Saturday, June 16, 2012

Israel Trip Part 2


One thing you notice in such an arid country is the water, coastline and colors of the sky. It is not the "big sky" of Montana, but the color is a brilliant blue. In the two weeks I was there, I never saw a single cloud. And the different colors of the water changes depending on where you are. Just north of Tal Aviv at the ancient ruins of Apollonia, the water is a clear pale green, another thirty minutes north in Caesarea, it is a royal blue with ribbons of turquoise. On the south side of Tel-Aviv to the port of Old Jaffa, the water is a brilliant turquoise dotted with fishing and sail boats. The waters of the Mediterranean off the coast of Israel are gorgeous and the residents here spend every spare moment enjoying the sea as much as possible.


These two little water monkeys are no different. To Princess every body of water from the bathtub to the ocean is a "pool" and to be enjoyed at every possible moment. Just don't get any sand on her.


Another thing that I was struck by when walking the kids to the park, was the variety of gates in front of the houses. You rarely see a a house sitting "naked" on the street. Almost all are behind a wall of some kind with a driveway gate and sometimes with a smaller gate into the yard. They come in all styles and materials. My favorite was the one with the fleur-de-lis along the bottom.


And the flowers! They are highly prized there. Every. single. flowerbed. has irrigation running though it. Every pot, every bed, everywhere. I guess the lack of rain keeps the weeds down. The flowers you do see are a colorful respite in the sandstone colored landscape. It is a coastal experience very different from the one I grew up with where it rained every summer day at 4:00. We used to joke that the humidity had to go somewhere so it just fell out of the sky. Not so in Israel. While I was there my daughter had flower beds installed with miles and miles of irrigation tubing. Geraniums grow to the size of bushes and the hibiscus are as tall as the house. A sight to see.



Of all there was to see and do, these two munchkins and their parents are the real reason I went. It will be a long dry spell until September when they return home for Nanny Aim's wedding.
 
 

I do have a smocking project in the works. I thought perhaps I had forgotten how. It is the first thing I have smocked since Christmas. It is that bishop I pleated up real quick the morning I left. I did have to take a smidge back out. Crowded airplane stitching isn't always as accurate as it could be.The fabric was in the stash of course. There aren't many fabric stores open at 5:30 am. It is seamlessly pleated because in 30 minutes time you can't do more than that. All there is time for is a quick cut it out and run it through the pleater hoping you don't run across any glitches. The pleating fairies were with me. The green reminds me of those glass refrigerator containers of the fifities.

Until next time, faithful reader. Enjoy your day from top to bottom!

7 comments:

  1. What a treat to Israel and your family too. September will be here before you know it!

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    1. It was. I want September to get here quickly but at the same time, not yet! I'm not ready.

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  2. I love reading your stories! You are a very entertaining story teller.

    What bishop pattern are you using for the little dress you featured?

    Thanks! Janie

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    1. Janie, it is my go to Children's Corner bishop pattern.

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  3. Thank you for the beautiful photos. Your babies are gorgeous and growing so quickly. How wonderful that you were able to visit with them. Susan VH

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  4. Thanks for sharing the photos and details of your trip. Sometimes, I think all the big time sewing bloggers must do nothing but sit in their sewing rooms all day every day, stitching beautiful things. It is obvious that you have a full, rich life beyond the sewing room.

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  5. Your photos are gorgeous! Your blog is one of my new favorites now that I have a new granddaughter to smock for!

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Welcome, I am so glad you chose to leave a comment. I love getting comments, questions and even just a friendly hello. I may not respond to every comment, but rest assured I read them all. Sometimes the comments and questions fuel new posts. So comment away!

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