he figured the two days were neck and neck.

It's all very nice to buy roses for Valentines Day, but I prefer to grow my own in the den.